July 2012 – Karen Greaves Photography & Fibre Art

sunbeams at dawn

Published on July 30, 2012 by greavesadmin1 Comment

I hope you have been enjoying the rays of sun on July’s desktop. I have more for you! This time I caught sunbeams at dawn reaching through morning mist at the creek. For specific screen resolutions, go here. I have a bonus option there, too!

It is difficult for the camera to balance the contrast between the brightness of the clear sky with the darkness of the foreground. A graduated neutral density filter can be physically added to the front of the lense to darken the sky somewhat but I did not have mine along. Fortunately, in Adobe Lightroom, where I do all my image upload, storage, rating and post-processing, there is a digital version of the graduated neutral density filter. I added a touch of darkness to the sky which brought more blue out and another digital filter to the foreground to reduce the darkness. Like seasoning your food, the amount added is personal preference. Below it a screen capture of the before and after of this process in Lightroom.

On the far right, you can see the amount of exposure compensation selected (-1.20) which is greatest at the top and fades to clear through a designated area centered horizontally above and below a selected point shown as a grey button (just to the right of the sun in the image). Like the physical graduated filter, the digital adjustment is linear. Lightroom also offers a large number of other adjustment tools. There are photographers who prefer to do as much in camera as possible and next to nothing in post-processing. I am quite happy to have come to this hobby in the age of all things digital and enjoy learning both camera and computer.

dragon has landed

Published on July 28, 2012 by greavesadminLeave a comment

feather clouds

Published on July 22, 2012 by greavesadminLeave a comment

These delicate strokes of high altitude ice crystals are part of the cirrus family of clouds also known as mare’s tails. Here’s a cool resource for all things cloud.
Not only were we treated to these clouds at sunset, but the lake was calm!
Calm is a rare treat here at the water’s edge.
Calm is my camera’s friend.
(So is Photoshop – not so nice blue barrel in lower left corner…didn’t notice that when I was shooting…will have to move that next time.)
Very basic but important photo tip: Look for distractions in the entire frame and adjust the angle or zoom accordingly or, if possible, remove the unwanted item(s). It may be easier to do at the time of the shot than in post=processing.

Here’s the view from my neighbour’s beach.

speed bump

Published on July 19, 2012 by greavesadmin2 Comments

A recent afternoon, Brad and I headed to our Irene Lake outpost cabin to determine the work projects still remaining for the season (and relax a little away from the phone). On my stroll down the beach looking for tiny treasures of nature for my crafting (more info to come), I spotted this cottonwood daggar caterpillar on a stroll of its own. I wonder why it decided to go over instead of around the pine cone!

Photo Tip: For all my intimate landscape (close-up) images, until a add a macro to my pack, I use my largest zoom lense at maximum zoom. I can maintain a less threatening distance from the subject. With max zoom, I adjust the manual focus and then move my body to maintain focus rather than adjust the focus ring. Naturally, for still life, I would have the camera on a tripod but for subjects on the move, I prefer to fine-tune the focus with my body. Give it a try.

long suffering Lindor

Published on July 14, 2012 by greavesadmin2 Comments

While I watched, through the lense of my camera, these ducklings nap…
I heard some activity behind me, then silence.
Using my iPhone as a rear-view mirror, this is what I saw:

Sweet, ever-playful Lindor waited patiently for my attention.