Photo Friday: February 24, It's ok to be the Million and 1st Sometimes

Fountain at the Bellaigo

I am writing this while sitting on the terrace of 34th floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel have just returned from the Wedding & Portrait Photographer International trade show. There is nothing like walking around a huge trade show, surrounded by amazing photographer of all levels and different styles to help gain prospective. 

While I was not able to attend any of the classes at WPPI I did take away a lot from the time I spent there and Las Vegas. One thing that really stood out was that there is a ton more to portrait photography than I ever knew. I was blown away by all of the different printers, types media to print on, accessories, lighting product and verious other products. Some many things I "need" and some many other things I never knew I needed. Everyone I talked to were super nice and it was very easy to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Often we as photographers are a shy group and it is easy to hide behind the camera. So it was wonderful to meet so many nice people what were easy to talk to. 

Yes there is already a million photos of the fountains at the Bellaigo but I am going to post the million and 1st any way. While not the most spectacular I do think it is at least above average. I chose to shoot at a high aperture in order to get as much of the strip sharp as possible so you can really can a feel for the scale. 

EXIF

• Camera - Canon 30D
• Lens - Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
• Shutter 1/160
• Aperture - f16
• Focal Length - 28mm
• ISO Speed - 200
• Photoshop CS5, Lightroom
• MacBook Pro, Nik Color Efex

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Photo Friday: January 6, 2012 Goals (Not Resolutions)

 Taco Girl, Northwest Water Carnival Detroit Lakes, MN

I've never been much for New Years resolutions but this year I thought I would at least set some goals for 2012 and here they are in no particular order.

• Steve Jobs once said "Real Artist Ship" - So this year I would like to have printed at least 1 photo pre month. In a world where our photos often exist as 0's and 1's we are missing the joy that once came with act of going to the store and picking up prints and then hanging them on our wall or putting them in an album.
• I was once at a conference when the speaker said "You must leave the office to learn." - So this year I would like to travel somewhere just to take photos. While I don't really don't think that I want to be a travel photographer the act of going somewhere for the soul purpous of taking photos should be a great learning experience.
• Instead of just throwing money, that I don't have, at photography I planing on leaning everything thing I can about my new lens. As much I would love to have a bag full of "L" glass one thing I've learn in the past year is that there is a million different ways to take the same picture and the equipment does come (a close) second. It's better to learn how to use what's in your bag to the fullest then to get into the thinking that a shiny new 50mm f1.2 will make get photos for you. 
• There is no better way to learn a craft then to "do" and one of the best ways to "do" is to teach. So this year I would love to spend time passing along what I know about about photography. I've had the thought many times that "You are the best photographer that someone knows as much as your favorite photographer is the best you know.
• Going a long with the last point taking at least 2 classes is also a goal. Just the idea of spending time with other photographers learning more about our field makes me happy. There is just so much you can learn on your own, reading books, or Youtube.
• While the odds of ever winning a photo contest are slim they are much better if you step up and enter. Of course winning, getting some type of cash or prize would be cool and all, the possess of preparing photos is often the most rewarding part of photo contest.

 If you ever are need of a subject to photography in the early part of July you would be hard to find a better time then the Northwest Water Carnival in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Great events like the water fights, demolition derby, Miss Northwest pageant, and warping it all up the Prade of the Northwest. There is so much to like about this photo, intrusting subject,  and the processing fits very well IMO. The composition is great as well. While it may have been a better photo if she had been making eye contact, it's a walking taco and a photo of a walking taco is never a bad thing.

EXIF

• Camera - Canon 30DCanon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
• Shutter 1/500
• Aperture - f6.3
• Focal Length - 135mm
• ISO Speed - 160
• Photoshop CS5, Lightroom
• MacBook Pro

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Photo Friday: December 30, Bye Bye Facebook

Winter Grass

False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade.
Christian Nestell Bovee

As a photographer social media is extremely important, whether it's Twitter, Flickr, 500px, or Facebook, the more people who see your work the better. So why at this point I'm choosing to step away from Facebook? Mostly because it has stopped being enjoyable. To much frustration for not enough fun. Seems silly to keep doing something that annoys yourself just because 800 millon other people are doing it right? Also just wanted to see what would happen. Will I be missed, or are people so wrapped up in their own lives that one one will notice. Am I so wrapped up in my own life that I won't even miss it. While I'm away from FB, going to try to put more effort into other sites, like Linkedin, Twitter, and 500px. This is not a permanent departure, simply a one month tiral to try to gain some prospective.

The photo: I have always loved black and white photography with my favorite photos coming from Ansel Adams. Love his amazing tones and perfect composition. While I'm sure everyone would love to be able to travel to Yosemite National Park or the high Sierras but there is no reason you can't find wonderful things to photograph in your own backyard. In this case it was the front yard that this photo was snapped. The almost leopard spotted grass stood out so much agaigainst crusty white icy snow. I used a high ISO to get a look close to Kodak T-Max 400 that I used to love to shoot. The black and white tones came from NIk's Silver Efex Pro.

EXIF

• Camera - Canon 30D
• Lens - Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM
• Shutter 1/20
• Aperture - f4
• Focal Length - 200mm
• ISO Speed - 1000
• Photoshop CS5, Lightroom, HDR Silver
• MacBook Pro

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