Kathleen Clemons Photography

Less Can Be More

2011-11-14T13:23:00.002-05:00

Sometimes less is more...

Photographers are often advised to move closer to their subjects in order to fill the image frame because too much negative space around a subject will lesson the photo’s impact. This rule works well when what you are trying to say is expressed primarily through your point of interest. But it doesn’t work if what you are trying to say is expressed by a relationship between your subject and the surrounding space.

For example, if you are shooting an animal, you may want to back up and show habitat, or the environment of a particular flower, or it's relationship to other flowers. You may want to use a small subject with a large surrounding area to show scale and help to define that subject. When shooting a portrait, you might want to show the person’s environment too. So, the size of your subject in the frame should be determined by what you are trying to say, the story you want to tell, not by any rule! If in doubt, shoot your subject both ways, work it!

Here are some examples of photos I've made where I didn't choose to fill the frame. Try this the next time you are out shooting. Be sure that your subject is strong enough visually for this type of composition, and that the environment you are including adds to the scene.

Happy Shooting!

Kathleen

Photographing Autumn Color

2011-09-21T09:39:00.000-04:00

It's late September, and here on the coast of Maine I have already seen a few trees starting to show their autumn colors. Fall is my favorite season, I love shooting this time of year. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you are photographing fall foliage.

Check on-line foliage reports to find the best autumn colors in the area you'll be shooting.

Shoot early in the morning and late in the day for warm light, avoiding contrasty mid-day lighting. If the day is overcast, you can shoot all day! Blue skies are beautiful, but cloudy days will saturate those gorgeous colors. Just don't include that white sky in your composition, fill the frame with color.

I like early morning shooting best, morning mist can add wonderful mood and dew on the leaves is great for macro work. Bring your polarizer along to eliminate any glare on the leaves and boost color.

As with all of your photos, watch for distractions that do not add to the scene. Look carefully around the frame before you click that shutter. As my students frequently hear me say, "If it doesn't add, it needs to go." Eliminate anything that doesn't add to the story you want to tell with your photo.

Shoot from wide to macro, work your subjects!

Look up for backlit leaves....

Look down for reflected colors in streams, ponds, puddles and on any reflective surface.

I shot this one on the hood of a car!

Don't be afraid to make your own scenes. Adding that one perfect autumn leaf to a composition can add a wonderful focal point.

If it's windy, embrace that wind and shoot with a long shutter for a more abstract look.

Moving water with a long shutter speed creates an interesting look as well.

If it's not windy, you can play with camera movement instead. Pan, zoom, swirl and twirl, move that camera with a long shutter, it's fun!

Happy shooting!

Kathleen

2012 Workshop Schedule

2011-09-18T09:08:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to tell you all that my 2012 Workshop Schedule has been posted, you can see it here:

2012 Field Workshops

Happy Shooting!

Kathleen

Bad Art

2011-08-04T12:25:00.000-04:00

I found this sign lying on the floor inside an old building I was shooting and it made me smile! A simple message, but really something to think about. Sometimes we photographers get so caught up in making the perfect photo, we don't take time to play, time to experiment, and time to grow.

I am currently reading a book that speaks to this issue, Art & Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland. Here is a favorite quote from the book:

“Fears about artmaking fall into two families: fears about yourself, and fears about your reception by others. In a general way, fears about yourself prevent you from doing your best work, while fears about your reception from others prevent you from doing your own work. “

So, I encourage you to play, have fun with your work, and don't be afraid to fail now and then, and to make a little bad Art. When it comes right down to it, the only person your Art needs to please is YOU! :) Photograph the people, places and things that have meaning to you. Enjoy the process for how it makes you feel, and the photos for what they say to you. Your vision of the world is unique, explore it, enjoy it!

Happy Shooting,

Kathleen

Heartsongs Revisited

2011-06-28T06:38:00.003-04:00

This blog post started writing itself at 4 AM this morning while I was trying to sleep... I had all of these ideas dancing about in my head and just had to get up and start writing them down. It's probably partly because I stayed up late last night to participate in David DuChemin's first Twitter hang out, a fun and frenzied online meet up of photographers sharing their thoughts in 140 characters or less.

David always seems to be able to put into words what I feel about the photographic process, but he says it far more eloquently than I could even begin to. His books are packed with insight and advice to help photographers find and recognize their own vision, and to express that vision in their photographs. That's something I try and teach my students, especially those looking for the "Secret Recipe" to great photos. That recipe is inside you, the secret is to slow down, to really see, and to make the work your own. Put aside rules and self doubts, get out there and shoot and shoot and shoot, until the song in your heart is visible in your photos. This isn't a quick process, and failure is part of it, but you'll learn as much from your failures as you will from your successes.

