Flowing Water

This photograph was made to demonstrate water moving.  When I made this photograph, I also made several other ones with a variety of shutter speed and aperture.  This final shot is the one I liked the best.  

Water flows into the image and flows out.  It is useful to make a series of photos and then be able to select the best one.

Dragon Face

Making Photographs to tell stories is critical with photography.  I enjoy looking at clouds and seeing images in them.  Here is another sample of seeing what is not there.  

The way you make a photo can influence what is seen.  

Do you see anything different?

Telling the story

John Maschak takes some amazing photographs.  He also makes a good subject.  This image uses rule of thirds to include John and the Alberta Wild Rose as subjects.

The Whole Story

While in Jasper this summer, we went on a walking tour of the Mt. Edith Cavell.  Before we could go, we had to sign a waiver that waived responsibility of the tour up to and including death.  

I have learned to make sure that I read every line before signing.  The alternate side was that I couldn't go on the trip unless I signed.....

I love photos that have the goal of telling the story.  I shared the photo with several on our tour and they remembered well what they had to agree to after seeing this image.

Without Words

This elk was only a couple of feet from myself.  It was quite amusing as other photographers stood way back.  I realize that these are wild animals and the eyes and mouth tell the story that I was too close.  While I was protected by a vehicle, I definitely read the language of the animal.

Watchful parent

This parent was very watchful of us walking nearby.  The goslings were busy feeding while the parent kept watch.  

The benefit of a 200 mm lens allowed me to get close enough without disrupting the goslings feeding.  

The straight neck of the Canada Goose provides an interesting contrast to the see of green and soft curves.

This shot was fun to take.  Generally, I like to snap casual shots in preparation for a 'posed' shot.  In this case, giving the subjects an opportunity to set themselves up allowed a set up with the crossed clubs.  

At the same time, it would have been even better to then ask the other team to cross their clubs.

Catching the action

At a guard competition this summer, I tried to catch the action of diving in at the beginning of the race.  Even with a 200 lens, I did not catch great images.  

Next time, I will make sure that I am closer and a shooting with a burst to ensure I catch the action.

Reading Directions

It is amazing how teachers can't read....  Actually, we had permission to walk the course as we were photographers.

Angel or Dragon?

This is Angel Glacier beside Mt. Edith Cavell glacier.  With the warmer weather of the last couple of years, the Angel is shorter.  The portion you are looking at is the upper part of the skirt (with the rest melted.)

I loved this image because the image looks like a dragon crawling over the mountain and its mouth visible here.  There is even an eye on this side, (and looks like one on the other side as well.

Looking beyond what you are told helps consider the options for making a great photo.  I didn't just see the Angel that I was told to see, I looked for other interpretations.

The perfect photo

I framed a photo of this same flower, but changing the subject to the photographer was much more interesting.  Using the direction of John's eye and his camera lens, it leads the viewers eye to the image of the wild rose.  Using objects or people to direct the viewers eye to the real subject.

Signing your life away

I make a habit of reading waiver forms.  This is another opportunity to let students see the image and then decide the story that it tells.  Obviously, this is not me signing the form, as both hands are used in the image.  The original image is in RAW and it is possible to zoom in and read the details including that the company is not liable for injuries - including death....

What are you thinking?

While in Jasper, the Elk were wandering around our cabins.  Most of the guests just hung out about 50 feet away.  I am a little more daring to make a great photo.  I didn't just want a picture of animals.  I wanted something more from the pictures I made.  I was still careful to keep a car between the Elk and I; however, some of my colleagues felt I got to close - as witnessed by this look.  I assumed it was thinking, "If he takes one more step closer ...."

A great opportunity for writing with students is providing images like this one that invite you to create your own story to explain it.

Standing Guard

While in Jasper, the goslings were exploring but not far from Mom.  This image almost follows the rule of thirds.  I would have liked to have the goslings looking up too, but they were chomping happily under Mom's watchful eye.

Planning the Angle

I enjoyed taking photos during the Barnsley Lifeguard Competition.  I also was able to plan some photos.  I made these photos by working the bulkhead at the other end of the pool.  While I captured the action, it is relatively boring.  A better shot would have been much closer to the swimmers, but on the side of the pool.  Head-on, there is very little to see of the entry.  If I was at the side, I would have gotten some great profiles while diving.

Posing Golfers

These two photos were taken moments apart.   The second one is nice;however, the first one has some nicer expressions.  Telling people when a photo is being taken changes their expressions.  I usually take a few before the official photo to make sure I get the great expressions.  

