Archive for the ‘Vision’ Category
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Here we are in 2012. Already. It doesn’t seem like a year ago that we ushered in 2011, but calendars don’t lie. 2011 was an interesting year for me. I spent more time in the office building my business and less time in the field doing what we all love to do – photography. As I culled through images made in the past year it quickly became evident that I didn’t get out enough. I live in Moab, for God’s sake. Arches and Canyonlands are in my backyard. There is no legitimate excuse to not be out exploring this beautiful landscape more often. So, in 2012, I resolve to do just that. I’ll spend more time making images and less time marketing them. Not too much less, because I do still need to pay the bills.
Every year I squeeze in a few big trips, consisting of a couple weeks each, to locations throughout the western United States. Looking back on all the photos from our 2011 adventures brought back some wonderful memories. We celebrated my son Jackson’s second birthday at a campground in Death Valley, ate dinner by a campfire on the beach in Cape Kiwanda, summited a 14′er in Colorado (Jackson’s first!) and spent Thanksgiving week exploring Valley of Fire in Nevada. No doubt, I am a lucky man.
The images I’ve chosen to share as my favorites aren’t necessarily my best. One photo was five years in the making, another has tremendous emotional appeal, a couple I just really like and some were made in a place I’m now obsessed with and can’t wait to visit again. If I were assembling a 2011 portfolio to present to an art buyer only a couple of these would make the cut. The important thing is that these images mean something to me. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed making them.
Slot Canyon & River Rock, Nevada
I found this slot canyon by chance while wandering around Valley of Fire State Park one morning following a sunrise shoot. I was struck by the contrast of warm, colorful sandstone walls and the cool blue river rock in the mud on the canyon floor as well as the three dimensional feeling created by the wide angle lens and striations in the rock. It’s a short canyon but easily one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.
Wildflowers and Storm Clouds in American Basin, Colorado
American Basin may be over-photographed but it’s still one of my all-time favorite alpine locations. The summer wildflower display is obnoxious in a very good way. We camped not ten minutes from where this image was made, in a tent on the roof of my FJ Cruiser. The next morning we summited Handies Peak with my son, Jackson. He was 2. And he knocked off a 14′er. Okay, so I carried him but still, how cool is that?
Storm Clouds Over Rock Point, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park plays second fiddle to the nearby San Juan Mountains, which means you’re less likely to find yourself in a crowd. We visited the park for the first time in 2011 and I became enamored with the sheer beauty and ruggedness of the canyon. On this afternoon a breaking storm created dynamic conditions for photography. I was in the right place at the right time when a sliver of light shone through clouds on to the foreground ridge, lasting only a minute or two. These ethereal moments in nature are what we photographers are privileged to witness while the rest of mankind seeks shelter from the storm.
Pothole and Sandstone Buttes at Sunset, Utah
Made semi-famous by Moab photographer Tom Till, this large pothole with an impressive view of a slickrock wonderland has been on my list of places to photograph since moving to the area almost six years ago. It took a while to find it and even longer to wait for the right conditions (great light, good clouds, pothole full of water). In 2011 everything came together and I was able to make the image that had nagged at me for years.
Haystack Rock from McPhillips Beach, Oregon
The charming little town of Pacific City is home to Cape Kiwanda State Park and McPhillips Beach, sort of a local’s beach not commonly visited by the throngs of summer tourists. We discovered it by accident on our trip along the coast last June. Nearly vacant, it’s a beautiful little beach with some interesting basalt (I think?) rock formations that nicely frame Haystack Rock in the distance. I spent a couple hours photographing here before retiring to hang out with my family, running away from incoming waves and finally, dinner on the sand next to a roaring bonfire. It couldn’t have been a more perfect end to a more perfect day.
Cottonwood Trunks and Evergreens, Wyoming
I made this image during a short break while leading a workshop in the Tetons last autumn. Cottonwood trees have such beautifully textured trunks and their autumn leaves rival those of the stately aspen with regard to color intensity. Here I loved how the darker evergreen trees contrasts with the autumn grasses & leaves, and the bold patterns of the cottonwood trunks.
Sunrise Sky and Rock of Gibraltar II, Nevada
I’m having an affair. There, I said it. I’m in love with Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. I can’t get enough of the place. Luckily, my wife knows and even approves of this affair. On our last visit we hiked out to Fire Wave for sunset. While I was impressed with Fire Wave I was more taken by the Rock of Gibraltar and this massive expanse of wonderfully striated sandstone. I came back for sunrise the next morning. You can imagine my excitement when the sky exploded in color right at sunrise. Of all the images I made in 2011 this one may well be my absolute favorite.
The Sunflower Experiment, Utah
The Scott Matheson Wetlands Preserve just outside Moab is a quiet little sanctuary that seems to catch on fire all too often. The last wildfire that ripped through was the most devastating. Driving by one day I noticed thousands of colorful wildflowers mixed in among the charred trunks. The next day I returned with my camera and made several images of the sunflowers. This was my favorite as it is something entirely different from my typical photography. It was an experiment and I was thrilled that it worked out so well.
American Basin Hiker II, Colorado
I didn’t do much adventure photography in 2011. No idea why, but I’ve resolved to do a lot more of it in 2012. I made this image en route to the summit of Handies Peak in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. My son Jackson was in a backpack on my back as I photographed Melissa crossing a creek below a beautiful sky and craggy peaks. There’s nothing I enjoy more than exploring the outdoors with my family and this image brings back wonderful memories of seeing Jackson on the summit of his first 14′er!
