This blog talks about photography related topics such as exposure, locations, and other information.
This is one of the best birding festivals! It is located in the heart of eastern Washington, the programming is amazing, and it is during the height of the Sandhill Crane migration through the area.
Hope to see you there. . .
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
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.
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
It’s this weekend! I’ll be speaking Saturday, January 27th at 11 am in Concrete, WA.
“Creating Magical Moments With Bird Photography”
at the
Concrete Historical Theater
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
These are my favorites I took in 2017. . .from the amazing Othello Sandhill Crane Festival to the Solar Eclipse on the Oregon Coast. Hope you enjoy. . .
The light through the winter changes in both color and intensity. The sun drops lower on the horizon, and travels through more of the Earth’s atmosphere. This changes the colors that we and our cameras see.
The photograph above is trumpeter swans in January at dusk. The light in the sky is soft and diffused. The swans reflect the color of the blue sky on their wings, and remain neutral colored on their underside.
The colors change in the landscape. Everything appears more pastel, and with less contrast. Even the blue of the sky changes to a softer hue. The clouds add interest to the photograph, and are perfect to include into the composition.
The photograph above was taken during the winter months. The soft light of late day is diffused by the broken clouds in the sky, offering a soft light bathing the scene. The colors are rich, yet softer than the summer months.
Winter can bring starkness of color with its snow, frost and/or over cast sky. It is a great time to explore monochromatic images. Enjoy the season!
Happy shooting. . .Karen
Composition is a direct reflection on the photographer. Certain aspects can be learned, yet your personal viewpoint seeps through in every photograph we create.
Our photographic vision reflects our inner self, and where we are emotionally at the point of the photograph. It is basically impossible to separate our inner turmoil from showing in our photographs.
Photography is the immediate recording of the environment, both in the physical world in front of the camera lens and our inner self. One does not exist without the other.
Like all other life adventures, photography is part of the journey to ourselves.
Tip of the Day. . .Even if the chaos in our lives shows through in our photographs, look for the qualities shown in the images that reflects a “story.” The best images show or trigger an emotion in the viewer. Remember, we are our own worst critics. . .
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
Focus is a key to a successful photograph! I mean focus on the subject and the idea behind the image. What message is the photographer trying to convey through the visual medium of photography.
Beyond technique, a great photograph shares a story. Otherwise, why would we want to look at it, share it, have it in our homes (or office), or purchase it?
The message could be peace and tranquility. It may show the chaos of the inner city. What is it that drives the interest in the photograph? What is it’s story?
As photographers, we can all take beautiful photographs. The digital age make accessibility to quality equipment available to a wider range of people. There are so many choices – phones, point and shoots, mirrorless, or DSLR.
So, what story do you wish to tell? It is a question to ask yourself as you compose your photographs.
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
Photography is possible because of Light. Without light, the image is black. With too much light, the photo is white.
How do we control this light? It is controlled through exposure.
Exposure = ISO + Aperture + Shutter Speed
It is the photographer along with the camera settings that creates the photograph. Every photograph is a reflection of the photographer’s intent for the image.
The use of light affects the subject, story, and quality of the photograph. It is the choices of the photographer!
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
Sunsets and color seem to go together. It’s hard to show the character of a sunset in black & white.
The sun isn’t always yellow. The Earth’s atmosphere affects the color of the sun, and the colors reflected in the sky.
The photo above was taken on the Oregon coast looking out over the Pacific Ocean. I love how the sun came out with 3 main colors, the sky was such an intense orange, and the small clouds in the top left side of the image.
Each sunset is unique in color, cloud formations, and the color of the sun.
Then, there is the pastel colors that can be produced at sunset. I love the pastel pinks in the photo above, and the way the color reflects off of the ferry boat. Adding a subject to the frame adds to the composition and interest in the photograph.
My favorite time to photograph a sunset is after the sun sets. Usually, most photographers and people leave after the sun dips below the horizon. I find that the color may intensify after the sun sets.
I love the dramatic colors, and the ability to capture the stars / moon. Again, I added a ferry boat in the image above. I like how the lights on the ferry help define the boat, while maintaining to color of the sky.
Tip. . .under-expose sunset photographs. . .
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
Excerpt from Summer Photography: Beaches & Sunsets. EdCC Extented Learning Program – July 12, 19, 26, 2017.