Give The Gift Of Knowledge

Posted on November 29, 2011 by steve


It is official, the holidays are upon us.  Music fills the house, “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” is on at the moment.  Garland has been hung and both trees are decorated.
I will admit that Pat did most of the work while I “supervised” and took some photos.

Do you have a family member or friend who enjoys photography
and would like to learn more?
Does your holiday gift list include the purchase of a digital
camera for someone special?
Why not give the gift of a photo class to a budding photographer
or  include a “How To” class with you camera gift to make it extra special?
To give the gift of a photo class: Please use the Paypal link in the right sidebar.

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Downed Dragon

Posted on November 22, 2011 by steve


This giant was originally a pine tree. In driving past,
the angle and the light were just right to
reveal this dragon hidden inside.
One of the points I always emphasize in my
photo classes is learning to see creatively.
99 out of 100 people would have driven past this
old dead tree and never seen a thing.
In fact, one person to ask me what I was taking a photo
of and gave me the strangest look when I pointed and said,
“that dragon over there”.
I encourage my students to look outside box and not just take
the first photo they may see.  I teach techniques that I
have learned over the years that shine a unique light
on the ordinary and make it special.

Posted in art seeing, Classes, fall color, GSMNP, Learn Photography, Photo Classes, Smoky Mountains, Teaching | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Folded Field

Posted on November 3, 2011 by steve


The students ask, “What are leading lines?’  and I try to articulate a good response.  This is the easy way to explain that concept.  A line or lines that move the viewers eye through the image in the manner the artist desired.  In other words, the viewer sees things in the sequence that the artist envisioned at the time of image creation.  A good image is really worth at least 1000 words.   Enjoy!

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Rippled Reflections

Posted on October 30, 2011 by steve


Ah, the benefits of a little time out of the studio.  Having felt as though I was imprisoned by work these last few days, I jumped at the chance to get out a bit.  A local park, one of the places that I go with my students for lessons. So, not new views…old familiar ones.
I needed to find something other than the standard  image….so, a bit  of creativity was in order:  windows with heavy texture + stand mounted flash with filter = image…
Since this was not a class, no students were  harmed in the creation of this image…LOL.

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Cabin Cameo

Posted on October 28, 2011 by steve


Not ten feet from the intersection of a state  highway and a very busy county road.
We pulled up to the stop sign looked and immediately parked the car
off the road to get out the cameras.
Walked around the area, found the best view,  set up the tripods, measured the light, added some 600ws of judicious fill flash and started to work.
As I tell the students: “a good subject is always available, you just need  to look”.
I found it interesting that as we were working a local stopped
and asked what we were photographing.
They drive past  it every day and have become used to the view….
“I wonder why anyone would stop to take a picture of that old house?”
We know though, don’t we?

Posted in Classes, Hocking Hills, Parks, Photo Classes, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mums The Word

Posted on October 26, 2011 by steve


On the way back home from a photo trip to the southern part of the state we ran across this vignette of rural Americana.  A convenience store in a small town with a wonderful front porch area.  The autumn mums illuminated by the adult beverage signs with just a trace of a sunset afterglow.  Just forces one to pull in and make an image.   Enjoy.

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Farm Yard Feline

Posted on October 25, 2011 by steve

Some times, when you are out working, things just come together for a good image.
We were out doing some autumn portraits for a class demonstration and came upon this shaft of sunlight falling right on the old plow.  After setting up the camera for the  ”Plow Photo”  this autumn colored feline walked out from behind the tree and stopped to take a good look at us.  We, of course reciprocated.  ”That’s it kitty, a big smile”  :-)

Posted in Classes, fall color, Parks, Photo Classes, Portraits | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Languid Leaf

Posted on October 16, 2011 by steve

The classes have started, the leaves are falling,  a chill is in the air,  sweaters have been brought out of the closets, and my driveway crunches with dry remnants of summer as I walk out to get the mail.  But, most important is the beauty that surrounds us, at this time of year, here in the mid-west. The light is different in the autumn and there is a stillness in the dappled sunlight that encourages introspection and an appreciation of life itself.  Nature, all spruced up to show us her best.

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Fog Jog

Posted on October 9, 2011 by steve

 

After a morning out making images in the fog.  Mostly soaked to the skin but energized by the creative energy that was still flowing through me. I crossed a bike trail where a jogger waited for my car to get out of his way.  A quick glance down the trail was all I could get as I was going about 50 mph when I came upon the cross over. But it was enough to see the fog and knowing that an image was in the making, I started looking for a place to park.  Finding a pull off about 1/4 mile up the road…..there were now 2 joggers. One on the trail and one with a camera and tripod running for the trail.   This image is the convergence of those two joggers on the trail.
This is the reason that I never put the camera away until I pull into the driveway at home. Even when I think that I am finished for the day, I leave the camera out on the seat beside  me.  I never know what opportunity will present itself along the road and I want to be ready to capture what ever might appear.
I  used this  image as a Lightroom demonstration in my Thursday night class.  Fog and mist are very soft and ethereal and need to be handled very gently.  Save some detail and at the same time preserve the feeling of the experience.  A fine line to balance.

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New Classes Starting

Posted on October 5, 2011 by steve

Ahhh,  the beginning of a new term.
The fall / winter session is getting underway this week.
Tonight is the first Beginning class.  And this morning was the first of the foggy fall mornings that mark the season in this part of the country.   The leaves are getting crunchy on the bike trails.  The light is warmer.  The air is crisper.
My favorite photo season is also getting underway.
So much material to work with….so little time.
I must make the most  of it…..get out of the studio more and back into nature.

Posted in Classes, fall color, Learn Photography, Nature, Photo Classes | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments