Instead of a Standard Flash, Try a Continuous LED Light

I love my Manfrotto Continuous LED Light!  I just received my Maxima-84 Hybrid and I cannot wait to get a lot of use out of this baby.  I've tested it on both people and subjects and this is exactly what I need.  Flashes like the Canon Speedlight 600EX-RT are very important, especially for portraits, photojournalism and event photography, but my need for proper lighting goes beyond this.  Like most photographers, I am multidimensional.  My first love is travel and landscape photography, but I have been a journalist (of one sort or another) since I was a teenager.   I also love photographing units training for war in the Army.  

That said, natural lighting from the outdoors comes easy, but lighting in dark caves (as I discussed in a previous entry) or in situations where I don't have time to focus on readjusting the flash and shutter and aperture need special attention.  This LED light, which affixes to the hot shoe of the DSLR, really helps take the guess work out of these situations.  I don't have to worry about red eye or too much light washing out the subject or person I'm shooting.  The light strength is easily adjustable on with a turn of a dial to create a very soft light or a bright light.  I just love this thing.

On Whether to Keep Shooting in a Tragedy

Many of our were glued to their TV screens on Monday the 15th of April as the events unfolded at the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts.   As the bombs exploded and innocent victims were killed and maimed, we saw a multitude of photographers and news cameras rush the area of attack to get the perfect shot or the perfect story.  

At first it seemed wrong; to take pictures of suffering people when the photographer could put down the camera and help.  But then amid the myriad of carnage rushed police officers, paramedics, soldiers and average citizens to help, and it seemed like there were more than enough.  In fact, the help seemed like a well-orchestrated militia reporting for duty as if right on schedule (hats off to the police, firefighters and people of Boston for that). 

The photographer also helped, in my opinion, by taking his shots and capturing the story in single frames.  He not only documented the event live as it was unfolding, but he gave voice to the victims through his photos.  This is why we have war photographers, for example; to capture what needs to be relayed to the public, and in doing so, he serves the greater good through is lense.  

(Of course any decent person would put down his camera rather than let someone die, but this wasn't the case here.)

So although at first I scowled at the media rushing in, it's clear that they were just doing what any good photographer or photojournalist must; telling the story and capturing history.  

Do Photography Accessories YOUR Way

I'm surprised at how similar many photographers are.  The ones who have really made a name for themselves already have their unique styles and don't need to care about what other photographers use in terms of gear and accessories.  But many 'almost-there' up and coming photographers seem to use the same software, the same equipment, the same name brands and the same techniques.  

I'm finding that not only can I not always afford to do what everyone else is doing, but frankly it's just not me. And I'm definitely not going to buy a $900 Really Right Stuff tripod when I've got kids at home and in college.  With that in mind, I'm going to point to a few really good items that I love for my business:

First, here's my tripod.  It's Sunpak, not a name usually synonymous with professional photography (like Gitzo, Really Right Stuff, Vanguard or Manfrotto).  The Sunpak Pro 423PX carbon fiber tripod with a pistol grip ball head really works for me.  The tripod itself is solid but light enough to take hiking, and it comes with an incredibly comfortable carrying case that mounts over your shoulder like Legolas' quiver of arrows. But it's also small enough to strap onto your backpack for hikes and excursions.  I love the pistol-grip ball head.  It's so much easier for me to maneuver my DSLR on this ball head with the pistol grip.. very fast, responsive... I love it.

---

Next is my LowPro Photo Sport 200 AW backpack.  This thing is awesome and it works for me.  it's weather and rain-proof, has lots of storage for clothes, water, food, keys, etc., and has great straps for my Capture Clip (which I will address in this post).  This is a great hiking backpack, especially if you're going to be shooting waterfalls or getting grimy. Very, very comfortable.  I use this backpack when I'm drudging through caves, national parks or long walks and hikes, especially overnighters.

---

I use my LowPro Sling Camera Bag for photojournalism assignments, mostly media events, and occassions when I don't need to pack every piece of equipment I own into one bag.  This is the bag I used when I shot the Obama visit to Fort Stewart or when I shoot military events, both indoor and outdoor.

