Subdued :: ME

This season of my life is strange, but not necessarily in a bad way. My partner works weekend hours, and a lot of my friends have small children, which makes it difficult for them to just take off for a weekend/week/whatever. That has resulted in a lot more solo trips. A lot more SUV camping at KOA’s and hiking without the doggo, as I’m often meeting up to mountain bike on the way home from where ever I’ve roamed, and therefore cannot bring her.

I don’t mind the solitude. I’ve listened to a lot of audio books, and often, I’m so tired from shooting at all hours, I crash once I’m back to my campground anyway.

So why do I bring this up? Why is it important enough to blog about?

Well, American society hammers it into little girls’ brains that solo travel is not safe. That our lives, and our choices, come with a bunch of restrictions. That some things are just out of our reach and, *shrug* that’s just the way it is, right??

WRONG.

Don’t get me wrong, on these solo trips, there are always lingering doubts. I never set up a tent. Rather, I always sleep in a locked SUV, a la #vanlife. And speaking of cars, what if mine breaks down and I don’t have cell service? What if a bear attacks? What if, what if, what if?

But then that little devil on the other shoulder speaks up. What if I don’t live my life to the fullest? What if I spend my days waiting on others only to end up with a bunch of regrets about things I didn’t try? What if, instead, I just travel with all of the safety measures in place — plans left with loved ones, bear bells and spray, sat phones for truly remote places, carefully weighing if a cliff/beach with rogue waves/etc is really the smartest spot to be shooting — and see the world while I’m still fit and able to do so?

This shot is from solo trip to Maine. The sky was flat and moody, but the sound of the waves on the cliffs and having the place to myself for a few hours was so damn beautiful. ❤

Nirvana :: RI

Nirvana :: RI

“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” – Sarah Williams, Twilight Hours

The Milky Way season is winding down. 3/4 of a year has flown by. Does anyone else wonder where the time goes? I blinked and it’s officially the first day of fall.

On the plus side, that means apple cider donuts…

Black Sand :: Iceland

Black Sand :: Iceland

“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.” Vincent Van Gogh

I found out recently that one of my students passed away while out exploring his new home. It came as quite the shock for a lot of us that knew him, both in terms of a lost friend, and as a reminder of our own mortality and the risks associated with our passion – landscape photography.

My heart goes out to his loved ones. I hope you find comfort in the joyful memories you made together. ❤️

This shot is from a notoriously dangerous beach in Iceland, with warning signs that often go ignored or misunderstood by tourists. Reynisfjara beach has particularly dangerous waves due to the location and steepness of the continental shelf.

Triumphant :: Iceland

Triumphant :: Iceland

“Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.” -Gaby Besora

Sometimes the best photos are made by being open to what presents itself. Melissa and I both researched a few things before the trip, but I tried not to have too many expectations about what shots I wanted to have. This is one of the photos I was able to create despite not having researched this peninsula ahead of time. Once you’re standing here, it’s an obvious subject to shoot, of course….but I’m certain that if I had seen other people’s shots ahead of time I would not have framed and balanced this shot the way that I did.

When we all start out as photographers, it’s normal to “comp stomp” (aka just copy someone else’s vision) but as you progress as a photographer and an artist it becomes more important to capture your own interpretation  of a scene and express your own vision.

The journey of a photographer is one of lifelong growth, and as you progress, you’ll go through stages. You’ll grow your technical skills, you’ll grow your creative skills, and ultimately, you’ll likely embrace your inner artist. You’ll find it’s more important to create images that speak to you, or of your experiences, or communicate a message. That’s is when you find your art is the most fulfilling, and suddenly, all of the hard work you’ve put into getting there seems more than worth it. 😊

Rush Hour :: ME

Rush Hour :: ME

This month, our students over at L&L wanted to learn about HDR.  Now, while some HDR created using algorithms is very good….well….some is not.  It’s very easy to go too far, to create halos, unnatural colors, unnatural light, etc.  Blending by hand tends to give you more control while still extending your dynamic range.

Similar to the last photo (Insomnia), this is a mash up of three different exposures – two for the sky, and one for the long exposure water/foreground rocks/lighthouse.  To create the base composite, I used layers and masked what I wanted from each shot into one final image.  That created a base on which to build, with the standard curves, levels, etc.

The final image is similar to the treat Mother Nature gave me the morning I took this.  This is sunrise at Nubble Light in York, ME from early June.  It was one of four light houses David and I stopped to see on the Great Lighthouse Tour of 2016.  This one, by far, had the best light of the day.

Interested in more in depth help with your own images? For more information about our teaching program over at L&L, go here. 🙂

Light The Sky

Light The Sky :: Maine

“Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,

“You owe me.”

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.”

Hāfez

(Working title: “JJ Acadia”, for those JJ Abrams fans out there! Or Acadia fans, as the case may be.  Both = a double win! lol)

It’s been a busy few weeks…as I mentioned last week, we are working on a book (which will be awesome.  Sign up for the newsletter for updates, discounts, etc when the time comes!), I’ve got a few personal projects going on and I’ve spent the last few weeks working with Edith Levy on an mutual interview project (because her travel images rock and I think you’ll love them.  Her interview will be released next week…stay tuned for that!).

As of yesterday, she was kind enough to put together a little behind the scenes interview about my photography work.  Please, go check it out and show her page some love. 🙂

This image will be part of the upcoming ebook that David and I are working on…it is a shot I took in Acadia last fall as an example of sun flare.  The final is actually a blend of three exposures, using luminosity masks and manual tweaking.  When we got to the beach a little before sunrise, I wasn’t sure if we were going to get much color.  It’s always a fine line between heavy clouds adding texture to a sky, and heavy clouds blotting out the sun.  Thankfully we got just enough breaks for the light to pour through and give us a show.

