Miners Falls

Miners Falls

July 28, 2009-Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Tech Info:

Shutter Speed: 1/2 sec.

Aperature: f/16

ISO: 100

Equipment Used:

Camera: Nikon D200

Lens: 24mm f/2.8

A polarizing filter and tripod were used

Keys to the Image:

The key to most waterfall images is to include some form of foreground. Without foreground the image usually lacks depth. Another key to waterfall images is to use slow shutter speeds. Because of the 1/2 second exposure the water still contains some detail. In many instances I use slower shutter speeds which sometimes last as long as 15 seconds. Using a polarizing filter is extremely important when taking waterfall shots. I will post an example of when a polarizer is used and when it is not in the next couple days.

Let me know what you like/dislike about this image.

Sable Falls

Leaves of Green

07/30/2009-Grand Marais, Michigan

Tech Info:
Shutter Speed: 1/3 sec.
Aperture: f/18
ISO: 100

Equipment Used:
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: 24mm f/2.8
Filters: Polarizing Filter to reduce reflections/glare.
A tripod was also used.

Pros/Cons:
I really like how this image shows the vegetation that surrounds the waterfall. I could have been a little more careful with the leaf placement in the foreground. The cloudy weather made for great even lighting throughout the scene.

The Story:
This image was taken on my first visit to the falls. It was very overcast allowing me to photograph waterfalls even in the afternoon. I wanted to show as much green around the falls as I could in at least one image so I came up with this shot.

Launch

The purpose of this blog will be to discuss technique and tell the story behind some of the landscape and wildlife photographs I take. Hopefully everyone will learn more about photography through the discussions on this blog.

Inspiration Falls

Tech Info:
Shutter Speed: 10 sec.
Aperature: f/16
ISO: 100
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: 24 mm, f/2.8

Compisition/Lighting:
For this compisition I wanted the waterfall, cliffs, and lake in the image. While the waterfall is the main subject in the pic there is a lot of interest throughout the frame. I found this little falls about 2 hours before sunset and waited until the sun was just above the distant island to take this shot. As the sun goes down it creates warmer tones with less contrast which usually makes an image more pleasing.

The Story:
My brother and I were walking down this beach (Miners Beach in the UP of Michigan) looking for a good place to shoot a sunset. We had no idea we would find this nice waterfall running into the lake. For a couple hours before sunset we messed around with different compisitions of the area including and excluding the falls.