Monthly Archives: February 2014
Charleston Azaleas – Spring Photo Workshop
It has been a long cold winter in Michigan and the Midwest and I am looking forward to teaching this Spring in Charleston. In late March and early April the Azaleas explode with color to make Charleston a photographers Paradise. Hope you are able to join me for a little spring shooting time in one of my favorite cities.
It hard to think about composition when looking at a stunning scene but that is what keeps us at a location when others stop for a few seconds and wander off. Sitting with a location as the light changes helps slow us down and allows us to capture that moment and carry it with us.
Hope you join me in Charleston for the spring workshop to capture some wonderful images.
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Casting Shadows – Venice Carnival
Carnival in Venice starts today and as a photographer I can’t stop thinking that I should be there to capture and share the wonderful images of the costumed characters.
The soft light at sunrise for this image was wonderful and the shadows of the costumed character along with the shadows of the columns and archway make this one of my favorite images from Carnival.
The image out of the camera was great but I did used Topaz Clarity to boost the color and contrast in this image.
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Angle Oak – Charleston Photo Workshop
In five weeks I will be in Charleston teaching and enjoying a little southern hospitality. Charleston is one of our oldest cities and perhaps and most historic city in the United States. With all of Charleston’s rich history one of my favorite locations to capture an image is at Angel Oak. This wonderful Live Oak is the oldest living thing east of the Mississippi and every time I capture an image of it I am amazed at by its grandeur. Nature always Trumps anything man can build.
Nesting Egrets Florida’s Rookeries
The Florida Rookeries in mid March become a birders paradise with everyone jockeying for the best nesting spots. I am looking forward to spending a few weeks capturing images between shows before heading north to teach a workshop in Charleston.
Watching the aerial ballet of the nesting pairs is a treat is worth spending time with for any photographer.
To process this image I used Nik software Tonal Contrast and added a Vignette in Color Efex Pro 4
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Call for Reservations – Venice Italy
The dome silver metal pay phone on the left side of the arch is one of the icons that says this is Venice!
Yesterday was Valentine’s day and if you called late some of you were not able to make a reservation for their favorite restaurant. If anyone is in the doghouse for this a perfect way to bring back the romance would be to reserve the last two spots for the Charleston workshop March 30 – April 3. Springtime in Charleston is Amazing!!
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A Venice Valentine’s Day
There are some images that I capture that just say romance and on Valentine’s day want to share one on my favorite romantic images.
What could be more romantic that sharing a gondola ride with the one you love and then having a romantic dinner on a Venice Canal. Hope everyone has a little romance in their life.
I have started planning a 2015 spring workshop in Venice, Italy April 24-28
Hopi Point – Grand Canyon
When I am out capturing images the mornings will often bring gifts and it is just you and the light. These mornings do not happen every time but often enough. This was one of my all time favorite morning not just because of the light but because I was able to share it with a few others who wanted to see what the morning would bring.
This image was captured in 2005 and I have just reworked the image with Topaz in CS6. Watching the light dance across the Grand Canyon was an exhilarating experience.
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Revisiting a location – Plantation Cabins – Charleston
Revisit locations where you are interested in capturing images. Not only does the lighting and foliage change the subject but with a little work over a period of time your perspective of the images you choose to capture will also change.
Over the years I have past by these old cabins and have tried many times to capture them and every time I have not been happy with the images. My exposure and depth of field have always been correct but there was always something missing.
On this wet overcast morning I had focused on a fallen Live Oak tree with wonderful roots and vines weaved around it. After I had finished with the fallen Live Oak I was heading back to my car to head out for a late breakfast when looked through the water and trees and saw these old cabins as I had always wanted to see them. It felt like I was looking at a composition from a different time and breakfast could wait a while longer.
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Charleston Doors
In a little less than two months I will be teaching and Capturing images in Charleston one of Americas most historic cities. There are many photographic opportunities when walking the historic streets with its wrought iron gates and wonderful doors.