I’ve had a few people ask recently how I’m able to pick up the golden glow in some of my forest images. One of my recent images, “November’s Golden Litter” – Hermon, Ontario, is an example of their fabulous effect on a large scale. When conditions are just right: the right light, the angel of that light, the condition and colour of the leaves, and a contrasting background, the effect is almost magical. If you have stood on a forest trail and experienced this, you will know what I mean. It is tough to describe.
Many times I’ve seen this phenomenon and tried to capture it as a photo, only to be disappointed in the results, the surreal glow muted down to a dull orange or yellow. Over the years, and many failures, I’ve found ways of capturing the moment fairly consistently.
During one of those moments I picked up a few unsullied oak leaves to photograph in my little studio. Well, today was the day, and the result is shown above. Once again, with the right light and the right angle, I was able to reproduce this golden effect successfully in a single leaf. Now, imagine thousands of these littering the forest floor, interspersed with other yellow and bronze leaves like maple and beech, and you will understand where this stunning golden light comes from. I’m so very pleased this little experiment turned out so well.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272ENII)@90mm
2.0 sec, f/29.0, ISO 100
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“There is no mundane dimension really, if you have the eyes to see it, it is all transcendental.”
― Terence McKenna
The view from my back window yesterday afternoon, as the birds returned for a feed. I posted several images of other local birds in late December and the simple chickadees, who are frequent visitors, were omitted. I began questioning myself on that. Why was I ‘editing’ what I shared? Is the humble chickadee less worthy than the bright cardinal or more elusive nuthatch? Will the photo not impress and get more likes. Have I gotten to that point? I certainly hope not. I’ve always enjoyed seeing beauty in the mundane and sharing those moments; I don’t ever want to lose that gift, especially in these superficial times.
So, as I considered the image again, and looked at all the wonderful details in this ‘common’ bird, I found myself seeing it anew. The soft pastel orange of the belly feathers, the fine details in the delicate wings, and incredible details in and around the eyes, often missed because they move around so quickly.
The other thing that struck me, and inspired the title of the photo was the size of the seeds that the chickadee choose. He’d land, pick one, and then fly away with it, as another bird took his place. Never once did more than one bird occupy the dish. They waited, swooped in, took a seed, and departed, for the better part of the afternoon. Then, the cycle stopped and none returned, even though there was still food in the dish.
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G I AF-S VR Zoom @ 300mm
1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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This week’s submission to Norm 2.0‘s Thursday Doors.
Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos from around the world.
West Doors of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Canada
Another view of this downtown Toronto church. I posted a photo of the front doors last week. A habit I have been in for some time now is to walk around the structure. WHile the front doors are grand and beautiful, many historical buildings have very interesting side and back doors. They tend to be a bit more ‘distressed’ than their welcoming counterparts, but this also makes them very interesting.
I do find it interesting though, that alternate doors (sorry, unintentional humour here), are not very well maintained. Less maintained may be the more correct expression here, as they are not, generally, in total disrepair. This west facing door is of the exact same design as the front doors, yet stonework is cracked and the door quite faded. I’m sure much is driven by budget decisions but, for me, it says a lot about priorities. I’m sure at one point, all the doors were equally important. After all, a lot of work went into the stunning stonework which frames the door itself. It just seems less important now. Just an impression.
“Sharing tales of those we’ve lost is how we keep from really losing them.”
― Mitch Albom
One of the treasures my father left me is this beautiful chess set. As a child I used to look at them closely, admiring the fine details of this cast iron, the white players nickel plated and the black being copper plated, chess set.
I have no idea where he got them, only that he brought the set with him from Germany when he immigrated. In my imagination, they came from some old castle or a grand house where nobles used to play with them. An unlikely source, but part of the childhood memory.
Given the marvelous details, I thought they might make a nice subject to document with a photo. It’s also a chance to play with macros settings and lighting some more.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro @90mm
1.0 sec, f/29.0, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“Ice contains no future , just the past, sealed away. As if they’re alive, everything in the world is sealed up inside, clear and distinct. Ice can preserve all kinds of things that way- cleanly, clearly. That’s the essence of ice, the role it plays.”
― Haruki Murakami
The image I chose for today was made a few days ago, as I hiked through a local conservation area. I came across a log which was coated with a thick layer of ice. The temperature was just above freezing, which caused a thin film of water to form on the ice. What really interested me was looking at the ice itself and being able to see the individual ice crystals, each a miniature lens to view the wood beneath the ice.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272ENII)@90mm
1/50 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“Everyday gratitude sweetens what appears flavorless and brightens all that appears dim.”
