Stay the Course!

I am writing this post for a good friend.  Tomorrow he is halfway through his project of taking 50 straight days of macro photographs.  His rules are that he must take the photo and edit it that day.  I am very impressed with what he did...and wait in great anticipation to see where he will go from here.

So in tribute to his halfway point I am going to remind him to stay true to his journey's goal my keeping his focus on true north, and then to tell himself that he is only half full of lessons he has yet to learn from the project.

Take a look at his work and even if he calls himself a newbie...don't believe it.  This guy loves Kelby Training Videos.  He borrowed my Metz ringflash, and wore out a new set of batteries in one night...actually four hours between shifts!  He loves bugs and takes requests.  He is a macro lover and growing into quite the artist.

Rich I'm proud of you buddy!  Just remember your journey is only now starting to show its rewards.  The first bud is coming, and so many more are now ready to bloom. Just keep plowing on.

I have a project coming up after baseball season, inspired by you!  Just have to figure out what it will be though...

Here is his project Mendler's Macros  let him know what you think!

-ehw

St. Mary, Georgia

[slideshow] Traveling to southern Georgia last week was terrific. I had a chance to swing by the scenic town of St. Mary, Georgia.  You might not know the name, but you may have seen it in many a TV show or movie under another name.

The waterfront is on a river which separates it from an island national park.  The park is lovely, and includes several piers, a water fountain and some good places to eat!  I tried to get a little flavor of the town in these shots I had time to get.

On the way home I took a road less traveled, the ones I really like to take, and met Tatter.  Tatter is Matter the Tow Truck's older brother.  Tatter and I had time for a short conversation.  I learned everything Matter can do, Tatter does better because he taught him.  The talent scouts wanted Tatter, but he loves Georgia Peaches too much to want to trade it in for Tinseltown! Other trip photos can be found here!   St Mary, Georgia

Enjoy!

-ehw

Shadows make a shot

[slideshow] Skip's Summer School lesson #1001

Shadows make a photo.  Funny to think of...but after looking around for terrific light it is the shadow that makes or breaks you.  The shadow allows your mind to perceive depth in a photo.  With depth comes the desired three dimensions in a two dimensional frame.

In these photos I made a concerted effort to have a shadow under the nose, or in the fringes of the eye socket.  When I watched my son advance down the first baseline I watched through the telephoto and chose a few frames where I anticipated the shadow (I don't spray and pray..This was his second time around and I already knew where the shadows were working).  With my son I even practiced with him playing, and then posing for me trying to get the light right.  I tried about ten poses and techniques to finally get this one.

I know, not award winning, but even in short trips out with the kids if I practice selective photo taking I will produce a better image.  One that I may want to frame as more than a Kraniochrome.

Shadows make a photo...remember that and 9 times out of 10 our photos will improve!

-ehw

Leading Lines

[slideshow] Back to lessons learned...

This week I want to briefly discuss leading lines.  In three of these photos I used lines to focus the viewers attention.  In one photo I don't, and that photo leaves most viewers with a question mark in their minds.

See in baseball the eye can follow the baselines...and the action does as well.  All action focuses on the point where the runner must meet the base and pivot his direction to advance.  You would do the same thing in soccer, football, or basketball by showing the goals and basket.

In the photo where three players go up to catch the ball they just happened to be in perfect alignment for split second (when I caught them).  The ball is visible and lets us know what they are jumping for.

In the photo of my outfielder son the lines run in multiple directions.  One runner is headed to the base, the cutoff man is looking at my son, and my son is focused on the boy headed to first base in a third direction.  He has the ball though...so the viewer would be saying "What is he looking at?"  It works to show the confusion of  the moment,but it can leave more questions than answers in the viewers mind.

So keep these lines in your head when photographing sports, travel scenes or anything else.  They can be used to reinforce your photograph's intent in ways limited only by your imagination.

-ehw