The Scenic Photographer

Grab your Camera and Go!!

2011-02-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

For me, one the hardest types of photography is Model/Static portraits. I never really know how to place people and there's always that issue with time and patience. I frequently see other photographers work and admire the poses, location, post-processing, etc. Recently I've been thinking that I need to work this and see if it's even something I'd be interested in.

So the first beautiful day we had this winter, Caitie and I grabbed the camera and took off to downtown Asheville. I had a couple of places in mind, but also wanted to walk the streets and see what happened. Needless to say we had a great time. The first image is from one of our first stops. I had a few ideas and a little direction and let Caitie move and pose as she wanted.

This image was made while we were on our way to the location of the image below. Caitie stepped on the curb stop and it crumbled under her feet. She asked if there was a way to make a picture form this so we played around for a while and finally came up with this one.

As some people already know computer/software and I don't get along at all. My original thought was to load these into lightroom, then jump into PSE and use the NIK Color Effects Pro plug-in to work the image for color and style. Well that didn't work, I had a couple of problems keeping images, or saving images and then when I quit PSE and went back to LR one of the images appeared but without any adjustments. So, I kept everything in lightroom, made all my modifications and was happy with the results...enough said
I have a few more images that I like from the afternoon and if I can figure out how to load them onto this post I will, it seems to be limited to four images for some reason.
The bottom line...if you want to get better at something you know, or learn something you don't know, grab your camera and go make some images. You might like want you've done, you might not, but there's a good chance you'll have fun either way.

Cheers,

Mark

Inspiration

2011-01-24T19:30:00.001-08:00

It seems funny how things come about sometimes, 2 of the 3 items I wanted to photograph during this Winter season are bare trees and icicles. There is something that draws me to the bare trees each year but I can't exactly put my finger on it. And there are a few clusters of icicles I see each Winter on the rock faces along some higher elevation roads. One of my goals this year was to put a couple of days aside and spend some time with the trees and the ice. Usually, when I have ideas like these I'll also have somewhat of a game plan...maybe some ideas in my head, and usually some sketches with rough concepts on them, but for these two I have nothing, just the fact that I want to go and do it, and yet it's mid January and I still haven't even made an attempt. I think I'm hesitant because I just don't know what to do, or even were to start.

As I was skimming through FB today I happened to come across a post from a famous photographer that I follow (or Like), and there was an image of a cluster of icicles, with a foreground feature, just as beautiful as any could be, and it immediately struck me, That's it...not that I want to copy the image I was looking at, but it gave me great reference, composition, rule breaking ideas.

And later today, while I was trying to remember a username and password that I had created to pay some bills I got tired of defeat and decided to read some blogs that I follow, one of the articles referenced an upcoming print sale and had a link to the photographer who's prints they'll be selling, low and behold the photographer has an outstanding gallery of images of...that's right...trees. http://www.charlescramer.com/index.html

Once again the creative wheels started turning and I already of a collection of ideas in my head. 2 items covered in one day, I might be busy this weekend.

Cheers.

Drive-By-Motion

2010-10-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

I read a post from Julieanne Kost the other day as a guest speaker to Scott Kelby's Blog. She talked about a motion technique that she had been working on while in a vehicle. After reading this I was immediately inspired to follow this idea and already had a set-up in mind. In years past I've set-up my camera on a tripod on the front seat of my car and captured many images of the oncoming scene. Some images were alright but nothing really hit home. Reading Julieanne's words the other day clicked on a lightbulb to turn the camera to the side instead of the front.

It took some trial and error on which setting to use and how fast to drive the car, but after a few adjustments we spent a few hours driving around and making images. Of the 285 images made that day these 9 are my favorites;

Bele Chere...is about the Music

2010-07-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

The City of Asheville Celebrated it's 32 Bele Chere Festival last weekend. It's a three day event filled with music (4 stages) food, artisans, and about 250 thousand people. It became a great opportunity to practice some street photography and try out a few new techniques for shooting live performances I learned from Alan Hess, a very talented concert photographer. I also participated in Scott Kelby's World Wide Photo Walk, with some Asheville photographers.

Cheers

Mark

Own your Images

2010-06-01T19:11:00.001-07:00

Keep what you own
So you own a camera and a few lenses, you make decent images and want get better known. How about enter into a photo contest, maybe one sponsored by your favorite photo magazine?
Well first take a look at Pro-Imaging "Bill of Rights for Photography Competitions", http://www.pro-imaging.org/content/view/177/156/ all too commonly these sponsors require you to give up ownership of your image. Be sure to look at their "Rights On List" good competitions, and "Rights Off List" bad competitions.
So keep shooting, enter into competitions, and don't give up what you own.

