Double Up

I shot at f/6.3 and 1/400 with a focal length of 52. I deepened the yellow in the building's brick-work in processing and changed up the hue of the blue just a touch. Increasing the contrast drew attention to the strong lines of the architecture and also to the shading differences from window to window.

Artist's Calm

I snapped some shots of my sister's workspace while waiting to take some head-shots for her work as an artist. I loved this little area in her studio and couldn't resist shooting.

It invites me into her process of expressing to the world what she sees.

I shot at a speed of 1/60 with f/2.8 using only natural light. I bumped my ISO to 200.

After importing into Lightroom to do some initial processing of the RAW image, I added a layer in Photoshop. I used a canvas look with weathered edges that seemed to enhance what was already there.

Finding the Exception

When on an urban shoot, I am delighted when I come across the exception to the rule. Here in the midst of high-rises and old brick walk-ups was this beach-type building. I can picture it on the sand overlooking the sea instead of flanked by a back-lane and street, both filled with neighbouring businesses.

The exception is often what makes an image interesting. What is different about your subject? Does it stand out?

When out and about, take a look around and find the exception and begin to shoot (pictures, that is). The result might surprise you.

Sun Paints Chicago

Black and White Storm

Often, black and white photography can be the best way to show contrast. Originally in colour, the storm clouds in this image lost much of their definition and drama that were present in reality. No matter what I did to increase the contrast, it did not show as it had on the evening of the storm...until I pulled the colour. Immediately, I could hear the wind whip up the trees and I could feel the heavy skies reach down over and around me.

I used a shutter speed of 1/80. Though not fast enough to freeze all the movement in the trees, it was exactly the right speed to show the increased wind pockets. Some areas of the trees, the motion was stopped but other areas, where the wind was crazy fast, there is blur.

Turtle Island

Though happy with the original capture (shot at 1/80 and f/10) I thought I'd bring this island picture into photoshop and see what I could do.  I added a few layers, multiplying the effects and flattening the final result. The textures and golden overlays really seemed to turn this into a springboard for the imagination.

Our minds step onto the island and wander through the trees, perhaps cautiously. What do you see?

Three of a Kind

Taking pictures with a theme in mind can make for an easy grouping of artwork. Here I shot a bunch of pictures in a retro diner with thoughts of a series. Once on my computer I enhanced each image with identical treatments so they would blend even better together.

The simplicity found in the colours of the diner were easy to work with and easier to bring together.

Water's Faces

Shooting water never gets old. As the clouds in the sky move, so too does the water, or at least their reflection in the water. As the wind blows, so too does the water. It is ever changing.

In the above image, I shot with a shutter speed of 1/200 and f/10. I chose a little greater depth of field so I would have satisfactory clarity in the reflection, sky, foreground and background, all.

I don't often like to split a picture in half but here I have done almost that. Maybe not quite, but close. Sometimes it just works better. There are "rules" in photographic design but let's be real, photographers are a creative lot who like to colour outside of the lines!

Because of the movement of the geese and relative brightness in this shot, I used a faster shutter speed - 1/640.

Having the reflection of the trees reach the geese by way of point draws attention to their evening playfulness.

Sometimes I am a Purist. Other Times I Play.

The mood of the approaching storm was better shown when I played with the contrast and colour of this image. Often the sky's definition can be lost to brightness. Recovering that definition can be done with various presets or playing with individual controls within Lightroom (or Photoshop). Changing up the colour can also enhance the image, depending on the feeling you are going for in your shot.

No matter, you still need something good to work with. Composing most or all of your shot in-camera is still the best way to go. What you add from there can in fact add to your image. Careful, as it can also take away from the shot. Finding the right balance requires thought and insight into what you want to say or show.

Cabin on the Rocks

It is tough to get proper exposure in a composition that includes a good deal of sky that you don't want blown out and a foreground that demands adequate brightness and clarity.To do this in camera is challenging, if not impossible.

Once on my computer I bumped up the exposure in the grassy area, including the cabin and woodsheds, while bringing a curtain down over the sky area to recover what was lost at capture.

Because the cabin and woodsheds were all relatively the same distance from my lens, I didn't need an exceptionally great depth of field. I opted for an aperture of f/9 which brought satisfactory clarity to the buildings.