Learning

With Cecil Holmes and David Akoubian  

With Cecil Holmes and David Akoubian  

For all my photography friends interested in workshops, please check out what Cecil and David have to offer.   

 http://www.natureinfocusworkshops.com/

Todays blog isn't just about their workshops. It's about how much effort these two put into helping others become better photographers. I recommend following them and visiting their daily blogs and post. Over the years, Cecil has made a few tutorials that he has offered to people who follow his work. I've watched them a few times. I recommend watching them and then revisiting them periodically to refresh your memory. Cecil has a very nice way of explaining things.  

Motorcycle Events.

2016 Is looking like another amazing year for charity events! 

I'm not booking events into 2017! 

I'm not booking events into 2017! 

Well my friends another motorcycle year is upon us. And the events are many. I can't say thank you enough for all that the motorcycle community does for those in need of support. Here is a list of events I plan on photographing this year.  

May 1 Thunder in the Valley Festival 

May 21 5th Annual Soldiers Home Run

June 4 Breath Free Ride Hard for CF  

August 21 the 10th Annual Sshriners Hospital

Oct 9 Wicked in Pink

Nov 6 The Brightside Toy Run.  

i will be popping in at various bike nights and events over at Indian Motorcycle of Springfield! See you all soon! 

Sirui Tripods

Golden Brook Falls  

Golden Brook Falls  

My post this morning is a bit of a congratulations and a thank you in the same. My friends David Akoubian and Cecil Holmes were selected to be Sirui Pros. Awesomeness. I have made the switch to Sirui products as well. David and Cecil both have told me how incredible the Sirui line is. But words can not describe the quality and the ease of use these products offer. I bought the P-204s monopod around a year ago. It was just the start of what was to come. From the box to the wrist strap Sirui didn't miss a detail. From its table top minipod to the tilting and swiveling three foot section, this is the best monopod I've ever used.  And my three recent Sirui products. The K-30 ball Head, PH-20 Gimbal and the N-3204x tripod. Absolutely amazing products! I have said many times, words can not express how good these products are. The image above was taken with the Canon 7d 24x105 lens with a Tiffen IRND 10 stop Filter. ISO 400 f-8 15 second exposure. on top of the Sirui N-3204x k-30 ball head. I ordered all my Sirui Products from Gary Faber at Hunt's Photo and Video. Thanks again and congrats to you both!

Golden Brook Falls

Isolating a small part of a larger waterfall.

I went out to scout some waterfalls for this spring. I wasn't having much luck until my worthy Brother Mel Hook called me as he drove by to be with his Daughter for the birth of his third Grand baby. Congrats Brother I hope everyone is happy and Healthy. I wanted to touch base on isolating smaller parts of large waterfalls because sometimes the sky wont allow for great exposure with too much sun shining through. Or what we refer to as diffused light. So when looking at the bigger picture pay attention to whats available to you and make an image work.  Here i had a little bit of both lights. Canon 7d at ISO 400 F11 shutter speed 2.5 seconds. I had a Tiffen IRND Red Hot ND 10 stop filter. On top of my Sirui N3204x Tripod with K-30 ball head. (AMAZING combo) Edited in LLCC On1 Photo 10 and NIK Silver Effects for the Black and white conversion. Carried in my Lowepro AW500 Flipside Back Pack and Peak Design Slide Strap.

Portraits

West Springfield High School Students 

It is with great pleasure that I will be teaching the Photography Students at West Springfield High School again next month. These kids were wonderful to work with. Heres one of the shots I took with lights camera left and a silver reflector right to help bring in some fill light to the young lady on the right. For more information on lectures or lessons please feel free to contact me anytime. dmcarrigan@comcast.net 

Rockport Harbor

A small boat house in the harbor area. Cape Ann, MA.  

A small boat house in the harbor area. Cape Ann, MA.  

This little storage shed is a rather iconic little dwelling right next to Motif #1. One of the most photographed buildings ever. A friend of mine Mike Moats visited the area a few years ago and took a shot of this very window. I've been here a dozen times and I always find another image to make. So visit the familiar places as often as your able. Sony a7 with Sony 24x240 at f11 ISO 400 Shutter speed 1/1000 of a second. Edited in On1 Photo 10.  

Looking Towards Spring!

Jordan Pond Acadia National Park

Spring is just around the corner! with these 50 degree days right after the -17 degree days, I know why I love New England. Theres a lot of happenings in my world this year. A few trips planned and of course the V4V/Holyoke Soldiers Home Run as well as the Shriners Ride. They are both anniversary years the 5th and 10th respectively. I look forward to those. I will be putting together some workshops as the year progresses. So please keep watch for some exciting ways to learn photography. Also in October I join Cecil Holmes and David Akoubian in Acadia National Park for their Nature In Focus Workshop. Go to my friends workshops to link to their site to sign up. There are other workshops available also. So check them out. And as always as new gear is released i will let everyone know about that stuff. Sirui Tripods has some awesome offerings. I have been watching Tamron Lenses for cool new stuff. I am wanting the 15x30 for my kit!

Photography Services.

Booking events for 2016  

David and Autum's Wedding. (First Dance) 

David and Autum's Wedding. (First Dance) 

Shooting people and events has long been the reason I picked up a camera. I love to capture memories through my creative vision for any occasion. I am booking events for 2016 so please contact me for your photography needs. Custom designed packages for all needs. 

