A slow exposure Black and White image
This was the second Lighthouse for me the day I met up with David, Cecil and Lou in Maine. We worked all the usual and unusual angles of composition. This is one shot I liked. Image made with Canon 5d Miii and 24x105 lens. On top of my Sirui N3204x tripod and K-30 Ball head. I used a Tiffen IRND 10 stop filter in mid day light. The image is edited in Lightroom CC and Nik Silver Effects.
Night Shooting at Bass Harbor Lighthouse.
The Nature in Focus Workshops Participants were treated to some Night shooting over Bass Harbor Lighthouse. We got there during the golden hour before sunset. And stayed until around 9 PM. It was a lesson in patients for sure. But also a lesson in risk reward. There are certain risk we should take as photographers and many we shouldn't. There was never a point anyone was put in harms way. We had plenty of lights and each instructor made sure everyone could see their way out safely. The reward was getting an amazing shot. I see far to often these days people going to extremes to get shots that are rare. In the end making it home safe is what it's all about. Getting to go out and shoot tomorrow or playing with your kids or pets. Be educated on taking care of gods gifts to us. Leave the areas you shoot with all you went in with. Image made with Canon 5d Miii and Tamron 15x30 and 15 mm. F/2.8 manual mode ISO 3200 with a 30 second exposure. Mounted on my Sirui N3204x Tripod and K-30 Ballhead. Carried with my Peak Design Leash strap and Lowepro Flipside 500 Backpack. Edited in Lightroom CC.
Black Thunder
Sometimes as a photographer I like to create artistic images out of ordinary subjects. I am in Acadia National Park instructing with Cecil Holmes, David Akoubian, Fukin' Lou Raimondi (Nature in Focus Workshops) we are haveing some amazing foliage. we couldn't pass up Sieur du Monts Gardens on a overcast day. The Participants were really having a great time finding little things to focus their skills on. Ten students with four instructors really allowed for some individual attentions for the participants. This is an image I really hoped to get while here.any others had similar shots as well.
A portrait of a giraffe at Southwick Zoo
Proper lens choice. There are so many lenses available today. From primes to super zooms. But what does it mean to choose the proper lens? I have my favorite lenses and my must have lenses that are designed for a particular type of photography. But before I get into a few lenses and why they are must haves for my kit, let me explain how my lens choice makes my work easier. My most used lens is my 24x105. It gives me a lot of range and is one of my sharpest lenses. With an F/4 aperture through out the focal range, it's a very handy everyday lens. But it doesn't offer me two variables. It doesn't get me closer to subjects far away. And it doesn't open up wide enough for certain situations. Let's focus on reach or the ability to get closer to far away subjects. When I bought my Tamron 150x600 lens. I bought it for wildlife. Mainly to pursue birding. But the lens is so versatile I never leave home without it. The DOF at 600mm is outstanding. As you can see with the bokeh in the image above. This giraff was a good distance away. I couldn't have made this sort of composition with any other lens choice. (in my bag) on to wide angle. I used to use an 8mm on my Aps-c sensor. But this year I purchased at Tamron 15x30. I use it on my Canon 5dmiii. I have really enjoyed this lens. It offers me a good range and also f2.8 through that range. It's a must have for night shooting. I use it for all sorts of shoots. So with these three lenses always in my bag I can cover my entire focal range. It's the perfect kit for an event and nature photographer. Those three lenses never leave my bag. I keep at 70x200 in my bag also. I also have macro lenses for specific shooting. Both of those lenses make great portrait lenses. I suggest checking out Tamron Lenses. I plan to add their 24x70 f2.8 in the near future.
Image made with the Canon 5d Miii and Tamron lenses 150x600 DI VC USD lens. Hand held at 600 mm
White Bellied Nuthatch on the STICK.
Remembering. After a little family vacation, I decided to take a moment to remember the values my Grandfather taught me many moons ago. Work hard for everything you want. Never take anything from anyone, because they will take more in return. And relax when possible. Never forget the important things in life. Here is where my story today kind of stems from remembering his thoughts. My family and I spent some much needed time at Cape Cod. I didn't shoot a lot. Nor did I really feel like shooting a lot. In fact I took a little break. I spent some time with my wife and daughter. And even played mini golf rather than capture an epic sunset. (It was epic too) This morning I took a few minuets to start my second busy season as a photographer. I love my profession with all my heart. But this break was much needed. Amelia and I captured this and a couple other images together when she woke up. I didn't care if we got great shots we got great moments together. I hope she remembers them many years from now.
image made with Canon 5d Miii and Tamron 150x600 on my Sirui N3204x tripod and PH-20 Gimbal head. Viewed and tweaked in On1 Photo 10 and Lightroom CC.
Young Male red Bellied Wood Pecker.
Happy Fourth of July everyone. Independence Day! I have been fortunate to capture the Adults of this young male Red Bellied woodpecker. He has been coming every day at around 7 am and once he spots me doesn't come back. But I finally managed a so so shot of him. Independence comes fast for young broods. (If that's the correct way to say that) with in a matter of weeks the adults see their hatchlings into the world. Our country was founded on the ability to make sound choices in life. And when we make mistakes we grow from them. I hope for generations to come our country remains free and independent. I hope everyone finds their second half of 2016 to be prosperous and filled with love and happiness. Image made with Canon 5d Miii and Tamron 150x600 on top of my Sirui N3204x and Ph-20 Gimbal head.
A Humpback Whale
Captain Larry did just that. He kept the customers on subjects all day. The Bar Harbor Whale Watch Crew were great. The trip was well narrated and the staff were attentive. They attended to passengers having issues with the waves and even loaned out binoculars. We went out to Petit Manan Island to view Puffins and other sea birds. There was a seal lounging as well. Then he found us three Fin or Finback Whales and the Captain followed them for quite some time. Last he came upon this Humpback Whale. The whale took a deep dive and fortunate for me came up on the starboard side of the boat. I managed a couple shots, but I stayed on the tail until it was no longer visible. The point of my post is great photographers will often get to a site early and stay until they no longer have a subject. Image made with a Canon 7d and Tamron 150x600 Di VC USD lens. Hand held with the vibrations compensation on.
Slow exposure at Jordan Pond
While I visited Acadia National Park this past few days, I went with intent on honing some skills that I don't always get to work on locally. I hoped to shoot the Milky Way, long exposures, HDR, Pano's and relaxation. Well I managed all of them but the Milky Way. Mother Nature didn't offer me the atmosphere I needed to accomplish that goal. On the morning of our last day in Acadia the rain gods delivered one heck of a rain storm. Rick and I were driving to the park and he said well we got two great weather days. I responded we got the best day today. Here is a 25 second exposure. I explained to Rick that this is what I needed to do some real slow exposures. Though the day before I did some 30 second exposures over Boulder Beach in night noon sunlight, to my vision this is what slow exposure is all about. Image made with the Canon 5dMiii and 24x105 lens. Tiffen IRND 10 stop filter f/8 ISO 100 25 second exposure. On top of my Sirui N3204x tripod and K30x ball head. Edited in LRCC and On1 Effects.
Sunset in Bar Harbor
I had posted an iPhone shot the other day of this scene. Here is one made with my Canon 5d Miii with my Tamron 15x30 Di VC USD lens. I used a vertical composition at 15mm f/8 ISO 200 to show the colorful layers between the docks and the horizon. Showing depth in your composition is important. Turning a two dimensional view into a three dimensional view using the colors and other elements. The wide angle of this lens really allows me a new way to show my vision. It's tack sharp even at 2.8. With a working range of 15x30 the elimination of unwanted subjects is also available to you when moving your feet isn't an option. I used my Sirui N3204x tripod and K-30x ball head. Teathered to the tripod with a Peak Design Leash Strap. Carried with a Lowepro Flipside AW backpack. Viewed in On1 Photo 10 and edited in LRCC.
My Dad, Amelia and myself 2016 image by Sonia Carrigan.
