Christmas Eve...

'twas the night before Christmas
And at Stanford U
Were beautiful carols
We heard from the pews

(I'll stop here before I get carried away; it really was a nice service...)

Merry Christmas!

Jim

I'm experimenting with Magcloud, a print-on-demand magazine publication service, for the launch of my new photo journal, "Images". Volume One features images from the Northern California Coast, and is available in print and for download.

I look forward to your feedback!

Images

Images is a boutique photography journal, featuring photographic themes by photographer Jim Vanides (www.vanidesphotography.com)

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret - Palo Alto Baylands

Sometimes I just revel in the spontaneity of photography, when the destination is the impetus, not the goal, and the results are unpredictable. My Sunday afternoon jaunt to the Palo Alto Baylands turned out to be a real treat.

I had no idea what I would find when I drove past the duck pond out to the parking area at the end of the road. Usually I long for a LONGER lens than my usual 70-210 telephoto. Today was special, though, as a small collection of egrets were wading and foraging in the low tide ponds right alongside the path. They couldn't have been more than 15-20 meters away.

They didn't stay long, but I certainly appreciated their patience...

Captions

Some photos just cry out for a caption.

If I'm in a serious mood, I might refer to the actual location and famous object that it is. But really - what was the first thing you thought? I suppose it depends on your mood - and whether you think he's pointing at you.

Anyone care to suggest a caption? Serious or humorous, anything (in good taste) is welcome...

Menlo Park Firefighters Commemorate our 9-11 Heroes

11 September 2001 was an historic day that few will forget. Ten years later, the specter of extremism remains - but I will not forget the way people from all walks of life and beliefs gathered in solidarity against it. I share these photos with gratitude to firefighters who protect and serve communities across this great nation of ours...

Menlo Park Fire District commemorative display, honoring the fire fighters of 9-11
(Menlo Park, CA - 9/10/11)

 

(Photo #1 and #4 featured in the Almanac News Online - www.almanacnews.com)

Amazing spiders

OK, I admit it: I am not generally fond of spiders, especially the ones that make their home inside MY home. But I have to also admit that they really are quite amazing. They are industrious, and their artistic and practical "web engineering" is truly impressive - not to mention their incredible patience.

Perhaps I have a thing or two to learn from them (at least from the ones in my garden)...

My First Bonsai

Inspired by my mother's love of bonsai, and motivated by her gift of my first "bonsai pots", I have taken the brave move to create my first two bonsai plantings. I find myself drawn to bonsai because, like photography, it is a combination of art and technical skill.

I am also inspirted by my Mom's "just go for it" approach, both in her art and her own bonsai collection. So, with advanced apologies to bonsai purists who know a LOT more than I do, I humbly present my first two bonsai creations:

Liquid amber, from a recent random sprout in our yard

Coast Live Oak, from a two year-old seedling (the year our oak tree blew off thousands of acorns)

Of course any tips on how to REALLY do bonsai, how to care for these fragile creations, etc., are much appreciated. Feel free to post your suggestions or links to your favorite bonsai resources in the comments area. I look forward to hearing from you!

Small Wonders Everywhere

Visiting family in the Pacific Northwest, I went outside one morning in hopes of catching a photo of the local deer who like to forage in the woodland neighborhood. Of course they were no where to be seen - no doubt preferring the evenings over the morning.

Thankfully, I had my macro lens with me, so my morning walk was full of small surprises:

Morning dew on a fern stem, inspired by (but not nearly as remarkable as) a photo by  Aspiring Photographer

The fun continued the next day during a stop along Highway 5, south of Eugene, Oregon. There was nothing remarkable about the turn-off (really - nothing at all)... at first glance. But lo and behold, the wonderful world of "small" began to reveal itself in a patch of grass alongside the on-ramp.

 

If anyone knows the formal names for these beauties, please post a comment!

Back to the Golden Gate

Probably one of the most photographed man-made structures, the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge has so many "personalities", that I keep coming back...

