Do You See What I See?

How to take evening shots

2011-07-10T13:02:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wanted to shoot the scenery at night? It's a little tricky for sure. A flash won't give you the light that you need to get the shot. And you really want to get those night colors.
If you have a point and shoot with a night setting that might work. However, since you'll need to keep that camera aperture open for a long time with a slow shutter speed, the best way to do it is to mount your camera on a tripod. Switch to manual settings — play with your shutter and aperture until something works well for you. Make sure you focus manually, probably by distance rather than eye, and start shooting. And keep shooting at different settings. It will take several tries before you get what you want, but that is the beauty of digital photography. You see what you get! And you don't have to worry about film. Just make sure you have plenty of batteries and a large enough memory card.
The following shots were taken just after sunset on July 4. I used a 55mm lens, focused to infinity, aperture (F stop) of F11, shutter at about 2.5 seconds. I took several shots before I got what I want. But that is part of the discovery process. You'll feel really good when you finally nail it. And if you don't — just love that delete button. (But don't delete until you view on your computer!) Photography, just as life, is all about the journey.
Most important, have fun!

The Ringling Bridge as seen from downtown Sarasota, FL, across Sarasota Bay.

Across Sarasota Bay from downtown, looking toward Longboat Key, FL.

Longboat Key, FL from across Sarasota Bay, and one glorious sky.

Stepping back in time and into luxury at The Cypress

2011-06-15T12:16:00.005-04:00

I recently visited the only bed and breakfast establishment in downtown Sarasota — The Cypress.
It's a gem facing Sarasota's bay front — elegant and charming, yet comfortable and down-to-earth.
The home faces Gulfstream Avenue, with rocking chairs, seating groups, even a bocce court so guests may do as they please as they watch the sailboats glide by — and those spectacular Sarasota sunsets.
Hosts Vicki, Nina, and Robert are known for their pleasant conversation, knowledge about the area, spectacular, scrumptious breakfasts, and late afternoon cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
The home is beautifully furnished with American and European antiques. Nina is an expert in anthropology and can give you detailed information about every vintage piece at the inn. Vicki is warm and vivacious, a former teacher, and puts all visitors at ease. Robert is the artist of the group, and his artwork and photography grace the walls of the inn. They are all expert cooks and will often whip up recipes made with ingredients from Vicki's herb garden or the fruit trees on their shaded property.
The Cypress is just a few blocks from the heart of downtown — restaurants, theaters, and the Sarasota Opera House and a several-minute drive from St. Armands Circle, Lido Beach, the Ringling Museum of Art, G Wiz museum, the Asolo Repertory Theatre, and more.
I always recommend The Cypress to my out-of-town guests who want more than a hotel when they visit.
Check out the website for more information, photos, phone numbers, etc.
Let me know if you or a friend visits!

Bed in the beautiful Martha Rose Suite

Morning breakfast room faces Sarasota Bay

Kathryn's Garden Room

The Cypress - your lovely home away from home

Another point of view

2011-05-31T12:56:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I visited longtime friends in St. Augustine, Florida. It was a jam-packed weekend. We spent hours catching up on the latest in our lives. But we also spent some time seeing the sites. What a great place St. Augustine is. I had only been there once before, but it was an overnight visit to attend a press convention dinner, and I saw nothing of the area. My friend Joanne gave me the grand tour — from the historic sites, to the wonderful restaurants, to the beautiful beaches.

The main building of Flagler College is the former Ponce de Leon Hotel. It is beautifully appointed. Look at the work in this women's room! When was the last time you saw a fireplace in a bathroom? Had to shoot it!

Chandeliers. Beautiful moldings!

Today's photos are not the usual "vacation" shots. A wise photographer once told me to look around and shoot something that no one else was shooting. What great advice that was! Yes, I took some of the typical tourist photos, but these are of the women's room inside the beautiful main building of Flagler College. This isn't your everyday women's room, for sure.

When you pick up your camera, ask yourself "What can I do to make this photo different from the others?" You can crouch down low, climb up high and shoot down, take a different angle, focus on the fine details, or simply just shoot photos in a place one doesn't normally find fellow camera nuts. I guarantee you will always find a point of view that will mark that shot as your own.

Closeup of the trim over the mantel.

