You can find countless numbers of pictures of sea oats with a blue sky and beautiful beach in the background, but not this one. Tropical Storm Lee is still with us and that is making for a very different atmosphere.
The beach is off to my right and the wind is blowing in at probably 20 knots. There is sand blowing all over the place and the foam that is churned up when the surf is high is forming into clumps on the beach and blowing all around.
On a calm day the sea oats are standing almost straight up, but with the wind and rain they're bent over and whipping around like crazy. In a few days, though, Lee will have moved north and we will be back to normal. The sea oats will be standing up again and they, just like us, will have moved on.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sea Oats in the Wind
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
White and Purple
1/100 180mm f2.8 -2/3EV
I haven't blogged about a flower picture in awhile, so I'm due.
I got this shot not long after the leaf shot I posted a few days ago. There were several of these flowers along the path and i spent a good while taking shots from all different angles. This one I got while laying on the sidewalk shooting up toward the plant.
In Scott Kelby's first Digital Photography Book he makes a point of talking about how taking good flower pictures requires you to do more than just stand over a flower and take a picture. You have to crawl through grass and lay on the ground. Find different angles and figure out the best way to get the shot you're looking for. You have to see where the light is and how it's working off of the flower.
When it all comes together, though, it is absolutely worth every bit of effort.
What do you think?
I haven't blogged about a flower picture in awhile, so I'm due.
I got this shot not long after the leaf shot I posted a few days ago. There were several of these flowers along the path and i spent a good while taking shots from all different angles. This one I got while laying on the sidewalk shooting up toward the plant.
In Scott Kelby's first Digital Photography Book he makes a point of talking about how taking good flower pictures requires you to do more than just stand over a flower and take a picture. You have to crawl through grass and lay on the ground. Find different angles and figure out the best way to get the shot you're looking for. You have to see where the light is and how it's working off of the flower.
When it all comes together, though, it is absolutely worth every bit of effort.
What do you think?
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Leaf on a Table
One of the cool things about traveling as much as I do is that I get to explore. Sometimes it's just exploring around the hotels where I stay.
This leaf was sitting on a stone chess table in the garden of the hotel where I stayed last week. It was a little after 6AM and the sun was just below the horizon and hidden behind the hotel itself. The dew was still very heavy over everything and that let me get the really cool water droplets on the leaf.
I'm sure that if anybody was watching I looked fairly silly crawling all over the ground and the table, but to me it's worth it.
Let me know what you think!
This leaf was sitting on a stone chess table in the garden of the hotel where I stayed last week. It was a little after 6AM and the sun was just below the horizon and hidden behind the hotel itself. The dew was still very heavy over everything and that let me get the really cool water droplets on the leaf.
I'm sure that if anybody was watching I looked fairly silly crawling all over the ground and the table, but to me it's worth it.
Let me know what you think!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Footprint on a Feather
1/3200 140mm f2.8 0EV
Every year during The Presentation Summit, http://www.betterppt.com/summit/, photographer +Rikk Flohr leads some of the attendees on a photography "field trip". Last year's summit was in San Diego and we spent the field trip walking along Mission Beach. This, for me was the first time I had a chance to really give my 70-200 f2.8 lens a workout and it is amazing how a different lens can change your perspective.
Prior to this I was shooting exclusively with a 17-40 wide angle. I saw the world like that, the big picture. Yeah, you can get in close with a 17-40 but I was a wide angle shooter! What I learned with the new lens is that the details, the small details, should not be overlooked.
I think this shot shows that. I don't know if the person walking down the beach saw this feather, but most likely not. They saw the big picture around them and completely missed the small details.
Food for thought, I suppose.
Every year during The Presentation Summit, http://www.betterppt.com/summit/, photographer +Rikk Flohr leads some of the attendees on a photography "field trip". Last year's summit was in San Diego and we spent the field trip walking along Mission Beach. This, for me was the first time I had a chance to really give my 70-200 f2.8 lens a workout and it is amazing how a different lens can change your perspective.
Prior to this I was shooting exclusively with a 17-40 wide angle. I saw the world like that, the big picture. Yeah, you can get in close with a 17-40 but I was a wide angle shooter! What I learned with the new lens is that the details, the small details, should not be overlooked.
I think this shot shows that. I don't know if the person walking down the beach saw this feather, but most likely not. They saw the big picture around them and completely missed the small details.
Food for thought, I suppose.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Castle with Mickey Icons
I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm not very good at shooting at night. That is mostly because I just don't do it very much. I'm trying to fix that.
This week I had the opportunity to travel to Disney for work and I took some time to take my tripod into the parks. One of my favorite places to shoot Cinderella's Castle is from the bridge just past the rose garden. I like the reflections that you can get in the water next to the castle.
This shot is from the "Magic, Memories and You" show just before the Wishes fireworks. I had never seen it before so I didn't know what to expect. I set the camera up on the tripod, attached the cable release, set the camera on Av and just clicked the shutter when I felt like the time was right. I managed to get a few shots that I really like and this one I think is really cool.
Mickey icons on Cinderella's Castle, for a Disney nut like me, it just doesn't get a whole lot better than that!
This week I had the opportunity to travel to Disney for work and I took some time to take my tripod into the parks. One of my favorite places to shoot Cinderella's Castle is from the bridge just past the rose garden. I like the reflections that you can get in the water next to the castle.
This shot is from the "Magic, Memories and You" show just before the Wishes fireworks. I had never seen it before so I didn't know what to expect. I set the camera up on the tripod, attached the cable release, set the camera on Av and just clicked the shutter when I felt like the time was right. I managed to get a few shots that I really like and this one I think is really cool.