---

For my camera, this is my most-utilized strap... the BlackRapid Strap for Women.  It can be easily adjusted so it hangs securely in the back without swinging (much) but the main features are it's comfort, how accessible it makes the DSLR and how is solves the problem of having a hands-free experience.  NO MORE PAINFUL NECK STRAPS FOR ME!  This thing is genius.  And even though the strap attaches through the camera's tripod mount on the bottom of my Canon, it is quickly and easily unscrewed if I need to use a tripod.  

---

For occasions when I need my camera close to my body, the Capture Camera Clip by Peak Design LTD is perfect.  This solves the problem of safe carrying of my DSLR when I need immediate access to it but don't want it in my backpack.  It's perfect for hiking, cave excursions, mountain climbing, biking, running or any situation in which you need to have your hands available for safety and balancing reasons.  This Capture Clip securely snaps onto your belt, backpack strap, etc.... Imagine hiking through the 4 day long Milford Track in New Zealand.  This is what I will have hanging on the front of my backpack with my Canon attached. Heck, if they use it in the military, you know it's good.

---

Flashes:  the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT is the bomb.  Used for event photography, photojournalism, portraits/people shots and a myriad of other occasions.  Lots of good features.

---

Finally, my newest exciting find is the Continuous LED Lights from Manfrotto. Recently I was in another city and had the opportunity to hike through a cave that led to an underground waterfall.  The darkness and odd lightly was so unruly that I could barely get a good shot, although that was also due to the quickness of the guided tour I was on. The experience left me so frustrated that I've vowed to find a solution so as to  never be in that situation again.  And I believe I've found it: LED continuous lighting.  it is affixed to the hot shoe of the camera and emits the perfect amount of light so as to not wash out the face or subject in the shot while leaving everything else completely dark. Instead, I can set the shutter speed and aperture concentrating on the surroundings and background while lighting the person or thing closest to me in the perfect balance of illumination. Essentially, it allows me to test through the viewfinder the right balance instead of being surprised at how the shot turns out with a flash.  Although this LED Continuous Light can act as a flash as well. I truly wish I had one of these babies before my excursion...

---

Now when I show up for a media event, I do get stares because I'm toting my BlackRapid Strap instead of a Canon neck strap or a Continuous LED Light instead of a typical flash (depending on the event).  But honestly, I don't care.  I'm comfortable and have found what works for ME, and when my counterparts aren't able to do much with the awful lighting in some of the locations we are sent to, I know that I have exactly what works for me and my end result speaks for itself.

And you should find what works uniquely for you, not what people think a photographer is 'supposed to have'.  

Making the Best of Your Photos

There will be times in the life of a photographer when you won't be able live out your dreams on demand, as you want, where you want. Constraints might include finances, scheduling conflicts or, as in the case with many female photographers, family obligations.  In my case, when my husband is deployed to a foreign country I cannot take an assignment that will take me away from home when I am the sole caretaker of our children. But still, the desire is burning a hole through your heart.  So what can you do in the meantime?

Continue to shoot wherever you are.  Find eclectic or unusual things to shoot in your hometown while you wait for your situation to change.  

I happened upon an odd deserted mini-golf course and befriended this lonely guy...... 

So don't be afraid to get out there and shoot whatever is around you.  You never know what you might find.  ;)

Long Layover? Try a Sleep Pod at the Airport

We adventurers love to travel but hate layovers.  Now some airports are offering "sleep pods" to customers, for a price of course, so the weary wanderer can catch some Z's, take a shower or just relax in privacy before catching the next flight.  This can be a great way to be jet lag while you're at it, too, especially if you have trouble sleeping on the plane.

They're called everything from "Nap Cabs" to "Snooze Cubes" to "Minute Suites".  The "Minute Suites" at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia are $32 for a one hour stay (minimum) and $8 for every additional 15 minutes after the first hour.  Not bad.

Unfortunately, LAX in Los Angeles and the Auckland International Airport in New Zealand don't have them yet, but hopefully that will change.  

Hands Free Carrying Products For the Active Photographer

One piece of gear a photographer needs while hiking or on an assignment is a camera carrying system... this can be a holster, a vest or a strap to which your DSLR can be affixed without swinging or swaying away from the body.  If you're hiking and climbing, you really need your camera to be accessible yet secure.... but perhaps you don't want to be fitted with an extensive strapping system that makes you feel like you're in a straight jacket or have your camera in your backpack, which is tedious to get in and out.  Here are two items I swear by:

-Black Rapid Strap (for Women) - this is my default camera strap.  I pretty much leave it attached to my Canon at all times.  This strap is made specifically for women to fit comfortably across the chest and is my most enjoyable accessory.   The comfort factor is remarkable. I use it for almost all my on-location shoots where I don't need to worry about having one hand free to control dangle while squatting, walking and moving around.

