Monthly Archives: October 2015

 

 

Rain, clouds, wonderful color, full streams, and over 200 enthusiastic photographers made for an exciting first day at the Great Smoky Mountains Nature Photography Summit!  The full program schedule gets under way today after an early morning in the field with some of our great instructor team!  Here were a few off my favorites from the first day.

 

 

 

As always some of the most fun things to photograph were on the first floor!!!

 

 

 

So we will keep busy, and i will keep you updated!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

While scouting on the second day i attempted to think about the focus point, what I wanted to emphasize in my images. Where you focus your viewer will look, below are some attempts to use this principle.  More importantly I’ve been reexamining where I’m focused in life.  I know my focus needs to be on Him, my family, those I serve.  It’s easy to get your focus “off”!  It’s easier to stay focused if you can remember what is most important.  I spend a lot of time in prayer asking God to show me where I’m using bad spiritual technique in my life.  i want to stay focused!

 

 

By-the-way, this image was made with the 16mm f 1.4 but shot at f 16 to make the depth the emphasis!  Love that lens!

 

In the next two images i used the long end of the 18-135 to compress the image and place emphasis on the trees and leaves.

 

 

 

Work on nailing your focus today!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

Jack and I arrived in Fairlawn, Ohio yesterday afternoon and did our first scouting trip this  morning.  We were pleased with the ample opportunities we’ve found so far, and will do some more tomorrow.  This is a great place to capture color and the wonderful culture of the Amish.  Below are some day one images!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More soon!!!!  Buggy at top to 7 Up sign all 18-135 on the Fuji X-T1, last several images with 90mm f 2 lens at f 2!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

My website is called Photography & Faith, I wish I had named it Faith & Photography because for me Faith comes first.  I’m so thankful that today we are seeing an explosion of quality films that carry the message of Christ.  I recommended, highly, Do You Believe, and before that, What If,  both are examples of this new era of  Christian films that carry the life giving message of  Christ in effective and powerful ways. Woodlawn is the latest and may be the greatest yet!  What is even more amazing about this wonderful film is that people all over America have actually bowed their heads and accepted Christ into their hearts right in the theatre at the end of the film!  So today you have a BIG Decision to make, are you going to go and see this film, and then recommend it to others, especially those you know, that have not found a relationship with Jesus Christ!?

 

A beautiful side note is that veteran actor Sean Astin, (Lord of The Rings, Rudy, Goonies and many other films), appeared in Woodlawn  which was his third Christian film, but during the filming of this movie he gave his heart to Christ!!!!  I’ve joined many others in praying for him for some time!!!  He appeared in the film Rudy with my first cousin, Ned Beatty.  I’ve been  fan for years of his work.

 

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Decisions Number Two, a Little One.  One of the big discussions in digital photography today is Full Frame or APS-C Sensor, which is best and why?  The image above is by Lars Authen from Norway.  He declares himself a hobbyist, but you couldn’t prove it with his work, which is excellent.  Here is link to his article about his love affair between the Fuji X-System and the Nikon D810.

 

http://www.larsauthen.com/blog/2015/8/13/from-fuji-x-t1-16mpx-aps-c-to-nikon-d810-36mpx-full-frame

 

In Lars article he very accurately describes the differences and advantages/disadvantages of each system.   His article mirrored my own experience, with both systems and the experience of my friends, Jim and Sue Haverstock.  He points out that the substantial 36 megapixel sensor in the 810 gives incredible detail when pixel peeping at life size and greater, a point I will happily agree with.  He also pointed out some of the ways the X-System is more user friendly in terms of the What You See Is What You Get nature of mirror less cameras.  I think his article which is fair and even handed, points out that it is more important to know what kind of work you do and what camera system best meets your needs.  I know that the Fuji X-System is perfect fit for me and my style and kind of photography, and how I use my images. For someone else that may not be true, and I’m fine with that.  You can make wonderful images with any modern camera, but the better you know your likes and dislikes the happier you will be in the process of making images, and after all that is the most important thing!  Even if it is a “small” decisions!

 

Have a great weekend, I’m off Monday to the Ohio/Amish workshop with Jack Graham, I’ll keep you posted!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Quick Thank You, to the great group in Chattanooga at the Chattanooga Camera Club, they really made me feel welcome and I always enjoy visiting and sharing with them!