“How I did it…”

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:51:08 -0500

This is one of those shots that just comes along thanks to dumb luck in terms of timing.

I make it a habit after a cold front goes through, which was the case on the 28th of December, to head out to our beach and try to get some drama out of the sunset. The great clouds and a choppy Gulf of Mexico usually serve up some cool scenes. We all know great landscapes have foregrounds for depth, interest, perspective, whatever. I usually try for including some birds, couples walking, whatever.
Continued below…

Pisgah Forest Waterfall by Duke Miller

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:36:32 -0400

If we had not cancelled last night’s session, I would have had to miss getting this capture (in the pouring rain, yet). Bill Lea was right about shooting in the rain and color! Also got to use my new camera rain jacket Bob Grytten made me buy (cause he bought one at the seminar)!

Shot on Hghy 215 between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Sunburst Campground Pisgah National Forest. Had to climb down the ravine on me butt, but it was worth it.

"Bright Promise" by Sandy Martin

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:49:06 -0400

Canon EOS 5D 1/640 f5.6 ISO 500 135mm lens: 28-135mm IS

Bald Eagle, Lake Junaluska by Dennis Oakley

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:20:39 -0400

My wife and I were walking at Lake Junaluska when we noticed a woman in the street taking pictures. As we approached she said there was an eagle in the tree. I had my camera with me, but my lens was only 28-70mm: too small to get a detailed picture although I took lots. After we finished the walk we went home and retrieved my 200-400MM lens, and it did the trick. I returned on Sunday and Monday to get more pictures. Speaking to residents and workers at Lake Junaluska, it seems this eagle has stopped there for the previous two years during his migration. It was my first time seeing an eagle in the wild, and it was pretty exciting.

I used a Nikon D200 camera with a 200-400mm f/4 lens. The ISO ranged from 200-400 and the aperture from f/4 to f/8 depending on the light conditions as I tried (not always successfully) to keep the shutter speed at 1/1000 or faster. Pictures were taken both on a tripod and handheld. I was surprised how sharp some of the handheld pictures were; I now appreciate a VR lens much more.

Winter, Fines Creek by Jo D'Eramo

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:45:24 -0500

Winter, Fines Creek by Jo D'Eramo

"What an incredible place to shoot. Up on top of Doggett Gap. On top of the Mtn it was covered with a ft. of snow and ice and everything was frozen, trees, fence. I came home and told Dennis it was just as exhilarating shooting as when I was scuba diving. And let me tell you, diving was what I lived to do.”

Tech Information: Nikon D90with18-200 VR11 lens set at 18mm, Aperture Priority f/22, 1/20sec., White Balance: Cloudy, ISO 400