Scattered Horizons Photoblog

What I Learned From Critique Me

2012-03-03T08:00:00.001-08:00

I often mention Courtney and her site Click it Up a Notch here on the blog. I cannot say enough good things about what it has done for me. It gave me the confidence to try manual with Courtney's information and her support and feedback. I love her information and the way she looks at all aspects of photography in the types of topics she covers. She also hosts a weekly feature called Critique Me, where photographers submit a photo and other photographer's critique the image. I have participated by providing critiques for many images and I feel like it has helped me to see things I otherwise would not have seen. It really does help train your eye as Courtney says :o).

So I decided to submit an image. I was a little nervous, but at the same time I was looking forward to seeing my photo through other's eyes. I find that critiques done in a positive manner are an amazing way to learn and grow as a photographer. I must say that I was not disappointed :o). In an effort to process what I gained from the experience I am going share the things I learned about my image and about my photography.

First of all, here is the image I submitted:

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/1250, f/7.1 (full manual, sunlight wb, SOOC)

It was taken on New Year's Day at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park in the town of Cannon Beach, Oregon with my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Lens, a Christmas present. It was a beautiful day on the Oregon Coast, my favorite place to travel to take photos and I spent a lot of time walking the beach and photographing the different views and the changing light. What I liked about this photo was the way it captured the bit of the stormy feel to the clouds, the colors of the sky, the feel of the waves and the reflection on the beach. I first posted this photo with my photography goals for the year. You can see more photos from this adventure here, here and here.

With that said, I went into the Critique Me process wanting to know what I wasn't seeing because I was so enamored with this photo and the experience it captured. 9 people responded with wonderful compliments and suggestions for improvement. I decided to take each critique and edit the photo and then do a final edit combining what I gained from the experience as a whole.

Here are the edits based on the critiques. Click to make them bigger...

In order - 1. cropped and upped the saturation/vibrance, 2. cropped out some of the beach, 3. cropped out some of the sky, 4. less severe crop, 5. upped the saturation, blacks and contrast and adjusted the watermark, 6. subtle crop and adjusted the watermark.

Based on the critiques and the editing process here are just a few things I learned that I want to put into practice as I go forward:

1. Being more cognizant of the whole frame and of the rule of thirds - I am aware of the rule of thirds and the power it has to draw the eye in a photo. When I am out "in the field" so to speak :o), I am often so focused on getting the settings right that I am not conscious of looking at the whole frame. I try so hard to capture the landscape as it and as it feels to me (hence the focus on the settings) that other aspects fall away. My goal going forward is to be more aware of the whole frame and of the placement of the horizon and other key parts of the scene in the frame.

2. Trying to capture "less" in one photo - Since I began this photography journey a focus of mine has been to identify my intention or goal with a photo. This has been coming easier to me, but I often find that I have more than one intention. While this works for me as I know what I want the photo to say and why I made the choices I did, I don't think it translates as well when I am trying to evoke a feeling with a photo. Therefore, I am going to try to hone in on one thing that I want to communicate with each photo. Less can be more :o).

Hopefully you are still reading or maybe you just scrolled down to the results of my Critique Me journey, which works too :o)! Lastly, I want to share a final edit I did after the critiques and thank each and every person who provided feedback. The process has been invaluable and one of the most powerful catalysts for growth I have encountered on my photography journey thus far. Thank you Erica, Amber, Kim, Laura, Benita, Rachel, Laureen, Alessandra and Beth for your positivity and suggestions! And of course a huge thank you to Courtney for this opportunity!

For this final edit in Lightroom I did a slight crop to a more natural break in the rocks and to break up the photo more by thirds. I upped the saturation/vibrance, blacks and contrast and did some work in the tone curve to decrease the lights and shadows and increase the darks. I also decreased the size and opacity of the watermark.

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." - Ken Blanchard

I would love to know what you think of the final image in order to continue this unique chance for growth!

Linking up to SOOC Saturday, check out the other SOOC shots! Also linking up with The Simple Things and Scenic Sunday. Be sure to take a look at the beautiful photos there as well! And of course Click it Up a Notch :o).

What I Learned From Critique Me

2012-03-02T22:19:00.000-08:00

I often mention Courtney and her site Click it Up a Notch. I cannot say enough good things about what it has done for me. It gave me the confidence to try manual with Courtney's information and her support and feedback. I love her information and the way she looks at all aspects of photography in the types of topics she covers. She also hosts a weekly feature called Critique Me, where photographers submit a photo and other photographer's critique the image. I have participated by providing critiques for many images and I feel like it has helped me to see things I otherwise would not have seen. It really does help train your eye as Courtney says :o).

So I decided to submit an image. I was a little nervous, but at the same time I was looking forward to seeing my photo through other's eyes. I find that critiques done in a positive manner are an amazing way to learn and grow as a photographer. I must say that I was not disappointed. In an effort to process what I gained from the experience I am going share the things I learned about my image and about my photography. It is amazing the power this one experience had.

First of all, here is the image I submitted:

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/1250, f/7.1 (full manual, sunlight wb, SOOC)

It was taken on New Year's Day at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park in the town of Cannon Beach, Oregon with my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Lens, a Christmas present. It was a beautiful day on the Oregon Coast, my favorite place to travel to take photos and I spent a lot of time walking the beach and photographing the different views and the changing light. What I liked about this photo was the way it captured the bit of storm feel to the clouds, the colors of the sky, the feel of the waves and the reflection on the beach. I first posted this photo with my photography goals for the year. You can see more photos from this adventure here and here.