Storm Light at the Fiery Furnace, Utah
One stormy afternoon I took a chance and headed out to a view I’d discovered that overlooks the fins of the Fiery Furnace, Castle Valley and the distant La Sal Mountains. One of three things would happen: I’d get struck by lightning and the whole afternoon would be screwed, the storm would rage on and sunset would be a bust, or it would be epic. Lucky for me, it was epic. It was cold and windy and every once in a while a passing cloud released a torrent of horizontal rain. But right at sunset, the clouds parted and the sweetest storm light I’ve seen fell on the landscape before me. It was an amazing day to be alive!
Three Sisters Sunset, Utah
Assignments are few and far between these days, at least for me. Early in 2011 I was hired by Utah State Parks to photograph Goblin Valley State Park and the surrounding area for a guidebook they were developing. GVSP is a alien landscape, a valley filled with thousands of little hoodoos that have, in fact, stood in for Mars in several movies. One of the most famous features, the Three Sisters, sprout from the surrounding landscape. I was incredibly fortunate to witness a glorious sunset behind the Three Sisters during my time in the park.
Breaking Storm Over Kane Creek Canyon, Utah
Last year I decided to create a new photo tour titled Undiscovered Moab. As the name implies, the tour will take us to locations that are rarely, if ever, photographed. I’ve been spending a lot of time four wheeling and hiking to remote locations while scouting for the upcoming Undiscovered Moab tour (April 21-22, 2012!). On this afternoon a storm was breaking over Kane Creek Canyon, flooding the valley with dramatic storm light below a sky filled with interesting clouds. It was awesome to stand on the canyon rim in complete silence while watching this scene unfold before me.
Virga Above the Bonneville Desert, Utah
En route to Death Valley last March, my son informed us that he had to poop. When a 2 year old has to poop you don’t have time to drive around looking for a bathroom. We pulled off to the side of the interstate and Jackson did his business. When he finished I asked Melissa if I could have a few minutes to make an image of the impending storm unleashing hell on the distant mountains. Thanks to Jackson and Melissa I was able to make this image, my favorite from the entire trip, with semi’s flying by just a few feet away.
And there you have it, my favorite thirteen images from 2011. If you want to see even more “Best of 2011″ images from some of my favorite photographers, check out “A Compilation of My Favorite “Best of 2011″ Image Collections“.
Read more about Bret and get info on his workshops here.
Tags: 2011, Bret Edge, Landscape
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Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
The Path, Hudson Valley
I received the following email recently and thought I would share it and some thoughts that occurred to me after reading it…
I am an artist living in Ireland but originally from the Hudson Valley. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to use one of your photographs as a reference photo for a painting I would like to do. I would of course credit you and ad a link to your site as well. Could you let me know if this would be possible. Your photos are amazing! You are a true artist, Thank You…
First, I was deeply honored and humbled that she would want to use one of my images as inspiration for her art, and of course I said yes. But more importantly it reinforced the idea that technology has connected the world in an unprecedented and fantastic way that can serve as inspiration and benefit to us all. Sure there are the negative aspects to any powerful technology, but never in any other time would someone half way around the world be able to find me, connect with me and my work, and then share the results. I’ll share the final piece here when it’s done.
There is also something to be said for sharing and generosity in this age of limitless connections, via social media, the internet, Skype, etc. Your voice and vision is as valid as anyone else’s, your personal experiences unique and worth sharing if you truly have something to say. While it may seem at times that people worry most about privacy issues, there is also the ability and potential to share your vision and creativity in a way that allows the message to truly dictate the exposure. In days past, that was never the case, and your voice would be overpowered by the status quo.
I used to think that I was born too late, but now I know I am living in the most incredible times ever. My ability to live the life I want is directly related to taking advantage of all the possibilities available today. I started out 8 years knowing practically nothing about landscape photography, but I knew I had a very deep connection to nature, and I was committed to doing whatever it took within my ethical boundaries.
Don’t get frustrated or overwhelmed, look at the possibilities and grab them as tight as you can – there has never been a better time to achieve whatever goals you have.
Do you agree or disagree? What is holding you back from your dreams? Leave your comment below!
Check out Robert's website for images, workshops, webinars and more: LINK
Tags: inspiration, technology
Posted in Commentary, Creativity, Viewpoint, Vision | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
 - Rocks and surf at dawn, Wallis Sands State Park, Rye, New Hampshire. F16, 30 seconds. (Jerry Monkman)
If you live in the northern U.S., you are probably experiencing a low snow winter this year. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where I live, we haven't had any appreciable snow since before Halloween! The gray and brown hues of a snowless landscape can definitely make it hard for a landscape photographer to be inspired enough to get out there and shoot. I feel fortunate that I chose his winter to start a new project I call 0630, where I go out every morning and make a picture at 6:30 (you can read more about the project in this post I made over at the Outdoor Photographer website.) The project has forced me to get out and shoot, when I normally would have stayed in bed, and it's really getting my creative juices flowing and giving me good practice on techniques I don't always use on a regular basis. For most of the last 6 weeks, I've been shooting primarily 30-45 minutes before sunrise, so here are some tips on what to do when it's winter, it's dark, and there's no snow.
