Once again, I was asked to photograph some of my high school seniors for The West End Compass magazine. Various stores at The Shops at West End provided the clothing, hair styles and makeup, and I provided the photography. It was a really fun experience, and something I look forward to doing again next year.
You can read the magazine online by clinking this link (my article starts on page 28).
A photo using the Lensbaby and a custom aperture ring that I cut out myself.
This is a special installment of my Fine Art Photo of the Week especially for fans of mallards. Spring is here and the mating race is on, which is a great time to photograph water fowl. The first image (my actual photo of the week) was taken with a Lensbaby Composer and the Pinhole/Zone Plate optic. It is definitely one of my favorite lenses for experimentation and creative image making.
The conditions were good for me to take some other great shots of the mallards that were flying around Westwood Nature Center. Enjoy these bonus images:
One of my favorite things to do with landscape photography is revisit the same subject many times, because the lighting and mood can be so very different. When I find a compelling subject, I will often go back multiple times and in different seasons.
But sometimes you can catch a similar transformation within only a few hours. The pictures below demonstrate how different the mood can be in just a couple hours of time. Light changes quickly, so I make sure to carry my camera with me as often as possible, because I can’t count on lighting to stay the same for long or to ever recreate a moment.
This idea was strongly influenced by some of Claude Monet’s later paintings.
Taking pictures of the same subject on multiple occasions is a great way to learn how timing and light affect the overall feeling of a photograph, and it is a great exercise for anyone who wants to be more expressive with their photography. Why not try it out yourself?
I’m really excited to have 3 of my fine art photos for sale at Mama’s Happy in Mound, Minnesota. Come out for the grand opening and see all of the unique items. Click on the image below to visit their website and get directions to the store.
Here are two of the photos I will be selling. The third photo you may recognize as my winning image from the Bluefin Bay calendar contest. Click here to see that image and read my blog post about it.
I love the various clouds we experience in Minnesota in the early summertime. Here is one of my favorite cloud images from this week:
I knew that the approaching storm would bring some unique photo opportunities, so I set out to Westwood Nature Center in my bright orange raincoat. When I came upon the turkeys, I started taking photos of them. As I raised my camera and took the first few clicks, this tom put up his display. I noticed that he kept checking me out and would go into full display when I took his portrait.
I think that he thought I was a rival turkey, and whenever I raised my arm that I was displaying my “orange feathers” and challenging him. It was a very unique encounter. After a few more shots I left him alone with all the females.
