Shooting Challenge - August 26, 2012 - Sunflowers

Title:  Weeping Sunflower

Date Taken:  08-20-06

Location:  London, England

F-Stop:  f/3.7

Exposure Time:  1/350 Sec.

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  380mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

Several people have suggested I show flowers.  I love working in my garden, and back in Texas, I had over 100 rose bushes in my yard.  I really appreciate the beauty of flowers.  Honest.  But I find it more exciting to capture the bugs, and the birds, and the bees.  Quite frankly, I got sick to death of the sunflower when everyone had it in their kitchen, representing all that joy and sunshine.  It was just over kill.  But as photographers, our job is to see the ordinary in extraordinary situations.  Or is that to see the extraordinary in ordinary things?  Either way, we try to convey our emotions through the images we capture.  In my opinion, the above sunflowers were tired.  It was late in the day, and late in the season. The weather had been dreary. What does the image say to you?  I would love to see what the subject of sunflowers brings to your mind.  I welcome your comments and photos. 

Any suggestions or requests for future Shooting Challenges?  Let me know!

Shooting Challenge - August 19, 2012 - Faceless Fotos

Every photographer knows the magic behind the perfect smile, but sometimes the real power is in the emotion captured without the pearly whites.  For this week's Shooting Challenge, consider telling the story with other body parts, emphasizing location, detail, motion, mood, and such.  Here are a few ideas from the Horse World to get you started.  Please share some of yours by responding.  Please feel free to comment on likes and dislikes as well.  

Percheron in Motion

Capable Hands

No Small Task at Hand

Kickin' Back

Hands High

Shooting Challenge - January 29, 2012 - Self-Portrait

Title: Self-Portrait

Date Taken: 05-08-11

Location:  Carson City, Nevada

F-Stop:  f/7.1

Exposure Time:  1/400 sec

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  220mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

 

Dating all the way back to my first assignments in photography, I have always dreaded the subject of self-portraits.  As far as I am concerned, I am the photographer.  I am meant to be behind the camera, not in front of it.  Sometimes it is good to stretch into the not so comfortable territory, just to keep things exciting.  So the next time you are asked to come up with a self-portrait, have fun with it.  Get creative!  Reflections come in many forms.  Can you guess what surface I used to capture my image in this one?

 

Shooting Challenge - January 15, 2012 - Dew

Title:  Dawn

Date Taken:  02/27/10

Location:  Anahuac, Texas

F-Stop:  f/5.6

Exposure Time:  1/400 sec

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  80mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

Seems like everywhere I go lately, the topic of how badly we need water here in the Sierras comes into the conversation.  That makes me stop to reflect on our Texas mornings, when I awoke to fields kissed with the glimmer of morning dew, transforming the most basic subjects into shimmering jewels.  For this week's shooting challenge, I wanted to concentrate on dew.  

Popular subjects to look for when photographing dew include spider webs, wildflowers, dragonflies, grasses, butterflies, leaves, and of course, the classic rose.  Dew presents a very limited window of opportunity, searching for the perfect balance of having enough morning light to show off your subject, and having too much warming sun to evaporate your due.  Usually, you have about an hour.

 

Capturing droplets of dew requires macro photography, and wind can be your biggest enemy.  Even the slightest breeze can ruin your frame.  I recommend a longer lens so you don't disturb the dew by getting too close to your subject.  Sharp focus and a shallow depth of field are extremely important, and I always use a tripod and a remote release to aviod lens shake.

I hope you will join me this week in getting out and looking for that rare moisture in our area.  Have fun and take the time to enjoy the stillness and the beauty in the detail!

Shooting Challenge - September 18, 2011 - Flight

Title:  Up and Away

Date Taken:  September 15, 2011

Location: Reno, Nevada

F-Stop:  f/10

Exposure Time:  1/500 sec.

ISO:  250

Focal Length:  300 mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

While considering a topic for this week's Shooting Challenge, a tragic accident at this year's Reno Air Race  weighs heavily on the minds of not only myself, but so many people in my life.  While at the Virginia City 100 this weekend, I ran into someone I knew personally that had been at the air races when the crash occurred, and he shared a great notion with me, stating that the best thing he could do as a pilot was to get back up and fly immediately.  I agree whole-heartedly and intend to do just that this week.  I also felt compelled to honor the thousands of people in our community impacted by this tragedy by selecting "Flight" as this week's Shooting Challenge.  I usually attend the Air Races, but this year new commitments found me in a different location.  I went back through my files, and fortunately was able to locate several images of pilot Jimmy Leeward who lost his life this week, and his P-51 Mustang, "Galloping Ghost."  Out of respect, I elected not to use any of those images, but instead selected another Warbird from the same Unlimited Class.

Taking photographs at aviation events can be a challenge, but the rewards are well worth the effort.  Aside from the usual challenges of shooting public events, such as unwanted traffic in your frame, lack of control for staging, and sometimes limited access, tracking of fast moving objects, harsh lighting, difficult backgrounds, and the need for stopping action are also factors.  Be sure to get some great shots of planes in the air, but don't overlook other great opportunities, including roll-byes on the tarmac, close-ups of paint schemes, details of the airplanes, and candids of pilots and crew.

Shooting Challenge - July 24, 2011 - Freedom

Title:  Serenity

Date Taken:  July 17, 2011

Location:  Hazen, Nevada

F-Stop:  f/13

Exposure Time:  1/400 sec

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  18mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

For this week's Shooting Challenge, consider the feeling of Freedom.  Whether it brings to mind soldiers, an American flag, or a lazy afternoon, one thing is certain - the word "freedom"  brings deep emotion.  For me, the sense of being in this gorgeous canyon washed me with a wave of peace, freeing me from all the stress of everyday life, no matter how brief the sensation.

Shooting Challenge - July 3, 2011 - Pet Photography

 

Title:  Cool Dude Chester

Date Taken:  June 25, 2011

Location:  Silver Springs, Nevada

F-Stop:  f/13

Exposure Time:  1/500 sec

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  80 mm

Photograher:  Kitty Carlisle

 

Shooting Challenge - June 5, 2011 - Reflections

Title:  Reflections

F-Stop:  f/13

Exposure Time:  1/400 sec.

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  28 mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

Shooting Challenge - May 29, 2011 - Moon Shots

Title:  Moonrise Over Last Call Ranch

Date Taken: May 15, 2011

Location:  Silver Springs, Nevada

F-Stop:  F/8

Exposure Time:  1/200 Sec.

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  32mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

Shooting Challenge - May 22, 2011 - Stop Action

Title:  Falling Leaves

Location:  Carson City, Nevada

F-Stop:  F/10

Exposure Time:  1/200 sec

ISO:  400

Focal Length:  50 mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

Shooting Challenge - May 15, 2011 - Curves

Title:  Makin' Trax

Location:  Nevada State Rialroad Museum

Carson City, NV

F-Stop:  F/8

Exposure Time:  1/500 sec

ISO:  320

Focal Length:  205 mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle

Shooting Challenge - May 8, 2011 - The Horse in Black & White

Horse:  Desi

Owner:  John & Meredith Mayeroff

Location:  Reno, Nevada

F-Stop:  F/8

Exposure Time:  1/1250 sec.

ISO:  400

Focal Length: 75mm

Photographer:  Kitty Carlisle