Go Caryn

Looking for the light in Virginia City, Montana - Time to celebrate Quincy's graduation from BYU-Idaho!

2011-07-19T09:18:00.004-06:00

We drove to Virgina City to do a graduation photo shoot and found some nice sunset light. Quincy's little sister, Zoe, gets in on the action and we found a local cowboy who was happy to pose with these two beauties. Shooting portraits in the evening light is one of my favorite things to do. Especially when you have such gorgeous models! Congrats, Quincy, on your graduation this week from BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho.

Trelawney & Luna go to the Harry Potter opening!

2011-07-15T11:05:00.002-06:00

Good times at the Harry Potter opening!

Professor Trelawney and Luna Lovegood (Caryn and Zoe) make their appearance at the final Harry Potter midnight showing at the Rexburg, Idaho Fat Cats. By the way, Caryn is not smoking a pipe bomb...that is a flute Trelawney is playing.

"Welcome, my children... together we shall cast ourselves into the future and discover the noble art of digital imaging. But first, you must broaden your minds and look beyond.... Are you in the beyond? I think so. "

Rexburg, Idaho, sunset on the old International truck

2011-07-14T16:44:00.004-06:00

Beautiful light... Tripod... Bracketed exposures... Photomatix... Camera Raw
Last night a few of us set out on an adventure to try some light painting... both Eric Curry and Dave Black style. This has been a recent passion of mine, so I plan to start posting my light painting work. However, while we were getting set up, I saw this beautiful sunset and snagged this this image just in the nick of time, before the sun disappeared for good. Please keep in mind, it takes some work to get a shot like this. You need to take several different exposures of the same scene, then you need to blend them together for optimal exposure. I took six bracketed images, to get a variety of exposures, then I used Photomatix and Camera Raw in my post production process. In some of my shots of this old International, the truck was very dark, almost black, but the sky was great. Others show more light on the truck, but the sky was blown out (much too bright to show details.) The idea here is to get all different areas of the image exposed properly without artificial light. Don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to using auxiliary lighting. I do it all the time. However, it is fun to meet the challenge to get a great image without using additional lighting.

In case you have a a DSLR and are interested in the details...

Here are Ten Steps to a Fascinating Image:

1. Set your camera on a tripod.
2. Set your ISO to 100, and be sure Auto ISO is off.
3. Turn off your VR (vibration reduction) feature on your lens. (Always do this when you are on a tripod. VR helps when you try to handhold in low light, but it actually produces a little movement when you are on a tripod with no movement at all.)
4. Take a test shot in Manual Mode and determine your settings. In this case, I chose 1/60 with f/16 as my starting point. It looked fine and gave me some good color in the sky. I usually start with a shot that is fairly underexposed.
5. Turn on Bracketing or AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing). You may want to start with three frames at 0, +2, -2. I used six frames with this image, but it not that necessary to have more than three.
6. Use your self-timer to avoid camera shake from pressing the shutter. You may want to set your timer to take three successive shots. On a Canon, I think you need to set your shutter release to Continuous for this to work. It is best to read your owners manual about how to bracket exposures. NOTE: Be sure you turn off the bracketing feature, or you will keep getting 0, +2, -2 in a rotating patter and you will wonder why you get light, dark, then normal shots after that.
7. Take the shot and your camera should take all three shots automatically. One will be the way you set it up, and one will be darker and one will be lighter.
8. Take these images into an HDR processing software application such as Photomatix, or Dynamic Photo. You can get free trial versions of both these programs. You will be blending all three (or more) exposures to get the best possible light in each area of the image. Then you can "Tonemap" the image to finetune your contrast, saturation, etc.
9. If needed, open your image in Camera Raw to adjust lighting, clarity, etc.
10. If needed, mask in parts of the original image. I also often open the merged HDR image with the original image in Photoshop and do some more blending. I like to mask in some areas that look better in one of my originals. This is good if you get some funky skies or dark shadows, etc. from the HDR processing.

Have fun looking for a nice location, then wait for the perfect light, and set up your tripod to start your way through these ten steps to a fascinating image.

BYU-Idaho Digital Imaging Group at the Mountain Man Rendezvous!

2011-07-10T22:49:00.014-06:00

Black Kettle tells Kris how it's done.

Black Kettle signs a poster for Caryn and Julie gets the shot. Thanks, Jules!


Dustin, head TA, keeps everyone in line with his pristine hatchet form


Jessica and Jon act out a scene from "Dancing with Wolves" as they keep an eye on the action

Good times kicking it up at the Rendezvous Dance Party! What great sports you are. (This did make my day... Thanks :)

Thane gives the bull horn a try, but, well... it didn't go so well!

Sarah's patient husband gets a little cranky after the long drive on the gravel road.

Maybe there's a future in modeling for Brandon?

Erica, you should have bought this cool coat!

Feel my muscles, woman. Almost as good as my photos, eh?

Thane knows how to flash the GQ look... and howdy. Givin' Brando a run for his money?

Daniel gets in touch with his Mountain Man side. It works, Danno, it works.

Kris ends up with the snazzy reading glasses during our very own Trading Blanket. These should snag a stylin' woman who appreciates good fashion taste in her man.


The famous "Trading Blanket" where someone throws an item on the blanket they are willing to trade. Others who want that item, toss out something they have to trade. The first trader chooses which item is the best trade and they shake on it and say "good trade." The next person takes a turn until everyone has something new.

Shooting the Tetons behind the Squirrel Dance Hall.


Playing with the old pump in Squirrel, Idaho. You have to love this place! I used HDR on this one, but with some masking in Photoshop to bring back the original on Julie's face.

Daniel smiles after he finds the old bike hidden behind a shed. I added Julie's "Glowing Airbrush" tutorial. Nice effect, huh? Thanks, Julie!


Squirrel's Angels? Some die-hard photographers from Comm 370 Digital Imaging accompany me for a day of fun-filled shooting! We had the best time spending the day at the Mountain Man Rendezvous and surrounding area. We started off in St. Anthony to shoot in the old Ruin Hotel, then a stop at the small estate sale for a few little trinkets for our trading blanket event. I also picked up some of those giant resin grapes my mother made in Relief Society and had on our coffee table back in the 70s. Brandon appreciated the retro grapes and he later earned for this prize for his creative light painting techniques. After spending the afternoon at the Mountain Man Rendezvous, we held a "Trading Blanket" event of our own by the big van. Then we took some shots around Squirrel, Idaho, and started shooting old farms and barns. My friends, Brad and Maijia-Liisa Adams, showed us around the area and got permission for us to do some light painting at a farm with awesome old buildings and machinery. We had a great day and this will go down as one of my all-time favorite photo shoots. Thanks, Adams, for showing us around, letting us wear the awesome "Silver Fox" and for pre-arranging our shooting locations. You both rocked our world that day. Thanks to you all for making it a great day!

Mountain Man Rendezvous Portraits at Fort Henry, Idaho

2011-07-10T21:34:00.006-06:00

Call me "Black Kettle"

Leprechaun Stew, anyone?

Amazing artist! I bought a shell bowl she crafted.

She pounded sea shells with a hammer and inlaid the pieces into an epoxy bowl. She said it would be her last one, due to the stinky epoxy. Ten dollars was a bargain and nice memory of her handiwork.

The Scottish Harmonican speaks with a Scottish brogue and plays a mean dance tune.

Leprechaun and his wife make huckleberry jellies, syrups and weavings to sell.

Come join us next year the first weekend of June, near Ashton, Idaho, and pick up a jar of huckleberry syrup!

The Real Mountain Men and Women!

We went to visit the Camp Henry Mountain Man Rendezvous this year on June 10, and I came back with these portraits. Black Kettle, in the first sepia photo with his rifle, welcomed us from the parking lot and agreed to give us a private photo session. My husband drove the van for our group, which included ten photographers from my Digital Imaging classes. We had a fun time and everyone was willing to tell us their story while we photographed them.

I used my 18-200mm Nikon lens on my Nikon D7000 to capture these portraits, but since it was midday light, I processed them in Camera Raw to fine-tune the lighting and colors. In most cases I added some contrast and sharpening. I ran the fourth image, Scottish Harmonican, through Photomatix, so that is why is has a more animated HDR look.

Fireworks in Island Park, Idaho!

2011-07-07T08:58:00.001-06:00

We enjoyed a great fireworks show in Island Park, Idaho on Saturday, July 2. They did a great job of entertaining everyone parked along the highway on a beautiful summer night. We had a great time sitting in the back of our pickups as we watched the constant explosions right above our heads. Our oldest daughter and her family were with us and it was fun to watch our grandsons enjoy the show. Good times in Island Park for the Fourth of July weekend.

I used my trusty Nikon D7000 on my Manfrotto ball-head tripod to get the right angle. I found that a 5 second exposure with an f stop of between 4 - 8 and 100 ISO gave me the best results.

Swan Valley, Idaho Area - between Idaho Falls and Jackson, Wyo

2011-06-23T08:12:00.003-06:00

Fall Creek Falls - on Hwy 26 between Idaho Falls and Swan Valley, Idaho

Just past the Swan Valley Commissary (famous for square ice-cream cones) as you head over the Teton Pas

Remaking an Idaho potato cellar, just outside Ririe, Idaho on Highway 26.

A NICE DRIVE ON HWY 26
One day we were driving on Highway 26, which goes from Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Swan Valley, Idaho. We drove past this old dirt potato cellar that was being rebuilt. Of course I could not resist stopping to take some shots. My husband was a good sport and gave me 7 minutes. Here are some of my favorites from that short shoot.

