Print Out This Image

15 years ago, when I dropped my son off at pre-school for the first time (with tears in my eyes of course), I noticed a poster on the wall with the words you see in this image. It's the final image in all my slide presentations.

So true.

We hear and we forget.

We see and we remember.

But when we "do"... we understand.

So stop reading this blog post. Now! Go out and shoot. Understand. :-)

Happy weekend,
Rick

A Mid-Day Shooting Suggestion: IR

About two years ago, I had my Canon SD800 converted to an IR-only camera. I jumped on a plane and did some shooting in Mono Lake, CA.

Sure, I also took my color digital SLR cameras (Canon 1Ds Mark III and 1D Mark II). I got up early and stayed out late to catch the beautiful light and colors of early morning and late afternoon with those cameras.

During the midday hours, when the light was too harsh for color landscape shots, I shot with my IR-only camera. Here's one of my favorite shots, taken at South Tufa.

The top shot is the original. The bottom shot is the same shot enhanced with Topaz Adjust - my favorite plug-in this week (as you might have guessed).

One of the cool things about IR cameras is that you can shoot all day without worrying about "bad" lighting – because you are recording IR light. Another cool thing is that you can create some beautiful landscapes pictures effortlessly - pictures with a dark sky and white clouds.

If you have an old camera hanging around, compact or SLR, consider converting it to an IR-only camera. Good fun for sure.

I found it interesting that after shooing IR for about a week, I started to "see" in IR.... picturing how a scene would look when photographed with my IR camera.

You can get a discount on your IR conversion from Lifepixel by using this code upon checkout: RickSammon.

You can order Topaz Adjust (and receive other discounts on certian plug-ins) on the Pluginexperience.

See the light - the IR light :-)
Rick

Wait.

Hey, I don't think I ever posted a photo tip with only a one-word header, but I thought it was appropriate in for this tip: wait.

When you are out shooting in a city (or town or village), sometimes it's advantageous to simply pick a cool location and wait for the subject to walk (or ride) into into the frame. That's what I did for this photograph of a Kuna woman in Kuna Yala, Panama in 2004; and for this photograph of a man and his mule in Trinidad, Cuba in 2001.

Pick a position and wait. That tips applies for photographing butterflies, too :-)

See the light,
Rick

Here's the Before IR/Mirror Shot. Borrrrrrring!

Several folks really liked the IR image I posted yesterday (below). Here's a color shot of the same scene (minus the magical mirror effect). Borrrrrrrrrring.

If you need a creative boost, why not covert an old digital SLR or compact camera to IR? Lifepixel offers several options. You can get a discount by using this code upon checkout: RickSammon.

To create the magical mirror effect, click here.

Play with the light,
Rick

Never Give Up. Okay? Promise?

I receive emails from time to time from folks who are discouraged - mostly by rejection for one thing or another.

Hey! I have been there... and still get the rejection blues from time to time.

The following homily is for all those who have been rejected - or may be in the future.

10 years ago, I had this "great" idea for a series of 3-D children's books. I pitched it to National Geographic. They said, "no thank you."

I never give up. Two weeks later I signed a contract with the Nature Company for six books. Those six 3-D books led to two more 3-D books and another children's book.

Out of all my books, the 3-D children's books were my best sellers - because the audience for children's books is much greater than for how-to digital photography books.

The books are out of print, sorry.

So when you get rejected, never give up. Okay. Promise.

See the light,
Rick