Here are the edits based on the critiques. Click to make them bigger...

1. Being more cognizant of the rule of thirds - I of

Favorite Photo of the Week: Portland at Night and Eagle Eyes

2012-03-02T06:00:00.003-08:00

I tried really hard to pick one photo to post as my favorite, but I felt compelled to pick two. In both cases, I felt really proud of the shots I was able to capture and the experience of these moments. I hope you don't mind the double favorites :o).

Portland at Night

Settings: ISO 400, 18mm, ss3.2sec, f/7.1 (full manual, on tripod, tungsten wb)

Bald Eagle in a Tree Over Siletz Bay

A leap forward on my bucket list...

Settings: ISO 200, 250mm, ss1/640, f/7.1 (full manual, sunlight wb)

"Every great work, every big accomplishment, has been brought into manifestation through holding to the vision, and often just before the big achievement, comes apparent failure and discouragement." - Florence Scovel Shinn

Bucket List: A Bald Eagle in Siletz Bay 2.19.12

2012-03-01T06:00:00.002-08:00

There is a place in Lincoln City tucked in the middle of sea side houses where the Siletz Bay moves in and out over the driftwood covered beach. I go to this place every time I visit Lincoln City and I am never disappointed. One of the best parts of this area is the amazing wildlife that I see each time. In past visits I have seen cranes and various sea birds, as well as seals. This time I was lucky to see a bald eagle and even more amazing to capture a few photos.

My dad has a background with birds of prey and his passion has led me to be fascinated with these amazing animals. Photographing a bald eagle has been on my bucket list for a while now and I felt privileged to get this opportunity. I noticed a larger bird flying with the seagulls and being pestered by them. When the larger bird landed I was shocked to see it was a bald eagle. Despite the wind and my telephoto lens being a difficult combination, I feel accomplished to have got this shot before the eagle flew away.

I am pretty pleased with these images, what do you think?

Settings: ISO 200, 250mm, ss1/640, f/7.1 (full manual, sunlight wb)

I could not resist taking the above photo and cropping it.

I love the texture of his or her feathers!

I think he was checking out the lady with the camera :o)!

Settings: ISO 200, 250mm, ss1/640, f/7.1 (full manual, sunlight wb)

And the cropped close up...

"It's a great event to get outside and enjoy nature. I find it very exciting no matter how many times I see bald eagles." - Karen Armstrong

Wordless Wednesday: Cranberry Coast and Fort Stevens Wrap-Ups

2012-02-29T06:00:00.003-08:00

In order to be ready to start fresh for March I am going to wrap up two sets of photos from a trip to the Cranberry Coast back on the 5th of February and to visit my dad on the 11th of February in Astoria, OR. What better time to do that than Wordless Wednesday :o)!

Deer in Grayland State Park on the Cranberry Coast

Settings - ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/200, f/9.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

What the cranberry coast is famous for...a cranberry bog!

Settings - ISO 200, 250mm, ss1/100, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

A stormy sea at my favorite park - Fort Stevens State Park

Settings - ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/1000, f/7.1 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Outside my dad's house in Astoria, OR

Settings - ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/50, f/3.2 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going to fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." - Eddie Cantor

Tones on Tuesday #24 2.28.12

2012-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

"Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it." - Mia Hamm

Do you ever have those months when you just can't get out from under everything? That has been February for me. But I have decided that instead of getting down about all of things I didn't do, I am going to start anew and continue my work toward my goals in the month of March. Therefore, I am not going to share any showcases this week. We will start fresh with the regular Tones on Tuesday format next week. For this week, I am going to share a picture and anxiously await your photos :o). Then I will get to do my favorite thing...visit your blogs and Flickr sites and be inspired by your talent! I hope you understand and stick with Tones on Tuesday.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here are the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

My photo is of a recent trip I took to try and de-stress a bit. On the way back from the coast we stopped in Portland, Oregon to take a picture of the city lights. This photo was taken at the end of the Eastbank Esplanade near OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). My goal was to capture the color and the lines. I competed with wind, cold and water that was anything but calm. I am happy with the result though and would love to go back in better conditions. In Lightroom, I cropped, straightened, adjusted many of the basic settings and used the tone curve a bit. What do you think?

Settings: ISO 400, 18mm, ss3.2sec, f/7.1 (full manual, on tripod, tungsten wb)

"Colors answer feeling in man; shapes answer thought; and motion answers will." - John Sterling

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

I Clicked it Up a Notch - February

2012-02-27T22:41:00.004-08:00

Even though I love I Clicked it Up a Notch hosted by Courtney, I was a little nervous to participate this month as I have stumbled quite a bit when it comes to my photography goals. However, as I mentioned in my Tones on Tuesday post I plan to start fresh and to do that I need to reflect in order to grow.

While I didn't do too well on many of my goals in February, there was one that I really tried to commit myself to...

Goal 12. Take a 10 minute time-out during every photo shoot - As I mentioned when I made this goal, I often get caught up in taking pictures and finding the shot and then I miss opportunities and moments. Therefore, I have been purposefully pausing to put my camera down and just be in the moment and in the beautiful places I go to photograph. More often than not, this is when I stumble upon a favorite shot from the shoot. An unexpected image or perspective that I would not have seen within the viewfinder. It also allows me to experience a place more fully as I open my other senses beside sight to the space.

The photo below happened as I was sitting in the dunes on the Long Beach Peninsula taking my 10 minutes. My main focus when on the beach is the sun, sand and waves. I love shooting through beach grasses, but my aim is usually to frame the beach and ocean. As I was taking my 10 minutes I was fascinated by the way the light played in the grasses, cast shadows on the sand and how well the colors of the grass and the sky and the water worked together. I am very glad I took my time-out and was able to "see" this shot :o).

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/4000, f/3.2

(full manual, sunlight wb, clean edit in Lightroom)

"The best things in life are unexpected - because there were no expectations."
- Eli Khamarov

Tones on Tuesday #23 2.21.12

2012-02-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I am so sorry for the delay in this post. I had some difficulty with a dentist appointment. I will get everything up soon, but until then feel free to link up. Be sure to come back, though :o)!

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

Favorite Photo of the Week: Lake and a Sunset 2.11.12

2012-02-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

An extremely busy and stressful week ends. It was a week filled with disappointments, but also with moments of blessings that filled me with hope. While I may not have captured those moments with my camera, I love that I am able to capture the same feelings in my photos. The two photos below do just that, the first seems like a physical manifestation of radiant hope and the second is just one of those blessed moments.

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/100, f/7.1

(full manual, spot removal and a bit of a creative edit in Lightroom)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/100, f/7.1

(full manual, cloudy wb, preset applied in Lightroom)

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." - Emily Dickinson

Tones on Tuesday #22 2.14.12

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope your day is filled with many opportunities to tell the people you love that you love them :o)! Thank you for taking some time to view the showcases from last week and link up your photos. I LOVE learning from you!

Jaymi at Live, Love, Travel

The vibrancy of this photo and how the colors pop individually and together is a bit of magic! I love the details of the bubbles. Definitely a technique I am going to have to try! Thank you for sharing with us Jaymi.

Courtney at The Story of Us

What struck me most about this photo, beside the beautiful and soft black and white tones, was the way the objects chosen worked so well together. They not only spell the word love, but they all have a lovely antique feel. Thank you for linking up Courtney!

Sivinden at Just a Moment...

The light and shadows in this photo are simply stunning. They draw you in and I for one just want to wander down the path and do a bit of exploring. Thank you for sharing Sivinden!

Jaymi, Courtney and Sivinden please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

Now for my picture this week...

On of my goals for the year has been to take a picture a day with my iPhone and post it on my Facebook page and to do a post a day on my blog. While I have taken a picture a day, the posting part in both cases hasn't been something I have been able to make a permanent part of my routine. I am trying not to be too hard on myself as this weekend I traveled to Astoria to see my dad for his birthday and this week I have parent teacher conferences. However, I am a very goal oriented person and find it difficult when I don't achieve my goals. I am going to try and focus on why I set those goals in the first place though...to stretch myself to keep taking pictures, to learn and grow and to continue to fulfill my passion.

The photo below is from my weekend celebrating my dad's birthday. We took a trip to Longview for an errand and stopped at the park surrounding Lake Sacajawea. It a huge park with the most amazing trees. My goal was to capture the serenity of the park and to showcase the beautiful trees. For processing I used a preset called "Sweet" in an attempt play up the tones and the subtle differences in the lighting throughout the photo. Just another day of fulfilling my passion :o)...

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/100, f/7.1 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Glory lies in the attempt to reach one's goal and not in reaching it." - Mahatma Gandhi

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

Poetic Winter: Warmth 2.11.12

2012-02-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite views in Astoria where my dad lives is at the top of Coxcomb Hill where the Astoria Column sits. I love to go up there and look over the Columbia River, Youngs Bay and the Pacific Ocean. This weekend while visiting my dad to celebrate his birthday I headed up the hill to see the sunset. It was bitterly cold with a slight wind, but I could not help but be filled with warmth at the sight of the sun's rays breaking through the clouds that had filled the sky the entire day. I can't help but be awed by such a sight. I can't help but feel privileged to get to witness and photograph it. I can't help but drink it in.

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/100, f/7.1

(full manual, spot removal and a bit of a creative edit in Lightroom)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/80, f/7.1

(full manual, spot removal and clean edit in Lightroom)

"Such lovely warmth of thought and delicacy of colour are beyond all praise, and equally beyond all thanks!" - Marie Corelli

Project 64: Sky Blue on the Cranberry Coast 2.5.12

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

A day on the coast driving Highway 101, exploring new beaches and towns, soaking up the natural beauty and capturing it all with my camera..there is no better way to spend the day!

Tokeland Marina

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/640, f/7.1

(full manual, sunlight wb, clean edit in Lightroom)

Highway 101 on Willapa Bay

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/1000, f/7.1

(full manual, sunlight wb, clean edit in Lightroom)

"I never get tired of the blue sky." - Vincent van Gogh

Tones on Tuesday #21 2.7.12

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Tones on Tuesday! The photos from last week were amazing and made it extremely difficult to pick just 3. Which is a great problem to have :o). After much deliberation, here are the photos chosen...

Desirae at Pink Sky Designs

The light in this photo blows me away and the softness added by the texture contrasts with the drama of the silhouette to make an amazing photo. Thank you for sharing Desirae!

Daogreer Earthworks

The perspective, the depth of field and the soft color all create a beautiful and nostalgic photo. Lovely, just lovely! Thank you for sharing with us.

Bunch of Barrons

Aren't they cute? I love the simplicity of this moment and the softness of the tones. The perfect capture of an everyday moment. Thank you for sharing with us!

Desirae, Daogreer Earthworks and Bunch of Barrons please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

This weekend I went to the Cranberry Coast and the Long Beach Peninsula. One of the places we stopped was at Grayland State Park. It is a campground with these huts you can stay in and a vast beach. I snapped some pictures, explored a bit and on the way back was rewarded with a "conversation" with some deer I plan on sharing later this week. My goal with the photo below was to capture the vastness of the beach and ocean and the lack of people on the beach the result of the coast in winter. I did a clean edit in Lightroom for the first photo and then a black and white conversion. I think the first photo works well to communicate the vastness and the black and white the emptiness. What do you think?

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/320, f/9.0 (full manual, sunlight wb)

"In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself." - Laurence Sterne

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

Poetic Winter: Solitude 2.5.12

2012-02-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

I love going to the beach any time of year. It is the place I go to recharge my battery and find an inner peace and contentment. While going to the beach in winter can be a bit chilly, one of the perks is that there are not many people there. It allows me to find those moments of solitude to reflect on my thoughts, find inspiration and feed my passion for photography. This weekend I sat on a dune on the Long Beach Peninsula of Washington overlooking the beach and just looked and listened. I soaked up the vastness, the sound of the waves and the feeling of being in tune with the nature around me. I enjoyed every minute!

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/500, f/22

(full manual, sunlight wb, SOOC with cropping and distraction removal)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/4000, f/3.2

(full manual, sunlight wb, clean edit in Lightroom)

"Shadows" for P52

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/1000, f/2.0

(full manual, sunlight wb, clean edit in Lightroom)

"Shadows" for P52

Settings: ISO 200, 24mm, ss1/320, f/25

(full manual, sunlight wb, clean edit in Lightroom)

Settings: ISO 200, 163mm, ss1/250, f/10

(full manual, sunlight wb, SOOC with cropping)

"Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement." - Alice Koller

Favorite Photo of the Week: Cece in the Snow 1.16.12

2012-02-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

I am going to end my snow and ice shots with this one of my dog niece Cece. As I mentioned in my last post, photographing Cece is a challenge for me but something I have been sticking with to hopefully move toward my goal of photographing more human beings, myself included :o). I do have to say that she is a great subject. She is patient and tolerant and doesn't require much in the way of model fees (just a pet and a treat and she is happy). For this shot, we were exploring the backyard during phase one of the snow storm and I loved how she filled up the space on the deck. The textures of the snow and her coat were also intriguing to me. Just an attempt to capture a simple moment with an amazing animal. I would love to know your thoughts...

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/400, f/3.2

(full manual, cloudy wb, SOOC with cropping)

"No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does." - Christopher Morley

I Clicked it Up a Notch - January

2012-02-01T22:50:00.000-08:00

Oh how I have missed I Clicked it Up a Notch hosted by Courtney. It has been a couple of months and I have found there to be a void in the reflecting on my progress throughout the month that I Clicked it Up a Notch provided me. I also miss having the opportunity to see what others have learned and learn from them. This month I have been working on two of my photography goals that I wrote on the first of the year...

Goal 2. Learn more about my new lens - I have been using my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Lens quite a bit. I still do not feel like I am totally comfortable with it, but I have come a long way. I love that I have the ability to use low number (wide open) apertures to vary my depth of field to a degree that I had not been able to before. I also see a difference in the photos taken with this lens versus my kit lens, but I am not sure I could accurately describe what that difference is or why it is occurring. This goal will definitely be one I continue to work on.

The photo below is SOOC (the second one does have some cropping and straightening done on it though) and I think that speaks to what I have been finding out this lens can do.

Goal 6. Self portraits - You may be thinking "What is she talking about? This photo is not a self portrait." And you would be right of course :o). But it is an attempt to broaden the subject matter of my photos and the ability to discover a potential photo with subjects I am not comfortable with. And that was the purpose of this goal for me, to expand my abilities and see things differently. I still love my sunset, silhouette and nature shots, but I know that to grow I need to take risk.The pictures below are of my dog niece Cece. She is an amazing dog and the perfect breathing, moving subject to photograph as she doesn't move too fast and allows me to take many shots if I mess up the settings the first time (or the tenth time :o).

I can't wait to work on these goals and my other goals next month and throughout the year! I would love to know what you think of my risk-taking...well risky for me anyway...photos!

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/30, f/2.0 (full manual, tungsten wb, SOOC)

"You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky

Project 64: Iced Yellow 1.19.12

2012-02-01T21:09:00.000-08:00

The color at Project 64 was yellow. Amidst the ice and snow of recent memory the yellow leaves of this plant stood out beckoning me to take a photo.

