It's the little things

Brian and I got up early this past weekend to catch Garden of the Gods at sunrise. While we did get some fantastic morning light for scenery shots, I also took the opportunity to prowl around for some interesting macro shots. The pods on the yucca plants were covered with ants, and they made great little subjects. Notice the beady little eye on the ant in the center of this pic (you can click on the pic to enlarge it) - I love my macro lens!

...is tomorrow's rose

Yesterday's rosebud...

I have certainly developed a respect for anyone able to keep up a "Picture a Day" kind of blog. You miss one day, then another...next thing you know it's two months later! Sigh.....

At any rate, this was taken in the backyard this evening. One of the joys of the new house has been discovering what's growing in the backyard. I wasn't sure if this rosebush was going to produce anything at first, but it looks like we might get a few nice flowers out of it after all.

There's always something new to try!

What's one of the coolest things about photography?

There is always something new to try. Between gear, software and this huge world we live in, the possibility are endless.

I like new. New keeps me from getting bored.

If I get bored, I find trouble. Actively search it out. Seriously, I have Trouble's phone number on speed dial. (Just ask my last 5, 6 or 7 employers.)


Today in the microsecond of spring weather we had this morning here in Castle Rock, I borrowed Doug's Infrared filter and slapped it on a lens and shot out in the back yard.

The filter blocks out all of the light spectrum except that at the infrared range (makes sense, right?) It makes it a bit of a challenge to set up a shot because you can't see through the filter. At least I can't, I can't see infrared.

This technique was reserved for black and white film photography originally. It still works best on film. The fancy sensors on the newer cameras tend to block out most IR light. But not all of it. So you shoot with an IR filter on a digital camera and you get something like this:

Hideous?

Stylistic?

You decide.

However... a click of a button (Ok, a few buttons...) in Photoshop (or even in the camera itself!) to change the picture to black and white and it gives us the desired infrared affect we're looking for.

Slap a title on it and this is what comes up:


Much more better. Not quite the true IR effect, but still a nice picture.

Moral of the story? Get out there and play with new stuff! Remember, you don't have to buy new stuff all the time either.

That's what friends and big brothers are for!


By the way: Where the hell is spring? Anyone seen it? If you have send some my way woulda?

Shooting fish in a barrel

Wildlife photography is very difficult.

First, you have to find the wildlife. That ain't as easy as the internet might lead you to believe. There are NEVER a bunch of animals just lined up saying "Oooo! Oooo! Shoot me! Shoot me!" (Just ask hunters. They have the same problem.)

In fact, quite the opposite. So guess what? You have to sneak up on them most of the time. That means BIG lenses. (Translation: Really, really, really expensive lenses)

Or....

You can go to the zoo. There are still challenges, even at the zoo, but for the most part?
It's kinda like shooting fish in a barrel.

Hey, I ain't proud.


Enjoy this shot of a Mexican Wolf at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs

Well...Look what I learned how to do!

Several of my favorite photographers use Photoshop to put a white border around their pictures and add text under them to make them look even more impressive. It's called a Gallery Print.

Guess what?

I learned how to do that today! Wooo-hoo!

Oh yeah, sure, if you're an old hand at Photoshop this ain't nothing new to you, but I'm a noob.

Best of all?

I also learned how to create an "action".

What's that you ask?

I now need but push a button and Photoshop adds the gallery print around the picture.

Click. Done.

Sweet.

(Oh, and if you ever find yourself in Ireland? Check this place out. It's amazing!)

The fruits of my labor...

Doug and I had our first paid gig yesterday.

We shot portraits of the client's lovely children for them.

Thought it was a bit windy, we had a great location.

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

Here's a couple of my favorites...