In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
Jen and I met to shoot leading lines for our class near the fenced stretch of sand just west of Costco on Dinah Shore Dr.
Hmmmmm, I wonder why Jen put her lens cap in the sand:-)
A quick last minute dinner got us to our nearby location with only a half hour of sun before it dropped behind the distant San Jacinto lower mountains and San Gorgonio Pass. This spot had looked like a good site to shoot but turned out not great.
So……we improvised. I’ve been meaning to bring the off camera flash setup consisting of a Speedlight, tripod, swivel holder, flash mount and 30 foot camera to flash cable (forgot the name), and did bring this time. So as the pic below shows, Jen was a great subject for the setting sun flash set up.
Nearly a split kick!
Hummingbirds like feeding in today’s misting rain.
Quincy, Jen and I went down to the Windmill Farm by the San Gorgonio Pass last night. Here are some of the photos I shot.
Warming up to figuring out what to shoot, Quincy makes a good subject.
Quincy’s idea to shoot her own shadow helped me decide we needed a group shadow shot. Quincy, Linda and Jen.
With a little help from Topaz Adjust 5.
Shooting southeast.
Not an easy job trying to get two sets of hands to make it look like they are holding the sun.
Topaz Adjust 5 plug treatment on this photo.
Quincy.
Changing color.
Jen.
Set sun after glow.
A Palm Springs hike near where Jen lives is where I lost 5 pounds in sweat this morning. Even at 5:45am it was hot and HUMID!
I think I need to look at more magazines or others work for posing ideas.
The Lyken Trail goes straight up.
After the hike, and since we were in downtown Palm Springs, we drove over to see and photograph the Marilyn Monroe statue. In October, a friend who dresses up as Marilyn, acts like Marilyn, sings like Marilyn, wants me to photograph her with the statue. My friend will be in full look a like Marilyn mode. Since I had not seen the Marilyn statue and wanted to see what I’d be dealing with when my friend arrives for her photo shoot, I took some shots.
Here is the overview shot.
A closer shot. All shots out of my camera this morning were taken with a Canon 5D Mark II, fitted with a Canon EF 50mm 1.2L USM lens.
Jen took me across the street to show me something special…….
This plaque describes how Jen’s Grandpa, John Porter Clark, designed this first permanent home of the Palm Springs Library, opened February, 1941.
Jen standing in front of her Grandpa’s building.
The front of the Library.
Once in downtown Palm Springs we both got excited with all the possible photo ops. We decided we’d come down here once a week and shoot. Today we found some special little spots:
Jen is not only learning her camera, compostion and exposures but ways to get out of comfort zone to pose as a model for me……..(without giggling!)
We love the blue stairs.
Not far from the corner and the Library we found the inside of a unique building. There were doves living inside.
Walking through the interior office structure and out the other side, we found these stairs on the sidewalk.
Don’t know why I’m making black & whites of the beautifully colored firework displays. I just seem to like them better.
15 seconds at f/11, ISO 200.
If you missed seeing the fireworks tonight, I’ve uploaded a slideshow of more of the fireworks taken at the Palm Springs from the Mesquite Golf Course. Click on the highlighted link below.
All shots on a tripod using a shutter cable release. Canon EOS 7D
Lens -70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Settings: Manual mode/manual esposure set to infinity.
ISO 200, Esposure 2.0 sec at f/11, 70mm
Processed in Adobe LIghtroom and Silver Efex Pro 2.
Same camera and lens.
ISO 200, Exposure 3.0 sec at f/11, 70 mm.
Trying to capture motion shots here by panning with vehicles racing by on the I-10 Freeway. I will be going back to try this method some more. I was using a 70-200mm lens at 70mm on the Canon 7D (which makes the focal length of 70mm 1.6 times longer – whatever that is). ISO 100, 1/20 sec at f/19.
Background is so important. I’d like to scout out better backgrounds. Timing the pan at 1/20 sec with the fast moving freeway traffic, or any movement for that matter, takes some getting used to and I’m not there yet.
Jen #1. It was soooo windy by the windmills off the I-10 last night. Keeping our eyes open was a struggle. I enjoyed watching Jen dance around in the sand just off the freeway. The wind was like music to her. She loves movement.
See what I mean about Jen enjoying the windy night?
Now if I could get Jen relaxed (like she is here) to look at the camera and not make funny faces because she feels uncomfortable.
Looking back east for the 3 minutes of interesting color.
Five feet away from the freeway cars, Jen takes in the setting sun.
8:00pm. We stayed another half hour.
Backpack begins tomorrow. If only I had long legs like Brook, one of our models today.
Brook.
If I have cell reception, I’ll post photos.
Wish me the strength to keep up with the two young ones, Melissa and Jen:-)
Dennis Olgas, owner of DOS Salon in Palm Desert, CA., where I get my hair cut regularly, supported a fundraiser called Preventing Suicide in STYLE by offering $20 haircuts to adults and children with all proceeds going to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He asked me to take some photos.
Pictured in the group photo, far right, is Jessica van der Stad, Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Dennis, Jessica and his gang of volunteer hair cutters.
There was a tree filled with photos of loved ones and notes expressing beloved farewells just outside the salon.
Jen, Ann and June at the top of the 25 minute climb.
Jen doing well balancing on a rock while I shoot her.
Ray and I have been in Mesa, Arizona. My nephew Zane and Jerami got married yesterday. It was not only a wonderful wedding but a fun packed 3 days of two families coming together.
Jerami and Zane the night before they were married.
It's official.
I am now uploading probably 80 gigs of photos from the nail and spa day for the ladies, to the wedding rehearsal at the All Saints Catholic Church, followed by an incredible dinner at the Wildhorse Grille at Talking Stick Golf Club and of course the Wedding and Wedding reception back at the Arizona Golf Resort (were many of the guests stayed), and lastly a short break before we all were invited to the bride’s mother’s house for a mighty fun evening centered around beer pong! There was a BBQ planned today but Ray and I opted out to drive home hoping to avoid the holiday traffic.