A study in light…shadows

"Our job is to record each in (their) own way, the world of light and shadow and time that will never come again exactly as it is today."  -Edward Abbey

If I am counting my weeks right, our next meeting will be Thursday, January 16th.  For those who are wanting to take part in our year long study of light, this will be the first unveiling of our study on shadows. (http://pasrnm.blogspot.com/2014/01/january-photo-challenge.html).  It is my hope that through this study you will be able to see, and identify dynamic forms of light, and apply it in order to capture your subject in a way that will evoke emotion as well as inspiration to the viewer.  I hope you will explore, take creative risks, and share the knowledge you have learned.  I have had great fun looking for shadows this month, and am excited to share my discoveries with you.  I hope you have done the same.  It is not too late to jump on board.  Here is some inspiration for you.

photo by Rob McKelvy

Some awesome photos...

"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still." -Dorothea Lange

I have some amazing, and gorgeous photos to share with you today thanks to Gennean.  My goodness, the ice freeze we had sure helped for getting some stunning pictures.  Enjoy, and thank you Gennean.

photo by Gennean Hendricks 

photo by Gennean Hendricks

photo by Gennean Hendricks

January Photo Challenge...

"Which of my photographs is my favorite?" The one I am going to take tomorrow."  -Imogene Cunningham

I think this quote is so true.  When I take photos, then upload, and look at them, I think, "Oh I really like these."  Then I take more, and I like those too!  That is why we take pictures…we love them.  We want to share that love, and awe with others.  When we do, we are passing on a piece of ourselves through our lens.  We are passing on beauty, detail, and passion.

Happy New Year!  Hopefully, everyone had a fantastic holiday, took lots of pictures, and have made a New Year's resolution to keep taking pictures, and sharpen your photographic skills.  I would like to challenge you to start a folder, or portfolio of your favorite pictures for 2014.  At the end of the year, have them made into a photo book.  You will be amazed at how your photographs improve.

For 2014, I decided rather than pick a subject each month as a challenge, that we would do a study in lighting in keeping with the light workshops that Kelly and Rey Berrones have so graciously hosted. (and Jennifer Coats).  What I would like to propose is that one picture/week be taken depicting that month's particular lighting challenge.  If you do the challenges, you will have 52 pictures, and hopefully, a better understanding of light.  I understand the challenge of time, so please do not put yourself under bondage to get this done.  It is to be fun.  If you only get one picture, then be thrilled with your one picture.

Here is what I have planned for the challenges each month:
January-Shadows (in retrospect, I should have done this challenge in February in honor of the ground hog seeing or not seeing its shadow.)
February-Back light
March-Hard light
April-Natural indoor light
May-Directional light
June-Diffused light
July-Night light (think 4th of July)
August- Light at different times of day
September-Artificial light
October-Black and white light (think Halloween…black)
November-Photographer's choice
December-Holiday light

This month's challenge is of shadows.  Look for shadows of lines, abstractions, people, and anything that is interesting to you.  There was a photographer who was known for putting the shadow of himself in his pictures.  I do not recall his name.  If anyone can shed light on who he was, shoot me an email.

Rules:
1. Photos may not be archived.  They must be taken from the time from the December meeting to the January meeting.

2.  You may submit up to 4 photos.  Please, please…do not take 4 photos in the same day.  This defeats
the purpose.  Photos must be taken 1 week apart or close to a week.

3.  Photos can be in any format: print, framed, matted, CD, or flash drive.

4.  Have the file information.  Aperture, Shutter speed, ISO, and any processing used.

5.  Have fun!

Examples of shadow photos: (all photos by Rob McKelvy unless noted)

photo from the web

photo from the web…this is also back light

photo from web

photo from the web

Go out and find some shadows…and get clicking.  Happy New Year!

December Challenge...

"How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's noon.
December is here before June.
My goodness how time has flown.
How id it get so late so soon.
                   -Dr. Seuss

December...just around the corner.  It means holidays, family, maybe snow, and best of all traditions, which us what our December challenge will be: "Holiday Traditions."  What do you do that has become a tradition.  Maybe it is baking and decorating sugar cookies, putting up the tree with family time, perhaps you put on special music.  What about the Electric light parade, do you go to it and freeze  your "can" off.  Is it hot chocolate, eggnog, or lights.  It might be watching all those Christmas movies. Whatever you consider your tradition, photograph it.  Think about composition.  How can you make it interesting? Next think about lighting.  How can you make it dramatic, or with bokeh?  Remember you are capture a moment in time that tells a story to others.  I know you will have some great ideas, and wonderful shots.

Rules:
1.  You may submit no more than 2 pictures.
2.  Pictures can be submitted in print, CD, or on a flash drive.
3.  Please include you data:  aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and any post processing or special effects.
4.  Pictures must be taken between November and December meetings.  No archives please.

