Style Tips and Tricks: What Have I Been Shooting Lately?

I thought for my tips and tricks post this week that I would share what I have been shooting lately - a mix of sunset shots, landscapes and macros - and what I have been pondering. Lately, I have been wondering a lot about my style. I must say that I have a great deal of learning and growing to do before I am specifically able to define my style. However, I wanted to share a few things I have discovered about it so far.

1. True to Life - Don't get me wrong, I love presets, textures and other techniques that drastically change a photo from what was seen. However, I feel most accomplished and fulfilled when I am able to produce a photo that is as close to what I saw in reality as possible. 

2. Vibrant and Saturated - I love for my pictures to have vibrant and rich colors. At times I over saturate and use the vibrance a bit too much in my editing, something I am working on, but I feel that the world is full of such amazing color and I want my photos to show that. 

3. Details and The Big Picture - With the new addition of a macro lens I now find myself wanting to capture not only the big picture of the landscape, but also the little details. A variety of perspectives is something that is important to me in life and in photography. 

4. The Feeling of a Place - My goal has evolved as I have taken more and more pictures from capturing what I see to capturing the feeling of what I see. One of the things I love about travel is that each place I visit leaves me with a lasting feeling, whether it be the serenity of the beach or the awe inspiring beauty of a sunset, I always walk away with something. I strive to communicate that feeling in my photos. 

The concept of style has been elusive to me and I have only started to understand it as I have discovered photographers who inspire me who have a distinct style - something that makes me know a picture was taken and edited by them. I don't think I have that yet, but I am moving in the right direction :o). 

I would love to hear how your search for your photography style is going. Feel free to share in the comments or on the Facebook page!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/125, f/16

Location: Astoria, Oregon Riverwalk

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/400, f/16

Location: Astoria, Oregon Riverwalk

Settings: ISO 400, 100mm, ss1/400, f/6.3

Location: Fort Stevens State Park

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/640, f/10

Location: Fort Stevens State Park

Settings: ISO 400, 100mm, ss1/250, f/6.3

Location: Fort Stevens State Park

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/1250, f/14

Location: Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

Settings: ISO 1600, 100mm, ss1/400, f/2.8

Location: The Summit at Snoqualmie Pass 

Settings: ISO 1600, 100mm, ss1/320, f/2.8

Location: The Summit at Snoqalmie Pass

“My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.” – Steve McCurry

Coming up in the next few weeks for Tips and Tricks - 

1. My favorite iPhone and iPad Photography Apps (I will also be hosting a giveaway for the apps I feature)

2. My favorite photography blogs and photographers

3. Is there something you want to know about? Just let me know!

Night/Low Light Photography Tips and Tricks

Adding another post to my tips and tricks topics - Sunbursts, Landscape Locations and now Night/Low Light Photography. Thank you to those of you who take the time to read this and comment. I truly appreciate it! If there is anything you want to know about please feel free to let me know and I will give it a try!

Tips/Tricks (see below for more details)
1. Tripod, Tripod, Tripod!
2. Use a Wireless Remote
3. Pay attention to the light
4. Patience 

Settings: ISO 400, 18mm, ss3.2sec, f/7.1

Portland, OR - February 2012

1. Tripod, Tripod, Tripod! - I carry my tripod with my everywhere I go as you never know what the lighting situation will be when you shoot primarily outdoors. I find it especially important when I want to shoot sunsets, sunrises or in other low light situations. Having a tripod gives you the freedom to use lower shutter speeds and still maintain focus. You never know when you might need it!

Settings: ISO 400, 74mm, ss3.2, f/6.3

Seattle Skyline from Kerry Park - September 2011

Settings: ISO 400, 32mm, ss1/4sec, f/9.0

Sunset Lake in Oregon - August 2012

2. Use a Wireless Remote - Along with a tripod, I also have a wireless remote. Using it instead of pressing the shutter button, even when on a tripod, is another way to cut down on camera shake. If you don't have a remote you can always use the self timer feature.

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss4.0sec, f/11

Sunrise at Kerry Park - October 2012

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss12secs, f/11

Fireworks over Astoria, OR - July 2012

3. Pay attention to the light - This tip could apply to shooting at any time of day, in any light situation. Light makes or breaks a photo. At night and in low light situations the light dictates the need for certain settings, especially when there is a bright light such as the moon. You have to compensate for it so knowing where the light is coming from and what it will do in the camera is important. (This is something I am still learning about.)