Mickey icons on Cinderella's Castle, for a Disney nut like me, it just doesn't get a whole lot better than that!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Mickey on a Coconut
The last time we were up in Seattle we ran into a woman whose husband was deployed to Iraq. His call sign was 'Popeye' so they had a small stuffed Popeye with them and they were taking pictures with it everywhere they went. That way her husband was "with her" everywhere.
That sounded like an awesome idea, so we modified it a little bit. The next time we were at Disney we bought this Mickey Mouse keychain and he goes everywhere we go. He's in the strap of one of the camera bags and he makes appearances no matter where we end up, including Hawaii.
This shot is from up on the North Shore on Oahu and Mickey is hanging out on the coconut that Shanon had bought from one of the stands along the way. To me this is quintessential Hawaii. The beach, a plumeria, a coconut and, ok Mickey isn't exactly "Hawaii" but they are building a resort there!
I do want to point one of the technicals on this shot. This was shot at f40. No, I'm not missing a dot between the 4 and 0, it's really a 40. Highest f-stop I have ever shot at and honestly, didn't know the lens would go all the way up there. It helped me get a lot of the beach in the shot which I think is important to make the shot work.
Expect to see more random appearances by Mickey. You just never know where he's going to turn up next!
That sounded like an awesome idea, so we modified it a little bit. The next time we were at Disney we bought this Mickey Mouse keychain and he goes everywhere we go. He's in the strap of one of the camera bags and he makes appearances no matter where we end up, including Hawaii.
This shot is from up on the North Shore on Oahu and Mickey is hanging out on the coconut that Shanon had bought from one of the stands along the way. To me this is quintessential Hawaii. The beach, a plumeria, a coconut and, ok Mickey isn't exactly "Hawaii" but they are building a resort there!
I do want to point one of the technicals on this shot. This was shot at f40. No, I'm not missing a dot between the 4 and 0, it's really a 40. Highest f-stop I have ever shot at and honestly, didn't know the lens would go all the way up there. It helped me get a lot of the beach in the shot which I think is important to make the shot work.
Expect to see more random appearances by Mickey. You just never know where he's going to turn up next!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Columns and light - Dayton, OH
I travel a lot for work and frequently I take the time to take some shots of the city that I'm visiting. Today I decided to start sharing some of them.
This shot, as you can see from the name, is in downtown Dayton, OH. I'm a big fan of architecture and this view struck me as really cool. I like the amount of work on the columns and the light and the lights inside the building add a bit to the picture by drawing you inside the building a little bit.
As I travel more I'll add to my collection and I'll post some of those pictures here from time to time.
In the meantime I've posted two more shots from this trip on my flickr page. Cruise on over and take a look at my Photostream!
This shot, as you can see from the name, is in downtown Dayton, OH. I'm a big fan of architecture and this view struck me as really cool. I like the amount of work on the columns and the light and the lights inside the building add a bit to the picture by drawing you inside the building a little bit.
As I travel more I'll add to my collection and I'll post some of those pictures here from time to time.
In the meantime I've posted two more shots from this trip on my flickr page. Cruise on over and take a look at my Photostream!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Purple Haze
1/500 200mm f3.5 0EV
Yep, it's a flower and yes, I like this shot very much.
I don't talk very much about the technical aspects of how I get shots like this because, well, to anybody but photographers, the techie stuff is really not all that interesting. But I want to chat about this one for a bit.
This shot was taken in 1/500th of a second. Let that sink in for a second. Is there anything else that you can think of that happens that fast that you can see? But here, you can. Right at the top of this post is what 1/500th of a second looks like.
Would this picture look the same if it had been taken 1/500th earlier or 1/1000th later? Honestly, I don't know.
Light changes, wind blows, people walk by, shadows shift. All of those things can change and make the next frame completely different. Enough for it to really change this small of an amount of time. I don't know that either.
What I do know is this. This 1/500th of a second in time has been captured, maybe for eternity.
If any of you have been thinking about picking up a camera at the store, or digging the old one out of the closet and dusting it off, DO IT! You can get a shot that lasts forever, and it may only take 1/500th of a second to make it happen.
Yep, it's a flower and yes, I like this shot very much.
I don't talk very much about the technical aspects of how I get shots like this because, well, to anybody but photographers, the techie stuff is really not all that interesting. But I want to chat about this one for a bit.
This shot was taken in 1/500th of a second. Let that sink in for a second. Is there anything else that you can think of that happens that fast that you can see? But here, you can. Right at the top of this post is what 1/500th of a second looks like.
Would this picture look the same if it had been taken 1/500th earlier or 1/1000th later? Honestly, I don't know.
Light changes, wind blows, people walk by, shadows shift. All of those things can change and make the next frame completely different. Enough for it to really change this small of an amount of time. I don't know that either.
What I do know is this. This 1/500th of a second in time has been captured, maybe for eternity.
If any of you have been thinking about picking up a camera at the store, or digging the old one out of the closet and dusting it off, DO IT! You can get a shot that lasts forever, and it may only take 1/500th of a second to make it happen.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Freedom Flyer
This balloon is based out of Tallahassee, FL and was one of about 50 at this year's Gulf Coast Hot Air Ballon Festival in Foley, AL.
Foley, for those of you who don't know, is not exactly a hotbed for hot air balloon activity. But for the last 7 years they have been putting on this festival and this year we took the time to go. It really is a god time, but photographically, it's tough.
First the balloons only fly right around sunup and right at sundown and on into dusk. Seems perfect, right? Not quite.
Hot air balloons are incredibly susceptible to weather. If the wind is above about 5-10mph they can't fly very well, which is why they fly primarily at dawn and dusk. But with that narrow of a window they frequently can't get off the ground until the sun is well above the horizon. This, to a photographer, can be a killer.