Find some light, any light! On clear mornings, I head to the coast, where I can use the pre-sunrise glow and colors to my advantage. Since I like to use low ISOs like 100 or 200, and small apertures like F16, that means I'm often shooting very slow shutter speeds, anywhere from 15 seconds to 2 minutes. A sturdy tripod is a must, and I really recommend using a cable release or the self-timer on the camera. Since most cameras have a maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds, you'll need to put the camera in bulb mode for anything longer and then use a cable release to hold the shutter open the appropriate amount of time. What's the appropriate amount of time? Let's say the camera's meter is telling you that F11 and 30 seconds is too dark of an exposure. Increase your aperture until the meter reads a proper exposure. In this example, assume that it now says F5.6, 30 seconds. This equates to F8 at 1 minute, F11 at 2 minutes, or F16 at 4 minutes. Put the camera in bulb mode, dial in F11, then trip the shutter with the cable release, locking it in the on position and keep the shutter open for 2 minutes. If you have an intervalometer (a fancy cable release), you can set it to automatically hold the shutter open for 2 minutes. If you include a dark foreground like in the above photo, you will probably also need to use a graduated split neutral density filter to hold down the exposure in the sky and avoid blown out highlights.
Pre-dawn surf, Rye Harbor State Park, New Hampshire. F16, 2 minutes. (Jerry Monkman)
On cloudy days, finding light is obviously even harder. I'm finding it's still fun to make long exposures on the coast like the above shot, but there's a lot less color. Though it's not part of my normal subject matter, city scenes here in Portsmouth have proven to be a good thing to shoot when I need to find a little light on dark mornings. For many of these urban scenes like the below image of the Memorial Bridge in the fog, I'm finding High Dymanic Range (HDR) software to be a huge help. For this image, I locked my camera into the tripod and shot three exposures at F16, 2-stops apart: 4 seconds, 15 seconds, and 30 seconds. The combination of the three exposures captured detail in both the dark recesses behind the buildings and in the bright lights. I used Nik HDR Efex Pro to combine the three shots into one.
The Memorial Bridge in the fog, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. HDR. (Jerry and Marcy Monkman)
Trees silhouetted against the morning sky at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire. F11, 3.2 seconds. (Jerry and Marcy Monkman)
Another technique I like to use when a "normal" shot might not work because of mediocre light or so-so subject matter is to purposefully blur the photo to create an abstract composition. For the above shot of trees against a pre-dawn sky, I used a shutter speed of 3.2 seconds and moved the camera up while the shutter was open. This is a really fun technique because you never know exactly what you're going to get. In addition to moving the camera up and down, you can try moving it horizontally or diagonally as well.
Captain Tobias Lear's 1781 tombsone in the Point of Graves Burying Ground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. F4, 15 seconds (Jerry and Marcy Monkman)
Of course, you can always add your own light with flash, or as I did in the above photo, with a flashlight. "Light painting" with a flashlight is as easy as waving the flashlight across your subject during the exposure. For this shot, I just used a basic maglight that I bought at the local hardware store, and painted the tombstones during a 15 second exposure. I love the skull and crossbones, by the way.
I am enjoying shooting at this time quite a bit. Most days, I'm done shooting before the sun even comes up so I can go about my normal daily routine. I was actually startled to see the sun come on Saturday when I lingered longer than usual, and I have been so accustomed to shooting in the dark, that I wasn't sure what to do with all that light!
The forecast is calling for a little snow tonight, but hopefully this post has given you some ideas of what to do on those dark, snow-free, winter days.
You can follow my 0630 project on Tumblr or by liking the EcoPhotography Facebook Page.
Check out my upcoming workshops here: http://jerryandmarcymonkman.com/blog/upcoming-photo-workshops/
Until next time…
-Jerry
Tags: EcoPhotography, jerry monkman, new england, photography, Weather, winter
Posted in Creativity, Vision | No Comments »
Monday, September 19th, 2011
Note: if you are in the Louisville area Monday October 3, come see Steve Gettle speak at a free OPG/SmugMug event! Details here.
Due to the fact that I had shows scheduled on the weekends when Michigan’s upper peninsula’s fall color is at its peak, I really thought I wouldn’t be able to do any shooting up there this year. Luckily, I caught a break as we had an unusually wet summer and a very mild early fall. The color was a week late this year, so I was able to take a few days and go up and work fall color.
We struggled a little with the weather because we had bright sunny, windy days. We did however manage to get some shots, but we worked hard for what we got. I say “we” because I traveled up with two good friends. Nature photography is often a solo endeavor, and I really enjoy that part of it. While I enjoy being alone in the wilderness with my thoughts and chosen subjects, it is also very nice to be able to share these experiences with good friends. The friendships and camaraderie I have developed with other photographers as we traveled the beautiful spots of the world is very special to me. I would say in my travels I have met hundreds, no, probably thousands of nature photographers, and as a group they are some of the nicest people I know.
Here are a few fall images from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. These first few images are a theme that I am often on the lookout for as I work fall color. In these images I am shooting a small section of a stream that is in the shade, with the water reflecting fall color that is fully lit by the sun. What is nice about working this subject is that it is usually something that can be done in the middle of a bright sunny day, when my gear would usually be packed up and I would be scouting evening locations.
This next shot was created using a much slower shutter speed in an attempt to call attention to the quite water captured in the rock’s crevice.
The following image is another subject you can work when the wind is blowing. This image shows crimson blueberry leaves with a couple of fern fronds. Because these plants grow close to the ground they are not blown by the wind as much as taller foliage.