If you continue down Hwy 26, you will find the beautiful Fall Creek Falls that is running very high this Spring. Then you will need to stop at the Swan Valley Commissary for one of their famous square ice cream cones. Turn left at this little store to go over the Teton Pass on your way to Jackson, Wyoming. About one mile past the store on that highway, you will see the gorgeous reflection in a pond to your right. There are plenty of photo opps all along your drive over the pass. Have a nice drive!

CAMERA SETTINGS
I used my trusty Nikon D7000 with the sharp Nikon 18-200mm that came with it (Costco's kit was $250 off and included goodies like a bag, SD card, DVD, book, etc. for free.) To reduce the post-production time, I turn up the sharpness and saturation in camera, when I shoot landscapes. This way many shots come out almost perfect right out of the camera. Then I do a one-minute check in camera raw to tweak the clarity, temperature or run an occasional adjustment brush to add a highlight. On the Falls and the first two cellar shots, I bracketed the shots to get six different exposures. Then I used Photomatix to merge them for optimal exposure.

How to photograph the Grand Tetons near Jackson, Wyoming

2011-06-19T09:39:00.022-06:00

12 Steps to shooting the Tetons and surrounding area

On a recent jaunt to Jackson, I decided to track the mileage and write directions to the hot spots around the Grand Tetons so my students could take a drive from Rexburg, Idaho, and experience the breathtaking scenery so close to BYU - Idaho. I met several interesting photographers (see below) early in the morning and learned some new techniques I have yet to try but will someday soon.

Here are some tips and driving instructions.

1. Get up early and shoot at the crack of dawn! It will be worth getting there early so you can get the first light I call "alpen glow." This orange light hits the tops of the Tetons in the most amazing way! Just Google "sunrise in Jackson Wyoming" to find out the exact sunrise time. Then leave Jackson about 45 minutes before sunrise, so you can capture the first alpen glow that hits the tips of the Tetons. Seriously, some say it is not worth going at all if you can catch this first light. Many landscape photographers only shoot during the first and last 60 minutes of the day. If you are going to make the drive, get up EARLY!

2. Start at the town square in the center of Jackson. Look for the antler arches in the park and set your odometer to clock the route.

3. Go North on Hwy 89 (191) for 12 miles to Antelope Flats Road, which is 1.1 miles past Moose Junction.

4. Turn right on Antelope Flats Road and go 1.5 miles. Look to the left for an old orange house with some other out buildings. This is Mormon Row, and the most famous old barn in the world is about 150 yards past the orange house.

5. Turn left into a pullout near the orange house and park, but be careful not to block the road, which is marked clearly with a chain and "no parking" signs. You can buy a pamphlet for 50 cents to read later, about the history of Mormon Row, in a box near the sign. Here are some shots of this house and other buildings I took about a month ago.

6. Walk down the dirt road for about 150 yards to the barn. Take a flashlight if necessary to see the terrain (if you go early). Look for a spot to cross the small ditch just to the right of the road. Walk back into the sagebrush area, away from the barn, so you can frame the Tetons nicely. You will want to be a little to the left of the barn to get some of the left side of the barn in the shot. Stake your spot and set up your tripod with all the other photographers who will be arriving about the same time. Be respectful not to setup in front of someone else who got up earlier.

7. Take a few sample shots to test the light, and then wait for the first inkling of light to break out from behind you. I started with something like: f/20 SS: 1/4 ISO: 100. You want to underexpose the shot, so you can get the rich colors and the light. You can always lighten things a bit later, but if you shoot it too light, you will overexpose some details and they will be lost. I like to keep my tripod in the same spot the entire time, so I can bracket the light and blend two shots later. This photo below, is one photo. I used an adjustment brush in Camera Raw to bring out the light on the barn. The light will hit the Tetons first, then about 15 - 20 minutes later, the light will hit the barn.

8. Quickly go the opposite direction to shoot the second barn, or not. Hop in your car and go south on this same road to shoot the rest of Mormon Row. You will see the sign that says "Mormon Row," with the second barn to the right, just off the road. Shoot the second barn from a similar angle. If you google Mormon Row - Images, you will see both barns. The first barn has the corrals to the right. The second barn has no corrals, so it is not quite as interesting, but it can be an equally nice shot. If you are in a hurry, skip the second barn, and get to the next spot, which is the killer location. You can always come back later in the day to check out all the other out buildings in the area.

9. Go to Schwabacher Landing to get the Tetons reflecting in a beaver pond. Drive back down Antelope Flats Road to the highway, where you came from. Turn right and go 3 miles. Look for a small sign on the left that says Scwabacher Landing. (If you get to the Teton overlook, you have gone too far.) Take this washboard gravel road slowly, if you are in a car. Go as far as you can on this road and park. Then take your gear on a 1/4 mile walk along the water. You will find a small beaver pond (and more photographers), where the water is often glassy smooth.

Check out this shot below, by Andy Cook (Andy Cook). Isn't it amazing? Next time, I think I may skip Mormon Row at dawn and go straight to this spot and get the first light here instead. If you don't get there at the first crack of dawn, you will miss the best light. Believe me, it is just not the same, if you take the shot later in the day. Under Andy''s shot, you can see a shot I took from the same spot I took a few years ago later in the day (and later in the year). To get the Alpen Glow, I will need to leave Rexburg, Idaho, at about 3:00am to get there on time (or just stay overnight in Jackson, which can be expensive in the summer). One of these days, I plan on it, for sure. You have to pick the right day, without clouds covering the Tetons, which has been my common misfortune.

Andy Cook's shot from Schwabacher Landing at the break of dawn. The Grand Tetons reflected in a beaver pond.

Grand Tetons from Schwabacher Landing - Caryn Esplin

I met two excellent photographers while shooting early in the morning. Below is a photo of my friend from Italy, Cristian, and another photography instructor, Cody Downard, from Colorado, (who used to live in Rexburg!) I met Cristian while we were both shooting the Mormon Row barn. I told him I was a Mormon and I don't think he had met one before. I then told him about how to get to Schwabacher Landing. Then I met Cody when we were all shooting at Schwabacher Landing (beaver pond reflection). Cody is a wedding and nature photographer. Check out his amazing phtotos on his website: http://www.codydownard.com.

Cristian is into high contrast black and white. He shared his technique of using the "infrared" option in the Black and White adjustment in Photoshop to get the nice effect, below. He also uses a darkening filter on his lens that allows him to shoot a much longer exposure, which blurs the motion of the clouds and water. Note his technique in the image below:

Cristian Rota, from near Milan, Italy

Cristian Rota with Cody Downard (Colorado)

Cristian Rota (Italy): Black and white technique with darkening filter to blur cloud/water motion.

Cody Downard - Barn #2 (with no corrals on the right) at Mormon Row near the Grand Tetons

NOTE: If you don't want to pay the entrance fee for the Grand Teton National Park, stop here, and go back to Jackson. The price is about $20 per car to enter the park. This will give you a seven-day pass for this park and the Yellowstone National Park. So you may want to head on up the road to Yellowstone, while you are at it!

10. Go north 16 miles to Oxbow Bend. After shooting around Schwabacher Landing, go back to the highway, turn left, and continue north to Oxbow Bend. This is the famous shot Ansel Adams captured his gorgeous black and white image from a high vantage point above this bend in the river.

Oxbow Bend - Snake River turns dramatically to frame the Grand Tetons - Caryn Esplin


Ansel Adams' famous black and white image of Oxbow Bend. Ah, the importance of patience to get the right clouds and perfect light.

11. Continue north to Jenny Lake. Continue on Highway 89, then turn left, off the highway, to cross the Jackson Lake dam and continue to the Jenny Lake area. Turn right onto the Jenny Lake loop road. Drive to String Lake to take a walk, eat your lunch, or just sit by the lake and take in Mount Moran. You will find lots of great spots along this part of your trip to photograph. This loop will take you along Jenny Lake, which sits at the base of the Tetons. You may also want to take the ferry across Jenny Lake and hike to Hidden Falls, which is a gorgeous steep walk, but not too strenuous, and only about 1/2 mile along a rushing mountain stream. See my previous post for more photos along this hike.

You will find inspiring vistas of the Tetons as you drive this route. Caryn Esplin

12. Drive the hard-packed dirt road from Moose Junction to Wilson. This less-known route will take you past beaver ponds and beautiful views through a corner of the park. You will end up at Teton Village, Jackson Hole ski resort. This is a fun spot to walk around, ear dinner, or maybe ride the tram to the top, for a panoramic view of the whole Jackson area. Then you can continue on to Wilson and over the pass, for the ride home. Don't forget to stop at the Swan Valley store for a square ice-cream cone. See my previous post for more photos along this road.

My next post will feature photos from the Swan Valley area, another stunning location. A few miles from Swan Valley, is the picturesque Palisades Dam and Palisades Lake.

Grand Tetons and Jackson, Wyoming in Spring

2011-06-16T07:39:00.002-06:00

St. Anthony to Ashton, Idaho - a plethora of photo opps!

2011-06-07T07:57:00.009-06:00

It took us 5 hours to cover 30 miles on Hwy 20 !

First in St. Anthony, we found this amazing artist-mason-extraordinaire working on the restoration of his old inn. Then there was an estate sale along the highway in Ashton that was filled with tons of treasures and junk alike. We came home with some old wooden skiis, two typewriters (1920s and 1940s) for $10 each. We also bought an entire box of all 45 rpm records from the 50s and that was our entertainment for an entire night. We looked them up online to see if they were worth something. We found that the ones with the original jackets would bring about $20. So paying $10 for the whole box was not bad. Then this guy on his awesome bike was headed up to Yellowstone to pan for gold. It is amazing what you can find to photograph along the highway near your home town. Especially if you live near in the Upper Valley of East Idaho.

