Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Idaho Farm (1/640 at f/7.1) 16mm at ISO 200)

Old Tire Swing

I don’t know about you but I really enjoy shooting old abandoned buildings.   I don’t quite know what it is that I love about these rundown buildings other than I think I’m drawn to their solitude.   David E. Jackson, a photographer based out of Appleton Wisconsin, spent several years photographing “rural abandonment” in Wisconsin.  His book, “Simple + Dirty” should have been labeled “Simply Amazing.”  The book is beautiful and his work is well worth checking out.  If you’re not familiar with his work then do yourself a favor and check out his work HERE.   If you’re into shooting abandoned places, I would love to hear why.  Maybe it will help reconcile that I’m not suffering from some Freudian fear of abandonment myself…;)   So drop me a line and tell me why you like shooting these empty, rundown, old buildings.

Frozen Ladder (1/100 at f/8.0; 16mm at ISO 100)

This weekend I had all intentions of taking my camera out and shooting a few frames. But as they say, “life got in the way.”  Between grocery shopping, walking dogs, exercising, and spending time with my kid….time just seemed to slip by.  Instead of beating myself up or making excuses, I’ve decided to embark on a yearlong journey to photograph an image a day.  I’ve been debating this for quite some time, but have shrugged it off due to what I feel would be my inability to deliver the goods.  Like most things, it’s all about making time and giving yourself permission to stink from time to time.   Having said that , I decided to establish some rules that I feel I could live by:  1. It’s ok to take some crappy photos 2. The image or video must be posted on the day it was shot 3. The only way out of posting for the day is in the case of an emergency or zero internet (which sadly enough is an emergency in my world) 4. Most importantly – have fun.  This is all about growing as a photographer and experimenting  a bit to get the creative juices flowing.  I plan on embarking on this journey beginning April 1^st (no, this isn’t an April Fool’s Joke)  and pushing through for the next 365 days.   I’ll let everyone know where I plan on posting the images in the weeks to come, but until then wish me luck…John

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Bear x-ings, photo by Kajsa Stolberg

Kajsa here this Sunday and I want to share a little something with you.  I was having coffee with my longtime friend last week and even though we haven’t lived in the same town in over six years it’s still as if she lives two blocks away.  She was updating me on her week, her students, the leadership conference she recently attended, and her life as a “grown up.”  I had little to update her on in the progress of my photography as I swept my arm to display the littered parking lot in front of the coffee shop – the scenery that I currently spend my hours observing.   In the past my drive to take pictures was always fueled by all the cool things I saw when I got out of my comfort zone, but for the past few months I’ve been sticking close to home trying to earn some extra money, and also taking this opportunity for a breather.  In my effort to ground myself I’ve gotten “out of shape” and my creative juices are definitely not flowing – I mean, I’ve been looking at these same surroundings since birth – what could possibly be cool??  Seeing that I was clearly uninspired, my friend gave me the boost which has stuck with me all week: she replied, “Kajsa, have you ever seen the arrow on the FedEx truck?  It’s always been there, you just have to look for it. See the arrow.”  (I wish I could give credit to the speaker of the aforementioned leadership conference who gave this advice to my friend, but unfortunately I don’t know!)  By taking the time to look at my home from an outsider’s perspective I can see all sorts of wild things: bear crossing signs, tractors holding up traffic, old barns, beautiful sunsets, and even art in the trash outside the coffee shop.  It’s the same old prompt: even if you don’t feel like there’s something to shoot, get out and shoot anyway!  You might find material to create some pretty great stuff. Now it’s your turn – see the arrow!

Henry's Fork Moose

Ok…it’s been a while since I’ve done a Q&A session so I thought I would answer a few questions I’ve received over last few months.

Why should I use a lens hood?
I always use my lens hood because it reduces flare from the sun and lights.  Most importantly, it is just another way to protect your glass. I don’t know how many times I’ve knocked my camera in doorways, poles, trees, etc.

Do I need a UV filter?
I always use a UV filter on my lens (personal preference). Once again it’s just another way to protect your lens. I do want to add a special note for those of you who have gone out and bought an expensive lens. There is no sense whatsoever in spending $1,000+ on a lens just to put a cheap $5.00 UV filter on it. You get what you pay for, and if you’re buying expensive glass and plan on using a UV filter, than I suggest buying a quality filter.

When I’m taking sunset/sunrise photos, do I need to remove my polarizing filter?
Depends. Using a polarized filter and playing with the exposure can result in a dramatic sunset/sunrises. Or, if you prefer you can leave the filter off and apply filters in Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture…etc.

What’s your favorite all around lens?
I love shooting with my Canon 24-70mm USM L series. This lens goes with me everywhere.  But I did stop sleeping with it a few years back…

Your favorite camera bag?
I’ve owned a few but I have to say Think Tank’s Streetwalker Pro is my favorite hands down.  This bag is sturdy, has a rain cover thrown in, and it simply works.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I’m always looking for good Q&A ideas so if you have any questions feel free to leave them here.

If you found this helpful consider subscribing to my blog HERE or checking out one of my workshops HERE.

The Chief

Golden Retreiver

"Old Barn"

All of us remember our first kiss, our first real car, maybe even our first camera, but do you remember the very first image that spoke to you as a photographer?  Not like, “hey, you photographer shoot me” but more like “hey, I’m really enjoying this!  I think this is something I could really get into.”   I was looking through my old photos recently trying to locate the four images that I vividly remember changing my path as a photographer.  Not because they were great, but because they spoke to me.  They truly made me want to become a better photographer. I was only successful in locating three of the four photos….yes, the story of my life    Two of the photos were of an old barn and a fence post.  I remember taking these photos and  thinking this just rocks.  To be honest,  any image I was able to make a decent print of  at the time simply rocked when I was 14.    Another photo  I vividly recall was a of the local Culligan guy’s golden retriever.  Wherever this guy was, his dog was in tow, so I took a few photos one day when he was delivering salt to our house.  The owner  was so thrilled with how they turned out  he insisted on making a large print for his office. And at the ripe old age of 15 I felt as though I had won the lottery.  Lastly, some 12 years later while traveling to Zimbabwe I came across a gentlemen that simply described himself as the “Village Chief.” While I was photographing him and listening to his story, I remember thinking to myself, “ I could do this for the rest of my life.”   I still enjoy, shooting old buildings, dogs (I live with a pack of 4) and people.  It’s funny how your  style might change, your quality improves (hopefully), but at the end of the day you still  shoot what you enjoy.  So my question for all of you is, “What images do you remember directing or fueling your photographic journey?