Photographing Spider Webs

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?

“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

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

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

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

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

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