Door handle on the carved wood door. (And yes, the door is quite heavy.)

Lighting 101

2011-05-15T13:24:00.000-04:00

This is from the Strobist blog, one of my favorite web sites.
It's amazing what you can do with your off-camera flash. And it's really easy.

Lighting for group shots

2011-05-13T13:02:00.000-04:00

Adorama TV has some excellent photography teaching videos. Check it out!

Sometimes you just have to go with the moment

2011-04-19T18:38:00.001-04:00

Spontaneity is the key.
A couple of evenings ago, somewhat before sunset, I was sitting at my computer writing after I had spent a perfect afternoon at the beach. It was a glorious day — sunny, breezy, dry, with temps in the low 80s. Now that we're more than halfway through April, I don't expect we'll have many more days like that in Florida until winter.
I knew I had to get back out there and enjoy — writing could wait until after dark. I grabbed my camera this time, figuring I could get a few shots of the sunset over Sarasota Bay. By the time I began to drive, there wasn't a whole lot of daylight left. I was still five minutes or so from my planned spot. I glanced out my right passenger window and saw hundreds of seagulls flying over the bay. *Light bulb goes on in my head.* By then, it was nearly sunset and I realized that particular location was a boat ramp. People would be coming in with their boats after a day of fishing, hence all the gulls.
I made a quick right, found a parking spot, and started shooting. The wind was slapping my face, the salt air smelled divine, and the birds were calling to each other, diving for cast-off fish, and making a perfect spectacle against the now changing sky.
Not only was I pleased with what I got, but I had a blast. Remember to enjoy your surroundings as well as your photographs when shooting nature. Spend some time looking through the viewfinder, but don't forget to put your camera down for a while and take it all in!

10th Street Boat Ramp, Sarasota, FL at sunset

Please vote for my photo!

2011-04-15T16:46:00.000-04:00

Plese vote for my photo in the Herald Tribune's Mother Earth Photo Contest. You can vote once a day, every day!
Thanks!
Patricia

Fresh from the Sea

2011-04-08T11:31:00.002-04:00

Recently, one of my sons came to visit from New England. I'm tickled that my grown kids actually like spending vacation time with me! He happens to be a marine biologist who works with commercial fishing fleets - and he is used to super fresh seafood!
So, where do you take someone like that to eat? Starfish Company in Cortez Fishing Village. It's an old-Florida-style fish market with a dockside restaurant. We had blue crab/stone crab chowder and large, peel-and-eat Gulf pinks for lunch. Can't beat the freshness or the price. Fresh fish was on the menu that night as well. We brought home a nice piece of grouper and more Gulf pink shrimp. Blackened grouper — peel-and-eat shrimp (This time with a bottle of wine). Ooh la la!
As we sat on the dock at Starfish Company I watched my son pondering his surroundings, so I just picked up my camera and began to shoot. My family is finally getting used to me pointing my camera at them.
Not only is vacation a great time for taking snapshots, it's also a great opportunity to make art — and memories.
Bon vacances!

Here's the famous son.

And here is the famous market/restaurant.

This is the view from the dock. Florida at its best!

Shooting the Moon

2011-04-07T19:01:00.001-04:00

Yes, I was one of those crazy people out in the cold (even here in Florida) during the lunar eclipse last December. Of course cold here (perhaps was in the 30s that night) is way different than cold was for my friends farther north. I cozied myself up in a few layers of sweats and a winter jacket to watch the skies for several hours that night. (When you are not moving - cold feels even colder!)

I had planned to use my trust SLIK tripod, but no dice. The moon was directly overhead and the only way I'd be able to see through the viewfinder of my DSLR would have been if I were on my knees. Since the knees aren't what they used to be, I decided against it.

So, I pulled a sand chair out of the trunk of my car and sat there, looking up at the moon, with camera to my eye. Shooting at night without the use of a tripod to steady the camera is not easy! I kept my arms close to my body, held my breath, and shot. Lots of breath holding that night — and lots of photos that no one will ever see! But this one's a keeper. There are others, including the red moon, which I'll post another day. But I really like the simple black and white shot.

This was shot at F6.7, 1/250, 300mm, 100 ISO.

