Learn to See Your Surroundings; You Just Might be Surprised

A little over a year ago I moved to the Southern California Desert. I was horrified to find that there is nothing to photograph. I had become spoiled with the lush rich variety of the Smoky Mountains and all I saw out here was brown.

I took pictures and they all looked the same, I eventually quit, but was not happy. I am passionate about photography so I occasionally would take a trip to the coast and shoot some, but it just wasn’t enough. I of course complained to my friends that it’s awful, all brown, nothing to shoot, until they finally got tired of it and told me there is pleanty to shoot, I just wasn’t looking. People that live out here truly believe the desert is beautiful but I couldn’t see it. Finally I bought some books on desert trails, and began asking, not complaining about where to go photograph and hike. My life changed, I began to see things different, I had to really look hard it’s not as easy as point and shoot and you have a gread landscape like I was used too. But then challenge is what makes you grow as a photographer.

I learned that in the desert you don’t shoot a lot of landscapes, but it is better to shoot smaller subject areas to bring out the color and often subject. Wild life is all pretty small and due to the heat are not wandering around like the bears of the Smokys or the deer of the Appalachian and Cascade mountain ranges. There is no water for beautiful reflections or streams for curves to draw the eye in toward the subject. You have to think micro. No . . . not macro, micro as in a small area with a definate subject. Shoot it to make it look like a landscape. In other words I had to learn how to look at my environment in a different way, then boom the desert became a place of numerous photo opportunities. 

Here are some examples. The first photo was taken of the windmill farm using my tried and true landscape style of the Smoky Mountains. It's a pretty blah photo!

Below is the windmill farm at sunrise the next morning, with the main focus on the sky and the windmills. Leaving out the background with all the clutter of  mountains and windmills, greatly improves the aesthetics of the picture. (At least in my opinion)

Another example of viewing the world as micro environments was taken on the Art Smith Trail in Desert Palms, CA. I took a landscape shot of these red flowers with the rocks and mountains in the background. Once again, a not so compelling shot.

However, after looking at it through the micro point of view I chose to shoot just one branch of the tree with the interesting rock formation in the background. Once again the shot below is a much more appealing photograph.

The shot now has depth and character. I'm learning a new way of seeing the world and that in some cases less truly is more. I am no longer stagnant in my photography but growing by leaps and bounds. I still miss the Smoky Mountains, but embrace the new challenges ahead. 

Happy Shooting,

Laura

Don't Settle for being a Good Photographer; Become an Outstanding Photographer

How do I do that you ask? It will not come overnight, but it will be a fun journey and it keeps you involved with your passion, even if you are not actually clicking that shot.

My journey begins and continues with research; studying photographs taken by others to determine what about that particular shot is so appealing to me or what is it that makes it just another snap shot. I have learned to pay close attention to the light, the lines, the color, clarity or bokah and how they are all put together to form the overall composition and tell a story.

Here is an example. I took this photo in Joshua Tree National Park.

 I liked the shot, felt it was a good shot until I saw a simular shot taken by Jim Zuckerman. It was on the  cover of Petersen's Photo Graphic magazine, Volume 2.

 A must read for improving your photography. View articles or subscribe at Petersen's Photo graphic Magazine

After looking at the two shots I realized that although mine was nice, it did not have the depth perspective Jim Zuckerman achieved by composing his shot with large boulders in the foreground. He also used shade and shadows to give it feeling as well as the warm late afternoon light.

I have purchased every volume of this magazine and highly recommend it. Mr. Zuckerman himself advocates using this method of learning and in fact used it himself when he was starting out. He is now a world leader in outdoor photography and composites.

Reading books, photo magazines, articles on the internet (Trey Ratcliff has a free tutorial on HDR on his web site, “Stuck in Customs”), blogs of professional photographers as well as friending other photographers on FaceBook are also great tools for improving your skills. When you are researching, look for photographers that do the same type of photography you are interested in. For example following Brenda Tharp when you are interested in portrait or baby photography would not benefit you in the least. Many if not most successful professional photographers have blogs discussing various aspects of photography. Some, like Chris Marquardt have two wonderful pod casts (“Photography Tips from the Top Floor” and “Daily Photo Tips”) that are free and very informative. From time to time he will offer an assignment or challenge encouraging you to put into practice the discussion of the podcast. Engaging in photography research keeps you up to date and involved, even when you can’t be out shooting those prize pictures. This will help you stay interested and excited about shooting because you literally see the improvement and feel satisfaction rather than frustration when you know how or at least have an idea how to handle a challenging situation, be it lighting, weather or what to do with all those buttons on your camera. (If you don’t already know what the buttons do I strongly suggest you learn them well. Especially if you plan on taking any workshops which many of these professionals offer.. Feild instructors generally require that you have at least a decent working knowledge of your camera.)

And finally, practice taking pictures using different settings, different lens and keep a small notepad handy to write down the settings and lenses you used for each shot. Study them with your notes so that you will know what tools to use to get the effect you are seeking. With digital photography this is very easy and not at all costly. I learned using film and it was an expensive education and I understood when people didn't want to burn the money with this type of learning. Now there is no reason not to.

Now get out there and have fun learning about your hobby/passion. I will be.

Happy Shooting,
Laura

Getting Ready for that Trip of a Lifetime

As photographers we all have places we dream of going and photographing, our photo bucket list if you will. When we get the chance to visit one of these places how do we prepare? Generally we choose these places because we have seen pictures of them and want the chance to take our own. For me such a place is Yosemite National Park. Of course Ansel Adams has some of the most documented photos of the park but there are countless others, and now my opportunity is coming in May. In this post I'm going to address how I prepare for such a visit so that I can make the most of my time by actually taking pictures, not running around looking for a great spot or wondering why when I did find a spot my shot doesn't look as good as others pictures. Hopefully this will aid in others preparation for their bucket list trip.

The first step after setting the dates and making the reservations for lodging is to do research. Yes, the ugly word from school. The one we all thought we were finally done with. I promise there are no written assignments here, simply pure fun. With the internet we have opportunities that no other past generations have enjoyed, instant information and lots of it. Start general and simply do a search of your destination, in my case Yosemite National Park. Having done this I found sites that have detailed explanations of hikes, views, amenities, distances from place to place, maps and of course pictures. I start by getting maps. As I locate information on trails, and see pictures that I would like to have a go at I can mark them on my map. I also get a good idea of distances from place to place. Yosemite is a very large park, I can't possibly see, hike and photograph everything I would like to in 4 days. With that piece of reality hitting me square in the face, I must plan carefully.

Armed with road maps, trail maps, topo maps, shuttle maps and of course just  the general park map, I go looking for the views I most want and what area and trails have the most to offer for the time I have available. Again, the internet is a great source, Flickr is a great start, as is Face Book and professional photographers web sites. Also, printed books. Many photographers make money writing and there are several books out there, especially on very popular areas for photographers, that not only offer ideas of shots but have specific information about how to get there, when is the best time of year, day and some even off advice on camera settings and filters. These books are usually small enough to carry in your backpack, daypack or camera bag. I purchased two such books for less than $10.00 each. (I would not advise ordering these off the internet until you have an opportunity to look through them and make sure they will be helpful. I found mine on the internet, went to the local book store and looked through them and chose the two I purchased from several I found on the internet. One of the books was so bad that it would have been a terrible waste of money.)

Next I will spend weeks, reading and creating my itinerary so that when I arrive at the park I'm going to utilize my time well and not waste time looking for information on the park and how to get around. A word of caution here, don't overbook your schedule, allow for the incredible sky or the wildlife that just happens to show up as you're getting ready to move on. Photography is about the moment, great lighting is not to be wasted because you feel you have to get to the next picture. Your next picture just came to you. Without ever moving your tripod you can create several very different scenes as the lighting changes.

As you are doing your research, don't forget your gear. I posted on facebook that I was starting to get my gear ready, remember my trip isn't until May, and someone posted questioning getting my gear ready so soon. If you are not a professional photographer this might be wise. I discovered that I will need some filters that I do not own in order to really capture Yosemite landscapes well. (Part of my research) After having read this in one of my purchased books on photographing Yosemite I started researching filters. For this I've used You Tube demonstrations and contacted some of my Photographer friends on face book. If you are not on facebook you should sign up and start a circle of friends that you can share your passion of photography. Whatever you do though do not sign up, find a professional and start asking for help. Build a relationship first, you will find it rewarding and that for the most part they will be glad to help on occasion. They will visit your site and comment on the photos you post unsolicited and the feedback is invaluable as you grow in your hobby. (If you want private lessons make sure you find a photographer that does that and pay for it. Remember you expect to be paid for your time in your field. Be courteous when asking for that occasional help.