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/125, f/2.8 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Plant the seed of desire in your mind and it forms a nucleus with power to attract to itself everything needed for its fulfillment." - Robert Collier

Tones on Tuesday #20 1.31.12

2012-01-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

I can't wait to see what you have to share this week, but before that let's take a look at some showcases from last week...

Jenn at Shutter Happy Moments

The mystery of the depth of field, the softness of the texture and the lines of the grass are simply beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us Jenn!

Bec at Through the Lens: RAD Photography

I love the starkness of this photo and at the same time how it is soft and "creamy." Thank you for linking up Bec!

Liz at The Greatest of These Is Love

This truly looks like it could have been taken centuries ago, love it! Thank you for sharing with us Liz.

Jenn, Bec and Liz please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

I thought I was done with ice and snow pictures, but I just keep finding more that appeal to me :o). I am also very hopeful that the caliber of ice and snow we had will not happen again for a long while. That makes these photos fleeting moments that I want to remember. This photo is of my favorite tree outside my house. It bent to the ground with the weight of the ice and snow, but it did not break. It is now standing tall again. I love the metaphor in that. Just what I need right now to make it through the assessment/report cards/conferences time at school. A photo that fits perfectly with my life outside of photography right now, I love when that happens :o).

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/400, f/2.8 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Clean Edit and then a Black and White Conversion in Lightroom

"I bend and do not break." - Jean de La Fontaine

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

Favorite Photo of the Week: Sheathed in Ice 1.19.12

2012-01-27T23:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that last week at this time the power had finally come back on at my house and the ice and snow was just beginning to melt. It seems like a lifetime ago and yet just yesterday. My favorite photo of the week reminds me of the beauty in face of adversity and how photographs allow us to remember the artistry and hardship of a moment.

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/320, f/2.8 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Many human beings say that they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it." - Richard Adams

Frozen 1.19.12

2012-01-26T21:57:00.000-08:00

While this week of crazy weather - snow, ice, wind, rain, hail and sun - has been tough at times (especially when the power was out), it has also be beautiful. The ice, which was the cause of the major power outages, fascinated me. The way it encased the plants and was frozen in the middle of dripping down made it feel as though things were standing still. My goal was to capture as much detail in the ice as possible and show how it enveloped the foliage. The first photo is SOOC and the second is a clean edit in Lightroom. I am glad the power is back on, but I am sort of sad the ice is gone. I really wish I would have taken more pictures, especially some at night after seeing my brother's girlfriend's AMAZING snow and ice at night photos. Oh well, it will just have to go on my photography bucket list :o)! What do you think? What fascinates you? Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/160, f/2.8 (full manual, cloudy wb, SOOC)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/320, f/2.8 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"I search for the realness, the real feeling of a subject, all the texture around it... I always want to see the third dimension of something... I want to come alive with the object." - Andrew Wyeth

Linking up with the link ups below! Take a moment to check out the other fabulous photos.

Project 64: Winter Brown 1.18.12

2012-01-25T22:13:00.000-08:00

I am not sure I am recovered from the wild weather of late, but the pictures sure are pretty :o). These are of a grape plant in the snow and in the ice.

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/2000, f/2.8 (full manual)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/500, f/2.8 (full manual)

“Adversity draws men together and produces beauty and harmony in life's relationships, just as the cold of winter produces ice-flowers on the window-panes, which vanish with the warmth.” - Soren Kierkegaard

Linking up with the link ups below! Take a look at the other amazing photos!

Tones on Tuesday #19 1.24.12

2012-01-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

I am so glad the snow, ice and power outage did not keep me from getting Tones on Tuesday up! I know I say this every week, but I so enjoy seeing your work, learning from you and being inspired. Thank you for linking up! Now on with the showcases from last week (which seems so long ago due to the week I have had)...

Kristy from LifenReflection

Kristy is one of those photographers who has a distinct style. I love the collages that tell a beautiful story and the softness and texture of her photos. Another stunning job Kristy, and just what I needed after the crazy winter weather!

Melissa at Serendipity is Sweet

I love the power of black and white to freeze time in a way that color photos cannot. This photo is a lovely example of that. Not only is the subject adorable, but the combination of tones and contemplative expression makes this one of those photos that tells a story. Thank you for sharing and linking up Melissa!

Nancy at A Rural Journal

What a beautifully simple photo! And yet it is so dramatic with the tones and the texture. Great job Nancy!

Kristy, Melissa and Nancy please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

One of the positive byproducts of the snow week was having the opportunity to spend time taking pictures around my house. One Wednesday, day 4 of snow and day 2 of snow days, there was a group of at least 30 robins who were flying among the trees in the back yard presumably trying to stay warm. My goal was to capture the robins, the snow on the trees and the snow falling. I must say that wildlife photography is difficult, yet rewarding. What I learned from shooting the robins is try to set your setting as quickly as possible and be patient. It took a while for the robins to become comfortable with my presence and the zoom lens sure helped :o). The first shot is SOOC and the second is a black and white conversion in Lightroom with the basic settings adjusted.

If you love snow and ice shots be sure to come back this week as that is all I from the past week. I am glad to be decompressing and thawing out! I would love to know what you think and if you prefer the color or black and white.

