by tmoffett | Dec 2, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Ramblings
Solitude
Yesterday was a snow day at school. We had the one of the top ten snowstorms on record here. It was wonderful! I realized how much I miss the snow… real snow. I grew up on the Wasatch Front where lots of snow was the norm in the winter. I lived in Upstate New York where snow and ice was expected. Then I moved to Nampa where the norm is to snow in the morning and rain in the afternoon. The snow doesn’t last long here, so when given the chance to photograph fresh fallen snow yesterday I did not hesitate! It was great to get out in the cold and tromp through the snow with camera and tripod in hand. It was quiet and peaceful and cold, but so worth it.
I have a very simple style, but even more so in the winter. When everything seems to be quiet, I think it really rubs off on me while I am photographing. I see things in a very simple way. This image is a great example of that. While I was walking along the shoreline of the lake I noticed several leaves partially buried in the snow, and then I came across this one. It must have just fallen as it was completely on the surface. The soft light allows the intricate detail in the leaf to be recorded, as well as the texture of the fresh snow. It seemed as though it was just waiting for me to come by and photograph it, and I did. The warm hues of the leaf against the coolness of the snow just seems to speak to me. I hope it does for you, too.
by tmoffett | Dec 1, 2010 | Composition, Landscape
Morning Haze, Sawtooth National Forest
Perspective helps create depth in a photograph. We have been discussing this concept in one of my classes. There are several ways to show perspective in an image. The obvious one, linear perspective, showing how parallel lines seem to converge in the distance, is overused by the students in the assignment. It is nice to see diminishing or aerial perspective used occasionally. This image shows the use of aerial perspective, which is created by the atmospheric haze. When accompanied by backlight, it often not only enhances the feeling of depth, but can create a mysterious feeling as well.
by tmoffett | Nov 30, 2010 | Composition, Landscape, Photographic Technique
Against the Sky
Photographs are all around us just waiting to be made. We need not travel to exotic locations to create art (although sometimes it is a nice diversion!), we just need to open our minds (more so than our eyes) to see what is around us. I preach to my students that if they find nice light they will find nice photographs. It is not about where you go but how you see that makes a great image. I have made many photographs in my own backyard.
This image can illustrate this point. On a late autumn morning, these dry grasses going to seed blowing on the hillside were not much to get excited about. However, after watching them for a few minutes, decided that they needed photographed, or really I felt the need to photograph them. As I viewed them against the hillside, they became lost in confusion, but by changing my angle of vision, dropping low and shooting from the opposite side I was able to isolate them against the hazy blue sky. The blue complimented the yellows of the dry grass, the angles provided by the soft wind and the soft light compliments of light overcast skies created a simple, yet interesting composition. It is all about your viewpoint.
by tmoffett | Nov 29, 2010 | Landscape, Ramblings
Winter Morning, Lake Lowell
I have never had a sale before, and am not sure it will happen again, but decided because it is Cyber Monday, I would try it out. For a limited time I am offering 10 inch open edition and 14 inch limited edition hand signed photographs for up to 50% off regular prices. These images are printed on the highest quality 100% cotton archival paper available. To take advantage of this offer, just select the images you would like from the blog, type it in the box to the right and select the size from the drop down menu.
by tmoffett | Nov 26, 2010 | Composition, Landscape, Photographic Philosophy
Wintery Reflections, Payette Lake
I see things simply. Somehow I can find the simple elements that together make utter chaos. We live in a a very fast-paced, even chaotic world, that unless we somehow simplify, will drive even the best of us insane. For some reason I was blessed with the ability to see simply, not just simply see. I admire photographers who can photograph the busy, complicated scene and have it make sense, but for me, I cannot do that. My style is to find the one element within a chaotic scene that shows simplicity, isolate it and render it in a quiet manner. I don’t know how I do it, it just seems to happen.
When looking at things in a simple way, consideration of space becomes crucial. Negative space creates a setting for the main subject, and can either make or break the impact of the image. If the placement is perfect, then large amounts of negative space enhance the visual impact of the photograph, imperfect placement will kill it. Being able to quickly evaluate a scene and make adjustments to maximize the impact before pressing the shutter is critical to the success of a simple image.
I love giving my students the assignment to photograph simplicity and then watch them struggle. Young people today are multi-taskers to the point of not even being able to recognize simple things. They live fast and complicated lives. Yet when the power of simplicity clicks in their minds their whole attitude changes for the better. A whole new world opens up for them to explore. It is a wonderful transformation to witness. Your challenge today is to find something simple and create something wonderful from it!
by tmoffett | Nov 25, 2010 | Color, Family, Ramblings
My Pride and Joy!
Today is a great day to pause from everyday life and give thanks for everything and everyone that is important in our lives. My family puts up with a lot to allow me to pursue my dreams and aspirations. It is not easy being a photographers wife or a photographers child, so to those most important people in my life, I give thanks! To all of you who support me and give encouragement when needed by reading and commenting, or even purchased a print or two, I thank you. It is the people in my life, not the things, that make life rewarding. Without you, everything I do would be of no worth.
