D. I. Why?

Sunset

This is Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek at a place called Red Rock Crossing. I took a couple hundred pictures. this is one of the best.

camping near Sedona AZ

We went to Oak Creek canyon to get out of the heat on Friday and Saturday. here is the night shot, more shots to come, once i clear some room on my hard drive so i can load the other pictures.

This is the new tent i got for my birthday under the trees and stars. ISO 100, F4.0, 25 minute exposure at 15mm.

Check out this article....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2011/04/19/AFWKzxWE_story.html

It's about this website that has tons of info and free classes on DIY professional grade lighting:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

It rained....

High Key

So here are some pictures i took in the back yard. I had the kids standing in the shade in front of a wall that was in the sunlight. I used the pop up flash, which limits the shutter speed to 1/180 of a second. this makes the sunlit wall go to bright white, which makes for some fun images in the style called high key.

Presenting Isaac E and the Midtones....

Playing around with mid-tones etc. in PS elements. I'm sure there are ways to do this effect and look even better, but I was just having some fun with it...

Nature Hike

We went on a little hike on the nature trail with some friends of ours. Our friend Ricky had found this spot just off the trail where you can look back into the woods and see 20 or so Great Blue Heron nests way up in the trees, it was awesome. They were quite aways across the little valley and thru the trees, but you could see a few of the Herons moving around up there and feeding the babies. Luckily I brought the big zoom, so we got a few shots, not the greatest pics but it was pretty cool to see those huge birds in their nests.


On the way to see the birds we saw a lot of interesting things. I'm not sure if it's because he was a Marine or because he grew up around here, but Ricky can spot all kinds of interesting critters and creatures.....

Look close and you can see the frog jumping out of Isaac's hands and onto his shirt.

A snail and a skull fragment, Isaac guessed it was a baby deer, and insisted on bringing it home.

Barely got the camera out before he slithered away...

Of course after several minutes with the camera to my eye watching the birds just stand there, as soon as I put the camera down a bird takes off. Luckily I had handed the camera to Ricky. He got the best shot of the day.

(click on the pic to get the big version,  then look close at the nest the bird is leaving,
you can actually see the baby bird's head)

It was quite impressive, even from that far away you could hear the power of his wings as he hovered over the nest and set down carefully in the tree.

Family Portrait Session

I recently obtained a master flash(580), and two slaves(430). I am doing some studying for Dad to learn how they work together and separately.

I recruited several families in our ward to practice different techniques on, and I had my first photo shoot on Saturday.

These were taken in downtown Columbus. I had on my new portrait lens and the master flash, with a cover on it. (to expand the light of the flash and make it wider).

Introducing

The Park Family

Thanks to the Parks for being so patient with my practicing, and for being such gorgeous and cooperative models! Ya'll are fantastic!

And thanks Mike and Dad for your last minute advice! I appreciate it!

I have a lot to learn about angles, and groupings, and taking charge of placement.... and much more. I am starting to understand location and lighting a bit better. 

Flowers

Some pictures of flowers from John and De's back yard.