Roaring Fork Motor Trail

Pete and I took off again. This time to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail in the Smoky's. We took a chance with the weather and encountered  sun, rain, fog, etc. The weather just added another element to our trip but we enjoyed every minute. We encountered a mama bear and three cubs. The cubs were maybe four or five months old and the mama bear was very protective and even charged us once, which sent everyone to their vehicles for cover. We also stopped by the Little River at Greenbriar which I will do another video on soon. Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXLSXHWQH7E
For best viewing, click on 1080i
Happy Shooting..!   Crutch

4th of July photo tip

Fireworks may be the main event, but the Fourth of July provides plenty of other photo opportunities. Start the day out at your local parade. We have a boat parade every year that we really look forward to. Photograph young kids mesmerized by the noise, the large floats, and the fire trucks. Or, maybe your kids are in the parade with decorated bikes; do not miss out on that photo opportunity. Later in the day, take candid shots at the family barbeque or party. Combine all the photos from the day with your best fireworks shots and you have some great options for a Fourth of July photo book or calendar. If your camera has a fireworks setting, be sure to take advantage of it. Take lots of photos and enjoy this great photo op. Happy Shooting !   Crutch

A Vacation Photo Tip

This is one of my favorite tips for taking photos at a well known tourist monument or location.
If you’re off to popular tourist destinations for your summer holidays you’ll get plenty of photographic opportunities. You’ll also come up against the problem of capturing both the monument and the person in front of it both in focus.
If you’re using a digital SLR, set the aperture to a value around f16 or f22. This ensures that everything in the image will be in focus. On the other hand if you want the person to be in focus and the monument attractively out of focus, set the aperture to around f2.8 or f3.6. Make sure to focus on the person and use the camera flash to light their face. With a large aperture like this you will get a small depth of field around the subject with everything else in the image thrown out of focus.
Whenever you want to capture a very large object like a monument and a person in front of the monument, you run the risk of capturing the monument at a good size and the person will be so small as to be almost unrecognizable in front of it. There are a couple of ways to avoid this happening. One is to bring the subject very close to the camera so that you get both at good size in the image. The other is to take more than one photo.
Capture the monument at full size and then place your subject closer to the monument in front of an area which has interesting detail in it. Take the second image this time focusing on the portrait aspect and using the monument details as a pleasing background. Have fun and remember to take lots of photos. Happy Shooting!  Crutch

Fall Creek Falls !

On May 14th, Pete and I made a day trip to Fall Creek Falls State Park. We had started out to shoot Ozone Falls, which is close by, but we found the falls very difficult to approach and the viewpoint was best at the bottom near the pool, but it was inaccessible and began to rain, so we started looking for another falls. We had met another couple of photogs and they suggested we make the short trip to this falls. The day was saved and we had a great time. The falls are over 200 ft. You can shoot above or make the trip to the pool 200 ft below. I can't believe I let Pete talk me into another short hike (Remember Clingman's Dome), but we both survived and it was great fun. Take a look at the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8AcHHd2tKo This is a must see if you are in the area. Plenty to do here and great outing. Camping and lots of stuff for kids. Happy Shooting! Crutch

Reason # 1,274 why photography matters !

Since it is now after Memorial Day 2011, I have some thoughts on why we should take more photos and never be without a camera. Taking photos for over 40 years now, I think of all the great places I have photographed and all the great birds and animals I have been lucky enough to photograph with somewhat pleasing results. It has been and I hope will continue to be a great time in my life. But, as I look back at some of these photos, I realize, I missed the most important subjects, I could have ever taken with my camera, and didn't. Now, I have no photos and my memory is fading. I'm refering to the very people that shaped my life and influenced me more than they will ever know. Knowing I will never be able to take their photo makes me sad. Take a look at this recent article by Scott Bourne  http://photofocus.com/2011/05/30/memorial-day-reason-number-1274-why-photography-matters/ This really hit home with me. I think I will round up my family and take some pics :)

Happy Shooting!  Crutch