Autumn colors are reaching their peak here in Colorado, making it one of the best times of year for landscape photography. I just spent a weekend in the mountains photographing cottonwoods, scrub oaks, and especially aspen trees showing off their deep reds and brilliant yellows. If you also want to photograph the fall colors, here are the things I recommend focusing on!
Photography Life
One of our readers inspired me last week not only with his great photos of fishermen, but also with the Sebastião Salgado quote I found in his “About me” section. “Reality is in color, truth is in black and white.” What more is there to say? You don’t need a film camera around your neck to find the truth. Sometimes it’s enough to switch your phone to black and white mode, as I did last week. But now to the colorful reality of what last week brought in the photography world.
Photography Life
Shallow depth of field is one of the coolest things in photography. But sometimes, no matter what you do, your depth of field will be too shallow and you’ll want more, even at narrow apertures like f/16. That’s when focus stacking becomes a compelling technique.
Photography Life
Nikon just announced the newest lens for the Z system – and their first lens ever with a “Plena” designation. The Nikon Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena is full of high-end features and will be available next month for $ 2500. It also has one of the most intense optical construction diagrams I’ve ever seen.
Photography Life
I’ve always believed in the power of pictures, and the power of love. The simple fact these two irresistibly wonderful things intersected in the course of our lives is something to hold close, every day.
My wife, Annie Cahill, has created a wonderful arc for her photo career, from shooting pictures during her love for motorsports days to articulating camera technology to thousands of photographers of all genres during her time at Nikon. From there, she went onto create the professional division at Adorama Camera with a wonderfully talented team, a section of the store that became a haven and a go-to resource for all manner of gear and education. And for years now she has directed the social media and marketing efforts here at our studio, forging a path and getting trained up and figuring things out with the daily onslaught of changing technology.
She navigates all of that, while our studio manager and executive producer Lynn DelMastro, who has been with the studio now for over thirty years, directs the assignment and production side of the house, producing jobs with utter professionalism and perfection, in addition to managing a million other things. She wears many hats during the average studio day (Is there an average studio day?) and also replies with aplomb and grace to those who initiate a contact with the phrase, “We love your pictures, but have no budget.” It’s a formidable team.
And me, well, I’m the anchor on the whole operation.
The photographic life is an uncertain one, as has been said many times, but there are immutable touchstones. A life together, of adventures, illustrated silliness, anticipated images and destinations.
A favorite shot below from many years ago from photographer Tom Sperduto…
And another favorite from a Penn State Game back in the day taken by photographer Annemarie Mountz…
And there are unexpected gifts, such as just occurred via the wonderful auspices of the remarkable London-based camera shop Grays of Westminster, and their fabled, highly-respected magazine, Nikon Owner. The ever astute editor, Gillian Greenwood, has initiated a series Women in Photography, and included Annie. It’s an excellent article, illustrating, as Gillian intended, the variety of paths available within this industry. It’s possible to have tremendous impact not just from using a camera on a daily basis but from showing others how to use it, and adapting and learning on a continuous basis about the many directions a visual career can take. And shooting some beautiful images along the way.
And so it goes. Pictures and life still out on the horizon. We celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary next week.
More tk….
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