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The series of image I have chosen today are to demonstrate the concept "Light Is Everything in photography". Mobius Arch in California, USA is a wonderful piece of rock. It is interesting from a variety of angles and can be photographed with a variety of focal lengths.
Here, I want to emphasize that it is the great light that makes this image worth its merit. In planning for this trip I had a pretty good idea the direction I would be facing to make the shot and thus I felt that the best time of day would be a sunrise rather than sunset. I wanted the rock to appear to glow with the warm light from the early morning sun. Again, I planned on a greaat location in my travel plans and then I visited this arch several times (maybe 10 times) to get the shot you see here. Good results are generally due to planning and persistence...Wait for the light after all your expense and effort to arrive on the scene.

One final image from this series. Watch how your model is standing. Pay good attention to details...here the feet and legs are tight together...the umbrella is help in the right position...etc...etc...etc.
Remember that you can dress up your friends and family and create interesting images of them that are not just candids and snap shots. You can create interest in your tavels as well as in your photographs in this manner.

Here the landscape is an integral part of the image. I wanted to show enough of the landscape to compliment the model in the image. A slight breeze helps with the flow of the fabric. My next series, which hasn't occured yet, will be on a vey windy day to see what the fabric will look like. I imagine I will lose a few umbrellas in the process and the hat won't work.
The point here is to re-imagine the image under different conditions of light and weather.
I am waiting for the light as well as the wind...

The lighting here is very dramatic and harsh. The ripples in the sand and the folds in the fabric are the elements that make this photo. The white hat keeps my model's identity somewhat of a mystery. This anonymity allows the viewer of the image to put themselves in the place of my model. The difficulty was to keep my own shadow out of the image and still have only the model, the sand, and her shadow fill the frame. Again, I wanted a minimalistic appearance in the photograph.
The main point here is to "Plan out the image you wish to create". This includes everything from the apparel to the location to the time of day.

I originally wanted to create images of a figure in blue on the White Sands several years ago. I had been photographing the dunes and wanted to have a model in blue fabric but (alas) I had neither. This concept stuck with me for a considerable time.
Now, I am in Alamogordo and my wife has graciously offered to sew an outfit of blue fabric and do the modelling for me.
These "Mystic Blue" images are quite different from my "Into the Mystic" series. The light and the completely blue sky creates a different scenerio from the clouds and spots of light in my other series. I chose a cloudless day...which isn't too difficult in New Mexico for the photo shoot. A minimalist look is what I was after and I feel that it worked out nicely. I hope you like my images as much as I did producing them.

This wonderful classic Cadillac caught my eye for several reasons and this is translated into my image. The brilliant red paint with so much shine is hard to resist. The angle I chose to shoot along the huge back fin gives more dynamics to the stationary vehicle. However, I chose this image today because of "The Background". Those classic Gas Pumps form an interesting background to this image. Often photographers are so excited by the main subject in the frame that they forget about what is in the background that may spoil the image to some degree. While I was making this image there were many other people walking around the car...I had to wait for them to move out of my field of view. I used my tripod when I made all three of these images since I was indoors with not enough light for the small f-stop that I chose for maximum depth of field. So, I set up and waited for a clean shot of the vehicle with no distracting elements in the frame.
The point here is...go to an interesting location, be prepared with tripod and camera, be patient, and watch your background and surroundings for any distractions that may interfere with your image.

This image demonstrates choosing an interesting angle or point of view when making a photograph. Angling a static/stationary object in the frame tends to give it more dynamics. The subject at an angle makes the viewer's eye travel along the angular line that is created.
In this composition of the two classic cars you can see perhaps that the cars are more dynamic (perhaps more exciting to view) than if they were photographed as a straight shot from the side-on position.

I have always had an interest in Classic Cars. I chose these car images to stress another point about my travels and my photography. The point is...choose places to travel that interest you the most and while at that location photograph the things that interest you the most. This seems like a moot point but often photographers capture images that they think "they should" or "that other people may purchase". It is rather like musicians that copy or perform only music that other musicians have recorded or performed. This is almost like a "lip sync" in my opinion.
Remember to travel where you have some interest and photograph what you are keen on.