 

Just remember - when visiting the Golden Gate in the summer, bring a warm jacket! These were shot on July 1st...!

It's a another gorgeous day to take a closer look

I don't know what you do when the sun is out and the flowers are basking in the warmth, but I like to grab my macro lens and take a closer look. With so much available light, macro photography doesn't require tremendously slow and challenging shutter speeds (when one small breeze comes through and the image is no longer sharp).

What's so fun about macro photography is what you'll find once you get up close. Nature seems to always be full of surprises:

 

 

My NMC Photo Safari Highlights

Sunrise view of the Tetons from Oxbow Bend...

I’ve always enjoyed photography, so I viewed the invitation to participate in the recent NMC Photo Safari in Jackson, Wyoming, as a chance to take my photography skills to the next level. It was exactly that – and so much more.

I arrived to the event in a state of excitement mixed with a feeling of impending intimidation. After all, I’ve seen Larry Johnson’s photography, and could only imagine what a room filled with photographic talent might be like. The excitement was well deserved; but the NMC Photo Safari was anything but intimidating. I attribute the success of the Safari to three factors:

AMAZING PEOPLE

Over the years I’ve collected thousands of photos – and thousands of questions. Trolling the internet for answers to simple “how to” questions is easy. But finding answers to questions I didn’t even know I had is a rarity. It takes a conversation – and the NMC Photo Safari was FULL of conversation, from before the crack of dawn to the relaxing hours after dinner.

The professionals at the event were stellar, and they shared their experiences (and photography examples) freely. What a unique experience it was to be able to interrupt a photo shoot in action and say, “Uh, why are you doing that? What settings are you using? Why did you set up here?”

Many thanks to Bill Frakes for his insights and travel stories; to Scott Diussa (Nikon Professional Services) for a myriad of practical tips about tools and shooting video with DSLR’s; to Robin Elledge, an experienced professional photographer, photography instructor, and our local “guide”; Thomas Mangelsen, who graciously agreed to provide an open house at his gallery in town with jaw-dropping images and who provided helpful critiques of our work; and NMC’s Larry Johnson, who I consider to be a professional photographer even though he actually has a day job as CEO of NMC.

Shadows of lurking photographers during an early morning shoot...

But it wasn’t just the professionals who were amazing. Regardless of their level of experience, each of the attendees was amazing in their own way. Coming from various life experiences that span age 17 to infinity (that’s a photographer’s polite way of saying, “way out there”), everyone was joined by a common, earnest interest and enthusiasm for learning more. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas and perspective with me.

AN AMAZING PLACE

A safari is obviously only as good as the place itself. Sure you can find opportunities to find and create great images anywhere, but there is definitely something unique about Grand Teton National Park. From dramatic snow-covered craggy mountains to majestic open spaces, the region is a treasure to behold – especially when the tourists haven’t descended on the small town of Jackson.

While it would be a wonderful place to visit regardless of the weather, I have to admit that I was rejoicing that the rainy/snowy weather from just days before was transformed into clear-sky mornings and near spring-like days. Whoever made these arrangements should be heartily congratulated.

AMAZING PHOTOS

Finally, the artistic talent of my fellow “students” and the professionals was truly stunning. The anonymous photos projected during the evening “critique” sessions and the professional images that were part of the professionals’ “story telling” often brought ooohs and aaaahs from the intimate audience – and for good reason. There was something about learning alongside people who are positive and enthusiastic about what you’re attempting to do that brings out the best in everyone.

"Light painting" an abandoned barn during an evening shoot...

By the end of two and half intensive days (40 hours of “experience” with plenty of adrenaline to make up for the sleep deprivation), I can say without reservation that I returned home informed, encouraged, and inspired.

