sunrise kayak

sunrise kayak
Originally uploaded by Michael Slear

Quick trick, if you’re shooting that beautiful sunrise or sunset, frame your shot then move the sun just out of frame and lock exposure by depressing shutter half way, and keeping it there, most small digitals have this capability. Return to original framing composition and shoot. Metering the direct sun will underexpose your image, but an exposure ‘balance’ can be reached by using this technique.

faucet

faucet
Originally uploaded by Michael Slear

Someone asked, what’s an f stop? Technically, its the f-number or focal ratio of an optical system that expresses the diameter of the entrance pupil in terms of the effective focal length of the lens....Whew! Simply its the size of the hole or aperture which can be adjusted and hence vary the amount of light passing thru the lens to reach the film or light sensor. (Just like your pupil.) Think of it like a faucet, if you want to fill a quart jug with water, a garden hose may take a few seconds, switch to a fire hose and jug will fill in a split second. As u try smaller and smaller hoses the time it takes to fill gets progressively longer. Any equivalent combination of time and size of hose produces the ‘correct’ result: a full quart jug or in photography a correct exposure. This shot was one of those confluences, red handle, blue sky, just turn it on, slow shutter to show water movement and slight diagonal to emphasize motion. Note also main subject at intersection of the tic tac toe.

wine

wine
Originally uploaded by Michael Slear

On a recent outing got to do one of those shots just wanted to have being a wine lover, couldn't resist this composition and subsequent softening round the edges to place emphasis on one of my favorites. a 2006 Chardonnay.

UPS

UPS
Originally uploaded by Michael Slear

For another change of pace, some of you may remember our friendly UPS guy. This was simply a matter of propping and the right face expression. Against a white background couldn’t be simpler, right? Well maybe but the multiple package angles and labels created highlights we didn’t want and our model was not expressive for most of images. This was actually taken when he almost did drop the whole bunch. Happy accidents are always part of your portfolio. “Luck is the confluence of timing and preparation”. One more note, dark complexions require more exposure so open up if your using manual or move in close to get your reading, save, reposition, then shoot.

Boardwalk

Boardwalk
Originally uploaded by Michael Slear

This photo has just about everything......primary colors, framing, rhythm, shapes, leading lines, magic hour light and a center of interest. I think all contribute to a successful image. 1/180@f8 ISO400. These new kiwi umbrellas provide an abundance of abstract possibilities. Lots more at my http://flickr.com/photos/slearshotz

ice crystals

ice crystals
Originally uploaded by Michael Slear

Something simple today. Photographers typically chase things most people don’t see and look for coincidences of variables. This particular set of circumstances are ice crystals just forming on a lake surface. The back light and rich reflection of the sky make for an unusual abstract. If you’re looking for abstracts, look no farther than your refrigerator. Vegetables were some of the earliest subjects of Ansel Adams, Weston, Stieglitz and Eisenstadt.