Friday, December 13, 2019
Friday, September 27, 2019
Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch
Canyonlands, Utah
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Better Butterfly Photos
A few days ago I spent a couple of peaceful hours at the new Butterfly Biosphere at Thanksgiving Point. Butterflies are often hard to photograph for the obvious reasons. They move quickly, they blend in with flowers and foliage, they're small and have tiny patterns, etc. Below I've posted some of my favorite shots from the day along with some tips about taking better photos of these beautiful creatures.
1. First and foremost, be patient and plan to spend a lot of time just observing and waiting.
2. Plan on taking hundreds, if not thousands of photos to get a few that you like and are in focus.
3. Use any lens you have, however, for the photos below, I used a telephoto lens.
4. Look for a monochromatic background that coordinates and/or contrasts with the colors in the butterfly to make an interesting composition.
5. Fill the frame with the butterfly, (zoom or crop), to show intricate shapes, colors and textures.
6. Try to isolate the butterfly a good distance from the background and surrounding foliage to make it stand out.
7. Coordinate the colors of the butterfly with a color in the background for a pleasing composition.
8. Create a small depth of field that blurs the background so the butterfly is not competing with other objects surrounding it or behind it. (Small f number.)
9. Often we view butterflies from above, looking down as they sit on flowers or foliage. Find different points of view, like this one that shows antennae and profile of head.
10. Look for unique compositions that will be eye catching and interesting.
My goal was to make the butterfly in each of the above photos the focal point and subject of the images. Below is an example of a photo that is alright but did not meet my goal This is more of an environmental nature shot where the scene is as important as the butterfly. It is not as impactful if the subject is the butterfly.
Rainbow Over St. George Temple
Rainbow Over St. George Temple
I was in front of the temple waiting and hoping for a pretty sunset, and looked behind me and saw this amazing rainbow. I was disappointed it wasn't over the temple. Then I realized if I hurried around to take a shot in the opposite direction from the back of the temple, I might see the rainbow. Sure enough, it was even more intense and beautiful! I don't think I've ever taken a photo of a temple with a rainbow.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Friday, August 23, 2019
Monday, August 12, 2019
BUG and BOKEH
BUG and BOKEH
Bokeh: In photography, bokeh is the aesthetic quality, size, shape, and intensity, of the blur in out-of-focus parts of an image, that is produced by the lens hitting a light source. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light". Avoiding compositions that will include bokeh, or looking for compositions that will purposely create bokeh, depends on the personal preference of the photographer.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah
Modern cameras and sophisticated editing programs make it possible to
take photos in harsh, afternoon sunshine like this. Soft focus,
contrast and shadows adjustments needed on these bright, backlit
flowers.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Hibiscus Memory
My mom loved flowers and our backyard in California was always
overflowing with many varieties of them. Usually Mom liked to keep
flowers alive and growing outside, with one exception. At dinnertime,
when we would always sit down and eat together as a family, she would
pick one flower, usually a hibiscus, camellia or gardenia, and float it
in a small bowl of water for a simple, yet lovely, table decoration.
Sometimes the little things a mother does become a wonderful family
memory!
Friday, July 26, 2019
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Friday, July 5, 2019
4th of July, 2019
Happy 4th of July From Tuacahn Utah
For those not familiar with Tuacahn, it is an outside amphitheater tucked in this beautiful canyon where they present live performances all summer. Tonight's production was 'The Little Mermaid'
"And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
--Lee Greenwood
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
--Lee Greenwood
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Finding Beauty in Simple Things
Finding Beauty in Simple Things ....
like wild rhubarb surrounded by a sea of delicate desert wildflowers
Nature/landscape photographers are always searching for that knock-your-socks-off epic scene with stunning sunsets, towering cliffs or magnificent waterfalls. I am too! Images like that attract lots of attention, especially on social media. But I also try hard not to lose my personal perspective and the joy I feel in appreciating the beauty of the small and less dramatic vignettes in nature that I look for and often find.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Monday, June 24, 2019
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Beauty Hiding in Plain Sight!
Beauty Hiding in Plain Sight
Taken at an exotic tropical island??? Actually, a motel parking lot near Disneyland! Another example of finding beauty hidden in plain sight. Bird of Paradise flowers were everywhere, but I happened to notice a shaft of soft morning light spotlighting this one flower, turning it into something beautiful.
Friday, June 14, 2019
Poppies and Snow
Poppies and Snow
NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
It is interesting for me as a photographer, to note that our eyes take in so many details when we look at a scene. From side to side and top to bottom, there is usally a lot to look at and process. Sometimes a scene is glorious everywhere I look. Often, however, I see both pleasent and distracting objects in a scene that all vie for my attention. But when I look through the lens of a camera, point it in one direction or another, zoom in or out, I can narrow down to what I really want to focus on and enjoy looking at, without distraction. In this case, I can ignore the trampled poppies next to me, (not caused by me!), the bikes laying on the ground just out of the frame to the right, the painter and his easel to the left, and the new houses being built on the hill that would be in my photo if I had pointed my camera in a different direction.
Sometimes we have to readjust our viewpoint in some way, to really see the beauty hiding in plain sight!
