Scattered Horizons Photoblog

Sunday, November 4, 2012

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

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

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

Monday, October 29, 2012

Tones on Tuesday #52 10.30.12

Be sure to check out my tips and tricks for Landscape Locations!

Sending out thoughts and prayers to my family on the East Coast and everyone who is weathering the storm! Stay safe and take care of each other!

Lorik at LorikArt's Sunroom

The warm tones are lovely in this photo and remind me of fall. Gorgeous texture and composition as well! Thank you for linking up Lorik.

Mila at Mila's World of Colors

The motion in this photo is fantastic and I love the light! It captures the essence of a carnival. Thank you for sharing Mila.

Ruthie at Ruthie Photography

Love the depth of field with the focus on the water droplets! The bokeh in the background adds to a serene feel. Thank you for linking up Ruthie.

Lorik, Mila and Ruthie 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 is 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!

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

There is a tree in my front yard that has the brightest, most vibrant leaves every fall. This weekend I attempted to capture the color despite less than stellar light. The most amazing part of this photo is that I had to tone down the leaves as SOOC they were almost blindly bright, which at times is how they are in person. I love the colors of fall, it is like someone takes a paintbrush and paints the leaves with amazing color. What do you love about fall?

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

“Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year.” ― Chad Sugg

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

Sunday, October 28, 2012

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!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tones on Tuesday #51 10.23.12

Thank you for coming back to link up with Tones on Tuesday. I apologize for being a day late due subscription problems and late night conferences at work. All is straightened out now and the linky is up a little further down :o). I want to say thank you to all of you who link up each week. There are many link ups you could choose and I am glad this is one of them! Also, it is wonderful to see many new photographers joining us!

Now onto the showcases from last week...

Emily at Bayberry

The softness of the black and white in this photo is lovely! And the expression of wonder is just precious! Thank you for sharing Emily!

Teresa at Eden Hills Photography

I love the light in this photo. It is stunning! And the texture adds a beautiful vintage feel. Thank you for sharing Teresa!

Mrs. Claus at Like Christmas Every Day

What amazing catchlights in those beautiful eyes! The dreaminess of the black and white adds so much to this photo. Thank you for sharing!

Emily, Teresa and Mrs. Claus please go HERE to grab your showcase button.