Correct & Create With Plug-ins. Save a few bucks, too.

Plug-ins for Lightroom, Photoshop and Aperture can be used to add an artistic flair to images. The creative possibilities are endless. Above I used two filters in Nik Color Efex Pron 4 – Bi-Color User Defined and Image Borders – to create a more artistic rendition of the image below.

One of the cool things about Color Efex Pro 4 is that you can add filters. Try it, you'll like it.

Plug-ins can also be used for image correction. Below I used the Spificy filter in Topaz Adjust to open up the shadows, as well as to add some color to the sky.

Below is my original image. As you can see, the shadows are blocked up and the sky is dull.

To get a discount on all Nik products and to check Topaz and some of the other plug-ins I use, click here.

Explore the light,
Rick

Guest Blogger Rob Dweck Shares His Creative Vision

Today's guest blogger is Rob Dweck, a wonderful photographer (and person) who assisted me at the California Photo Festival.


Take it away Rob.


Every one of us has something that inspired us to pick up a camera and get into photography. For me it was a natural extension of my love for nature and the outdoors. There was no better way to spend my free time than to lace up my hiking boots and spend a day on the trail where I could turn off the phone, forget about the day job and relax as I took in the view from the top of a mountain or a long stretch of sandy beach. Wanting to bring some of that experience home with me, I bought a little point and shoot camera and snapped photo after photo as I hiked through some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth. I returned home and downloaded my photos expecting them to look like what my eye saw and…disappointment.

The truth was I had no clue what I was doing. The dial on top had several modes for different types of shooting, but I couldn’t find the Ansel Adams mode. It quickly dawned on me that I needed to learn what I’m doing if I wanted to bring home more than just snapshots. So I read books, watched videos, practiced, practiced and practiced some more. In the ongoing process of shooting, learning and making lots of mistakes, (a big part of my learning process), I found a new creative outlet that has brought me more joy and gratification than I ever imagined possible. What started as a way to bring home a bit of nature’s beauty, is now an ongoing process of artistic expression. 

Like so many photographers, I started out by going to many of the iconic locations that have been photographed gazillions of times. I was happy to get my “me too” shots, but after shooting enough of those, I wanted to do more than re-create someone else’s photo. On a recent trip to Glacier National Park, I got the classic sunrise shot from the Wild Goose Island overlook, and after the golden light faded from the peaks and the hoards of other photographers packed up and left, I saw some other possibilities.

Seeing the movement of the clouds, I knew that a long exposure would capture that movement as streaks fanning out across the sky. With the sun already fairly high in the sky, I knew that the only way to get a slow enough shutter speed was with my 10-stop neutral density filter, which I attached it to my lens to get a 5 minute exposure. I converted the file to black and white and created an image that was much more compelling than the classic golden hour shot I made 25 minutes earlier.
 

One of the reasons I love doing long exposures is that it allows me to capture movement in a way that otherwise goes unseen by the naked eye. I used my trusty neutral density filter in this photograph of Maligne Canyon to get a 141 second exposure that blurred the water into a silky smooth flow that wouldn’t be possible with a shutter speed of just a few seconds.
 

Not being a photojournalist, I’m less interested in faithfully recreating a scene than capturing the essence of a scene or how I felt when I was there. Getting creative with filters and camera settings is one way to accomplish that, experimenting in post processing is another way. I shot this photo in Vernazza, Italy during twilight to capture a more ambient and peaceful perspective on this small town. During peak season, the town is overrun with tourists and the partying continues into all hours of the night. I wasn’t interested in capturing that aspect, so I chose this vantage point from a hillside, and then added a subtle glow effect using the Glamour Glow filter in Nik Color Efex pro. This gave the image a slightly ethereal look that more closely matched what I was feeling at the time.
 

But there are times when everything comes together and I want to capture a scene exactly as it appeared. That was the case in this photo when the outlet stream of Rodeo Lagoon in the Marin Headlands was unusually still and provided a perfect mirror for the cloudy sunset sky.

With the extreme dynamic range of the scene, I knew I’d need to bracket several exposures and use HDR to capture it all. I composed the shot and placed the camera on the tripod, but something seemed to be missing. The shot needed one more element. A little patience paid off and as soon as the surfer walked by, I quickly fired off three bracketed exposures. Even though the surfer is a small part of the frame, it made the shot. I processed the three exposures in Nik HDR Efex Pro to re-create the scene as my eye saw it that night.