Thanks to Bob Krist for posting this on his Blog originally.
http://www.bobkrist.com/blog/

Photographing flowers

2010-05-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

A technique I happened upon a few years ago, and occasionally attempted with varying success. It's simply a matter of opening up your widest lens, setting the focus to manual and adjusting it to as close as possible, and then "dancing" around and through an object. Yes you will get funny looks from people as you move in, through, and around, your subject, in this case blooming flowers. The technique is improved with the use of extension tubes (which I don't own, but do covet) or using a tele-converter, I used a 1.4x for these images. Of the 400+ images I made that day I am pretty happy with this group. A couple I like very much and will add them to my website (still in the works...).

cheers,

Mark

Non Photographic video

2010-05-17T13:39:00.001-07:00

This came from a recent blog post from Scott Kelby, www.scottkelby.com/blog, which you should be following anyway and it is funny;

Mark

Rocky Fork, Tennessee

2010-05-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt to post a blog directly from Picasa Web Albums so we'll see how it goes.

These are a few images, actually the only ones that survived editing, from a hike at the Rocky Fork area of Tennessee. We've been eager to get back there and Saturday seemed to work out schedule wise. Unfortunately it didn't work out weather wise, it was a beautiful sunny day and we arrived around 10am and left around 3pm. Practically the worst shooting conditions, except for maybe the middle of the night with no moon. Surprisingly there are a few images that came out alright, the one impressionistic one being my favorite. Mostly is gave me a gave me a chance to find good access points to shoot from when the conditions are better...like an overcast, misty, late afternoon day.

A new way of seeing

2010-02-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

I found out about this photographer from an email by Outdoor Photographer Magazine. I no longer subscribe to the magazine but still receive emails from them, including updates about latest issues. This photographer, Stephen Lang, had a feature article in the magazine. What caught my attention was his unique vision on Bird photography;

http://www.stephenlangphotography.com/photo/galleries/index.php?data[uid]=13&data[gid]=34

this is something that I will soon attempt.

I've been attempting impressionistic photography for 18 months now and still only have about 2 images that I'm happy with. I've seen many images from photographers who have excelled at this technique, but personally, I just can't get the hang of it, although I usually make a few attempts each time I go out. And will continue until I do the hang of it, why? because it's fun, challenging, and continues to reinforce the idea of looking at a subject differently, and from various angles.

From Impressionistic photography

2009 Winter Concert

2009-12-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

TC Roberson High School held their 2009 Winter Concert this evening. It was conducted by Aleisa Baker, the music director. A very enjoyable evening and just the thing to get the holiday spirit going.

Attached is a link to the album.

TC Roberson Winter Concert 12-15-09

Thanks to Aleisa and all the chorus students.

Cheers,

Mark

Have a plan, and be prepared to change it.

2009-08-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

Once I've dedicated some time to do some landscape photography, I will make a plan as to how I will approach the shoot. Either on paper on in my head, I make a plan on how to approach the first sequence of images. If I'm photographing a sunrise I'll decide on which lens to start with, roughly where I'll position the tripod, and if I'll fully extend the legs or not. Generally I'll sketch some hand drawings on paper to stay on track to shoot some key images. As everyone knows, things rarely go as planned. This morning was one of those days. I traveled up the Blue Ridge Parkway to photograph early morning light and valley fog around Looking Glass Rock. Rain was in the forecast so I was looking forward include some atmospheric images as well. While there was valley fog, there were no high clouds and very boring color as the sun began to rise. Trying to fight through my disappointment I kept shooting and moving to different spots to get a new look. My dance with the tripod, and of course Oliver our big white dog, seemed to catch the attention of a couple in a car that passed by and circled back a few times. They eventually pulled along side and started a conversation. As we talked about the Parkway and how much we enjoyed it he introduced himself as a board member of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. I looked up his name later and discovered he is the Executive Director of the Foundation...what a great morning. And the rest of the day continued as I had originally planed.

Dr. Houck M. Medford, thank you for helping make this day everything I had planned.

Cheers

Mark

Photographing with a purpose

2009-07-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

I knew my favorite local band, Brushfire Stankgrass was performing at the local ribfest last Saturday afternoon. They were scheduled to start at 5:30pm. Knowing the orientation of the stage I was quite eager to photograph them. The band would be looking into the sun as it was setting that afternoon. Which means great warm lighting and the band would probably be wearing sunglasses, which makes them look cool. Also, I would have unlimited access all around the stage. I photograph these guys every chance I get, I enjoy listening to their music, and being able to photograph them and hear their music is a plus. Needless to say I have a fair collection of images of the band. So instead of just taking another group of pictures I decided I would photograph this performance with the purpose of putting the images into a musical slideshow, using their music as the background. One week later...I've given up. I've fought with my computer, more than just a few times processing the RAW images. I ultimately had to remove Nero 8, slideshow software and more, from the computer because I couldn't keep it from reading all the jpegs on my computer, a process I prefer my Photoshop 7 program to do. And,while Picasa is a very handy package, really does not do all that much. So here are some of my favorite images of the band, in a regular slideshow, in Picasa Web Albums.

