Photographs of patterns in nature compel, soothe and mystify. Well-executed, they capture our attention. They trap our gaze, like Escher does, in endless loops. Examples are everywhere: bird flocks, butterfly wings, fish scales, animal hides, beach pebbles, snowflakes, bubbles in ice, gnarled wood, smoky hills, lichen close-ups. Armed with a telephoto or a macro lens, […]
Creating Starbursts ____ 2015/07
Starbursts are light rays emanating from point light sources — from the sun, moon, streetlights, sunlit waterdrops or reflective surfaces. They are creative photographic elements that can enhance an image — adding drama to a dull sky, a focal point to a silhouette or waterdrop, a twinkle to street lights. Starbursts are created where light […]
Seattle Visitor Guide, 2015
One of my photos made the cover of the 2015 Seattle Visitor Guide. Please check it out. Gary
Adventure Kayak magazine cover art
Adventure Kayak magazine published one of my photos on their 2015 Early Summer issue: http://www.rapidmedia.com/ak/adventurekayakmag_earlysummer15/. I was also interviewed for an inside piece, p. 26, Paddling Lensman Gary Luhm. Please have a look. Gary
Lightroom 6 HDR ____ 2015/05
I upgraded to Adobe Lightroom 6 with some trepidation, after reading about and not being impressed by the new features. Adobe touted HDR and Panorama Merge especially, and my thought was “so what?” I’m no HDR fan, and for panoramas I get great results with Microsoft ICE. What I wish for in Lightroom is more […]
Fifty Places to PADDLE Before You Die
My photo business is off this year, but then, I haven’t been paddling. Some good news is I got another book cover, this one for Fifty Places to Paddle Before You Die, another in a series of “50 Places” books by Chris Santella. I also got the contents page image, and an inside shot as […]
Backpacking Tripod: Oben CT-2331 ____ 2014/08
After a long, long wait, I finally found a tripod that matched my spec for light-weight backpacking. I shoot while backpacking with a full-frame, Canon 5D Mark III, with lenses that range from a 14mm f/2.8 to a 70-200mm f/4 zoom. Body and lens, this is demanding stuff for a light-weight tripod. My criteria list […]
Photographer Kayak: Necky Elias ____ 2014/04
I’ve been paddling a fiberglass Necky Elias for a year now and I’m constantly reminded of its suitability for photographers. Our needs are a bit different from other paddlers; those needs include ample stowage, ample hatch and cockpit openings, and maneuverability. Speed is rarely an issue. Open ocean suitability is a plus. The Necky Elias […]
Ultralight Camera Bag—Reconsidered ____ 2014/03
Updated 7/28/2020 In recent years while backpacking, I stowed my Canon 5D in a Tamrac 3330 Aero Zoom30 (7½W x 5D x 8H external). The 7 oz. bag is the lightest I’ve found that meets the need of housing a full-frame camera with zoom lens attached. It’s cheap at $20 (Amazon). In the field, I […]
A Most Important Thing ____ 2014/02
Early on, nature photographers are taught the necessity of using a tripod. The great teacher John Shaw calls the tripod a crucial, best single accessory. Pros use tripods. With a tripod you slow down, take control and become a better photographer. You can better fine tune compositions, pick and choose elements like line and shape, […]