What started out as a way for me to document my journeys has evolved into a continuous process of seeing light and capturing it in an artistic way. I learn something new every time I shoot and would like to leave you with five things to consider the next time you pick up your camera.

1.    The camera doesn’t see what you see. Know what it can and can’t do so you can use it to re-create your vision.
2.     Patience, perseverance and persistence are the keys to many successful images. You may need to visit a location several times to get the shot you want. 
3.    Only include what’s necessary. If something in the frame doesn’t enhance the image, it will probably be a distraction. Eliminate it by zooming in, shooting from a different position or cloning it out in post processing if necessary.
4.    Don’t let reality limit your imagination. Unless you’re a photojournalist or on a specific assignment, you do not have to faithfully re-create what you see. Let your imagination run wild with the camera and with post-processing.
5.    Be safe. I’ve seen photographers get in some very dangerous situations to get a shot. No photograph is worth your life.


Website: http://robdweck.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/RobDweck
Google+: https://plus.google.com/101075837196297812605/posts

• • • 

Thank you Rob for sharing your vision. You have a wonderful eye - and spirit. I hope to see you at the 2012 California Photo Festival.


Explore the light,
Rick

Digital Delray Days - A Great Way to Spend the Day

I am happy to announce the launch of my Digital Delray Days – a series of one-day, fast-paced and fun-filled digital photograph workshops in beautiful Delray Beach, Florida. 

• Dates: January 30, January 31 and February 2, 2012. (These sessions will be held after my Florida Photo Caravan.)

• I'll be giving a free lecture on the evening of  February 1.

• Each session is one day long: 8 AM to Noon and 1 to 5 PM. The same workshop will be given each day. (Hang out after the workshops for happy hour!)

• I'll be your photography and Photoshop instructor.

• The groups are limited to 8 – for up-close and personal shooting and training with me.

• I'll teach HDR, model, street, outdoor, flash, reflector/diffusers, and beach photography. Yes. You will leave the workshop with a very good understanding of your flash.

• In December, I will review your portfolio on line and give you feedback. I'll need a link.

• We'll have a digital darkroom session, so you'll see how to enhance your images. I will offer some tips, tricks and techniques.


• Cost is $149 and includes: Workshop fee and a copy of two of my books: Exploring the Light and Field Guide to Digital Photography.

• All meals, hotel and transportation are on your own.

• We'll be based at the Colony Hotel in Delray.

• Skill level: All... but you must know how to find your pictures on your laptop.

You'll need:
• Your camera, lenses and flash.
• Tripod.
• Laptop with card reader.
• Loaded on your laptop (in addition to Lightroom, Photoshop or Photoshop Elements): Photomatix or HDR Efex Pro. Also: Topaz Adjust. For a discount on Photomatix and HDR Efex Pro, see my Creative Plug-ins page.

To learn about HDR photography, check out my iHDR iPad app.

I hope you can join the photo fun in Delray.

If you have any questions, shoot me an email.

For an application, email Susan Sammon.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Here is a behind-the-scenes shot taken in the room where I took the opening pictures for this post. Ahhhhh, the wonders of HDR photography!

Have a Heart

Have a heart: If you have the choice to be right or kind, be kind.

And speaking of hearts, here are two of my "heart" shots. I photographed the heart on the sidewalk in Amsterdam, and I photographed the upside down heart in St. Augustine.

I used Topaz Adjust/Spicify on the bicycle shot. I used Nik Color Efex Pro/Photo Stylizer on the pier shot.

For info on the plug-ins I used, click here.

Be kind,
Rick

P.S. If you have a heart shot, please share.

Save Some Bucks and Make Some Bucks with SmugMug

Wanna save some bucks and make some bucks this holiday season - and in the new year?

Set up a SmugMug account and start selling your prints. You can save 20% on a SmugMug Pro account by using this code: RICKSMUG20.

While you are on the SmugMug Pro site, be sure to watch the movie, Why SmugMug Pro?

Keep in mind that you don't have to be a full-time pro to have Pro account - it just makes you look more professional.

Good luck with your new venture.

Here is a link to my SmugMug galleries. I am in the process of setting up more galleries!

For now, all my prints are on sale for the holidays.

Explore the light,
Rick

Are Two Light It Apps Better Than One?

Back in September, my friend Scott Kelby introduced Light It, a cool digital magazine that's available through iTunes as an iPad app. I'm lovin' it!


Scott's app/digital photo magazine is geared toward serious photographers who want to master their lighting techniques. 