This hoodoo is known as "The King of Wings". It is really a wonder to behold. The caprock juts out into space further than any other known hoodoo in the world. Its location is in New Mexico which is common knowledge to people who seek to find such treasures. The other part of its location...coordinates, map locations, directions how to locate it...are all kept secret. Photographed originally by a German couple Steffen Synnatschke and Isabel Synnatchke who have a website called "Secrets of the West" brought this feature and several others in the USA to light with directions to their location and how to photograph them. Originally they had coordinates of this location but wisely removed them to protect this feature from the throngs of photographers who would soon follow. As a result, I offer the image but no directions of which badland it is located in. As with anything, some persistence and investigation may lead you and others to this wonderful site...happy hunting. I hope you enjoy my image of this remarkable piece of the New Mexico landscape. If you do find The King Of Wings tread softly as this is a one of a kind feature...Cheers Bob

These hoodoos in the Bisti Wilderness of New Mexico remind me of ghosts. Their shapes are all individual like children out on a Halloween caper. The backlighting on the features is what makes this subject come alive. The rock appears to glow from light being reflected from adjacent rocks and from a wrap around effect of the backlighting.
I planned to go specifically to the area of the Egg Factory for an evening shoot and, having enough time, I was able to explore the surrounding area for other subjects that are not often published. Since the image is unique I especially like having it in my portfolio. Again, look around the iconic site to see what else there is to be seen and photographed.

This image involved painting the Egg Factory in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness with light after the sun had set and it was pretty dark. No worries...the light didn't stay on the eggs once I turned my flashlight off...The Egg Factory is a group of large eroded rocks that have fantastical shapes. It is best photographed after the sun has gone down and there are no shadows on the rocks. This means you must be prepared to find your way out across the desert in the dark which isn't too bad if you have a GPS or a compass. I shot this at the end of November 2012 and I feel it was well worth the effort involved...I hope you like my image as well. New Mexico is known as The Land of Enchantment and the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is certainly an example of that. The Bisti/De-Na-Zin is an incredible area to hike in and to photograph in as well. The shapes of the rock are other worldly as are the colors of the landscape. For the most part the terrain is easy to negotiate for the average hiker who is used to the outdoors. A GPS is very useful as are maps and other navigational tools. There is a good deal of information on the internet about this area and is useful before your visit to the area...Cheers Bob

Here is a close-up view of the colorful "pot" that the young Buddhist Monk uses to collect his food in. I was attracted to this detail and, utilizing my 70-200mm lens I was able to make the photograph from a distance without interfering with the event taking place. Often photographers forget that the people you are photographing are the most important...not the photographer or the image.
When traveling always be aware of the sensitivity of the local environment and customs. I always feel that I am a representative of Canada when I visit other countries and I act accordingly.
Please go to my Laos Gallery as well as the Galleries for Thailand and Cambodia to see more images from my Asian Travels.

I was attracted to two elements in this scene...the young Buddhist Monks and the older lady in the scene.
Laos is a wonderful country with many colorful temples and beautiful people.
Traveling in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand is easy and very cheep by our North American standards. Food, lodging and accomodation is affordable for almost anyone in all three of these countries.
The capital of Vientienne is a busy place and so I recommend traveling to smaller villages and towns. These images are taken in Luang Prabang which is a smaller place in Laos.
Traveling on the local buses is the way to go as well as using "the people's boats" to travel on the Mighty Mekong River. Both are incredible experiences and both ways of travel are inexpensive.

This is an image I made in the Asian country of Laos. The young Buddhist Monks make their rounds early each morning to receive their food (alms) for the day. Citizens of the community sit patiently waiting for the Monks to come at their regular time. No words are exchanged between the Monks and the people giving them food. It is a silent affair and wonderful to see and to photograph.
I used a 70-200mm for these images so that I would not interfere with the procession. In this way I was able to make candid portraites of the scene. Keeping the composition "clean" without too many distracting elements was my goal. By watching the "Background" and the sides of my frame I was able to "keep things tight".
When doing this type of photography where I am photographing people I like to interfere as little as possible with what is going on and thus show respect for the participants.