Hello Photomatix... Move over, Dynamic Photo

I used a combination of Camera Raw and Photomatix to edit these images. I shot them with my new Nikon D7000 and my Nikon 18-200mm lens.

Let's go shoot the Mountain Man Rendezvous June 9-11!

2011-05-27T10:05:00.006-06:00

Cam

Don't miss the Camp Henry Mountain Man Rendezvous June 9-11 near Ashton, Idaho. It is less than a one hour drive from Rexburg, Idaho. Here is a link with directions and information: http://forthenrybuckskinners.org/aboutus.aspx

This rendezvous is a great place to capture photos of authentic old west characters shooting black powder rifles, making baskets, practicing hatchet throws, and just living the good mountain man life! Plus, you can buy old trading beads, leather goods, jewelry, dolls, knives, baskets, crafts, gemstones, rocks, clothes, flutes, food and much more!

Our good friends, Brad and Maija-Liisa Adams showed us around last summer and we had a blast! Maija-Liisa grew up on the property of this Famous Camp Henry site, and now mountain men, women, and children come from all over to commemorate the rich history of this spot, nestled in farmlands with a gorgeous view of the Tetons.

Directions:

Here is a link to the map: http://forthenrybuckskinners.org/MaptoCampHenry.aspx
Or, you may prefer these written directions:

Take Highway 20 past St. Anthony, continue on past Chester, and the highway goes from 4 lanes to 2. After that you'll pass Sunrise? Cafe on the right. Take the very next R before the large "Loosli" potato cellar on your right and cross over the RR tracks. You should see a Mountain Man sign at this point just before you turn. Continue until this "shortcut" road becomes to a T. Turn R onto Hwy 32 and within a mile you'll cross over Fall River. Stay on Hwy 32 past Drummond, which you'll see a Bar which used to be the General Store and a few homes/buildings on the L. Continue on Hwy 32 uphill and follow the long winding 32 as it gradually climbs and weaves for about 3 more miles and the Tetons come into view. As you head down a bigger hill, you'll notice on descent a large, "Pillsbury Mill's" grain elevator just before the road veers R again. There is a Left turn with mail boxes on the left just before. There should be a Mountain Man sign there too. Take that gravel road all the way down the big hill about 1.5 miles down to Conant Creek. Turn Left just after the corrals and into the "modern camp" side. You'll park and cross the creek over a walking bridge into the primitive camp. The first booth on the L is where you can pick up a schedule of events.

Jackson, Wyoming, in early, rainy May

2011-05-22T07:22:00.002-06:00

Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the Tetons are always fun to shoot. Most of these old homes are on Mormon Row. I snapped the ski fence and old buggy from the car while driving around the quaint little resort town of Jackson. This was a very rainy Saturday a few weeks ago, so the colors are nice and saturated, but the light was dark, flat and a bit drab. Camera Raw helped to brighten things up a bit. I look forward to going back soon when it is not raining and I can see the Tetons.

Eliza, Zoe, Laura & Jessica

2011-05-17T08:12:00.001-06:00

Laura, Jessica and Zoe

2011-05-13T08:13:00.000-06:00

We have a winner - It is Thanksgiving Point in Utah!

2011-05-11T01:43:00.001-06:00

Lisa guessed the location of my previous photoshoot: The Gardens at Thanksgiving Point, which is near the "point of the mountain" between Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. I think the closest town is called Alpine, or Highland? Nice guess, Lisa. I will give you the LCD flashing Camera award in class tomorrow!

You really need to get yourself on down to Thanksgiving Point because it is an amazing location for a photoshoot! I was there during tulip festival, which is now almost over, but I think they have different celebrations and flower groupings throughout the year. I think fall would be gorgeous. Of course the waterfalls are always going to be nice, and there are a lot of different ones. I was there for about three hours total, and I did not see the whole thing, so it will take you the better part of the day. Happy shooting!

Mystery Photo Shoot - Can you guess where this is?

2011-05-08T23:21:00.001-06:00

Please take your best guess as to where I captured these images with my new camera, the Nikon D700 with the Nikon 18-200 lens. All 20 images are from the same place, and it is a nice day trip from Rexburg, Idaho. It is a seriously great place for a photo shoot! Just sayin...

1. My new Nikon D7000 and a 50 mm prime lens (1.8) are a great pair for getting bokeh (background blur). I used camera raw to add a highlight to the focal point flower.

2. Most of the time, I used my Nikon 18-200 lens, which is super sharp all the way through. I am loving that lens, even more than I loved the colors in these umbrellas, especially against the brilliant blue sky. I used the vivid setting in-camera to get these colors to pop.

3. To get smooth waterfalls, you need three things: A. low light; B. A tripod; C. slow shutter speed (in this case: .6 second).

4. This shot did not do much for me, until I used some creative painting with the camera raw adjustment brush. This is an example of the Three Cs in Action: Capture - Create - Communicate.

5. I just could not get the colors to look right in this image, even in Camera Raw. I guess it was because it started out too dark and the white balance was off. It worked much better as a black and white image though, so... "it is never too late!"

6. The large rock in the right center of these falls adds a nice contrast to this busy scene.

7. Again, I did not love this one, until I brought out my magic Camera Raw paintbrushes. I darkened the entire exposure to saturate the colors, then I painted some light in the blossoms to accentuate the focal point. Lighting only one part of the scene usually makes a more creative image. Finally, I brought it into Photoshop for the final sharpening filter.

8. The trilogy. Threes always help make a nice composition.

9. I was amazed how much I like the in-camera VIVID setting for something fairly dull like this waterfall. The colors in the rock just jumped out, so I did not need to add sats in post-production. I do not like the VIVID setting for portraits or brightly colored subjects, but for rocks and bland values, the VIVID, or LANDSCAPE settings in your camera might be worth a try.

10. Try getting a lower angle to set up something interesting in the foreground. I added a little Smart Sharpen filter in Photoshop to perk up the tulips.

11. Adding a white vignette helped this image and added to the fun, whimsical feeling.

12. Smooth water in-camera with a slow shutter speed. I took a little blue cast out of the water with a Camera Raw adjustment brush. Can you tell I just love the Camera Raw adjustment brushes to paint in light and color? It brings the creative, artistic approach to photography.

13. Go for contrast with light, color, and value.

14. Blurring the water, without blurring the rocks gives a nice effect, and I love how you can see right through the waterflow with this technique. Again you need all three: 1. low light; 2. tripod 3. slow shutter.

15. These upside-down tulips were such a stunning contrast in size, shape and texture, to all the other flowers.

16. Ah, the daffodils were out too!

17. It is amazing how fast time flies by when you are taking slow shutter speed shots. Of course, it was much darker than it appears.

18. Again, changing the angle produces a more pleasing background, and shows a view most people miss.

19. Nothing like back-light to shine through the translucent petals.

20. Let's end with this classic black and white I achieved in Camera Raw. I also added a black vignette to give that gradient light effect.

NOW, HAVE YOU GUESSED THE LOCATION OF THIS PHOTOSHOOT?

Mother's Day Tribute: New mother, Ariel and her little James

2011-05-05T17:46:00.005-06:00

Ruby is 3 weeks old!

2011-05-02T21:13:00.010-06:00


1. Am I a little princess, or what?

2. How is this pose?

3. Thanks, Letia, for loaning us this little doll bed, and the tutu too!

4. All dressed up, just to lie in an ark?

5. This little piggie went wee, wee, wee all the way home.

6. See, I can lift my head at 3 weeks old. Just don't ask me to hold it very long!

7. Okay, this is my movie star pose.

8. When can I go back to sleep?

9. Thanks for covering me up a bit with this scratchy netting stuff.

10. I think I have mommie's feet.

11. How is this porcelain look... fast asleep?

12. Hey, did you get it? This is getting hard to hold.

13. I thought we were done already?

14. Seriously, do we need to use such heavy flowers?

15. That's me at 3 weeks!

We just spent two fun days with my granddaughter, Ruby, and her family. She is changing every day, but has a pretty strong neck for a three-week-old! Of course, she can only hold her head up for about one second, especially with such big flowers to hold up! HaHa. :) I still say there is nothing better than a newborn. :)

Shaylee & Travis Reception!

2011-04-27T15:48:00.006-06:00

This was an amazing reception because of how much FUN it was! However, it was the amount of love and interaction among the people that most impressed me. Thanks, Shaylee and Travis, for inviting me to shoot your beautiful reception. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event I will not forget. Best wishes in your new life, and may you never stop dancing together!

My Grandbaby, Ruby, is 4 days old! Which are your favorites?

2011-04-12T16:01:00.009-06:00

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

#19

Day 2 & 3 for Ruby: Time to celebrate!

2011-04-10T20:52:00.005-06:00

Mike is in the final busy week of tax season, but he can't resist taking breaks to hold his new little girl at the hospital, which is very close to his office. Will is having a hard time warming up to his new sister. He isn't sure what to think of her, but Max and Wes are loving this whole scene! Zoe and Ruby almost shared the same birthdays! Ruby's first outing on Day 3, was to go to Zoe's birthday dinner to the Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Boise. Good times!

Ruby Ann is born at 9pm on April 6, 2011

2011-04-09T20:06:00.001-06:00

I finished grading portfolios, photobooks and websites during finals week, and made it to Boise a few hours after Ruby was born. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 6 ounces with lots of thick, dark hair. Her mother had long, blonde hair, when she was born. Perhaps not quite as thick, but a little longer (1-1/2 inches!) We think she looks more like the Hafens side, but that is a beautiful thing, for sure! I had fun taking these photos during the first day of Ruby's darling little life! Janel looked amazing right after the birth, and said it was her easiest labor and delivery yet. The boys were excited, each in their own way.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-13T08:43:00.004-07:00

We celebrated Christmas early while we were all together in San Antonio for Thanksgiving. Brandon and Amber showed us all around the area and we had so much fun visiting the old San Juan Mission, SeaWorld, the Natural Bridge Caverns and the Alamo and Riverwalk. We hope you also enjoy a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones, celebrating the birth of our Savior. Have a very, merry Christmas!

Professor Trelawney, Luna Lovegood and a Reluctant Hagrid at the Harry Potter Opening

2010-11-22T08:00:00.003-07:00

Here are a few shots from our celebration at the Harry Potter opening! It was a blast, and thanks to our friends, the Adams' we got VIP tickets and did not have to wait in that long line! We were the first in the theater and only went 45 minutes early. Well worth $12!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #1 Talia's Family

2010-11-21T11:00:00.026-07:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#1- Talia's Family

09.19.2010 San Antonio, TX - f/4.5 1/60 Canon Rebel XTi

New little Talia, only 10 days old, captures my heart with the number one photo of the summer! She knew just what to do to melt her granna's heart. She waits until mom, dad, and big sis are all posed, then at the right moment, she looks at me, and grins! Oh, this is what I'm talking about... and this is what it is all about - FAMILY! I am now spending a glorious week with our entire family in San Antonio, Texas, at our son Brandon's home. I love you all!

That is it for the Top 50 Summer Pics! Thanks for watching and I would to hear which are your favorites?

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #2 Lollipop Island

2010-11-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#2 -Lollipop Island Memories

07.2.2010 - Island Park, Idaho - f/5 1/200 Canon Rebel T1i - Canon EF 85mm 1.8mm USM Lens

This one ties for #1 because it truly captures one of my favorite family memories. We have a family tradition, started by my niece, Camille, years ago, of exploring an island near my parents' cabin in Island Park. The legend has it, that a variety of lovely lollipops grown on this charming island, on warm days in August. The troll guards the island, so it is risky to cross the bridge where he lives. However, the reward is often worth it, because we usually find lollipops of all colors and flavors.

We are not sure why, but some days, they do not grow, and if the lollipops are not picked in the morning, they disappear. Some think they shrink back into the soft, moist earth, but I think the troll cleans them up! We always line up the kids from youngest to oldest and off they go on one of their favorite adventures.

I love this photo because our oldest daughter, Janel, still in pjs, stands on the island so she can photograph her eager boys as they tromp across the troll's bridge, on their way to pick the sweets on Lollipop Island. I did not edit the image, nor was it planned or posed. I just saw it, and grabbed it. I love how the boys and Janel are all evenly spaced, and that could not have been happened better. It was just one of those easy, candid snaps that captures years of meaningful memories all in one frame.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #3 - Redwood Path

2010-11-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#3- Redwood Path

07.26.2010 2:46 pm - Washington D.C. - f/22 1/6 Canon Rebel T1i - Tamron 18-270 Lens
Edits: Camera Raw: Clarity and vibrance

We walked the Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Path this summer near Eureka, California, and found the perfect moment when the moisture, fog, and sunlight all came together. I love the glowing trees and the beckoning path in this image. What a delightful experience to share with our good friends, the Wasdens. This was a family highlight of the summer as we spent a wonderful week traveling through southern Oregon and northern California.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #4 - National Park Seminary

2010-11-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#4 - National Park Seminary

07.16.2010 2:46 pm - Washington D.C. - f/1.8 1/25 Canon Rebel T1i - Canon EF 85mm 1.8mm USM Lens
Edits: Camera Raw: Clarity and vibrance; Adjustment brush

Thanks to my friend and co-worker, Hillary Clemens, I enjoyed shooting at this old girls college near the Washington D.C. Temple. It has the most interesting and eclectic collection of architecture that you may ever find. They fashioned many of the structures after a World's Fair that displayed famous buildings from all over the world. Many of the buildings are now being renovated, but I loved the old dorms, so this was right at the top shots of the summer. A mean hail storm, just minutes before this photo, left behind vivid colors, wet pavement and boiling clouds. What a great memory I have of this moment that I shared with Rachel and Scott, right before we went to a temple session, only minutes from this spot.

It took some editing in Camera raw to bring back the image I saw that day. My little point-and-shoot camera captured the pixels and I was able to bring them alive again. I metered the light on the sky, so I would have enough detail to resurrect this image. Who says you can't take great shots with a point-and-shoot? Don't get me wrong, I love using my Canon T1i, but there are times, when it is not convenient to have it with you. That is when you glad you have a small camera to record the moment. I printed the edited version, at the top, at whcc.com with a metallic finish float wrap. This really brings out the colors that just glisten with an iridescent shimmer.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #5 - Rexburg LDS Temple

2010-11-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

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#5 - Rexburg LDS Temple

09.01.2010 Rexburg, ID - f/8 1/400 Canon Powershot 710IS
Edits: Camera Raw: Temperature

One day I was driving up 7th South and the sun was shining through some dark clouds and threw some beautiful light on our Rexburg Temple. I just had to pull over and take this photo, right in the middle of the road. These flowers were in full bloom in the median and provided a nice foreground and a different angle for this most-photographed landmark!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #6 - Watson Waterfall

2010-11-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#6 - Watson Waterfall

07.26.2010 - Watson Falls, Oregon - f/22 1/6 Canon Rebel T1i - Tamron 18-270mm Lens
Edits: Camera Raw: Clarity and vibrance; Adjustment brush

I just love exploring waterfalls and rain forests in Oregon. We happened upon Watson Waterfalls while driving from Crater Lake, Oregon, to Bandon, Oregon, this July. The path through the forest up to the main falls is so green and moist. The creek wanders around moss-covered rocks and decaying trees. The smells and sounds as you hike through the dense canopy fill you with a calm peace that makes you are on a tropical island somewhere far away. This was one of my favorite moments of 2010, and I will return to this spot. I hope you can make it there too. Take your time to notice every snail, mushroom and dew drop.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #7 - Dubois Fashion Shoot

2010-11-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#7 - Dubois Fashion Shoot

07.16.2010 2:46 pm - Dubois, ID - f/1.8 1/25 Canon Rebel T1i - Canon EF 85mm 1.8mm USM Lens
Edits: Camera Raw: Clarity and vibrance; Adjustment brush

There is a grungy old warehouse in Dubois, Idaho, full of the coolest old junk. A few former students and I took Zoe along to be our model as we tried out all kinds of photographic techniques one day in July. It was a blast and fun to have Zoe along like the good old days, when she would pose for hours at Bannack Ghost Town. She has always been a good sport and seems to know how to give me the right look. This photo reminds of something that could go in a high end fashion magazine advertising the latest designer blouse and its larger-than-life flower accessory!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #8 - LDS D.C. Temple at Dusk

2010-11-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

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#8 - LDS D.C. Temple at Dusk

05.14.2010 5:30 pm - Washington D.C. - f/4 1/200 Canon PowerShot A710 IS
Edits: HDR; Camera Raw; Adjustment brushes; Photoshop Adjustment Layers

After shooting at the D.C. old girls' college (National Park Seminary) one stormy evening in May, (see #11 in the countdown) there was just enough light left to capture this shot of the nearby L.D.S. (Mormon) Washington D.C. Temple. Again, the great clouds from the hail storm were still doing their magical thing, and made for a magnificent sky backdrop. Oh, how I love good clouds! Capturing great skies can be a bit tricky, because if you meter the light (press the shutter halfway) on the building, the sky will be blown out. So I often use my exposure compensation to quickly adjust the light down a few stops. Then later, in post-editing, I lighten only the building.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #9 - Old College Dorm

2010-11-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#9- Old College Dorm

05.14.2010 4:58 pm - Washington D.C. - f/4 1/800 Canon PowerShot A710 IS
Edits: HDR; Camera Raw: Clarity and vibrance; Adjustment brushes

We were driving along in our rental car, on the way to find this old girls college, when the sky darkens, and a torrential downpour begins. At first, I am surprised at how hard the rain hits, then I realize it is hail. Within seconds, large ice marbles are bouncing all around us. The lack of visibility, and sound of hail pounding the car roof, forces me to the side of the road. One extremely large hail stone hits the hood of the car, and I start worrying about a dent.

I love a good hail storm, not only for the excitement, but mainly for the spectacular sky it produces. Once we locate the National Park Seminary, I am relieved to find a few old buildings that have not been restored. All the structures look European, and this old dorm is no exception. Things are wet, which makes for good color saturation, but my photos turn out dark and flat. Notice how dark my original photo is. I intentionally use exposure compensation to preserve the sky detail. I only have my travel camera, but even with manual settings, I know this photo will need some editing, so it is always better to start with a darker image. Later I use Dynamic Photo, and a few dramatic adjustments on the camera raw sliders, to wake up the colors and levels.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #10 - Artist Palette

2010-11-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

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#10 - Artist Palette

09.25.2010 6:58 pm - Lyman, south of Rexburg, Idaho - f/1.8 1/4000 Canon Rebel T1i - Canon 85mm 1.8mm lens
Edits: Camera Raw: Clarity, saturation and vibrance

This one's for you, Deanne
I remember my sister sitting with her palette, mixing and manipulating her colors to find the perfect blend to add to her moist watercolor paper. I loved how the paint would bleed and reach out with tiny fingers as she worked quickly before the drying stopped the motion. At first it looked as abstract as this photo, but soon a masterpiece would emerge from her mind's eye. It was the first few layers though, that gave depth to the details that came later.

The shallow depth in this photo reminds me of my sister's paintings. The background wash of melting colors supports the focal point, which in this case, is the sharp leaves and curvy lines. They may demand attention, but the surrounding blur of light and color truly steal the show.

