Rick Ritter, a longtime friend and fellow photographer stopped by to show my students what a real view camera looks like. Just so happens he made this one from scratch.
What is in that black box? It was great to see the students studying the black and white fine art prints that he brought along. Many had never seen a handcrafted print. This visit fit in well with my talk about photographic history and how we got to the easy point and shoot digital age.
Best Western, Bethlehem was the site for these great students to receive their accolades for their academic excellence. They were all nominated for the award from their respective schools. Each picked up a scholarship toward their college choice. Having three that went through college, that definitely helps. Congratulations to all the students!
Bernard F. O’Connor, president of DeSales University, gave the keynote address. Ed Donley, who is usually there in person to hand out the awards, was in Harrisburg, being honored with a lifetime achievement award for children’s education!
Boy this event sure brings the cameras out. This photographer sorely needed some smells of spring after all the snow this winter. Some of the massive snow piles are finally melting with the 35 and 40 degree temps this week. Off to the show, with my camera. This is not an easy place to get any kind of shot. Soooooo many people trying to do the same thing and just soooooo many people…
Unbelievable how many flowers, tulips and orchids are here.
Can use this for my students composition lesson “framing”
What are they all shooting?
This yellow room was what they were after!
No, I am not going to stay late to see how they water the “balloon”!
This was at the entrance, a show stopper.
This was one of my favorites for the colors and display.
Mom’s lobster trap, What’s for dinner?
OK, I am ready for another trip to Maine. These are all pretty clever just using flowers!
Well armed with few new plants to try out, I left refreshed and anxious for the first planting of the peas, likely not on St. Patrick’s day this year, ground might be still a little soggy.
But soon I’ll feel the dirt in my hands, any day now….
After warming up this week to the 4os, we are back in the deep freeze. The stove is roaring with flame and heat, keeping us close. The sun is bright, but the air still chilly. I have started some pepper and onion seeds, hoping spring can’t be far off. The snow is gone and melted, but the ice is back at the park. This area is easily reached from my home by a 10 minute walk. I’ll be keeping close watch for new and interesting formations. Rick Ritter can be thanked for my renewed interest in the ice and what photos can bring to the beauty of the cold winter.
1. Fill the frame with your subject, and your photos will be easy to understand. Focus in on just the people you see from across the room,don’t include the entire room.
2. Pay attention to backgrounds. Be careful about bright light sources in the background that will have the eye going there and not your subject. And be carefull to not have odd things sticking up from the back of your loved ones heads. Be careful there are no mirrors back there for the flash to bounce back at you and ruin the image.
3.Let the action play on. When the kids are playing with the new game, don’t have them to stop and smile for the camera . This ruins the moment and turns an active image into a static and boring image. Take the the action as it occurs; don’t try to dictate it.
4. Get on your subject’s level. Too often I see images taken at the wrong height. If you are photographing your children and they are playing on the floor, get down there with them and shoot them from that angle. You will be surprised how much better the image works when you are on your subject’s level. Don’t forget to occasionally turn the camera, vertical composition is sometimes better than a horizontal one.
5. Be patient and wait for the moment. Be ready for it. Be patient, watch the action through your camera, and be ready to snap the photo just when the smile hits. This is the kind of holiday picture that families treasure most and will be a timeless memory for years to come.
What is in that black box? It was great to see the students studying the black and white fine art prints that he brought along. Many had never seen a handcrafted print. This visit fit in well with my talk about photographic history and how we got to the easy point and shoot digital age.
