Experimenting with Optics + Light

When you fire a frame with your camera, you are literally painting that exposure with the light of that scene. This concept  has always fascinated me, and from time to time I like to intentionally play with that concept, pushing that light to create luminous paint strokes, if you will.

For an upcoming photo project I am experimenting with slowing down a fixed exposure in order to capture motion as something moves across an otherwise fixed scene. This can be challenging during bright daylight as the camera will quickly overexpose if the shutter is left open for more than a tiny fraction of a second. In order to compensate for that tendency to overexpose, today I have been playing with different kinds of mesh and filters.

A side effect of the mesh is that it creates lovely, ephemeral and soft bokeh patterns, made more subtle when using a wide aperture. (click on photos to enlarge, and note patterns in the background) 

I kind of love it. 

When you zoom in close on these files they start to look like a painter's brush strokes. 

Optics + light... how fun.

Maternity Shoot | Denver Botanic Gardens

There has been nothing quite so miraculous in my life as the experience of pregnancy - feeling new life growing day by day is surreal, beautiful and is at once profoundly humbling AND empowering.

Of course for me that was over 11 years ago, so I am thrilled when I am asked to spend time photographing pregnant women now! This maternity session was a blast with lovely former wedding clients, and I am SO excited to meet and photograph their new little one when he or she is born!

Springtime in the City

Rushing water is the hallmark of springtime in the mountains.  Rivers burst at the seams and ponds emerge in the valleys as snow melts and rages on its annual springtime descent. 

After a dozen or so of these high alpine springs, I had completely forgotten how abundantly beautiful this season can be at a slightly lower elevation!

It is April and already neighborhoods in Denver are bursting with color and new life.  And I, of course, as my eyes are on overdrive, I can't help myself but try to capture the new season in its birth.

I photograph because I have to.  Just ask my son, it's a compulsion over which I have surprisingly little control.  Compositions present themselves constantly, frozen moments of time, light and expression frame up in my view, even when I am not actively pressing a shutter.

As such, my camera often feels like an extension of my self; it is the tool through which, when I use it well, I am able to communicate my vision of the art and beauty that I see in my surroundings with the rest of the world.  The creative process drives me to the art of capture; the ability to share my work and evoke emotion from others is the inspiration.

Favorite Photos from 2010 | Part 1: Scenic + Macro

(click and zoom in to see images larger)

Newsletter: Happy New Year!! | Issue 02

Fireworks... Denver Style!

Denver threw their first official fireworks party this past weekend - sponsored by the Civic Park Conservancy - and it was a HUGE success!  The Colorado Symphony Orchestra performed a classic July 4th concert, the skies cooperated beautifully (nice rainbow over the Capitol appeared right behind us) and an estimated 25,000 people came out for the show.

For some reason, I think it is positively adorable how much Denver loves their City + County Building; the colored lights on the facade are part of their annual winter Holiday Show.  They made for a creative and original complement to the spectacular fireworks!

Already can't wait to see what they do next year!  

Denver Rocks!!

More Goodies from the Gardens

My last post was rather monochromatic, so I thought I'd share some of the colors of spring in Denver... Enjoy!

Bokeh Fun

I decided to go freeze my fingers for one more visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens on New Year's Eve. I wandered around shooting lights and people for over an hour, and had just put my camera back in the safety and warmth of the big 'ol bag when one last tightly wrapped tree caught my eye. It is amazing how often I put away the equipment, only to pull it out "one last time" for what ends up being the best shot of the day.

Honestly, when I saw this last tree, my fingers were sufficiently frozen to the point that I could no longer get them to set the tripod back up, so decided to shoot handheld, with my aperture wide open and play with depth of field. Deliberately focusing on different planes of the branches would force others out of focus, and I was immediately having a great time framing and refocusing.

I always enjoy a good "painting with light" shot, too, so some long exposure motion experimentation was in order as well.

Enjoy!