Thanks, Deanne, for all the art lessons, and for letting me watch you paint. It was magical. I miss you.

In memory of my sister, my friend, the watercolor artist

After battling breast cancer for eight years, she succumbed on October 22, 2002. She was at an art workshop, with her husband in Spain. I am sure she must now be painting masterpieces somewhere in Paradise.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #11 - Mountain Man

2010-11-07T14:13:00.005-07:00

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#11 - Mountain Man

06.11.2010 Ashton, ID - f/1.8 1/2500 Canon Rebel T1i - Canon EF 85mm 1.8mm USM Lens
Edits: Camera Raw and Photoshop Sepia

Our friends, Brad and Maija-Liisa Adams invited us to a Mountain Man Rendezvous near Ashton, Idaho, on the farm where Maija-Liisa grew up. We thoroughly enjoyed a day of browsing through the tents filled with trading beads, handmade baskets, leather good, and a plethora of authentic goods. We were able to chat with the old-timers who still live the same as the settlers in this part of Idaho. We watched tomohawk and knive-throwing contests, black-powder rifle shooting, and the kids scrambled for candy whenever the candy cannon blew out salt water taffy and other goodies.

Everyone was happy to have their photo taken, and while I did get some good candid photos, this portrait of a friendly mountain man was one of my favorites. Brad let me borrow his badger hat and accessories to pose with a few new friends we made. Soon, I will post more photos of the entire experience.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #12 Bandon Light

2010-10-27T08:00:00.001-06:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#12 - Bandon Light

07.29.2010 2:32 pm - Bandon, Oregon - f/9 1/320 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens
Edits: Camera Raw: clarity and vibrance; Adjustment brushes

Lighthouses have always intrigued me, and this Bandon, Oregon light is a fine specimen. Though the tower is short, due to its location along the Coquille River, the ten-sided lower building is particularly unique. I positioned myself low, near some tall beach grass, to capture this angle. I consciously arranged the composition to place the horizon and structure on the one-third lines. The colors were flat and the cloudless sky produced an unremarkable shot, but with some help from my new favorite editing tool (Camera Raw adjustment brushes) I decided to place this shot 12th in the summer favorites lineup. Bandon is one of my favorite places on the planet, because of the stunning seascape. Many large monoliths dot the landscape, and beachcombing is fabulous. You will notice a few other photos earlier in the countdown. Bandon, Oregon is definitely worth visiting and don't miss the quaint wharf town, where cranberry fudge and clam chowder are some of the local favorites.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #13 Zoe Portrait

2010-10-25T08:00:00.002-06:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#13 - Zoe Portrait

07.6.2010 Dubois, ID - f/18 1/500 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens Edits: Camera Raw: clarity and vibrance adjustments; Photoshop: eye sharpening

This is my all-around favorite of the portrait session I did this summer with my youngest daughter. The wind blew a little gust just at the right time, and parted back her hair on the left. When we get closer to the top, I will post my favorite creative portrait of her from the same old warehouse in Dubois, Idaho. I also got several others once we got to our final destination that day, Bannack Ghost Town. You can see all of them here: ZoePortraits

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #14 Watson Falls Creek

2010-10-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

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#14- Watson Falls Creek

07.26.2010 9:23pm - Watson Falls, OR - f/18 1/8 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens - Tripod - Focal length: 39mm - Edits: Camera Raw: clarity and vibrance adjustments

Somewhere between Crater Lake and Bandon, Oregon, you will find the amazing, almost hidden Watson Falls. As you may have noticed, I snagged some of my favorite photos from this unexpected stop on our loop through southern Oregon and northern California the end of July. The path that followed the creek up to the main falls was a memorable experience I won't soon forget. In fact, it was one of the highlights of my summer. This is one of many little twists an turns along the creek that formed its own respectable and interesting waterfall. The green and brown moss made for a nice cool and warm color contrast.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #15 - Dam Building

2010-10-20T08:00:00.010-06:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#15 - Dam Building

05.18.2010 - 4:27pm - American Falls Dam, Idaho - f/4.0 1/1000 - Canon Powershot A710IS
Edits: Camera Raw adjustments brush for light and color enhancements

While on the way to a dinner meeting on a farm in American Falls, Idaho, we stopped by to see the water levels below the American Falls Dam (something my husband loves to do). I noticed this awesome old stone building, so, naturally, I grabbed my point-and-shoot from the back seat of the car to snap a shot. It was post editing in Camera Raw that really brought this baby to light. I used the adjustment brushes to enhance the existing color in the sky, water and stones. It was a fun experiment with the Level 4 type of photography I talk about here.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #16 - Redwood Moss

2010-10-18T08:00:00.002-06:00

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#16 - Redwood Moss

07.30.2010 4:55pm - Ladybird Johnson Redwood Grove, CA - f/5.6- .1/125 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens - Focal length: 109mm - Edits: Camera Raw adjustment brush to enhance lighting

The lighting and interesting depths in this image intrigued me, because the moss looked like the Spanish moss I have seen in Louisiana bayous. However, this moss was in the Ladybird Johnson Redwood Grove in northern California, where I found many interesting textures and colors. The clover was huge, and though I didn't see a four-leaf clover, I just knew there must be many back in the forest. This place was fascinating and it really did seem like a hobbit, or leprechaun, was about to jump out from behind the next mossy stump. Who was it who said that about my "Redwood Path" photo? Was it Emily, or Konda? I think it was a Facebook comment. Anyway, if you ever get the chance, you should get to Eureka, California, and check out the redwood forests. Don't forget your best camera equipment. It is worth hauling it everywhere you go.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #17 - Red Doors

2010-10-16T11:52:00.003-06:00

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#17 - Red Doors

05.18.2010 - 4:27pm - Washington D.C. Canon Powershot 710IS
Edits: Camera Raw adjustments and black vignette

Well, it's time to return to the Countdown of my "Top 50 Summer Pics" Let's pick up with #17 "Red Door." I just love the contrast and strong red color of this stunning red door in Washington D.C. I captured this image near Union Station, in May, on a business trip. Some people will choose a subject like this and search the world over to collect images of their favorite "red doors." Hmm... that would be fun. Anyone up for a world tour to find more red doors? We would have to check Italy, Greece, Spain and many other exotic locations. In fact, you could choose a topic of your own, and we could search for that too.

Anyway, the less expensive method would be to go to google images and see hundreds of famous red doors. Even then, I still like the constructions of this pair. I was traveling without my big DSLR, so I shot this with my trusty Canon Powershot 710IS. It has manual and priority modes, so I can get by just fine with it, when size and convenience matters. We were walking to and from appointments and hopping on the subway in a hurry, so it just would not have worked to haul my bigger Canon T1i. I can fit the Powershot in my purse and snap shots as I rush down the street. Fun times.

We have a winner from the Talia photo contest! #18 (and #2)

2010-09-25T21:22:00.002-06:00

Thanks for your comments and votes about my baby granddaughter's photos. The top vote-getter from your comments is #18, which is the close-up of Talia smiling. My personal favorite is #2, which some of you also liked. I just love the way the family is looking at her, while her sister touches her little hand... then right on cue, she looks straight at the camera, and smiles at me. This was fantastic timing on her part, so of course this tells me she is a genius. What else is a grandma to believe? You will see one or both of these winning photos again soon...when we return to my Top 50 Countdown of Favorite Summer Pics.

Introducing my newest granddaughter, Talia!

2010-09-21T14:50:00.019-06:00

PLEASE add a comment and tell me your top three photos.

The winning image(s) will go into my Top 50 Countdown.

I just spent a few days with my new little granddaughter, Talia, who is almost two weeks old. So I thought such an important event should put my countdown on hold for a few days while we select the best photos for my TOP 50 COUNTDOWN. Just select "comment" under this post, and tell me your favorite three photos of Talia. Thanks!

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Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #18 - Driving the Tractor

2010-09-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind each shot

#18 - Driving the Tractor

08.04.2010 - 1:05pm - Watson Falls, Oregon - f/11- .1/125 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens
Dodge lighting edits in Photoshop; Portrait retouching on mosquito bites :)

We found this old blue tractor on a ranch by a lake in Island Park, Idaho, so we couldn't resist letting the boys play on it. Will loved being in the driver's seat and he made all kinds of hilarious expressions. Grandchildren are so much fun!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #19 - Rainforest Path

2010-09-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

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#19 - Rainforest Path

07.26.2010 - 9:18pm - Watson Falls, Oregon - f/13 - .3" -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens

There is nothing like a walk through an Oregon Coast rainforest, especially when you can walk along a stream with multiple waterfalls. This walk to Watson waterfalls is one of my new favorites! It reminds me of some of the amazing rainforests along the northern Oregon Coast where you can walk along a rainforest stream and end up at a beautiful driftwood-strewn beach. There must be many more to explore all through Oregon, so I am already looking forward to another trip here someday to find more of these somewhat secluded spots. This is one of the many reasons I love traveling in Oregon.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #20 Mountain of Color

2010-09-17T06:00:00.002-06:00

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#20 - Mountain of Color

07.26.2010 - 6:52pm - Crater Lake, Oregon - f/7.1 - 1/125 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens

Even though the mosquitoes were fierce, it was worth stopping along the highway around Crater Lake, Oregon. I could not believe the complementary colors visible from this vista. The blue and orange hues were particularly intense due to the recent storm. As I have mentioned before, shooting post-storm gives you some nice cloud action, and the colors really pop!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #21 - Back to School

2010-09-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

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#21 - Back to School

07.16.2010 - 7:36pm - Bannack, Montana - f/1.8 - 1/250 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens
Camera Raw edits on the jpeg; Adjustment brush + vignette

