Picture of the Week; Tree Silhouette

There is something almost creepy about this picture, but I like it. I had initially wanted to take a picture of a tree silhouetted against a sunset background but when I reached my destination I realized that these kind of gloomy clouds had come in. I thought my pictures were ruined, but they actually turned out kind of cool. This picture was taken with ISO-200, f/4, 40mm, and 1/1000sec.

Picture of the Trip; San Diego, California

Well, yes this is another picture from spring break but I thought that it might be a good one to put up. I know some of you are thinking “wow, another sunset that’s great” but I believe a few things here set this sunset apart from any old sunset.

1. First, the height of the sun allows the most amount of color into the picture.
2. Second, the ocean waves add character and fall just short of distraction.
3. Third, the wet sand provides for the perfect reflection of the sun.
4. And finally forth, the birds flying into the sunset create a sense of nature, and show that sometimes you need to be in the right place at the right time.

I had a failed photo shoot of tree silhouettes this week, so those pictures will have to be delayed until next week. This picture was taken at ISO-200, f/4, 44mm and 1/4000sec.

Picture of the Week; Repetition

Boom! Well this post was a long time in the making but I think it was worth the wait. I took these pictures just after golden hour, which was too bad because I was in need of light and it was disappearing quickly. However, with the light fading the sky was also turning different shades providing an awesome background for these pictures. I noticed because of the low light situation the photos turned out a little grainy, I guess an ISO of 800 may be a bit too much for the XT. Still, I will take grainy any day over blurry. This photo was taken at ISO-200, f/3.5, 24mm, and 1/125 sec. Maybe I will have to go and take some more when conditions are a little more in my favor. Janelle if you really think that I am going to take a timer picture of myself going over a hurdle you are crazy. As John Wooden once said I “turn ego into we go”. I am more than happy however, to take pictures of spring, since it seems to finally be here. Grandma and Grandpa birds in flight will be quite a challenge, but given that Klamath Falls is on a major migration route, I will do my best. Next picture of the week will be Tree Silhouettes. Have a good week, and keep your stick on the ice.

Repetition

Picture of the trip; Disneyland

Well Karen I think you should know that my “blogging vacation” has now officially ended. This picture was taken in Disneyland on Tom Sawyer Island. I used the ropes of the bridge to try and draw attention to the subject (Lucy). You can tell that she was enjoying herself, and probably would have stayed there forever if we let her. Taking pictures of kids I found is easiest when they are happy, and on this island Lucy was definitely content. This photo was taken at ISO-200, f/4.5, 85mm, and 1/125sec. I will work on some pictures of the week this week, but I guess they really should be called pictures of the month!

Suggestion Uncle Sam; Fish Picture

Uncle Sam, we finally got out and went fishing. I say “got out” because I am usually cleaning the garage, slaving in Mark’s office or working some other heavy labor job. I didn’t take a ton of pictures but I spent a fair amount of time on this one. I tried to make it as busy as a fish picture can be. I added the canyon, river, grass and fly rod in an attempt to give more to the picture. I should also say that my dad caught this fish and not me (not to say that I couldn’t have caught as many big fish as I wanted) but sometimes there is more to fishing than catching fish, and for that matter more to life than getting scholorships! This picture was taken in the Klamath River Canyon at ISO-200, f/3.5, 24mm, and 1/60 sec. Thanks for the suggestion Uncle Sam I am looking forward to many more creative propositions. My picture of the week, repetition portraits, will come on Wednesday. Have a good week and remember to "keep your stick on the ice".

Picture of the Week; Lucy on the Swing

I have been planning my photo shoot for today and it rained the whole time I was at school. However, as I daydreamed through my final class of the day the clouds parted and the sun shone through, I guess my photo shoot was meant to be. It was awesome, I had a great time even though everything seemed to be wet. I chose this picture as a preview for next weeks picture of the week, the chain provided a good source of repetition. Next week will be repetition pictures. I also liked the unusual angle I got on this picture, and the diagonal lines that the chains make. If and when I take pictures of kids again I will be sure to use more props, I thought that the pictures of Alexis and the rose turned out really well. I will give props to the props. I am not sure Uncle Mark knows but I used his camera (thanks Mark) it helped out a lot. I used the Cannon 5D with a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM standard zoom lens. This particular picture was taken with ISO-100, f/3.2, 35mm, and 1/160 sec. I am pretty satisfied with my results just try to humble me. Be sure to check out what Kim calls the rejects below (I am not sure I would be so critical).