Last year, I launched my Light It! app. I have an iPad and an iPhone version. 


Although I teach advanced techniques on my Master Your Flash workshops, my app is geared more toward the novice who is just getting into lighting - flash, strobe, natural and so on. So, Light It! is a basic lighting app - which is why basic is in the title :-)


So... light it your way!


Explore the light,
Rick

For all my apps, click here.

Around the World with Nik and Rick: 12/16 1 PM Eastern

I hope you can join me on December 16 at 1 PM Eastern for my live/free Webinar: Around the World with Nik and Rick.

In the one-hour webinar, I will show you how I apply some of my favorite Nik Software effects to some of my favorite photographs.

Above: I used the Detail Extractor in Color Efex Pro to create the image from the photograph below.

I'll show you how I use Nik's Silver Efex Pro to create a dramatic black-and-white image.

Above is my Silver Efex Pro image, below is my original image.

I'll touch on Nik's iPad and iPhone app: Snapseed.

I used Snapeed to crate the image above from the image below.

And.... much more - or at least as much as time will allow.

I hope to see you on the Webinar. Sign up today. Space is limited. 

You can save 15% on all Nik plug-ins by using this code - RSAMMON - upon check out from the Nik site.

Explore the light,

Rick

Packin' Up for Shootin' in Bosque

Juan Pons, Chris Klapheke and I, along with some friends and our dedicated workshop students, are heading out to Bosque del Apache, New Mexico next week for two back-to-back digital photography workshops. The first workshop is sold out, but we have room on the second workshop.

While packing my gear, I thought it would be fun, and informative, to show you some of my gear - and how I'm getting it there.

But first, above is a wonderful Bosque photograph by one of my past workshop students Betty Wiely. I'm hoping to get a shot like this one. Great work, Betty!

My camera gear and laptop are shown above:
- Macbook Pro
- Canon 5D Mark II
- Canon 7D
- Canon 400mm DO lens
- Canon 100-400mm IS lens
- Canon 70-20mm f/4 lens
- Canon 24-105mm IS lens
- Canon 17-40mm lens
- Canon 1.4x telecoverter
- Tiffen polarizing filter
- Two memory card wallets packed with 16GB and 32GB Lexar cards
- Head-mounted flashlight
- Small flash light
- Wireless mic set to record sound for some videos.

To read about my gear, click here.

All of that gear fits snugly in my Lowepro Pro Roller Lite AW. The AW stands for all-weather, as the bag has a built-in "raincoat". To see a video about this cool carry-on, click here.

You can get a 20 percent discount on all Lowepro bags by using the code L20 when you are on this Lowepro site.

In my other carry-on bag, my briefcase, I have:
- Charger/power supply for my laptop
- Chargers for my camera batteries
- Two 500GB G-tech portable hard drives
- Two Lexar card readers
- Extra 5D Mark II camera body
- Airplane power adapter.

I'll pack my tripod in my checked luggage, along with plenty of hand warmers.

We all look forward to shooting with our workshop participants next week. It will be great fun! Stay tuned for posts.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. For those of you who don't know Chris, he heads up Outdoor Photo Gear - a great place to get gear run by a great gear guru.

A Thanksgiving Message: We Are A Part of Everyone We Meet

If you lost someone this year, or know someone who lost someone, you might find this well-known quote comforting: We are a part of everyone we meet.

This is a post from last year year, but I thought it was appropriate for this holiday season.

Three years ago, late one December afternoon, my dad and I were sitting in his study. We were having a nice talk – and a nice time. I looked at him and thought: He looks so happy. The light is just right. I should take a picture - because it might be the last good picture I ever take of him. He was fading.

I thought about taking the picture for about 10 minutes, holding back some tears – thinking about what it would be like not to have him around, after having him around for 88 years - as my dad, and later on in life as the first-pass editor for most of my books. (He was a great editor.)

I finally asked him if I could take a shot. He said sure, with a smile and nod. He knew what I was thinking. I asked him to look out the window, and I took a single shot.

My dad, 91, died suddenly and peacefully and quickly on April 3, 2010. A few hours before, on the other side of the country, I had a dream about him: He had pushed his walker aside and was standing up straight. I had not dreamed about him for at least 20 years. Hummm....