Digital photography is a three part process. First, there is vision. No one sees the world just as you do, your vision is unique and is shaped by your life experiences. The second part of the process is capturing the image, how you compose, the equipment you use, and how you handle the light. The third component is your post-processing, how will you take that digital file, fine tune it and make it reflect your vision? All three of these elements come into play each and every time you make a photo. Think of this as your Rule of Thirds, instead of that other Rule of Thirds (don't get me started on compositional rules, lol).

I shot the photo at the top of this post last week on a shoot at the Olson House in Cushing. It's a place I have visited many times, I find it inspiring and I feel a strong connection to the house. I have made some images I liked there, but this photograph finally tells the story I wanted to tell. This is the image I had in my head, my vision. The light was softly diffused by early morning fog, and I used my 24-70mm lens to get the composition I wanted. I used my Nik filters in post-processing to take the image exactly where I wanted it. Each part of the process contributed to this final image, this heartsong.

So, grab your camera, get out there and make your own heartsongs. Send me a link to your photos, I'd love to see what you come up with.

Happy shooting!
Kathleen

Working it!

2011-06-25T11:38:00.066-04:00

If you have taken one of my online photography classes or done any shooting with me, you know that I always advise photographers to work their subjects. By this I mean really looking at a subject, photographing it from different angles, using a variety of focal lengths and lenses, with different techniques, etc. I took my own advice while shooting a couple of lupine fields last week.

Lupine is a June flowering plant here in Maine, it grows wild along our roadsides and highways, as well as filling yards and gardens in many locations. My friend Zoe and I spent some time in a patch overlooking the sea here in Harpswell just before sunset. The warm light was beautiful and very flattering to the flowers.

Another field I visited was on the side of the road in Cushing. This field had an amazing variety of colors, and the foggy overcast day was perfect for making flower photos. I started with a plain view of part of the field, nice but a little boring. So, I started playing with camera movement, and had lots of fun!

Lupine is also a great subject for the Shooting Through technique. All you need to do is choose a long lens (I used my 70-200mm), set at the largest aperture your lens has. Position yourself so that you have plant material right up close to the end of the lens, and shoot through it, focusing on a flower in the distance. I love this technique.

I even photographed my friend Alan with this method!

So, get out there and work your subjects, and don't forget to have some fun while you are shooting! :)

Kathleen

Panning Practice

2011-05-31T18:29:00.005-04:00

I love to play with motion with my camera. It's fun to set a long shutter speed and deliberately move the camera, or to shoot a moving subject with a long exposure. One of the most challenging techniques for playing around with motion is panning. A good pan has a relatively sharp subject, with a motion blurred colorful background. Panning can really adds a feeling of movement and speed to your photos.

When you pan, you move your camera parallel to the subject, following it at the same speed and direction.Your motion needs to be smooth with no stops or hesitation. It's easiest if the subject is moving straight across in front of you, either left to right, or right to left. I usually do my pans at 1/30 sec- 1/60 sec and I don't use a tripod. It often takes some experimenting to get just the right speed, depending on the speed of your subject. I've used panning to shoot car races, traffic, planes, snowmobiles and 4 wheelers. It does takes lots and lots of practice (and many deleted photos!), but when it works, the images are very cool. It's also lots of fun, and isn't that what photography should be?

I shot a barrel race competition last weekend, and knew as soon as the action started that it would be the perfect situation to practice my pans. The first few shots were pretty bad, but I soon got the right speed for the action in front of me, and I happily panned the competition for several hours. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the event.

I also shot some portraits of the riders, all in all a very fun day!

I hope you have some challenging fun with your camera today!

Happy shooting!
Kathleen

Patterns

2011-05-20T16:20:00.066-04:00

I’ve just finished shooting a patch of ostrich ferns near my house. Ferns fascinate me, I love the curves, the repeating lines and patterns, and all that green! They are one of my favorite photography subjects in the Spring.

Patterns make great subjects! When you repeat a shape, color or line, you can add strength to an image and make it much more interesting. If you repeat it many times, it forms a pattern and brings a sense of order to the photo. You don’t need a fern patch to find patterns in nature to photograph, they are everywhere!

You can see repeating patterns in flowers.....

In webs.....

In leaves and dew drops...

Sand and water ripples.....

On frosty surfaces...

...everywhere! So, get out there are find some patterns. I'm heading back to the fern patch! :)

Happy Shooting!

Kathleen

Maine Photography Show

2011-04-16T08:29:00.001-04:00

Last night I attended the opening reception for the Maine Photography Show. It's a wonderful exhibit, filled with so many beautiful photographs! I was thrilled to find out that one of my photos received a First Place prize. The win was especially sweet because the image was one of my Lensbaby flower photos. Having one of the images that makes my heart sing recognized made for a very special evening!

Happy Shooting,
Kathleen

Photographing Newborns

2011-04-04T14:41:00.020-04:00

My first granddaughter was born a little over a week ago, we are thrilled to welcome Haylie to our family, where girls are a rarity! I am having a ball photographing her, but it is a challenge, so I thought I'd share some newborn baby photography tips with you along with my favorites from our first photo session.

The best time to photograph infants is during the first few weeks of life. They are quite sleepy and pliable then, and you can pose them in the cutest positions! The newborn stage passes quickly, babies change rapidly in the first few weeks.

Be sure the room you will be shooting in is very warm, little ones get chilled easily! Babies with full bellies are relaxed babies, so shooting shortly after a feeding will makes things easier. A warm baby with a full tummy is a happy baby!

Find a location with plenty of natural light. It's soft and even, and perfect for photographing tiny babies. If you need to add light, use a soft gold reflector. Don't use flash, it is too harsh and firing the flash will disturb that sleeping baby.

I like to place the baby on a large pillow, or on a beanbag. I have a prop collection of blankets in soft neutral colors with great textures, and some fun hats to add a splash of color. I have found some wonderful handmade hats on Etsy.com, as well as other props such as angel wings and even a tutu! I'm waiting for Haylie to get a bit bigger before I add the tutu!

I like to use my 50mm f/1.4 lens for photographing tiny babies. I shoot pretty wide in regards to aperture, focusing on the eyes and letting the rest of the image fade to soft blur. I also use my Lensbaby lenses, especially with the soft focus optic.

Keep your compositions simple. Be sure to watch your backgrounds, if there are distractions, change your point of view to eliminate them, or substitute a different background. I used my diffuser as a background here.

Shoot lots and be patient! Compose your photo, and then wait for changes in expression and those wonderful sleepy smiles. My granddaughter wasn't very sleepy when I did her first session last week, but it was wonderful to catch some shots of her with her eyes open! She also had a mind of her own about some of the poses, so I went with what she was comfortable with.

Take your time, be flexible. You may need to stop shooting while baby has a little snack or a diaper change.

If Mom and dad are willing to pose, get some shots of them with the baby, they will treasure those images in the years to come!

Try converting some of your images to black and white for a classic look. I use Nik's Silver Efex Pro for my conversions, so simple to use and I love the results (you can save 15% at Nik with my student discount code, kclemons).

I cannot wait for Haylie's next session! :)

Happy shooting,

Kathleen

Seasons of Change

2011-03-17T10:45:00.003-04:00

As I write this, Spring has sprung on the coast of Maine. The last of the snow is melting, small sprouts of green are pushing through the wet soil in my gardens, and the songs of the returning birds fill the air. I don't do as much shooting in the winter, so the anticipation of getting back to my daily shooting routine makes me very happy!

I am looking forward to new subjects, new locations, and also some that I shoot every year. The challenge becomes photographing those things and places in new ways, and it is a challenge I welcome.

If you have a favorite shooting location, try shooting it at every season, the changes are wonderful! I have a road near my house that I shoot often. I love seeing the seasonal changes, as well as the changes that occur at different times of day, and in differing weather conditions.

So, get out there and shoot, that's where I'm heading!

Happy Spring!
Kathleen

A New Lensbaby Optic!

2011-03-01T15:11:00.003-05:00

I started beta testing a new Lensbaby Optic a few days after Christmas, and from the moment I started using it, I was hooked! It's been so hard to keep it a secret! The Sweet 35 optic is the first optic Lensbaby has created with an internal, adjustable aperture system and it's amazing! All you need to do is rotate the dial on the front of the optic to change the aperture from f/2.5 through f/22. You can easily see the size of your sweet spot of focus change right through the lens, no more changing magnetic aperture disks! This is wonderful for fine tuning the sweet spot of focus, and getting just the right amount of blur in your photos. I like to work my subjects, so being able to shoot with different apertures so effortlessly is definitely an improvement in my workflow.