On a photo shoot of my daughter, I captured this fun pose in the old school at Bannack Ghost Town. My oldest daughter thought it looked something you would see in a "Back to School" fashion layout to advertise clothing for young teens. Thus, the title. I love shooting in old buildings and I love this girl even more, so I thought this photo should come in at about #21. I have two more from this photo shoot that will make this countdown, but higher on the list. :)

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #22 - Backyard Blues

2010-09-15T06:00:00.006-06:00

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#22 - Backyard Blues

07.28.2010 - 11:54am - Bandon, Oregon - f/5.0 - 1/100 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens 55m focal length
Basic Camera Raw edits

I ventured out one morning while we were in Bandon, Oregon, to get some lighthouse photos and was pleasantly distracted by this quaint little neighborhood along the Coquille River (across from the lighthouse). I loved this little old garage and fence, all painted in this bright blue. The foreground weeds provided a nice opposite hue for a base.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #23 Foggy Giant

2010-09-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

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#23 - Foggy Giant

07.30.2010 - 4:51pm - LBJ Grove: Crescent City, California - f/7.1 - 1/200 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens

Here is another shot from our amazing walk through the Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Grove near Crescent City, California. Once again, it was the fog that makes the photo interesting, and it is also the fog that makes the forest ecosystem grow so well. If you get to the redwoods, and go out to shoot, don't be disappointed if it is a foggy day. The sun + fog + redwoods make for some fun photo opportunities!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #24 Forest Colors

2010-09-13T06:00:00.004-06:00

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#24 - Forest Colors

07.29.2010 - 7:54pm - Gold Beach, Oregon - f/5.6 - 1/400 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens

Okay, how about the rich colors on this mountainside near Crater Lake, Oregon? The wildflowers were very colorful due to the stormy skies after a hailstorm. I love the contrast of foreground warm colors with the background cool colors. It seems I have been fortunate this summer arriving at a location, at the end of a huge hailstorm.

This brings to mind one of my favorite Ansel Adam's (famous B&W landscape photographer) quotes:
Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.

This hailstorm timing also happened when I was in Washington D.C. in May. One of my top five shots of the summer (coming up later) happened at the National Park Seminary, which is an old abandoned girls college, that is being converted to high-end condos. The clouds and saturation is stunning after a hailstorm, and I will remember this in the future!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #25 Ferns in Light

2010-09-12T20:37:00.000-06:00

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#25 - Ferns in Light

07.30.2010 - 5:12pm - Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Grove, California - f/14 - 1/25 -0.67 (tripod) Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens - 18 mm focal length

I love shooting in interesting light. In fact, if I just told my new Digital Imaging class, if I had to name the three most important photographic principles, I would go with:
1. Light
2. Focus
3. Composition
Timing is everything with the light. The fog makes the light even more interesting, but I love the contrast here with the dark redwood tree on the right, which is balanced with the other dark trees on the left side of the frame. The lightly blurry background helps to set up the sharp focus and detail in the ferns and bark. This photo is also strong in contrast, which is another important principle, but not always necessary for a great shot.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #26 - Mossy Falls

2010-09-11T23:07:00.000-06:00

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#26 - Mossy Falls

07.26.2010 - 9:02pm - Watson Falls, Oregon - f/16.0 - 2sec. - 1/400 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens
Editing: Camera Raw Clarity and Vibrance

This is the lower part of Watson Falls in Oregon, between Crater Lake and Bandon. This little stream finds its way down through a beautiful forest of ferns and a large tree canopy. With the camera on a tripod, I used Shutter priority mode (TV or S) and set the camera for a two-second exposure to blur the water and give it this smooth effect. I love shooting water, especially in a rainforest setting where everything is green and mossy.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #27 - Beach Bokeh

2010-09-04T13:00:00.000-06:00

Join me for a COUNTDOWN of my 50 Top Summer Pics - and the story behind shot

#27 - Beach Bokeh

07.29.2010 - 7:54pm - Gold Beach, Oregon - f/5.6 - 1/400 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens

South of Gold Beach, Oregon, near the California border, we found this delightful beach. The sun was shining and these pretty purple flowers lined the highway along the beach. There were plenty of nice monoliths (huge, stand-alone rocks on the beach and ocean edge), so I framed this shot with the flowers in the foreground. I like the extreme bokeh (blur) that almost created a double image of the giant rock in the background.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #28 - Bandon, Beach

2010-09-03T16:47:00.000-06:00

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#28 - Bandon Beach

07.29.2010 - 3:08m - Bandon, Oregon - f/10 - 1/100 -1.0 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270mm lens - 65 mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance, Adjustment brush for lighting

Here is one of my favorite shots of the beach in Bandon, Oregon. The weather was foggy and overcast most of our time in Bandon, so I was happy to see some clear skies the morning before we left the area to head down the coast to the Redwoods. Bandon is located in the southern part of Oregon and is such a quaint little port, with a unique lighthouse and a great little town on the wharf. I have many fond memories of the Oregon Coast. My parents took the family almost every August while I was growing up and I loved to stay in our camp trailer in the beautiful campgrounds up and down the coast. So, if you have not seen the Oregon Coast, I hope you can visit there sometime soon! It is also fun to visit in the winter to watch the stormy seas and huge, crashing waves. Many people go then to storm-watch and beachcomb. It is cold almost anytime you go, though and be prepared for rain and fog.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #29 - Purple Flags

2010-09-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

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#29 - Purple Flags

05.28.2010 - 11:36am - Marginal Way, Maine - f/3.5 - 1/500 -0.67 Canon Powershot A710IS 13 mm

Whenever I see irises I think of my sister, Deanne. She died of breast cancer in 2002, and she was a fabulous watercolor artist. I loved her paintings of irises and the transparent overlay of color she created with watercolor paint. She taught me so much about composition and painting, which carries over into my photodesign. Thanks, sis... I love you!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #30 - Redwood Forest Snail

2010-09-01T15:50:00.000-06:00

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#30 - Redwood Forest Snail

07.30.2010 - 4:44pm - Redwood Grove - f/6.3 - 1/250 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance, Adjustment brush for lighting

Our walk through the Lady Bird Johnson Redwood Grove was full of surprises like this beautiful snail. It is amazing what you can find if you look under a fern or inside a hollow tree trunk. Slugs and snails are plentiful in this moist forest ecosytem.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #31 - Green With Envy

2010-08-30T05:59:00.005-06:00

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#31 - Green With Envy: Sea anemone

07.28.2010 - 11:02am - Bandon, Oregon - f/4.5 - 1/100 -0.33 Canon T1i Canon Powershot A710IS

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance, Adjustment brush for lighting

We found many sea anemones while tidepooling in Oregon. In case you have not tried tidepooling, it's when you go out and on the beach at low tide to look around in the pools left around the rocks. You can see a rich variety of sea life, especially if you get a minus tide (or unusally low tide) that exposes more creatures. We saw starfish, muscles, crabs, small fish, sea anemones (mostly green, but a few pinkish ones) and some strange plants that make funny rattling, scraping sounds while in the open air. Sea anemones look like a beautiful flower when under water, but they close up into a round blob when out of the water. They are actually meat-eating animals and they excrete a poison when touched, and as they recoil their sticky tentacles, they can draw in small fish and shrimp to feast on. Each time one of them catches some prey, their neighbors all turn green with envy that they could not attract a meal. :)

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #32 - Foggy Bandon Lighthouse

2010-08-29T19:33:00.002-06:00

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#32 - Foggy Bandon Lighthouse

07.28.2010 - 11:31am - Bandon, Oregon - f/14.0 - 1/10 Canon T1i Tamron 18-270mmVC lens

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

Bandon, Oregon, is one of my favorite places on the planet, and we were able to make our way there this summer. It was foggy much of the time, except I did get some shots the last morning we were there, without fog, which I will post when we get closer to the top of the countdown. The farmers in this region grow a lot of cranberries. In fact, they film those silly Ocean Spray commercials around Bandon, where the three farmers are standing in the cranberry bogs, when they are full of water. I have always thought it would be fun to be in Bandon for the cranberry harvest in September, when they flood each bog and float all those gorgeous red berries to the surface.

Besides cranberries and lighthouses, Bandon has some of the most beautiful seascapes you will ever find. This wide shot of the lighthouse from across the Coquille River had a nice mysterious feel, so I thought it came in at about spot #32 in my summer countdown. The beaches here are full of giant monoliths, and many locals tell legends of how the rocks were formed. My favorite is how an Indian Princess was lost in a storm while she walked her dog and a basket of kittens. The next day, they all turned into huge stones. You can now see a howling dog and the princess' head, along with several smaller monoliths all lined up in a row. This has become the legend of Face Rock, which is where our beachhouse was located (some views below).