It connects to the camera's tripod mount hole but is so easy to take on or off there is no need to stress if you need to use a tripod.... you can do both! it has clasps that prevent swing and can be adjusted to hang behind, in front or on your hip. But if you're jogging through the woods or climbing a mountain, you'll want to wear a clip or harness that adheres your camera to the body (I'll discuss these below).  With the Black Rapid strap, I ended the torment of my DSLR's neck strap and will never go back. Here's Black Rapid's product overview video of the women's strap.  Black Rapid has plenty of straps for the guys, too, of course!

Here's an example of a woman at work with her Black Rapid Strap:

---

-Peak Design LTD  makes a great DSLR Capture Camera Clip.  The Capture Camera Clip is for those hard core outings in which you must absolutely be hands free but need to access your camera constantly or at a moment's notice.  Like, for example, if you're hiking through the fiordland on the stunning four day hike on Milford Track in New Zealand.   This is a great option if you want to be hands free and active...no annoying camera neck strap, no swinging camera that can bang up against rocks if you're climbing or dip into the ocean if you're shooting from that angle (this would happen with the Black Rapid, although you can shorten the length of the Black Rapid).

It's minus a harness so it's less cumbersome and can be securely attached to your belt, backpack straps, etc., so that it fits tightly against your body.  I use it for hiking, climbing and work in which I don't want my camera to dangle.  It also attaches using the camera's tripod mount hole but it isn't as effortless as with the Black Rapid (you'll need a coin, key or screwdriver to tighten the plate in the tripod mount) so if you're planning on a lot of tripod use, this might get annoying.   However, this product is very secure and the release system is virtually fool proof.  It won't just slip out of the clip, you must push a release button.

Here's an overview video of this fantastic product:

---

Now the Cotton Carrier's Camera Vest sounds like a great product and I love the concept, but there are concerns.   First the good news:  

PROs: The vest itself is centered  in the center of your chest so you don't need to worry about having more weight on one side or the other, and the vest is very comfortable.  You can wear a jacket over it with the front open a little to access your camera, or wear the vest over your coat if you need to zip up and keep warm.

CONs: The plate screws into the tripod mount hole and if you need to use a tripod, this will DEFINITELY be a pain.  There is an Allen Key included for assembly and you certainly can fix and unfix the mount to and from your camera if you are, for example, in the mountains and see a shot that you must have using a tripod (night/evening, waterfall or HDR shots in particular).  But it will be cumbersome. Hopefully your travel buddy will be patient while you make the necessary adjustments.  

Also, Cotton Carrier issues a disclaimer on its website warning that while the Allen key secures the Cotton Carrier Camera Hub, they "strongly recommend" using a thread locker (LocTite 425) for added security so your mount does not come dislodged from the camera and, well, your camera doesn't crash to the ground.  They also say "You must make sure this is REALLY TIGHT! Recheck frequently!"  Yikes.

Since Cotton Carrier itself raises concerns over the security of your camera in the mount, I cannot recommend this product, although the concept is perfect.  I have read reviews which say the hub does work itself loose with usage and yet others from users who never mention such a problem.  

The answer may be to use the Peak Design LTD  Capture Camera Clip, and mount it in the middle strap if your backpack has one that fits vertically across the chest.  Aside from this, I'm waiting to find the perfect combination of the Cotton Carrior Camera Vest design with the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip's security.

There are belt holsters available, as well as holsters with slings that cross diagonally across the chest, but in my opinion, the Black Rapid straps and Peak Design Camara Capture Clip will give you want you need and more.  

To HDR or Not to HDR

HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is a technique that merges 2-7 images, taken consecutively, each which a different exposure.  This is accomplished by bracketing your frames, setting the Exposure Compensation/AEB Setting on your camera to whichever 2-7 exposures you desire and then shooting in continuous mode. The blending process in post-processing extracts the best pixels in each shot to make a dynamic photograph which can be adjusted for a subtle or dramatic affect.