Settings: ISO 400, 250mm, ss1/30, f/11

January 2012

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss13.0sec, f/22

Longview, WA - January 2012

4. Patience - One of the biggest things I have learned about Night and Low Light Photography is that you have to be patient to get the best shot. As I mentioned above, knowing about the light is important and knowing that it will change is also important. When shooting sunsets and sunrises in particular, the light is moving and causing changes to the colors in the sky. The best shot can come at any time so I always try to shoot from the beginning to the end in order to catch the light at its most brilliant.

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

Long Beach, WA - March 2012

“The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue, one stroke at a time, into deeper and deeper shades of night.”  ― Haruki Murakami

I Clicked It Up A Notch - October

I cannot believe it is November already! October has been a busy month with not enough photography for my liking, but hopefully I can change that this month. I also can't believe that the monthly contest at Click It Up A Notch is ending. It has been one of my favorite link ups and I will miss it. However, Courtney's blog is full of amazing things to learn and I know I will continue to be a regular visitor. 

The way I Clicked It Up A Notch this month cannot be showcased in a photo as it has to do with sharing tips and tricks on my blog. I am always so inspired and grateful for people who share what they have learned about photography like Courtney. I have wanted to share some of the things I have learned for a while but have been very hesitant about it. Last month and this month I gave it a try. I would love for you to check out my tips on Sunbursts and Landscape Locations. Let me know what you think!

Now as for my submission for this month's contest I chose a photo of a tree outside my house. Believe it or not, I had to tone down the color of the leaves as they are so vibrant in person and in camera. This month has been full of growth and change for me and I feel this photo captures that so well. There is a beauty to even the most difficult change and when we try something new or work to be better we get to see it.

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/160, f/5.6

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living."  - Gail Sheehy 

 

              

Landscape Locations Tips and Tricks

I am giving tips and tricks posts another try! Last time I focused on Sunbursts, this time I would like to share some tips I have about finding and shooting landscape locations. I love exploring the world around me and trying to capture the natural beauty I see. The world is beautiful and diverse in its landscapes and I feel blessed to be able to see a small part of it.

Tips/Tricks (see below for more details)
1. Locations Scouting 
2. Be ready to walk and hike
3. Get above it all
4. Wide Angle and Zoom

Settings: ISO 100, 25mm, ss1/125, f/8.0

Location: Muriel O. Ponsler Memorial State Wayside

1. Location Scouting - I use a few different methods to find places to take landscape photos, here are some of them:

• iPhone Apps - I love National, State and Local Parks for taking photos and I use Oh Ranger! to find ones near where I am. I also use the built in Maps app to find and navigate to parks. Yelp is great for when I find a park to find reviews and secrets about the park. 
• Google Images - I often find inspiration by searching images and find places I want to explore. I will type in an area I want to explore or a time of day I want to capture to find my inspiration.
• Go for a Drive - My favorite way to find places to photograph is to get in my car and drive. To go down the roads I drive by on a regular basis and never have time to explore or to go to unfamiliar places with no agenda or destination in mind.

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss1/200, f/13

Location: Wheeler, Oregon

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

Location: Longview, Washington

2. Be ready to walk and hike - Many of my favorite landscape shots have been off the most obvious trail or have been discovered by walking around just one more corner. I love the discoveries of what is just beyond the bend.

ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/40, f/11 (sunlight wb)

Location: Lincoln City, OR - Siletz Bay

3. Get above it all - There is nothing better than seeing the landscape from a vista to capture the vastness of the land. While I am in no way the best at composition for these shots, I love the feel of being high above and looking out over it all. Finding these vistas is often a matter of just exploring back roads and taking turns that look like they might lead to higher ground.

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss1/250, f/11

Location: Cliff View Restaurant overlooking the Port of Tacoma

4. Wide Angle and Zoom - It is somewhat of an assumption that you should use the widest angle lens you have to take landscape shots and often I agree. However, I am a firm believer in the power of perspective and I feel that sometimes zooming in on a part of the landscape can produce a beautiful picture.

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/200, f/11

Location: Grayland State Park

Settings: ISO 100, 36mm, ss1/100, f/14

Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon

“One of the functions of landscape it to correspond to, nurture, and provoke exploration of the landscape of the imagination. Space to walk is also space to think, and I think that's one thing landscapes give us: places to think longer, more uninterrupted thoughts or thoughts to a rhythm other than the staccato of navigating the city.”  ― Rebecca Solnit

I would love to see your landscape and/or sunburst photos and your own tips and tricks. Please share them on my Facebook page!