A reminder to change the focal length of your lens (zoom in and out) to make alternative compositions of the scene. A detail image compared to a wider angle image is important to have. It always amazes me to see what is near an iconic place that I have never seen as a photograph.
The Wave is photographed so regularly by all the "Top Professionals" that you may set out to capture an image that you have already seen in photographs. One of my pet peaves is seeing vertually the identical images in different galleries that I visit around the world. This pet peave also extends to "all the same locations" for many professionals. I think it is important to "bag the iconic shot" but then try for something different that will put your mark on it. Please look through my galleries and see the "Iconic Shots" but then look for images that you have never seen before.

Two hikers exiting The Wave. It seems a shame to walk on this beautiful rock but you can only enter and exit by walking through The Wave itself. The hikers give the viewer some idea of the size/scale of the terrain and I think that adds to the image.
Time of day and light is always an issue for photographers. How early must I get up in the morning to "get good light" is the question. With The Wave you leave as early as you can to enjoy the hike and photograph along the way. As long as you are on location sometime before 10 o'clock light should be good since you are facing due north for most of the shots of The Wave itself. In the afternoon shadows cut across the bowl of The Wave and spoil the image. Late in the afternoon you want to photograph The Second Wave which is close at hand.
As you see, once again, much of my travel planning is focused on my camera work. However, just being in a place like this is enough for most people I am sure.

This image is of a landform feature known as The Wave. It is located west of Page Arizona. It is an iconic location that has many vistitors from all over the world. The good news is that the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) has very strict quotas as to how many people can visit this site on a given day. Permits are issued to only 10 people online and 10 people who line-up to attempt to get a permit each day. This is great for the land and I commend them for having this system.
The site itself requires some effort to hike to. It is not a strenuous hike but some route finding is necessary. Both times that I have been fortunate enough to hike into The Wave I have found myself searching for the way back to the trailhead at the end of the day.
This area is well worth all the effort it takes but some planning and patience is key.

This is my personal favorite from this series. The light is excellent on Vivian's garment and her pose is subtle, almost pensive in some ways. I hope you like my images and remember that you can "dress up your friends and family" for your own concept photography.

This is the fourth in the series from The White Sands in New Mexico. A slightly different pose creates a different feeling to the over-all image. In photography always explore all of the possibilities before finishing the shoot.

In this image of my model in the White Sands of New Mexico I want to pay attention to one small detail. That detail is the model's hand. It was important in posing Vivian that her hand would show and appear to be reaching out to the sky. This small gesture adds much to the over-all impact of the whole scene.

This is a second image from yesterday at the White Sands, New Mexico. The best time for me to make landscape images seems to be when a new weather system moves into an area where I am photographing. Often the clouds that herald the start of a new weather pattern are quite interesting in their variety and shapes. If the weather has seen overcast skies for a period of time and then a new front moves in what I see is the breaking up of the overcast being followed by a mixture of clouds. In similar fashion, if the sky has been cloudless with brilliant blue skies, when the new system arrives the sky has a variety of clouds presented. In this way I can predict to some extent whether I will be wise to go out with my camera for something more special than a blank sky. Naturally there are no guarantees that this will work out...

Welcome Visitors ...

I thought it was time to start a blog where I could comment on some of my experiences and share some of my images from my travels. I am a 66 year old ex-school teacher who has now been on the road travelling full-time to various corners of the world for seven years. Presently my wife Vivian and I are in the Southern United States for the winter...more accurately we are in New Mexico in the small town of Alamogordo. We have spent the last two months in various parts of New Mexico going where the beauty lies. Alamogordo was chosen for its proximity to the White Sands National Monument.

