I’ve gotten pretty cynical about photography books of late, they all seem to just be repeating f/stop, shutter speed and camera brand. I realize better then most the importance of this information, even more important though is to forget it and focus in on the visual story we’re trying to tell with those f/stops and camera brands. Vincent Laforet’s new book does a beautiful job of bringing this message home! I’m a huge fan of much of his still work which I think is being overshadowed by his brilliant video work. But whichever you look at, he has something major to offer photographers in the story telling business. Give Visual Stories a read!
Yeap, we’re heading to our favorite city for a week of fun and teaching! We’re looking forward to seeing the Big Apple all decked out for the holidays and we’re really looking forward to seeing you! Now we hear the events are all sold out. But as we all know, life does get in the way of life at times and folks have to cancel. So in case you wanna try to get in on the fun (all new shows for folks, talking wildlife, landscape and perhaps a plane or two), check out:
It is that time of year again when the attics are raided and the decorations are hung. Around the Peterson homestead, we take this Christmas thing preeeety seriously. It’s a very much past down tradition incorporating family tree ornaments from Germany in the late 1800s to homemade one fresh off the craft table. Sharon has her favorite Christmas movies playing in the Dvd and Moose his Christmas punch. Ho ho ho!
And of course documenting it all is the camera, from D3s to D7000 to S9100. One subject I love to play with every year are the ornaments, trying to make a simple click of their mere hanging around. Many do this with the use of a flash (top photo). They languish as they try to mix the light source of the flash with the tree lights. The flash of course blasts out so much light when it sees all the green of the tree and then you have its 5500k and that of the xmas lights which are what, 2400k, maybe. That warm xmas glow just ain’t there in the photo and the pain of the flash, well takes the Christmas joy out of the whole shoot. What to do?
Well, there are really lots of ways of going about getting this shot. I tend to take the path of least pine needles. Shooting in AWB with either the 60 or 105mc, using a tripod compose your frame. In this regard I cheat a little because we have a gorgeous artificial tree (living in a forest, we can get our pine sent by just opening the door). Because it’s an artificial tree, I can bend the limbs anyway I want to get the shot. This includes, yeap, that tree lights. This scene wasn’t originally lit like this, I moved them lights around, grabbed a silver ornament as a mini reflector and set the whole thing up. Then, I just went click. So those little lights brightening up your spirits, might just be able to give you a lesson in lighting as well. That brings a whole new meaning to Christmas cheer!
I just love what this creative genius comes up with. It would be great fun if you have nothing planned today. Check out this greathouse lighting tutorial by Corey, just the stars blows my mind with its simplicity let alone the rest of it. Great weekend project, a lot of fun and if you think about it, the techniques and logic could be applied to other finishing touches to other images.
You fans always amaze me, some of you I think know my files better then I. This shot taken a few years back at Havasu Falls at the bottom of the Grand Canyon has hands down been the most popular image by those taking advantage of our Thank You print sale (how did you remember it?). We sure do want to thank you all who have considered presenting my art to someone, even if that was yourself. One week left, hope you find an image that strikes your heart that you’d like to own. Oh, and please don’t tell my good friend Russell Brown he’s so popular. That’s him in the photo. I would never hear the end of it!
Being able to stress over what to blog five days a week is just one of the blessing this profession provides, but the wonders we’re so fortunate to see and chase with our cameras has to be one of the best. May you and yours have a marvelous day and all the good will of the day chase you all year long!
Well, there are really lots of ways of going about getting this shot. I tend to take the path of least pine needles. Shooting in AWB with either the 60 or 105mc, using a tripod compose your frame. In this regard I cheat a little because we have a gorgeous artificial tree (living in a forest, we can get our pine sent by just opening the door). Because it’s an artificial tree, I can bend the limbs anyway I want to get the shot. This includes, yeap, that tree lights. This scene wasn’t originally lit like this, I moved them lights around, grabbed a silver ornament as a mini reflector and set the whole thing up. Then, I just went click. So those little lights brightening up your spirits, might just be able to give you a lesson in lighting as well. That brings a whole new meaning to Christmas cheer! 
