Tag: Karen Ulvestad Photography

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Capturing Nature’s Mood

by karenulvestad, posted in light, Tips

Each season brings different moods to our natural landscape. Winter shows us a moody vision with clouds, rain or snow, and lower light. The colors shift from bright summer colors to subdued winter shades. The tonal quality moves towards the middle tones, and contrast is decreased. Clouds in the sky become a giant diffusion filter, diffusing the natural light and letting less light hit the landscape.

The image below shows low lying clouds nestled between hillsides, leafless trees, and rain drops on the water. Less light brings a “darker” feeling to the forest. The aperture is larger to bring sharpness to the entire photograph. So, what mood does it show?

copyright Karen Ulvestad

The composition affects the amount of light that shows in the photograph. Less sky leaves less light in the image. More sky includes more light. Each of these situations changes how the camera “reads” the available light. The exposure with more forest is easier to get a correct exposure, and details in the land features. When more sky is included, the exposure needs to over-expose the scene, if details are wanted in the forest and land features.

In the image below, the exposure allows more light to create the image. The mid-tones (Highlights and Shadows) are worked on through Adobe Camera RAW, which brings out more detail in both the clouds and the trees. A similar exposure can be created in-camera using HDR.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Drama in the image is created through working on contrast, keeping areas darker/lighter, or desaturating the color (including black & white). The best way to create “moody” images is to shoot RAW files, and refine the photograph on the computer. Sometimes, it is simple like darkening specific areas, and lightening others. The image below is desaturated color. There is still a little bit of color left in the green trees. The clouds contribute to the separation of the darker, tree covered hills. This image shows more contrast in this monochromatic form, than full color.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

As I navigate through the new reality of the pandemic and other challenges, I am teaching more classes and workshops online. If you would like more information on this topic, feel free to contact me directly. Thank you. . .

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Looking Forward into 2021

by karenulvestad, posted in Location

When we look at our world, it influences our vision and photographic images. There are times when it’s easier to escape into nature, and express ourselves through the environment. After 4 years of unpredictability, it is nice to see some calm in the world. So, I’ve spent the month of January creating new images, and teaching. It’s been a nice change in the storm that keeps coming into my life.

I chased the King Tides in January, and came away with amazing images of the tenacity of the ocean. One thing that helps with creating a good photograph is having a vision. I envisioned showing the ocean and coastline interacting with an extreme tide (and hopefully big waves). I wasn’t disappointed!

This is the coastline at Kalaloch. This stretch of coastline is part of the Olympic National Park. Normally, more beach is walkable. This day, the ocean came up to the sandstone cliffs. The photo above was taken two to three hours before the high tide.

I went out to the coast the previous day to catch the incoming tide. A rain and wind storm came through the night before, and I spent the night sleeping in the car a 100 yards or so from the ocean. The sunrise case a soft pinkish cast to the clouds and ocean white caps.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

The morning progressed, and the sun lit up the waves. The sound of the surf, along with the amazing amount of sea foam, created a magical scene to photograph. I think I ended up with over a 1000 frames, and several video clips. As a creative person, the challenges of the past year of a Pandemic washed away with the wind, surf, sun, and the photographs.

The image below is looking north from Kalaloch. The intense storm clouds brought rain to the north and south of this area along the coast. The sunlight added to the power of the moment, and allowed faster exposures to capture the immensity of the incoming surf.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

In closing, I encourage all to venture out, and enjoy the beauty of nature. It’s times like this where seeing and feeling nature can move us forward to new visions of future photographic projects.

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

copyright Karen Ulvestad

2020 holiday Special

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Workshops

As the year 2020 is coming to an end, it is a great time to learn a new skill or improve an old hobby/passion. I decided that I would offer a special price for an hour of instruction, including answering questions. The topic of instruction will be discussed with the student prior to the session, and will focus on the student’s needs. These sessions will be scheduled between me and the student, and will take place via a ZOOM session. This would make a great Holiday gift for the camera enthusiast, or a child/adult wanting to learn photography. I look forward to working with you in the New Year.

Photographers

One Hour Learning Session

This hour long ZOOM session is designed to help learn a new camera, expand existing knowledge, and/or learn new photography skills. Skills taught could range from camera operation, understanding exposure, composition, the digital darkroom, storing and accessing picture files, and/or subjects/locations to shoot. The subjects taught will be tailored to the student prior to the session. These sessions are great for children or adults. I have taught both age groups in-person and via ZOOM classes. Each session will be scheduled to the availability of the student and instructor. Parents are welcome to be part of a child’s session.

$35.00

Photography In Motion

by karenulvestad, posted in Workshops

My latest class is Photography In Motion. Here is a sample of the type of photographs we will learn to take.

Familiar Subjects – New Perspective

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Tips

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The migratory trumpeter and tundra swans are a familiar subject to me and my camera. Often, they stay at a distance to areas that they can be photographed from. The limitations become equipment and the cost of these longer lenses.

Today, I tested out my new lens. It’s a Tamron 150-600mm 5-6.3 lens, and it is amazing! The photographs in this post are taken today with this new lens. It allowed me to fill the frame with more bird and less environment. I was happy with the image stabilization of the lens. These images are taken hand-held.

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I think this one is my favorite of these two photos. This is un-cropped and a full-frame sensor camera body. The lens is at 600 mm. With my previous lens (Canon 100-400), the swan would be much smaller in the frame, and the environment would be a stronger element.

Sometimes, it takes new equipment to bring a fresh perspective to a familiar subject. I cannot wait to find the next flock of birds to photograph!

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

Skagit Eagle Festival

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Location, Workshops

The Skagit Eagle Festival takes place during the month of January. The event had many speakers, Native American events, float trips, and more. I will be speaking at the Concrete Theatre on January 19th from 12 pm to 1 pm, on photographing eagles and other wildlife.

This Festival comes at the peak of Bald Eagle migration to the Skagit River valley. The highest concentrations are from Concrete up to Marblemount along Highway 22. The photo at the end of this blog is from the Skagit Valley. Eagles congregate in the 100s.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

The photo above was taken on Fir Island. It is where the Skagit River comes into Puget Sound. The Skagit Flats are home to resident Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, and other birds.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

During the winter, the Skagit Flats become home to thousands of migratory birds. These birds include Tundra Swans, Trumpeter Swans, Snow Geese, various species of Sand Pipers, Ducks, and more. Often, these birds can be seen from the road, and at the wildlife refuge areas.

For more information, comes see my presentation on January 19th, or follow my series on The Examiner.

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

copyright Karen Ulvestad