Any photographic magazine will tell you about "the magic hours:" those times just around sunrise and sunset when the light is wonderful for the photographer: low in the sky, it provides texturing side-lights, warm with reds and oranges and pinks.
Since all of us live fairly far north — the Peace Country students in particular — we have a wonderfully long "magic hour" that in summer can stretch hour after hour. Here's a photo I took on Saturday, making the best use I could of the light in the minutes AFTER the sun had set. (Of course I needed a tripod: even using - .7 EV).
So give yourself some time at sunrise and sunset to be outside with your camera, ready to capture some of that wonderful light!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Photographer's Ephemeris
I love gadgets and cool software and I really really love FREE and cool programs.
The Photographer's Ephemeris is one of the best I've seen in a while. This free program will show you on a wonderfully detailed Google map exactly where and when the sun and moon will rise and set — every day on every spot on the entire globe! In fact, it is worth downloading for the topographical maps alone.
It allowed me to set up for the photo on the right: I found a date when the moon was rising directly opposite the sun WHILE the sun was setting! (This info is displayed in nice full colour graphics: no thinking required). Then I moved the locator push pin around until I found a place where the visual magic would happen right over a local mountain.
After that, all I had to do was go, set up my tripod and wait for the event to unfold as predicted!
(If you want the program -- you will need the Adobe Air program supplied to unpack the Ephemeris. It's right there, just run it first).
The Photographer's Ephemeris is one of the best I've seen in a while. This free program will show you on a wonderfully detailed Google map exactly where and when the sun and moon will rise and set — every day on every spot on the entire globe! In fact, it is worth downloading for the topographical maps alone.
It allowed me to set up for the photo on the right: I found a date when the moon was rising directly opposite the sun WHILE the sun was setting! (This info is displayed in nice full colour graphics: no thinking required). Then I moved the locator push pin around until I found a place where the visual magic would happen right over a local mountain.
After that, all I had to do was go, set up my tripod and wait for the event to unfold as predicted!
(If you want the program -- you will need the Adobe Air program supplied to unpack the Ephemeris. It's right there, just run it first).
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Report Time
Hi folks:
Well, it's report card time, and I am going over everyone's work trying to make some kind of cogent comment on your progress. Don't worry — I'll be kind!
But it also reminded me that this is a two-way street. I want this to be a good experience for you as a learner so I would appreciate your feedback on how I can improve the course. It only seems fair!
Some of you have been really good at letting me know when you're confused, when lessons or assignments are unclear, and it's relatively easy for me to make the changes you recommend — for instance, this morning I added a Youtube on fill flash to make the lesson (and assignment) on Fill Flash more clear.
I know you will be gentle in your comments — as I promise to be — but please don't hesitate to let me know where I can be more helpful!
Well, it's report card time, and I am going over everyone's work trying to make some kind of cogent comment on your progress. Don't worry — I'll be kind!
But it also reminded me that this is a two-way street. I want this to be a good experience for you as a learner so I would appreciate your feedback on how I can improve the course. It only seems fair!
Some of you have been really good at letting me know when you're confused, when lessons or assignments are unclear, and it's relatively easy for me to make the changes you recommend — for instance, this morning I added a Youtube on fill flash to make the lesson (and assignment) on Fill Flash more clear.
I know you will be gentle in your comments — as I promise to be — but please don't hesitate to let me know where I can be more helpful!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
flickr
Well, folks it looks like we're beginning to get that necessary critical mass of people on the flickr site to make it work.
And we're also getting a significant number here on the blog! Please don't be shy to comment on the postings — we need to start developing our community and this is a great place to do it.
When you get to the flickr site — take a look at some of the photos posted: we have a couple of truly talented photographers in our midst. AND comment on their photos. Let everyone know how you are responding to their work — that way we can all develop as we get a better sense of how our work is received.
Congratulations. And I'll do another post soon.
And we're also getting a significant number here on the blog! Please don't be shy to comment on the postings — we need to start developing our community and this is a great place to do it.
When you get to the flickr site — take a look at some of the photos posted: we have a couple of truly talented photographers in our midst. AND comment on their photos. Let everyone know how you are responding to their work — that way we can all develop as we get a better sense of how our work is received.
Congratulations. And I'll do another post soon.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Congratulations & Welcome
First of all, I'd like to congratulate those of you who are "following" this blog! This is a cool way to have an interactive "announcements"-type page. I am going to send everyone an email to remind them to join: but congrats to those who are ahead of the curve!
Also: Welcome to those who have joined us since October 21: Barb McCracken, Alannah Kui, Deb Paterson and Naomi Lawson. Great to have you join us.
And please -- I'll also send out an email reminder: make yourself a flickr account and fire an email off to me with your screen name (i.e. flickr account id).
As soon as I get that, I can invite you to join our flickr group — then we can submit assignments there instead of through email: that way everyone can see each others' work and we'll create a community and inspire each other!
Also: Welcome to those who have joined us since October 21: Barb McCracken, Alannah Kui, Deb Paterson and Naomi Lawson. Great to have you join us.
And please -- I'll also send out an email reminder: make yourself a flickr account and fire an email off to me with your screen name (i.e. flickr account id).
As soon as I get that, I can invite you to join our flickr group — then we can submit assignments there instead of through email: that way everyone can see each others' work and we'll create a community and inspire each other!
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