I'm posting for Father's Day a little early. I will be pretty busy tomorrow and have a workshop Sunday morning. The remainder of the day will be spent with my baby. I never planned on being a Daddy. And though I've struggle being a good son, I never doubted how much I love my Dad. I hope Amelia always feels the same.
I can say this with an open heart. I've never loved bein anything more than I love being a Son. Except being a Dad. My Dad and I had a fairly close relationship even though we were miles apart. There was a part of me who missed the daily relationship part but that's part of life. I knew my Dad was always a call away. And for some reason that mattered. And now with modern technology Amelia can have interaction with her PopPop anytime either of them want too. I have devoted my fathering to making sure my little girl is alway full of happiness and love. No matter what it takes. And honestly the love she has for my Dad is pretty amazing. Happy Fathers Day to my Dad! Thanks for being such a good PopPop to Amelia.
Happy Hour.
The hour before and after sunrise and sunset is Happy Hour for photographers. The golden hours are the times when true artistry from Mother Nature takes place. This image is a creative artsy vision I had when I snapped a few shots of the fisherman going to work. If you have never visited fishing villages of Maine or Cape Ann in Massachusettes there are always cool images to be created with the many boats and compositions available. Go explore these areas and let your vision grow. Image made with Canon 7d Miii and Sigma 70x200 F/8 ISO 200 shutter speed of 1/500 of a second at 110mm. Gear on top of a Sirui N3204x and K-30 ball head. Carried in a Lowepro Flipside 500 and Peak Design Slide Strap and Capture Pro. Viewed in ON1 photo 10.5 and created in Effects and Nik Color Pro 4 and LRCC. Join me in Cape Ann in June for a workshop.
A family of geese.
So yesterday after Amelia's doctors appointment, we stopped to feed the "duckies". I was hoping to see some geeselings and we found these little older ones. To Amelia they were babies. Well anyhow this shot was at 24mm. So they got pretty close. I had Amelia sit on my lap so I could protect her if I needed too. But this strange thing happened. When I pulled Amelia close the mother (I think) relaxed. We were literally 2 feet away from each other. Naturally when the camera was out she got a little tense. So I kept it short and sweet. She chased several other geese and ducks away. Even after the kids had enough bread to sink them like submarines as they went in the water. Wildlife and nature is about respecting each other's habitats. People so often think it's our rights to violate animals spaces. Now this was at a park where hundreds of people go every day. But that didn't mean I shouldn't respect the geese and their babies spaces. It meant we needed to respect each other. Image made with a Canon 5dmiii and 24x105 l series lens. Aperture priority mode f/5.6 ISO 800 resulting in a shutter speed of 1/800 of a second at 24mm. Camera Carried on my Peak Design Slide strap. Edited in LRCC and On1
Titmouse at the stick.
It is always nice when my days off start. Being Monday, it's the start of most people's work week most won't agree. My Monday started out fantastic and is ending even better. I had a very successful morning shooting song birds on the stick. I had the most variety I've ever had. And I had wonderful light being created from the sun. Yes! The sun! This image was made with Canon 5d Miii and Tamron 150x600 at 600mm f/7.1 ISO 1600 resulting in 1/1000 of second shutter speed. I had it mounted on my Sirui N3204x and PH-20 Gimbal head. I also used a Peak Design Leash for safety.
Blue Jay saying hello at the stick.
Does the weather have you blue? Day after day of endless rain? Find a way to make your day sunny. I fill the feeders just about every morning during this wet spring weather we have been having here in Massachusettes. In turn I get visitors that like to scream at me! Actually blue jays are very timid when it comes to people taking their pictures. Sparrows, chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse and woodpeckers will patiently eat while I take many images of them. Not these guys. They boogie on out of here. In this case I think this is a female blue jay hung around for about 10 frames. Image made with Canon 5d Miii and Tamron 150x600. On top my Surui N3204x Tripod with PH-20 Gimbal head. Peak Design Leash strap.