Though this optic isn't compatible with the Macro Kit (my favorite Lensbaby accessory), I found that I could get quite close to my subjects, about 7 inches away with my Composer lens and as little as 3-4 inches away with my Muse. The 35mm focal length is also a change, and I found the wider view quite versatile for lots of different subjects. The optic is also compatible with the Lensbaby Scout and Control Freak models.

Here are some of the test images I made with the Muse:

Just when I think I couldn't love my Lensbabies more, they come out with something even better. I can definitely recommend adding this optic to your Lensbaby gear!

Happy Shooting,
Kathleen

Previsualization

2011-02-02T14:37:00.001-05:00

There are times I can previsualize a final image long before I click the shutter. I see the image in my mind, and just need to find the right moment to make the image. Such was the case with the photo above. This is a window in Harpswell's Old Meeting House (1757), a building I pass by every time I go into town. Just before Christmas each year and for several weeks afterwards, electric candles shine in the building's windows, and since the building is unheated, there is often frost decorating the windows as well. For the last three winters I have been trying to make this photo, and it just didn't happen. Either there was no frost, the candles weren't on, or I didn't have my camera with me when I went by. But, last week my friend Zoe and I were on our way home from a shoot when we passed by the building. The candles were on, there was frost lace on the windows, snow on the sills, and the sun was going down. We stopped in and started shooting, and about 10 minutes later the caretaker came by to shovel the entrance so that he could go in and turn the candles off for the season! Talk about timing! He was kind enough to bring us inside and gave us a history lesson about the building too. Here is a shot of the inside, as well as some variations of the window shot- I always work my subjects!

The moral of this story? When you see an image in your head, shoot it! Don't wait for "the next time", seize the moment and make your photos. I am glad I did! :)

Happy Shooting!
Kathleen

Favorites

2011-01-02T12:14:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

I have been looking through my photographs from 2010 and trying to choose my favorite ten images. An interesting process, as I love many of the images for different reasons. Some I love because they make my heart sing, some because they are signs of new directions in my work, some because they were challenging to shoot, and others because they have personal value to me.... So, I am not necessarily choosing what others may see as my "best" work, but here are 10 images from last year that qualify as favorites for me, in no particular order...

I am going to try and post more in 2011, now it's in print so I'll need to keep my promise. :)

Happy Shooting!
Kathleen

Textures!

2010-11-05T14:30:00.001-04:00

I have recently been experimenting with adding texture layers to photos, and I am finding the different looks I can create quite interesting. This can be done with images of texture that you have photographed yourself, or you can purchase them thru many online sites, and even download freebies from Flikr.

The textures I prefer to use are "Dirty Pictures" from Totally Rad (http://www.gettotallyrad.com). The interface is incredibly easy, just a few clicks and I have an assortment of 21 texture choices added to my image, viewable in a thumbnail collection. I can scroll thru the samples and choose the one that best suits my vision. I can then customize the image to my liking, tweaking opacity, blending mode, etc. I downloaded the software, tried it on one image, and was hooked--- I sent Totally Rad a fan letter right away! The texture is added as a separate layer, so I can set up layer masks to control or remove the effect in certain areas if I choose to.

I am working on a collection of my own texture photos, (rust, peeling paint, moss, tree bark...) which I can add to the software. How cool is that? The software can also be personalized with my choices in defaults, favorites, previews... If you are looking for a simple way to add texture layers to your photos, you really need to try this. The wonderful people at Totally Rad have given me a 15% discount code to share with you, just use ppsop when ordering.

I love the way textures can add interest to photos, giving them a different mood and feel. Here are some before and after images:

Happy Shooting!

Kathleen

Lensbaby Scout

2010-10-24T10:36:00.001-04:00

Earlier this month, I beta tested the newest gem in the Lensbaby collection, the Scout. Scout is Lensbaby's first non-bending lens, and comes with the Fisheye optic installed. Because the lens doesn't bend like traditional Lensbaby lenses, fisheye images are always perfectly centered. The lens can focus as closely as 1/2 inch away from subjects, and has a very smooth focus collar. It works with Lensbaby's unique optic swap system, so you can change optics for different effects. I love testing new products, and this lens was no exception. It's fun, easy to use, and a great addition to the Lensbaby lineup.

Here are some of my test images, these were at f/4, which is wide open on the Scout, no aperture ring.

