Patience is a Virtue

Getting to the heart of your subject can be challenging when photographing nature. One windy afternoon, I noticed a plant blooming with purple flowers. Each time I took a new picture I had to set up my shot and then wait for the wind to die down. I wanted to see the center of the flower, the stamen, but the wind kept moving my subject so it took several tries to get this one. Many pictures were either out of focus or only a part of the flower that wasn’t very interesting.

I love this picture because you can see through the center like a tunnel. The stamen inside the unopened flower looks like a star lit perfectly by the late afternoon sun. God was smiling for me. Sometimes it pays to be persistent, but it takes a lot of patience and determination. 

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I just read a great Macro Tip from National Geographic about planting a stick and securing the stem of a flower to it so it stays more still while photographing. Thank you. I'll try that next time! 

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/macro-photo-tips/#/leatherwing-beetle-macro_26204_600x450.jpg  

 

However, that tip wouldn't have worked for this plant because the flowers were at eye level and I could not have secured anything to it for stability. But, if you have any suggestions for me on this topic, please let me know! Thanks!

Patience

San Francisco Conservatory

“Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

We All Need a Little Help Sometimes

Generally, I don't touch my photos. I work outside on most occasions, and don't have to deal with any unintended reflections or glares. Not this time, however. When I was photographing starfish in the Seattle Aquarium, the light reflected back from the water’s surface leaving a fuzzy reflection. With Photoshop, I eliminated the reflection with the clone stamp tool and then softened it with the healing brush.  In addition to the reflections, I also had to crop out a few extra legs on the star fish. These few retouches turned an otherwise distorted picture into a strong and colorful photograph. At times we all need a little help to look our best, so why not take advantage of the resources we have to do so.

Stop and Enjoy

Life is fleeting so take the time to stop and enjoy all that it has to offer.  I'm a creature of habit, so it makes sense that I take the same route home from work each day. As with most everyone else, I tune out the scenery and focus on getting home, but one day I noticed these huge geraniums scaling up above this house on the corner. Their beauty lured me and I had to pull over!

As I photographed these towering stocks of flowers, a butterfly landed right in front of me. I wanted to get a picture of him too, but he was a bit evasive. I followed him clicking away but still nothing. Then I remembered a teacher of mine once say, “Stay focused on one area and wait for your subject to fly into the frame.” So I did and turned my focus to a beautiful pink flower. After a few clicks, I couldn’t believe what I saw in my lens. The butterfly! He landed right where I focused my attention. My teacher was right. I didn’t want to let him get away this time, so I clicked away.  Snap! Gotcha! The last shot of him was amazing. I zoomed in close to see his smiling face.  

Nothing is Ever as it Seems

To many, this may look like I drew the lion in the grass with Photoshop, but that’s not the case. I did not touch anything in this picture. It is exactly as I took it.

Interestingly, the reason the lion looks like a painting is because the pixels are spread out which makes the details softer. At the time I shot this picture, I was just transitioning from film to digital and had a small point and shoot 5 megapixel camera. If I had a camera with more megapixels, I’m not sure I would have gotten the same effect in the photo. That’s where the magic happens. I zoomed in to frame the lion with the tree in the background, but let the camera focus. This made the lion appear like a drawing or painting because of its natural camouflage in the red oat grass. 

Kenya, Africa
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
– Lao-Tse

Introduction

“Every artist was first an amateur.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

I have always loved photography, even before I had a camera in my hand. I observed everything all the time that my family and friends rarely noticed until I pointed them out. I love experiencing amazing and unbelievable moments in nature and in life, especially through my travels. Traveling is a passion of mine that naturally lends itself to photography and wanting to capture and preserve what I see in pictures. The wonderful aspect about still photography is that I can go back to those moments anytime I want and enjoy them over and over again.

Early in my life I learned that the type of camera doesn’t determine the quality of a photo. The photographer, lighting and framing of the image are what really matter when it comes to taking great pictures. How many times have you handed your camera to someone to take your picture at a famous landmark, only to find your head or some other vital part of your body cut off?! Some memento! My Uncle Zeke consistently took good pictures using ordinary throw away cameras from the pharmacy. The most technology on those cardboard boxes was a flash that you had to turn on in order to use – if you remembered. Being the family historian, Zeke taught me the value of gathering everyone together and how to frame them to create the best composition for a group photo. Over the years, I have taken over the job of family historian, and was able to practice on my not so patient family. I wasn’t so quick to take snapshots. I prefer to take my time, which is why I love photographing flowers and nature so much. They can’t tell you to hurry up!

This book began as a collection of my travel photos that had stories behind how they were taken. It grew into more and more pictures from around my neighborhood that also had stories behind them. Then I realized I could share what I learned from each photo in a story without getting into all the technical stuff you can find on the Internet or in other photography books and classes. My book is for the person who wants to learn how to take better pictures while reading cute stories instead of an instruction manual. Although, the instruction manual is a vital part of the camera equipment, it can get dry. This book is not instead of, but in addition to, the instruction manual.

Photography is fun, creative and enjoyable! Let’s go play!

DAR