Splash of Color

Canon 6D, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/800 sec.

Rainy days are a great time to experiment with shooting indoors. This is a pretty simple studio set-up… a wine glass mounted at a 45 degree angle, white backdrop, single studio light placed behind the backdrop and tap water to which I added a few drops of blue food coloring.

The image was shot with a Canon 6D (full frame body) and a Canon 100 mm L macro lens mounted to a tripod. The hardest part is getting a good pour and timing the shot to capture the action!

© 2015 – Notable Nuances Photography by Susan Wilkinson – All Rights Reserved

Reflection

Canon 6D, ISO 100, f/8, 2.5 sec.

I have been wanting to photograph something other than birds, so I recently purchased some studio photography equipment. I set it up this week and experimented with the background and lighting. I chose a white rose for the subject and placed it at various angles with different colored backgrounds as well as varying the position of the lights. After taking several test shots, I reviewed them on the computer. I am pleased with the results and this is one of my favorites.

Camera:             Canon EOS 6D
Lens:                  EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Focal Length:     100mm
Exposure:          2.5s
Aperture:            f/8
ISO:                   100

Today’s Guest Blogger: Susan Wilkinson — Rick Sammon Photography

Today’s Guest Blogger: Susan Wilkinson
January 19, 2015

As promised, here’s a link to my blog that I wrote for Rick Sammon. In it, I discuss Bird Photography along with some tips, techniques and share a few of my images. I hope you will check it out!  – Today’s Guest Blogger: Susan Wilkinson — Rick Sammon Photography.

Feel free to leave me or Rick a comment, feedback, or suggestions on his website or, if you prefer, leave a comment below.

As always, I appreciate your feedback, so drop me a line and let me know what you think.

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Sunset at Kerr Dam

Canon 6D, ISO 100, f/16, 1/60 sec. at 24 mm.

I made this image at the end of the day after photographing birds all day. I struggle with composing landscape images so I tried various compositions and different orientations. I like this one the best. The clouds are what really inspired me to make the image. I love the wispy look and the “fire breathing dragon” (that’s what I see) in the long cloud!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Canon 7D Mark II, ISO 6400, f/8, 1/1000 sec.

Finally got a shot of the male and his gorgeous colored crown! A tiny bird seemingly overflowing with energy, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet forages almost frantically through lower branches of shrubs and trees. Its habit of constantly flicking its wings is a key identification clue.

Smaller than a warbler or chickadee, this plain green-gray bird has a white eyering and a white bar on the wing. Alas, the male’s brilliant ruby crown patch usually stays hidden—your best chance to see it is to find an excited male singing in spring or summer, or if you’re really lucky like I was, you can see it in winter.

A Guest on Rick Sammon’s Blog

I’ve been asked by award-winning photographer Rick Sammon to be a guest on his blog! I will be writing about Bird Photography and sharing my experiences, tips and photography with his readers. Once it is published, I will post a link and would appreciate it if you would check it out, too!

Rick Sammon, a tireless, prolific and inspirational image-maker, called by some “The Godfather of Photography,” is one of the most active photographers on the planet – dividing his time between creating images, leading photo workshops, and making personal appearances. Rick’s enthusiasm for digital imaging is contagious. He is a man on a mission – a mission to make digital photography fun, creative, exciting and rewarding for others.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (female) in a territorial, mating display.

If you like photography, I highly recommend checking out Rick Sammon Photography on Facebook, G+ and Twitter. If you are interested in learning about bird photography, consider taking his on-line seminar/course or reading his blog where I talk about the “Ethical Use of Bird Vocalization Apps”.  

Here’s a link:  “Master the Art of Bird Photography” – http://ricksammon.com//blog2/2014/12/25/soon-come-master-the-art-and-craft-of-bird-photography-on-line-seminar

It’s a real honor to appear as a guest on his blog. A big “thanks” to Rick for giving me the opportunity to share my photography and I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do!

West Coast Lady

Canon 70D, ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/640 sec.

The West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) is a close relation to the American Painted Lady and the Painted Lady.
Identification: Upperside is orange-brown with an orange bar at the leading edge of the forewing; hindwing with 3 or 4 blue submarginal spots. Underside with complex pattern; eyespots are obscured by other markings.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open places including weedy areas, gardens, roadsides, fields, foothills, chaparral, disturbed areas.

Butterfly Potential

Canon T2i, Sigma 150-500 mm lens. ISO 800, f/7.1, 1/1600 sec.

Butterfly Potential

When I need inspiration, I simply look to Mother Nature. She never ceases to amaze me or let me down. The next time you see a butterfly, stop and take a moment to reflect upon their metamorphosis.

Although their life is short, they waste no time. Their life is measured in moments, not years. Don’t settle for being a caterpillar when you have butterfly potential. Change starts from within. Transform your inner beauty and then project it outward for the world to see.  Show the world your Butterfly Potential!

Black-eyed Susan

Canon 6D, Canon L 100 mm macro lens, ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec.

I’ve been experimenting with a technique called texture blending to add an artistic flair to a some of my images. I used Photoshop Elements 11 and Lightroom 5. To achieve the look, I combined various textures to a photo of a Black-eyed Susan using several different layers in PSE 11. After achieving the desired texture and over all look, I carefully removed the texture from certain areas by applying a layer mask. The areas were then brushed over to reveal the detail in the flower.