So, you improvise. You work angles and you find where the light is good. You wait for a cloud to diffuse the light so it isn't as harsh. You also get up at 4AM and stay until 9 at night so you can be there for the light.
I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, because I'm not. This kind of thing is bucket list stuff and there is nothing that can replace seeing hot air balloons like this one drifting over the trees just after dawn.
Throw a camera in the mix and you might just get something to take home with you!
Foley, for those of you who don't know, is not exactly a hotbed for hot air balloon activity. But for the last 7 years they have been putting on this festival and this year we took the time to go. It really is a god time, but photographically, it's tough.
First the balloons only fly right around sunup and right at sundown and on into dusk. Seems perfect, right? Not quite.
Hot air balloons are incredibly susceptible to weather. If the wind is above about 5-10mph they can't fly very well, which is why they fly primarily at dawn and dusk. But with that narrow of a window they frequently can't get off the ground until the sun is well above the horizon. This, to a photographer, can be a killer.
So, you improvise. You work angles and you find where the light is good. You wait for a cloud to diffuse the light so it isn't as harsh. You also get up at 4AM and stay until 9 at night so you can be there for the light.
I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, because I'm not. This kind of thing is bucket list stuff and there is nothing that can replace seeing hot air balloons like this one drifting over the trees just after dawn.
Throw a camera in the mix and you might just get something to take home with you!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Old Ford Tractor
I love old tractors like I love old cars.
There was a display of old tractors at the hot air balloon festival Shanon and I went to last weekend. Most of the tractors were restored but some, like this one, were still in pretty rough shape. I think that gives it a ton of character.
The old guys that are restoring the tractors, who are characters themselves, were there to talk about the work they're doing to bring these antiques new life. They're a good group of guys and they really love their tractors.
I know that in a lot of places tractors, and the restoration of them, is not terribly popular, but the tractor in this picture helped to build this country. To me it isn't just an antique, it's part of our history.
There was a display of old tractors at the hot air balloon festival Shanon and I went to last weekend. Most of the tractors were restored but some, like this one, were still in pretty rough shape. I think that gives it a ton of character.
The old guys that are restoring the tractors, who are characters themselves, were there to talk about the work they're doing to bring these antiques new life. They're a good group of guys and they really love their tractors.
I know that in a lot of places tractors, and the restoration of them, is not terribly popular, but the tractor in this picture helped to build this country. To me it isn't just an antique, it's part of our history.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Fort Morgan Arches
History is a big deal to me and I love old forts.
This shot is from Fort Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay.
The fort was completed in 1834 and saw service in the Civil War providing blockade coverage for the bay by the Confederacy and then by the Union after it was captured.
One of the most incredible things to me is that in 1900 the fort had four 12" breech loading guns that could launch a 1,046 pound shell 8 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico.
It is amazing to me what you can do with a really big gun and a LOT of powder to push a shell!
These long arched hallways provided structural support for the building itself, gave the men that were stationed at the fort a means to move around and served as a way to resupply different parts of the fort with everything from provisions to ammunition and gunpowder.
All of this was done in the 19th and 20th century, long before we had the technology we do today, and the fort is still standing.
I wonder how many things we build today will be around as long as this one has...
This shot is from Fort Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay.
The fort was completed in 1834 and saw service in the Civil War providing blockade coverage for the bay by the Confederacy and then by the Union after it was captured.
One of the most incredible things to me is that in 1900 the fort had four 12" breech loading guns that could launch a 1,046 pound shell 8 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico.
It is amazing to me what you can do with a really big gun and a LOT of powder to push a shell!
These long arched hallways provided structural support for the building itself, gave the men that were stationed at the fort a means to move around and served as a way to resupply different parts of the fort with everything from provisions to ammunition and gunpowder.
All of this was done in the 19th and 20th century, long before we had the technology we do today, and the fort is still standing.
I wonder how many things we build today will be around as long as this one has...
Monday, June 20, 2011
White & Purple
I haven't blogged about a flower shot in awhile, so i think I'm due.
Flowers fascinate me as I've mentioned here before. What fascinates me almost as much is the incredible amount of time that Disney spends on them.
Of the roughly 50,000 people that Disney employs in Orlando only about 750 of them work in the horticulture department. In 2003 there were 175,000 trees, four million shrubs, 13,000 rose bushes, and 2,000 acres of turf, at least according to National Geographic.
I'm sure that today there are at least as many plants, trees, and bushes as there were in 2003. All of them maintained by less than a thousand people.
They replace hundreds if not thousands of plants every night throughout all four Disney parks and the Downtown Disney area. Most of this is done long after the guest have departed, well hidden from public view. They work through the night so that in the morning the park's landscaping looks fresh and new.
So the next time you're at Disney take a minute to look at the landscaping. People you will probably never see spend their lives making it look just exactly right. All the way down to one small White & Purple flower.
Flowers fascinate me as I've mentioned here before. What fascinates me almost as much is the incredible amount of time that Disney spends on them.
Of the roughly 50,000 people that Disney employs in Orlando only about 750 of them work in the horticulture department. In 2003 there were 175,000 trees, four million shrubs, 13,000 rose bushes, and 2,000 acres of turf, at least according to National Geographic.
I'm sure that today there are at least as many plants, trees, and bushes as there were in 2003. All of them maintained by less than a thousand people.
They replace hundreds if not thousands of plants every night throughout all four Disney parks and the Downtown Disney area. Most of this is done long after the guest have departed, well hidden from public view. They work through the night so that in the morning the park's landscaping looks fresh and new.
