Unexpected Beauty

Sometimes, you can find things where you least expect them to be - like when Mr and I took a spontaneous drive up a mountain, during our recent holiday to Madeira. As we were huffing and puffing up a steep road, wondering if even the 1st gear would be enough, we found these wonderful orchids. They were all around, at approximately 1 200 m altitude, and thrived beneath the thick foliage in a moist dark forest. Someone probably planted them along the roadside long, long ago, but since then, they've spread, and now they'd just pop up anywhere... sort of like dandelions back home, but far prettier!

As you've probably figured out by now, I just love floral macros. The last calendar I did was full of them and I just cannot resist that itchy feeling in my index finger whenever I encounter subjects like these, especially not since I got my 70-300 mm macro lens. I's been like Christmas every time I've used it. I could just snap on forever... if not for Mr that is. He usually sighs more and more loudly until I notice him and stop haha!

Orchids are especially interesting when it comes to shooting. You can get so many different lovely angles and really experiment with composition. I've always been fond of the Rule of Thirds (RoT). I love its simplicity and mathematical components. Though sometimes breaking the rules can really do the trick. I really like that about photography. Nothing is written in stone, and everything is up to you. We all look upon the world with different eyes and beauty can be found anywhere! Even in a murky forest, up in the mountains, along a small winding road.

/MrsHjort

New Adventures

I've been away for a while now, travelling. And since I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my photography, and my laptop can't handle PS, that means that I've been away from my blog as well. This was the third time we went back to the one of our favorite islands - Madeira, Portugal.

I've always preferred nature photography to anything else, and Madeira is a great place for that. The "levadas" and mountain paths are just gorgeous and the flora is quite unique. You can find a lot of different types of areas - from very dry to very moist, and sometimes, it's enough to turn a corner to get from one to the other. Very cool indeed!

Unfortunately though, Mr and I had been sick for weeks before travelling, and therefore, we were quite out of shape. So, alas, this time we had to keep to the easier treks, wish meant mainly forest treks along levadas. Don't let that give you the idea that it was less enjoyable or less adventurous though. You can find really gorgeous spots pretty much anywhere on the Island, and despite the fact that Mr and I have spent... lets see... yes, as many as 7 weeks on the island in total, counting all our trips there, there are still things we haven't done yet!
Ergo, lots of cool stuff to see and do, and shoot ;)

So, there's more to come. I just wanted to touch base a bit, and show you the first batch of my shots. They describe our trip pretty well I think - wandering in lush green forests, feeding birds and enjoying the wonderful weather :)

See you soon

/MrsHjort

Nostalgia

Ever since I got my very first camera, I've wanted to be able to shoot those pictures with that really really gorgeous bokeh. Of course, my first camera could do nothing of the sort. It was a simple point and click thingy, and it was back in the day when we still used rolls of film. My, how shooting has changed since then. I remember how carefully you chose your subjects, counting down the number of shots left, and the impatience, when you were waiting for the photos to get developed. They never turned out quite the way you imagined haha. You'd find out that the camera actually shot one meter to the right of what you saw through the viewfinder, or that all the pictures were leaning slightly to the left. But it was fun nonetheless. Ah, good times!

Don't get me wrong though, I would never go back there! I love the options we get with our new improved digital cameras. And, since I have a DSLR camera, I can finally get those bokehs I've dreamed about! They can really add mood to a shot, don't you think?

/MrsHjort

Solitude - doing the grunge

Originally, this picture had a lot more color. But the old wicket really didn't fit in with the happy colors. It's not often that I find subjects like this interesting, but this... this worn and weathered gate, in the middle of nowhere, with no fence to justify its position, really caught my eye. A piece of the past, persisting in spite of the ware and tare. With no purpose what so ever anymore, but to remind us of its long since past glory days. It seems I'm waxing nostalgic haha. Maybe because we're currently in the process of making new stuff look old for the wine cellar we're building here at home.

So, as I said, the grungy feel of this photo really didn't fit the wonderful lime green grass. And, so, I've done something so unusual (at least when it comes to me) as desaturating and darkening a colorful photo. The gloom fits it much better though, and as a matter of fact, it even made Mr go "Oooooh, that's a nice looking photo, did you shoot it?". Awww! Dear Mr! He's just too sweet sometimes ;)

/MrsHjort

Queen of Drama

I've always admired those who aren't afraid to show who they are, those who aren't scared to be different and who choose their own paths in life. They have always been my heroes.

It's never easy being different. Society has always been hard on those who are, which is sort of paradoxical when you think about it, because, we are all different. I find it hard to understand why some differences are harder to accept than others.

Very often people take things way too personally, whether it's about your religion, your diet, who you love, what you wear or what sports team you like. And when it boils down to it, what does our differences really matter as long as we are respectful to one and other? The way I see it, it's our differences that keep things interesting, that move the world forward and pave the way for change.

The free thinkers... may they always be there to challenge our convictions, to bring some drama into our lives and make things interesting! It would be so boring without them.

/MrsHjort

Chasing the Action

A few weeks ago, I once again had the pleasure of shooting my ex-colleague at a football game. This was the third time, and I must say that I am growing more and more comfortable with shooting action.

The first time I was an eager beaver! I, literary, watched the game through my lens, snapping all the way through. I'f you've ever done such an intense session, you'll know what I'm talking about when I tell you that I developed a severe case of "Camera Eye" haha. It took... maybe a half an hour before my vision was back to normal.

The second time was easier, I was more used to the way of thinking and composing. The first time, I had pretty much followed my friend, throughout the game, the second time I followed the ball. That way I got more interesting shots in general, and the number of shots with my ex-coworker in them were the same.

The first time had been a try-out for lenses as well. I had brought two of them with me; my trusty Nikon 18-105 mm lens, and my fairly new Sigma 70-300 mm macro lens. It turned out the Sigma was vastly superior. I got much closer to the action, with no drawbacks.

This third time was the first time I had a clue about what was going on around me - I was experienced enough to know when the real good shots were coming up, and that way, I could enjoy the game itself as well. I actually knew the score this time haha! I was way to distracted and busy before.

An other bonus was, that this time, the game was set on real grass! That made for prettier green colors and less glare. However, the sun was a bit of a problem. The contrasts turned out quite pronounced and left me with quite a bit of tinkering in post-ed. If only I could do HDR shots haha! That would really be
something :)

/MrsHjort

Still Chasing the Dream

I don't know how many hundreds of butterfly pictures I've
shot. I find it hard to stop snapping once I've started. I'ts like when you were young and went to the candy store haha. I just can't stop chasing that perfect shot. Not that I have a particular one in mind, I just want a real gorgeous one. A picture that makes all other pictures look mundane and boring. That one dream shot, that constantly alludes me, fluttering out of reach just as I reach for it.

I doubt that I will ever get it, that once in a lifetime shot. Not that I doubt my abilities, it's just that some goals should never quite be reached. You should always strive to do better - it keeps you on your toes, and besides, it's the journey itself that's interesting. It does not matter If I ever make it, I just enjoy the ride.

So, yesterday, I once again went out into my garden with my camera-hand itching for action. Somehow, every shooting gets you something different. The light is never exactly the same, the environment around you changes and gives you a different bokeh, and the butterflies themselves never behave in exactly the same way.

Having shot tonnes and tonnes of butterflies, I've learned a bit about how to get closer to that dream shot. So, here are some of my thought about macro photography, and shooting butterflies.

1) Choose a calm day - it's so much easier if you don't have to wait for the wind to stop blowing all the time, and for the bushes to stop moving. Even the smallest gust of wind can be very frustrating when using a narrow DOF - things will move in and out of focus, a lot!

2) Any time of the day is fine, as long as the sun is shining. Even late in the afternoon or early in the morning - it makes for great opportunities to get "contrasty" shots with the main subject shining in the sun! Anyway, lots of light makes for shorter shutter speeds which, in turn, makes the shots sharper. It helps a lot when working with small, fast moving subjects.

3) Always think of the bokeh. You want the butterfly to be contrasted to the background, unless your intention is a dreamy shot, like the second from the top.

4) Experiment with angles, The butterflies may be pretty with their wings out from above, but there are a million of those shots, and one more isn't original. Unless, it's exceptional in some way - I just love the colors in the top shot :)

5) The focus should be right in the butterfly's face. Just like when shooting portraits. It's the coolest thing when you get those eyes just right. You know, I actually never thought of butterflies as fuzzy creatures before I started shooting them, haha, but they are, and gorgeously so.

6) Speaking of close-ups... A macro lens might have the ability to get you those really cool zoomed in shots, but, they're devilishly hard to get just right. So, do not use the maximum zoom capability all the time, sometimes a shot from a bit "further away" can be just as lovely.