The image I have chosen to share were taken just yesterday at the White Sands. My wife Vivian is also a photographer (also an ex-school teacher) and she was willing to be my model in this image. The light was wonderful with periods of shade and sun. A slight wind would blow the fabric she was enclosed in which added a ceertain aspect of uncertainty to the outcome of the image. The clouds looked like they were made to order and added greater interest to the over-all result. The fabric is quite light and sheer so it reacted to the breeze and the light in some interesting ways.

So, I start my Blog from activities yesterday...January 12, 2013. I will move forward in time as well as back in time discussing images and events that I hope will interest those who find my Blog of some interest to them. I hope you will enjoy hearing a bit about my travels and what motivates me in my image making. Perhaps you will take time to go into my "Quickie Tour of My Photography" on my FAA site and then into each Gallery that interests you when you have the interest and the opportunity.

Cheers Bob

Reflections and silouettes can be very useful in creating an image of merit. Water and wet sand both reflect the light from the sky. The sand takes on a different character entirely when it is wet as compared to being dry. Look at the images in my "Death Valley Gallery" and the "White Sands" images in my "New Mexico Gallery" to see how different the sand appears when dry. Use the fact that the sand is brighter when it is wet in making your photographs.
In terms of planning your trip I check the high and low tide charts on-line if I have a chance. Some locations work great at low tide while some work best at high tide. You probably will need to return a few times to "hit it right". Being familiar with your location can be difficult...especially when you are only in an area for a short period of time compared to the local photographers. With some planning and some good fortune you still can have some images the locals envy.
Remember...Safety First when photographing around water or in places you can fall from.

I won't say much about this image except a reminder to change your focal length and change your position (point of view). This is the same pier and technique but I changed focal length and my position.

A slow shutter speed using a tripod was the answer to make this image. Once again, same subject but a different technique. In the Sripp's Pier image I utilized a neutral density filter to alllow for a longer shutter speed since the light was quite bright. In this image of Santa Cruz Pier it was quite late in the day and the light was quite low which allowed for a longer shutter speed and therefore I didn't need to use the neutral density filter to cut down the light. When you see images where the water is silky and soft a longer shutter speed has been used. Keep the ISO low (100-400 ISO) and use a tripod. Timing is everything in this shot...watch what the water is doing and how it moves among the pillars. Shoot several on each surge as the price is right and you may like one image more than another. The camera will see things your eye cannot as the water is moving and your eye won't see what your open shutter will.
When I plan my travels I am looking for locations like Santa Cruz Pier. Sometimes I find the subject by accident but more often I have researched what is in the area and these sites/locations become a major part in my plans.

This is an image that speaks to me...and what it says is this..."Be an opportunist". I had spent the day photographing Egrets along the shoreline of Bodega Bay. Late in the day I hiked up on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean to photograph the sunsetting. Fortunately I had a few interesting shots from the day. On the way back to my RV Campsite I passed by this pier and "voila" the light on Bodega Bay was incredible. The colors in the sky and the reflections of the pier in the water were wonderful.
The whole point of this discussion is "Be an opportunist...scavenger also fits". After the sun has set the light that comes after the sun has gone down may be wonderful so don't put your camera away too soon. Be open to what is around you even if you've had a long day.
This pier image is entirely different than the Scripp's Pier images. It is still a pier and water image but the light and the composition are entirely different...Same subject but different results.

This image reinforces the idea of using a variety of focal lengths when photographing. The first image is a wide angle shot using 18mm as the lens choice. This image is from the same location but I chose a longer focal length of 200 mm. This simple change made for an entirely differnt result. I try to "cover the subject" much like a reporter would do for a magazine or the newspaper...that is, I try to show as many aspects of the subject as I can to tell the story as I think are important.

Scripp's Pier is located in La Jolla California which is very close to San Diego, California. I chose this image to share to encourage my visitors to look for as many interesting view points when making photographs. The underside of the pier can be very interesting to those that like to crawl around a bit. Each pier is very different in structure. In this case I have an extremely high pier made of concrete. This makes this structure very different to photograph than smaller and lower ones. It also made getting beneath it simpler.
Choosing the right time to make your photograph is key to producing an image of merit. The West Coast of North America is pretty straight forward as the coastline generally runs north-south. Generally get out before the sun comes up or shoot the last light of day. As the light was subdued with a light fog this worked in my favor to lower the contrast...that is, no harsh shadows.
I used an 8 stop neutral density filter on this image. No color changes with the filter but the longer shutter speed gave the water a softer appearance which is what I wanted to achieve. The mist in the air also added to the softness of the image.
SAFETY FIRST...watch the tide and the waves.