Settings: ISO 400, 250mm, ss1/160, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Converted to black and white in Lightroom

"Birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain." - Doug Coupland

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

Favorite Photo of the Week: Snowy Sunset Surprise 1.15.12

2012-01-23T19:04:00.000-08:00

This post is going up three days late. It has been a week of beauty, stress and challenges. As I mentioned before my absence, we had a snow storm hit Washington State. At my house we got 5 inches of snow and then an ice storm hit. It knocked out power and then more snow fell on top of that. We were without power for about 60 hours, but lucky enough to have a generator to keep us warm. Prior to the snow storm, I had dreamed of snow as we hadn't had any this winter. But I never could have imagined that it would be as much as it was. I have not been to work since Friday, January 13th and will finally get to go back tomorrow January 24th. 3 of the schools in our district are still without power, which is an indication of just how bad this storm was.

My favorite picture from the past week was the shot I took before the worst of the snow hit. We had done some exploring and were driving back home. If you follow along you know I LOVE sunsets, but I was resigned to the fact that I would not be able to get a sunset shot due to the snow clouds. So when I glimpsed the sunset I had to pull over and shoot it. It was so unexpected and one of those shots that I didn't know I really wanted to capture until it presented itself. It felt like a dream. My goal was to capture the snow and the colors of the sunset. In processing, I removed some distractions and played with the basic settings.

I hope to get back on track now that the stress of has began to ebb. I hope you have been staying safe and warm!

Settings: ISO 400, 32mm, ss1/6, f/8.0 (full manual, tripod)

"I'm looking for the unexpected. I'm looking for things I've never seen before." - Robert Mapplethorpe

A Snow Perspective 1.16.12

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

We are now on our third snow day. I am grateful for the snow and the chance to see things from a different perspective. I have mentioned before that I find that snow changes things. Not only does it soften the landscape, but it also slows down the pace and allows you to see things in a way you may not have before. Without the snow I may not have been drawn to the moss clinging to the trees and the weathered bird house perched among the branches. The snow provided a contrast with the greens and amplified the details. I love the texture of the moss, the snow and the bird house. In processing I did a little work with white balance for the first time in a while. I found that snow makes it difficult to get the white balance right. I also worked with the basic settings to play up the details and the contrast. Any tips for getting snow white balance right? Do I need to get a gray card? Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/60, f/8.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/160, f/5.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may, - light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful." - John Constable

Linking up with the link ups below! Take a moment to check out the other fabulous photos.

Sunset in the Snow 1.15.12

2012-01-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

A day in the snow and a surprise sunset on the way home. Two photos metered off different parts of the scene one to capture the snow and one for drama. Removed some distractions using a tip from Courtney at Click it Up a Notch about keeping the lines lined up and did a clean edit in Lightroom. I truly feel blessed to have been able to experience and capture this moment.

Settings: ISO 400, 32mm, ss1/6, f/8.0 (full manual, tripod)

Settings: ISO 400, 32mm, ss1/20, f/8.0 (full manual, tripod)

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." - John Burroughs

Linking up with the link ups below! Take a look at the other amazing photos!

Tones on Tuesday #18 1.17.12

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday! It has been wonderful to see so many new faces linking up to Tones on Tuesday as well as so many returning participants. I love "getting to know" you through your beautiful photographs. I apologize for how long it took me to visit your photos from last week. I am woefully behind on visiting and commenting in general, but I am working on getting back on track :o). Now on with the showcases from last week...

Maboe

I love the softness of the tones and the way that the leaves look like they could be made out of metal. Thank you for sharing with us Maboe!

Marit from Norway

The contrast of the snow with the colorful sky is stunning. I like how the houses and trees frame the sky. Thank you for sharing Marit!

Lynette from Backwoods Photographer

The depth of field draws your eye to the acorns, the color is soft and the feeling is of a moment in time. Thank you for linking up Lynette!

Maboe, Marit and Lynette please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

On a walk his morning before the world was awake, I had the chance to experience the snow. I tried to capture the way the world changes when it snows. I liked how these old mailboxes looked as though they could not have been opened in the near past. With the edit I wanted to keep the softness but add a bit of a vintage, timeless feel. In Lightroom I clicked on Black and White adjusted the blacks, recovery, contrast and clarity. Then I added a small black vignette. I wanted to keep it simple to play up the simplicity of the black and white. What do you think? Do you enjoy snow? Has it made an appearance where you live? I can't wait to see your photos this week! Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/125, f/4.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edited with Lightroom

"No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place." - Zen Proverb

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

Snow Covered 1.15.12

2012-01-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

Snow has come to the Pacific Northwest! Despite an incident yesterday, I had the chance to take a few pictures. What I love about snow is that it transforms the landscape. It makes the world softer and a peace descends that can make a simple walk feel like traveling to another world. The pictures below were taken off the side of a highway on the entrance to a forest road. My goal was to capture the details that the snow drew my attention to. They are all SOOC. The snow continues to fall here and we shall see what happens in regards to school tomorrow. I hope I get to enjoy the snow for a few more days.

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/1000, f/2.5 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/40, f/2.8 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/40, f/8.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, I'll know I'm growing old." - Lady Bird Johnson

Linking up with the link ups below! Be sure to check out the other photos.