I have the most wonderful family. The kids keep us busy, that’s for sure. Football and basketball games, marching band and wrestling, dance and voice lessons, boy scouts and church activities, and the list goes on and on, but it is so worth it. This portrait was taken just 2 days before our oldest son left to serve a two year mission for the church. It will be a lasting reminder of who we are as a family while he is away. I couldn’t be more proud of all of my children and their accomplishments. My wife has raised them well! To her I give thanks. For her countless hours of shuttling kids around and making sure our schedules are kept, cooking meals and cleaning house, the never ending laundry, grocery shopping and on and on. I am forever indebted to her. I could not do what I do without her support. She is also my biggest fan.
Let us all remember on this Thanksgiving day what is truly important and remember to give thanks!
by tmoffett | Nov 24, 2010 | Color, Composition, Landscape, Photographic Philosophy, Photographic Technique
Autumn Breeze
One of the keys to great photography is to isolate your subject. So many times I see images that have numerous main subjects. They are confusing to look at because I don’t know what I am supposed to look at. It seems that the photographer has “taken” a picture without thinking before pressing the shutter. When creating a photograph (vrs. taking a picture) I am always thinking while I am working. I work slowly so that every detail is considered. The first thing I consider is what the main subject really is. Are there conflicting subjects? If so, how do I resolve the conflict? Would the photograph be better by eliminating part of it? Maybe there are multiple photographs to be made instead of just one.
The second thing that I consider is how to isolate the subject so that there is no question as to what the viewer is to look at. Do I use a wide open aperture so that the background blurs out or is the background an important element of the image? Can I change my camera angle so as to isolate the subject against a non-distracting background? That was the case in the photograph above. The sky was dark enough to not distract yet had some texture in the clouds for interest. The bluish tint in the sky perfectly complimented the golden color of the dry grasses, making it an ideal backdrop for the photograph.
Taking time to think while photographing can make all the difference between just taking a snapshot and really creating something nice! I would much rather return from photographing with one really nice image than a hundred mediocre snapshots.
by tmoffett | Nov 23, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Ramblings
Reflections, Lake Cascade
This happens to be one of my favorite images from Lake Cascade. There are a lot of things I like about the image, but my mind is drawing a blank as to what to write today. It is my first real experience with writers block. I have experienced something like this photographically, however. On occasion I just don’t feel like making photographs. “Where should I go?” “What should I photograph?” “I really am not feeling it.” These and other comments and questions enter my mind. How do I get over them? I photograph. I force myself to get out my camera and I go looking for images. Sometimes days like this lead me to my best photographs. Laziness breeds mediocrity. Perseverance leads to success. Times when I don’t feel like working or creating are the times when I MUST create. If I do, I grow more as an artist and reap greater rewards, both artistically and personally.
I have heard many times others saying, “I wish I could photograph like you.” You can! However, it takes work. I read. I study hard. I look at photographs of those who inspire me. I am out at the crack of dawn on cold winter mornings packing my camera and tripod, even on mornings when I don’t think I feel like it. I work hard at what I do, learning to feel the image. Trying to create what I feel inside. And then it happens. I let go of my doubts and begin to see. The image on the ground glass or in the viewfinder matches the one in my heart and mind! Success. It makes the work all worth it.
by tmoffett | Nov 22, 2010 | Color, Photographic Philosophy
Shoreline, 804 Trail
There is something that I love about photographs made with long shutter speeds. In the evening, my favorite time to photograph, long shutter speeds are a necessity, but even during the day I will use a neutral density filter in order to slow down the shutter. There is a feeling that comes with long shutter speeds that just is not present in photographs made with fast speeds. Things in motion are rendered in motion, and that creates a fluidity that is just not possible any other way.
In the evening, or even after the sun has set, leaving the shutter open for extreme amounts of time, often will create a sense of mystery or eeriness, a definite mood. When viewing the image it creates a sense of actually being there. This is what much of my landscape photography is about. I really want a feeling, and emotion to be stirred. I hope the viewer can enjoy the work, and feel something close to the feeling I get when creating it.
by tmoffett | Nov 19, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Photo tips
Mushroom
On an overcast afternoon last month I was strolling the 804 trail with my camera and photographing the ocean waves and the shoreline. It was a wonderful experience, as the tide was coming in and the waves raging from the unsettled weather. After some time, the sun decided to show itself and I decided that I was through photographing, as the high sun was way too harsh for my liking. On the way back to the hotel, I decided to step into the woods and look around. I found several interesting mushrooms growing, so I decided to photograph them.
While the light on the ocean at noon is not good, when getting back in the shade of the trees the light became soft and rich. It reflected off of the mushroom so soft and nice, it almost looked like it was glowing. I felt like I was on a treasure hunt, searching for mushrooms! I learned that they come in lots of varieties, some very interesting. It was also reinforced in my mind that the subject of a photograph can be just about anything. If the light is right, anything can look good. I keep telling my students that if they can find the light, then the subject will appear, they just have to be observant. If I could just get them to believe in themselves and in this philosophy they would start making interesting photographs.
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