On the final day we did get a morning with nice light and calm winds and I was able to make this next image.
Browse Steve’s images, read his blog, and learn about his workshops at his site www.stevegettle.com
Tags: fall, Michigan, Steve Gettle
Posted in Articles, Landscape, Vision | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
I’m going to admit it: I’m addicted to County Fairs. I grew up in a small town in Northern Michigan where summers meant getting into trouble, swimming in the community pool and wandering aimlessly around the county fair. And whenever I travel and see the words “County Fair,” thoughts of elephant ears, corn dogs, sticky fingers and the smell of 4-H animals seems like sweet perfume calling out, “John, stop now!” A few weeks ago I had the chance to visit the Madison County Fair in Twin Bridges, Montana where I spent the afternoon visiting with local farmers and 4-H kids. What I’ve grown to love about the fair is touring the 4-H barns and talking to the kids about their animals, science projects and especially perusing the photography contest.
Madison County Fair 4-H'ers
This young man was such a trooper; I could tell it was a bittersweet day for him as he explained with a little quiver in his voice how he raised his steer over the last year, feeding it several pounds of grain a day, and caring for it just to bring it to market at the county fair. You know he had been told not to get attached, but this young guy was brave enough to show he cared for his animal.
Prepping the sheep for sale
These two young girls were painting the legs of their sheep black and carefully brushing her out before they took her out to be judged. They had the sheep in this outfit because they had washed her earlier in the day and didn’t want her to get dirty.
4-H'ers sharing insight with visitiors is an important part of the 4-H learning process.
If you’re willing to make an investment in time and truly have a curious nature about you, then fairs are an excellent photo opportunity for environmental portraits. These kids put a lot of time and energy raising their animals and learning about crop management, but most importantly these kids represent our future. Next time your county fair is going on grab the family, your camera, closed toe shoes and wet-wipes and get ready for one heck of an experience.
Make sure and enter John's Black & White Photo Contest! Info here.
Tags: black and white, contest, portraits
Posted in Commentary, Contests, Viewpoint, Vision | No Comments »
Monday, August 8th, 2011
MONARCH BUTTERFLY WING SCALES
One of the things I love about photography is it appeals to both the geek and the artist in all of us. On the geek side you have the technical considerations of making an image; the f-stops, shutter speeds, depth of field, histograms, dynamic range, and that hyperfocal distance stuff that we must all master in order to communicate our vision. Of course we can’t forget about all the ‘geeky’ gear, super telephotos, focusing rails, tele-converters, extension tubes, fill flash, and such. On the artistry side things are a little tougher to define, shape, color, composition, mood, balance, and that fickle mistress light, to mention just a few.
To make a great photograph you have to find the balance between the geek and the artist. If you lean too much toward the geek your pictures, while technically perfect, can lack emotion. They may not reach out and touch the viewer; they can be missing a mood or feeling. Conversely, too much focus on the artistry at the expense of the technical may leave your work riddled with technical flaws distracting the viewer from your message. Most photographers tend to lean in one direction or the other, some are master technicians crossing every t and dotting every i in their images. While others have a flair for the artistic not having the time or desire to bother with all of that technical stuff. A truly great photographer finds a balance and mastery of these two opposing disciplines.
The best photography communicates with the viewer. It reaches out and touches them in some way. Your message does not have to be some deep life changing affirmation. It can be something as simple as, “Wow look how pretty this is!” The most effective way to communicate your message is without technical flaws that distract the viewer from your message. The most powerful way to reach someone is by touching their soul with your artistry.
Browse Steve's wonderful images, read his blog, and learn about his incredible variety of workshops at his site www.stevegettle.com
Tags: Art, technology, viewpoint
Posted in Articles, Commentary, Creativity, Vision | No Comments »
Thursday, July 28th, 2011
Light Mind, Rockefeller Preserve
Canon 1DS Mk III, 1/3 @f11, ISO 200, 24mm (EF24-105 f/4 L)
I’m always drawn to textures and colors, especially when the light helps accentuate them in an image. Back lighting is probably my favorite light to work with, though it is also the most difficult in my opinion. But there is no better way to bring out dimension and depth that really helps a viewer “step into” the scene photographed, both visually and emotionally.
I used an 2 stop graduated filter in the field to darken the sky, and then used Lightroom to dodge some areas around the trees that became too dark. I haven’t printed this image yet, but for sure the rich detail deserves at least a 24 x 36 print. I’ll share the specifics of how I print it, what paper I use, and how it turns out – thanks for reading!
Check out Robert's website for images, workshops, webinars and more! LINK
Tags: lightroom, Photo of the day
Posted in Commentary, Landscape, Vision | No Comments »
Friday, July 1st, 2011
Fourth of July is right around the corner. For all shutterbugs of all levels, that means we are all thinking about capturing that most quintessential of Fourth of July image – fireworks.
Beginner or seasoned pro, here are some tips I offer to help you in your quest for superb fireworks images.
Out of all of these helpful hints, I’ll give you an important pointer up front: do some research! See what various people are recommending on the net. Don’t just read this article–read a bunch! Think of these tips as a recipe; there are a hundred different ways to make the perfect meatloaf. Pick and choose which recipes you follow. Bon Appetite!
Ready for my recipe? Here we go…
First, and most important, let’s all put down our camera(s). Come on…. I can wait all day… did you put it down? Good.