Snow Day 1.15.12

2012-01-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

It has been one of those days that started out one way, changed trajectory in the middle and then changed again in the end. The morning began with the first snow fall of the winter season, filling me with excitement to enjoy the snow and take some photographs. After going out for a while, I came back in and against my better judgement walked on the kitchen floor in my slippers. The floor and slippers were wet and I am sure you can guess what happened next...I slipped and landed quite hard hitting my back and tailbone on the floor. I spent the afternoon icing it and taking Advil. I felt well enough to head out for a few pictures on a nearby highway that heads toward the mountains. I wasn't too excited about the photos and I was in pain. On the way home, however, there was a tiny break in the clouds and a beautiful sunset appeared (pictures to come this week :o). The day ended with me coming home, opening the day's photos and being presently surprised.

The photos below were taken off of Highway 410 just before sunset. It was snowing and I had my rain sleeve on my camera (I LOVE that thing!). My goal was to capture the variety of textures coming through the snow and the peaceful setting. When I opened the photos in Lightroom they seemed a bit blue in terms of white balance, but that is exactly what the light was like in person. Therefore, I just bumped up the brightness and fill lights a tiny bit to compensate. I am off to do some more icing of my back. I hope to feel good enough tomorrow to take some snow photos around my neighborhood. I wish you a great beginning to your week. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/125, f/8.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/50, f/8.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow." - Sara Coleridge

Linking up with the link ups below. Find some awe by looking at the photos linked up!

Sunset on the Ridge Wrap Up 1.8.12

2012-01-14T22:37:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I did a wrap up of the New Year's Day sunset I experienced on Indian Beach in Oregon. For today's post I decided to do the same thing with the sunset I captured from a ridge a few miles from my house. I have made many references to my obsession/addiction to sunset and silhouette photography. I am drawn to the colors and the majesty of experiencing a sunset. I strive to capture the beauty and the awe that sunsets fill me with. In terms of shooting a sunset there are two things I have learned that I would love to share with you.

1. A high aperture number (I shoot for f/9.0 or higher) helps to capture the entirety of the landscape and keep the majority of it in focus. This may result in a slow shutter speed so I always have my tripod with me!

2. Meter off the color you want to feature and adjust your settings accordingly. I often take a few pictures from the same perspective and in each one I meter off of a different color. It gives me many options!

Photography is a constant learning and growing experience for me. I know I will never stop learning and trying new things. These are just two tips that have helped me and I wanted share :o). The photos below are SOOC and were taken in the span of about 30 minutes. I hope you enjoy taking a journey through this sunset. Thank you for visiting!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/200, f/11 (full manual, daylight wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/800, f/10 (full manual, daylight wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/50, f/10 (full manual, daylight wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/160, f/10 (full manual, daylight wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/60, f/10 (full manual, daylight wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/80, f/9.0 (full manual, daylight wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/30, f/8.0 (full manual, daylight wb)

Settings: ISO 400, 250mm, ss1/60, f/14 (full manual, tripod)

"Nature is painting for us... day after day... pictures of infinite beauty." - John Ruskiin

Linking up to SOOC Saturday, check out the other SOOC shots! Also linking up with The Simple Things and Scenic Sunday. Be sure to take a look at the beautiful photos there as well!

Favorite Photo of the Week: Contentment 1.8.12

2012-01-13T23:01:00.000-08:00

I had more than one favorite photo this week, surprising I know ;o)! However, one was a sunset photo and one was the photo below. I decided to go with this photo of my dog niece Cece for a few reasons. One, it was not a sunset photo which are the ones I often go to for favorites...I wanted to go with something different. Two, the photo was an accomplishment for me. It is SOOC, it was indoor lighting, it was a subject that was not nature/landscapes/macro and it was taken with my new 50mm lens. All of these factors are accomplishments for me and are another step on my photography journal. Three, the theme for Darcy at my3boybarians Project 52 is "Made with Love." I think that dogs are exceptionally skilled at unconditional love and I have a feeling that love was encoded into their DNA, hence they are made with love :o). I hope to find a few moments this coming week where I can experience this kind of contentment. My wish is that you will too! Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/30, f/2.0 (full manual, tungsten wb)

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made." - Roger Caras

Moonlit Sky 1.8.12

2012-01-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

After seeing an amazing sunset, the moon came out and it was exceedingly bright and full. There was a big bank of clouds moving across the moon and I wanted to capture the details of the moon and the clouds. To get the details of the moon I had to underexpose and to get the clouds I had to overexpose. Therefore, I relied on Lightroom to achieve what I was going for. I used a photo where you could see the clouds and then the adjustment brush on the moon to underexpose it. I like the result as it showcases the contrast of the texture of the moon with the texture of the clouds. For the second photo I wanted to capture the brightness of the moon. With the slow shutter speed I was also able to get a bit of cloud movement as well. I did a clean edit in the goal of playing up with drama of the lighting. What do you think? Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 400, 250mm, ss1/30, f/11 (full manual, tripod)

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss5.0sec, f/9.0 (full manual, tripod)

"I think we're going to the moon because it's in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It's by the nature of his deep inner soul...we're required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream." - Neil Armstrong

Linking up with the link ups below! Take a moment to check out the other fabulous photos...you will not be sorry :o).

A Touch of Color on Mount Rainier 1.8.12

2012-01-11T20:20:00.000-08:00

A hint of the sunset, majestic Mount Rainier and a bit of clouds...what a beautiful way to end a Sunday.

