Winter Workshops
Check out my Winter Workshops page – top right of this page.
I am offering two winter outdoor workshops – one in Guelph on Saturday, January 21st and the same in Dundas on Saturday, January 28th. These are full day workshops with a morning field session and an afternoon critique session.
In February, I am offering a two-part Adobe Photoshop Lightroom workshop. On Saturday, February 11, I will teach basic Lightroom – Library and the basics of the Develop module. On Saturday, February 18, we’ll go into more detail on the Develop side plus do some printing using the Print module.
For more information visit: Winter Workshops
First Snow of December
We awoke to a lovely winter morning scene of snow draped on every branch, twig and wildflower stem – sheer beauty. The only thing missing was some light – just a grey sky. So I headed out to the Arboretum – a favourite location close by – hoping to find just the right scene to reflect the day. Here are three. In the first two photos, I made a conscious effort to reduce/eliminate the sky as it did not contribute to either photo. In the third – December Sky – the sky had taken on a beautiful steel-blue tone that I couldn’t pass up. It was just the kind of sky I hoping to see on a day like today, one that says “Snow!”
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- Overnight Snow
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- Sumac, Winter
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- December Sky
November View
Here’s a photo from earlier today… finally we had some light to work with – a brilliant November day with record-breaking temperatures.
I’ve passed this abandoned shed about a thousand times, always looking for just the right angle and light. Finally, I had some time to go over and have a closer look at a time when the lighting might just be ideal – confirmed with The Photographer’s Ephemeris, no less. Originally, it was the two garage doors out front that attracted my attention, but when I went around back, the November sun was creating this startling mosaic of shadow and light, peeling paint and corrugated sheeting. Fantastic. I had to work quickly as the shadows were disappearing with the sun moving around this side. I managed about 6 set-ups and 4 or 5 really usable photographs.
To my normal way of thinking, this photo should not work, after all, the tree is is a barrier blocking the view, disrupting the base pattern! Yet, there’s something about it I’m still trying to figure out that makes this such a compelling photographer for me. I love the pattern of shadows and light; the empty window adds another dimension with the seemingly dancing tree limbs adding movement.
Perhaps it’s the linear patterns and decay of the manufactured contrasting with the more recent and, ultimately, more enduring organic patterns of nature represented by the tree. Yet, the tree, too, is in a state of decline with autumn having stripped its leaves. I’ll look forward to printing this, for sure.
November Photo News Newsletter
The November Photo Newsletter is just been published. You can download a copy from the Newsletters page of my website: http://www.luxborealis.com/newsletters.html
Whether you shoot with Canon, Nikon, Pentax or Olympus at 5mp, 12mp or 18mp, photographers are always looking for ways to improve the image quality of our work. This month I take a look at nine ways to maximize image quality without the expense of buying even more megapixels. You will read about cleaning sensor dust, the advantages of a using middle apertures and a tripod, plus more.
Remember – Subscribers to my newsletter get a 20% discount off their first Fine Art Print Service order. Imagine custom-made fine art prints of your best images printed on museum-quality watercolour paper with archival inks.
As well, subscribing allows you to enter the photo contest. Submit your best nature and landscape photos from October, November and December and win a Print Service credit.
Find out more today and get out and enjoy this November weather!
November Squall, Albemarle Creek, Bruce Peninsula
The Photographer’s Ephemeris
Wow – every once in a while, I come across a really cool app. This one is available for Mac/Win/Linux/iOS/Android. What does it do… take a look at this screen shot:
For landscape photographers it is a truly unique tool that allows you to plan your shooting: sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset – all on a terrain map. You can add locations, toggle between multi-day and details for one day and it gives Latitude. Longitude and Elevation data. I especially like the option of added notes about each saved location. It is also pleasing to look at and use – great graphics. About the only thing it doesn’t seem to do is predict the weather! You can find this great app at StephenTrainor.com. Oh – and did I say that it is free for desktop/laptop computers? Thanks Stephen!
luxBorealis Blog 