― Amy Leigh Mercree
The floral photography adventure continues. As I keep making these images, I’m trying a few different techniques. In this instance, the blossoms were at the end of a long stalk. Including the stalk lengthwise made the photo, and the plant itself look awkward. So, I spun the plant around and photographed it end-on.
A further challenge with this angle was trying to show the entire flower in focus and bright while allowing the light to gradually fall off, so that the blossom appears to be coming from the darkness. The challenge here is that the blossoms are very bright and the leaves quite dark. I’m also getting used to a newly acquired macro lense, which gives me far more aperture flexibility than my previous extension tube setup.
To get the entire blossom in focus, as well as most of the leaves required a very narrow aperture of f/29, but since I had abundant light, I was able to keep the shutter speed a bit faster at 1/4 sec. Still learning, but enjoying the journey.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272ENII)@90mm
0.4 sec, f/29.0, ISO 200
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
“Time leaches the colors from the best of visions. The world becomes grayer. Entropy beats us down. Everything fades. Everything goes. Everything dies.”
― Robert Silverberg
Back outdoors again, in the midst of a January thaw, too much of a thaw, actually. As I set out on the trails, expecting ice, which I was prepared for, I was faced with deep, slushy, wet snow, tough to walk in and impossible to grip, even with my ice cleats. It made for a fairly exhausting hike, but I was determined to complete my usual five kilometer loop today and make some photos along the way, if they offered themselves.
The day started out moody, dull, and foggy, which inspired me to get out to photograph for of this atmosphere, but by the time I drove to my destination, the fog had dissipated, so I proceeded to hike.
Mild temperatures and showers over the past few days had knocked many of the last remaining leaves to the ground and they rested on the grainy, wet snow. An interesting effect of the moisture and changing temperatures was that many of them seemed very ‘thin’, diaphanous, as they littered the snowy forest floor, slowly decaying. The snow itself was not a pure white either, rather, spotted with particles of dirt and dust which had accumulated so far this winter. I would have prefered a pure white background, but the spots enhance the image a bit by showing through the leaf.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272ENII)@90mm
1/160 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your stories. Inspiration won’t. Habit is persistence in practice.”
― Octavia E. Butler
This is where it all started, my work with black backgrounds, and it has taken me till now to finally photograph these wheat stalks.
I had envisioned doing this several months ago. I went out and purchased the black velvet I use for the background, stopped in a local field to pick a few stems of ripe wheat, set up my lights and made some photos, and was hugely disappointed.
So, the wheat got placed in a vase and I started photographing flowers, with much more pleasing results, and the wheat remained in the vase, till today.
Perhaps I have built more confidence in my skill at producing these images or perhaps it’s my recent acquisition of a 90mm macro lense that has given me better control over my depth of field than I have using my extender rings. In any case, it’s still not exactly as I wanted it, but I’m pleased enough with the outcome. After all, this idea of photographing last year’s wheat has opened up a style of photography that I would not have considered, had it not been for the initial failures.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro @90mm
0.4 sec, f/29.0, ISO 200
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy”
― Isaac Newton
A very simple subject today, a single carnation blossom. I’ve actually avoided photographing it as I felt I could not bring out the texture of the ruffled blossom. But, in the right light and with a bit of patience, I was able to produce an image that I was pleased with.
This is what I would classify as a mid-range macro shot. Really a 1:1, since it filled the viewfinder frame as I saw it. Getting any closer would have, in my opinion, taken away from the image. I’m still learning the finer touches of macro photography, but good composition is a key element for my in all my images, large or small. Hopefully, this one is pleasing to you as well?
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 (272ENII)@90mm
0.5 sec, f/25.0, ISO 200
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
This week’s submission to Norm 2.0‘s Thursday Doors.
Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos from around the world.
Front doors of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Canada
I still find it odd, having lived just outside of Toronto most of my life, in Scarborough as a youngster, and just north of the city as an adult, that I have not fully explored the marvelous architecture (what remains of it) of Toronto more fully. I say, “what remains of it.” because, for an extended period, from the 60’s to 80’s ,Toronto had a policy of “Urban Renewal”, during which time, many wonderful historical buildings were torn down to make way for more modern buildings, and parking lots (because the people working in these buildings would have to park their somewhere). Back in the day, the car was the transport of choice. My how the city has changed on that front, for the better, though there is still an excess of cars, do to the poor rural/urban transit infrastructure. I could write at length on that evolution.