When you discover that there is camera equipment that you need to purchase, do so in a timely manner so that you have plenty of time to learn to use it. Trying to figure out how to attach a speedlite or combination of filters when the picture is in front of you is a very bad way to learn. I can almost guarantee that the shot will be gone by the time you figure it out at worst and at best the shot didn't come out like you thought because after the fact you learned of another or better way to use the tool.

Now! Go plan that bucket list trip and most of all, Happy Shooting.
Laura

Artistic Expression Required

We have all spent untold hours, taking pictures only to get them home and when viewed we discover they aren't at all what we wanted or expected. What do you do with them? I used to delete them and hope for another opportunity to re-shoot the subject. Sometimes that works, especially if you are able to return the the spot you were photographing. However, what if that isn't the case, how do you save these shots and make them more that mere presentable snapshots?

Photoshop is the answer, not what you're thinking. These shots just can't be repaired to create that perfect picture in the sense you're thinking. Think outside the box for a minute. Change the goal of the shot from the perfect picture into an artful masterpiece. Your own unique interpretation. Never let on that it wasn't what you intended and people will think you're the most creative, artsy person they know.

Photoshop is a powerful tool and can do a lot more than tweek photos. Using the available filters and sliders you can literally change the shot so dramatically it will look nothing at all like a photograph but become a masterful piece of art. It is almost as much fun as taking the pictures. Below are a couple of my own examples.

This is Mabry Mill along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. I had hoped to get some clear shots of the mill that included a lot of detail and the reflection on the water. Having never been there before I did not know what kind of lighting to expect. Of course it was awful! But, I had to make due, I wasn't going to be able to come back in the morning for the perfect lighting situation. HDR wouldn't work well either because it was too windy and the shrubs and trees would become a blur. I took my shots and when I got home I went to photoshop to make the best of it. It couldn't be repaired so -- here we go -- outside the box.

While still in RAW (Always shoot in RAW, it has so much more information and detail, making it easier to  tweek).  I increased the fill light to bring out the detail in the water wheel and deeply shadowed side of the mill, then saved the file as a TIFF. Opening the TIFF in photoshop and choose to desaturate all but the reds, making the mill stand out from the rest of the surrounding area. Next I went to the filter tab and chose the poster filter. (No set numbers here, this is an individual piece of work, make it to your liking. Stop trying to please everyone else.) What I wanted the end product to look like was anything but a photo. (See the detailed segment below) When printed on canvas this really works and I have taken a so so shot and made it a successful piece of art.

 

Now see if you can figure out how I created the pictures below and get out some of your own pictures and begin to see what the filters and sliders in photoshop can do for you. It's almost as much fun as taking the pictures and certainly just as rewarding when you create that perfect and unique personal interpretation and expression.

                                  The Grand Canyon                                

The Blue Ridge Mountains

One final note. Even if you don't use photoshop, experiment with whatever program you do use for processing and tweeking. It is a lot of fun and can be very rewarding.

Until next time, join me on Face Book for daily updates and see what new pictures I have posted.

Have Fun with Photography,

Laura

It's been too long

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I've updated my blog. Since moving to California my photography has slowed significantly. I'm hoping that this year I can pick it up again. I've done some photos for a design company and am promoting pet photography. I also have created a Facebook site with my photos in an effort to promote my work to a larger audience.

You can visit my site at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photography-by-Laura-Lee/245784977832?ref=ts

Make sure you click on the photo link on the left to view my photo albums. I have organized the photos according to category or place to make it easier for my viewers to see what they are most interested in.

I hope to be more diligent this year about posting regularly on my blog.

Happy New Year and Happy Shooting.

Laura

I Love Shooting Pictures, NOT Shooting Myself in the Foot

I was approached yesterday via Flickr mail by a very large publishing company that has offices all over the world. They are a credible publishing company and I am honored that they find my photo worthy of publication in a book. The book they wish to use my photo in is to be released on August 30, 2011 and is already on Amazon.com for pre-order.

Sounds good Right! You’re thinking I should jump at the opportunity. Why would I not?

