Is it Photography or Photoshop!!

Is it Photography or Photoshop??

I was sitting on a bench on Park City's main street and snapped a 'point n shoot' photo of the street scene below:

But in my 'mind' eye' I saw something more artistic. It was dusk and the little lights in the background tree had just come on. I waited until it was darker and the lights were brighter and cast a warm glow. I set my camera to the largest aperture my lens would allow, f/4, and adjusted other settings for low light. I positioned my camera as close to the flowers as possible and zoomed in. This created a soft dreamy look, blurring the background and rendering the tree lights as big round light globes called 'bokeh'. The above photo is the result. Photography may or may not involve using Photoshop to enhance a photo, but it is always about using the variables of lighting, composition and camera settings to create a photo!

Wild Daisies

Wild Daisies

There is something so carefree and lighthearted about wildflowers growing where ever they choose with no apparent order and no concern that their closest neighbors are weeds!    I found these wild daisies near Sundance Ski Resort which is a short ride from my home.  (My grandmother cultivated this 'look' in her own flower garden and my Dad used to call it 'studied carelessness'.)

Cascade Springs, Utah

Cascade Springs, Utah

This beautiful little area is just a short drive from my home.  I feel so blessed to find beautiful scenes to photograph close by.

Cabbage White Butterfly

Cabbage White Butterfly

It is wonderful to be able to travel to 'far away places with strange sounding names' and capture the rare or exotic, but we can all enjoy the beauty in the seemingly simple, every day wonders of nature if we just slow down and take time to observe and appreciate.

Tiny HIker

Tiny Hiker

Photography has taught me to appreciate the small and simple vignettes in nature. While hiking in the mountains behind my home, I sat on a boulder to rest and take in the grand view of rugged Mt. Timpanogos. But I soon became fascinated watching this tiny little hiker, who was about a 1/4 inch long. It took him quite awhile to figure out where he was going.

Milk Thistle

  Milk Thistle (I think)

I know these are considered obnoxious weeds, but they are just so darn photogenic!

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle (I think)

I know these are considered obnoxious weeds, but they are just so darn photogenic!

A Grand View Near Mackay, Idaho

Flower Dance

Flower Dance

Even a dead tree stump can be part of an interesting composition when surrounded by new life. This was taken in the same area as my last post.

Borah Peak, Idaho

 Borah Peak, Idaho

12,662 feet elevation

Still posting from our trip to Idaho, and this day we saw many beautiful and rugged Alpine like peaks, including Borah Peak, the highest mountain in Idaho.

A Babbling Brook - Mackay, Idaho

This babbling little brook danced all the way down to join Wild horse Creek, near Mackay, Idaho.

Wild horse Creek, Mackay Idaho

Here is another view of Wild horse Creek near Mackay, Idaho. For you nature lovers, there were beautiful camping spots along this crystal clear river/creek with views of rugged mountains including the highest peak in Idaho. (More photos to come.)

Wild horse Creek, Idaho

Wild horse Creek, Idaho

I usually don't take my camera when we are ATV riding with a group as no one has the patience to stop every few minutes for me to take photos. This time, however, I did take my camera on a group ride near Mackay, Idaho. We stopped to eat lunch in a beautiful wooded area by Wild horse Creek. I gulped down my lunch, then spent my time taking photos.

For you non photographers out there, sometimes it's all about luck!  in order to get moving water to look soft and dreamy, you need to set your camera for a slow shutter speed which usually requires using a tripod to avoid camera shake so the still objects won't be blurry. I had no tripod, but I must have had very steady hands that day! Photographers often call this technique 'veiling' because when used on a waterfall, the result looks like a wedding veil.

For you photographers out there, here are my camera settings:  1/6 sec, f/18, 200 ISO.  This was shot at midday. I used a polarizer filter and waited for the sun to go behind a cloud. I also bracketed 3 shots to get the best exposure.

Garden Friend

Hello Little Garden Friend!

With Gossamer Wings!

With Gossamer Wings!

I love how the light shows off his wings.

Independence Day - The 4th of July

Let Freedom Ring!!

The inscription on the Liberty Bell says, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof". Happy Independence Day!

Garden Ladybug

Say CHEESE!

Red Creek Reservoir, Utah

Just the Two of Us!

Actually there were lots of them socializing along the shore of this small reservoir located high in the southern Utah mountains. 

Flower Petals

Nature and macro photographers are interested in the beauty found in simple things that others might miss, like the unfolding of of flower petals.

Petal Glow

Petal Glow!

Whenever I shoot flowers I try to find interesting light and interesting backgrounds. I found both yesterday during a quick walk through the gardens at Thanksgiving Point, about 5 minutes away from home.