But, in honour of brevity, I’ll include a Google Streetview link, as I often do, so you can witness firsthand the extreme contrast between this grand old place of worship and the surrounding world of glass and steel.
“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
― Shel Silverstein
There’s a lot going on in the world these days. Most news seems bad and you can wonder where it’s all going. Yet, within the doom and gloom that the mainstream media feeds us, there is always brightness. Days march on, the cycle of nature continues. I find myself musing on some of my images and why I made them as well as why I have held off on others.
The image above is one of those that I considered for a while before proceeding. A bouquet that I have recently disassembled and photograph contained many wonderful flowers, my ‘go to’ flowers, the ones that are, on first sight stunning. I find myself favouring those and yet, the small stem of yellow chrysanthemums was neglected. The blossoms on this stem were a bit irregular, some unopened, and the bright yellow petals were a challenge to photograph without losing detail.
So, I found myself considering all my whys and excuses for not photographing them and could not come up with a solid reason other than they did not quite measure up to what I envisioned or wanted to share. So why not, why not put them in front of the lens and see what I can make of them? Which I did and the result is above. It’s not a large detailed blossom with lots of layers and colours, yet the more I look at it, even through my personal lens of how it ‘should’ look, it’s still beautiful.
Then I go back to thinking of our world, with all its imperfections, again, through my experiential lense and I see so much beauty within the turmoil and find myself hopeful that like the chrysanthemum, it will surprise me.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
2.0 sec, f/25.0, ISO 100
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“All your father ever dreamed of for you was to do something you loved in life. He didn’t care about fancy qualifications or fancy clothes or cars, just that you were both happy and fulfilled. He was so excited about your dreams for a career.”
― Hazel Gaynor
For Andrea, on her Birthday
One of the many joys of photography is the ability to create a gift that can be shared over the miles. In this case, a small bouquet for my youngest daughter who is away at College for her birthday.
Though I will see her this weekend, I wanted to create something for her today. One dilemma I faced today was the arrival of an ice storm in may region which severely limited my ability to get out for new flowers. So, I recycled my previous bouquet, found a suitable stem of Gerbera Daisies, and made this image. A birthday gift, over the miles. With all my love.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
2.0 sec, f/25.0, ISO 100
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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or my website (some images available for purchase)
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Here’s my contribution for this week’s Tuesdays of Texture over at de monte y mar.
Another image of a log, a part of my ongoing wood studies series, the log’s surface stripped bare by the elements, a light patina of moss forming on the smooth surface, as hemlock needles accumulate in a hollow. The blend of texture and colours make it appear, to me, like an abstract painting.
Nikon D300
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 82 mm
1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
“Humans are pattern-seeking story-telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not.”
― Michael Shermer
More precisely, the frozen edge of a local creek.
There is something special to me about ‘nature art’, the wonderful, visual creations formed by natural processes, like the patterns formed in the ice made by water freezing and retreating. Funny, as a child, I used to look for these and break them; it was fun to watch the fragile shell crack beneath winter boots in the school yard. Now, I find myself photographing them, admiring these wondrous creations.
Winter photography can also pose its challenges. In particular, the local trails have all iced up, making them treacherous, not only for me but for the equipment I take with me on the trails. A bad tumble could be costly. This year I got smart and bought myself ice cleats which has made a night and day difference getting around and I wonder why I had not done this in prior years?
So, despite the cold weather and lack of new snow, I’ll be heading out for a few short lunchtime hikes to take in the wonder nature has to show me.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 135 mm
1/13 sec, f/8.0, ISO 100
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.”
― Roy T. Bennett
Shine, it’s what they do, is it not? On another gray winter day, I enjoy being able to create these images and hopefully, brighten others’ days as well. Creating these studio images of flowers has become almost second nature to me. They are so enjoyable to make and then look at, long after the flowers have wilted and withered away, and I wonder why I had not done this before.
Then the answer comes. It was not till I got involved in a Cee Neuner photo challenge back in the summer that got me focused on “Isolation” that I had even considered doing this kind of work. Oh yes, I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but once I had figured it out, it be came easy to create these images both in the studio and in the outdoors. So, I hope you enjoy this bit of “Shine” in your day. A special thanks to Cee and my fellow photographers for the inspiration to try something new.
Nikon D800
Nikor 24-70mm f/3.5-4.6 @ @ 35 mm (with 20mm extension tube)
2.0 sec, f/25.0, ISO 100
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”
― Ansel Adams
Yes, I know, “What an original title”. Yet, I’m often stuck for a title and am loath to fall to such tactics as “Unnamed #314”. Every image I make leaves an impression on me, it is a small interpretation of who I am, my experiences, emotions, and how I see the world; by being a new creation, it further adds to that experience. I recall the moment when it was made, why I made it, how I interpreted and composed the image, and what my impressions were when I first compared what I saw with my eyes with what the camera interpreted it as.