Below is an example of three shots I took recently... the first three are the bracketed shots and the 4th is the end result:

-2.5:

0:

+2.5

FINAL RESULT:

HDR certainly has its critics.  Lots of photographers run the post-processing gamut from realism with slight enhancement to over-saturation that looks cartoonish.  Keeping in mind that art is subjective, so neither is wrong.

There are two main reasons, in my opinion, why HDR should be used in certain circumstances.  1- it can save an unsaveable scene that is doomed by shadows and lack of detail too dark to make for a good image or washed out backgrounds. 2- to take an ordinary scene that that may be perfectly fine and transform it into something dreamy.  An ordinary shot of a bench overlooking the water may lack any real appeal... ("That's a nice shot... but why would I want to hang it in my home?") but can be transformed into something extraordinary, conveying what the photography sees in her heart when she captures a single shot.

Trey Ratcliff of Stuck in Customs is regarded as the master of HDR, and rightly so.  One of his HDR shots was the first ever to be hung in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC, and he has propelled the craft of HDR to a respectable art form.  His images are incredible.  Anyone interested in tutorials on HDR should really check out his site.

You don't have to get it right every time with HDR. That's part of the beauty of photography.  If you choose to shoot literally or with a dose of HDR, your art is your art, and you won't please everyone so concentrate on honing your craft and making God happy with what you produce.  You can't do much more than that.

My HDR gallery can be viewed on Smugmug.

Happy Ash Wednesday!

I want to wish all my Catholic friends a blessed Ash Wednesday today.  This is the beginning of Lent and very significant for those of us who practice the faith.  :)

Congrats Ian Brodie!

Congratulations to my photog hero the incredible Mr. Ian Brodie on his career move!  He's the author of the Lord of the Rings Location Guidebooks, among others, and has been the acting Media & Communications Manager at Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand but is now moving on to be a full time author, photographer and tourism consultant in his own business.  

I was fortunate enough to have met Ian in New Zealand in 2010 and he's a heck of a nice guy, as well as the person whose work most inspired me to get serious about photography.  I wish him all the best in the future!  

Check out his beautiful work at Ian Brodie Photo.

Imago Dei Photography Blog Revamped

Friends, as you can see, the Imago Dei Blog has been restructured and has quite a different look and feel from the old one.  This is the place where we, professional, amatuer or hobbyist photographers, family, friends or art lovers, can come to discuss all things photography.  From the newest releases in the world of DSLRs to techniques to simply admiring God's beauty through photographs, I hope you'll enjoy the conversation as much as I will.  

I will update my Imago Dei Photography page on Facebook when new content is posted.

So feel free to browse my Sample Gallery to get a feel for what Imago Dei is all about, or visit my Galleries to view my complete collection or to buy a print.

Check back frequently and happy shooting!

To leave a comment, click on the title of this post to be redirected to the comment section OR use the cute little bubble icon below to the left of the heart!

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Find Good Connections

In my previous post, I lamented the lack of glamorous photo opportunities available to us in the places we live, but encouraged you to find the story your town is trying to tell and to go tell it.  

It’s not just the town or city in which we live that has a tale to tell, but the people in those places who live the story that are worth the telling.

So over the weekend I hopped in my car and traveled a good hour or so until I was deep into the rural farmlands of Georgia.  The landscape was rich with life and although the images I captured may not be National Geographic worthy, they are still worthy. 

I happened upon an odd looking contraption on someone’s property that I thought would make a fascinating shot.  I parked in the grass, went up to the front door of the little home and knocked on the door to ask permission to shoot the object on the property. No answer, so I just helped myself.  It wasn’t too long until an older man, thought not one I would categorize as an old man, puttered up on a Suzuki 4x4.  He turned out to be the owner of the property.  And not just the owner of the property, but the owner of dozens of acres of farmland in Long County.

I told the man I’d seen this interesting thing, whatever it was, and asked permission to shoot it, which he granted me heart-feltedly.  He introduced himself as L.W. Burkholder and as we talked, he told me how he bought the land from his parents, who inherited it from theirs, and how generations of Burkholders, whom he believed to be German but wasn’t quite positive, bought the land all those many decades ago.

