Title: Legally Blonde.Outtake from Civic Theatre’s run of…

Title: Legally Blonde.

Outtake from Civic Theatre’s run of Legally Blonde. Shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 300mm f/4L IS USM lens.

Title: Thirst-Quenching.8 Tips for Taking Sports Photos Like a…

Title: Thirst-Quenching.

8 Tips for Taking Sports Photos Like a Pro / photo tuts+

http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/shooting/8-tips-for-taking-sports-photos-like-a-pro/

Outtake for the Grand Rapids Triathlon. Shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens.

Title: Small Wonders. My new Canon EOS Rebel SL1 is charged up,…

Title: Small Wonders.

My new Canon EOS Rebel SL1 is charged up, outfitted with the 40mm pancake lens, and is ready to go!

For those of you not familiar with this new model by Canon… long story short this Rebel is The Worlds Smallest and Lightest DSLR Camera. With a smaller footprint than the normal Rebel line and just a tad bigger than the M series - this camera stands out. 

Watch out Micro 4/3rds market, you just can’t beat the price and all the features you would find in a “normal sized” DSLR.

Of course, I didn’t technically “NEED IT” but I wanted a small camera to use when I’m cruising around town on my moped. 

SL1 Specifications:

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_rebel_sl1_18_55mm_is_stm_kit

Title: Strong-Mindedness.Another powerful shot from the Grand…

Title: Strong-Mindedness.

Another powerful shot from the Grand Rapids Triathlon. Image taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens.

Title: Calming the Storm.There are some shots that you can not…

Title: Calming the Storm.

There are some shots that you can not stage… no matter how hard you try, it can’t be done. Case and point, the photo above represents that statement perfectly. From her tense pose to the anxious look on her face, you feel the 1,000 possible scenarios that are possibly going through her head.

After you see the determination in the triathlete’s face you are then drawn into the water. You start with the ripple effect and then take note of the rings and the splash spots. After taking in the textures you start to take in the hues to an almost calm morning lit water. A calm water that is soon to be no more once the race starts and the commotion of swimming ensues.

I just love this shot and this is quite possibly the “money shot” of race day. Had to share, enjoy.

Outtake, Grand Rapids Triathlon, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens.

Title: Blue. Yellow. Orange. Red.I hear “Your Photos are…

Title: Blue. Yellow. Orange. Red.

I hear “Your Photos are So Colorful!” weekly from clients, people who have stumbled onto my photography and even from other photographers. So today’s blog will not only help answer why my photos are so colorful, but give a few insights onto the process of taking a more vibrant photo.

First off, a little Photography 101. The number one reason a photographer, both professional and amateurs, do not take colorful photos is because they are overexposing their photos.

So how does one fix this? Well the obvious answer is to learn your camera’s settings… however, I think it goes a bit further than knowing your camera. Yes… I said it and no I’m NOT saying you don’t need to learn your camera, I’m just saying there are other things in play.

Here are 3 things that come to mind when I ask myself “Why are my photos so colorful?”

1. I shoot with a fast shutter speed. While this tends to create a darker image, especially in the viewfinder, it also gives you an image with vibrant colors, more textures and view of fine details that would normally be missed with an overexposed photo.

2. I make Exposure Bias work for me. No matter the time of day I never shoot an exposure bias (exposure compensation or EV for short) of zero. Looking back on my photos 9 times out of 10 I have mine set to -1/3 and at times have been known to go as low as -1.

Last, but not least… the most important thing:

3. I’ve trained my eyes on catching and creating color. Even when I’m not out there taking a photo my eyes are constantly looking at the surroundings around me. This is a training that I think everyone needs to do to understand “the eye for photography.”

Take a week to focus on a single color. Watch for how that color comes alive and how it pops around specific sceneries. Pay close attention to how the color changes and shifts in the day, as well as in the evening. Learn how colors change their mood when around other colors and learn that color is not a bad thing, it just needs to be seen properly.

Slow down, take a deep breath, and really focus on what makes up a picture. Look at the relationships around every item and use what you learn in your photography.

Title: Leaf Peeping.… sometimes in life you just have to…

Title: Leaf Peeping.

… sometimes in life you just have to Take That Nature Shot.

Yes, the photo above is not of graffiti, a random stranger on a street photography stroll or even an event. It is however, a kick ass nature shot.

For that reason - I’m sharing it! Enjoy.

Title: Leaf Peeping.… sometimes in life you just have to…

Title: Leaf Peeping.

… sometimes in life you just have to Take That Nature Shot.

Yes, the photo above is not of graffiti, a random stranger on a street photography stroll or even an event. It is however, a kick ass nature shot.

For that reason - I’m sharing it! Enjoy.

Title: Catching Light.I love how the lighting came out in this…

Title: Catching Light.

I love how the lighting came out in this one… as well as the black and white tones popping out all those textures!

Shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III and a EF 35mm f/1.4L lens inside Madcap Coffee in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Title: The Side of the Angels.I just love the theater and so…

Title: The Side of the Angels.

I just love the theater and so happy that my profession puts me not only in contact with an amazing crew of actors, actresses, and technical professionals… but it gets my camera in front of them.

I had the honor of shooting the dress rehearsal of Jewish Theater Grand Rapids performance of “The World of Sholom Aleichem” and what a performance! I loved the humor in this production as well as the lighting - so me and my camera were happy!

Outtake: Jewish Theater Grand Rapids. Spectrum Theater at GRCC. Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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