Sure, I am very sad. I get waves of tears. I will miss him more than he probably ever realized. He was my dad, a very big part of my life – in fact, half the reason for my life. :-)

Those of you who know me know I enjoy quotes. Here is my favorite: "We are a part of everyone we meet." Want proof? My dad, Robert M. Sammon, Sr., was a photographer, getting me started, along with my mother, in photography with his cameras and basement darkroom. But more important, he was a good dad - which I try to be. Everyday. I am very glad we met.

You might want to keep that quote in mind when you meet people. I sure do. You may have more of an impact on someone than you realize.

Rick

Proud son of Robert M. Sammon, Sr.

Virtual Photo Safari Epilogue - Thank You &Beyond

This post brings to a close my week-long posts on my recent photo safari to Kenya's wonderful Masai Mara. The adventure was organized by &Beyond - a leader in Africa travel and tours.

It was truly an amazing experience - made even more amazing by the entire staff at our base camp, Bateleur, and the adjacent camp, Kichwa Tembo.

Scroll down to see my other six posts about the trip.

I am currently planning a 2012 photo workshop/tour to Tanzania. Shoot me an email if you are interested.

A few special "thank you" notes are in order - in addition to thanking YOU for following along here on my blog. 

Above: Thank you Moses Kibet. Moses was our guide/drive/naturalist for six to seven hours each day. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge.

Above: Moses was also was our on-safari chef. Great yogurt/honey, coffee, buns, fruit, eggs and sausage! And, what a location . . right next to the Mara river that's filled with hungry crocks. :-)

Above left: Thank you Jackson Tunai. Jackson was our expert walking safari guide, who, along with Francis Nkulet, made our on-foot adventures a real, well, adventure. Click here to see Jackson and Francis in action. Don't worry, we out-ran the lions! Thanks guys for keeping us safe. In the photo on the right, Jackson, and his friend Johnston, pose for a photograph.

Above: Thanks to Milka Kerubo, operations manager at Bateleur Camp, and Joseph Masibo, Camp Manager, for keeping on the lights for us after a long day on safari. And, thanks for the room/tent service.  

Above: Thanks to the band/staff who gave us a special pre-dinner performance on the Mara. Even the chef joined the fun.

Below: One more thank you goes to Boniface Oduor (left) who made each and every meal a real treat. Boniface now knows all my best magic tricks, which is why they now call him the "Magic Man." Yes, that's Moses on the right.

Again, thanks to everyone at &Beyond, especially Tarryn Gibson, Market Manger at &Beyond in South Africa, for making our stay so very special.

If you'd like to join me on my 2012 photo safari to Tanzania, shoot me an email.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. One more tip, illustrated with a photograph from a previous trip to the Mara: Remember that "Composition is the Strongest Way of Seeing." Compose carefully. 

More on composition on my next Kelby Training class, coming December 4th, called: "Composition is the Strongest Way of Seeing." Stay tuned.

Virtual Photo Safari Part VI: See and Shoot Eye to Eye

Each day this week I will take you on a virtual photo safari to Kenya's Masai Mara. Each post will feature a safari tip and a photo tip - or two.


I took the images for the posts on a recent trek to the Masai Mara that was organized by &Beyond, a leader in Africa travel tours. Bateleur was our base camp for the eight-day adventure . . . and what an adventure.


The pictures in the post were taken with my Canon 7D and Canon 100-400mm IS lens.


Scroll down to see my other posts.


Shoot me an email soon if you want to get on the list for my 2012 Tanzania Great Migration workshop/tour.)


Safari Tip: Plan on downtime and download/back-up time between the very early morning and very late afternoon game drives – when most of the action happens. During the late morning and mid-day hours, most of the animals take it easy - some after having had a big, fresh breakfast.

Photo Tip: See eye-to-eye and shoot eye-to-eye. Get down as low as possible in the safari vehicle so you can shoot at eye-level to the subject. The person in the safari vehicle pictured below is in the top-most seat, which is good for viewing, but not the best for photography. The first row, which is lower to the ground, is a much better shooting position. Next to the driver is even better.


Also, try to book an open-sided vehicle, that is, one without glass windows. You'll get clearer shots.

Try black and white. It's fun and creative. Above: I used Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro to create this image of black and white animals - or are they white and black? :-)

Above: Here's a look at the Nik Software Silver Efex main window. For a discount on all Nik plug-ins, as well as some of the other plug-ins I use, click here.

Be prepared for the lions to come very close to your vehicle - which is thrilling. Don't worry, the lions don't recognize you as food as long as you are in the vehicle.


