Daily Archives: June 27, 2023

Image Number 1

I watched a youtube video by Andy Mumford last night and I was intrigued at how he explained camera settings.  I really like his works and enjoyed the video but wanted to approach this from a slightly different angle!

 

This is my overall approach to shooting;

1.  I set my camera on Aperture Priority.
2.  i start with my ISO set to the base ISO for my Fujifilm X-T5 – that is 160.  I only raise it if I need a higher shutter speed.
3.  I choose the lens that allows me to frame the subject most effectively.
4.  I choose the aperture setting that gives me the appropriate depth-of-field that I need.
5.  I pay close attention to good technique, tripod if needed, polarizer or other filter if needed, I fire the camera with the self timer to avoid camera shake.

Image Number 1 (above)  I was shooting practice at Churchill Downs the morning before the Kentucky Derby.  I wanted to show the illusion of motion so I choose an aperture that gave me a shutter speed of 1/2 of a second.  Each time the horse and jockey came around the track in front of me, I panned and fired the shutter during the movement of the pan.  It gave me the slightly blurred image that I think gives the feeling of movement.

 

 

 

Image Number 2:  While teaching a workshop in Old Car City in White, Georgia I found this hood ornament on a Cadillac.  I wanted to feature just the face so I used the Fujifilm XF 60mm macro set at f11 and shot at 1/250th of a second.  Even at F11 all that was in sharp focus was just the facial features allowing the background to go soft.   it is still on of my favorite images. The light was slightly overcast which was perfect for this shot.

 

 

Image Number 3:  While teaching a workshop in Nashville, I found this door decoration (top image), a man had welded a group of rusted tools together so I first shot the entire collection, then I started to zoom in an try to find a less cluttered composition and settled on the bottom shot.  Using the Fujifilm X-E1 with the XF 18-55 zoom set at 55mm and f 8 and 1/7th of a second exposure.  It was in a shaded area that was dark so I used ISO 1600 which on the early 16 mega pixel Fujifilm cameras was still noise free!  I’ve made this image into a 3′ X 3′ Crystal Archive print and it is stunningly sharp!

 

 

Image Number 4:  On a photo trip with some His Light Workshop friends we were shooting on a small farm in New Hampshire and I found this scene.  The window light was lighting the barrels perfectly and the fall color and red building through the window added a nice touch.  I used a Nikon D7000 with the 24mm to 120mm lens set at 44mm and an aperture setting of f 11 and a shutter speed of 2.5 seconds.  A sturdy tripod was used, of course.  Using a tripod slows you down and helps you work your compositions, carefully!

 

 

Image Number 5:  I love to shoot in antiques shops and I found this military uniform with medals and loved the color and texture.  I used my Fujifilm X-T2 and the XF 60mm macro lens, set to F 5.6 and a shutter speed of 1/2 second @ ISO 200.  I used a small LED light panel to throw light on the medals. A F stop of 5.6 allowed the background to go soft.

 

 

Image Number 6:  While shooting in Death Valley at Zabriskie Point, I loved these lines across the sand ridges.  Using a Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and the XF 55-200 at 95mm and a f stop of f 11 and a shutter speed of 1/30th of a second @ ISO of 200, the late afternoon light revealed the texture and the paths going into the distance.

 

 

Image Number 7:  Teaching a workshop in Arches National Par several of us went through North Window to capture the spectacular light show that happens on a clear morning at sunrise.  The late Dr. Charles Stanley climbed onto the rock face to make the shot and his silhouette was perfect for my shot.  Charles loved the shot and had a 4′ X 6′ foot print made to hang behind his desk at In Touch, I was honored!  I used the Fujifilm X-T3 with the XF 18-55 zoom set at 18mm and f 11 @ 1/3oth of a second at ISO 200.  At F11 I had great depth-of-field through out the entire frame.

 

 

Image Number 8:  Fall in Acadia National Park is one of my favorite locations, this particular year the color was fantastic!  One of my favorite lenses for doing the intimate landscape is the XF 100-400 zoom on this day with help of a polarizer to deepen the color i shot with my Fujifilm X-H1 and set the lens at         f 5 .6 and a shutter speed of 1/250th of a second @ ISO 400. The bare tree in the foreground against the great color behind it was really appealing to me!

 

 

I hope that gives you some insight to how I approached and made some of these images!

 

Blessings,

 

 

the pilgrim