Just follow your lens...

I initially approached a group of flowers with the idea of creating an image of roses that would work for a greeting card. I had my 50mm lens mounted and began working on vertical compositions that would leave some room for text or other designs. A 50mm lens is considered a "normal" lens because on most cameras the image in the viewfinder will closely match the image you see with just your eyes. In a ,future post I'll discuss the "crop-factor" common in modern digital SLR cameras and how this changes what a "normal" lens is.

Anyway, as I was shooting various compositions of the flowers I began to notice the subtle lines, shadows, and textures among the petals. I just couldn't capture that detail with the 50mm lens so I switched to the 100mm macro lens. This lens allows for very close focusing which allows you to capture a great deal of detail. Most modern digital point and shoot cameras have a macro or close focusing feature and can produce some stunning results.

As I was shooting the close ups, I quickly became lost in the moment. Everywhere I turned the lens I saw more details, more compositions, and more things to explore. I soon forgot about the rest of the days tasks. Who cares about bills, schedules, telephones, and appointments? This is what I truly love about photography. I ended up spending the better part of two hours photographing various flowers and filled two Gig worth of flash cards.

I never did end up with the image for the note card. But by just following my lens I did have an experience with photography that I won't soon forget. After all, that is what photography is all about for me. Photography is a way to immerse yourself in an experience of the world around you.

Look for simplicity...

As Michael Reichmann says, "Nature is inherently messy. The job of the nature photographer is to clean it up with images." Sometimes you have to really look at the scene to find the images and compositions that work. You can always fall back on the basics (line, form, texture, color, light, and shadow) to help you see an image. As with yesterday's shoot, fresh snow provides a great opportunity to get out and test your skills at composition and exposure. This shot is deliberately underexposed to accentuate the texture and coolness of the snow. Don't be afraid to break the rules of exposure to get the look you want.

No need to travel...

Most photographers feel compelled to travel great distances to exotic locales in order to make compelling images. This may be true if the subject you seek only exists in Africa or Costa Rica. However, if you can't create worthwhile images in and around your own home, how can you expect to be successful at any other location. I love to wait for changing events around my home and then spend a few hours trying to make new and interesting images that I have never done before. With the change in the weather an ice storm came through last night. By midday today the sun began to melt the ice and some unique images were just there waiting.

Time for a little color...

My work schedule has been keeping me from making any new images in the last week or so. I leave when it is dark and get home well after the Sun has set for the day. While I do love night sky photography, I haven't found it in myself to get out and shoot in the sub-freezing temperatures. So, I dug through my archives and found an image with some Christmas colors. This Buddhist Temple is tucked away in a valley and sits against a fog shrouded mountain rainforest. The setting couldn't be anymore perfect. I promise some new images in the coming weeks.

Another day in paradise...

Another day closes in paradise. This image is of sunset over the Ko'olau mountains and Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii. I often look for layering in landscapes. This is particularly effective when the layers are part of a boundry, such as the boundry between day and night, land and ocean, and sky and land seen here.

Paradise is a click away...

With snow on the ground more on the way for this weekend I found myself thinking of the great beaches of Hawaii. I love the way the Moku' Lua Islands are balanced by the rock and the people on the beach in this image.

Take what you can get...

This photo was a chance image that I saw while driving on US 60 toward New Mexico. The Very Large Array consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. These antennas were featured in Carl Sagan's movie Contact with Jodie Foster. I was headed toward Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Of course, I was aware that the Moon would be full. I was timing the full Moon in conjunction with the wildlife at the refuge. However, I had no idea that the Moon would be positioned over the VLA like this. The exposure was very tricky as I needed to ensure the foreground was visible. Because I had very little time when I pulled over on the highway, I ended up blowing out the Moon in order to expose the rest of the image properly. Had I been better prepared the image would be even stronger, but I'll take what I can get.

Stick with a subject...

When you find a subject that interests you, stick with it for awhile. Some of the great photographers spent the better part of their entire lives photographing the same subject over and over. Often times we see and photograph something we like and then move on. Don't be afraid to revisit a location or subject. Changing light, changing seasons, and changing perspectives can create entirely new images. As can be seen here, I have concentrated on the Moon and landscape for some time. This is an image of the Moon and Venus setting over an Afghanistan mountain range.

I'm always looking up...

I love to watch the weather for photo opportunities. Even when images aren't there, the dynamics of the atmosphere always offer something new to look at. This scene grabbed my attention because of the repetitive pattern of the trees and clouds, the intensity of the rays, and the layered landscape. Two of these factors, repetition and layers, do wonders for strengthening the composition of an image. Always be on the lookout for a composition that includes foreground, middle ground, and background objects. If these objects have some pattern and repetition the composition will be strengthened even further. I generally try to have the foreground object lighter than the background, but this image seems to work anyway.

Unique perspectives...

One of the great things about flying is the unique perspective one gets of the world. My favorite times are at sunset and sunrise. The colors, compositions, and components are just not found from the ground. If you are on a trip, ALWAYS have your camera available as you just never know when the opportunity will present itself.

Don't forget to look behind you...

Even a place like Afghanistan is full of amazing photography opportunities. Everyday offered new and unique scenics, from this moonrise over the Hindu Kush, to the abstract pattern of the river bed below. I became particularly fond of the moon and mountain compositions with the warm colors from all of the dust in the air.

Watch for other perspectives...

After captuiring the below image. I began to look for other perspectives of the lighthouse. As we left Kauai and headed back to Oahu, a break in the clouds revealed this image of Lihue.

Always have your camera...

I liked this different perspective of a classic lighthouse photograph. I was on approach to Lihue, Kauai when I saw this seen. Of course I didn't have much time to set up. I just picked up my camera and squeezed the shutter. Once again, always have your camera and be looking for images. Don't let yourself get caught up in all of the technical issues of photography.

Low burst...

A great way to practice your understanding of manual camera controls (f/stops, shutter speeds, and focus) is to photograph fireworks. This image is of a low burst over Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.