Settings: ISO 400, 135mm, ss1/80, f/10 (full manual, daylight wb)

"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." - John Muir

Linking up with the link ups below! Take a look at the other amazing photos!

Tones on Tuesday #17 1.10.12

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Tones on Tuesday! I am so glad you are here and I hope you will take a look at the photos and link up a photo of your own. Seeing your photos, visiting your blogs and being inspired by your work is one of the highlights of my week!

Now on with the showcases...

Jouko from Rubberduck Blog

Soft, ethereal and peaceful. Doesn't this look like a perfect place to just be? Beautiful tones, Jouko, thank you for sharing and for linking up!

Georgia from Simply Silver

I love the vintage feel of this edit and how it makes a toy look like the real thing. Thank you for linking up Georgia!

Bek from White Magnolia Photography

I find herons to be majestic creatures. I love how the black and white plays that up and adds such great drama. Thank you for sharing this photo with us Bek!

Due to the fact that some participants have been confused about which button to use, I am going to put the "Showcased" button HERE. Jouko, Georgia and Bek please go HERE to grab your button.

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
Have fun!

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

For my picture this week, I am taking a small break from my sunset streak to show off a picture of my dog niece Cece. I love dogs. I grew up with a black lab for the first several years of my life. My favorite show is The Dog Whisperer. But due to my current living situation, I cannot have a dog right now. So, whenever possible I borrow my brother's girlfriend's dog Cece. She is the most amazing animal and just a joy to be around. While she was over yesterday, I took a few pictures using my new 50mm lens. I love this picture of her sleeping as it captures the contentment of a lazy Sunday afternoon. I went with a tip I learned from various blogs I have read about focusing on the subjects eye when using a low aperture number (something I don't often do shooting landscapes) and I think it worked really well for the kind of feeling I wanted. Below are the SOOC and a black and white conversion. I love black and white, but I think I might like the SOOC best in this case. What do you think?

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/30, f/2.0 (full manual, tungsten wb)

Lightroom Black and White Conversion

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

Sunset on the Ridge 1.8.12

2012-01-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

I promise I take pictures of things other than sunsets :o). I think my fascination with sunsets stems from my love of the ocean and beach and the countless visits there. Many of those visits ended with a sunset. There truly is no place like the western coast to watch the sun go down. Now I simply love watching the sky change colors as the sun disappears below the horizon. This sunset shot is from yesterday. I almost didn't have the opportunity to witness it, but luckily for me the call of the sunset is too strong :o). My goal was to capture the range of colors from blue to yellow to orange. I also wanted to communicate the beauty of the clouds and the stillness of standing on this ridge with only a few other sunset viewers. I left it SOOC as I love the light. I plan on showcaseing some non-sunset pictures tomorrow, but more sunset photos just might make an appearance later in the week!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/500, f/14 (full manual, daylight wb)

"The creative habit is like a drug. The particular obsession changes, but the excitement, the thrill of your creation lasts." - Henry Moore

Linking up with the link ups below! Be sure to check out the other photos.

Project 64: Wild Strawberry Sunset 1.8.12

2012-01-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been working on challenging myself in what I choose to photograph. I have done indoor shooting, custom bokeh, food photography and portraits. At the same time though, I cannot stop shooting what I love - landscapes, nature, macro and especially sunrise and sunsets. I am drawn to them. Today for example, I was doing some cooking and little bit of food photography and taking pictures of my dog niece Cece. I looked outside and saw that the sun was setting. There was no guarantee that it would be a brilliantly colored sunset, but I had to try. We jumped in the car and headed to a ridge a couple miles from my house. And oh my was it worth it!

I spent about 20 minutes photographing the changing sky and Mount Rainier. I decided to head home and as I was turning around on the dead end street I noticed the sky was a bright pink. It had changed drastically in the space of 5 minutes. As I driving by I decided to stop again and was rewarded with the shot below. My goal was to capture the brilliancy of the colors and the awe it inspired in me. I left the shot SOOC as it was spot on when it came to showing what I saw. I also thought that within the clouds the color for Project 64 this week, Wild Strawberry, was beautifully intermixed with the orange, red, pink and purple. I am so glad I followed my impulse and that I have yet to tire of shooting sunsets. I love that every one is a different experience and a chance to capture something so simply beautiful. I hope you are not tired of seeing sunset photos here, I have a feeling more are in the future :o).

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/125, f/9.0 (full manual, daylight wb)

"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world." - John Milton

Linking up with the link ups below. Find some awe by looking at the photos linked up!

Sunset on Indian Beach Wrap Up 1.1.12

2012-01-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

I'm wrapping up this week with a few last photos from my New Year's Day Indian Beach photo shoot. My goal was not only to capture the beautiful colors, but also the special feeling of peace and awe that only going to the ocean can give me. They are all SOOC and show the progression of the sunset. I hope you can find a little bit of peace and awe in your coming week. Thank you for visiting!

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/400, f/22 (full manual, sunlight wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, f/10, ss1/1600 (full manual, sunlight wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 116mm, ss1/1600, f/7.1 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/500, f/7.1 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/30, f/8.0 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Peace is when time doesn't matter as it passes by." - Maria Schell

Linking up to SOOC Saturday, check out the other SOOC shots! Also linking up with The Simple Things and Scenic Sunday. Be sure to take a look at the beautiful photos there as well!