Sometimes, the image title is obvious, sometimes I need to look at it a while, comparing various descriptions till it makes sense to me, fits into my world. Often, It’s just the name of what I have photographed, especially if it’s a place, or object that stands alone and does not have further layers of emotion tied to it. In those cases, it’s just an object, whereas in other cases, it’s an impression, a moment, the outcome of a thought, of myself.
This time, I saw a fist full of red flowers, Peruvian Lilies to be more precise. They represent another element of a bouquet I pulled apart so that I could photograph the individual flowers and enjoy their individual beauty, which can often be lost in a bouquet.
So, there you go, a short visit to my thought process, when it comes to naming my images and making art. It really is an extension of who I am
Nikon D800
Nikor 24-70mm f/3.5-4.6 @ @ 35 mm (with 20mm extension tube)
2.0 sec, f/25.0, ISO 100
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
.
“There are times in our lives when we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future.”
― Eleanor Brown
As I was making images of the flowers from a recently purchased bouquet, I realized that I had saved a dried rose back in the fall. It was sitting on a bench in my studio but I had not figured out how I wanted to present it.
I had made another image that day, involving a coffee cup and biscotti titled “Taking a Break”. The shot involved a wooden charcuterie board, which my wife had given me at Christmas. The wooden board seemed like a nice background for the rose. After adjusting it a few times and playing with the lighting to minimize shadows, this is the result, simply titled “Better Days”, since the rose has certainly had them. The title, which came readily, prompts me to reflect deeply on the image created. It is significant.
To think back on the past occasions where a flower was given as a gesture of love, friendship, a bond and how some of those relationships may have represent better days, others, have not. Yet, they cannot be so easily discarded and within what remains there is some trace of the beauty they once symbolized, some future lesson to be realized?
Nikon D800
Nikor 24-70mm f/3.5-4.6 @ @ 35 mm (with 20mm extension tube)
2.0 sec, f/25.0, ISO 100
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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http://www.edlehming.com
“Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – we haven’t time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
― Georgia O’Keeffe
Today is a dull, grey day here. One of those days where it can’t figure out whether to rain or snow. So, what better way to brighten it up than with a flower.
I spent a bit of time in the studio yesterday, pulling apart a fresh bouquet and photographing the individual blossoms. The marvel of modern times is that fresh summer blooms are readily available year round.
With this bloom, I found myself really enjoying the pale yellow halo at the base of the petals and the way it glowed with its own light. I played with various exposure settings and finally settled on the one that showed off that effect, without softening the details too much.
I’m still getting used to using my extender tubes, as I don’t have a good macro lens in my bag yet, but that is on the horizon.
Nikon D800
Nikor 24-70mm f/3.5-4.6 @ @ 35 mm (with 20mm extension tube)
2.0 sec, f/25.0, ISO 100
Hi Resolution image on 500px
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
Here’s my contribution for this week’s Tuesdays of Texture over at de monte y mar.
This is just one of a growing series of studies I have done by photographing trees and logs. There is infinite variation in colour and texture. I’ve walked past this log more times than I can count and nearly always stop to look at it, as it slowly decays. This particular day, the light was just right to showcase the varying textures.
Nikon D300
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 85 mm
1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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http://www.edlehming.com
This was a bit of a theme for me last week as I was out making photos. Soft, pure, snow blanketed the fields and open spaces during my extended hikes. The low angle of the sun in the winter sky accentuated the shadows.
As I reviewed the many images I realized that as mono images and without context these images could be of almost anything: water, sand, cloth, foam, or soft clouds. What I liked most about this particular image was the gentle flow punctuated by a few coarser areas.
In reality, I am just happy to be able to capture accurately what I’m seeing. Snow is a real challenge and I have to fool my camera on exposure, especially on bright days.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 105 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 100
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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“I just like to be alone sometimes, no I’m not angry, no I’m not sad. I just like to be alone. It’s how I recharge” – Unknown
I’m still finding myself reflecting on some of the wonderful moments of late December 2016, including the many solitary hikes on our local trails. I was amazed that there were no other hikers out on several beautiful days after Christmas. The trails had obviously had use prior to these days, as they were nicely packed down by snowshoes and boots, the new snowfall remained undisturbed.