I photographed this Leopard while travelling in Bali, Indonesia. I waited quite a long time for this beautiful animal to yawn and hopefully see his teeth and his tongue.
This image appears "different" if you look closely. It is almost as if the cat is made of gauze...like a net or something. Here is how I produced this effect which is quite simple. There is a computer program called "Fractalius" which isn't that expensive and can be bought over the internet if you like the effect. The program is self-explanatory and simple to use. The program uses Fractals (mathematical algorythms) to produce these results. I will not go into how to work the program but, trust me, it is straight forward and a lot of fun to work with.
You may wish to check out my Fractalius Gallery on FAA to see some of the other effects that you can play with.

The techniques for producing "Big Face Climber" are very similar to the "Seeking Enlightenment" image. The only difference is that I didn't change the opacity of the climber as I did with the Monk. The statue is real and I took this image in Vancouver British Columbia. The climber I photographed in Moab, Utah. Since the light worked out as a composite and the red of the climber's hat would stand out against the statue I chose to make a composite of the two images. A bit of careful erasing on the climber layer to remove the red rock he was climbing and the changing the scale of the climber to make him smaller I was able to make a somewhat believable image.
This digital work on the computer isn't that different in outcome than many very early photographs that were produced in darkrooms of the past. The "Digital Darkroom" has a lot to it and one that requires a lot of time to understand. This is a "fun image" for me as most of my images are not altered very much if at all. That being said, ALL of my images are adjusted to my tastes in various programs to make my images as good as I can make them. Photography great Ansel Adams or ALL of the other great photographers worked long and hard on their negatives in their darkrooms to polish their images before the advent of Digital Darkrooms.
I shoot in the RAW Format almost exclusively. My NEF files are similar to a negative from a film camera...the file and the negative are simply raw information. The JPEG you see on the back of your digital camera is the adjusted view as the camera thinks it should look. Adjustments in computer programs like Photoshop make the image appear the way you saw it or the way you want it to appear...just like the Old Days with Modern Equipment.
I hope you enjoy "The Yawn" (which is the next image for today)...which is what you may be doing about now...Cheers Bob

I thought this image of a Buddhist Monk and Temple (Wat) may be of interest. Yes, I used Photoshop on this image...no surprize I am sure.
I took the Temple (Wat) image along the Mighty Mekong River on a two day river journey from Laos to Northern Thailand. The Monk was taken in Cambodia at Ankor Wat. This image really speaks to me. The colorful Monk and the Silouette of the Temple with the setting sun work well together as a composition in my opinion. Each Monk is the same image duplicated several times. I altered the size and opacity of each Monk in Photoshop which is quite simple. The Temple and the Sun are one image which I used as the Background Layer in Photoshop. You can see the temple image without the Monks in my Laos Gallery on FAA if you wish. Other than that nothing is complicated about making this image.
I love the color and the way the Monk(s) seem to float above and beside the Temple as if they are on a journey...the Journey Seeking Enlightenment. The main tennant of the Buddhist Faith, as I understand it, is simply "Seeking Enlightenment" and hence the title of this image.
Although there is much to look at in this frame it still seems a light and simple composition...not cluttered although there are a few elements there. I think it appears uncluttered as there are only Monks, the Sun and a Silouetted Temple for the eye to track.