Explore the light,
Rick

Virtual Photo Safari Part V: Power Up

I took the images for the posts on a recent trek to the Masia Mara organized by &Beyond, a leader in African travel tours. Bateleur was our base camp for the eight-day adventure - and what an adventure. I took the image above with my Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 24-105mm IS lens.

Scroll down to see my other posts.

Safari Tip: Listen to your guide - very carefully. He or she will tell you when it's okay to shoot, and when it's time to move. Also, don't be bashful about asking your guide/driver to move the safari vehicle a bit left or right or backward or forward so you can get a shot. Guides are there to help you get great shots.

Photo Tips: Bring all necessary power adapters and converters for your cameras and computers (and hair dryer if you use one). Bring a surge protection power strip so you can charge several devices at once. Pack back-up battery chargers and a computer power charger. Ask when generators go off and on and unplug your computer during those times.

If you'd like to get on the list for my 2012 Tanzania photo safari, shoot me an email.


If you would like me to speak about my travels and photography at an event, see this link for info.

Explore the light,

Rick

Virtual Photo Safari Part IV: Chase the Light

Each day this week I will take you on a daily virtual photo safari to wonderful, beautiful and awe-inspiring Kenya's Masai Mara. Each post will feature a travel tip and a photo tip - or two. 

I took the images for the posts on a recent trek to the Masia Mara organized by &Beyond, a leader in African travel tours. Bateleur was our base camp for the eight-day photo safari. 

Scroll down to see previous Photo Safari posts.

Safari Tip: Chase the light. You must get up early and stay out late to chase - and catch - the light. During the day, when most of the animals are relatively inactive, you can download your images and take a snooze. After dinner, go for a night game drive. You may not get great pictures, but you will have a lot of fun!

Photo Tips: Tell the whole story by taking landscape photographs, too. Use a polarizing filter to enhance the sky, making the sky darker and the clouds whiter . . . if the sun is off to your side. Get max depth of field by using a wide-ange lens, small aperture and set your focus 1/3 into the scene. Crop your pictures for impact.

Don't be afraid to boost your ISO. Worry more about content in a frame than the noise - which can be reduced in Lightroom and Photoshop.


Both of the pictures for this image were taken with my Canon 7D and Canon 100-400mm IS lens. To see all my gear, click here.

If you'd like to join one of my travel tours/workshops, see the Workshops page of my site.


If you'd like to get on the list for my 2012 Tanzania photo safari, shoot me an email.

For more photography tips, check out my app: Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. Have fun with Photoshop - which I used to make this image. Remember: make pictures, don't just take pictures.

Virtual Photo Safari Part III: Be Aware of the Background

Each day this week I will take you on a daily virtual photo safari to Kenya's Masai Mara. Each post will feature a safari tip and a photo tip - or two. 

I took the images for the posts on a recent trek to the Masia Mara organized by &Beyond, a leader in African travel tours. Bateleur was our base camp for the eight-day photo safari. 

Scroll down to read previous posts.

Safari Tip: Meet with your guide in advance and plan your entire safari and daily trips. Tell him or her your goals. My goal was to get two good photographs per day, which I felt was a realistic goal.

Photo Tip: Know that in most cases, you will be shooting from a vehicle, which may jiggle when others in the vehicle may giggle. Be prepared to steady your camera with a bean bag or camera support - or hold your camera very steady. And because you and the animals will be moving, I think you'll get your best composition with a zoom lens.

The background can make or break a photograph. Above: the background, and framing the subject against the interesting background, makes the shot. And get this: I took these shots during an intense downpour. And I mean intense! Both the giraffes and our open-sided Land Rover were getting soaked!


Another photo tip: don't shy away from the rainy season. You might get dramatic sky backgrounds.

Both shots were taken with my Canon 7D and 100-400mm IS lens.

If you'd like to join one of my travel tours/workshops, see the Workshops page of my site. Shoot me an email if you are interested in a 4-person workshop to Tanzania in 2012.

To see more of my travel pictures, check out my Travel and Nature Photography ebook.

If I were still into doing traditional books, I'd do a book on the wildlife in the Mara. Once I settle down from the trip, I'll add these pictures to my apps. Or, I might do an app: 24/7 Photo Safari. If you are interested in a safari-type app, shoot me an email.


If you are going on safari, or want to look as though you are going on safari (ha ha), check out the clothes offered by ExOfficio. Here is my favorite shirt.

Explore the light,

Rick

P.S. A great read about Kenya: West with The Night.