Image from Thunder in the Valley
During the Thunder in the Valley Festival this past weekend, I met a couple really sweet dogs. And some amazing people who love them as much as I do. Bikers who want to stop abuse and this charity Kane's Krusade. Here is there missions statement. And a link to their page is above.
"We keep dogs with their families by directly addressing the root causes of surrender - economic, behavioral and tenant/insurance issues."
Many of my friends know I'm an animal lover and think causes like this need our attention. So please visit their page!
Bikers Against Child Abuse.
So this past weekend at Thunder in the Valley, there were a lot of great causes. One that made me happy was this one BACA and BAAC (Bikers against Animal Cruelty) Honestly child and animal cruelty is just plain against anything I believe in. Kudo's to these guys for making a difference in an childs and animals lives.
No charity was less important than another on Sunday. In fact Thunder in the Valley is about all area bike runs. I won't try to list them all but they all matter. And like everything in life we can't always be part of them all. Even if I know a lot of the motorcycle community tries to be. So As it's never to early to start planning, I hope to see all of the charities come out and spend a day together. A day to spread the word for their causes. Share in brotherly love. But mostly to relax as the year begins. Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us Sunday. I look forward to another great year!
Goldmine Brook Falls
The other day I was inspired by my friends who were working waterfalls and water ways in the Smoky Mountains. My friend David Akoubian had posted various compositions of one place they had visited. I always work an entire area. Seeking larger composition as well as close up shots. Different focusing distances and even exposures. Here I choose to use a black and white conversion because the colors were not popping and lacked the awe factor the normal spring greens offer. Try different things. Move around. Bend over. Get up high. Try longer shutter speeds as well as faster speeds. You never know what you will find in a waterfall! :)
Amelia at 2 years old
My very first blog, or lack there of was about my wife Sonia and I having a baby. Well she is two. My blog is about finding balance and learning that life needs a little time for everything. The first year was the craziest year of my life. The struggle to keep my job going and keeping photography business going seemed almost impossible. But Sonia and I managed. The things that didn't get done are starting to be finished. We are starting to settle back to our relationship as husband and wife. Our 5 year anniversary is upon us and we will spend a couple days in Maine to relax. Finding Nemo!?! Yeah that's right. I can quote the movie. But that's the small part of why I titled this blog post as I have. The movie talks about how we let our past dictate our future. I never wanted to be a parent. I honestly never wanted to be a husband. I never took risk. I never put myself out there in fear of failure. Even though I failed better than I did anything else. I challenged myself only when it was best for me. Then my life changed. I said to myself one day, only you can make you better. Stop hiding behind the fears in front of you and make life great. Well then I met Sonia and life has never been better. It's out there for you people so find your Nemo!
Canon 5d Miii at ISO 4000 f8 1/3200
With all the talk about new camera bodies and high ISO/low noise I decided to see what I could get out of my Canon 5d Miii doing everything wrong. What I mean by that is, when there are a lot of harsh shadows, noise levels are more apparent. In this image I had to remove shadows in LRCC. And I cropped this image about 50%. So there was no reason the noise should be acceptable in the shadow areas. But to my surprise there was very minimal noise. I didn't do any noise removal or and other editing except cropping and shadow removal. Now the 5d Miii is fairly old technology in comparison to the Sony a6300 and the new Nikon d500 that's are just simply incredible in the high ISO performance area. But in years past shooting above ISO 1600 was risky for a clean image. So I find this to be very acceptable levels. Enjoy the cameras you have and understand their limitations and set your expectations accordingly.
Knightville Dam Huntington, Massachuset
I have been wanting to shoot some more slow exposures. So today I took the opportunity to try some 30 second or longer shots. This shot is a 33 second exposure made possible using a Tiffen IRND 10 stop filter. I used my Canon 5dMiii and Canon 24x105 L series lens. At ISO 100 f/11 I shot it in Monochrome and tweeted it in On1 Photo 10 and LRCC.
Please take a look at my work. I hope you find it relaxing and artistic. I have a love for black and white photography. I am primarily an event photography with a love for all subjects. I try to help you see the emotions and energy of the moment as seem from behind my lens. Enjoy!
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