Now Mr. Burkholder doesn’t have email, doesn’t much like the computer either, but he does have an oversized cell phone of some sort so he can be contacted by the work hands he hires to help maintain his properties.  The land he once bought for $45 an acre is now worth $7000 an acre, and the story of the how he sold some of the property for the first price to his brother to buy a shiny new car to impress the ladies of course ended in tragedy…. the super fine car lost it’s value after just a couple years and the girls in town moved on to liking the guys whop had newer cars… leaving Mr. Burkholder frustrated that he hadn’t held onto the land that had appreciated so much in value.

Mr. Burkholder complained, and rightly so, about the unreasonableness of the City Council and all their absurd rules and regulations, which hurt farmers to no end.  For example, Mr. Burkholder cannot dig up or cut down a tree on his own property.  I believe they call it “injuring the land”, so he has to buy a permit and then get permission from the county to do such a thing.  Mr. Burkholder says he should be able to traumatize the soil on his own property any way he wishes, since it is his property, after all. Something about Constitutional property rights.   He also talked about the ridiculous property taxes he has to pay that makes it very difficult to carry on the business of farming.  

He also thinks its insane for the county to require him to have a paved road on his property if he wants access to the main road, when the county won’t pave a driveway to the main road, which the county owns.  A paved road would cost him $200,000, but the city councilmen couldn’t explain why they didn’t have to provide a paved road from the edge of his property to the county road, making it impossible for Mr. Burkholder to actually get to the main road.  Essentially, the county wanted him to build a concrete mote of road around his home almost to the road to comply with regulations…. while not having the access to the main road because the county doesn’t have to invest in a paved road because, well, they are the county and they can do what they want.  

Mr. Burkholder thinks every city council member should be required to have actually been a farmer at one time so they understand how much taxes are being paid and how ridiculous the regulations are.  But he’s not holding his breath that that will happen.

Oh, and it turns out that the odd contraption I’d originally noticed that brought me to Mr. Burkholder’s property is called a hay raker.  Apparently it’s the tool responsible for slicing and dicing hay into those big, large round bales of hay you see sitting in the middle of fields in the country.

Long story short, I not only have an new connection in Long County, but I also have some interesting shots of rural Georgia farmland and an open invitation to come back whenever I want.  If I decided to do some portrait photography here and there, I certainly have some interesting options for backdrops now between the farmhouses, cows and chickens, and interesting farm equipment.  

Telling the Story of Your Town

A problem photographers sometimes have is finding something to shoot.  I mean, if you can’t afford to fly to Thailand, Bali, Argentina or France to get the shots you want, why bother, right? 

But there are opportunities around you, you just have to look for them.  Since I don’t do portrait photography, I looked around my little military town to tell a story.  One of the most obvious stories here in southern Georgia is the economy.  Frankly, it sucks, and there are signs all around of the casualties the economy has taken. 

In Georgia, the unemployment rate is a full percentage point over the national average. We’re talking in the mid 9%’s. With underemployment, it’s well above double digits.  So I decided to snap a few shots of some of the businesses that have gone under in the last year on one particular road.  This is what I found:

While docu-photos or photojournalism of this kind may not win you any awards, they do help you hone your skills while you tell the untold tale of your little town.  So what’s your story?

New Firmware for the Canon EOS 7D Now Available

Firmware is awesome.  It allows the outdated technology of your DSLR to be updated with a simple memory card.  Here’s a description from Canon about what the Firmware will do for your 7D:

Canon is giving the EOS 7D an exciting upgrade with new Firmware Version 2.0.X! With Firmware Version 2.0.X, the EOS 7D gains a multitude of feature enhancements for higher performance befitting the flagship APS-C EOS. These improvements include a higher maximum burst rate (130* for JPEG Large/Fine and 25* RAW images) for continuous shooting, definable maximum limit for ISO Auto, compatibility with the GPS Receiver GP-E2, and manual audio level adjustment. Additional upgrades also include faster scrolling of magnified images, quick control during playback, in-camera RAW image processing, JPEG image resizing and ratings, plus customization of file names and time zone settings. 

Awesome!  Here’s more from Canon about the Firmware updates.

Firmware version 2.0.0 can be downloaded here. 

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

I took this HDR shot in the Cathedral in Savannah, GA after Latin Mass last week.  What a beautiful place to worship.

This image can be purchased HERE. 

