This is a photo I took of Sam having a great time playing with the tetherball at the Pumpkin Patch in Elgin TX, this past weekend. I was trying to capture action in a photo. I remembered the saying "take 20 to get 1" and that's about what it took!

I used a Konica Minolta Dimage Z5 camera to capture the image, using the action setting on the camera. I had forgotten the tripod, so I propped my elbows on a picnic table top to get some stability, and then just clicked and clicked.

One of the things I am having to learn is how to focus a shot where the subject is in motion. I believe what happened on other shots is, that I focused when Sam was out of the frame, then when he was in the frame, took the photo. I could have used the "continuous shot" mode in the camera, but I am not really familiar with that mode. I will practice using it.

Thanks go to Sam's mom for allowing me to post this photo. She was very complimentary, and I appreciate the "kudos" as well. Enjoy the photo, and post any comments you care to, dear reader.

Mike
10/23/06

Sunset photo on Alaska cruise

This sunset photo was taken on the second day of our Alaska cruise, this past summer. I had been given the task of taking a sunset or sunrise for my photography class.

I took the photo with a Konica Minolta Dimage Z5 camera on sunrise/sunset setting. I did not use a tripod, though I had one with me. I thought the color of the sky and the near-perfect clarity of the air would make a beautiful shot. The outcome was beyond my hopes.

The shot was taken from the balcony of our cabin, as I stood listening to the sounds and feeling the cool breeze on my face and arms. Alaska gets only 45 days of sunshine a year, and we got 4 out of 5 days with sun. What a miracle.

I did some cropping, but no Photoshop enhancements were done on this photo. It is pretty much just as it came from the camera. It is one of my favorites. My mentor/critic said, "Technically, it has great exposure and focus, along with an interesting composition. The color is just magnificent and a great representation of the possibilities in capturing a highlight in mother natures “paintings.” Great job in capturing a sunset scene." I hope you agree.

Welcome and first picture

Hello!
thank you for visiting. This will be a photo journey of my development as a photographer and artist. (Pretty heady stuff, but that's really what I'm after)

What I hope for this blog is to post my pictures and a short description of what prompted me to take the shot, and any Photoshop or other techniques I used. If you have comments or suggestions or anything at all to add that would help me in my journey, please by all means leave a comment.

That said, I am posting my first photo for your review and, hopefully, pleasure. It is a photo I took in Abilene, TX a couple of weeks ago. A honey bee was gathering nectar from a sage flower and I took several shots. This one was the best, I think.

I used Photoshop to sharpen and darken the original photo. I like to keep PS techniques to a minimum to keep the "natural-ness" of the shot intact.

I hope you enjoy it.

Mike Ziegler