Own your Images

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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