by tmoffett | Aug 16, 2010 | Landscape, Photographic Philosophy, Ramblings
Foggy Morning, Redfish Lake
When in Stanley, I struggle over whether to photograph in the morning or go fishing. Last week Photography won out! I still got in plenty of fishing, but the early mornings were perfect for making photographs.
On Friday morning as Christeena and I left our campground at about 6:00 the sky was clear and temperature cool. It was normal August weather for the area. However, just a mile down the road we saw the fog in the valley. It looked incredible. We stopped at several places to photograph (images to come later), then as we neared Stanley the fog got so thick we could hardly see. As we turned toward Redfish Lake, it thinned out a little. We stopped at Little Redfish Lake for a while, and after I was happy with what I had captured there we decided to drive on to Redfish and see what was there. I was totally happy with what I had to that point and was ready to go fishing. I am so glad that I didn’t, though. What we found was amazing! The fog and mist on the lake created the most unusual, surreal backdrop for the boats at the marina. I had never seen anything like it, especially in August! It looked more like a winter snow scene. I shot for about 30-45 minutes, and then the fog burned off and all was normal again. The morning was the most incredible 3 hour photo session that I can remember in a long time. I hope you enjoy the images as much I enjoyed creating them.
Timing is everything. If you want great images you must put in the effort. Getting up early is one of those things that must be done if you want to have great light for landscape photography. If I had nor got up at 5:30 and gone out in the cold I would have missed this phenomenon. However, I put in the effort and was able to not only enjoy the photographs, but was able to experience being there and creating the images. Just being there was worth it. Having the images to relive the experience is even better.
by tmoffett | Aug 15, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Photographic Philosophy
Summer Sky
Like it or not, we’re back! The fishing was good and the photography was great around Stanley, Idaho! We photographed around the Stanley Lake area, Little Redfish Lake and Alturas Lake. I have not had time yet to process out the images, but check back often, as they will be showing up in future entries. The morning fog in the valley was quite incredible. Very fun to photograph in. We had a great time, and it was much needed to get away from everything, including cell phones and the internet for a couple of days. It was very refreshing for the mind.
Due to not having finished any images yet from this trip, I have dug into the archives for today. This photograph is of a section of Lake Lowell that I pass frequently when riding my bike. The interesting thing about Lake Lowell, and just about any location, is the constant change. As the water level drops during the year due to irrigation, the shoreline changes. I think I could shoot along the banks every day and find something new. Sometimes it is the light that changes, sometimes the scene is changed and sometimes I see it differently because my attitude has changed. All of these things affect my photography, but of the three, I think attitude has the most effect. So if you find yourself in a rut and having a hard time finding an image, look inside yourself. I have found that if I have the right attitude and mindset, something will always present itself.
by tmoffett | Aug 13, 2010 | Ramblings
Summer Evening, Jackson Hole, WY
We all need a break once in a while, and my time has come! I will have students returning to my Photography Classroom next week, and so this is my last chance to get away for a couple of days. I am going fishing… yes, I will have my camera as well, but my number one priority this weekend is to relax and enjoy, recharge my batteries. I will be away from computer and even cell phone service, so will probably miss a day of posting. I will return next week, so don’t go away! I hope to come back refreshed and ready for another exciting round of photography.
I have also been working on a redesigned gallery website, so stay tuned. I will be launching it next week as well.
by tmoffett | Aug 12, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Photo tips
Early Winter
Do you ever need to de-emphasize a busy background? I know on occasion I do. In portraiture this is an everyday situation, but a technique that is not used as frequently in landscape photography. However, it is very valuable to understand at times.
This particular scene, if shot on auto or with a point and shoot camera would be so busy that we really would not be able to tell what the main subject is. By utilizing a wide aperture (f4 in this case) the background becomes very soft, just a nice texture that visually disappears. The main subject, remaining sharp, stands out. It creates three dimensional depth. To take control in these situations, you must understand the relationship between aperture (f-stops) and shutter speeds. As you open up the aperture, the shutter speed must decrease proportionally. By doing this, your exposure remains constant and the depth of field becomes shallow, thus creating the desired effect. Most of the time in landscape photography, we are wanting just the opposite effect, small aperture and long shutter speed, giving you a much greater depth of field.
by tmoffett | Aug 11, 2010 | Color, Photographic Philosophy, Ramblings
Lake Lowell
Why do I photograph? Because I need to! I got my first camera when I was about 8 or 9 years old, and have been documenting life and the world we live in since then. My reasons to shoot and my photographic philosophies have changed over the years, but I still have a need to create images. I must share my vision with the world.
I love photographing locations that I regularly visit. I love the ordinary. I like to show it in extraordinary ways. It is my vision. We walk past subject matter daily that could make great images if we only took the time and effort to recognize it. I think we tend to ignore more great photographs than we see. We must force ourselves to slow down and learn to see as though we were looking at things for the first time. We must look with new eyes. We must look with new light. When the light is right, everything looks good. Recognizing the light and seeing the composition is what really makes a great photographer. These skills must constantly be honed in order to create meaningful photographs. It is a challenge.
That is why I photograph.
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