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
“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
“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
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. 🙂
Defiance :: CT
“An island of calm in a sea of uncertainty…”
I spent a little time last week down at the shore, putting together example images for next month’s Light and Landscape Member’s Area lesson plan. This photo was a happy little by-product of the trip. And by happy, of course, I mean angry skies. haha We’ve been having some strange weather lately. This morning, the second day of spring, we woke up to 4+ inches of snow in the back yard…but that’s New England for ya!
If you’re interested in getting any info about our teaching program and photography community, you can contact us at support@availablelightmedia.com . We’d be happy to give you the overview and answer your questions! You can also check out a small sampling of some of our student’s work in the next issue of Light and Landscape Magazine, the number one landscape photography magazine on iTunes. 🙂 You can find it in the newsstand app!
The settings, for those interested: 10 mm, 4 seconds, ISO 100, f/11, grad ND
It’s here! Want to get your hands on a FREE e-lookbook (loaded with purty photos and tips to help you get started on your own waterscapes)?
The best part?? Everyone who downloads their PDF copy of Flow: The Art of Waterscapes is automatically entered into a drawing for a FREE PRINT! The drawing will happen on December 4 (next week) so don’t wait!
Want an extra chance to win? Reblog this post and I’ll put your name in the drawing a second time. I mean think about it… I give you a free gift, you spend a second to share this awesome offer with your friends and followers, and I potentially give you another gift that you can possibly (probably?) re-gift to your Mom! Do deals get any sweeter than this?? It’s like Black Friday x 1000. Minus the crowds and fist fights over a TV and set of fuzzy pajamas with feets.
The holidays came early, folks! By, like, a day. haha But still. This is my way of giving thanks to all of you for being so dang supportive of David and I this year, with the release of our first full length (hilarious) educational photo book, “Photography. DUH.”.
Because really, you guys rock. For serious. ❤
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 🙂
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!
Infinity :: California
When I find a place that intrigues me, I explore the location until I find a composition that really resonates with me. After that, it’s a matter of waiting for the best possible conditions to get the most out of a scene.
The camera settings, the light, the weather, the sky, the water, small details you may have missed at first that can become an important foreground element…all of these things can change over the course of a day (or night). Those changes can have a drastic effect on your image. The more time you have to spend creating your photos, the more options you will have to choose from when it comes time to edit.
I may ultimately edit only one or two images from a series, but in my opinion, it is never a bad thing to have similar (previously unpublished) comps in the archives for future use.
Explore the Scene
This image was taken in California last summer, while out exploring with David Pasillas. I’ve been holding on to this gem for quite some time and waited until today to publish it for two reasons.
First, I am tired of the deep freeze here on the east coast and wanted a taste of summer.
Second, and more importantly, David and I have been hinting at some big surprises this year and today, I’m spilling the beans!
We just sent our final draft of a full length ebook out to edit!!!! The book is loaded with photography tips like this one where I urge you to fully explore a location, as well as ridiculous adventures and mishaps. If all goes well, we will have a finished product ready for release within a few months.
I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am, and how tough it’s been to keep all of our various projects for this year under wraps. Lol (Yes, that means we have more in the works….these secrets are killing me!)
If you want to keep up to date on the all of the projects, the deals and what we can do for you, it’s so important that you sign up for the newsletter. That’s where the exclusive discounts will show up, when the time comes. 🙂 If you do it before March 1st, I will include a free copy of “Photography + Connecticut“!
Cheers to a year of big things!
Xoxo
Shann
Sounds of Silence :: Connecticut
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Yesterday was Martin Luther King Day, a day to reflect on the impact of this revolutionary man and the powerful changes that he now represents. His conviction that people should embrace love, treat each other as brothers and weigh the content of someone’s character over other factors (skin color, gender, religion, sexual preference, etc) are powerful sentiments that we can all benefit from in both on the large and small scale.
On the small scale, little acts of compassion, kindness, tolerance and an attempt at understanding would bring less friction, less selfishness, more smiles and more joy into both your life and the lives you touch.
On the large scale, how much unrest, injustice and tragedy could be avoided if the world embraced love and understanding first? We humans are selfish by nature, innately interested in self-preservation. But I challenge you to think beyond your body and family. I challenge you to bring something to the table that helps your fellow man and enriches the rich, beautiful, eclectic, intense variety of the tapestry of humankind.
Collect some good karma points, smile at your neighbor, sprinkle some kindness wherever you go and leave the world a more beautiful place. ❤
This image is part of an ongoing personal project to showcase the beauty of Connecticut, a state often overlooked by my landscape photography peers. 🙂 You’re missing out, guys! And ladies, of course. Lol
I took this sunrise photo in Milford, CT over the long weekend. It was incredible to see the world and the water so quiet, despite the frigid temperatures. Sunrises are always a time of peace and reflection for me, and this one will be one that I remember for a long time.
For more info about my images, private lessons or upcoming workshops on the East coast, shoot me an email or sign up for my new newsletter!
Eternity of the Tides
And so castles made of sand, fall in the sea, eventually. -Hendrix
I’ve noticed, lately, that I spend a lot of time photographing water. It’s powerful, eternal, enchanting and dangerous. How can any reasonable girl resist those charms?
Looking for other bloggers, book reviewers (if you can read, you're in!) and photographers who want to join forces to save the world! (Or something like that.)
SeeingSpotsPhoto.com 