Coffee Cups

I have this large collection of coffee cups. You guessed right, I like to drink coffee. Two coffee makers, two grinders and an espresso machine are on the counter. I keep a large supply of whole bean Starbucks on hand at all times. Through the years I have added coffee cups every so often and have a  proverbial plethora of a coffee drinking paraphernalia. In fact coffee cups most of the time make good photographs, so I will pour myself a hot cup and take a few shots, close ups, tight shots, angles, you name it. So for your enjoyment I present a photo collage entitled: Coffeemania. Hope you like coffee also.

Black & White Florida

Usually when we see photos of the sunshine state of Florida they are bursting with every color ever imaginable. The skies are a brilliant blue. The Palm trees are an environmentally bright green and the oceans are; " take your breath away" emerald. I thought it would be a little different to go against the grain and show you a Black & White Florida. A sepia tone Florida. I think a photographer  can still capture the ambiance of the most tropical state in the USA in black and white sepia tone. See if you agree.

Elements of a Good Photograph

What elements make up a good photograph? There is an old saying: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." How true that statement is in the world of photography. So that makes it very difficult to identify the proper elements that make up a great photo. Some may say that it has to be bursting with color. I like color, but I have been emotionally moved by Black & White photographs. Others may say that everything has to be in focus, but I tend to favor shots that depict a shallow depth of field. So called experts may say, you must have a great camera to take a great shot, but that is not necessarily the case. I know a pro that carries a point & shoot camera and his captures are amazing. So, my advice is diversity . . .a little color, then mix it up with some Black & White for a while. Shoot some shallow depth of field images, then close down the lens and keep everything in pinpoint focus. Then try going out with a cheap point and shoot camera and see what you come up with. You will have a great time with all the possibilities. 

Light Of the World

Have you ever noticed that looking at a picture of a child brings out the best in just about all people? Those precious pictures almost always bring a smile to someone's face, a grin, a laugh out loud, even a tear of joy sometimes. Candid and spontaneous photos of children especially if they are yours or a good friend, can bring years of joy and cherished memories to your life. They are the light of the world. I will share some of that light.

Photography and the Law of Averages

If you are like me, you take tons of shots. I usually wait a week or two or even a month to edit every picture I take. The law of averages prevails. In my case it works out to be that from every ten or so shots taken, I usually have one keeper. I was thinking that my average would get better with old age like a fine wine, but that has not been the case. It is sort of like a lifetime batting average that once in a while goes up a few points but kind of levels off after a while. In the meantime, I will keep on swinging for the fences. Here are a few keepers . . .

Colors & Textures . . .A Continuation

Saturation is another issue to address in Digital Photography. There is a fine line between too much saturation and not enough. I prefer to adjust in processing rather than in camera, so I go for more neutral settings vs. fine tuning while shooting. Either way you do it works. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom both allow fine tuning in this instance.There are some scenarios that call for more saturation while others require less. Just a hint of color saturation can give a picture a surreal look and get you that look you want to achieve.

Color & Textures

I like to photograph things with substance. What I mean to say is that my eye is drawn towards textures and shapes in living things and inanimate objects as well. In direct sunlight you must be very aware not to burn out the highlights of the picture and cause your exposure to be too contrasty. So there is a fine line in preserving the full range of  your photograph with the proper exposure. My advice is to shoot RAW images and adjust in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. A few examples . . . .

Travel /Vacation Photography Continued

Travel or vacation Photography is timeless. Five, ten or twenty years from now you can look at them and relive the emotions of when you were there with a friend, relative or spouse. Or there could possibly be things or people you never noticed before, so your vacation pictures are new and exciting to you all over again. A few more examples: