Studio

Storm Chasing

by
Storm Chasing

If you want to learn how to take storm pictures for next summer,  the winter is a perfect time to get some training before the storms hit.

Summer storm season

There is nothing like heading out when a powerful lightning storm is brewing to get some amazing images. But what do you need to know before you head out? This course goes through your camera settings and features to get great images. It also covers accessories that will make your photography more enjoyable. Then we will do some work with shooting fast action lights like lightning all in the warmth and dryness of the studio.

Caution around storms!

This course is not designed to train you on how to be safe in a storm. Very few courses can do that. Safety comes from a lot of studying. I strongly recommend reading up all you can about staying safe in a lightning storm. Few types of photography can be a deadly as lightning so be prepared and be careful!!!!

Click here to visit my teaching site

Macro Photography – Leaf

by

One thing that I like about macro photography is that you can do it almost any place and anytime.  Unlike wildlife or scenic photography you do not even have to leave your house if you do not want to. Also if you have some light sources you can shoot pictures in the middle of the night or when it is freezing outside.

Outside my front door I have a plant that has the most colorful leaves you could imagine. Seeing that I have not done any macro photography for the longest time I thought one of these leaves would be perfect to work with.

Macro leaf #1

I am not someone that goes out of my way to do macro photography but I do like playing with the settings and looks you can get.  This shoot was just what I needed to get my creative juices flowing. Add to that with the cold and windy conditions outside I can extend my fall color shoots a little longer.

Macro Photography - Leaf #1
Close-up of the texture
Back lit leaf macro
Back lighting
Morning dew macro
Morning Dew Look

Just taking pictures of what you find is okay, but if you truly want to spice up a photo you need to go a few steps beyond. When I first started to work with this image I shot it against a white background and that killed the look. Then I tried a black background and that helped but not a lot. Next I added some moisture to the leaf to simulate morning dew and that really helped it to pop but it was still missing something. The something was a sparkle in the background and more side light. I added a sparkly background and changed the lighting to more of a side / rear light and BINGO. It was exactly what I wanted.

Dew and long view of leaf Macro
Down the leaf

Learn how to do macro photography with one of my photo courses