These were all shot at f/16 for greater Depth of Field:

Happy Shooting!
Kathleen

Acadia

2010-10-20T10:19:00.001-04:00

I spent most of last week in Acadia shooting with some great friends. It was wonderful to relax, laugh and take in the beauty of the area. After a busy summer, a few days with no responsibilities, surrounded by amazing scenery was just what I needed. Here are a few of my favorite images from the trip.

Before he flew back to Washington, Ron Goldman was kind enough to pose for a few genuine Fisheye shots. I used the new Lensbaby Scout, it's awesome!

I definitely need to spend much more time in Acadia, the park is huge, I am already thinking about my next visit!

Happy shooting,
Kathleen

A Little "Me Time"

2010-09-12T11:09:00.002-04:00

Last week was incredibly busy, so much to do with very little "me time". Tuesday was a gorgeous early fall day here in Maine, and since I knew I'd probably not have any shooting time the rest of the week, I grabbed my camera and headed up the road to a garden of Cosmos plants. I love shooting Cosmos, they always look like they are dancing on the slightest breeze, they are such beautiful and graceful flowers. It was 7AM, just after sunrise, and the light was warm and lovely. There was a slight wind so I did have to wait for lulls to get the shots I wanted, but I am a patient photographer! I shot with my Lensbaby Muse, single glass optic and the +4 macro diopter.

I shot for about an hour, and came home with some keepers and that wonderful, peaceful feeling that time with my camera always brings to me.

Wishing you some "me time" this week!

Happy shooting,
Kathleen

Photographing Spider Webs

2010-08-26T10:47:00.004-04:00

Autumn in Maine brings amazing foliage, but it's also a time when the spiders seem exceptionally busy constructing their intricate webs, and I love photographing them! Early morning is the best time to shoot these webs for several reasons. Because the webs are so light they will move easily in even the slightest breeze and mornings are usually the calmest time of the day. Morning dew adds jeweled orbs to the webs, and low light really makes the webs stand out.

I find webs everywhere in the fall, from fields to my garden, on fences, in trees, I have even found them on my mailbox and on the side view mirror of my truck! Before you start shooting, really examine the web. Look for the most interesting lines and patterns, and decide how much of the web you want to include in the frame. Look at what is reflected in the dew drops, an interesting reflection can really add to the shot.

Look at the way light hits the web from different angles and check for distractions in the background too. A plain background will make the web stand out. If you can't find an angle that eliminates the distracting elements, consider replacing the background, as I did here simply placing a blue jacket behind the web.

A red vehicle at a distance beyond this web created a great background.

For the sharpest results, use your tripod, you don't want any camera movement blur and I always use manual focus for my web images. Choose an aperture that blurs the background, yet gives you enough detail in the web. Sometimes I choose a large aperture and focus on just a small part of the web, sometimes I stop down quite a bit for greater depth of field, depending on background simplicity and the look I am going for. Experiment, work your subject with a variety of apertures.

If the spider is still in the web, you can include it if you want, but remember that the image will become more about the spider than the web pattern if you do.

Happy shooting!

Kathleen

Who Are You Shooting For?

2010-08-04T15:18:00.002-04:00

“You will never make a photograph that everyone likes, so make sure that you like every one of your photographs.” ~Oliver Gagliani

A few months ago, I posted some images I'd made of some abandoned train cars in Bartlett, NH. Soon after that, I received a note from a fellow photographer that said in part, "...You're going to have to sell me on those train shots." My response? It was immediate and direct: "No, I don't." I love the images, they are a departure from what I usually shoot and were a fun challenge. I enjoyed the process and am proud of my results. I have no expectations that everyone will love everything I shoot. I shoot for myself, for the joy that it brings to my life. If other enjoy my work, that's even better! If not, that's okay too, we all see the world in different ways.

In that spirit, here are a few more fun images from that shoot:

So, who are you shooting for? ;) Let me know your thoughts.

Kathleen

Scanography

2010-04-24T17:04:00.001-04:00

I bought a new scanner this week, and couldn't wait to try it out on some scanography. What is scanography? It's making images right on a scanner! I have seen some amazing examples of this type of image making, and was anxious to see what I could do with my scanner.

I started with some daffodils from my garden, and had fun arranging them in different ways on the scanner bed. My first scan was pretty awful! I had too much stray light hitting the scanner, so I used black foam board to surround the scanner and eliminate the problem.