Kid Pictures

Not a picture of the week!

I usually put up my picture of the week on sunday but I did not get a chance to go on a photoshoot. So I will have to do my picture of the week on monday or tuesday. Uncle Sam, I did not go fishing yet but I will soon, and I will make sure to take pictures of lots of fish. I liked this picture because it did not look completely posed. I'm not sure I like the coloring, but it is kind of fun to play with it a little. I have read up on child photography and will take those photos tomorrow. This picture was taken at ISO-400, f/4, 24mm, and 1/60 sec. I should also note that a flash was used. Look at the barney fam if you want to see the posed picture.

Picture of the trip; Abert Rim

My dad and I went out to Nyssa, Oregon this weekend to pick up Kim and the two girls. It was a long drive, but I was able to take some pretty cool pictures going around Abert Lake. This picture is of Abert Rim with the lake at the base, my dad told me to take this photo and said he better get credit for his suggestion. So consider yourself credited. I liked this picture because the mountains in the background almost makes it look like a painting. The lighting was pretty awesome for these pictures. This picture was taken at ISO-200, f/7.1, 37mm, and 1/640 sec.

Picture of the Week; Eastern Oregon

I was very disappointed with my photography this week. When my mom first suggested silhouettes I had sunsets in my mind, however the clouds covered up the sun all week. I resorted to a cloudy sky background which turned out to be very boring, maybe I will try silhouettes again some other week in the summer. This photo was taken in eastern Oregon this weekend, the other photo that I thought was kind of cool is the one of Dixie (below). This photo was taken at ISO 200, f/7.1, 85mm, and 1/1600 sec. It is a rare occasion that I mess up like this so be sure to provide a lot of constructive criticism. Below are the pictures that did not make the cut for picture of the week. Next weeks picture of the week will be child portraits, this is because Kim and her two kids will be in town this week. This was suggested to me by my mom, I am always open to suggestions from the general public. I am running out of great ideas.

Silhouette Pictures

Picture of the Week; The Canal

Well my black and white landscapes quickly turned into black and white farm photography. I decide to go just down the road to the barn on the corner and trespass to take my pictures. Even though the sky was not just right for black and white photography I think that these turned out pretty good. It would have been better if the clouds would have been a little more defined and the sky a little more blue. I chose this picture because first of all I can't get away from reflections and second it has so much to it, from the mountains in the background to the main focus of the weeds in the front. This photo was taken at ISO 200 f/3.5 24mm and 1/200 sec. Next weeks pictures will be silhouettes, I am really excited for this and hope to show people that there is more to photography if only we would just look for it. Below are the pictures that did not make the cut for picture of the week.

Black and White

Picture of the week; Sylvia's Eye

It's been said that there is more to life than just photography, but after this last photo shoot I am not sure what more there could be. This week I was able to borrow my uncle Mark's sweet macro lens a 60mm f/2.8 and it worked perfectly for my purposes. For this picture of the week I decided to use both the idea of macro and reflection, the result was pretty cool. This is Sylvia’s eye reflecting her backyard. This picture would have been even better if I had reflected something cool like a person onto her eye but I decided that I would not be able to duplicate this (because of quality) and I left it as it was. This picture was taken at ISO 100 f/4.5 60mm and 1/250 sec. Next weeks picture of the week will be black and white landscapes. I will try to replicate the photography, done by photography genius Ansel Adams. Below are the photos that did not make the cut for picture of the week.

Macro Photos

Picture of the Week; Gerber Reservoir

Well there is something to be said about being in the right place at the right time, but there is even more to be said about photographers who take great pictures. You have got to love it when your sky exposure works for the subject matter and here it worked perfectly. My scout troop was able to go on a campout to Gerber Reservoir a week or two ago we had a good time on the ice and around the fire, I even found a few minutes to take pictures. This photo was taken with ISO 400 f/7.1 at 24mm and 1/4000 sec. If this picture is not perfect please tell me! Next weeks picture of the week will be macro photography.

Picture of the Trip; Bandon, Oregon

Well we were able to go to the coast this last weekend. It was great we went with the Davis', we left friday after school and were in Bandon OR the following three days. We had a great time playing on the beach and crabing in the 70 degree, January weather. On the beach I was obsessed with reflection pictures, and that is why this is my picture of the the trip. The photograph is of Alexis after a wave came and wiped out her creation. This shot was taken with ISO 400 66mm f/4.5 1/4000 sec, if I could have possibly done anything better be sure to tell me.