In almost every class I’ve taught I have recommended Photographing skies. Textures too! Why? Because these Items can be used in your Photography, it’s that simple.
But guess what? Even I, have forgotten to do this at times. And now? Lately I need to do this twice! Once with a regular camera, and once with an infrared camera. The infrared camera also requires me to record which nanometer sensor I photographed the sky with as well.
Your File Organization and Travel
You should also be diligent in your file organization. I’ve also taught this a bit as well, but it bears repeating. If you do not organize your files now, it will be ten times more tedious later.
As many of you might know, in the summers I head north out of my Vegas home base, to get out of the incessant heat. This year I spent most of the summer based out of Island Park and Pocatello Idaho. Well guess what I noticed the most right away?
Yes, the obvious… it was WAY cooler! Also? Green! Everywhere! And yes, water flowed freely too. But the one thing that really amazed me were the clouds! Everyday! Not just special days like the rare Vegas day where we have humidity, but everyday the clouds in this region were awesome!
So file organization is also very important. Clouds backlit? Light from the right or left? Or which Infrared camera sensor? The same goes for textures. Describe them. File them and then manipulate them for use in your work.
The Days and the Region had me Thinking
My summer brought back childhood memories from when I lived in California. We had clouds most days there as well. I had forgotten this! So after 54 years of being based in Vegas, I’d forgotten that clouds in the sky are only rare in the Desert Southwest! It’s amazing what we remember… and also what we forget.
Skies and Photoshop
Yes I know, Photoshop now has the sky replacement feature. But it’s limited. You can add your own skies to that library, and you should. Because if you do not, at a future point in time some wise cracker will comment. I can hear it now. “hey dude, you replaced the sky with the same old ones in PhotoShop! Man that’s lame.”
Another Observation from the Summer
Up north? There are a lot of trees and mountains. But one tree… and another mountain pretty much all look the same. This gave me an even greater appreciation for the Desert Southwest. I could not help but remember that every time I’ve gone to Red Rock, or Valley of Fire, or out to Devils Fire, I’ve always found something different to Photograph. So if you live in Vegas please get off the couch! Go out there and shoot! Please do not say been there, done that!
While up North I was having trouble setting my work apart from the hordes that came before me. Especially in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I found myself lacking inspiration Photographically. I mean the region has been Photographed to death. So I went looking more in the less popular areas to find my nuggets. Yes, and to avoid 1,000 people waiting in line for 50 parking spots! Yuck!
So Remember…
Remember to not forget what you once knew… and remember we only have a short time here. Take advantage of every minute and every scene. Isn’t that what Photography is to some extent? Remembering time? Thank you for yours!
Coming Soon!
My September Milky Way PhotoSafari Sept 12th,13th, & 14th
My Infrared Photography Class @ B&C Camera Thursday October 5th 5:00pm to 7:00pm
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PhotoSafari! Specializing in Infrared. Use my Gear! October 17th to 20th
