by tmoffett | Aug 21, 2010 | Color, Family, Ramblings
The Dock
I have spent many hours on this dock fishing with my kids. This particular night, however, just after sunset the dock emptied and was a perfect subject for a photograph. After shooting, though, I did get out my fishing pole and Christeena and I caught some fish. We had a great time watching the light dim on McGowan Peak as the reflections in the water changed minute by minute and then watch the stars as they began appearing.
I think this image has more meaning to me because it brings back the great memories of vacations with my family to this very location. It is one of my very favorite lakes to spend a summer day. My goal is always to create a feeling in my images, this time a feeling of the peace and calm that I feel when spending a lazy summer evening watching the sun set and the stars come out. Nothing compares to that wonderful relaxed feeling at the end of a long day when you get a few minutes in nature with the one you care about most. I could do this every day!
by tmoffett | Aug 20, 2010 | Color, Family, Landscape, Ramblings
Thunderstorm, Bear Lake
A couple of weeks ago I was at a family reunion at Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho. It started out a great day, warm and sunny. A perfect day for the lake. It didn’t take long to change. This thunderstorm rolled over the mountain and within just a few minutes everything turned dark. We could see lightning in the distance, but that did not stop the playing in the water. After a few minutes, though, hair started standing up on end. It was scary. When that happened, the entire beach cleared out. It was interesting to watch as everyone moved to the shore and packed it in. The feeling was very eerie. you could feel the electricity. Car antennas buzzed with static. People sat in cars just watching, then seeing that it wasn’t going to change for the better anytime soon, they left. I got out my camera and began shooting, trying to recreate the feeling. Just as the rain hit, with no one else left on the beach, I packed it in as well and we headed out.
Feeling in landscape photography, it makes all the difference.
by tmoffett | Aug 19, 2010 | Black and White, Landscape, Photo tips, Photographic Philosophy
Early Morning in the Sawtooths
The Sawtooth Mountains are one of my favorite places to visit. The cool, fresh morning air makes waking up a pleasure. The scenery is incredible, especially first thing in the morning. Saturday I had the pleasure of being at Alturas Lake at sunrise. We had a light fog that created a mood and feeling that was calm and relaxing. It was wonderful just to be there and enjoy Gods creations. What made it even better was being able to photograph the experience.
What do I look for when I am out with my camera? How do I find the right subjects to photograph? I am asked these questions on occasion. I have thought about what I do and how I do it so that I can accurately answer. While out photographing I tend to not only look with my eyes, but also with my heart. I try to feel what is happening around me. What mood is surrounding me? When I feel something I get out the camera and try to produce the feeling in an image. Not always an easy task but always a worthwhile endeavor. By searching for feeling an image with deeper meaning is created. It is not just a pretty picture, it becomes a piece of art.
by tmoffett | Aug 18, 2010 | Color, Photo tips, Random images
Tanks And Trains
On occasion I get the chance to shoot commercial photographs for some medium to large businesses based here in Idaho. On this occasion I was photographing a large asphalt plant. How do you make a big industrial area with large storage tanks and rail cars look inviting and interesting? It is all about light.
Originally this company wanted me to shoot earlier in the day, and I insisted that to get what they really wanted I needed to be there later. They agreed to my terms and afterward were very pleased with the images. I waited until just before sunset so that the light was softer and at a lower angle, thus having the ability to create shape and form from the tanks. With the softer light, the black rail car also held detail while the lowering sun struck the sides of the white tanks creating three dimensional depth. As a bonus, we had a few light clouds in the sky to add some nice texture to an otherwise blue sky.
Remember, photography is all about the light!
by tmoffett | Aug 17, 2010 | Color, Composition, Landscape
Summertime Fog, Redfish Lake
Had to post another image from last weeks trip to Stanley, Idaho. It was such an unusual look for this time of year. The simplicity of the scene created by the fog, as it minimizes the contrast and the background distractions was captivating. I am always looking for simplicity in my images as that is what I am. Just a simple photographer living a simple life. The concept of “less is more” really works here. It is a hard concept to teach, but when mastered is very effective.
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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