For most people photography starts as the sun rises and ends with sunset. Unfortunately these people are missing some of the best and most productive times to photograph. Twilight is that time when there’s just a hint of color in the sky. There is approximately a 10 minute window when the light is just right for twilight photography. It happens twice a day 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset. Why is it worth getting up so early or staying out that late? When photographing at this time the sky turns a cobalt blue and contrasts beautifully with the warm hues of morning and man-made lights. This phenomenon happens whether it’s raining or cloudy, no matter what the weather is. It is a perfect time for capturing city skyline’s, or anywhere there are man-made lights. I suggest keeping the cameras white balance setting on daylight, as this ensures capturing the beautiful cobalt blue color in the sky. You will need to use a tripod because the shutter speeds will be long. I think you’ll agree, it’s definitely worth the extra effort of getting up earlier and staying out later.
At our Weekly Sunrise and Sunset Photo Workshops you will learn to take advantage of the beautiful twilight time.
March 8th, 2011
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Photo Tips, Uncategorized, landcape photography, piers |
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By Dan Beauvais
Sometimes, great photo opportunities just happen. Too many times, my camera was at home when I stumbled upon a perfect image, and I’d have to settle for recording it in my mind’s eye. I’ve never found that to be a satisfying substitute. Have you?
I now try to bring a camera and a lens or two with me every time I leave the house. Even to buy shoes. How exciting a photo can you make on a shoe buying trip?
Sharing the building with the shoe store is vacation equipment rental agency, stocking everything from blenders for that poolside margarita, to beach umbrellas. And right next to where I parked my truck was a rack of rental bicycles. The rack forced the bikes into a pattern. Not being perfectly aligned, and some suffering a little “use” by tourists, the pattern of bicycle headstocks and tires had an organic feel to its rhythm. But there, in that long row of orange and red bikes, somebody placed the green one, breaking the pattern. A cool tone among that pattern of warm tones. A rimshot in the rhythm. And it’s what made my image catchy. It just wouldn’t have been the same without that break in the pattern!
Sing along with me.
One of these things is not like the others.
One of these things just doesn’t belong.
A perfect photo found me. And this time, my camera wasn’t home in the closet.
January 31st, 2011
Posted by
Dan Beauvais |
Abstracts, Patterns, Photo Tips, Uncategorized |
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Silhouettes
By Dan Waters
Silhouettes are one of the easiest ways to take your photography to a new level. They almost always have that wow effect. Frequently, beginners accidentally make silhouettes by placing their subject in front of a strong light source. However, the best silhouettes are well thought out and planned in advance. The shutter speeds are generally higher because you’re exposing for the light, which means you can hand hold without worrying about camera movement.
There are a couple simple guidelines to help you make great silhouettes.
1. Place your subject in front of a light source.
2. Expose for the light source. In other words make sure you’re getting a correct exposure for the light behind your subject. You can do this by framing your shot without your subject
pushing the shutter button down half way to lock the exposure, then re-frame to include the subject and take the photograph.
3. The subject has to be simple and easily recognizable.
4. Change your angle and perspective until the elements in your photograph are clearly visible, with no overlaps.
If you follow these simple guidelines, silhouettes are easy to master and will give a fresh look to your photographs.
January 23rd, 2011
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Photo Tips, Uncategorized, piers, seascapes |
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Every year, to celebrate the first flight on December 17, there is a fly over at the Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. I went to photograph some of the planes with Dan Beauvais, who is a wonderful aircraft photographer. He gave me some pointers about shutter speed; if the shutter speed is too fast you do not see the blur of the props and the photo looks static. It’s a lot harder than you would think to follow the planes, use the right shutter speed, expose correctly, keep everything in focus, and keep the plane framed in the shot. This is the best shot I took of the day. The planes were too high to capture the Wright Brothers Memorial and the plane in the same photo and still have the plane look large enough to see well. It was a lot of fun but judging from the number of discarded photos I took, I need a lot more practice.
Thanks, Dan Waters
December 18th, 2010
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Dan Waters |
Uncategorized |
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Eye Level
By Dan Waters
This tip works for everything, insects, birds, pets,people, and even inanimate objects. The viewer has a greater connection with the subject if the photograph is taken at the subjects “eye level”. If you want the viewer to relate to your subject get down on its level. This can create an “even playing field” and help to show the subjects scale and relationship to its surroundings.
There are times to break this rule and shoot up or down on your subject. If you would like to convey a feeling of smallness, insignificant, or to belittle your subject get above and shoot down at it. The opposite is also true if you would like to create a feeling of grandeur, control, or strength then shoot up toward your subject. Angle and perspective have everything to do with how the viewer relates to the subject.
December 14th, 2010
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Flower & Garden, Photo Tips, Uncategorized |
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Hi all,
I was lucky enough for one of my photos to be featured on the cover of Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine. I also have a few photos on the inside in an article about Wings Over Water. It is really exciting to see my photos in print!
Thanks, Dan
November 15th, 2010
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Uncategorized |
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High-key sounds like something to do with music, actually I’m talking about high-key photography. It is just as the name implies, the image’s key tones are high or light instead of midrange. The tones are moved up, or high on the exposure scale. A high key photograph can be made by intentionally overexposing an image in the camera or by using Photoshop’s curves or level adjustments.
Pier into the Light
This image of Kitty Hawk Pier was exposed two f-stops over what the camera metered. The camera was on a tripod with a long shutter speed which turned the waves into mist.
High key images are very easy to make. Simply use the exposure compensation dial on your camera to over expose one or two stops. Give it a try, I know you’ll be pleased with the results.
Dan Waters
September 30th, 2010
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Photo Tips, Uncategorized, landcape photography, piers, seascapes |
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I have added a new article to my website. Let me know what you think. I believe it will be helpful to the novice photographer as well as the more advanced.
Histogram, the Key to Understanding Exposure
…By Dan Waters
May 27th, 2010
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Uncategorized |
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Here is a fun tip for photographing spring flowers. Try photographing a spring bouquet through a sheet of textured glass. The further the glass is from the flowers the less defined they will be. There is a variety of textures available depending on the look you would like to achieve.
How I processed this image, was to take two photographs, one with the glass and one without, while the camera was on a tripod. Then I combined the two photographs to control the amount of texture.
Let your imagination run wild and enjoy.
Thanks Dan
March 29th, 2010
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Flower & Garden, Uncategorized, workshops |
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Here are three images taken by one of our students, Michele Deans, while on our Photography Basics for Beginners Workshop. It was a beautiful morning and afternoon. We had fun working with our students and wanted to share some of their images taken that day.
February 26th, 2010
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Uncategorized, workshops |
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Just a reminder that there is still space available for our Lighthouses and Seascapes weekend workshop for March 19-21, 2010.
The cost of this workshop is $350 with a Friday evening orientation, all day Saturday in the field photographing and Sunday in the field photographing until noon.
Please click here for more info on this workshop.
Hope to see you there.
Dan and Lori
February 25th, 2010
Posted by
Dan Waters |
Uncategorized, seascapes, workshops |
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