Another thought to making good photos is to interact with the environment.  The second image has the golfers crossing their clubs.  While this is posed, it is also a neat effect.

Following Directions

I give credit to Shelagh Lim for this image.  This was a made image.  There is a story behind the image though.  We were given permission to walk the golf cart path in Jasper.

That is me with the farmer hat.

Some photographs are made to tell a story.  This one depicts a story but I know the real one behind it.

Capturing a story

This is a fun photo that was taken to capture a fun event.  Shelagh has many fun stories from this trip.  

Part of taking photos this way is always having a camera with you.  A delicate part of this is to not take so many as to be annoying.  (Most people just know that I have a camera with me now.)

Water Skeeter

Making photographers through water is particularly challenging.  Cameras have difficulty auto focusing through water, and I have difficulty with manual focus through water.

Both my wife and I remember playing in streams and 'capturing and releasing' these insects.

It is challenging to capture them as the move unexpectedly.  

The solution for me in this case was to zoom out, focus where I thought it should be in the frame and then crop the final image.  I tried about 6 different shots to make this one.

Moving Targets

With my previous photograph bringing up the 20 lb brick, the guard came straight up.  With this shot, the guard swam sideways.  It is not unusual to do this but making a photograph when this happens requires a changing plan.

Helping the camera deal with a subject moving (and moving out of the frame,) you move the camera at the same speed of your subject.  If this is new to you, you can also make sure you are zoomed out more so that you can capture the event.  In post production, you can crop out excess space to compose the photograph better.

Being Playful

Being a photographer for any event is a challenge to 'capture' the event.  If you ever leave one spot, you may miss the action there, but by being different, you have other opportunities to capture the essence of the event.

When you start taking photos, those that are natural comedians will often 'act out.'  The nice thing is that you can capture these moments with our new technologies.

While this shot was not framed, or arranged, I planned on getting images like this.  So.... this is another way of making photographs.

Pretty Amazing

At the LG competition, there is a fitness component.  Bring a 20lb brick off the bottom at 6 feet or more, then swim with it for 15 feet.  Sounds easy - but try it.  

I have been doing this activity for almost 20 years.  When I was at Rolley Lake, I was 'playing' by picking up rocks off the bottom.  It was fun to watch others try as well.  

Catching this on film was exciting.  Again I had to plan watching when she was going to break the surface and take the shot just before she broke the surface.  Having done this activity gave me an opportunity to have a good idea when she would break and the breath she would immediately take.

Catching the action

Catching the action used to be so much harder.  With my old Pentax Super ME, I could only take one image and then manually wind.  I never moved to an auto winder.

With the Nikon D60, I can take 3 to 4 snaps per second.  It is still not fast enough to catch action with unless it is planned.  You need to plan your shot, ensure your shutter speed is enough to not just make a blur, then breath out slowly and depress the shutter just before the moment you want.

Think Different

This image was taken at the Bear Creek LG Competition.  I said taken because I didn't take the photo for composition.  Rather the photo was made to look differently at the competition.  When all eyes are on the finish of the race, a different perspective.

I was told by a professional photographer to plan your photos by walking around without a camera.  Look for shots and plan before picking up a camera.  The beauty of the LG competition was that I got to see most things 3 times in succession.  I was able to plan several shots this way.

Yet another Powell River Sunset

As I have said, I spend a long time to get just the right photo.  Even with the right subject matter, you still have choices.  These two images are great.  At first I wanted to post the first one, then I saw the second again and thought it was better.  They both have their merits and the colour is amazing.

My mother-in-law claims Powell River has the best sunsets in the world.  It is hard to argue when I can capture the range of great photos in one night.

Another Powell River Sunset

Patience is important.  I hung around the beach for over an hour to explore different shots and make just the right photo.  I had decided I wanted to be out on the breakwater to get less foreground in the images.  Walking over, the sun changed a bit more and when I arrived this image was waiting to be made.  I could adjust the colour saturation a bit but I am happy with the shot 'au naturel.'  

Upon further looking, I see that I purposely decreased the aperture to expose the image less.  Here is an image taken moments before with 1/80 of a second versus the 1/200 of a second for the image above.

Wild Strawberry

I am always amazed at the way we have domesticated and changed plants.  More recently, concerns over genetically modified plants....  We have been able to 'naturally' modify plants such as this strawberry which basically produces a fruit the size of a pea covered in seeds to a fruit the size of a golf ball or more.  

