Weather!

Or, What to shoot when there is not much else happening. 

Hi All,

Was sitting in the yard drinking coffee this evening, and with an itchy trigger finger. Problem was, there was not much going on. The Eagle which has been terrorizing the ducks, and crows nest nearby was not around so things were pretty quiet.

But, as has been the case recently, and often is in the Maritime Provinces, the weather started to change. And fast. What was sunny and a few clouds deteriorated to black clouds and pound rain in about 15 minutes. If you don't like the weather- wait 15 minutes goes the saying around here, so the saying was bang on tonight.

Plus photographing clouds, and an ongoing cloud survey is fun, and good practice to look at things differently, and sharpen up the exposure skills, as the sky will be underexposed if one does not compensate.

Pro Tip:

Take a meter reading off of a mid-tone neutral subject, then shoot the composition whilst bracketing your exposures, as the "correct" exposure isn't always the best. Sometimes I will underexpose, or overexpose a subject to add drama. (The only kind of drama in life I like).

One other thing that applies to all photography, don't forget to include some vertical's in each shoot, no matter what the Instagram crowd says. Plus, one may just end being up a magazine cover!

Hopefully, this post encourages some of you to get out and try this, or some other out of the box shooting exercise, it always helps to try new things in life eh?

Feel free to comment, share or ask questions, and I will be happy to try and help.

Cheers,
G

Salt Marsh Trail, and Willet Encounter.

 Hi All, 

Did something new yesterday, which was photographing with my pro gear while cycling. A Compact camera is way lighter, but just doesn't do justice when in a beautiful area. 

Yes, it was heavy, and awkward with a full size tripod strapped on it. 

But was glad to have it as I had the most amazing Willet (shorebird) encounter. I rode right by it about 10 ft away where it was perched on top of a bush. After pedaling past, I stopped, broke out the gear and worked my way back slowly. It flew off a few times, but always returned to the same perch Lucky me! Got to within 10-15 ft, and fired away. It didn't seemed bothered at all. By far the closest I've ever gotten to one, they were on my rather long wish list. 

This took about 40 min., and left it still there, and continued on to do some other shooting. Will definitely be making this a regular stop, though will start hiking it, to do some birding, and taking in hopefully more sights. 

Enjoy! 

Gary 

                                          Reflection. 

                                          Willets:

                                          Landscape along the Salt Marsh Trail. 

The tools of ignorance. 

Stomping Grounds

Hi All,

Continuing my Stomping Grounds portfolio here are a few new images from the past week.
I used to have to drive 25~mins., specifically to photograph Fragrant Water Lily's Now they grow in the lake just a few feet off of my property. Funny how life works, I used to drool every time passing them in a pond or lake and seeing beds in bloom crying out to be shot.

The ducks are always around, with several families again this year, and just can't resist photographing them. But, hey t is a good problem to have. :-)

I also added a "selfie" to give an idea of the atmosphere this spring, and because they are all the rage. ;-)

   
  

Hi all,

While out hiking and scouting recently, I came across Mocassin Flowers in the hundreds in a nearby forest. Among this plethora of them were 3 rare White Phase Moccasin Flowers. 

It is rare to see one, let alone 3 so of course I was back bright and early the next morning. Luckily there was lots of clouds to diffuse the sun, so that is when I timed my shots, Unfortunately, it seemed like whenever the clouds passed over the breeze kicked up blowing the flowers around.
Being the patient sort, I waited the conditions out and made a few images of the white ones, and experimented with the common pink ones .

There was also some other interesting sights, like Cinnamon Fern, and I even threw in a landscape for good measure.

Enoy!
Gary