Photography

Can Luck Help Create a Photograph?

Jeff

It has often been said that timing is everything and when it comes to photography, that may well be true in SOME instances. A recent post on the blog Photography Life titled “Shooting with Lady Luck” got me thinking about those instances when I was taking pictures and luck might have intervened.

First let me say that luck favors those who are prepared. There are numerous quotes about luck and anyone who follows my blog on a regular basis knows I collect and publish quotes. You can see my posted quotes here and one such quote by Oprah Winfrey states: “Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.”

One such picture of mine that comes to mind is the picture below of a Packrat that we removed from our property because it was eating our courtyard plants. Timing was all important as the cage was opened to release the critter and it ran full speed ahead to get away. It was caught just in time at the right edge of the frame.

A Packrat leaving the trap.

Another picture where luck might have played a role is the picture below of the white pelican taken at Grand Teton National Park. When I took the picture, I did not appreciate the pattern that the ripples, light and reflections made on the water and I think they add a great deal to the picture.

White Pelican at Grand Teton National Park

I can go on and on of course and I suppose you could as well. Needless to say a person with a camera needs to know how to operate it to capture the scene at hand in order to render the picture well exposed, have the appropriate depth of field and a well-composed scene. It is always nice of course, to have the fates on your shoulder helping to guide the press of the camera’s button.

Check out the article:Shooting with Lady Luck for more photographic instances of “Lady Luck” helping to guide the camera/photographer.

Do you have a picture story to share about shot you took that incorporated a bit of help from “Lady Luck?“

Remote Captures Mountain Lions in the Santa Monica Mountains

Jeff

It is often hard to think about wildlife when we live in the city, but in the outskirts there are many animals who live and coexist in the world we have left to them. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area captured a number of pictures of a mother and her maturing mountain lion “kittens” as they feasted on a deer carcass.

The images below are just a selected few from the entire set posted on line at this link:P-19 & 15-Month-Old Kittens

The image below shows how majestic these creatures are. Isn’t this big cat beautiful?

A Mountain Lion Looks Up at the Camera

One might feel sorry for the deer that is the feast for these mountain lion kittens, but they have to eat too!

Mountain Lions feast on a Deer Carcass

Above is another picture of an inquisitive cat.

Rules to Live by From the Dalai Lama

Jeff

As my readers know, I enjoy collecting quotes and learning about creating photographs. Just look at some of my STATUS QUOtes and photography posts.

One of the blogs I follow is the Digital Photography School. There is so much knowledge there. I encourage you to review their site and subscribe to their emails or RSS feeds.

In a recent post by Darlene Hildebrandt, 11 Rules of Living by Dalai Lama to Help You Bring Zen to Your Photography,she offers some great advice and like many “truths” this advice can be applied to numerous phases and stages of life. I offer a few of them below juxtaposed with quotes that I have heard and which I find relate well to her “rules.” If you find meaning in them and you want to learn how Darlene Hildebrandt understands their relationship to her photography, visit the link above.

  • “Great love and great achievements involve great risk.” – “And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.” ― Erica Jong

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  • “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” – “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” ― James Joyce

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  • “Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.” – “When you teach a child, you teach their children as well.” – The Talmud

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  • “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” – “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.” – Garth Brooks

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Photos – 2009 Total Solar Eclipse, Marshall Islands

Jeff

Miloslav Druckmüller and others took some outstanding photos of a total solar eclipse viewed in 2009, at the Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands. I found these pictures intriguing because of the way the atmospheric patterns emerged (my phrase – I am not a scientist).

The image below is just one example. Visit the web page to see more dynamic pictures and read about the scientists involved in this interesting work (scroll down).

2009 Total Solar Eclipse, Marshall Islands

Miloslav Druckmülle
Institute of Mathematics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic
druckmuller@fme.vutbr.cz

iPhone 6 Makes Picture Taking a Snap!

Jeff

Apple has set up what they are calling a “World Gallery” of photographs taken using the iPhone 6. The wonderful picture capabilities of the iPhones have been touted for a number of years and with each iteration, Apple seems to be able to raise the bar even higher. To demonstrate how versatile and creative the iPhone 6 can be, this page titled “Shot on iPhone 6” provides a great number of examples. I selected five of my favorites below. Visit the website to see more images in their larger sizes.

NOTE – Some of the pictures were taken with Apps other than the Apple Camera App. This information is noted under the pictures on display at the linked website.


Let me know which images you find most compelling, beautiful or interesting.

Shot by Andrew P. in Phoenix, AZ

This desert shot takes full advantage of the warm reds and oranges of sunset, capturing a beautiful range of tones with a limited color palette.

Since I live in this area, this picture caught my eye. I have taken similar pictures with my camera. One thing I try to impress upon visitors and people who live out-of-state is the wonderful colors the sun creates at various times of the day in the Sonoran Desert.

Sonoran Desert Scene - iPhone6

Shot by Brendan Ó. in Copenhagen, Denmark

Shooting from an unexpected angle can add an interesting twist. Here, it creates contours in the lines that convey a sense of movement to the viewer.

I found the lines on this pavement particularly interesting. I wonder if these are bicycle lanes or do these markings serve some other purpose? Are these lines curvy for artistic reasons or do the shapes provide a necessary shift?

Street/Park Scene, Copenhagen Denmark - iPhone6

Shot by Hyeong Jun K. in Seoul, South Korea
The exaggerated scale of a shadow, like the one cast by the tree, can add an element of interest to a stark landscape.

I am a sucker for trees especially when they are standing alone. While there are others around, the isolation of the main tree feels palpable to me.

Lonesome Tree - iPhone6

Shot by Noah W. in Marina Del Rey, CA

Use naturally occurring shadows to your advantage. In this photo, the solid silhouette of the dog interrupts the stripes cast across the sidewalk.

I enjoy a good animal picture and this is no exception. In addition to the notation above, this photograph would have been so ordinary without the shadows. The dog almost looks zebra-ish and much more interesting with the shadowed lines.

Dog Marked by Linear Shadows - iPhone6

Shot by Austin M. in Steamboat Springs, CO

Photos featuring just one color family can be brought to life with a subtle hint of a contrasting color. Here, the pop of blue in the sky adds a surprising element.

I love the subtle colors in this photo as noted above. While this is a very good photo, IMHO it would have been even better had the ski lift (upper right) been cropped out. In any event, the feeling evoked by this snow scene is “cool” indeed!

On the Slopes - iPhone6

Keeping Track of Used and Unused Camera Batteries

Jeff

Do you use a camera that takes AA, AAA rechargeable batteries? Do you have trouble keeping track of which batteries are fully charged and which need to be recharged?

I have developed a method that is simple and effective. I use one of the plastic cases that generally comes with batteries if you purchase them online or via mail order. You can purchase these cases separately as well.

Below is a picture of the case and you will notice that I have two arrows on the outside of the case. These are made with indelible marker. When the plus terminals of the batteries are facing in the same direction as the arrow, the batteries are charged.

Batteries with plus terminal up-charged

When a battery is used up, the terminal goes down. Thus the in the picture below, the battery with the yellow arrow is still charged while the battery with the red arrow needs charging.

Batteries charged and uncharged

When I travel with the batteries, I use a rubber band around the case to avoid a mess if the case should be dropped. That way the batteries don’t go dancing across the floor. Good luck separating them at that point without using a meter. Rubber bands from broccoli in the supermarket produce department are ideal for this!

Battery case with rubber band

If this isn’t “your style”, you can click the link to see how Nick Minore has found a different way to solve this problem.