Politics aside, I love the beauty of plants that are 'wild' versions of what I know.  This image was shot in raw so I was able to crop over half of the image out to frame a much nicer photo.

Catching Water

Something critical that I gained from listening to Vincent LaForet was relating to making photos rather than taking.  This series of images was intended to do just that.  I adjust the shutter speed manually from 1/500 of a second to 1/15 of a second.  At 1/500, the water appears to stop and is in close focus.  At 1/15 of a second the rock can be in perfect focus while the water becomes a white blur.

I am sure that there is a way as a science lesson to use the photo to see how fast the water was flowing at the time.

Powell River Sunsets

These two images are taken within minutes of each other.  The beauty of the digital camera is taking multiple shots and being able to see the results almost immediately.  While I like the colouration of the second image better, the first one is composed better by framing in the sunset.  

In post production, I would also increase the saturation of the orange to make it pop more. Here is what that looks like.  I increased the saturation of the orange sky, increased the blackpoint, and added a bit of exposure as well.

Well Camoflouged

This ground squirrel is well suited for a forest and for the glacial morraine.

I purposed to leave a lot of brown space so that the viewer has to search for the squirrel.  While the squirrel is placed in a third, the tree is also a distractor to the eye.

This reminds me to think about the purpose of making a photograph.  Rather than just clicking, it is important to always think of what you might use it for eventually.

Overcoming Adversity

These belles were growing in the glacial deposits at Mt. Edith Cavell.  The bleakness of the climate is apparent with the sparsity of life.  There were about 8 different kinds of flowers growing in the area and only a few trees.

This image interested me as it has two sets of bells.  The image was made with my 70-200mm lens.

Rose Trio

At the end of last summer, I planted several rose bushes.  They have not been doing fantastic this year.  (One has even died.)

Returning from a week camping trip, this trio is preparing to show.  I set the aperture as high as possible to reduce the focal depth.  Just one of the three is in good focus and the background is blurred out entirely.

Strong Roots

While visiting Mt. Edith Cavell Glacier, we walked to the glacial pond.  The outflow streams appear to not follow a warn path as the material is all the same - glacial deposit. 

This tree was less than two feet tall  and I would guess about 8 years old.  In the cold glacial climate and uncertain soil to grow in, it was amazing to see it surviving.

The image is unique as I made the photo by almost placing the lens in the water.  Looking from different perspectives creates unique images.

Golfing in majesty

As a fun excursion in Jasper, I went with 4 golfers and took photos of the beauty and their golfing.

The difficult part of these locations is that there are too many options to choose from.  I tried to capture the 3 horizontal bands of interest - green space, mountains, clouds.

Canada Geese

Both of these images are crops to make a better photograph.  Part of the reason for cropping was that there were about 25 geese in total but the number in focus in any one shot was limited.  I have to work on my shots to have better focal depth.  I work on higher F-stops; however, I am not entirely happy with the way the lenses are performing.

Twisted Daisy

Along the Willingdon Beach trail there was a patch of tall daisies.  I found the twisted leaves intriguing.

Normally I like to use the rule of thirds; however, I knew that I should break the rules with making this image.  The high contrast nature of the white daisy with dark background draws your eye to the twisted petals.

BC Coastal Sailing

I grew up spending my summers on or near the ocean.  Seeing this sailboat anchored off Willingdon Beach brought back many memories.

This was made at the same time that the previous sun reflecting image was created.  I had to manually reduce the exposure to ensure that the sun didn't wash out all the colours and create a high contrast / low colour image.

Early Evening Willingdon Beach Sunset

My Mother-In-Law believes Powell River has the best sunsets in the world.  I have taken some wonderful shots that I will share in a future post.

Taking shots with high sunlight exposure works best using manual settings.  I was able to adjust the exposure to develop this image.

I most enjoy the horizontal lines of the shore, waves, Harwood Island and clouds.

Caribou leaving Jasper

While traveling with my ADE team back from Jasper early in July.  We were discussing how disappointed we were in the amount of wildlife we had not seen in Jasper National Park.

Then we drove past this Caribou in BC.  It was lightly raining at the time so the image quality is less than I would have liked.  My team did not want me to get out of the vehicle (wise choice but the inner photographer in me was screaming to get closer and different perspectives.)  I was able to open the door and snap some shots.  

This image is also Geotagged in Flickr.com/amboe_k