Once I had the daffodil shot I wanted, I experimented with a few other items. Had some fun with a trio of peacock feathers (feathers are tough to scan, they do not stay put!).

I then moved on to a nautilus shell. I loved the way the shell looked on the scanner, so I added another, and was quite pleased with the results.

I converted the image to black and white with my Nik Silver Efex Pro software (love all of my Nik filters!).

Have I mastered this technique? No, far from it! But I can see some potential here, and will continue to experiment. I do love a challenge, and am looking forward to seeing what I can create with this technique as I learn and experiment more. I'm already envisioning scans using ferns, tulips, poppies, callas, so many ideas!

Happy shooting (and scanning!)
Kathleen

Butterflies

2010-04-08T16:22:00.009-04:00

Last weekend I traveled to The Butterfly Place (https://butterflyplace-ma.com) in Westford, MA with a group of friends to photograph butterflies indoors, something I had never done. Photographers are allowed in an hour before the opening time on the first Saturday of every month, and my friends and I basically had the place to ourselves for part of that time. It was wonderful to see the butterflies flying about, and challenging to shoot them as well. Most of them didn't stay still for long!

The Butterfly Place had just opened for the season, so the plants were quite small, making attractive backgrounds somewhat difficult. I shot with my 180mm lens in the beginning, making some documentary style images.

I knew that blurring the background was essential, as some of it was distracting and not very attractive, so it didn't take long before the 180mm went back in my bag, and out came my Lensbaby Muse with the Soft Focus optic and +4 macro diopter. It wasn't easy to get as close to the butterflies as I needed to be, but I was patient, moved slowly, and came home with quite a few images that better represented what I was trying to capture. Here are some samples:

Happy Shooting!

Kathleen

February Orchids

2010-02-22T12:23:00.009-05:00

If you are a flower lover and are ever in New Gloucester, Maine, you really need to check out Woodsprite Orchids (www.woodspriteorchids.com). I spent yesterday morning shooting and mentoring a group of photographers there. Shooting orchids in a greenhouse in Maine in February was absolutely heavenly! The owners were kind enough to open the greenhouse just for us, and the 3 hours we were there absolutely flew by! For me, it was like a morning at Disney World! Richard and his partner grow an amazing variety of orchids, my favorites were the Lady Slipper orchids.

Orchids are a complicated flower, and not an easy subject to photograph. I shot most of my images with my Lensbaby Muse, using the Soft Focus optic, and was quite pleased with my results. Here are a few favorites from the shoot.

Also, Lensbaby turns 6 today! To celebrate, they are giving away some fantastic gifts! Read all about it here: http://www.lensbaby.com/birthday/

Happy Birthday, Lensbaby, and thank you so much for the joy you have brought to my life!

Happy Shooting!

Kathleen

Johnson Hall Museum

2010-01-19T15:48:00.011-05:00

After finishing up a photo shoot in Ogunquit last Saturday, my friends Zoe and Mark and I stopped to do some shooting outside the Johnson Hall Museum in Wells, on Route 1. The place is a goldmine of funky items, rust, peeling paint, dilapidated buildings, a railroad car, and so many things you'd never imagine to find! This is just what is on the porch of the main building:

We had a great time wandering around the property and exploring. I shot lots of images with my 70-200mm lens, and my Lensbaby Composer with the Fisheye optic. Still having lots of fun with that optic.

The owner, Bill Johnson, stopped by and offered us a tour inside the Museum. It's packed full of antiques and many other curiosities. The light wasn't good for shooting inside, but we enjoyed learning about the history of the items Bill has collected over the last 30 years. If he doesn't know the story behind an item, he makes one up. He even serenaded us with "She's Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage", accompanied by a large antique music box.

We had a ball shooting the place, and will head back there again when the snow is gone in the springtime. If you are in the area, stop by, Bill loves company. :)

Happy Shooting,

Kathleen

Frost Patterns

2009-12-16T10:29:00.013-05:00

Early one morning this week, I happened to glance outside and saw some truly amazing frost patterns on the hood of my red truck. I couldn't get outside fast enough! I quickly grabbed my camera and headed out the door, because I knew that as soon as the sun reached my driveway, they would be gone. I was amazed by the intricate patterns, lines and swirls I found!

I shot quite a few images and then moved to my husband's black SUV where I found more incredible patterns. I played with white balance when processing some of these for a cooler appearance which suits the subject well, and converted a few to black and white using NIK Silver Efex Pro.

All in all, it was a very good morning. :)

Happy shooting,

Kathleen