To “give back”, I include in my full article (PDF) extracts from my “field notes” that I picked up along the way, with plenty of interesting tidbits that will keep me busy until the next time I attend an NMC Photo Safari. I share these with you in hopes that they serve you well, too…

With gratitude,

Jim Vanides

www.vanidesphotography.com

More photos from all the Safari participants are being
posted in Flickr. You can view them below:

 

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=nmcphotosafari%20jh

With Gratitude to the Mothers I Know

The unconditional love of a mother

Is remarkable to behold

and priceless to receive...

I do not have the words to adequately express my gratitude for the mothers that I know. May your special day be filled with Love and Affirmation...

Behind the Scenes - The Making of the Peeps Diorama

Just in case anyone is dying of curiosity, here's what the setup looked like for shooting my Peeps diorama:

• The backdrop is a 2x3' poster made from a real photo at the University of Chicago; the photo was shot in November, so I changed the sky in Photoshop using a nice blue sky image shot from an airplane window
• I used a wide-angle lens set to 17mm
• The tripod was critical, as I used a long 5 second exposure, triggered via a countdown timer
• I adjusted the tripod to get a low angle, slightly above the scene; I then adjusted the poster's vertical position so the gate in the distance aligned with the converging path
• My flash was not attached - I held it in my hand and manually triggered it during the 5 second exposure. The flash was pointed up toward the 8' ceiling in the room, providing a lot of great bounce light

Of course the family cat below the diorama served as my studio assistant - but for your own diorama, this would be completely optional.

When it comes to Peeps, art imitates life

It was the most delightful frivolity I've had in quite some time.  Responding to the University of Chicago Magazine's call for Peeps Dioramas was quite cathartic, actually. The challenge was to represent some aspect of the life of UoC. Of course all I could do is share a parent's perspective - a special memory of mine, now emblazoned in my memory in more ways than one:

"Now We Must Divide"

There are few milestones quite as memorable as when your child, now grown, heads off to college. As a parent of a Class of ’10 alum, that unforgettable moment occurred when the Dean of the College declared on Opening Day, 'Now we must divide…' The students all marched forward through the gate into their future as yet unknown, while the parents stood to the side, with Kleenex in hand, watching history unfold. In the background the air was filled with emotional tones from the Scottish bag-peeps. - JV

"Now We Must Divide" - University of Chicago Magazine 2011 Peeps Diorama Contest - Honorable Mention

Many thanks to the University of Chicago for the opportunity to share a memory - and hopefully a few laughs, too. Thanks for the "honorable mention", too.

The full article is available from the University of Chicago Magazine blog, and additional entries are posted on their Flickr set entitled "Peeple's Choice, 2011".

Frohe Ostern!

 

I made this photo into an Easter card for some German friends. It turns out, according to our friends, that the daffodil is a favorite Easter flower in Germany (similar to the popularity of the Easter Lily in the US). In fact, the daffodil is referred to as "die Osterglocke" (the Easter Bell)!

Whichever flower you celebrate with, I wish you a joyful and hope-filled Easter...

Every photo has a story

Speaking of the Golden Gate Bridge, this particular photo has a story:

We pulled up and parked in front of the breakwater at Fort Point (below the south end of the bridge). It's a great view, and this sea gull seemed more than happy to oblige me with a few photos. With the shutter speed set to capture the sea spray in mid flight, I was having a wonderful time.

...until the bird flew away! I thought to myself, "No, wait! I want to get one more..." but my thought was cut short by an enormous splash of water that hit my car, me (and miraculously, not my camera).

It turns out the sea gulls are not as stupid as one might think - and that it was not posing for me. Unlike me, the gull was carefully watching the incoming waves, and spotted the pending disaster that I was soon to receive.

Lesson #1: Never turn your back on the ocean
Lesson #2: Pay attention to what the subject is telling you. If the subject runs away, assume there is a good reason

Ah, the Golden Gate

Is it ever possible to get tired of taking pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge? So far, the answer is "no"...

I'm still discovering different angles and different lighting, and every day (and night) brings new possibilities:

If you've seen or have taken a great shot of the Golden Gate Bridge, please leave me a comment and link. I'd love to see your favorite "take" on this magnificent icon of San Francisco...