Location, Location, Location
This first tip is 100 percent unrelated to your camera. In fact it’s more important than your gear. My first tip is to scout your location in advance.
A good fireworks photo starts with a good location. The old landscape rule of a strong foreground is important here. Look for items/people/things, which will give your fireworks shot some perspective and some context. Silhouettes are great! Keep in mind that foreground objects do not always need to be right next to you.
The idea here is to avoid making a photo of just the fireworks. We’ve all seen ‘em. Heck, many of us have shot ‘em! You want to capture something unique, don’t ya? First part of the unique formula is perspective. Include some trees, people, boat, a dog with a Frisbee, and so on.
Also, check the wind for the evening. If you can, you want to shoot upwind. (Less smoke in your image!)
Keep your hands off those cameras… I see you in the back there. We’ll get to your equipment in a second - I PROMISE.
The Early Photographer Gets The Best Spot
Second tip… get there early. One of my favorite fireworks shooting spots here in Colorado is also very popular with spectators. Our show usually starts at 9:00 p.m so we usually arrive around 4:00 p.m. Get there early, make your claim to the best spot (watch your foreground, stay away from any street lights, etc.), and enjoy the afternoon.
Oh and PS, don’t get your gear out right away when you arrive early! I know more people who have lost good equipment to an errant football or that Frisbee-catching dog than I care to share. Keep your gear in the car. Dusk is when you set up.
OK, OK, OK! On to the camera itself. Yes… you can pick up your camera now and embrace it as you read on. Feel better? Moving on…
Tripod, Tripod, Tripod! (and a remote trigger)
There is no way of getting around this issue. You will need a tripod to get those iconic fireworks shots. Equally important is a cable release for your camera. Don’t have a cable release? Use your camera’s self timer.
Fireworks shots are all about the long shutter speed. Hand holding, even with Image Stabilization, usually will not get you the results you want.
Use a Long Shutter
The name of the game when you shoot fireworks is a long shutter speed. This gives you the long, spider-like light trails. If you are new to fireworks photography, I would say start at ISO 200, F8-10, and a Shutter Speed of ~4 seconds. Check your histogram and adjust as needed.
It will be dark so knowing your camera is important. A hiker’s headlamp is helpful here.
Also, if you have in-camera noise reduction, use it. A warning though. This will prolong the writing of your images to your memory card. Still worth it in most cases.
Manual Focus
Set your focus to Manual and focus out to infinity. If you don’t, your camera will be wasting precious moments trying to autofocus. This is one time where you will kindly say: “Yes, thank you Mr./Ms. Camera. I know you are usually very good at finding focus points, and usually I appreciate it. However, in this rare case, I know what I want and you will only get confused. No, I promise, I will turn the AF back on during the car ride home. There… that’s a good camera.”
Shoot in Manual Mode
You want and you need to be in control of each and every element that makes a good photograph. Shooting in Manual will give you that freedom.
If you don’t usually shoot in manual, it’s ok. Take a deep breath and step outside your comfort zone.
If you live in an area with fireworks displays before the Fourth, or have some fireworks for your back yard, go and practice shooting in manual. Don’t fear the Manual. The Manual is good.
Change Your Orientation
Simple. Shoot both in Portrait and Landscape mode for a variety of images.
Leave The Flash At Home
It won’t help you. Yes, there are edge cases. But, nine times out of ten, flash will not help you. Leave it at home. You’ll thank me later.
Use Your Lens Hood
Yes, I know… some of you think I am crazy… Using your lens hood for fireworks is highly recommended. This will help keep a lot of the unwanted light away from your lens. You never know when the person next to you will pull out their camera phone or turn on a flashlight to find their dog and Frisbee. Do what you can to protect your lens from stuff like this.
RAW Rules!
Perhaps I am stating the obvious here, but you have more control and you are capturing more data if you capture your fireworks in RAW. I have heard every counter-argument in the book when it comes to RAW vs Jpeg.
Shoot in RAW. When you bring something back in Raw Conversion and you get that impressive shot, you can thank me.
Consider Under Exposing
Under Exposing will make your colors pop a little more. This is not for everyone, but I tend to underexpose with my fireworks. I find it gives me more flexibility in the digital dark room.
Bring LOTS of Formatted Memory Cards
Be prepared. Have them ready. Trust me, if you don’t, your card will fill up at the worst possible time, and you’ill spend an entire year regretting it.
Be Safe
Do not put your safety in jeopardy to get your fireworks shot. Use some common sense. Stay clear. Watch out for that dog.
Learn From your Experience
Take mental notes and write them down later. Observe what worked and what didn’t work. You may have to make changes on the fly,so know your camera. Don’t have regrets. You know what? Fourth of July is not going to be canceled so even if you didn’t get your money shot. There’s always next year.
Learn and grow. Strive to have this year’s fireworks photos be better than last year’s.
Don’t Forget To Enjoy The Show
Too many times, we as photographers get so wrapped up in the moment that we miss the event going on. Remember this is a HOLIDAY. Enjoy the fireworks show. If you do, it will be way more enjoyable when you get into the digital darkroom.
Extra Credit:
Ok 2 extra credit ideas…
If you are a seasoned pro at fireworks try to shoot them in HDR. That should spice things up!
Also, if you want less light trails and more explosion, cover the lens with a black sheet, cardboard, etc. while the fireworks climb and then remove the sheet to just get the explosion. Bulb mode is highly recommended for this!
