Tutorial - Sun Stars

I recently posted the above photo on Facebook. It is a happy memory of a day spent snowshoeing with friends - the sun just beginning to cross behind the mountains. I knew in that setting I could capture a remarkable image with the sun creating a sun burst effect.

It's all done in your camera. And very easy to do - there is a little science involved but no equations to memorize just a little experimentation.

The effect happens because light has a tendency to bend slightly around objects. Have you ever noticed light seeping in through a crack and there is light next to the crack as well as straight through the crack? It's bending.

Now consider the anatomy of a camera lens - specifically the apparatus that creates the aperture or the opening that allows light to enter the camera. The aperture is created by a diaphragm made up of blades that open & close to allow or restrict light. The blades aren't sealed and light can bend or leak around the edges. We don't see this very often unless there is a lot of light trying to get through a small opening - like the sun! 

So the rays of the sun star are where the light has leaked around the blades of the diaphragm.

So how do you make a sun star?

First you need to be able to manipulate the aperture in your camera/lens. Your camera can either be set for aperture priority or manual. This is very important - if you leave it on auto or program, your image might not turn out the way you'd like.

Then you'll need to find the right setting and light. In all of my images here, the sun is slightly obscured by an object which works marvelously well. In each the object is the primary subject and the sun is used to accent the subject and to highlight shape.

So find a scene where the sun is peaking at you over a mountain or through leaves of a tree.

Next, stop down your aperture as far as it will go. Remember, the larger the number for the aperture, the smaller the opening. You want that opening very small so take your aperture to f/16 or f/22. I've even used f/32. Adjust for the exposure and shoot away.

Check your image to see if it's what you want & make whatever adjustments you need to get it perfect.

Shooting sun stars can be very fun and will add a special highlight to your photography.

One of the hardest things I've ever had to do as a photographer was to write an artist's statement. Looking into oneself to answer these questions:

"Why do I photograph?"
"Why do I photograph the subjects I photograph?"
"What do I want the viewer to take away from my photograph?"
"What am I trying to say as a photographer?"

Heavy thoughts. Even as an introvert I found the contemplation of my photography a daunting task.

Throughout my life, I have found myself pursuing then retreating from photography. As a child it was a bond between my father and I - a tenuous bond, but at least he seemed to like me when we were out photographing mountains & trees. As a teen, I retreated to photography after being informed several times I was not smart enough to be a marine biologist or even to go to college - at least I could take pictures. I became lost to myself in college and married a jealous student photo-journalist and I put away the camera to keep the peace when I excelled where he did not. Later after the divorce, I picked it up again as a hobby to record my adventures and the beauty I witnessed in the world around me.

It wasn't until several years later when I was once again questioning who I was and what I wanted out of life that I realized the place I'm happiest is behind my camera. Sharing the experiences I was having through film and sensor. But it wasn't just my story I wanted to share, but the story of the place I explored and would come to love.

Each subject for me, speaks to me. Tells me of its wonder and brilliance. It is an intimate discussion that I've gotten lost in. I've allowed it to envelope me. Consume me. Its made me oblivious of time, weather, sound.

And it is this translation of the conversation I hope the viewer sees.

Vision in Delirium

When my boss called in with the flu at the beginning of the year, I should have gone immediately for my flu shot. But I put it off. I knew it was going around. And I knew it was a nasty one.

So this past week I spent my time either in bed or on the couch. Cancelled my great weekend plans. And daydreamed about all the wonderful places I had been and places to go.

I smiled at the memories of shared adventures with friends, knowing they are the adventure buddies I can count on for future travels.

The weekend prior to my bedridden week, 3 of my buddies & I decided to snowshoe to the Big Four Ice Caves along the Mountain Loop Highway. A popular destination in the summer as it's an easy day hike for families becomes a stunning snowshoe in the winter. The cliff area of the ice caves can be very dangerous - in recent years there have been several accidents and at least one death from avalanches falling even in the later summer months. But it's the avalanches that create the ice caves. And the popularity of area has not diminished even with the dangers.