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #33 - Old Statues at Girls College

2010-08-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

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#33 - Old Statues at Girls College

05.30.2010 - 9:10am - Portland, Maine - f/4.0 - 1/1250 Canon Powershot A710IS

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance + Artisic edits with CR Adjustment brushes

My friend Hillary, who is an expert on the Washington D.C. area, told me about this old haunted girls' school near the LDS Washington D.C. Temple, so I just had to visit when I was in the area. It turns out that I found some of the coolest old buildings you could imagine, and the whole campus is called the National Park Seminary. In fact, many of the buildings are fashioned after foreign architecture. There is a Japanese pagoda, Dutch Windmill, English Castle, and any other fascinating and immense structures. They had a dining hall that looked more ornate than the Harry Potter movie. It was originally a prestigious all-girls college, built in 1890, but then it was purchased by the military and operated as a hospital, before it was abandoned for many years. Now there is a big restoration project going on, and the old dorms are being converted into posh new condos. Luckily there were still some old crumbly buildings, so it was nice to see what it was like. Before long, all the old structures will be replaced. Here is a link to more of my photos from May: National Park Seminary. This line of female statues was awesome and you can see that some of the statues have been restored, but some are still in disrepair. I wanted to show the line, but capture a shallow depth of field, so I used Aperture priority to get the bokeh in the background.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #34 - Portland Head Lighthouse

2010-08-27T06:00:00.012-06:00

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#34 - Portland Head Lighthouse

05.30.2010 - 9:10am - Portland, Maine - f/4.0 - 1/1250 Canon Powershot A710IS

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance + Artisic edits with CR Adjustment brushes

Here is a photo of the famous Portland Head lighthouse in Portland Maine. I added some saturation to the water and improved the lighting in Camera Raw, or course. But keep in mind, I do this all on jpegs, because it saves all the original data, if you use Adobe Bridge. For more see this link: http://gocaryn.blogspot.com/2010/07/one-minute-makeovers-for-images-using.html
I loved ordering Lobster Bisque in various restaurants on our Maine coast adventure. My favorite was in a quaint little cafe in Kennebunkport, where President George H.W. Bush has a beautiful estate (see below) on his own private peninsula. They say he eats often at this cafe, and there were photos and memorabilia on the walls. No sign of him though. ;) I also took a shot of his place from across the way with my trusty Tamron 18-270mm zoom lens.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #35 - Lobsterman Parking

2010-08-26T09:48:00.009-06:00

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#35 - Lobsterman Parking

05.28.2010 - 10:24am - Perkins Cove, Maine - f/4.0 - 1/1000 Canon Powershot A710IS

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance + Artisic edits with CR Adjustment brushes

I used Camera Raw to add a highlight on the Lobsterman sign in this shot of Perkins Cove, Maine. There are many charming inns near here that are along the famous "Marginal Way" which is a nice walk along the rocky shoreline, with great wave action, that takes you to the quaint little fishing village. We kept saying it felt like we were in the middle of a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys mystery. It just seemed secluded and mysterious.

Zoe had some lobster ice cream at a little shop (red lobster candy in the ice cream). The shop owner (a third-generation lobsterman, or more) was sitting there and told us his story of catching a rare blue lobster. He is very lucky for as young as he is, because there is only 1 blue lobster in every 2 million! He even had a tattoo on his arm as a reminder. He donated his blue to an aquarium, since they are so rare. I loved this Lobsterman parking sign because we got to chat with an authentic and lucky lobsterman, right across from this parking sign. Here is a cute YouTube video where you can see a real blue lobster and learn more about this phenomena: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2n1cwAXbaY

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #36 - Old Capt. Nickels Inn

2010-08-25T08:49:00.000-06:00

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#36 -Old Capt. Nickels Inn

05.29.2010 - 2;03pm - Searsport, Maine - f/4.0 - 1/800 Canon Powershot A710IS

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance + Artisic edits with CR Adjustment brushes

We were driving along the Maine coast, the end of May, after attending our daughter's graduation in Boston, when we happened upon this quaint little town, Searsport, that was full of gorgeous old mansions and estates. This one was abandoned and my favorites, so I talked the group into letting me have 10 minutes to photograph it. They grounds were beautiful and it was even on the National Registry of Historic Homes. There were large beautiful fountains and you could see the ocean from the backyard. It was an army captain's home, then later converted to an Inn. But now it in need of some repair, and would be a great fixer-upper if you have an extra million on hand! With the above photo, I practiced my editing skills with Camera Raw. I used adjustment brushes to paint more color in the sky. I also added a highlight area in the dandelions. The original photo was flat and washed out. You can see more about how I edited it here: "What Type of Photographer Are You?"

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #37 - Flamingo Falls

2010-08-25T08:48:00.000-06:00

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#37 - Flamingo Falls

04.16.10 - 7:58pm - Flamingo Casino, Las Vegas, NV - f/5.6- 1/4 -1.67 Canon Powershot A710IS - 11.5mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

After experiencing Zions Park, we drive to Las Vegas to see the Donny and Marie Show. It was absolutely amazing! They both performed a high energy act with incredible dancing and singing the entire time. Everyone there said it was one of the best Vegas shows they have seen. It is no wonder why they keep renewing their contracts. They are packing the house every single night, and Marie has lost 60 lbs and look stunning! Donny always looks fabulous, and is the same age as all of us on the trip. Anyway, we ate a great dinner buffet at the Flamingo, which is where the D&M show is playing, and afterward we wandered the grounds of this casino hotel. They had flamingos and waterfalls in a lush, tropical rainforest. I took this waterfall photo with my trusty little point-and-shoot and used the TV (time priority) mode, with a long shutter speed to blur the water and get this smooth effect. I did not take this photo of Donny and Marie, but you can find it on google, if you want to learn more about their Vegas show.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #38 - Colors of Zions Park

2010-08-23T07:19:00.008-06:00

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#38 - Colors of Zions Park

04.15.10 - 5:13pm - Zions National Park - f/4.5- 1/1250 -1.67 Canon Powershot A710IS - 10mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

I fell in love with Zions National Park when I was with friends (on an annual high school reunion) in April. The colors were amazing and the variety of scenery was stunning. We parked our car in the midst of looming red rock mountains, then took a shuttle with glass all around, including a sun roof. The view was beautiful as we drove up the canyons and heard about the terrain. I was taking photos with my small point-and-shoot through the windows. At one point I looked back on the other side of the bus and saw this shot as we passed over a bridge. I snapped it quickly to get the above photo, while we were moving, through glass, but it turned out to be one of my favorites from the trip. This was a good reminder to look all around to get different viewpoints, and not to be afraid to snap quickly before a moment passes by. When we arrived at the top of the shuttle drive, where no cars were allowed in the summer months, we walked a two-mile hike, saw waterfalls and followed a river to the starting point of the Narrows.

Next time I go to Zions, I hope to hike the narrows, which is a great all-day hike through narrow canyons, where you cross the stream and swim a bit as you work your way through miles of gorgeous scenery. It can be dangerous in times of high water or flash floods, but it sounds like an awesome experience. You can even camp overnight, if you pack in your gear. Either way, you need a permit in advance. Hiking the Narrows has got to be on my bucket list!

The small photo is of our group on our hike in Zions National Park. We were all friends in high school, and since our 20th HS reunion, we take turns hosting a fun weekend reunion together each year. It is something I look forward to every year. I highly recommend it!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #39 - Bannack Hotel

2010-08-22T06:00:00.004-06:00

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#39 - Bannack Hotel through wavy glass

07.26.10 - 7:24pm - Bannack, MT - f/5.0 - 1/500 -1.67 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270mm lens - 84mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

I have taken many, many photos of the old Hotel Meade in Bannack Ghost Town, Montana over the years, but I liked this new angle from the doctor's home, because of the old wavy glass that distorts the view. The old curtains also make a nice frame. I took this smaller photo of an old vacuum right below the same window. It was sitting against the wall. I spoke to the Bannack park ranger who said he had just found this old antique in an nearby home, so it is nice to now they are still finding new artifacts. This early Victor vacuum was used before electricity, so it has a pump handle that creates a suction to suck up the dust and clean the floor! The lighting was very flat on this shot, but there was a window behind me, so this is an ARTISTIC IMAGE, because I added the light highlight (Camera Raw Adjustment Brush) on the vacuum, as if I would had the blinds open on the window behind me.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #40 - Harvard Lamps

2010-08-21T06:00:00.009-06:00

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#40 - Harvard Lamps

05.26.10 - 5:23pm - f/4.5 - 1/1500 -0.33 Canon Powershot A710 IS

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

I took the above photo at sunset in Harvard Square, which is right outside the gate of the Harvard campus. These lamps are mark the main crosswalk that connects the Cambridge shops with campus life. We were at Harvard for our daughter's graduation in May. She technically finished in December, when she spoke at the smaller winter commencement. The May graduation was full of historical pomp and circumstance and was a huge, fascinating, outdoor event! For the lamp photo, I metered on the sky to expose the sunset correctly and produce the silhouette effect.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #41 - Zoe at Crater Lake

2010-08-20T06:00:00.006-06:00

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#41 - Zoe at Crater Lake

07.26.10 - 7:34pm - Crater Lake National Park - f/7.1 - 1/200 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270mm lens - Length: 30mm - w/ Fill flash)

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

This will be the last of the Crater Lake photos. I took this shot of Zoe and the colors were spot on. Again, the stormy skies and filtered sunlight set up the nice saturations. I used a fill flash to expose her face correctly. I love using fill flash on outdoor portraits. Often I need to use my exposure compensation to darken up the background, but the exposure of the lake stayed true without any + or - exp. comp on this one.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #42 - Crater Lake Blues

2010-08-19T06:00:00.007-06:00

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#42 -Crater Lake Blues

07.26.10 - 7:24pm - f/8.0 - 1/200 -0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270mm lens - 18mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

This has got to be the bluest lake on the planet. Maybe that is because it is one of the very deepest, at almost 2,000 feet deep, which is the deepest lake in the U.S. and the seventh deepest in the world! At 5,387 ft, Lake Baikal, in Russia, is the deepest and among the clearest of all lakes in the world. Baikal is also the world's oldest lake, at more than 25 million years old. Wow! Seriously, that scares me just a little. I'll take Crater Lake, though it is not accessible for boating, etc. There is a park ranger boat that takes groups out for a cruise a few times a day, but there is only one place to even get down to the water. The sun broke through the storm clouds to produce some nice foreground lighting and great color saturations.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #43 - Crater Lake Grounds

