Feeling a Bit Down? Blast Heatwave
Turn a Snapshot into an Art Shot
Here's a quick photo tip: turn a snapshot into an art shot - or at least a more artistic image - with plug-ins. Plug-ins help us awaken the artist within by removing some of the reality from an image.
I created the image above in Nik Color Efex Pro from the image below.
I used three filters: Darken / Lighten Center, Vignette: Blur and Image Borders. Adding filter is a cool feature in Color Efex 4.
If you are new to Nik and plug-ins, see my Save on Plug-ins page.
Explore the light,
Rick
How Come I'm Not Getting The Shots?
I teach a lot of workshops throughout the year.
Every so often a workshop participant asks: "How come I'm not getting the shots that the other photographers are getting?"
I've seen this happen on all different types of workshops - wildlife, people, landscape and so on. I've heard this from my fellow workshops instructors, too.
The answer, sometimes, is equipment. In some situations, a certain lens, say a 400mm or a 15mm, is indeed needed.
In other situations, it's luck.
Of course, sometimes the photographer is a novice and has not yet acquired the skills to get specific shots.
Sometimes, and this is the point of this post, it's the photographer's responsibility.
To help all workshop participants, here's my list of "A Workshop Participant's Responsibilities."
Know your camera - especially when it comes to fine-tuning the exposure with the +/- exposure compensation control - or dialing in the correct exposure manually. After all, for every photographer, there is only one correct exposure. (For more on exposure, check out my class on Kelby Training: Light - the main element in every photograph.)
Stick like glue to the instructor.
Ask to see the instructor's photographs, and the photographs of the other workshop participants.
Know that the instructor is not a "mind reader" when it comes to your needs.
Show the instructor, and the other participants, your pictures as often as possible on your camera's LCD panel.
Be part of the "team" - and join in the fun, as well as the work.
Ask questions.
Do your homework before leaving home on the location, subject and the equipment that's needed.
Sit with the instructor during Photoshop and Lightroom sessions and see how your shots can be improved.
Set goals, and maybe even a specific goal.
So my friends, speak up, join in, ask questions, know your camera, do your homework, don't assume anything, set goals, stick like glue . . . and you'll get the most out of a photo workshop. The more you put in, the more you'll get out.
If you like the stuff you see here on my blog, you can subscribe here.
Explore the light,
Rick
Today's Awesome Guest Blogger: Alex Morley
Thank you Rick for inviting me to be a guest blogger! It's good to be back here.
This September, Rick and I will be leading our second Oregon Coast photo caravan workshop
on the Oregon Coast, a magical place. The workshops is full, but you can get on the waiting list by shooting Rick an email.
You will find rocky headlands separated by long sweeping beaches and
towering sand dunes on the Oregon Coast. There are sea birds,
whales, seals, sea lions, lighthouses, and picturesque fishing harbors. A photographer's paradise.
In this guest blog post I'd like to share some of my favorite images from past trips to one of my favorite photographic locations.
Opening image: The Yaquina Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful locations on the coast.
Above: The Newport harbor is a real working fishing port. This was shot with a full moon at the blue-light time of day right after sunset.
Above: There are many wonderful tide pools to explore at low tide. Be sure to bring your knee-high rubber boots to wade through shallow pools. You will have better opportunities to photograph your subjects.
Above: Unusual sandstone cliffs make Shore Acres a unique place with big waves. It is mesmerizing.
Above: There are several areas along the Oregon coast with amazing seastacks (big rocks isolated in the water by erosion). They are wonderful for photography. This gull was searching for food. I was fortunate to have ideal backlight during a break in the clouds.
Above: The Oregon Coast is a treasure for photographers. High tides and low tides completely change the way an area appears. Along with the changing tides, sunrises and sunsets offer an infinite opportunity for new images.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. As you can see, the Oregon Coast is, indeed, a magical place and a photographer's paradise.
Alex Morley
• • • • •
Thank you Alex for sharing your awesome images.
Again, the Oregon Coast photo caravan is full. All my 2013 workshops are listed on my 2013 Workshops page.
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Grab A Quick Lighting Tip - and maybe a cool prize
Grab a quick lighting tip - and maybe a cool Westcott prize. Click here for details.
Explore the light,
Rick