An Evening to Remember

Nights to most photographers is time to process images or sleep. I was in both those groups until I took a class with Tony Sweet, a remarkable nature photographer. He's taught us to see differently in low light and NO light as well as other techniques to improve our photography. I'm so glad I'm here and that he's my instructor!

So last night I went out and tried my hand at "seeing in the dark." It's fun because you never really know how things will turn out. Every night and every scene is just a little different.

At Sunset Beach in Cape May, lives an old boat near an old changing room house. It's a great place to hit the beach and watch the sunset and it's usually inhabited by many a sunset seeker. After everyone left, a fellow student and I started working our newly learned techniques. Practice, practice, practice. . . When this popped into the LED, it was magic! I guess getting up early and going to bed late does make for great nature images!

Portraits at night, anyone???

Spring Sunrise Surprise

Getting up early in the morning to be in place to photograph a sunrise can be a hit or miss proposition. Clouds can roll in or the sun can be too bright to really "set the mood" in the image. Well today was a good day! I didn't stop photographing until 9:30 p.m., but you'll have to wait to see that image tomorrow.

While I was planning my spot to photograph the sunrise among 18 other photographers, I began to see that hot pink glow on the horizon. A quick look around and I had my spot with the boats and some reflections coming off the water. The funny thing is that as the sun rose, it seemed to be supported by the boat antennas. I love surprises!

Ethereal Mornings

This week finds me at Cape May, N.J. for a photographic workshop with Tony Sweet. He's as "sweet" as his name and he's teaching us all kinds of new tricks with nature photography. We're a rogue bunch here at the conference. We run around in heavier, fleecier clothes and get up at odd times, like 4:00 a.m.

When you get up early and go out to photograph, a whole new world opens up! With 19 in our group, we spread out along the Atlantic Seashore to photograph the remains of pilings in the water. Here's one of many that I think show the power of the water and gives one a sense that it's nowhere near the land - just floating out in the ocean. Enjoy!