This blog talks about photography related topics such as exposure, locations, and other information.
The Leavenworth Spring Bird Festival is happening May 15th through May 18th. I’ll be teaching a workshop on bird photography. Here is an article I wrote about the event, and visit the link for more information. Thank you. . .Spring is the Time for Bird Festivals – Part III.
Spring has sprung in parts of the world, and the flowers are coming forth. Often times, locations are crowded with people when the light is best for shooting. In the Puget Sound area, spring means cherry blossoms on the University of Washington campus, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, and Washington Park Arboretum. Every season has its crowds. . .so, how do you find the photograph?
In the photo above, the throngs of people are obvious, and the garbage cans are over-flowing. The scene is quite noisy, and full of activity. Everyone is out because of the sunshine and the cherry blossoms. This is Sunday on the University of Washington campus (at the Quad). It is late afternoon light, which is warmer than mid-afternoon.
One way to cut-out the crowds is to choose selective portions of the buildings and cherry blossoms. The image above shows the Gothic architecture against a vivid blue sky, and framed with the subtle pink cherry blossoms in front. The crowds are below the bottom of the frame, and the photo takes on a peaceful quality. It exudes quite afternoon on campus.
Another way to exclude the crowds is to change perspective. This shot is looking straight-up under the cherry trees. The branches become a linear component of the composition with the repetitive pattern of the cherry blossoms. The only limit to the possibilities is one’s imagination. . .
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
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.
This 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.
Experimenting 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.
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.
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.
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.
For my annual video clip of my 2013 best, visit here.
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
It’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
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
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.
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.
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.
Leavenworth is a wonderful day or weekend adventure for all ages. The town schedules year-round festivals, and is located in the scenic eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Highway 2 travels through the town, and is the easiest way to reach this beautiful destination.
On the way to Leavenworth, Stevens Pass is a beautiful area for photography. On the west side, there is Deception Falls, and it is well worth the stop. The trails lead to the falls (which can be seen on the south side of the highway), and along the river. Stevens Pass ski resort is at the top of the pass, and is a wonderful alpine area in the summer months. On the east side of the pass, Lake Wenatchee is about 5 +/- miles to the north, and the view looks into the Cascade Mountains. Highway 2 traverses through Tumwater Canyon, which has several pull-outs for safe observation of the scenery and wildlife.
In the opposite direction, the Olympic Peninsula offers incredible opportunities of photography. This area is home to a large temperate rainforest, Olympic National Park, beautiful waterfalls, Lake Crescent, and the Pacific Ocean. There are many hiking trails through-out the area, including the North-South trail through the heart of the Olympic National Park. Highway 101 travels through the area, and signs show the directions to the scenic areas.
Lake Crescent sits just west of Port Angeles, and has both a campground and cabins/lodge on its shores. It is part of the Olympic National Park, and the highway follows the shoreline of the lake. It’s nestled between tall foothills, and surrounded by forest. There are many pull-outs along the lake to view the area, or hike a trail. The light is incredible during the early or late hours of the day, and it is not uncommon to have overcast/foggy conditions in the area.
Further on, Highway 101 travels through the town of Forks, and onto the Pacific Ocean Beaches. There are several beach back-packing trails in this area, and Third Beach is one of the longest. It is a great way to see parts of the coastline that most people don’t see. There is a lot of wildlife in the area, and incredible landscape photography opportunities.
For more information, visit http://seattle.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-weekend-getaways-in-the-seattle-area/.
Every September, the Puget Sound Bird Fest is held in Edmonds at the Frances Anderson Center, and surrounding area. This year, the festival is being held Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8. The festival is put on by the City of Edmonds. Each year, the festival is an opportunity to attend a workshop, participate in a guided birding tour, kayak to observe birds, meet professionals in the birding field, and learn about birding. For more information, visit the article at September is the time for the Puget Sound Bird Fest.
Note: I will be giving a Free lecture on Bird Photography.