7) Composition is tricky when working with subjects that have a will of their own. A good deal of luck is involved, but you can learn to anticipate their movements to some degree, if you observe them closely.

8) Shoot a lot of "safies". Butterflies are tricky to capture, and the more shots you have, the larger the quantity of really sharp shots will be. Let that trigger finger work!

9) Use an empty mem-card with a large storage capacity, I can, literally, shoot hundreds of pictures during one shooting. And, trust me, it's not fun to have to go through them and erase the ones you think are bad because you have run out of storage. And, it might make you miss a lot of cool stuff too.

10) Have fun and be patient :)

So, those are my thoughts, I hope they helped you.

Cheers, and happy hunting!

/MrsHjort

Rugged Around the Edges

This is one of those pictures that really breaks from what I usually like to shoot. I'm really more of a nature photographer, or someone that likes nice clean shots, but sometimes I'm drawn to subjects like this. The ruggedness and the reflections just took me in, and all those lines and circles were very interesting to me.

When shoot similar subjects I like to go with with diagonals - they usually make for an interesting composition, but non-level water always looks strange. So, therefore, I broke with my habits a second time and shot it straight.

Thirdly, I very seldom go with blue, I really don't know why, but I've always been drawn to warm colors. So, here we have a rugged, level, blue shot, as far from my usual style you can get, but hey, sometimes it's nice to break with your habits. Maybe I'll try to do something like that for the next 30-day challenge.... Hmmmm, that's an interesting thought!

What do you usually avoid shooting?

/MrsHjort

Summer Glow

I went chasing butterflies again today, I just cant help myself! I've been looking forward to this all summer. It sort of reminds me of when I was a kid, waiting for my birthday to finally arrive haha. You see, I was born i August. All summer long I waited for the big day, and when it finally came, it was just marvelous! There was just one downside - my birthday always meant that the summer holidays were nearing the end, and as the days grew shorter again, autumn drew closer and closer. Now that I'm not that fond of my birthday anymore, the blooming butterfly bushes has taken over that role, the role of something you look forward to, but don't really want to experience, not just yet. A weird, bitter sweet sort of thing...

Anyway, having shot many, many butterflies, I've come to the conclusion that they're easiest to shoot late in the afternoon. That way, the sun shines beautifully on their pretty wings and accentuates their textures. Lovely, don't you think? Also, the low angle of the sun illuminates them so well, it's less likely their fast movements will result in motion blur. Quite neat, I must say.

/MrsHjort

Chasing the Dream

Just like most little girls, I have always loved butterflies, and as a grown-up, I have always dreamed of taking that one perfect photo of one. To make things easier, we have planted four Buddleja bushes in the garden, or well, it's not only that they attract butterflies, they are very pretty too.

So, yesterday, I headed out with my trusty Nikon to chase the dream. I think it's becoming something of a tradition haha - last year I did the same, but then I used a tripod and remote. I figured it would be safer, but I found that is was hard to capture the fast, and small subjects witch such bulky equipment. It was hard to compose too, so this year I'm trying without them. The result is about 20 % sharp images - the ones when there was absolutely no wind whatsoever, the narrow DOF was just right and I didn't move an inch. So the ratio might be a bit lower, but the ones that made it were much prettier - it's better to compose yourself that to hope that chance will make the butterflies step to exactly the right spot you want them to be in.

Anyway, this is my favorite of the set, I hope you like it too :)

/MrsHjort

10 Pictures of One Subject Challenge

Having scored the most points on both my entries on last week's challenge, I got to choose the new one for this weekend. So, this time it's 10 shots of one small subject, which really gets you thinking about angles and composition. Fun fun fun!

So, I chose my teapot as my subject. I love its design and its different surfaces, it makes for an interesting theme. So, I sat it down on the kitchen counter and turned it around... a lot! I got down on my knees and I stood on a chair, I zoomed in and out, and I twisted my body into many uncomfortable positions haha, and in the end, I got my 10 unique shots.

This exercise reminded me very much of when I did the 30-day challenge a year and a half ago. The hunt for abstracts was very rewarding and it made me look upon the world with new eyes. I can still find myself looking for lines and harmonic shapes throughout the days sometimes and I sometimes stop for a minute or two to appreciate the beauty of the world around me. I love that photography has brought me that!

/MrsHjort