5-23, Deckers, CO

Photography's been first and foremost in my thoughts lately.  How can I become a better photographer?  How can I capture the scenes before me more creatively?  What technical settings and functions will bring more depth to my work?  I've been listening to a lot of podcasts, reading a lot of informative articles and keeping my eyes open to the play of light and shadow as I traverse my day.  On a recent trip with my family to Deckers, CO, I focused on  photographing differently than I normally do.  I tried different camera angles, particularly lower to the ground.  I slowed my shutter speed down, WAY down, to yield the flow of the swift waters of the South Platte River.  I didn't take any award-winning photographs during the adventure, but I did force myself to 'think outside the box' which I hope will enhance my skills to the point that I will be making those award-winning photos someday.  My favorite images, worthy of mentioning, are the contrasting ones of my son fishing.  In the first image, the waters are smoothly flowing around him thanks to a slow shutter speed (1/2 second).  In the second image, I increased the shutter speed to 1/320 second and the water appears brisk and choppy due to the faster shutter speed.  My take away from this for you?  Experiment-- try different things.  Learn your camera-- explore its many functions  Even when the day is dull and dreary, as this day began, utilize the soft, even light that the clouds provide.  Every day can be a photography day!

Shutter Speed:  1/2 second

Shutter Speed:  1/320 second

Ok, I have to admit-- the entire day wasn't dreary.  The sun broke through the clouds in the afternoon and it was a completely different landscape.  In effect, I had two photographic adventures and not just one thanks to the changing skies.

What a place for a pay phone, right?!

5-24, Bingham Lake

My most recent photo expedition was a walk around our nearby neighborhood lake at dawn.  My early morning walks used to be about minutes, miles and calories.  Lately, they've been about shutter speed, aperture and ISO.  I'm not sure my body receives the workout it normally does when I bring my camera along.  However, I like to think that the trade-off of speed to squats somehow evens it all out.  I'm surprised how much earlier the sun is shining these days and what a difference 15 minutes can make with the play of light at that time of day.  I may have missed the sun rising above the tree tops this time around, but I saw a beautiful layer of fog over the lake that I don't normally see.  It's all about making the most of what lies in front of you whether it's a beautiful scene or the exercise of the expedition!

5-21, Photo Walk

I've been feeling a little disengaged lately.  Not that I haven't been completely consumed by photography as a whole, but from the actual act of placing the camera in my hand and capturing images.  With the clock ticking down to the end of the school year, I realized that my quiet moments will soon be diminishing.  I spent a few hours alone this morning, just me and my camera (and my new Tamrac sling bag-- yes!!).  Now that I've completed my Intensive Portrait course from NYIP, I want to switch gears a little and focus on the wonders that the natural world offers.  My objective:  again see the world as a child and find intrigue in the little things.  I wasn't on a grand hike through the mountains, I was on a simple walk through our neighborhood.  I saw things that we don't normally see here in this area:  dew drops and mud puddles.  It's been especially wet and humid for the past few weeks.  It feels downright strange.  I'd expect this in other places, but it is definitely not normal for the high desert.  The usual intense, afternoon thunderstorms have been replaced by consistent cloudy skies and misty rains.  (Now how did Mother Nature know I've been missing Washington so?!).  My little excursion has spurred my appetite for more... bring on the mountains.... rain or shine!