OK that’s all. Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July. Pet the nice dog. Throw the Frisbee. Go make some photographs!
I’m looking forward to seeing your images on the Outdoor Photo Gear Flickr Group.
Check out Ted’s work on his website, and follow him on Twitter.
Tags: fireworks, Ted Stark, Tips & Techniques
Posted in Articles, Blog, Creativity, Tips and Tricks, Vision | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
Zen Trees
Nothing has influenced the way I see in nature more than learning to work with light, and its many qualities. This seems to me like an endless process, one that I will never be able to complete in my lifetime. Yet each experience I have teaches me something profound, both mentally and emotionally.
Working with light is photography at its essence, where everything else is stripped away and all that is left is your vision and intuition about how to convey what you feel. I know, we all want to know more about settings, lenses, exposure, best use of everything we have in our camera bags. So at the end of the post I will share the details.
We are so distracted by the technology and complexity of digital photography these days, that this essence is missing most of the time. So here’s a useful exercise- put the magazines down, shut the computer off, put a camera around your neck with one lens (yes, leave the backpack home), and find your favorite spot in nature close to your home.
Then just look. (Feel free to substitute look with watch, see, feel, and breathe)
Observe how the light changes throughout the day, or in different weather conditions. Study not only what it does to the landscape around you, but how it affects you and your emotions. Notice how the same tree can evoke different feelings, and symbolize different ideas based on your own perceptions and experiences.
This level of thinking requires passion, study, time, and more time. Is it worthwhile? Only you can answer that for yourself. What does photography mean to you, and most important, why do you photograph? This is a question I have asked here more than once, but for me deserves re-thinking every day.
Zen Trees is an image I recently made while hiking during heavy fog conditions. Working in fog is difficult, since the direction of light, the little that there is, is crucial to the success of the image. The same ideas apply as in direct light, but here they are so subtle, and the light so soft that you really have to watch how it changes carefully.
Also, the drama that we normally have with direct light is not quite the same, so composition is crucial. Here I was just trying to emulate many of my favorite landscape paintings, where the light is soft, yet the forest is seems lit from the side so that shadows are minimal. Color was also on my mind as I tried to frame the different shades of green to greatest effect.
Camera settings are 1/40 sec, f/4, 32mm, ISO 800. It was relatively dark, so I wanted as fast a shutter speed as possible to minimize leaf movement. A forest scene is more forgiving with higher ISOs, so I wasn’t worried about using 800 on this camera, which I know has great high ISO performance. (Knowing every aspect of your gear is important here).
The rest is just working with the composition until it feels cohesive and, but also with some tension created by the strong pull of light in the top left, and balanced with the rocks lower right. Failure is a greet teacher.
Remember the tools are here to serve us, and not the other way around. Knowing and understanding this is not enough, you must apply it in real life – maybe the next time you go out to make photographs. I hope these thoughts and ideas are helpful, thanks as always for reading!
Check out Robert's website for images, workshops, webinars and more! LINK
Tags: Craft, Mohonk, Photo of the day, Robert Rodrigu, robert rodriguez jr, trees, zen
Posted in Commentary, Creativity, Viewpoint, Vision | No Comments »
Friday, June 10th, 2011
Editor's note: Welcome Denise Ippolito to the blog! Denise is a freelance photographer, artist and writer living in NJ. With a background in the florist industry, Denise concentrates her photographic vision on soft, dreamy images of flowers. Denise has written several ebooks in the OPG store, including A Guide to Creative Filters and Effects and A Guide to Pleasing Blurs. She is also a moderator on Bird Photographers.Net. Check out Denise's website here, and watch for informative articles and soothing images from Denise on the blog!
The same Viola Image as above but with a different texture applied
In this mini-tutorial I will walk you through some creative texturing applications as well as multiple filtering applications to bring your textured images to life. Adding texture to an image can really change the look of it. Knowing how to blend an image with the right textures and learning some highlighting techniques can really improve your final product and that is what we will be discussing here. Most of the things you will need to create textured images can be found in Photoshop, however there is a cool program out there called Dirty Pictures by Totally Rad. It allows you to very easily change out the texture backgrounds by blending them automatically for you. This is by far the easiest way to apply the textures. But convenience comes with a price. The software is not free it costs $149.00. You do not need to buy this program to apply the textures- it just makes it easier. You don’t even need to buy the textures; they are available all over the web for free. All of the textures that I used here are from Shadowhouse Creations they offer lots of great free textures and tutorials.
Choosing the Texture:
When choosing a texture to use for an image there are some considerations to think about. First of all you never want your texture to completely over power your subject. For example, if you are applying a texture to a dainty flower you don’t want to choose a texture that will be too strong either with its color or its pattern. Heavily raised textured looks can be very nice for the right image but a dainty flower needs a softer approach in my opinion. Use complimentary colors but don’t be afraid of strong contrast, just learn to use it well and you can create some dynamic images. Always try several out before you settle on one. Also some of the textures have brush strokes going in a vertical or horizontal direction, you can always change the orientation in Photoshop so don’t let that stop you. Another thing that I do is change the hue and/or saturation to suit my image. Below is an image that reflects a hue and saturation change to the texture layer.
This is the texture I chose; I changed the opacity of the layer and the hue.
This is my daisy image with the above texture applied.
Here is the same daisy image with a different texture applied.
Applying the Texture:
The first thing you need to do is bring your base image and your texture into Photoshop. Once you have done so go to WINDOW> ARRANGE> TILE horizontally or vertically then use the Move Tool to drag the texture on top of the base image. Your layer palette window should show- Your base image as your background and your texture should be Layer 1. Now you can adjust the size of your texture layer (if needed) using Ctrl T for the Transform Tool. Now that you have the texture layer on top of the base image you can begin to experiment with the Blend Modes. Most of the time Multiply, Soft Light and Overlay are good to use. Once you have selected your Blend Mode you can add a layer mask to the top layer and reveal a bit more detail from the base image. I suggest using a soft brush set to 40% opacity and feathering it outward by starting at the center of your subject.
Additional Processing:
You can handle your image layers however you want. I usually just flatten my layers; I know many of you do not. I work on a lot of images each day and after years of labeling layers and saving them, I realized I never once went back for a minor tweak-the only thing I have ever done is completely reworked an image using new techniques that I have learned. Never use your master file always start with a copy of it. Anyway at this point duplicate your image CTRL J, go to FILTER> DISTORT> DIFFUSE GLOW. I set my Graniness to 0, Glow Amount to 1, and my Clear Amount to 9 (these values may be different depending on your image) I adjust the opacity of the layer if needed or change the blend mode- you will need to experiment here. I duplicate my image again Ctrl J then go to FILTER> RENDER> LIGHTING EFFECTS. I select Omni as my light type and set the Intensity Slider to approx 35 depending on the image. The focus is set to about 40 but these numbers can only be vague guidelines since every image is different. I keep the other sliders set to default. You can pull the small circle out to encompass as much of the image as you want highlighted. Now you can make some adjustments to this via the opacity slider in your layer palette window. As you decrease the opacity slider you will see that the original lighting on the image from the bottom layer will be revealed and the Omni spotlight effect on the top layer is decreasing. Try to adjust it so that the Omni light is subtle and doesn’t look obvious. You may need a layer mask to help with the adjustments. After you are happy with the effects you can always take your image a step further by adding a little of the Fractalius Filter or Poster Edges in Photoshop for some added dimension and lines. Whatever look you decide on for your image I hope that I have inspired you to give textures a try.
Before texture
After the texture and lighting is applied, note the subtle use of the lighting effect. Also I am not saying that the image will always look better with a texture overlay, I am saying it is a way to change up the look.
To create the look above I started with a single daisy image, after adding a texture layer to that image I duplicated my layer Ctrl J and moved that layer Ctrl T. I also lowered the opacity of that layer to create this look. Then I added a little of the Fractalius Filter to give it the crackled look.
To Learn more about Creative Filtering check out my eBook A Guide to Creative Filters and Effects.
Check out my guest blog for Topaz Labs here.
Tags: Denise Ippolito, Ebooks, effects, filters, Macro, Processing, textures
Posted in Articles, Creativity, Digital Editing, Ebooks, Processing, Tips and Tricks, Vision | No Comments »
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2011 – My Year in Photos by Bret Edge
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012Here we are in 2012. Already. It doesn’t seem like a year ago that we ushered in 2011, but calendars don’t lie. 2011 was an interesting year for me. I spent more time in the office building my business and less time in the field doing what we all love to do – photography. As I culled through images made in the past year it quickly became evident that I didn’t get out enough. I live in Moab, for God’s sake. Arches and Canyonlands are in my backyard. There is no legitimate excuse to not be out exploring this beautiful landscape more often. So, in 2012, I resolve to do just that. I’ll spend more time making images and less time marketing them. Not too much less, because I do still need to pay the bills.
Every year I squeeze in a few big trips, consisting of a couple weeks each, to locations throughout the western United States. Looking back on all the photos from our 2011 adventures brought back some wonderful memories. We celebrated my son Jackson’s second birthday at a campground in Death Valley, ate dinner by a campfire on the beach in Cape Kiwanda, summited a 14′er in Colorado (Jackson’s first!) and spent Thanksgiving week exploring Valley of Fire in Nevada. No doubt, I am a lucky man.
The images I’ve chosen to share as my favorites aren’t necessarily my best. One photo was five years in the making, another has tremendous emotional appeal, a couple I just really like and some were made in a place I’m now obsessed with and can’t wait to visit again. If I were assembling a 2011 portfolio to present to an art buyer only a couple of these would make the cut. The important thing is that these images mean something to me. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed making them.
Slot Canyon & River Rock, Nevada
I found this slot canyon by chance while wandering around Valley of Fire State Park one morning following a sunrise shoot. I was struck by the contrast of warm, colorful sandstone walls and the cool blue river rock in the mud on the canyon floor as well as the three dimensional feeling created by the wide angle lens and striations in the rock. It’s a short canyon but easily one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.
Wildflowers and Storm Clouds in American Basin, Colorado
American Basin may be over-photographed but it’s still one of my all-time favorite alpine locations. The summer wildflower display is obnoxious in a very good way. We camped not ten minutes from where this image was made, in a tent on the roof of my FJ Cruiser. The next morning we summited Handies Peak with my son, Jackson. He was 2. And he knocked off a 14′er. Okay, so I carried him but still, how cool is that?
Storm Clouds Over Rock Point, Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park plays second fiddle to the nearby San Juan Mountains, which means you’re less likely to find yourself in a crowd. We visited the park for the first time in 2011 and I became enamored with the sheer beauty and ruggedness of the canyon. On this afternoon a breaking storm created dynamic conditions for photography. I was in the right place at the right time when a sliver of light shone through clouds on to the foreground ridge, lasting only a minute or two. These ethereal moments in nature are what we photographers are privileged to witness while the rest of mankind seeks shelter from the storm.
Pothole and Sandstone Buttes at Sunset, Utah
Made semi-famous by Moab photographer Tom Till, this large pothole with an impressive view of a slickrock wonderland has been on my list of places to photograph since moving to the area almost six years ago. It took a while to find it and even longer to wait for the right conditions (great light, good clouds, pothole full of water). In 2011 everything came together and I was able to make the image that had nagged at me for years.
Haystack Rock from McPhillips Beach, Oregon
The charming little town of Pacific City is home to Cape Kiwanda State Park and McPhillips Beach, sort of a local’s beach not commonly visited by the throngs of summer tourists. We discovered it by accident on our trip along the coast last June. Nearly vacant, it’s a beautiful little beach with some interesting basalt (I think?) rock formations that nicely frame Haystack Rock in the distance. I spent a couple hours photographing here before retiring to hang out with my family, running away from incoming waves and finally, dinner on the sand next to a roaring bonfire. It couldn’t have been a more perfect end to a more perfect day.
Cottonwood Trunks and Evergreens, Wyoming
I made this image during a short break while leading a workshop in the Tetons last autumn. Cottonwood trees have such beautifully textured trunks and their autumn leaves rival those of the stately aspen with regard to color intensity. Here I loved how the darker evergreen trees contrasts with the autumn grasses & leaves, and the bold patterns of the cottonwood trunks.
Sunrise Sky and Rock of Gibraltar II, Nevada
I’m having an affair. There, I said it. I’m in love with Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. I can’t get enough of the place. Luckily, my wife knows and even approves of this affair. On our last visit we hiked out to Fire Wave for sunset. While I was impressed with Fire Wave I was more taken by the Rock of Gibraltar and this massive expanse of wonderfully striated sandstone. I came back for sunrise the next morning. You can imagine my excitement when the sky exploded in color right at sunrise. Of all the images I made in 2011 this one may well be my absolute favorite.
The Sunflower Experiment, Utah
The Scott Matheson Wetlands Preserve just outside Moab is a quiet little sanctuary that seems to catch on fire all too often. The last wildfire that ripped through was the most devastating. Driving by one day I noticed thousands of colorful wildflowers mixed in among the charred trunks. The next day I returned with my camera and made several images of the sunflowers. This was my favorite as it is something entirely different from my typical photography. It was an experiment and I was thrilled that it worked out so well.
American Basin Hiker II, Colorado
I didn’t do much adventure photography in 2011. No idea why, but I’ve resolved to do a lot more of it in 2012. I made this image en route to the summit of Handies Peak in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. My son Jackson was in a backpack on my back as I photographed Melissa crossing a creek below a beautiful sky and craggy peaks. There’s nothing I enjoy more than exploring the outdoors with my family and this image brings back wonderful memories of seeing Jackson on the summit of his first 14′er!
Storm Light at the Fiery Furnace, Utah
One stormy afternoon I took a chance and headed out to a view I’d discovered that overlooks the fins of the Fiery Furnace, Castle Valley and the distant La Sal Mountains. One of three things would happen: I’d get struck by lightning and the whole afternoon would be screwed, the storm would rage on and sunset would be a bust, or it would be epic. Lucky for me, it was epic. It was cold and windy and every once in a while a passing cloud released a torrent of horizontal rain. But right at sunset, the clouds parted and the sweetest storm light I’ve seen fell on the landscape before me. It was an amazing day to be alive!
Three Sisters Sunset, Utah
Assignments are few and far between these days, at least for me. Early in 2011 I was hired by Utah State Parks to photograph Goblin Valley State Park and the surrounding area for a guidebook they were developing. GVSP is a alien landscape, a valley filled with thousands of little hoodoos that have, in fact, stood in for Mars in several movies. One of the most famous features, the Three Sisters, sprout from the surrounding landscape. I was incredibly fortunate to witness a glorious sunset behind the Three Sisters during my time in the park.
Breaking Storm Over Kane Creek Canyon, Utah
Last year I decided to create a new photo tour titled Undiscovered Moab. As the name implies, the tour will take us to locations that are rarely, if ever, photographed. I’ve been spending a lot of time four wheeling and hiking to remote locations while scouting for the upcoming Undiscovered Moab tour (April 21-22, 2012!). On this afternoon a storm was breaking over Kane Creek Canyon, flooding the valley with dramatic storm light below a sky filled with interesting clouds. It was awesome to stand on the canyon rim in complete silence while watching this scene unfold before me.
Virga Above the Bonneville Desert, Utah
En route to Death Valley last March, my son informed us that he had to poop. When a 2 year old has to poop you don’t have time to drive around looking for a bathroom. We pulled off to the side of the interstate and Jackson did his business. When he finished I asked Melissa if I could have a few minutes to make an image of the impending storm unleashing hell on the distant mountains. Thanks to Jackson and Melissa I was able to make this image, my favorite from the entire trip, with semi’s flying by just a few feet away.
And there you have it, my favorite thirteen images from 2011. If you want to see even more “Best of 2011″ images from some of my favorite photographers, check out “A Compilation of My Favorite “Best of 2011″ Image Collections“.
Read more about Bret and get info on his workshops here.
Tags: 2011, Bret Edge, Landscape
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