One of the best reasons that I can recommend photography to others is that it makes you get out there and find things that may be of interest to you. I am a very visual person and so it is natural for me to look at the asthetics of things around me. Some photographers and other artists specialize in birds or mountains or cars etc. I find interest in pretty much everything. I encourage you to go to my gallery I have titled "The Quickie Tour Of My Photography" to see some of the variety that interests me and see if any of it influences you in your work. Photography leads me to discover small things as well as larger things in the world. Perhaps photography and art will do the same for you.
To me the Jellyfish is a beautiful creature. I went to this aquarium because I knew they were there from seeing images and researching on the internet. Also, I had seen images by other photographers that I know. Much of my travel planning centers around finding interesting locations/subjects like this and hopefully securing images of merit in the process. I hope this will help you in your travel planning as well.

Here a single Jellyfish takes center stage. In this aquarium there is a giant tank with several hundred Jellies floating/swimming gently about the space...quite a sight. Every once in awhile I was able to focus in on a single one like this.
Part of the difficulty of making images at an aquarium stems from the fact that you must shoot through thick glass. The lighing in the tank wasn't the problem but rather the reflections from the lighting in the room where I was standing. The solution comes in a couple of parts. First, wear dark clothing...no white t-shirts etc. Second, stand close to the glass...even put your lens with your lens hood right on the glass without changing your focal length on your zoom lens if you are using one. Third, watch for any reflections or specular highlights in the frame as these are difficult or impossible to remove in post processing.

Today I want to share a few images of Jellyfish. These incredibly beautiful creatures are often misunderstood as if they are the sloths of the sea. On the contrary, in watching the delicate and purposeful movements that they perform I was really amazed. Now, I would like to say that I was scuba diving at great depths on the Great Barrier Reef with sharks circling all around me but I cannot say this...these images were taken in the safety of the Santa Monica Aquarium in California. Oh well, I still love the experience of watching these wonderful creatures and photographing them for hours.
The interesting aspect of making images of this subject was in the way the composition changed in the viewfinder of my camera. The jellies float by in this graceful underwater ballet. When you have your composition all lined up and ready to press the shutter release another jelly floats into view and changes the entire image. Sometimes the change is for the better but often you need to wait for the next opportunity. I had similar experiences in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Hot Air Balloon Festivals that I attended and photographed...that is, I'd have the shot composed and the balloon would drift a bit or another balloon would drift a bit and the shot was either made or destroyed.
I hope that you will enjoy these beauties as much as I did taking the pictures of them.

One last image from this photo session. I love photography for the simple fact that I am afforded the opportunity to be "out there doing it". It is so wonderful to be a part of the World that is so beautiful. I have been blessed to have the chance over the past seven years to be viewing scenes like this as a full-time traveler.
Imagery from the media is often so disturbing that I have commited my self to photographing and only displaying the good parts of the World rather than the shocking aspects of it. Beauty is everywhere as is the "grime and crime" aspect...I vote for the "Beauty Aspect"...

A heavy cloud is suspended over the Organ Mountains. These clouds were moving and changing rapidly. The "Magic Hour" of great light only lasts a short time. In this case the photographer has to be quick and accurate as the light and the clouds changes very rapidly. Taking time to change lenses can be fatal in this situation. Zoom lenses work well in this situation...my 18-105mm lens was a good choice for most of these images but there were times that I needed to change to my 70-200mm lens. Being relaxed and not hurrying the shot is vital as is a good tripod for this sort of work.

The clouds over the Organ Mountains drift among the ramparts. These mountains get their name from these ramparts that appear to some observers to be akin to the pipes rising from a church organ. Naturally the light had to be right for this image to be impactful...photography is all about the light.

The Organ Mountains are located near Las Cruces, New Mexico. In photography I believe that the elements of "Location-Light-Luck" play a great part in producing an image of merit. In this case all three elements were met. This was my first visit to this location and, as luck would have it, the location was excellent as was the light. In my experience this rarely happens. Often I find myself re-visiting a location many times before "The Magic" occurs. On this occassion "Magic" was on my side.
Access to this area is excellent. This was one of those situations where you can literally drive up to an uncluttered view of this mountain range..no houses or wires in the scene anywhere. This is BLM Land and it has saved the view for those of us that like pristine views with no sign of "Man's Handiwork".
Vivian and I were lucky on this one...I hope you enjoy the image.