2010-08-18T06:00:00.010-06:00

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#43 - Crater Lake Grounds

07.26.10 - 6:22pm Crater Lake Nat. Park, Oregon - f/9.0 - 1/200 -1 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 Lens Length: 27mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

We were looking at this view while sitting in the Crater Lake lodge having lunch. A big hail storm hit and left this beautiful sky behind. I always love shooting after a storm. The color saturation is rich and the clouds are usually fabulous. I will post a shot of the actual lake next, but I just loved these simple shots of the grounds around the lodge. It is a great reminder to look around and take supporting images. The main subject or scene is not the only important thing to document. A side view or background can be just as good as the main action.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #44 - Elk Creek Ranch

2010-08-17T06:00:00.012-06:00

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#44 - Elk Creek Ranch

08.04.10 - 1:12pm - f/9.0 - 1/320 -1 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens - Length: 91mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance + Adjustment brush on sky

I used to ride horses on this ranch near the Buffalo River in Island Park, Idaho. Every summer we would go on trail rides from Elk Creek to Buffalo River near our cabin. They still rent out cabins on this little lake, if someone really likes the old rustic feeling. This is where we took photos of my grandsons, while at the cabin. I took one of my all-time favorite photos right near here, but it was in the winter, just after a storm. The lighting was ideal on the heavy snow, that shows the main old lodge.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #45 - Tide Pool Creatures

2010-08-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

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#45 - Tide Pool Creatures

07.28.10 - 10:47am - f/3.5 - 1/60 -0.33 Canon Powershot A710 IS

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

Exploring Oregon Coast tidepools can reveal some pretty strange creatures. If you get up close and personal you can hear these little creatures making srange squeegie noises all at once. I'm pretty sure they would rather be underwater, but it sure it fun to see what they look like when the tide is low. Some even look like they have lizard skin. It almost give you a feeling they are prehistoric.

I love to use the macro (close-up) feature on my camera to capture great textures and even create abstract photos. Most cameras have macro capability (look for a tulip icon) and it works well when you are closer than one foot to your subject. With a digital SLR, you can only get as close as your lens will allow.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #46 - Bannack Truck

2010-08-15T06:00:00.026-06:00

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#46 - Bannack Truck

05.21.10 - 6:03pm - f/1.8- 1/4000 Canon T1i - Canon EF 85mm lens - Length: 55mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance + CR Adjustment brushes brought out the color in the sky.

One of my favorite places on the planet to photograph is Bannack Ghost Town near Dillon, Montana. The fact that I have already been on three photo shoots there this year, and that makes be very happy. :) I find new and interesting things to shoot every time I go there. They have an old truck to transport people to the mill, so I took some fun angles of it on my May excursion. I love the varied colors, unique angel and good saturation in this shot.

I take students on a photo excursion to this awesome ghost town as part of my Comm 262 Digital Imaging course. It is always exciting to see the new photographs that come out of every class outing. There are so many amazing textures in, on and around the buildings. For example, some of the old houses have several layers of wallpaper and linoleum that tell the story of how many different people lived there over the years. The history is rich, as this was the first territorial capital of the entire Montana Territory, which included Southeast Idaho. The corrupt sheriff was hanged by some vigilantes on his own gallows, and many tales of gunfights and ghost stories make fore some very interesting history. Here is a link to the Bannack website. I hope you can go there soon!

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #47 - Funny Will

2010-08-14T07:00:00.001-06:00

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#47 - Funny Will

08.04.10 - 12.54pm - f/7.1 - 1/100 -0.67 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens - Length: 55mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance + Airbrushed skin in Photoshop to remove mosquito bites

Zoe and I spent three fun-filled days in Island Park with Janel and her boys the first of August. One day, Janel found this great old ranch to do a photo shoot of the boys. She got some great portraits of the boys and we had a fun time. I snapped this fun shot of Will who loves to make funny expressions and smile like it's going out of style. The angle of his face and funny grin in this shot make him look like a little Campbell Soup Boy Munchkin, or something... I love those boys and it was a blast to have some down-time to relax and play with them. Max and Wes caught something like 12 trout in front of the cabin and we found huckleberries, even though most of them weren't ready yet. We floated the river, swam under the log and washed our hair in the river while it was raining! Good times :)

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #48 - Hidden Rainforest Waterfall

2010-08-13T06:00:00.012-06:00

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#48 TSP - Hidden Rainforest Waterfall

07.26.10 - 8:49pm - f/32 - 1/3 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens - Length: 50mm

Editing: Camera Raw adjustments on the jpeg: Exposure/clarity/vibrance

After enjoying the scenic views around Crater Lake, we loaded the van on a mission to get to our Bandon, Oregon beachhouse. We were driving through the one of the many beautiful rainforests on the way to the coast when my husband Keith pulled over at a little picnic area by the side of the road to change drivers. It was late in the evening, but still light. As we wandered around to stretch our legs, we found this beautiful little stream and waterfall. This whole thing just seemed to appear out of nowhere. If it weren't for these photos, I may still wonder it it was all a dream. We could hear a larger waterfalls, but couldn't imagine it would be any better than this, plus it was getting late and we still had several hours to get to the coast. So we were content to spend a few minutes enjoying the stunning scenery around these lower falls, while the girls waded up the stream.

Before long, Keith had wandered up the trail to the main falls. He came back and said he felt like Lehi who had found the tree of life and his family was still wandering in hidden paths at the bottom. So we joined him on a mystical path through a rainforest to a very amazing waterfall, called Watson Falls. The short, (1/2 mile) but steep hike was absolutely the most amazing experience! It was better than anything we had seen on any tropical island. The stream wound around large moss-covered rocks and fallen trees to form waterfalls around every little bend on the way up to the top. It was a photographer's haven and was not even on our itinerary. I love making these little hidden discoveries. It turns out that there are several other rainforest waterfalls along this highway, but since our light was gone, we decided to discover them on another trip to the coast. We were very late getting to Bandon, but we were happy we had taken the time to discover the enchanting Watson Falls area.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #49 - Cactus Floral Explosion

2010-08-12T06:00:00.005-06:00

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#49 - Cactus Floral Explosion

04.17.10 - 1:09pm - f/2.2 - 1/4000 -01.33 Canon T1i - Canon EF85mm - Length: 85mm

Editing: Slight exposure/vibrance adjustments of the jpeg in Camera Raw

I was in St. George, Utah, at an annual reunion of best high school friends and we were out for a walk when we saw this gorgeous cactus. The flowers only last about 12 hours (from sunrise to sunset) and most of the cacti only have one or two at a time. This one had two, but we could tell it was going to explode with many more the next day, so I just had to go back the next day with my camera, and sure enough, we captured this rare moment, with nine blossoms at one time!

We used to have a similar cactus when we lived in Blackfoot, Idaho, and after being out in the sun all summer, we could get it to bloom in September. I loved to watch each small little bud start growing and develop into a large horizontal stem about five inches long and one inch in diameter. Then one day it would decide to open up into a giant, beautiful 7-inch butter-color blossom. But it was always wilted by nightfall. It brought back great memories of our amazing blooming cactus. The most we ever had at one time was about five, but that was rare, and it was a much larger plant. So that experience made me really appreciate this cactus floral explosion in St. George.

Countdown: Top 50 Summer Pics: #50 - Starfish of a Different Color

2010-08-11T08:00:00.002-06:00

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#50 - Starfish of a Different Color

07.29.10 - 12:11pm - f/6.2 - 1/60 +0.33 Canon T1i - Tamron 18-270 lens - Length: 270mm

Editing: Slight exposure/vibrance adjustments of the jpeg in Camera Raw

It was a "minus tide" (extremely low tide) on a cool morning in front of our beachhouse in Bandon, Oregon, near Face Rock. This is the perfect condition for "tidepooling" on the Oregon Coast. There were seven of us on a two-family vacation and we had a fun time checking out all the marine life in the tide pools. The saturation was extremely good with this photo, and it was surprisingly sharp, even though I handheld it at a 1/60 time exposure. I love how it shows off the rich variety of wet starfish colors. Most starfish here were orange, so I like how this shot shows the purple in the majority. Maybe this photo could be used to illustrate diversity, or a sense of community, the way everything is clinging together.

Guest Photographers: Andrea & Josh with Portraits of Zoe

2010-08-09T12:04:00.027-06:00

THREE PHOTOGRAPHERS
In my last blog post, I displayed my portraits of my daughter Zoe, so this week, I am showing you a few of our favorites taken by my friends, Andrea Hernandez and Josh Peterson. Both Andrea and Josh are former students and we all enjoyed a day of shooting in Dubois, Idaho, and Bannack, Montana. Zoe was our model, and I would love to hear which of these you like best? Zoe also took this photo of the three of us (as well as my new Facebook/Blog profile photo).

(By Zoe)

(By Andrea)

ANDREA HERNANDEZ
Introducing Andrea Hernandez, and her portraits of my daughter, Zoe. I took the first photo of Andrea in Dubois, Idaho, but the rest are Andrea's. Andrea can do it all when it comes to photography and design, but she is an expert with posing and composition! Here is a link to the portfolio website she did in my Advanced Visual Media class. I love her "big city style" and her awesome video podcast: http://heyhernandez.com/

JOSH PETERSON
This is Josh Peterson. I took the first shot of Josh in a Dubois warehouse, but the rest are his portraits of my daughter, Zoe. Josh is an all-around great photographer, but he specializes in portraits and is especially talented at lighting! If anyone around Rexburg needs a great photographer, you should definitely give Josh a call. Here is a link to his blog: http://www.pvmphotography.com/

ALL FOUR OF US AT WORK!