Something new for me

MONARCH BATIK

ILLUMINATED BUTTERFLY

The presentation on STYLE I did with two other "style chicks" a week ago was a great success. Each of us worked many hours getting everything ready for it. Afterward I received numerous thank yous and kudos from those who attended. I have to admit I'm glad it is over, but who knows, we might be persuaded to put it on again.....sometime in the future. 

We were hoping to inspire our attendees, but I found that I was inspired too. After the class was over, I tried for a different look to a few of my images by using a new plug-in filter for Photoshop I recently purchased. This filter does not work on every image, but it is addictive. I spent many happy hours playing in my digital darkroom. The bottom image was orginally a Sulphur Butterfly shot I took in Santa Barbara last Summer. After much play with my new filter I came up with a result I'm very happy with. The top image is a Monarch I photographed in my own backyard last year. I used a variation of the filter effect and then 'painted' the unfiltered butterfly back into the image. I encourage each of you to try something new. You might surprise yourself.

One shot - Two versions

Joshua Tree along Hwy 395

On my drive home from Death Valley last month I saw some Joshua Trees at the side of 395 south of Lone Pine. I've never been tempted to stop here before, but the interesting cloud formations lured me into taking a few photos. By the time I got out and walked over to an attractive Joshua Tree, things were already starting to change. I just had time to take a couple of shots before the clouds started to break up leaving mostly blue skies behind. It is one of the things I keep re-learning about photography - the light never waits for me to take my time and get everything set up 'just so' the way I would like. Still, I'm glad I stopped and took this shot. I decided to process a second version in B&W with a slight Sepia tone. I also added an edge to the photo. I like both of them. With all the tools available to us nowadays the possibilities are endless.

Full Moon set at Cayucos Pier

All too often here on the West Coast fog obscures the sky making full moon photography impossible. We were lucky to have clear skies this March at full moon time. It must be the luck of the Irish since St. Patrick's Day is in a few days. :-) I took advantage of two fog free mornings to photograph the full moon setting over Cayucos Pier. On the first morning (top 2 shots) the moon was 'imprisoned' by the 'bars' of the pier as it sank toward the horizon. I went back on the second morning and got the light I was hoping to see - beautiful bands of pink and blue in the sky and their reflection on the water and wet sand of the beach. The blue is the Earth's shadow and the pink is the sun hitting the atmosphere above the Earth. The full moon and it's reflection completes the shot.

Making the best of what I was given

DUNE STEPS

I just returned from a photography trip to Death Valley National Park. I had envisioned layers of pristine dunes with golden light illuminating them. I did have some nice light and there were some beautiful clouds. But I also found a multitude of other people taking their enjoyment on the dunes. They left lots of footprints. I would have loved to take this shot without the footprints, but that was not what I was given. So I decided to use them as a leading line into the image. Sometimes we have to adjust our expectations to meet the reality of the situation. Maybe this wasn't the shot I hoped to get, but it was still a glorious afternoon on the dunes.



Finding my STYLE

 ANEMONE ROCK

ANEMONE SUNSET

I am working on a presentation about developing a personal PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE that I will be showing on April 1st. It is for the Morro Photo Expo to be held in Morro Bay starting on March 29th. As I work on this project I have had to look more closely at my own photos and try to identify the common themes or elements I repeatedly use over and over. Both these photos have a strong foreground and I have placed the horizon high in the frame. I have used a wide angle lens to create a feeling a depth and I took advantage of dramatic lighting to enhance the scene. I think both images are representative of my personal photographic style. Most of all, I always try to "see with my heart" and become emotionally involved with my subject. I have a deep reverence for our Central Coast and all of Nature. I hope you experience that feeling when you look at my photographs.



Monarch time on the Central Coast

MONARCH CLUSTER

We are so fortunate to have beautiful Monarch Butterflies overwinter here on the Central Coast. I recently discovered another cluster of them very high up in some pine trees near San Simeon Creek. They bunch close together at night for warmth and only begin to fly if the temperature rises above 55 degrees. With their wings folded they are hard to see and just look like a group of brownish leaves. But with the warmth of the day the butterflies begin to open their wings revealing their distinctive orange and black colors. Then one by one they take flight. It is glorious to see them flying against the blue of the sky. I never grow tired of this spectacle. It always makes my heart lift and soon my spirit  is flying with the butterflies. Let your spirit fly too.

Beautiful beginning to 2012

SWEET SURRENDER

At last I was in the right place at the right time to capture one of our glorious Central Coast sunsets. The evening started out cloudy and gray, but I'm glad I waited to see if there would be enough of a break on the Western horizon to let the sun shine through and light up the sky. About twenty minutes after the sun set a lovely glow illuminated the clouds. It was a joy to experience.

I have so much to be thankful for already this year. Getty Images saw my photography on my Flickr site and approached me to submit some of my photos to their stock agency. I did and now I have 11 images for sale with them. Woo Hoo!