We all make decisions about photography gear based on perceived need, cost or cost-effectiveness and—as pro photographer John Shaw pointed out—the “lust factor”. I’m guilty on all counts. Here’s what I did last month. Spring is always a transition. In our local (Kirkland, WA) watershed park, Indian Plum blossoms early. Next up are the dazzling […]
Photo Tip: Shoot the Moon ____ 2012/03
The Photographers’s Ephemeris (TPE), moon and sun locations and more . . . Back in January I was very much impressed by a Lee Rentz photo of a perched Snowy Owl backed by a round red moon. Of many Snowy Owl images from this irruption year, this one struck me as unique. It also struck […]
Photo Tip: Milky Way Photography 101 ____ 2012/02
Last April in Baja I didn’t get it right photographing the heart of the Milky Way, located near the constellation Sagittarius. Baja is great dark sky country—dry and clear, with little light pollution. Through research I discovered Sagittarius would be in the SSE night sky in the morning just before dawn. I rose in darkness […]
Ultralight Backpacking and Photography ____ 2012/01
Making room for camera gear: More backpacking ideas for pack, footwear, stove, water, food, misc. This month (December) was about planning for next year, and part of the 2012 plan is quicker and lighter backpack trips. I won’t compromise on photography, so the Canon 5D II, an adequate tripod and a trim list of accessories […]
2011 Favorite Images Critique ____ 2011/12
As I did last year, I’m posting my favorite images of 2011, with a story and critique about each shot. Briefly summing up the year, I shot more kayaking and scenics, and less birds. I also did more targeting of specific images. By target I mean a particular type of image or location. For example, […]
Photo Tip: Ligthroom 3 Black and White ____ 2011/11
If Ansel Adams had had the darkroom power of Lightroom 3 to manipulate black and white imaging, he’d do a leaping victory dance like Jack Black in The Big Year. Ansel artfully dodged and burned his negatives, and controlled light in the field with filters, one filter per shot. Today, digital age tools boost control […]
Photo Tip: Look Thrice; Shoot Once ____ 2011/10
Photographing Wildflowers I reviewed some wildflower scenics from my August, 2011, Olympic National Park shoots and was once again reminded of the old carpenter maxim “measure twice, cut once”. The low cost of shooting digital removes the cost barrier to shooting, shooting, shooting. Why not make dozens of shots? Surely some will succeed. I get […]
Photo Tip: Composition for Panoramas ____ 2011/09
I had some fun shooting panoramas in August. Some worked out well and some didn’t; there were a few pleasing surprises. A successful pano requires not so much mastery of the technical aspects, easily done, but thought and imagination with composition that is especially demanding with rapidly changing light or with people on the move. […]
Clipped Bird Wing Repair in Photoshop Elememts 8 ____ 2011/07
A throw-away image rises to four-stars. I was in Eastern Washington last week at a Williamson’s Sapsucker nest site. They’re interesting birds, and unlike other woodpeckers, the male and female look completely different. The male is a black and white typical of woodpeckers, but the female is brown with spectacular white barring on the wings. […]
Photo Tip: Focus Stacking ____ 2011/06
Focus stacking is a relatively new digital imaging technique, especially useful for macro and scientific photography, and an occasional aid for landscapes and small portraits as well. It’s a clever digital answer to lens optic limits that conspire to demolish resolution and depth-of-field (DOF). Image resolution falls precipitously at high f-stops (f/22 and smaller). Depth-of-field […]