Looking for Inspiration #1: Take a Hike!Posted by drfl on June 4th, 2010

Eighty Days of Sorrow

For me, physical exercise is one of the best ways to get my mind working. Although all exercise is great, I especially enjoy hiking. I love being outdoors and when I’m not encumbered by a camera, I’m able to really move and find things that I would like to photograph. I create a mental snapshot of a composition for later and continue on. By the end of the hike, I have a mind full of ideas which is beneficial for when I do have a camera.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 40mm, f/9, 1/160 sec.
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis, Missouri

Filed under: Creativity, Duck, Landscape, Musings, Nature, Spring, St. Louis | No Comments

Looking for Inspiration #2: Do Something Creative - Other Than Photography!Posted by drfl on June 3rd, 2010

Life My Wings

Listen to music, paint, draw, dance. Let it lead back to photography.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4 tc, f/7.1, 1/5000 sec.
Bald Eagle, Squaw Creek NWR, Missouri

Filed under: Creativity, Musings, Nature, Spring, Squaw Creek NWR, Wildlife | No Comments

Looking For Inspiration #3: Relax Your Brain!Posted by drfl on June 2nd, 2010

Any Way the Wind Blows

After brainstorming, one’s brain needs a little rest. Blank your mind, relax, and let it wander!

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l + 1.4tc, f/5.6, 1/4000 sec.
Near the Buffalo River, Arkansas

Filed under: Arkansas, Creativity, Musings, Nature, Photograph, Spring, Wildlife | No Comments

Looking for Inspiration #4: Transcribe Your Ideas for Review!Posted by drfl on June 1st, 2010

Sunny Iris

I don’t know how many times I’ve thought of a bunch of artistic ideas at once and then forgot to write them down. These brainstorming sessions can be very productive in allowing one’s mind to jump from idea to idea, but one must make sure that they are not forgotten. Later, when the ideas are reviewed more ideas may be generated. One rule: Nothing is too absurd, nothing is too far-fetched.

Technical Details:
Canon 50D, 300 f/4l, f/4.5, 1/500 sec.
Yellow Iris, Schramm State Recreation Area, Nebraska

Filed under: Creativity, Flowers, Intimate, Musings, Nature, Schramm SRA, Spring | No Comments

Using Photoshop to Lose Weight and Look Great!Posted by drfl on November 3rd, 2009

Harvest Moon

Back on June 6th I wrote an article entitled Photoshop Ethics in Digital Nature Photography that posed the question, “Where do we draw the line in regard to photoshop usage in nature photography”. It seems that this is a question that is plaguing other industries as well and is even prompting governments to get involved. This is not a new issue, in fact, since the invention of the camera, there has been evidence of manipulation.  A recent set of articles have been written that focus on the extreme photoshopping that has been taking place in the fashion industry, one at the New York Times and one at the New York Daily Post.

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Filed under: Creativity, DeSoto NWR, Fall, Iowa, Moon, Musings, Orton, Photograph | No Comments

How to Chisel More Image Detail Out Of A Photo of Mt. RushmorePosted by drfl on October 15th, 2009

Mt. Rushmore Sunrise

There are many resources on the Internet that explain how to create a panoramic photograph utilizing mainly wide-angle lenses. In fact, I have yet to read an account of someone using anything longer than about 70mm for panos. The goal of most panos is to show an elongated landscape photograph, giving the image a width or height that is not achievable with the lenses while at the same time preventing some of the perspective issues that may arise with using an ultra wide angle.

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Filed under: Close-Up, Creativity, Fall, Landscape, Mountains, Mt. Rushmore NM, Musings, Photograph | 3 Comments
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