Tag: photography instruction

Finding Vision in Your Photography

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction

Finding a consistent vision in your photography takes one on a journey of self-discovery. It’s hard to create unique and breathe taking photographic images without delving into one’s self. If fear reigns, our photographs will convey this in the imagery. Our views of ourselves and the world are visibly shown in our photos.

This process is ongoing throughout the process of making photographic images. A well known photographer (that I had the privilege of meeting and taking workshops from) believed that our emotional state showed directly in our photographs. From experience, I would agree with this philosophy. I would add that on a bad emotional day, photography helps me find my way to a calmer emotional place. It becomes a meditative conduit.

Photography is art. It’s an immediate representation of ourselves in the moment that we press the shutter button. So, here are some questions to ask yourself about your photography. . .

Do I love what I see in front of my camera?

Does the subject bring an emotion to me? Or, is it just okay?

Do you feel rushed or pressured to take a photo quickly? Is this because of yourself? Or, another person?

Something to consider is simply that photography is an artform we can do with our phones, compact digital camera, DSLR camera, mirrorless camera, or film camera. We get to choose our medium as well as our subject. I think that it’s important to note that all of these mediums have the capability to create amazing and dynamic photographic images.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

I do find that creating a project of series of photographs helps hone one’s vision. It can challenge you to improve or modify your photos. The macro flower photo above started a project. I took most of the photos with my cell phone, then invested in a compact digital camera. This new camera can focus closer and the photos have less artifacts. Also, I can enlarge them to larger sizes.

So, that’s all for now. Happy Shooting. . .Karen

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

Not Your Grandma’s Black & White

by karenulvestad, posted in Uncategorized

For more information or registration, click here.

A Big Thank You. . .

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction

I decided this year to give a big Thank You for an amazing 2016. I am so grateful for all the students that enrolled in my classes / workshops, all the likes on my photos and blog, and my clients.

Digital Photography Basics is my new eBook, and I just published it on Amazon. I am offering it for FREE through Friday, December 2nd.

Please feel free to download, share, or give as a gift.

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

 

Spirit of Place

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Workshops

copyright Karen Ulvestad

I cannot teach this workshop often enough! This is the core of a successful photography. The idea is to “capture” the subject’s essence in the 2 dimensional image of a photograph. . .to “tell” a story about the subject.

With people, it is often a smile, tears, or other emotion / action within the photograph. This ideal can be brought to a landscape, wildlife image, or macro subject. Each photographer has their own unique view of the world, and the objective is to share this with the viewer.

Accomplishing this vision includes camera knowledge, composition, “seeing”, and weaving all this into the photographic image.

I love this workshop the most, because we explore all these aspects of photography in the classroom, and strive to combine them in the field. The focus is on techniques, vision, and composition.

I look forward to meeting all the individuals that join this journey to photographic perfection.

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

Photo Walks Are A Hands-on Way To Learn Photography

by karenulvestad, posted in Location, Workshops

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Sunsets and Photo Walks seem to go together. It is a great way to learn exposure, while photographing a sunset. Exposure affects the colors in the sunset, whether or not a foreground object becomes a silhouette, or simply how to prevent the flash from going off. It’s helpful to have a knowledgeable photography instructor to help hone these skills.copyright Karen Ulvestad

 

 

The Edmonds waterfront is a great place to see the sunset, and experience a photo walk. There is a great abundance of subjects to photograph, including the ferry boats, sail boats, gulls, bald eagles, harbor seals, and more.

I would love to see you at my next photo walk on August 25th, 2016. Sign up is through the City of Edmonds at http://www.reczone.org.

Life is Good!

Karen

Shadows, Highlights & Mid-tones

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction

copyright Karen Ulvestad

So, I’ve been missing in action the past few months, and neglected my blog!

I’m back. . .at least until my next adventure that leads me away from the computer screen and the Internet.

I’ve been pursuing the Light. Without light, there cannot be a photograph. Light is a challenging subject, because our eyes see it one way, and our camera sees it in a different way. Our eyes can see the details in the brights (highlights) and darks (shadows) on the brightest sunny day. Our camera cannot.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Technically, this means the difference between shadow and highlight is greater than 2-stops of light. So, what does a photographer do?

One to compensate for this difference in lighting is to use the HDR setting in the camera, or a software program on the computer. The HDR setting on the camera will take 3 exposures (1 for the shadows, 1 for the highlights, and one for the mid-tones), and combine the 3 into one photograph. Computer programs work with highlight, shadow, and mid-tone settings within the photograph to accomplish a similar effect.

Life is Good!

Karen

copyright Karen Ulvestad

 

Painting With Light on the Oregon Coast

by karenulvestad, posted in Workshops

Thought I would share my latest venture. June is the time to teach on the Oregon coast at the Sitka Center for Arts & Ecology. Hope you enjoy & please share. . .Life is Good!

Happy shooting. . .Karen

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

Spring is the Time for Bird Festivals

by karenulvestad, posted in Bird Festivals, Instruction, Workshops

In the spring and fall, thousands of migratory birds travel through Washington state on the Pacific Coast and the Puget Sound area. Communities celebrate these migrations with bird festivals, that give opportunities to participate in lectures, workshops, and bird outings. . .

For the rest of the article, click on the link Spring is the Time for Bird Festivals.

Note:  I’ll be giving a Free Mini-Workshop at the Wings Over Water Bird Festival in Blaine on Saturday, March 15th at 2 pm to 4 pm.