Brushfire Stankgrass

What camera should I buy?

2009-06-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

This is a question I get asked frequently. My first response is usually; What camera do you have? Next question, do you use it? Next question, what do you use it for? Next question, do you know it inside and out? At this point people are either confused and walk away or are intrigued, and want to hear more. My point is, if you had a 35mm, and are ready to change to the dark side (digital world) start with a camera that does what your 35mm did. If you have a point and shoot digital and want to move up to DSLR, try to understand what it is about photography that you like. Take the P&S off PROGRAM and go into the woods and make pictures. Go to your downtown and make pictures of people, buildings, crowds, traffic, etc. Photograph things at night and inside buildings.

By shooting various objects with various settings you'll understand your camera better. You'll understand what it can and can't do. You'll understand what you want it to do. This will help you understand what kind of photographer you are and help to make a decision on what camera to buy.

$5,000 worth of camera gear doesn't automatically make you a better photographer. It does automatically make you a poorer one.

One of my favorite local bands happened to be playing at a downtown event today. I didn't have all my camera gear with me but I always carry my P&S, a Canon A720. With that I was able to make some nice pictures and shoot about 30 seconds worth of video.

Downtown After 5 6-19-09

Cheers.

Mark

Animazement 2009 Saturday and Sunday

2009-05-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Animazement 2009 is here and gone, thankfully there are hundreds...no thousands of images to remember it by. I'd say it was a good inaugural year for the convention at the Raleigh Convention Center. I believe the tally was just under 6,000 participants at 5,800.

So here are a few hundred of the images from Saturday and Sunday.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MathenyPhoto/Animazement2009Saturday#

http://picasaweb.google.com/MathenyPhoto/Animazement2009Sunday#

Cheers

Animazement 2009 Friday

2009-05-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

Animazement is here, and at it's new location the Raleigh Convention Center. While I've heard mixed opinions about the new location, I personally like it. It definitely provides the much needed space for the ever increasing volume of con-goers to AZ.

Something new this year is a live band performance by NOIZ. Unfortunately, only those approved by the bands producers could take pictures during the performance. So instead we took a trip to Cary for an incredible Sushi meal at Little Tokyo (1401 J SE Maynard rd, for those whose care).

And here are the pictures from Friday;

http://picasaweb.google.com/MathenyPhoto/Animazement2009Friday#

Cheers

My old blog

2009-05-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

I forgot to provide the link to my old blog http://scenicphotographer.blogspot.com/.
Looks the same only no "The" before Scenic.

Which ISO are you

2009-05-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

As anyone who as been on Facebook knows, there are an endless amount of "Which_ _ _ _ are you..." You fill out an application and you become a generation, quotation mark, tool, movie... the list goes on beyond the imagination.

So my question is which ISO do you use? This is obviously rhetorical, but think for a minute about your approach to a scene. Do you think about your ISO setting as well as your aperture and shutter speed? If you don't, you should. Not only is it one of the three controllable components of making images, it may make the difference between "getting the shot" or not.

I recently photographed a High School musical, performed in their theater, with very low lighting. I had to use a 70-300mm lens to photograph from the back of the theater, so my fastest aperture was f/5.6,leaving me with no option but to photograph at ISO 3200. Will there be noise (grain) in the images, of course. But it also made for 185 images that I could post online for the cast/crew and parents to view and enjoy.

Don't hesitate to practice using the range of ISO settings that your camera offers. Photography is usually a system of trade-offs anyway, so crank up that ISO and get that shot. And if you don't delete the image and adjust it again.

From The Sound Of Music

Cheers

Mark

The Sound of Music - T.C. Roberson HS production

2009-05-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

Below is a link to the T.C. Roberson High School Production of The Sound of Music. My compliments to all the performers, it was a very enjoyable show. Another fine collaboration with Ryan Ledwig, and Alicia Baker.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MathenyPhoto/TheSoundOfMusic?feat=directlink

A new blog with the right name

2009-04-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

I've recently made the domain name of www.TheScenicPhotographer.net, in doing so I've change to this blog of the same name (old one was Scenic Photographer). The domain name will be the eventual location of my website, if I ever actually put one together.

Cheers,

Mark