Go out and get clicking.

Here are some ideas to get your creativity juices flowing.

November Challenge...

"Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than the daffodil.s" -Cyril Connolly

Time is marching on too fast!  I find myself thinking it should just be August.  Alas, it seems I am always behind.  Fall is definitely upon us.  Nights are cool, and the days have been pleasantly temperate.  I love all the colors fall brings, which brings me to our November challenge theme: "Capturing Fall."  There is so much going on around us, and as photographers it is our job to capture something in camera that others may have missed.  Maybe it is that single fallen leaf, the smile on a child's face peeking out from a Halloween costume, the butterflies flittering from flower to flower, pumpkin fields, and fields ripe with harvest.  Fall is a smorgasboard of photo opportunities.

November Challenge: "Capturing Fall"

Subject: It can be anything that depicts fall

Rules: 

• The pictures must be taken between the October and November meeting.  No archives.
• You may submit 2 photos
• Please include photo information: Shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and any post processing editing.
• Photos can be submitted in any format: print any size, framed or unframed, matted our unmatted, thumb drive, or CD.
• Any camera is acceptable: iPhone, point and shoot, digital, etc. 

Here are some examples to get your creative juices flowing.

Add caption

Photo taken from Pinterest: www.simpleasthatblog.com

photo by Jordan McKelvy

As you can see there are lots of things to photograph.  Get out there and have some fun.  Start clicking.
Rob

October Photo Challenge

PASR members,

Can you believe it is going to be October soon? Time does fly!  For this month's photo challenge I have decided to use a creative exercise from the website: Clickin' Moms, http://www.clickinmoms.com.  The full exercise with pictures can be seen here:  http://www.clickinmoms.com/blog/creating-depth-with-3-planes-photography-tutorial-by-sarah-wilkerson/.

October Photo Challenge:
Creating Depth with 3 planes:  Foreground, midground, and background

While one cannot imagine an image without these three elements: foreground, midground, and background, this exercise will help us learn how to create more of a distinction in the three.  This can add dimension, texture, and pleasing composition to your photos.  In a word: DRAMA

To create more drama, consider:
1.  Using a lower f/stop.  A very shallow depth of field separates the subject from the background.  This is commonly used in portraiture, but can be employed in all photography.  When focus is on the subject in the mid ground, you've separated out at least three layers of depth: the defocused element in the foreground, the primary subject in mid ground, and the bokeh or blur of the background.

Foreground greatly blurred; mid ground in focus; background bokeh

See the foreground greatly blurred, midground in focus, background slight blur= 3 planes of depth.
photo by jana o'flahery

2. Use a wide angle lens: A wide angle lens will exaggerate the planes within a frame.  The perspective distortion of a wide angle lens on a full frame causes elements in the foreground to appear disproportionately large relative to the elements in the background.  This will help exaggerate the three elements we are trying to emphasize.

Photo by Rey Berrones

3.  Incorporate a vanishing point.  Vanishing points= perspective and design composition.  The vanishing point helps define different planes:  larger or more apart lines =foreground; smaller or less parallel=background.  The vanishing point draws the eye in.  We see the beginning, and imagine the end.

4.  Foreground framing.  The frame establishes the foreground.  Try to frame the subject with elements in the foreground.  Use of natural objects such as trees, fences, doorways, and windows are a few examples of what one might use as a foreground frame.

Spider web and fence post=frame

Fence=frame

I love how the photographer used people and smoke to frame these children.  Very creative.
photo by: Dana Lander 

Rules:
1.  Submit no more than TWO photographs.
2.  The photos must be taken between the September and October meetings.  No ARCHIVES.
3.  Include info data: Shutter speed, ISO, and aperture and any post editing done to the photo.
4.  Photos may be printed, or on any kind of medium: CD or jump drive.  Can be matted, framed, or plain.

Have fun!  Experiment and learn.  Thanks to all of you who put in the time to do the challenges!  There is a payoff.  You will grow in your photography skills and your photos will stand out.

(photos by Rob McKelvy unless otherwise noted)

September photo challenge...

Holy Moly...am I ever late getting out this photo challenge.  I hope with this one everyone will participate.  There can be no excuses because it is "Photographer's Choice."  What ever you like taking pictures of is acceptable.  So get out there, and start snapping your favorite types of photos.  We cannot wait to see them.

Rules:
1.  Photo must be taken between the August and September meeting.  It cannot be from your archive.
2.  Only 2 photos may be presented during the photo challenge.
3.  Please include or have available the file information: Shutter speed, aperture, ISO
4.  Please explain any post processing you did to the photo.
5.  All formats are acceptable, prints, CD, thumb drive.

See you September 19 (I think that is the meeting day, although I have been know to be wrong on this.)

Get out and get clicking.