Should Fear Keep Photographers From Exploring Outdoors Alone?

An interesting article by Elizabeth Carmel in Outdoor Photographer called Cosmophobia…Really? caught my attention… as an outdoor landscape photographer, I often travel alone to places I would never advise my daughters to go alone.  It’s not that these places are overrun with hoodlooms or criminals, but they can be isolated or pose a risk for injury.  

I’m an Army wife, too, so “always bring a battle buddy” has been our family motto for safety for nearly 2 decades.  

In her article, Carmel writes:

I think it’s particularly important for women to learn how to be comfortable spending time alone in the outdoors. A common question I get during my workshops and presentations is “Aren’t you afraid of being outdoors by yourself?” I’ve spent many sunrises and sunsets alone hiking out to my locations by headlamp. I find that there’s really nothing to be fearful of; the chance of being attacked by an animal or another human is almost 0%. The people you encounter in these places are enjoying the outdoors as you are and aren’t up to malice. It’s statistically more dangerous to drive your car at anytime than to walk alone in most national parks and wilderness areas. You’re much more likely to encounter violence on city streets than in the great outdoors. When tragic attacks do happen, they’re disproportionately covered by the media, but aren’t very common. I’m not suggesting that we be naive as women when travelling alone, but I am suggesting that we be smart and rational about it and not let unfounded fear stop us from photographing amazing places in amazing light, particularly if we’re not travelling with a companion.

Definitely food for thought, but as a female photographer myself, I tend to be cautious rather than take a chance for injury or worse.  We may not hear too many stories about photographers being abducted or hurt in the US, but there are certainly horror stories of women running or hiking alone that end in tragedy.  I’m not sure that the camera is a statistical protector.  

But some good rules of thumb are: 

• TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!  God gave us a “gift of fear” for a reason.  Areas that are too isolated may be tempting fate and uusally your instincts will warn you.  There may be lonely beaches that on paper might appear just a little too isolated, but you feel completely comfortable going there based on a hunch, familiarity or knowledge that its more popular than perhaps a travel guide may lead you to believe.   

• BRING A BUDDY:  If you are traveling far from home and have no contacts on the other end, be sure to try to bring a family member, escort or friend.  You might even consider bringing an up and coming photographer who would be grateful for the exposure to your expertise and the tips you can offer.   

• THINK SAFETY:  If you are planning on hiking for a matter of days or just hours along a remote passage, particularly one that is rough terrain, a “battle buddy” is very important.  Not only will he be there for strength of numbers, but you’ll be grateful if you twist an ankle or break a bone. 

• BRING PROTECTION:  It’s always smart to travel with both mace and a pocket knife… just in case.  In my experience, this has been helpful to ward off predatory animals more so than humans, but either way it’ll provide peace of mind. 

• ALWAYS BRING WATER:  If you accidentally lose your way, it can be an absolute lifesaver.  Don’t underestimate the power of the sun, even in cooler weather.  CAMELBAKs are a great way to make sure you have enough water….. hey, if it works the US soldier in combat, it works. 

• ALWAYS HAVE A CELL PHONE:  This is one of the most important battle buddies you may have.  Keep it charged and carry a charger in your vehicle so it’s ready to go.  For extended outings like overnight hikes, bring two… keep one off until the other is battery dead.

• DON’T ADVERTISE LOCATION ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR BLOG:  I do not advertise my current city, or birth place, on Facebook and when I am going on an assignment alone, I do not give my location until AFTER the assignment.  Here’s an example of a young lady who blogged the location of a charity event she was participating in… a man traveled across the country to hunt her down and sexually assualt her on her boat.  From the UK Daily Mail:  (Man Sexually Assaults Woman in Charity Event, Followed Her Location on Her Blog)

She said that a man broke into the cabin of her boat and raped her - identifying her by her full name.

‘It was terrifying. He told me he knew where to find me,’ she said.

Every individual must decide for himself what sort of risk he is willing to take in life. Most risk is reduced by planning ahead, inviting a friend or travel buddy, bringing the right equipment and using common sense.  Some free spirits enjoy testing the boundaries, and for lone female photographers sometimes those boundaries are more confining, but don’t be afraid to get out there, live life and get the shot!  Just do it with smarts.  