Because I love shooting pictures NOT shooting myself in the foot. I have an investment in my equipment and time. Just because it is something I’m going to do anyway, doesn’t mean I have to give it away. It has value. I’m proud of my work and I feel if it is good enough for them to want to use, it certainly is deserving of compensation. We as amateur photographers are destroying our chances of rising to the next level by allowing our emotions to take control. Do I want to be published? You Bet I Do! But if I give my work away what message does this send to people. It tells them that I don’t believe my work is worthy. It tells them that I am a good source for them to take advantage of to make a larger profit.

The digital age has made photography a highly competitive field and many can not succeed because anyone with a digital camera can snap a decent picture, post it on Flickr and potentially get published. We get so excited that someone wants our shot we give it away. By doing this we will always remain amateurs and we make it very difficult for anyone to make a living at photography. I’ve seen many amateurs photos that are consistently excellent. But, by giving their work away, wanting to get their name out there, they are shooting themselves in the foot. We are condemning ourselves to permanent amateur status while professionals struggle because they will not and can not give their work away. A professional knows they are deserving of compensation and demand it. As amateurs I feel we are deserving of the same consideration and respect for our work. Just because it isn’t my sole means of earning a living doesn’t mean it is worthless. As photographers, amateur and professional alike we owe it to the photo industry and to ourselves to demand that respect. If we all begin to require reasonable compensation (this being the industry standard) eventually the free shots available would be the bad ones and the publishers would start to pay.

I submit to all my photography friends that we re-train the publishers and stop giving our pictures away for the thrill of publication. If it’s good enough for publication, it is good enough for compensation. If we all do this everyone will benefit, amateur and professional alike.

As for the outcome of my photo. I contacted a professional for advise about pricing. I sent my price to the publisher and have not heard back from them. I don’t expect to, they simply got back on flickr and searched for another photo that they could get for free, and that’s okay. I feel good about my decision.

Just thought you might like to know........

Flickr has rapidly become one of the largest online photo sharing applications allowing photographers to display their work and enjoy a community atmosphere of sharing comments, critiques and just plain fun at no cost. At least not a monetary fee, but they have written into their terms of service a section, buried in a lot of legalese that they have unrestricted rights to use anything you post on the Flickr site.

Here it is:

"With respect to Content you submit or make available for inclusion on publicly accessible areas of Yahoo! Groups, the license to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publicly perform and publicly display such Content on the Yahoo! Services solely for the purposes of providing and promoting the specific Yahoo! Group to which such Content was submitted or made available. This license exists only for as long as you elect to continue to include such Content on the Yahoo! Services and will terminate at the time you remove or Yahoo! removes such Content from the Yahoo! Services. With respect to photos, graphics, audio or video you submit or make available for inclusion on publicly accessible areas of the Yahoo! Services other than Yahoo! Groups, the license to use, distribute, reproduce, modify, adapt, publicly perform and publicly display such Content on the Yahoo! Services solely for the purpose for which such Content was submitted or made available. This license exists only for as long as you elect to continue to include such Content on the Yahoo! Services and will terminate at the time you remove or Yahoo! removes such Content from the Yahoo! Services."


I understand that is says for the purpose of promoting Yahoo Services, but how would you feel seeing your work as an advertisement and you didn't even get a Thank you, much less a check. Respectable marketing firms pay a lot of money for art and photos and so should Yahoo.


I have several photo's that are very popular and that I do in fact sell. I have removed these from Flickr and from now on will only be posting fun shots on Flickr. I will continue to share my better shots, but on facebook and on my own web site and blog.


Flickr is a fun community and I have made many friends and learned a lot from the people on flickr. I will continue to interact with them and share my work, I will just limit it to low quality, low resolution shots so that the Flickr employees will be forced to search elsewhere.


I am not condemning Flickr, they are not doing anything illegal and many may not mind. I'm simply posting this to let others know where some of my pictures have gone.....I took them off Flickr. I also think that there may be many users that didn't get down to the part about their right to use our work, alter it and not even be required to give credit, and they need to know. I know I didn't know until a friend told me and told me where to find it and I've been using Flickr for a year now.


I hope this helps someone, and I will continue to post on Flickr, just with a little more discretion. Hope to see you all there.


Now go have fun with photography,
Laura