Having fun at the Opera House

2010-10-23T13:58:00.005-04:00

For the last five years my daytime job was Communications Officer at Sarasota Opera. There is a certain energy that is in the air when we are getting ready to open a production. Singers, musicians, artistic staff, make-up and wigs designers, costume designer and staff, lighting designer, stage crew – everyone comes together. It is special to watch. Of course, my charge was to create a buzz and generate interest in our company and our productions.
The most fun part? The rehearsals. And photographing them.
We opened La Cenerentola (Rossini’s version of Cinderella) last October.

Here, Heather Johnson (Cenerentola) pleads with her mean (they ARE SO MEAN and SO FUNNY) step-sisters, Abla Lynn Hamza as Clorinda and Melissa Treinkman as Tisbe.

Stefano de Peppo plays Don Magnifico, Cinderella’s step-father.
Yep, Rossini’s version includes a step-father rather than a step-mother.

Every mean step-sister MUST have ugly shoes!

Another great contest

2010-10-16T13:37:00.000-04:00

ColorInc Professional Labs is having another great contest giveaway to photographers of all levels.
Check it out here:
http://colorinc.typepad.com/color-inc-connect/2010/10/weekend-giveaway-chasing-dreams-photography.html#tpe-action-resize-322

Vote for me!

2010-08-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

Well, the competition is on! My photo "Reflections" is one of many photos taken worldwide as part of Scott Kelby's Worldwide PhotoWalk on July 24. One photo from each group around the world was chosen and are now being judged by you - the people!

You can find mine at http://worldwidephotowalk.com/peoples-choice/page/12/

Just scroll down the page to Sarasota. Mine is the one pictured here. If you like it, please vote for it by clicking on the five stars! There is a very nice git certificate for Adorama.com on the line! And the recognition doesn't hurt either.

I humbly thank you in advance!

Waiting for the Meteor Shower

2010-08-14T13:51:00.004-04:00

On Thursday evening I decided to check the Internet to see where the best place and time in Sarasota might be to catch the Perseid Meteor Shower. I discovered that a group was meeting with a county parks guide just before midnight at the Red Bug Slough Preserve and immediately signed up for the event. Called a friend to join me. "Hey, what plans do you have for midnight?" LOL. NOT your everyday message. Turned out he was excited to come along.
What fun - groups of friends, families, couples - you name it - with blankets, and lawn chairs, and sleeping bags. Of course, I brought my tripod. The sky had a heavy cloud cover - big, gray clouds. There were occasional openings of starry skies, but then the clouds would move in again. I never really saw anything more than a flash or two - certainly never managed to capture any of it for posterity.
But, sitting out there (covered in bug spray 'cause I am no lover of insect bites) with a good friend, in the dark, listening to the thousands of frogs singing while watching the sky was something special. (Of course, the possibility that we were sitting there disguised as gator food crossed my mind as well, since the area is marshy).
Sometimes the experience isn't taking the photos. Rather, the experience is in just being.

I'm so excited!

2010-08-06T16:58:00.000-04:00

Well, last post I told you about how I participated in the Third Annual Worldwide Photo Walk. Our group in Sarasota, FL area walked through Myakka River State Park for hours shooting photos, exchanging tips, laughing and just having a ball. That experience was in itself, the reward.
Then lo and behold, I get an email from our group leader that my photo, which is in the post just below this, was chosen as the best of our group and will go on to compete at the next level.
My first thought, as it is whenever I have won an award for anything, was "There must be some kind of mistake." However, I will humbly accept the honor.
Thank you fellow photographers for the great time we had.
'til next post.
Patricia

Third Annual Worldwide Photo Walk at Myakka River State Park

2010-07-25T19:30:00.000-04:00

I, along with more than 33,000 photographers, participated in Scott Kelby's Annual Worldwide Photo Walk this weekend. Our walk (one of two in Sarasota) was at Myakka River State Park. Anyone who knows me is aware that this is one of my favorite haunts. But spending several hours trudging through the jumgles and flats of this beautiful park with a group of photo enthusiasts was something I'd never done before. It was exciting to be part of something so far reaching.

There were a total of 1,111 photo walks scheduled to take place around the globe. One of the women in my group is married to someone who was leading a group in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam!

We had a great time, sharing stories, marveling at nature, and capturing it as best we could. We had all manner of cameras and equipment and we were all at different skill levels. To be able to share our common love of photography was so special. After hours of exploring the park we all gathered at the concession area to have some lunch, a cold drink, or some ice cream.