So the next time you're at Disney take a minute to look at the landscaping. People you will probably never see spend their lives making it look just exactly right. All the way down to one small White & Purple flower.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sassagoula
The Sassagoula Steamboat Company is one of the stranger named "attractions" at Walt Disney World. There are no steamboats involved and, so far as I know, the waterway you float down is not the Sassagoula river.
What it is, though, is a wonderfully relaxing pontoon boat ride between Downtown Disney and the Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside resorts. There are no crowds and no fastpasses required. Just a simple, quiet boat ride.
I particularly enjoy the ride at dusk. If you leave from one of the resorts you float past the newly renovated Treehouse Villas, which as the sun sets are both eery and inviting all at the same time, if such a thing is possible. After a few more turns you end up next to the Saratoga Springs resort which really takes on a lot of character in the evening light.
At the end of the ride you end up at Downtown Disney for a nice dinner, a stroll past some pretty cool stores and maybe an after dinner drink at the House of Blues.
Not bad for a simple pontoon boat, eh?
What it is, though, is a wonderfully relaxing pontoon boat ride between Downtown Disney and the Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside resorts. There are no crowds and no fastpasses required. Just a simple, quiet boat ride.
I particularly enjoy the ride at dusk. If you leave from one of the resorts you float past the newly renovated Treehouse Villas, which as the sun sets are both eery and inviting all at the same time, if such a thing is possible. After a few more turns you end up next to the Saratoga Springs resort which really takes on a lot of character in the evening light.
At the end of the ride you end up at Downtown Disney for a nice dinner, a stroll past some pretty cool stores and maybe an after dinner drink at the House of Blues.
Not bad for a simple pontoon boat, eh?
Monday, June 13, 2011
I'm on Alltop!!!
Guy Kawasaki, former Apple Evangelist and creator of Truemors, created Alltop.com. It's a clearing house for blogs and it organizes them by category.
About a month ago I submitted this blog and I got an email this weekend that my blog had been accepted!
Go here alltop.com/photography and scroll all the way down to the bottom (that's where the new guys live) and you'll see a link to this blog.
By the way, the more visits and comments I get the higher up on the Alltop listing I will be. Hint Hint...
About a month ago I submitted this blog and I got an email this weekend that my blog had been accepted!
Go here alltop.com/photography and scroll all the way down to the bottom (that's where the new guys live) and you'll see a link to this blog.
By the way, the more visits and comments I get the higher up on the Alltop listing I will be. Hint Hint...
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Destin Beach
Summer is here! The temperatures are up and the days are getting longer.
Summer here in Northwest Florida means that the tourists are filling up the beaches and are convinced that the easiest way to get to their condo on the right side of the road is from the far left lane.
It's hard to get a table at a restaurant and that's only if you can find a parking space and the main highway looks a lot like a frogger game.
There are scores of locals who barely leave the house on the weekends these days and that is a shame because when you get through the traffic, dodge the people crossing the road and make it to the world's most beautiful beaches you are treated to this view.
This makes it all worth it.
Summer here in Northwest Florida means that the tourists are filling up the beaches and are convinced that the easiest way to get to their condo on the right side of the road is from the far left lane.
It's hard to get a table at a restaurant and that's only if you can find a parking space and the main highway looks a lot like a frogger game.
There are scores of locals who barely leave the house on the weekends these days and that is a shame because when you get through the traffic, dodge the people crossing the road and make it to the world's most beautiful beaches you are treated to this view.
This makes it all worth it.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Window Where?
1/200 85mm f5.0 -1/3EV
It's no secret that I am a huge Disney fan. One of the reasons is how meticulously they pay attention to detail.
This shot is from the UK Pavilion in Epcot and is a great representation of one of my favorite design elements in the parks, windows. When I posted this picture I asked a simple question, where is this window? The first person who answered was spot on, and they aren't even a big Disney fan.
From the picture they could tell that the window was definitely western european, which narrowed it down to either the Germany, France or UK pavilions. A quick flickr search and bingo, there was another picture of this window.
Disney has done such a good job of theming everything they touch that a non-Disney fan can look at one picture of a window and within just a few minutes tell you where the window is in a park that has hundreds if not thousands of them.
That's just the time they spent on the windows!
This is one of the biggest reasons I love Disney as much as I do and am not afraid to admit it. It's not all about the mouse, it's about the effort that has been taken just to make sure that something as simple as a window looks just the way it should.
It's no secret that I am a huge Disney fan. One of the reasons is how meticulously they pay attention to detail.
This shot is from the UK Pavilion in Epcot and is a great representation of one of my favorite design elements in the parks, windows. When I posted this picture I asked a simple question, where is this window? The first person who answered was spot on, and they aren't even a big Disney fan.
From the picture they could tell that the window was definitely western european, which narrowed it down to either the Germany, France or UK pavilions. A quick flickr search and bingo, there was another picture of this window.
Disney has done such a good job of theming everything they touch that a non-Disney fan can look at one picture of a window and within just a few minutes tell you where the window is in a park that has hundreds if not thousands of them.
That's just the time they spent on the windows!
This is one of the biggest reasons I love Disney as much as I do and am not afraid to admit it. It's not all about the mouse, it's about the effort that has been taken just to make sure that something as simple as a window looks just the way it should.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
To Infinity...
1/10 70mm f7.1 -1/3EV
As you can imagine I get some ribbing for being a flower shooter and for my obvious fascination with all things Disney. So, Kurt, this post is for you, it's got flowers and Disney in it!
I'm a big fan of Buzz Lightyear and it was cool to see the front flower bed at Epcot done up with a Toy Story theme. They change it up every year for the Flower and Garden festival.
