Blog - Capture Life Through a Geek's Lens - Jeff Smallwood Photography

Dec 20, 2011

I took 30 pictures at this spot, waiting for just the right wave to crash and roll onto the rocks. And 29 times I failed to capture the image I had in my head. I kept "chimping", hoping to see the right image and was luckily rewarded.

Lost and Found

Dec 14, 2011

photography poetry

When you shoot alone, straining to capture a "vision", the quiet, peaceful environment can take your mind places you wouldn't normally go. I think sometimes a poem helps to fully express the photographer's intent.

Sticks and Stones

Dec 13, 2011

adventures photography technique

When I shoot during sunrises and sunsets I usually pay closest attention to the colors and expose for the sky. Bringing out those rare colors and cloud shapes can be a challenge and certainly makes for some beautiful photos. However, over the last year I've also grown to appreciate the structure, contrasts, and unique shapes that emerge from the environment when the light is coming at such a low angle. Regardless of colors, shooting for a longer exposure can bring a scene to life in a way that our eyes don't immediately see.

My Largest Panorama

Dec 3, 2011

photography technique

Full moon illumination, this was taken on the north east shore of Staniel Cay, in the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas. The specs are huge on this file and it brought my laptop to its knees.

Drama in Paradise

Nov 19, 2011

adventures photography

As many of my friends know, when it comes to photography, I'm an early riser. Getting out to capture the first light of day is always a thrill because you never know what scene Mother Nature will paint for you.
I'd been witness to a colorful sunrise the day before and was hoping for another burst of color this morning. However, the Atlantic had another plan in store.

There was no pot of gold

Nov 19, 2011

adventures photography

An almost double rainbow that was the most complete and clear one I'd ever seen...and I got to see it TWICE! Taken at Compass Cay in the Exumas (part of the Bahamas), the entire beach was empty except for our group of five people.

Creating the Droste Effect

Oct 27, 2011

digital editing photography photoshop software technique

Have you ever pointed a video camera at the monitor where the live image is being displayed. Have you ever pointed your webcam at your computer screen and witnessed the screen in a screen in a screen ad infinitum? I know I used to do that all the time as a kid, always with a twinge of guilt that somehow the infinity point might break the screen, but here's how to do it all digitally.

Cutting Through the Morning Haze

Oct 24, 2011

photography

Woke up one morning last week, looked out the door through the back yard just as the light was coming up and noticed a thin layer of fog had settled about 30-40 feet above the ground. The air was mostly still but if you stared at the fog layer long enough you could see there was a gentle flow to it, coming out of the trees and across the field.

Inspiration Courtesy of Ansel Adams

Oct 23, 2011

photography

National Geographic published a tribute article to Ansel Adams this month (Oct 2011). Included in the article were, of course, black and white photos taken in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in California. Although I've never been lucky enough to visit those areas of the country, I was inspired by the article and photographs to go back through some of my shots and do some B&W photo processing of my own.

Mar 12, 2011

adventures photography

People take pictures for different reasons. Some like to take snapshots of family events as they unfold, others are setup artists who prepare scenes ahead of time. Some like to be up front and in the middle of the action to capture the details of a moment as close as possible. Others like to act as a "spy" and watch a scene unfold from afar, capturing the blended emotions and imagery that emerge outward. Whether you're one extreme or the other, or somewhere in between, we all take photos to collapse that moment of time into something we can keep with us.

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