Tag: nature

Best Places For A Fall Getaway Near Seattle

by karenulvestad, posted in Best Of, Location
copyright Karen Ulvestad
Tumwater Canyon

This is my latest article on Fall Getaways. These are all great areas for fall color, and many opportunities for photographs.

“There are many places within a two-hour drive of Seattle that show intense color in the falls. The best viewing time for color varies from year to year, but usually falls between mid-September to the end of November. The higher elevations change first, and the lower elevations linger into November on a dry year. The brilliant yellows, oranges and reds of the deciduous trees stand out against the deep green of the evergreens.”

For the complete article, click here.

 

 

Photography is Painting with Light

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Tips

 

 

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Light is everything when it comes to photography. These three photographs were taken on the same evening. To the east towards the coastal mountain range, the weather was thunder and lightning. Along the coast, the clouds created a dramatic sky for the coming sunset.

The top photo shows the warmth of the late day light in the yellow tone to the green grass on the sand dunes. The dramatic clouds were either dark grey or white, and contrasted against the brilliant blue sky.

The photograph below is a simple composition of the sky and clouds. One of the tools used for the blue sky is a polarizing filter. For digital cameras, the filter must be a circular polarizing filter.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

 

The white balance on these images is daylight, or simply use the AUTO setting. Minor adjustments can be made in the Digital Darkroom on the computer.

The bottom photograph is the sun peeking through the dramatic clouds. The sun starred because of the large aperture setting on the camera. Each of these photos was shot on the manual setting for maximum control over the final image.

 

copyright Karen Ulvestad

 

Remember, using manual settings for exposure give total control over the final photograph. I am available for private consultations, lessons, and individual/group instruction (both in person and online).

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

Sitka Workshop Went Great

by karenulvestad, posted in Location, Workshops

“Excellent instructor – willing to help and make accommodations for all. . .” Student comment. . .

The Spirit of Place workshop I taught at the Sitka Center for Arts & Ecology went great! The students were a fantastic group of diverse individuals with a desire to learn more about photography. We ventured out on our second day to Cape Kawanda (Pacific City), and Neskowin. We practiced the workshop skills photographing the expansive landscape, dories, tide pools, gray whales, and birds. Below is an image of one of the students photographing the dories, as they came into the beach.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Below is one of my photographs taken of the dories from the beach. The tide was out, and we were able to walk through the tide pool area near the cape. The dories require a fast shutter speed to capture the action with clarity. My students had the opportunity to shoot these experiences, while learning the finer points of exposure and composition. My workshops are balanced between learning in the classroom, practicing in the field, and exploring the possibilities of the photographic medium.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

While exploring the area after teaching the workshop all day, I came across this mule deer buck and a doe. The light was waning since it was later in the evening. The morning had started out with a bald eagle flying by, and the day ended with deer. Sitka is a fantastic place to take workshops with top-notch instructors, and they offer a variety of art classes through-out the summer months. I’ve been blessed to have been teaching workshops through this school for 3 years.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Sharing a Story in a Photographic Image

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Workshops

Photographs come in many different styles, such as landscape, wildlife, people, and commercial. There are many more that are not listed here. What separates a photograph from others is the clarity of the story it tells. What does the photographer share with the audience that isn’t shared in other images.

The photograph below is a shot of Proposal Rock on the Oregon coast. This area is photographed often by locals and visitors. So the challenge becomes, how does a photographer make his/her photograph different from every other photograph of this beach and rock? In this case, the difference is a pair of shoes with bright colored laces.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

This second photograph utilizes people in a landscape photograph. The viewer first sees the child holding the lens, the railing behind the child, and finally the landscape in the background. This shot is from Waimea Canyon on the island of Kauaii (Hawaiian Islands). The depth of field in this shot give value to its elements. . .the child, the railing, and the canyon. The clouds in the sky add further texture to the image.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

It seems fitting to end with this photograph of a Bald Eagle at sunset. The sunset becomes the sun, color of the sky, and the silhouetted eagle. This is a single shot in the camera, which means it was thought through before the photograph was taken. Planning can help create a one-of-a-kind photographic image.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

 

This is an excerpt from my upcoming workshop The Spirit of Place at the Sitka Center for Arts and Ecology in June.