This shot actually shows one of the things that I find most frustrating about shooting at Disney. See, this is not the shot I wanted. The one I was working on was about 10 feet to the left and quite a bit wider.
I didn't get that shot because of the other people in the park. I stood in the spot I wanted the picture from for 10 minutes and just could not get a clear shot, so I walked away angry and frustrated. I stayed that way for awhile. I had missed a "once in a lifetime" shot. Being angry and frustrated, though, didn't do me a bit of good.
It did reteach me a very important lesson in photography. I have shot far more frames that turned out to be junk than I have good ones because sometimes you just don't get "the shot". Sometimes its because of my lack of skill, sometimes the light isn't there and sometimes people who paid good money to get through the turnstiles want to get their "once in a lifetime" shot because they may never step foot in Epcot again.
As I was going through the shots later it dawned on me that the shot that I did get is Lotso, and angry, bitter old bear and Buzz Lightyear, the eternal optimist. Telling, dontcha think?
As you can imagine I get some ribbing for being a flower shooter and for my obvious fascination with all things Disney. So, Kurt, this post is for you, it's got flowers and Disney in it!
I'm a big fan of Buzz Lightyear and it was cool to see the front flower bed at Epcot done up with a Toy Story theme. They change it up every year for the Flower and Garden festival.
This shot actually shows one of the things that I find most frustrating about shooting at Disney. See, this is not the shot I wanted. The one I was working on was about 10 feet to the left and quite a bit wider.
I didn't get that shot because of the other people in the park. I stood in the spot I wanted the picture from for 10 minutes and just could not get a clear shot, so I walked away angry and frustrated. I stayed that way for awhile. I had missed a "once in a lifetime" shot. Being angry and frustrated, though, didn't do me a bit of good.
It did reteach me a very important lesson in photography. I have shot far more frames that turned out to be junk than I have good ones because sometimes you just don't get "the shot". Sometimes its because of my lack of skill, sometimes the light isn't there and sometimes people who paid good money to get through the turnstiles want to get their "once in a lifetime" shot because they may never step foot in Epcot again.
As I was going through the shots later it dawned on me that the shot that I did get is Lotso, and angry, bitter old bear and Buzz Lightyear, the eternal optimist. Telling, dontcha think?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Butterfly on a Flower
1/320 200mm f 4.0 0 EV
Most of the time you plan what you're going to shoot. You scout the location, figure out when the best light is and find the best angles to shoot from. Other times you just get lucky.
I was shooting the flowers when this butterfly made a surprise appearance. It sat there for only a few seconds and was gone. I fired off 9 frames and this one is I think the best of them.
This, to me, is proof that sometimes in life it's more about being in the right place at the right time. From the first frame I shot to the last was 9 seconds and then the butterfly was gone. If I had been looking the other way or had even sneezed I probably would have missed this.
Most of the time you plan what you're going to shoot. You scout the location, figure out when the best light is and find the best angles to shoot from. Other times you just get lucky.
I was shooting the flowers when this butterfly made a surprise appearance. It sat there for only a few seconds and was gone. I fired off 9 frames and this one is I think the best of them.
This, to me, is proof that sometimes in life it's more about being in the right place at the right time. From the first frame I shot to the last was 9 seconds and then the butterfly was gone. If I had been looking the other way or had even sneezed I probably would have missed this.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Castle From Tomorrowland
1/100 23mm f 16 0 EV
The Sunny 16 rule is pretty straight forward. Set your aperture at f16 and your shutter speed to match your ISO (film speed) and you can be pretty certain that you'll get a good exposure even on the brightest of days.
I like the rule because even if you can't get the shot at sunrise (which is impossible at Magic Kingdom) you can still get a nice shot with lots of color and detail.
This view of Cinderella's Castle is one my favorites. I imagine that this is one of those views that Walt Disney envisioned as he was designing Magic Kingdom. And, even though so much has changed over the years, this view hasn't changed much at all since the park opened in 1971.
The Sunny 16 rule is pretty straight forward. Set your aperture at f16 and your shutter speed to match your ISO (film speed) and you can be pretty certain that you'll get a good exposure even on the brightest of days.
I like the rule because even if you can't get the shot at sunrise (which is impossible at Magic Kingdom) you can still get a nice shot with lots of color and detail.
This view of Cinderella's Castle is one my favorites. I imagine that this is one of those views that Walt Disney envisioned as he was designing Magic Kingdom. And, even though so much has changed over the years, this view hasn't changed much at all since the park opened in 1971.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Remy
1/15 200mm f 3.2 -1 EV
I don't usually shoot characters when we're at Disney, unless a particular mouse makes an appearance.
Remy, however, is one of my favorites. Mostly because there is only one place you can catch him, the Chefs de France restaurant in the France pavilion (one of our favorite places for lunch). It's also tough to get a good shot of him because his "handler" doesn't let him out for very long at all. Another reason I'm a fan of long, fast glass.
As you can see above I shot this one "racked out" at 200mm and at f 3.2. Throw in some amazing window light and whammo, you get a much sought after (at least by me) shot of the elusive Remy.
I don't usually shoot characters when we're at Disney, unless a particular mouse makes an appearance.
Remy, however, is one of my favorites. Mostly because there is only one place you can catch him, the Chefs de France restaurant in the France pavilion (one of our favorite places for lunch). It's also tough to get a good shot of him because his "handler" doesn't let him out for very long at all. Another reason I'm a fan of long, fast glass.
As you can see above I shot this one "racked out" at 200mm and at f 3.2. Throw in some amazing window light and whammo, you get a much sought after (at least by me) shot of the elusive Remy.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Purple Flower in the Sun
And now it's time for...another flower picture!
I shot this one at Downtown Disney. There were a bunch of these of various colors planted all over the place.
It was a really bright day which made it difficult to get the light exactly how I wanted it, and believe it or not I don't have a Joe Mcnally sized crew to help me modify light. So I'm left to crawl around trying to find the right angle to get the light where I want it and in the right place.
It makes it all worth it when you get the shot you're looking for.
I like this shot. It's got a decent amount of flower detail, one lone drop of water and the color works for me.
I hope you like it, too.
I shot this one at Downtown Disney. There were a bunch of these of various colors planted all over the place.
It was a really bright day which made it difficult to get the light exactly how I wanted it, and believe it or not I don't have a Joe Mcnally sized crew to help me modify light. So I'm left to crawl around trying to find the right angle to get the light where I want it and in the right place.
It makes it all worth it when you get the shot you're looking for.
I like this shot. It's got a decent amount of flower detail, one lone drop of water and the color works for me.
I hope you like it, too.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Mickey Icon Bench
Every so often you run into something at Disney and you have to ask, was this planned or just a happy accident?
The logical side of me says of course it was planned! These are the most creative planners in the world. But then again, it is The Most Magical Place on Earth!
This shot also represents a pretty big departure for me from taking better pictures of things that are right in front of me to doing a better job of finding things that I don't normally see.
Finding new things to take pictures of is at the heart of photography. I don't mean simply taking pictures of things that you have never seen before, what I mean is to see things that you would normally miss.
A year ago I would have never even given a thought to taking a picture of this bench, never mind noticing how the Mickey icon cast a wonderfully abstract photo on the wall behind it when the light was at the perfect time of day.
Putting a camera around your neck helps you see the world better.
It also helps to have a wife who already has the gift to be able to see what most people miss!
The logical side of me says of course it was planned! These are the most creative planners in the world. But then again, it is The Most Magical Place on Earth!
This shot also represents a pretty big departure for me from taking better pictures of things that are right in front of me to doing a better job of finding things that I don't normally see.
Finding new things to take pictures of is at the heart of photography. I don't mean simply taking pictures of things that you have never seen before, what I mean is to see things that you would normally miss.
A year ago I would have never even given a thought to taking a picture of this bench, never mind noticing how the Mickey icon cast a wonderfully abstract photo on the wall behind it when the light was at the perfect time of day.
Putting a camera around your neck helps you see the world better.
It also helps to have a wife who already has the gift to be able to see what most people miss!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Adventurer's Club
1/8000 168mm f 2.8 -1 2/3 EV
There are a lot of things at Disney that come and go.
Usually, though, they disappear seemingly overnight and while you're blinking the new whatever just appears. Downtown Disney is a bit different. Long ago closed are the Pleasure Island clubs, but yet they're still there. Kind of eery, if you ask me.
I never took the time to go to the Adventurer's Club, but I've heard that in its day it was a lot of fun.
There is a plan for this part of Downtown Disney, so this picture will be gone soon. I'm happy that I paused long enough to get it.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Fun with Light and Spaceship Earth
1/2000 21mm f 16 0 EV
Is it color or black & white...
Believe it or not, it's a "color" shot.
One of the things that digital cameras have the hardest time with are the differences between high contrast areas of light and dark.
This shot is actually nothing more than light and shadow, without any real color, but there is no black & white processing.
I think that suits Spaceship Earth just fine.
Is it color or black & white...
Believe it or not, it's a "color" shot.
One of the things that digital cameras have the hardest time with are the differences between high contrast areas of light and dark.
This shot is actually nothing more than light and shadow, without any real color, but there is no black & white processing.
I think that suits Spaceship Earth just fine.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Red Flower Abstract
I admit it, I'm addicted to depth of field. To be specific, for the photogs in the crowd, I'm addicted to f 2.8.
Working on what feels like a razor's edge forces me to really work to nail what's in focus. It's really the difference between a shot that pops and one that looks like I was running past the flower I'm shooting (which is what most of them look like, trust me).
It's the work to get better with every shot though that keeps me out there shooting.
Now if I could just figure out what those other numbers on the lens mean...trust me, the photographers are laughing. :)
Working on what feels like a razor's edge forces me to really work to nail what's in focus. It's really the difference between a shot that pops and one that looks like I was running past the flower I'm shooting (which is what most of them look like, trust me).
It's the work to get better with every shot though that keeps me out there shooting.
Now if I could just figure out what those other numbers on the lens mean...trust me, the photographers are laughing. :)
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Flower & Garden
1/640 20mm f 11 -2/3 EV
One of the surest ways to know that spring has arrived is that Epcot cranks up their annual Flower and Garden Festival.
This shot is from a few years ago. We just haven't been able to get down there in the spring for awhile.
To me that's one of the coolest parts of photography. Anytime I want I can open this picture and go back to this moment. I can remember being in Epcot on a warm day and taking this shot.
Being able to share that moment, by the way, is one of the other cool things about photography. So feel free to sit back, relax and take in the view.
If you stare at it long enough the monorail just might come by. No, seriously, it might. Just keep looking for it...
Saturday, April 30, 2011
North Shore Float Tree
My wife saw this tree on the first day that we drove around the island of Oahu on our recent trip. As we neared the end we made a point of driving back up to the North Shore and this tree was one of the reasons.
I've done some looking and I can't find anything about it, but its sitting there, alone, right on the edge of the water. The floats are clearly decorations and have been there for quite some time.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Brass Pots in Epcot's Morocco
Scott Kelby has, among many others, been a real inspiration to me in my photography. He is an excellent teacher and author, but most importantly, he's an incredibly positive person.
He is also the world's #1 selling author of photography and technology books. I own several of those books and they are dogeared and worn from use.
This shot is an 'ode to Scott Kelby'. In Scott's original Digital Photography Book he had a similar shot and I have been working on my version of it for awhile now.
The spot is tough to find as it is hidden around a couple of corners away from the shops in the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot. It is further proof to me that Disney's attention to detail is amazing, even around corners and down alleys where few guests go they take the time to carry the theme through the whole place.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Cinderella's Castle
Hey gang! I'm feeling a need for some Disney today.
This shot is one of the things that makes Disney, and especially the Magic Kingdom so great. Right behind me, to my right and to my left there are hordes of people. But here, by design, there is this tranquil view of the most majestic spot on property.
Disney loves getting people through the turnstiles in huge numbers. But what's so amazing to me is that even with that driving desire you can find places like this where it feels like it's just you in the park and the world just slips away.
I can't wait until the fall when we get to go back!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Bristly
Photographers are always looking for the mythical "perfect shot". Perfect lighting, perfect color, perfect composition. The picture that literally falls in your lap and allows you to just cash in, buy a Lamborghini and spend your time trying to figure out which yacht you're going to sail to the caribbean on this week.
Unfortunately, we're not all Peter Lik! Sometimes there really isn't a lot of color, the light isn't perfect and the composition just doesn't happen, no matter how hard we try.
This photography thing, as it turns out, is tough. I'm not complaining, it's worth the effort. But some days are just, well, bristly.
Unfortunately, we're not all Peter Lik! Sometimes there really isn't a lot of color, the light isn't perfect and the composition just doesn't happen, no matter how hard we try.
This photography thing, as it turns out, is tough. I'm not complaining, it's worth the effort. But some days are just, well, bristly.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Surfboard and Palm Trees
Surfers are interesting people. They have a far different outlook on life than the rest of us do.
Even on their worst day it can all be made better if the 'surf's up'.
So to all the surfers out there, I hope that the surfs up more days than its not.
Even on their worst day it can all be made better if the 'surf's up'.
So to all the surfers out there, I hope that the surfs up more days than its not.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Field of Tulips.jpg
Believe it or not, these tulips are in the middle of a roundabout at the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs, CO.
I did have to dodge some traffic and thankfully I didn't get run over by the people watching the crazy idiot taking pictures!
It is, I think, a good example of how you can find pictures in the strangest places.
I did have to dodge some traffic and thankfully I didn't get run over by the people watching the crazy idiot taking pictures!
It is, I think, a good example of how you can find pictures in the strangest places.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Island Paradise
Island Paradise
Around the southeast side of Oahu there are several scenic overlooks where you can stop and see the sights. This is the view from one of those.
I will tell you that when you are standing there looking at this it makes it pretty tough to get back in the car. You want to just stand there and soak it all in.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Beach Chairs
Waikiki beach is bustling with people from tourists to people taking surfing lessons. But just down the beach it is quiet and remarkably uncrowded.
A couple of beach chairs and an umbrella fit perfectly.
Makes you want to just wander out, take a seat and let the day disappear, doesn't it?
A couple of beach chairs and an umbrella fit perfectly.
Makes you want to just wander out, take a seat and let the day disappear, doesn't it?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Breezy Palm Trees
If you spend enough time looking at the same thing eventually a picture emerges, at least it does for me.
I really enjoyed the cool evening breeze in Hawaii. Add in some palm trees and a just after sunset starry sky and, well, you might just get a picture out of it.
Oh, and in case your wondering, yes, that is an airplane in the shot. I seem to have a habit of getting those in my pictures.http://www.flickr.com/photos/bemitchell/5599620774/
I really enjoyed the cool evening breeze in Hawaii. Add in some palm trees and a just after sunset starry sky and, well, you might just get a picture out of it.
Oh, and in case your wondering, yes, that is an airplane in the shot. I seem to have a habit of getting those in my pictures.http://www.flickr.com/photos/bemitchell/5599620774/
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Surfboards on Waikiki Beach
Much to the chagrin of one of my coworkers, this is as close as I got to a surfboard while I was in Hawaii. Sorry, J.
I understand the appeal of surfing. It's the solitude of just you and the water. There's peace in that, at least that's what the surfers tell me.
So for all the surfers out there, this shot's for you!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Byodo-In Temple Oahu, HI
This temple is a replica of a 950 year old temple in Japan. It really is a beautiful place to stop and the mist in the mountains was very kind to me this day.
I have to admit, this shot is my feeble attempt at a copy. One of my favorite landscape photographers, Rodney Lough, Jr., has a shot of this temple in his portfolio. When we were in Hawaii I made a point of making the trek to see this.
I'm no Rodney Lough, but I got the shot I was looking for!
I have to admit, this shot is my feeble attempt at a copy. One of my favorite landscape photographers, Rodney Lough, Jr., has a shot of this temple in his portfolio. When we were in Hawaii I made a point of making the trek to see this.
I'm no Rodney Lough, but I got the shot I was looking for!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Baby Pineapple
I think pineapples are a quintessentially Hawaiian thing. The sad part is that as I cruise through my local Wal-Mart the pineapples are all from Costa Rica. So where are all of the Hawaiian Pineapples going? To Japan and other points west, I suppose.
We made a quick stop at the Dole Plantation while we were in Hawaii and it was kind of interesting, but definitely a tourist trap. Lots of trinkets and stuff, but throughout the place you could find, what else? Pineapples!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Makapu'u Lighthouse, Oahu
So I got to travel to Hawaii for work and we took the chance see as much of Oahu as we could while we were there. This lighthouse was on the "must see" list. The Makap'u Lighthouse is incredibly important to Hawaii. Every commerce ship that comes from the West Coast passes by this lighthouse.