A First: Sunburst/Starburst Tips and Tricks

So one of my goals I set on New Year's Day was to share some of what I have learned on my blog. If you follow along you know that I am a teacher by trade. Despite this fact, I have felt super hesitant to do any sort of "teaching" on the blog as I find myself feeling unqualified to do so. However, I have been so grateful for all of the people who have put themselves out there to share what they have learned because it has helped me in my photography journey. It only seems right to give back a little and hopefully help someone move forward a step or two on their own journey. So, without further ado here are a few tips and tricks I have learned about shooting sunbursts and starbursts (along with some of my favorite sunburst shots)...

Tips/Tricks (see below for more details)
1. Shoot in RAW
2. Choose a larger aperture number
3. Meter off the sky
4. Take your shot and then change your perspective and repeat!

Settings: ISO 200, 29mm, ss1/160, f/25

Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area, Quincy, WA - June 2012

1. Shoot in RAW - I do this for all of my photos, but with sunbursts especially it makes processing easier.

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

Washington State Ferry - December 2011

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/100, f/22

Birch Bay, WA - April 2012

2. Choose a large number aperture - My go to for getting the best sunburst shape is f/22, but I have gone as low as f/11 or f/16 in certain situations. And one time even as low as f/5.6, but I think that had more to do with the angle of the sun and camera than the aperture. I have also gone higher such as f/25. Usually the higher the number the more defined the sunburst. In some cases this means using a tripod because the aperture is letting in so little light that your shutter needs to be open longer to expose properly.

As I read on a site when I was first researching how to shoot sunbursts, this is similar to when you squint your eyes thereby letting in less light (just as higher aperture numbers do) and the points of light become starburst shapes. And yes I did try this as I was reading and yes it did help me understand shooting starbursts (just in case you find yourself squinting at a light as you read this :o).

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/320, f/22 

Clark Lake Park, Kent, WA - March 2012

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/640, f/20 

Puyallup Fair, Puyallup, WA - September 2012

3. Meter off the sky - I use spot metering and when I shoot sunbursts I expose (or meter off of) the sky. This can be a little tricky as you are shooting directly into the sun, which can make seeing your light meter difficult. Two things I do about this: 1. Wear sunglasses. Even though this distorts the image color a bit, it helps your eyes not get blinded by the bright sun. And 2. Hold the camera still (or use a tripod) and press down the shutter button halfway so the light meter shows up on your LCD screen and adjust your shutter speed while continuing to hold the camera still.

In many cases when you meter off the sky with the sunlight in the picture it can create an image that is a bit underexposed, but that can be adjusted in post processing.

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

Long Beach, WA - February 2012

4. Take your shot and then change your perspective and repeat! Some of my favorite sunburst shots have come from laying on the ground or standing up when I have started in a different position.

Settings: ISO 400, 55mm, ss1/320, f/5.6

Point Defiance Park Dahlia Test Garden in Tacoma, WA - August 2012

You can also use some of these tricks (shoot in RAW and high aperture number) to capture starbursts (the same as sunbursts, but with lights and not the sun)!

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss13.0sec, f/22

Lewis and Clark Bridge connecting Oregon and Washington

with the Lights of Longview, WA - January 2012

"In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” - Phil Collins

As a side note, if some or most of this sounds like a foreign language to you (which has been the case for me many times over the course of my photography learning) this post does assume that you are shooting on manual. If you aren't I highly recommend you check out Courtney at Click It Up a Notch's posting on shooting manual mode. It is what got me started and I am so happy I have made the switch to manual! 

And of course, if you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments or through email. 

(I would love to know what you thought of my first tips and tricks post! Feedback is always welcome! :o).

Fourth of July 2012!

My favorite holiday just happens to be Fourth of July. I connect with the sense of patriotism and the ideals of freedom, sacrifice and bravery. And then there are the fireworks! There is just something about a fireworks display that makes me happy. The color, the sense of wonder and the sheer beauty is such a wonderful way to celebrate this country that I live in and those who have made and continue to make it possible for me to live free.

For this Fourth of July I am visiting my dad who lives in Astoria, Oregon where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. They have a fireworks display over the Columbia that is done from the East Mooring Basin. I had never been, but was excited to experience a new fireworks display with my dad. We got there a couple of hours before the fireworks were set to start which was perfect timing because we were able to park right across from where the fireworks were going to be set off before the parking lot got full. While we waited I spent some time scoping out the area and photographing the sunset.

Settings: ISO 100, 55mm, ss1/320, f/22 (sunlight wb)

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss1/30, f/22 (sunlight wb)

Finally, the sun dipped below the horizon and that meant the second amazing show of the night was going to begin. I wasn't sure where would be the best vantage point to see the display, so I just found where the tripods and photographers were lining up :o). Last year I got a few good firework shots using auto mode. This year I was determined to shoot in manual and be more intentional about my shots. Prior to heading out I read a couple tutorials, one from The Organic Bloom and one from Digital Photography School. 