More next time. . .Happy Shooting. . .Karen

The Best of 2013

by karenulvestad, posted in Best Of

It was a year of change, and it reflected in my photographic images. This first image is about community. I was experimenting with a new 2x tele-converter with my 100-400 mm lens, and this was the result. On a drifting log resting are harbor seals, cormorants, gulls, and sandpipers.

copyright Karen UlvestadThis next image is Oregon in hoarfrost with a redtail hawk at the top of the tree. I love the monochromatic of this image, and the color of the hawk.

copyright Karen UlvestadExperimenting became one of the tools I used this past year. I love the peaceful feeling of this sunset, through the many layers of colors. This was done in the camera, then worked in the digital darkroom.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Next is the super moon of 2013. We missed most of the meteor showers and eclipses due to clouds. So, this was a fantastic opportunity.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Next is the power of a spring storm on the Oregon coast. The monochromatic nature of this image lends itself to the rain that is coming in off the Pacific Ocean. The bird is a cormorant, and the boat is a Coast Guard cutter.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

I finish off with a pair of Peregrine Falcons. The female is on the cliff, and the male is flying in after she called him. It was a great event to photograph and experience.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

For my annual video clip of my 2013 best, visit here.

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

 

Skagit Eagle Festival is in January

by karenulvestad, posted in Bird Festivals, Location, Workshops

Copyright Karen UlvestadIt’s that time of the year again, and the bald eagles are back. The count last week was around 150 eagles in the Skagit Valley, feeding on the salmon run. This article give details about the events, and links to information. I will be giving a Free talk on bird photography on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 10 a.m. It will be held at the Historic Concrete Theatre. Here is a link to the complete story http://www.examiner.com/article/winter-festivals-northwestern-washington .

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

Photography Destinations in the Greater Seattle Area

by karenulvestad, posted in Location

The greater Seattle area is loaded with photographic destinations. The city is brimming with opportunities to create photographs of people, architecture, nature, and abstracts. Each of these destinations listed change with the seasons, and offer continual opportunities for creative images.

For the rest of the article, visit Photography Destinations in the Greater Seattle Area.

Finding Photographic Vision

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction

copyright Karen Ulvestad

It’s been an exploratory year for my photographic vision. I started shooting photography focused on sports, events, and people. There was always a landscape to photograph or an animal, so I followed my camera’s viewfinder. I filled it with images, and learned everything about my equipment. Photography is a continual learning adventure.

The last couple years have been filled with searching. At the beginning of this year, we lost 3 family members. Two were ill for a long time, and the other was a surprise. All my focus and energy had been spent on creating positive memories for my son with his grandfather. I have no regrets for the energy expended in this adventure. . .just gratitude for all the incredible time.

So finding photographic vision. . .

I choose to control every aspect of a photograph that is within my power to control. The camera is merely a tool to convey the scene, animal, bird, story, people, etc. in the manner the photographer sees it. The photographer is the artist, who shows the world their vision. The photograph below is a single image created in the camera. Since I shoot RAW files, I worked on it in Photoshop to create an image file to share with others or print. Equipment plays a part in an image like this. It is important to use a tripod to keep the camera and lens stable.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Much of this year, I’ve explored light, and refining my techniques for using it in my images. Above is soft, colorful, and flowing in composition. I experimented with exposure, white balance, and techniques.

Below is one of my favorite subjects. . .Snow Geese. This was taken on one of those perfect days in the field. The sky was sunny with billowing cloud formations. I think we ended up with most of the migratory birds (60,000 to 70,000) in the field in front of us. It was amazing to watch them fly in. It seemed like it would never stop. Then when it felt calm again, a Bald Eagle flew over head, and thousands of geese took to the air at one time. Their sound was amazing! I was about 25 feet from the edge of the flock. . .simply amazing!

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

Autumn Foliage Urban Hiking Opportunities

by karenulvestad, posted in Location

Here is my latest article for Examiner.com. The fall color is peaking in some areas of Puget Sound, and it’s time to get outside to enjoy it. This lists some local parks with easy access to visit. Please check it out & hope you enjoy. . .

Fall is here in the Pacific Northwest. The colors in Seattle and the surrounding areas is beginning to peak. There are several places to visit to see these colors, and combine it with fitness goals. The crisp autumn air is a great to go for a walk or run, visit with friends, or take some pictures.

For the entire story, visit this link Autumn Foliage Urban Hiking Opportunities.

Best Areas for Fall Colors In Seattle

by karenulvestad, posted in Location

The Seattle area is filled with parks that have great fall colors. The leaves start changing in late September, and usually continue into November. It is dependent on the weather. For the rest of the article and locations, visit this link Best Areas for Fall Colors In Seattle.