Weddings

Engagements

Year Book Photos/Senior Photos/Proms

Family Functions/ Portrait Sessions

Anniversary's

Birthday Parties

Creative Vehicle Images  

Corprate Images and Events.  

Portfolio Model Shoots  

And more.  

dmcarrigan@comcast.net

413-204-1478  

 

 

Bubba!

So I was set up to watch some birds and maybe capture a couple on the stick and after a couple animal portraits of a rodent (to be featured in another post) the boys came out to make him disappear. In the years we have been in the house they have not managed to capture one. But back to Bubba! His treatments for his multiple issues really have helped him along in a great way! I couldn't be happier. Here he is posing for me so I could share the moment with you all! Canon 7d Tamron 150x600 at 330.. +2/3 stop exposure compensation. Edited in LRCC and On1 Photo 10. Sirui P-204s Monopod with a L-10 Tilt head. Lowepro Bags and Peak Design Slide Strap.

Dark and Dreary

The day was actually quite nice. Slightly overcast and a little brisk. But not bad for the end of January. The company was good too. When I saw how this image came out on my little camera, I only hoped it was as nice as it looked. I knew i would make it a black and white conversion.  This is a 75 second exposure. My exposure was really good in camera  I decided to use a luminosity mask in On1 Photo 10 to take some whites out of the clouds. Yes you can do this in Light Room CC but I really wanted to have a certain look. I then added Sunshine and a little vignette in Effects to finish up, Canon 7d with 24x105 at 24mm F-18 ISO 100. I carry my gear in a Lowepro Flipside AW500 and Peak Design Slide Strap, Shield and Capture PRO make my work easy!

One More Slow Exposure

Quabbin Reservoir  

Quabbin Reservoir  

This is a little slower exposure of Han others I tried this shoot. I had taken a few at 75 seconds. This was a 30 second exposure. I'm finding long exposures to be fun. I hope to do more in the near future. Canon 7d 24x105 at f-11 ISO 100 I carry my gear in a Lowepro Flipsde  AW500 with a Peak Design Slide Strap Capture Pro/Pad/Lens capture and Sheild rain hood. I used a Tiffen IRND RedHot 10 stop ND Filter. Edited in LRCC and On1 Photo 10. 

 

Hanks's Mewdow

Creative Movement  

Creative Movement  

I had visited Hank's Meadow many times looking for animals and even picnicking when we were younger. But one time. Few years ago I was there with a group of photographers and Barb Krawczyk showed me some Andre Gallant style shooting where you pan or shake your camera to create an artsy look to a normal image. We used this same group of Birch trees. David Akoubian also taught me this when we shot together. This is my Canon 7d 24x105 at f8 ISO 100 shutter speed 1/50 of a second on top of my Sirui p204s monopod with the L-10 tilt head. Edited in LRCC and On1 Photo 10. Carried with a Lowepro Aw500 Flipside Backpack and Peak Design Slide strap. 

Chickadee

Chickadee at Quabbin Reservoir. 

Chickadee at Quabbin Reservoir. 

Yesterday I got to go out and work some slow exposures at Quabbin. While I was there I decided to check out this orchard that's there. Well We walked in and I found an open section where I could obtain the four foot minimal focusing distance with my Tamron 150x600 lens. It was dead quiet and not a bird in sight...then they came. There were so many with in a foot of me its was so cool. Eventually they were landing on me and my lens. I had a Nuthatch climb up and down my leg.  I captured this little ham a few times. I was using what I consider a very affordable group of equipment. Canon 7d with the Tamron 150x600 and Sirui P204s Monopod. ISO 640 f8 1/500 second shutter speed.  

What kind of photographer are you?

Bash Bish Falls

Is one of those questions non photographers ask every now and again. It made me thnk. Do they mean landscape, wedding or event? Or do they mean an artsy, technical or the inbetween go with the flow type? I am sure my collegues in the photography worlds would agree there are those three types and the ones that think they are all of the above. I find the best shooters are those who fall in the middle with a strong understanding on where they want to grow with their craft. With that said i suggest checking out the areas that may be weaknesses in your skill set. If you are artsy, try some technical stuff. If you are a purest, try editing. if you tend to shoot everything spend some time on one specific area, like macro or landscape. Tekki's push your artsy side and see what happens! Go with the flow it may open your worls to thing you never dreamt of.

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

Bubble Pond Acadia National Park

Please check out my upcoming workshop or private lessons. 

On1 Photo 10 Holiday Special

Through the end of the year, ON1 Photo 10 FULL version is on sale for $89.99 and includes a special Holiday Bundle loaded with extra presets for Effects 10, beautifully crafted textures, and bonus step-by-step video courses. It's a $60 value of extras, free! This is a limited time holiday special so get your copy for Christmas!


https://dmcarriganphotog-dyqt.squarespace.com/


http://www.on1.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=631

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Basic Photgraphy Workshop.

Did Santa bring you a new camera for Christmas? 

I will be offering a basic level workshop geared for people new to photography. Some information is available for those who have been shooting for sometime but hope to take things to the next level. Starting January 10, 2016 at 10:00-noonish. I am a…

I will be offering a basic level workshop geared for people new to photography. Some information is available for those who have been shooting for sometime but hope to take things to the next level. Starting January 10, 2016 at 10:00-noonish. I am a firm believer in my students improving with every lesson or workshop. The Cost is $75.00. Please contact me if interested.