A Beautiful Day at the Pinnacles

It was a beautiful day at Pinnacles National Monument - just what we needed to rest our souls and reflect a little. I hope you enjoy some of the photos from our walk:

The wonderful thing about the Pinnacles in the spring is 1) it isn't blazing hot yet, and 2) there is a lot of beauty beyond the pinnacles themselves.

Ahhhh....

Animal portraits

Pets and animals in general are fun to photograph. It's more challenging than adults, who you can art-direct, but in many ways easier than children (whose spontaneity leads to something more akin to sports photography). Like most portraits, I concentrate on capturing what the faces are saying. A fraction of a second makes all the difference...

Monkey running free at the Taj Mahal - though from the looks of it, he's not exactly enjoying all the tourists...

Who could resist Lily's invitation to play "toss-the-squishy"?

In one of my random moments of whimsy, wondering what a Corgi cameo might look like. Sarah, herself, would most likely have not approved...

Even photos that don't quite turn out, because of messy backgrounds, can sometimes be rescued with some careful Photoshop editing. For example I loved the expression on Sarah's face, but dog-gone it (pun intended), the dining room chair was just a pesky nuisance:

 

So I removed the background and placed her in a "studio backdrop" with plenty of blank-space, perhaps for a future greeting card or poster:

If you have a favorite pet/animal portrait, feel free to post a comment with a link!

- Jim

Look Again...

Daffodils arranged by Constance Vanides (f/9 1.6s 17mm)

The wonderful thing about digital photography is the ability to quickly experiment. It's great for those learning photography, and it's even more fun, I think, as you push your craft and grow your expertise. But with all the instant gratification of digital, it's too easy to be in a hurry.

Every type of subject poses its own challenges. I am constantly amazed at how relaxing still-life photography can be - and how this opens up opportunities to "look again" at the subject.

The daffodils above, for example, were placed on a table with a sweep of white paper to eliminate the "horizon" of a backdrop. It was lit with two sources - the north-facing window to the left of the setup, and with a flash unit covered with a diffuser, hand-held high and to the right to fill the white backdrop. I intentionally selected a slow ISO speed so I could get a LONG exposure time, giving me time to manually trigger the flash while the shutter was open. It took a few tries, but like I said, that's the beauty of digital.


But that was just the beginning of the fun. How else could I capture "daffodils"? what else was there to see?

(f/8 1/6s 100mm Macro)

A classic "two-daffodil portrait" was a fine starting point, but I didn't think it was very inspiring.

(f/9 1s 100mm Macro)

With the same backdrop, I wanted to see what a quarter profile would look like. I intentionally left the whitespace on the left, in case I wanted to make a poster or greeting card with words (cropping is always easier than enlarging the canvas!).

(f/6 1/25 100mm Macro)

Moving even closer, the subject stops looking like a classic daffodil, and starts looking more like an undulating water creature. Closer still, and a surprise emerges:

(f/8 1/2s 100mm Macro)

I had never noticed before that the stamen of the daffodil has a 3-"leaf" center feature. I'm no botanist, but I'm sure it serves a purpose.


I just wouldn't have ever noticed had I not taken the time to "look again"...


  
____________

Photo Tip: It goes without saying that when you get this much magnification with a macro lens, vibrations can easily ruin a shot. A tripod is a must, and I highly recommend that you also:

• Lock up the mirror before you shoot; better yet, if your camera has a combination mirror lock and LCD preview with zoom, you can fine-tune your focusing AND get the advantage of reduced mirror shake
  
• Use a remote shutter release; if you don't have one, use the timer on your camera (I used a 2 second delay, which was enough to make sure the camera and tripod stopped vibrating after I pressed the shutter)
  
• Select a mid-range f-stop; if the f-stop is too open, focusing is really difficult as the depth-of-field is VERY shallow in situations like this. With a mid-range f-stop, you have more of a chance of getting key areas to be in focus (if that's what you're trying to achieve).