Dashed :: Iceland

Dashed :: Iceland

 

I’ve not taken a poll, I’ll admit. However, I suspect most photographers who set foot in Iceland want to see Vestrahorn. Sure, it may not fit into the itinerary…it’s a car rental and six hours from Reykjavik, after all. But that doesn’t mean they don’t *want* to see it. It’s friggen majestic.

I’m no exception. Vestrahorn was on my radar, so despite the absurd driving time and car rental and the gas station/food/bathroom/waterfall and glacier lagoon stop logistics, I was going.  Unfortunately, I brought the extreme wind and sideways hail with me. But damn it, my friend Melissa and I drove all that way and we were going to photograph it.

We bundled into our rain clothes -some for us, some for our camera bodies-and stepped into the tempest. The wind howled, and ripped at our clothes and I spent more time wiping my lens dry than actually shooting. Hunker, wait for a lull, wipe the lens, wipe it a second time for good measure, focus, shoot, repeat. But, you know, with more hunkering. And more numb fingers.

In the end, I let this photo sit in the archives for years because…well, truthfully, because hypothermia may have done long term brain damage and affected my judgement. Oh, and also because I thought I hadn’t gotten anything worth editing. Especially not worth editing the raindrops out.

But hey, we can’t be right all of the time, I guess. So I present to you, several years later, my dashed hopes for a sunset at Vestrahorn! Or maybe it was sunrise. I can’t remember.

It’s been quite some time since I remembered to update my website….2020 has messed up all of my schedules and habits!  I’ve been better, slightly, about posting on my instagram account.  You can follow me here.

Fire Water :: CT

Fire Water :: CT

Fact: Lightning is powerful, awe-inspiring, scary, dangerous and beautiful.

To nature and landscape photographers, that’s often an irresistible combination of traits for something to have.  And, like most things we photograph – the ocean filled with rogue waves and sharks, the frozen lake we pray doesn’t crack open while we’re on it, the mountain view at sunrise that required a hike in the dark through bear country –  the question is always, “How do we make a beautiful image without getting dead?”

2016 was a year of expanding my skills.  One of the things I tried my hand at for the first time was lightning photography and IT.WAS. AWESOME!  Of my three lightning season trips last year, this shot is my favorite.  There is a lot to improve upon still, but the experiences of being one with the storm, so to speak….those memories are just about perfect!

Summer Nights & Lightning Strikes

Summer Nights :: CT

 

These last few weeks have been full of pretty incredible storms.  It has been a great learning experience for me.  Obviously, safety is the number one concern with lightning shows.  Once you take the basic precautions, though, it’s interesting to focus on the absolute beauty that comes along with this powerful display.

This shot was taken in Bolton, CT at the heritage farm. f/2.8, 137 sec, ISO 100, 11 mm

Want to learn more about these sort of shots?  We teach both in the field technique, editing techniques, and run a structured, customized online lesson program.  Ask us for more details!

The Guardians

The Guardians :: OR

“We men and women are all in the same boat, upon a stormy sea. We owe to each other a terrible and tragic loyalty.” – G. K. Chesterton

These sea stacks were found along the Oregon coast on an overcast, not so sunset-y sunset.  But then, I’m a landscape photographer, and I enjoy the weather that no one else likes because it’s so darn photogenic! lol

I’m working on a new tutorial project to help supplement my teaching materials for the Members Area over at Light & Landscape.  You know….a few free videos to help you learn, my gift to you!  Can’t beat the price, right? 😉

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Days Gone By

Days Gone By :: CT

If you follow my IG account, you saw last Friday’s epic rainbow situation.  The sky just blew up, like, Whoa.

After the colors died down a bit, I began my walk to the park entrance, and came across this composition.  It’s just so *New England*.  It is also a perfect example of how beauty really is hiding around every corner here in Connecticut. 🙂

It’s Been a Wild Ride, Sandy

The Quiet Before the Storm

As a wee lass growing up in New England, I always counted myself lucky in the weather department.  New England skies are known to change quickly, but the circumstances were rarely extreme.

Earthquakes? Nope.
Tornados? Never.
Hurricanes? Unheard of….

While I still feel fortunate to have avoided the major devastation of Tornado Alley, Katrina and the fault lines in California, it would seem that us New Englanders will have to start developing a thicker skin.  In the last three years, we have had tornados rip through the states leaving hallways of destruction that still haven’t been repaired, earth shakes, record snowfall with a side of power outages and most recently, coastal towns in ruin due to Sandy.

Although I don’t live on the coast, I actually had reason to visit the shore a few times over the last few weeks (weddings and lighthouses are a magical photo-combination!) and wanted to share a few snaps of the Atlantic’s calmer side.

Rendezvous at the Cape

 

For those of you who are able to do so, the Red Cross is looking for donations to help the people affected by Sandy.  Also, as a bonus, I found a great list of donation safety tips online here.Stay safe, stay positive.

XOXO

Shann

PS – Tomorrow Will from WhereToWillie and I will be announcing the November Photo Challenge!  Put your “be creative” pants on and join us! 🙂

Storm Clouds on the Lake

I think one of the most common mistakes a new landscape photographer makes is under-estimating the importance of a great sky.  Perfectly clear, cloudless blue sky?  Boring!  But if you are lucky enough to get the right mixture of light, colors and texture, magic happens.

Now, most people would have probably been anxious to hear they were flying into Chicago right as the aftermath of Storm Isaac settled over Illinois.  Those people are clearly not me. haha  I mean, don’t get me wrong…I obviously wanted a safe flight, landing, etc…but the potential in those clouds was exciting!

This is an image taken in one of the harbors of Chicago.  I know it looks a bit scary, but don’t worry…not a drop of rain.  The camera stayed dry! 🙂

Storm Row

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)!