Our plan was to snowshoe from where the road is closed to just beyond the bridge over the Stillaquamish River. The snow pack for the day was pretty stable, but this area can be highly unpredictable so we decided to stay in the trees and not head up into the plateau at the base of the cliff.

The day was gorgeous. Blue skies and freezing temps. We were bundled up against the cold but wearing sun screen & sunglasses - always a great combination on a winter day. I love seeing the bright white of ice and snow against the blue Washington skies.

The road travels along the river in the trees with glimpses of the mountain peaks around the valley. We stopped often for pictures and to chat and then started again as the cold seeped through our many layers of clothing. And it was COLD! The moisture in the air had frozen along the river and coated everything in a feathery layer of hoar frost. At times it looked fantastical.

After we stopped briefly at the picnic shelter for lunch, we started out for the river through a marsh area. If we thought the hoar frost along the river was fantastical, the hoar frost here was other-worldy. It spread out like fern fronds inches from the snow & branches. It was a vision worth remembering.

The open air and views, the snow and sky, the walk and friends all worthy of reminiscing and thinking forward

Creativity Lesson

Try this for a creativity challenge - a Scavenger Hunt.

I've participated in scavenger hunts since a I was a kid. Who didn't enjoy teaming up with friends to figure out clues to get to the final prize. Even an introvert like me enjoyed the game because I was allowed to work out puzzles and apply the results.

A few years ago I participated in my first photo scavenger hunt while at a retreat on the northern Olympic Peninsula. It was fun, but seemed more clinical - take a photo of a deer, take a picture of lavender. Each could be construed in a creative manner according to the photographer, but I was really just collecting images to try & win. I participated in a few after that, but never really felt challenged to explore my creativity.

This past weekend, I partook in another photo scavenger hunt. For this one we were given destinations and were told to photograph the area keeping in mind to look for images that show the area as a tourist destination. We again hit the peninsula but traveled with specific destinations. Each photographic team arrived at each destination about the same time but we each had to create our own vision withing the parameters of the task.

Here are a few of my images from the day.

Tacoma Dome Station, Tacoma WA

Gig Harbor, WA 

Port Orchard, WA

 Chief Sealth's Gravesite, Suquamish, WA

 Story Wall, Bainbridge Island, WA

A Second Look

I shoot a lot while hiking. While I enjoy looking for that scene I might have in my mind, setting up the shot and waiting for the light sometimes I just need to shoot and run. Something about a scene grab my attention and I "grab and go."

This type of photography doesn't always lend itself to a carefully shot image. Or to working a scene - taking images from different angles, shutter speeds and apertures for the best composition.

Nor am I able to set up the tripod and take multiple exposures to blend together later in HDR software.

I also will apply this "grab and go" style to editing my images. If it grabs me as I sift through the images, it gets to stay. If not, then into the trash bin it goes.

But every now & then an image deserves a second look. The two images here have different stories, but each was given a second chance much to my appreciation.

1. On Gold Creek Pond, Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

While hiking through what was left of an early season snow around Gold Creek Pond, located near Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, I meandered down by the lake shore. It wasn't a particularly spectacular day for landscapes as the clouds were thick in the trees just above the trees. I was primarily shooting intimate nature portraits in the even light. There were a lot of opportunities for colorful leaves with a dusting of snow. I almost didn't take this picture as the light was flat - no features in the low clouds beyond. But the shape made by the near perfect reflection was attractive. Later as I processed the image I let the sky go white to highlight the shape of the reflection in the water.

2. Grassy Log in Nada Lake, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

On my trip to the Enchantments this past October, my friends & I stayed at Nada Lake on our way in. In the morning light fell on this log out in the lake but the hill behind was still in shadow. It was such an interesting log with grass and shrubbery growing on it. I knew there was a picture in there somewhere so I took a few shots as did my companions. But as I looked at it on my computer I wasn't as thrilled as I had been when I first saw the log in the morning light. But I hesitated when I highlighted the image to throw away. I decided to crop it and darken the background enough to lose the shadowy detail that had been captured.