I'm looking forward to seeing the work of my fellow Sarasota photographers from that outing. Here are two of mine.

The sky relected in the waters of the Myakka River

The view from the Birdwalk at Myakka River State Park

Happy Birthday, Dad - wherever your spirit might be

2010-07-21T00:02:00.002-04:00

We lost my Dad in 2002, a week after his 80th birthday. And although he is not constantly on my mind, I do stop and think of him now and then. Fortunately, I had decided to surprise Dad - and Mom too - and flew from Florida to New Jersey to be there for the grand celebration.
He was quite ill - he'd been battling cancer for so many years - and we all knew this would be his last birthday.
Daddy was so happy - I think he was surprised he made it that far - and having most of the family around him made him actually enjoy himself. He ate, had birthday cake - even had a beer. He looked better than he'd looked for some time.

I brought my camera along. (Not so unusual, I usually always have it with me.) The photos from that day were happy - no - joyous! There was no sense of sickness or death, we were just any old family having a party.

At the time, I had no idea I'd be taking that flight north again the following week.

The best part is that the last time I saw him he was happy and feeling good - and instead of saying "good-bye," we said "hello." How wonderful is that?
Hello Dad, wherever you are - Happy 88th birthday - July 20, 2010.

Having fun makes the best family memories!

2010-07-11T12:45:00.000-04:00

When we're on vacation with family or good friends, we plan those group shots (we all do it) - you stand here, you stand there, let's make sure we get that building in the background, etc. But it's the candids that make the real memories - people having fun! Those are the times you want to remember - so why not make those memories last?

The photos here are from a family vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We're all spread out in different parts of the country and decided to rent a house in a place where none of us had ever been before.

We were planning one of those family beach shoots where everyone is in the photo, including the photographer (me). However, as I was setting up my equipment, I noticed my family rambling around on the beach - exploring their surroundings and enjoying each other - having fun! Snap! Snap! These are among my favorite shots from that trip!

Make your photo memories and you'll be able to live those moments over and over again.

Come visit Paris with me!

2010-07-04T14:46:00.002-04:00

Please take a look at the slideshow from my visit to Paris. Enjoy!

New twist on some old shots

2010-06-27T13:11:00.000-04:00

I've been playing around with some older shots - all taken at one of my favorite places, Myakka River State Park, near Sarasota, FL.

Here's the Myakka River - peaceful and beautiful - but don't put your toe in - the river is chock full of alligators.

This is a view from the birdwalk, although there isn't a bird in sight. In summer the Myakka River often overflows its banks so the boardwalk here is more like a bridge over the river - with lots of gators swiming around where the tall grass pictured now grows!

Back again!

2010-06-06T15:02:00.006-04:00

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here. Last weekend I attended a friend's wedding and took a couple of shots. Since I was not the official photog, I stayed at a respectable distance (thank goodness for long lenses!)

My Review of SLIK PRO 340 EZ Tripod Kit, with SH-707E Multi-Action Pan Head

2009-07-08T18:07:00.002-04:00

Adorama

SLIK PRO 340 EZ Tripod Kit, with SH-707E Multi-Action Pan Head

One "slick" SLIK

madeditor Sarasota, FL 7/8/2009

Pros: Unfolds Quickly, Good Stability, Lightweight, Folds Small
Best Uses: Long Exposures, Photography, Portraits, Reducing Noise (ISO Reduction), Stabilization

I had to replace my 20-year-old SLIK because one of the leg clamps broke (caused by my inattention to what I was doing at the time). I loved my old SLIK and was sure nothing could match it. This one nearly does. It is so lightweight - so much easier to transport with my gear. The three-way pan head works well but I am attached to the pistol-grip single action panhead from my old tripod, so I switched it out. Now it's almost perfect - I would have liked retractable spikes for more stability on dirt surfaces - but this will do well nevertheless.

Chartres

2009-07-05T00:30:00.003-04:00

Chartres , originally uploaded by madeditor.

A week in Paris and environs - oh la la!We spent a day in Chartres, 12th-century town. Absolutely beautiful and seemingly frozen in time - except for all the cars and motorcycles. The first beheadings of the French Revolution took place here.