I am absolutely not complaining about this, it just seemed odd for me to have this all to myself. I often find myself hiking unaccompanied, since I tend to be a bit excessive when I get on the trails with my camera. it’s not unusual for me to travel six to ten kilometers in a day. I’m in no hurry and tend to make a circuit of it. Be it summer, winter, spring, or fall, I love being in the outdoors, enjoying and documenting the ever changing sights. This past December was a treat for me, the trails were clear, temperatures were not extreme, and I had an extended vacation time which allowed me more freedom to do what I love.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1/50 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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http://www.edlehming.com
“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most.”
― John Ruskin
The last week of December, 2016 was simply stunning. A soft, continuous snowfall had blanketed the world around me in pure white. Snow stacked up on objects that, surprisingly, bore its weight. Such was the case with this Staghorn Sumac in the meadow just north of my home. I decided a mid-morning walk with my camera was in order. The light was soft and bright, reflecting from the snow-covered ground, providing nice shadow fill. This reflected light, made the sumac berries glow in bright reds, which contrasted wonderfully with the purity of the snow that formed caps on each cluster. All that’s missing here is a perching bird of some sort.
As I consider the image, I’m also pleased with the background colours: the pinky-reds of the Red-Osier Dogwoods in the at the bottom of the frame and the darker greens of the pines at the top, both slightly muted by the snow.
Today, we’re in a post thaw cold snap. All the soft snow in this image has melted down to a gray crust. I’m looking forward to the next snowfall to cover that up and brighten the winter once more.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 110 mm
1/80 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
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http://www.edlehming.com
“It would seem from this fact, that man is naturally a wild animal, and that when taken from the woods, he is never happy in his natural state, ’till he returns to them again.”
― Benjamin Rush
A brief post today of a digital painting I recently made of the cedar forest near Whitevale, Ontario. Despite the cold temperatures, warm sunlight glows from within the forest.
This week’s submission to Norm 2.0‘s Thursday Doors.
Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos from around the world.
New Year, old doors. Number 3 Princess Street is final image for my autumn trip Saint John, New Brunswick. I was not aware that this city is built among a series of steep hills, and the doors are quite interesting. This section of the city was quite run down a few years ago but is now a flourishing area of pubs and boutiques. Here’s the Google Streetview link to the location for your enjoyment. Take a tour, it’s quite lovely.
“Step back in perspective, open your heart and welcome transition into a new phase of life.”
― Linda Rawson
I’ve been meaning to share this photo for a few weeks now. It was made back in December, when I was playing with some saved fall leaves. You see, back in October I came across many of these ‘undecided’ poplar leaves, half green and half yellow. I started referring to them as lemon-lime leaves. I honestly can’t recall ever seeing this before, though there seems to be a lot of things I did not observe before my more deliberate photo-ventures into the forest.
The colour difference made them interesting to me, so I collected a bunch with the intention of documenting them in the studio. Well, I finally got around to the photos and now, processing them to share. I find them interesting to look at. There is so much detail, I could lose myself in them, a bit like the Georgia O’Keeffe quote I’ve used before. The closer you look at something, the more it becomes your word, and nature has so many worlds to lose yourself in. So, I find myself toggling back and forth between the near and the far, landscape and macro, since I enjoy them both equally. Between long hikes in the winter forests and the warmth of the studio, I’m quite satisfied either way and there are several other leaves in my collection which I’m hoping to get to soon.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1 sec, f/25, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
“The best advice I can give on this is, once it’s done, to put it away until you can read it with new eyes. When you’re ready, pick it up and read it, as if you’ve never read it before. If there are things you aren’t satisfied with as a reader, go in and fix them as a writer: that’s revision.”
― Neil Gaiman
My post earlier today reminded me of just how spectacular these birds are, especially when presented with the opportunity to photograph them close up and how important it is to continue to improve my work, both photographically and in written word.
I made this image in the spring of 2013 with older gear, lacking the resolution of my current set up. Last year I purchased PicCure+, which is probably the best investment in my photography I made all year. The software uses a mathematical algorithm to remove lens and/or motion distortion from photographs.
As I recalled the wonder of photographing this magnificent owl I also recall my frustration at not being able to show the details without a lot of noise. So, I re-processed the image using PicCure+ and the results were amazing. It’s worth checking out the free trial. I’m not usually one to promote a particular product but I can’t say enough about it.
Nikon D300
Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G I AF-S VR Zoom @ 277mm
1/60 sec, f/5.0, ISO 200
For more images like this, please visit my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
or my website (some images available for purchase)
http://www.edlehming.com
Ed Lehming Photography 
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