Every now and then, an image or a scene is worth taking a second, third or even fourth look. You might find magic in there.

Top 10 Images 2012

I'm not normally one to follow the crowd. Yet as I read articles and blogs looking back at what transpired over the past year, I started to think about my year. I set out to work on my photography business - Focus on Photography is what I called it. And I worked on the business, made progress and feel more comfortable with where I stand.

I believe I have a good solid base to reach out to the journey ahead.

This past year I started out on the Oregon Coast & ended up in the Enchantments. I tackled a fear and practiced my portraiture. Entered a couple of contests and won a few, even having an image printed in a calendar. A new camera came into my life to help me explore my creativity. I hiked new trails & visited some old faves and explored the wondrous world around me.

To look back on my year, I see more accomplishments than set-backs which says I had a pretty good year. Finding just 10 images was extremely hard.

So here are my favorite images from 2012. What were yours?

1. Cafe Campagne, Post Alley, Seattle, WA

2. Seaweed, Cape Alava, Olympic National Park, WA

3. Justin, Portrait 

4. Prusik Peak in Gnome Tarn, The Enchantments, Wenatchee-Okanagen National Forest, WA

5. Agnes Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta

6. Canoe, Lake O'Hara, Yoho National Park, Alberta

7. Winter Solitude, Gifford Pinchot National Park, WA

8. Forest Trail in the Fog, Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, WA

9. Radishes and Green Onions, Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA

10. Snowy Owl, Boundary Bay, BC

I look forward to sharing an adventurous 2013 through words & images.

Christmas Eve Disappointments?

Wow! Talk about disheartening. I decided to take Christmas Eve off so I could explore the waterfalls of southern Washington, along the Lewis River and beyond. I would camp near the river but the campgrounds in the area were already closed for the season. I checked the road on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest site and there were no updates. However several descriptions said the trails I wanted are accessible throughout the winter. And there are private campgrounds in the area. Worst case, I could always just sleep on the side of the road. I had done my research and was looking forward to a weekend of photography.

Sunday morning, I picked up my dog and set off along I-5 to Vancouver. My first stop was 40 miles east of Vancouver for a collection of falls that I had been wanting to visit since the spring. I saw them in my head with traces of snow and knew they'd be gorgeous. Were they? I don't know. I will have to wait for another trip for there was far too much snow to drive any further and with the fast approaching darkness and more snow falling I decided to not chance the drive or the hike along 5 miles of road. I turned around and started back to Vancouver and continued to Woodland. The rain mixed with snow proved too much for me after the long and unproductive day. Time for a cheap motel that would accept Zillah.

We awoke the next morning to partial blue skies. All I needed to do was reach one of the trail heads for the Lewis River trail & I'd be set for the day. Excitement for a long deserved winter hike sped me along the road. Not even the gathering clouds & fog were going to put a damper on my day. A sign stated that forest road 90 was open. YES! But then I got to the turn-off. Nope not open. The snows over the past few days hadn't been cleared. If I wasn't alone in a sedan without cell service, I might have tried it, but my first rule when heading out on an adventure is to not become a headline. So I turned the car around. And stopped.

Dang it! I was not going to waste this trip. Zillah hopped out of the car with great joy and ran though the snow into the forest. I pulled out my tripod - the forest was very pretty with the snow & the moss - and extended one leg of the tripod. Next thing I know, I'm standing with the leg of the tripod in one hand, my tripod in the other and bits of plastic in the snow at my feet. F***! After tossing the tripod back into the trunk, I grabbed my camera & shot a few views handheld, including the blur of Zillah running through the snow.

The rest of my trip to my aunt's house for evening celebrations, was spent looking for images. The image above is from a slight causeway above a damn near the town of Cougar.The low clouds in the dark trees, the almost glass-like surface of the water made me stop. I can't tell you how many times I have driven past this area and never bothered to stop. Those other times, the view didn't speak to me. This time it said, stop - all is not lost - let my tranquility soothe your spirits - let me be the image that redefines your trip to marvelous.