Sunset on the Bike Trail

I took this HDR shot, a series of three bracketed images in three different exposures in April 2012 as the sun was setting to the left of the bridge bike path located on Jekyll Island, Georgia.  With the sun facing the lens you’d expect sun spots, but the trees filtered the sun while rich and unusual colors vibrantly showed through.

This image can be purchased in my gallery here:  SUNSET ON BIKE TRAIL

Another Reason to Travel to New Zealand

Sheep, mountains, wide open spaces… and more sheep.  There are about 40 million sheep in New Zealand, and 4 and 1/2 million people.  I think that’s a perfect ration, don’t you?  This is a shot from Canterbury, New Zealand in the south island on the way to Mt. Sunday, aka, Edoras for Lord of the Rings fans, from May 2010.  

My favorite time to travel to New Zealand is in the fall….. their fall, which is spring in the United States… somewhere around the April-May time frame. Remember, New Zealand is is in the southeastern hemisphere so the seasons are flip-flopped if you’re in the States or Canada… or Europe or Asia. The leaves are turning color, there’s a good likelihood of snow in the mountains but you’ll still get warm weather in the north island and plenty of green.  This is also the low season, which makes traveling and staying in New Zealand more affordable.  The high season would be summer…. their summer, our winter.  Dec-Feb will be most expensive.  

Stone Mountain and downtown Atlanta, GA

Stone Mountain is just outside of Atlanta, GA. My daughter and I decided to hike the mountain last week.. it was brutal.. and hot.  The carving on the mountain, which looks a lot like Mount Rushmore, is of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.  Below is an HDR shot from near the top of Stone Mountain…. you can see Atlanta along the skyline to the right of the tree.  

Stone Mountain is a pretty good place to get some decent shots, and to get a decent work out, and at the base of the mountain is a gondola that goes to the top (if you don’t prefer to hike) along with water parks and things to do with the family.  Next, we were off to Atlanta.  You can see the shots here at my public Facebook page and purchase prints in my HDR gallery on Smugmug.  

People in Beijing

One of the things I noticed about the Chinese people is that they tend to do things together. They walk together, exercise together…. it seems like there are a lot of groups of people.  A Korean friend of mine pointed out that because of Communism, they do things, generally, in groups as opposed to as individuals. She in fact believes that the Chinese don’t know how to do things as individuals, generally speaking, because they’ve spent their whole lives being trained by their government to act as as a unit rather than singularly.

Interesting observation.  There are limitations to this opinion, of course, but I certainly saw it when I was in Beijing.  As examples, I shot this picture of a man and a boy (very few girls were to be seen) in the outer court of Temple of Heaven:

And this of folks in another part of the complex exercising together:

Of course, Beijing is a huge city with people packed in like Sardines, but I thought it sad that the Communist government squelches individualism on such a grand scale.  But it did reinforce my gratitude that I live in the greatest of all free nations on earth - the United States of America.  :)

Welcome to the Imago Dei Photography Blog!

Many of you associate amyproctor.squarespace.com with the Bottom Line Up Front military blog. This is the same Amy and the same site with a new direction!  Over the last few years my passion for photography has grown and I now focus on photojournalism, travel and landscape photography along with covering local news events.  I most recently shot a speech of the first couple Barack and Michele Obama at Ft. Stewart, GA and that photo essay was recognized on CNN as I do some iReporting.  

My political views have not changed but the work of a photographer is to tell the story that is happening around her, not to reinterpret the story using personal ideology.  An unbiased photojournalist? Imagine that!

I also love travel and landscape photography.  As owner of Imago Dei Photography, I am a big believer in innocence and a childlike presentation of the physical world around us.  I am at my happiest (aside from being a mother) when I look through the lens of my Canon 7D and see God’s beautiful creation the way I believe He sees it from heaven… as it out to be.  A pre-fall-from-grace in the Garden of Eden type of world full of vibrant color and refreshing winds that make you want to drop everything you’re doing and just drink it all in.  Innocence may just be my favorite word.

“Imago Dei” is Latin for Image of God.  Imago Dei Photography is committed to creating images that reflect that name.  I am dedicated to showing the world Images as I believe God sees them. :)

So I hope you’ll join me, follow me, on this new adventure through my lens here at the Imago Dei Photography blog.  

And above all else…….

 Don’t forget to leave a comment!