Black and White

Not everything is black and white. Sometimes you make plans for the future. Only to find out in the future you need to change your plans. Nothing is more true than in the photography profession. Especially when you have a family who needs you. Try your best to stay the course of your original destination. Even when that course seems impossible. Maybe you will have to take a slightly different rout on your journey. Or maybe it will be more expensive or take longer. What ever you do never give up! Life isn't black and white.  

Image made at Bubble Pond Acadia NP. Sony a7 with Canon 24x105 on a Sirui Monopod. Edited in On1 Photo 10. Lowepro Backpacks. 

Bubble Pond Acadia National Park

Please check out my upcoming workshop or private lessons. 

Freedom isn't free!

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 Carter Shield's Cabin Cade's Cove.

Our freedom is not free. Please remember on a day like today, fourteen years after the attacks on our country, Freedom is not free. Remember those who lost their lives for our freedom. Not just on 9-11, but for hundreds of years before that and the many years since.  Image shown in from the Smoky Mountains. I had never been to a National Park before the day i went to Cade's Cove.  I Learned of a new Freedom that day.  Here is how some of our early settlers lived. Freedom is Not free. God Bless America and all she offers us!

The Carter Shields Cabin is believed to have been built in the 1830s.  George Washing "Carter" Shields, a veteran of the Civil War who was crippled in the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, called the cabin his home from 1910-1921.  

I can see why anyone would want to live here. The place is amzing to see. The dogwoods blooming. The Bears roaming around. Deer everywhere. Bird singing. Just amazing. 

Amelia Gardens

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Amelia Gardens Westfield,MA

Today we went and spent a little while shooting flowers over at Amelia Gardens. It wasn't a great macro day. But it was a great day to be creative with my equipment. This shot was taken on the Sony a7 with Tamron 180 macro via  Metabone's adapter. I set my aperture wide open and focused on the leaf of this rose.  I planned on making the image soft and pastel like in Lightroom CC and OnOne Perfect Suite 9. 

Today makes our visit a little more special. It is Amelia's 17 month Birth Day! Happy Birthday to Daddy's little girl!

Learning to See

Part of growing as a photographer is learning to see light, shapes and movement. We as artist try to show our viewers what we see from behind the lens. This morning I saw this tiny little sun spot on this leaf as I was parking. I took three shots with my Sony a7. As soon as I took the shot I knew I liked it. I knew it was going to be a Black and white image. Sony a7 with Tamron Lenses 180mm Macro via Metabones adapter. On my Vanguard tripod. ISO 400 F22 shutter speed of 1/50th of a second. Edited in Adobe Light Room CC and OnOne Perfect Suite 9 (soon to be 10) Black and White.  

Sun Star Rain Drop.  

Bass Harbor Light

Here is a 3 shot HDR from the coast of Maine.  I didn't get a sunset but the fog added mood to the image. Work with what you have and sometime the image works for you. 

Bass harbor Light House  

Artistic Imaging.

Textures

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Sunflower with multiple texture layers. 

I pledged early in the year to become a better at editing. I wanted to learn editing to promote growth in my image making ability. I have for the past few years used in camera techniques to work my way through editing. I do believe it can and should be approached from the opposite angle. Like Artistic editing like this, Or focus stacking or even understanding how to take a picture with the intent of it being a black and white image. Image captured on a Sony a7 with Tamron 90mm Macro. On my Sirui P204s monopod with a -10 Tilt head. ISO 1000 F/16 Shutter 1/100 of a second. Edited in Lightroom CC and OnOne Perfect Suite 9