That trip was still one of my top photo trips.  I was there with such good company and the weather was just perfect for dramatic shots…what more can a landscaper ask for? ❤

Follow my work on any (all?) of my various social medias…I use each for something a little different. 500px, twitter, FB, G+, IG

Friend, like, circle me (in a non-creepy way), 1+….get to it!

Swept Away

Swept Away

 She was impetuous and changeable, unpredictable and dangerous, and more beautiful than an ocean sunset on a summer day.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a workshop hosted by three well respected photographers / time-lapsers whose work is inspiring and emotive – David Gaiz, Toby Harriman and Michael Shainblum. They assured me they will be hosting more clinics in the future, mostly on the west coast, so if you’re out that way and you have the opportunity, I highly recommend taking a class with them.

Without giving away too much, their workshop focused mainly on seascapes, and went through everything from the technical aspects of camera settings and filter use, to the creative process and using the environment to your advantage…the shapes of the changeable water, allowing the water to wash away footprints in the sand (or not, depending on what you’re looking to accomplish with your image), etc.

The three guys were very open and generous with their time.  I really enjoyed hanging out with them, a few of their photographer friends from TX and my good friend David Pasillas for the weekend. A gal can’t ask for a better trip. 🙂

Now, as for the images we created – we spent the afternoon and evening on Marshall Beach near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, watching the fog roll over the area and dash our hopes for a sunset. Haha  But, a little challenge never hurt nobody.  The fog added texture to the sky (which I happen to like) and mood to the scene.  There were plenty of interesting rocks, a bridge and of course, the water with which to compose a scene and tell a story.  It was also a prime opportunity to play with filters, long exposures, etc.

Overall, this workshop (and the weekend as a whole) was just a great opportunity to get creative, meet other artists and feel inspired.  As I told David Gaiz after I sat got back to the east coast and sorted my shots, I can think of at least 3 blog posts, lessons and personal projects all stemming from my time in California.  Furthermore, it was an opportunity for me to talk to the guys about the ins and outs of running a workshop because (spoiler alert) that’s on my future to-do list. 🙂

Keep your eyeballs peeled for future workshops with these three, and in the meantime, do yourself a favor and check out their photography and time lapse pages.  You won’t be disappointed!

And Time Marches On

Bones in the Sand

 

During low tide, the ocean gives up the bones of an old coal ship, the Howard W Middleton on Higgins Beach in Maine. We only had a small window of time to play among the wreckage before the water swallowed the ship back up.

 

Timing is everything. The light, the tides, the weather are play such a big role in creating an image. While most people might have been bummed about a sky full of clouds during a day at the beach, to me, it was a blessing. It was uncomfortable, chilly, and best of all, oh-so-dramatic. 🙂

Happy Earth Day!

Celebrations should have gifts, don’t you think??  Therefore…my gift to you, my friends….or at least to my friends who are on Facebook…is a free banner!

Sea Lions Facebook Banner

It’s not much…but you know…starving artist and all that. lol  If you’re on the FB, come find me!  (Like it.  I double-dog-dare-ya!)

This image of sea lions napping was taken at La Jolla in California.  As soon as I saw the jumble of yellows and browns of the sea lion families, I fell in love.  Not only were they adorable, but the range of colors among them was fascinating.  (Can you tell I’m an “earth tones” kind of person?)

Those of you who know me, know I’m a tree hugging kind of gal.  And Earth Day…a reminder to respect and protect the only planet we’ve got…well…that is my kind of holiday.

There is so much that can be said about saving the trees (so we can make enough oxygen), or recycling (because we’re running out of places to bury our trash) or preserving water (so the ridiculously cute sea lion babies have a safe place to grow up)…but I won’t.  That’s what the EPA is for!  An authoritative voice on what you can do to help the environment.  Authoritative in a pleasant suggestions sort of way. 🙂  Go here to read about some small things you could do to keep Mama Earth kickin’ for the forseeable future.

Oh…think baby sea lions can’t persuade you?  Think again!

Baby Sea Lion

<insert girly excited squeal here>

This little guy was about 50 feet from me, alone on a rock, enjoying a sun bath.  I called out to him, and he turned his face my way…just enough time to capture this shot.

Dear Baby Sea Lion…I heart you.

Wild Skies

Wild Skies

To the left, the storm.  To the right, the clearing skies.

Yesterday I woke up to an intense lightning storm and the prediction of rain all day.  For most people that is greeted with grumbling and the occasional 4 letter word.  To me though, it’s an opportunity.  As I was driving to the day job, listening to the crash of thunder all around me, I started planning.

Connecticut isn’t a “flat” state.  I mean, don’t get me wrong…our mountains aren’t much more than foothills when compared to the west coast chain, but between them and our abundance of trees, they are enough to block a line of site.  If I was lucky, the storm would pass by 5pm and there would be some incredible colors and clouds.  I needed an open space to fully appreciate (and photograph) the show.

Off the top of my head, I could think of a few open farms towards the top of the state, but it is still a little early for most crops….and we all know how important a foreground is, right?  That left the bottom of the state…the coast line.

In Guildford, CT there is a little area called Grass Island that appears to be used, primarily, for boating, fishing, shelling and as a large bird nesting area.  As the name implies, it mostly covered in grass, though it does have one small building that has stood the test of time and weather. It also, I found out, has lots of biting insects. And not much cover from the intermittent lightning flashes. (Don’t try this at home, folks! Haha)

I spent a few hours exploring Grass Island, catching a wide variety of cloud shapes and colors on film.  Errrr…ummm…on sensor.  Sitting under the ever-changing sky was inspiring.  It was a beautiful, powerful (and buggy show)!