Texture Illuminated 4.13.12

On the last day of my Spring Break, Friday, we drove up to northern Washington to the Semiahmoo Park and then to Birch Bay. We were almost to Canada and I had never been that far north before. Both parks were beautiful and unique. It was an amazing new experience and a great place to recharge. 

Location: Semiahmoo Park

Settings: ISO 200, 250mm, ss1/400, f/22 (sunlight wb)

Intent: The sparkling of the sun and the texture of the clouds

LR Processing: Clean edit with basic settings and tone curve to add definition

Location: Birch Bay Park

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/100, f/22 (sunlight wb)

Intent: The texture of the rocks and the lines of the water and beach

LR Processing: Clean edit with basic settings and tone curve to add vibrancy

"The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." - Henry Miller

  

Favorite Photo of the Week: A Shell on the Shore 3.18.12

At first I was going to choose one of sunset photos I took this past weekend. You can see them here or here. However, when getting ready to post there was just something about the photo I took on the rocky beach at Kitsap Memorial Park. The colors and the texture just seemed to pull me in. Originally I did a clean edit in Lightroom. For this one I also cropped it a bit. The quote I have chosen to go with this photo perfectly captures my feelings toward photography. I continue to run into obstacles, yet my passion and desire to become a better photographer supersedes them. This photo took a few tries and edits to get the texture and light I wanted, but I had to persist. When you have the hunger you have no choice :o). 

I would love to know your thoughts! Thanks for stopping by! 

On a side note, are you planning on seeing The Hunger Games this weekend? I read the books a long time ago and I am pretty excited for the movie. I think the quote applies to that story as well!

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/4000, f/2.0 (cloudy wb)
Intent: The texture of the shell and the color of the rocks

"Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way." - Les Brown

        

The Rocky Shore 3.18.12

My goal for March has been to find a better balance in my life. One of the things that has been helping is getting back to spending one day on the weekend using my camera. Not only does this allow me to take photos to share with you, but it also helps me recharge. Taking photographs is a time to focus on something I am passionate about and something that brings me joy. This past weekend, my mom and I headed to Kitsap Memorial Park after a fun ride on the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton. The weather was not the best, but the rain had stopped and the sun was peeking out a bit. With the weather being what it was, I was drawn to the shells and rocks covering the beach. I thought it was the perfect place to capture some natural texture. I really like the end result after a bit of a clean edit in Lightroom. I also attempted a self-portrait. I framed the shot, set the settings and then had my mom take the photo. While there are elements I like, I am still not a fan of my self-portraits. I am determined to continue to try though. What do you think of the photos below? Thank you for sharing!

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/4000, f/2.0 (cloudy wb)
Intent: The texture of the shell and the color of the rocks

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/2500, f/2.5 (cloudy wb)
Intent: The texture and detail of the barnacles

Settings: ISO 200, 41mm, ss1/320, f/5.0 (cloudy wb)
Intent: The leading line to the canal and to use the available light

"A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for." - John A. Shedd

  

Looking Up at Clark Lake 3.8.12

Sometimes when you look up you see the most beautiful things that may otherwise have gone unnoticed...

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/160, f/22 (sunlight wb)

Intention: The bright blue sky and the wispy clouds

Settings: ISO 200, 28mm, ss1/500, f/7.1 (sunlight wb)

Intention: The vibrant sky against the tree

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/60, f/11 (sunlight wb)

Intention: The texture and shape of the tree against the setting sun

"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls." - Joseph Campbell

 

A New Camera Bag at the Kirkland Marina Park 3.03.12

After the fantastic birthday brunch for my brother on Saturday, we headed to REI and I just had to look at camera backpacks :o). I wasn't expecting to find one, but I came across the Lowepro Sling Shot AW Series and it is exactly what I wanted. Being that I shoot outdoors and often have to walk a ways to capture my landscape and nature shots, I wanted something that was comfortable and easy to use. What I love about this backpack is that I can wear it on my back, swing it to the front and easily grab my camera or change lens. If you click on the link above you can see a video of what I am talking about. I also love the plethora of pockets and compartments that allows everything to have its place. Here is my camera fitting snugly in its new home :o):

Taken with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone 

Edited with the Photogene2 App 

I have to mention my camera strap. I won it in the Shades of Autumn contest a few months back. It is by Gina at Stylish Beach Bum. I love the black and white and that the inside is soft and plush. It is a joy to wear.

Once we left REI we headed to Kirkland Marina Park and of course I had to put everything in my new camera bag in car so I could try it out (of course I did :o). It worked perfectly and allowed me to change my lens and feel secure even in a very intense wind. What I love about this park is that it is in the middle of downtown and on the water. It was filled with families and couples enjoying the sun despite the wind. There was an interesting sculpture in the middle of the park that I wanted to photograph. My goal was to get the lines of the sculpture as a silhouette and the bright blue of the sky with the soft texture of the clouds. The birds were a bonus! In processing I worked with the basic settings and the tone curve to make the colors pop and the silhouette stronger. What do you think?

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/2000, f/10 (full manual, sunlight wb)

"Sculpture occupies real space like we do... you walk around it and relate to it almost as another person or another object." - Chuck Close

 

Bucket List: A Bald Eagle in Siletz Bay 2.19.12

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

 

Favorite Photo of the Week: Cece in the Snow 1.16.12

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

          

Frozen 1.19.12

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.

  

A Snow Perspective 1.16.12

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.

 

Moonlit Sky 1.8.12

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).