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Poppies in Alpine
NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. Learn to be flexible! Expectations can change when you are 'in the field', (in this case, literally)! I left early to capture soft morning light, but by the time I found this location the sun was above the mountain and the light was harsh. Plus, there were already photographers, painters, hikers and bikers roaming around this small area. I was not going to leave without a few shots, so I opted to shoot into the sun to back light the poppies and create an interesting sunflare. I had to take my shots in between people walking into the scene and in front of my camera!
Gunlock Reservoir - Spring 2019
Gunlock Reservoir
NOTES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Color is critical in landscape and nature photography if your goal is to capture what you really see. One of many ways to make your photos more interesting with color in mind, is to find scenes that attract attention because they are "color coordinated". In other words, find compositions that have similar color shades and tones in different elements and positions in the frame.
Monday, June 3, 2019
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Bleeding Hearts
Bleeding Hearts
Lamprocapnos spectabilis or Dicentra spectabilis
Lamprocapnos spectabilis or Dicentra spectabilis
"I know a bleeding-heart plant that has thrived
for sixty years if not more, and has never
missed a spring without rising and spreading
itself into a grassy bush, with many small red
hearts dangling. Don't you think that deserves
a little thought? The woman who planted it
has been gone for a long time, and everyone
who saw it in that time has also died or moved
away and so, like so many stories, this one can't
get finished properly. Most things that are
important, have you noticed, lack a certain
neatness. More delicious, anyway is to
remember my grandmother's pleasure when
the dissolve of winter was over and the green
knobs appeared and began to rise, and to cre-
ate their many hearts. One would say she was
a simple woman, made happy by simple
things. I think this was true. And more than
once, in my long life, I have wished to be her."
for sixty years if not more, and has never
missed a spring without rising and spreading
itself into a grassy bush, with many small red
hearts dangling. Don't you think that deserves
a little thought? The woman who planted it
has been gone for a long time, and everyone
who saw it in that time has also died or moved
away and so, like so many stories, this one can't
get finished properly. Most things that are
important, have you noticed, lack a certain
neatness. More delicious, anyway is to
remember my grandmother's pleasure when
the dissolve of winter was over and the green
knobs appeared and began to rise, and to cre-
ate their many hearts. One would say she was
a simple woman, made happy by simple
things. I think this was true. And more than
once, in my long life, I have wished to be her."
---Mary Oliver
I will miss these beautiful spring flowers in my garden!
Friday, April 26, 2019
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Desert Primrose
Desert Primrose
One of my favorite challenges when I take photos of flowers in nature is to find the smaller and often overlooked little gems, and then try to show off their modest beauty in the best possible way I can. When I saw this tiny Desert Primrose plant beside the dusty dirt road we were on, I knew it had potential!!
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Joshua Blooms 2019
Hello! I haven't been around for the past several months. (Thanks to those who inquired if everything was alright.) Just too much going on, (travel, Disneyland with the grands, purchase of new house, and preparing another house to sell), that I had to put my camera away for awhile. But a couple of weeks ago I stole a few minutes just before sunset to drive into Snow Canyon for a shot of my favorite Joshua Tree. It's my favorite because of the beautiful background to show it off. This year was a Joshua Tree super bloom. A few bloom every year but most do not, then some years they have a super bloom when most all the trees in Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California bloom during the same season. The experts don't know exactly how they all know which year to bloom! P.S. Our new home is right behind the red cliffs in the distance.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Watchman Peak, Zion National Park
Watchman Peak
Zion National Park
This is a magical place! It surprises and delights me every time I'm there. Having a bit of cabin fever yesterday, and needing to get away for a few hours, I grabbed my camera and took off. Without having a specific place to go, I found myself heading toward Zion, as I often do. It was just about sunset when I arrived at this iconic photo op. Every time I cross this bridge I tell myself I can't shoot this scene one more time, yet I always do, and rarely have I been disappointed. This time the bridge was full of photogs and visitors, as it always is, waiting for a beautiful sunset that never happened. The sun was hidden behind a sky full of clouds and the landscape was dark and dull. A man visiting the park for the first time walked over to where I was standing with my camera and tripod set up, looked at the scene, and asked what was everyone looking at. About this time most of the photographers were packing up to leave. Finally everyone was gone except for four other photographers and myself. We waited and waited and waited, and finally two gave up and left. The rest of us waited some more as it got darker and colder. Then finally the magic happened! It was like Mother Nature was going to reward us for our patience with a beautiful show. Slowly Watchman Peak appeared to have a very faint warm glow that slowly spread to the surrounding red cliffs and then began to grow more intense. As the clouds continued to disperse revealing blue sky, a few lingering sun rays directly hit the cliffs turning them instantly into a neon shade of orange which lit up the whole scene. It was lovely to behold! Another bit of magic that happens in this place is that the Virgin river, normally a muddy river with a dull green tinge, seems to take on the color of the sky at sunset. I have photos where the river is green, turquoise, rosy pink, and various shades of blue, depending on the color of the sky.Below is a photo I took of this scene before the magic happened:
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Ivins, Utah - January Rainstorm
Ivins, Utah - January Rainstorm
.....and the much needed rains came to the deserts of southern Utah, creating seasonal waterfalls and a misty, magical scene to enjoy and photograph. This is 5 minutes from our southern Utah home but just out of the frame are beautiful homes in Kayenta that have this view every day.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
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