For my set up I used my tripod, my 18-55mm lens and my remote control. I set the ISO to 100 to prevent grainy images, my aperture to f/11 to get a wide depth of field, manual focused so that the whole scene was in focus and set my shutter speed to bulb (which leaves the shutter open from when you press the remote button until you press the it again). I had never tried this type of set up before so I really didn't know how it would work out, but once the fireworks started I got into a rhythm. With my remote and the timer on my camera I had two seconds before the shutter opened and then I left it open between 3-12 seconds depending on how many fireworks were going off and how many I wanted in the shot. After a while I found that the best timing was to hit the remote right when I heard the boom and to leave the shutter open until the firework(s) began to fizzle out. 

I LOVE the results. They are so different from what I captured last year and I feel like the preparation really paid off. The 3 shots below are from the beginning, middle and the finale of the show. I really like the trails of the firework reaching the sky, the colors and the framing around the fireworks. For editing I did basic settings in Lightroom on all and for the second shot a removal of distractions and the Fresh and Colorful action by Pioneer Woman in Photoshop. I think the first one is my favorite, but that could be due to the sunset :o). What do you think? 

I hope you had an amazing, safe and fun fourth!

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss12secs, f/11 (on tripod, shutter on bulb)

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss7secs, f/11 (on tripod, shutter on bulb)

Settings: ISO 100, 18mm, ss7secs, f/11 (on tripod, shutter on bulb)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -  The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

    

Also linking up for the Firework Challenge at Kent Weakley's Blog

Tones on Tuesday #28 3.27.12

I know I say this almost every week, but thank you for linking up and for inspiring me with your talent and your journey. I am honored that you choose to join me on Tuesday and share your photos! It was very difficult to choose three photos, but I would not have it any other way :o). Now to the showcases...

Nicky at Awesomeville

My first thought upon seeing this photo was that it was breathtaking! The colors are exquisite, the light extraordinary and the mood ethereal. Thank you for sharing this amazing photo Nicky!

Ansku at Photo by Ansku

The black and white tones, along with the texture, are soft and timeless. The staging and quote (from my favorite movie) tell such a great story. Thank you for linking up Ansku!

Ashley at Ashley Hauck Photography

I love the dramatic feel of this photo and the deep tones. The texture of the petals and the hint of green just add to this gorgeous photo! Thank you for sharing with us Ashley. 

Nicky, Ansku and Ashley please go HERE to grab your showcase button.

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 or a link back here to your post
• Leave comments for at least 3 other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

<center> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oheKkR_BFoQ/ToqWTprynwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/eQ5mj0lgqx4/s1600/tonesontuesday2.jpg"></a> </center>

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

This photo was completely inspired by Melissa Noste at Melissa Noste Photography and her post on the daffodil fields and the zone system. 

After reading Melissa's post that the daffodils were blooming up north of where I live I knew I had to head up there and get a taste of spring. I love the amazing bright yellow of the flower against the deep greens. I love the shape of it and its petals. And I LOVE seeing a sea of flowers. There is something so magical about it. I was also intrigued by the zone system. I spent the drive up north reading the tutorial Melissa recommended, which can be found HERE. This system was developed by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer for black and white sheet film and has been adapted for use with digital photography. For me, it boils down to focusing on capturing colors as true to life as possible. The tutorial does an amazing job of explaining the technique and what it means in practice. 

In the photo below I metered off the yellow of the daffodil and put it in Zone VI, which is used for brighter colors such as pure yellow. This means I overexposed by 1 stop (+1). A more detailed explanation can be found in the tutorial. I was so excited by the SOOC result, the yellow was so close to what it looked like and that is one of the things I strive for when I photograph. I by no means understand the system well, but I am interested and intrigued and want to try more!

I love that I learn so much from other photographers and have the chance to try things out with my camera. I enjoy the journey of learning something new and I am so glad that Melissa shared her journey on her blog! Being inspired by fellow photographers is one of my greatest joys. 

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/1250, f/3.2 (cloudy wb, Zone VI)

Intent: The shape and details of the daffodil

SOOC Shot

Lightroom Clean Edit

Upped blacks, brightness, contrast, clarity, vibrance and saturation

Decreased lights, darks and shadows using the tone curve

Intent: To make the colors pop a bit

"Inspiration doesn't really work like that - you're not looking out for it. Inspiration is something that tends to capture you rather than you capture it." - Joan Armatrading

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