It's a bit of a hike, one mile uphill to get to it, but it is most definitely worth it. To get this shot you have to leave the pavement and walk a bit more down some rocky paths and climb down some rocks. But when you do, this is the view that awaits you.
Imagine, though, that as your standing there seeing this view you're also getting a strong breeze right off the water and the waves are crashing against the rocks below you. It really is awe inspiring.
Fort those of you who haven't been to Hawaii, go! For those of you that have, well, the Makapu'u Lighthouse is a beacon welcoming you back.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Cinderella Castle
People ask me almost constantly why I love Disney so much, and how it is that I can keep going back. For me, it's not a hard question to answer. See, when I'm at Disney the world just seems right, and that's by design. Disney represents everything that's good in the world. It's that perfect ideal, where everything is 'neat and pretty, so on with the show'.
This shot represents that for me. It harkens back to those great promo pictures of the Magic Kingdom. Beautiful flowers, colorful umbrellas, a perfect Disney Blue sky, families moving to and fro and that castle. That one enduring icon that is the hallmark of Disney everywhere.
I'm not naive, I know that much like the castle, the Disney ideal is just a facade. But, wouldn't it be nice if more of our lives were like the Disney ideal. That below the surface people really were just good and honest, and our lives were what we expected them to be.
Wouldn't that be great!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Patrick's Hat
I love Raglan Road at Downtown Disney. The food is good, the cider is cold and the atmosphere is just raucous enough to make it fun.
For those that haven't been, there is a bronze statue of Patrick Kavanagh (author of the poem the pub is named after) sitting on a bench outside of the restaurant. Kids are always climbing on it and families line up to have their pictures taken on the bench. That all adds up to a very difficult shot to get. The solution, i discovered, is to have a long lens and not try to shoot the entire statue. The result is a picture of the Patrick's hat.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Biplane
So I've had a love for airplanes since I was a small child. My parents used to take me to a local airport in South Florida on the weekends, mostly because it was free, but I was hooked even then.
I have been in and out of airplane cockpits from the time I was young and, true to what Da Vinci said, "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." You can ask anybody that knows me, with even the slightest hint of airplane noise I will just about give myself whiplash trying to find it.
Hi, My name is Mitch and I'm addicted to airplane noise...
These days most of my flying is spent wedged into a "plush" and "roomy" airline seat as I hurtle across the country in a pressurized metal tube. Oh well, it's still flying!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Pier at Sunset
I picked a sunset to blog about today because there here was a beautiful sunset this evening, which is a rare occurrence these days.
What made it even better is that the sun was setting on my way home from work and that means that the days are getting longer! I am ready for spring and the summer. It seems to me that this has been a long, cold and rainy winter here and I'm pretty well tired of it, as is evidenced by my incessant whining/blogging about things relating to our winter weather!
I'm ready for warmer temperatures, but the bad news about spring and summer is that shots like these will become tougher to get as the sun moves higher in the sky. No worry, though, I think the tradeoff is well worth it!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Bouquet of Flowers
This is my second post about flowers and based on the reaction of some to my last post, I know I'm going to take so grief. Oh well, I can take it!
It was another cold, gray day here and to top it off it was misting and drizzly. It reminded me of Seattle, hence the choice of this shot for my blog post tonight.
At Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA, they sell these bouquets of flowers right off the farm. You can be there when the farmers bring in the flowers and watch them wrap them up into these beautiful arrangements. You can buy them for just a few dollars have beautiful fresh flowers for your house.
The flowers are different every day so chances are that any shot you get of one of these bouquets will truly be one of a kind.
It was another cold, gray day here and to top it off it was misting and drizzly. It reminded me of Seattle, hence the choice of this shot for my blog post tonight.
At Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA, they sell these bouquets of flowers right off the farm. You can be there when the farmers bring in the flowers and watch them wrap them up into these beautiful arrangements. You can buy them for just a few dollars have beautiful fresh flowers for your house.
The flowers are different every day so chances are that any shot you get of one of these bouquets will truly be one of a kind.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Destin Beach
Today was a gray, dreary, cold day here in North Florida. Right now it is about 40 and raining. Elsewhere in the country it is far worse with downright frigid temperatures and, probably at this point, mountains of snow.
So, I think it's a great time to post a shot of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Hopefully this will help some of us feel warm and maybe even a little bit of sand between our toes.
It always seems to help, no matter how bad things get.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Point Wilson Lighthouse
This wonderful lighthouse is the Point Wilson Lighthouse on Fort Warden just outside of Port Townsend, WA. It was built in 1913 and acts as a beacon at the entrance to Admiralty inlet and helps to connect Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
I was lucky enough to travel to see this lighthouse back in 2008 during a trip up to the Pacific Northwest and I just recently went back through some of my old pictures and came across this shot. It made me think that I need to create a photography project for myself and I have chosen lighthouses.
I grew up near the Jupiter Inlet lighthouse and have loved lighthouses since childhood. So I am embarking on an effort to photograph more lighthouses.
I am blessed that I get to travel quite a bit for work so my work is cut out for me to find the lighthouses that are out there in the places that I get to go.
Wish me luck!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Celebrate Today!
It is a beautiful day here in Northwest Florida today!
My apologies to my friends in the great north who, while they may be seeing sun for the first time in many days, won't exactly be punching through 70 degrees. Feel free to live vicariously through us!
Days like today remind me that we all have many things to be thankful for and that we should be thankful for everything, even if it's just good weather.
Pictures like this one also remind me that its the details that matter and that as a photographer I need to remember to shoot everything. Even drink napkins!
Have a great day everybody, no matter where you are.
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