Back to Mono...

I realised the other day that I hadn't posted a black and white or monochromatic image in some time. One reason maybe that I've been shooting more sunrises over recent weeks and therefore b/w isn't always the best option, and secondly I blame +Chrysta Rae! And that reason will be apparent when the reveals happen for this month's Scavenger Hunt, just sayin ;)

So here's a shot taken near sunset a few nights ago. 

Fresh from a shoot for German outdoor clothing brand Vaude, Francis Kelsey on a very wintery SE ridge of Tour Ronde, on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.

Here's my first image for around three and a half months.
A very long time i know, but due entirely to work commitments.
But i will be taking a very long break after this weekend and will be back to catch up on all your wonderful work and comments.
This was taken on Lake Geneva - Lac Leman - in Switzerland in the company of +Johan Peijnenburg +Athena Carey who organised this wonderful event.
It was great to be in the company of my "Brother" +Luca Cesari too, we had a great weekend.
Great to meet up with some new photographers +Jenn Oliver +Armand Patrice +Richard Azia +Barbara Stumm +Fabrizio Vignali +Didier H. +Greg Stechishin +Patrice Albertus +Dominique Dubied 
Apologies if i've missed someone out, but do let me know, and i'll correct that.

Hamburg 2

I stole this one from +Andy Bitterer :P

Hafencity, Hamburg.

“As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can".” ~John Muir

This is from day# 2 of my trip to Iceland and this falls is in the Southern West Fjords. The time was in the middle of the long Icelandic Summer afternoon. It was especially beautiful weather that day. It was also day# 2 of getting used to how fast everyone drives on the sometimes narrow gravel roads. Wow! I just knew I would have my windshield cracked by a rock from an oncoming vehicle but it never happened. If and when you go be prepared. :)

#waterfallwednesday  by +Eric Leslie 
#nordiclandscapes   #nordicfeeling  
#landscapephotography  +Landscape Photography 
#10000photographersaroundtheworld  by +Robert SKREINER +10000 PHOTOGRAPHERS around the World 
+Monochrome Arty Club 

#monochromephotography   #blackandwhitephotography   #iceland   #iceland2012     #plusphotoextract  

Aspen Leaf on Marble - Marble, Colorado USA

Marble, Colorado is a tiny town that boasts both a pretty darn impressive marble quarry and some absolutely beautiful scenery. As the leaves start to change color, photographers descend upon the town. The locals call us "The Leafers". It's a name I embrace. I am, most definitely, a Leafer at this time of year... seeking out the autumn foliage like a junkie. ;)

I used a 70-200mm lens for this shot. A macro lens would have worked just as well, but I didn't need to focus too close... and +Jay Patel l had absconded with it anyway. :) Getting the exposure right was easy - the range of light is very narrow, as you can see. Actually, the hardest part was just finding the right leaf. I wanted one with a variety of colors. Most of the aspen leaves are a brilliant golden color - and they are lovely - but I wanted on with a little more character because I knew my background would be very subtle. Once I'd found my leaf, I carried it very carefully up the road toward the huge marble blocks that lined the roadside. I didn't want to disturb the water droplets. Then, I scanned the surface of the stone -  looking for the right vein in the marble. It took just a moment to find the one I wanted... this jagged grey line that defines my marble background. I placed my leaf, set up my camera straight overhead - on a tripod. And took a shot. Not quite right. I bent down, pushed the stem just slightly so that it curved a little bit, and took another shot. Done.

In post processing, I was very careful about color balance. I didn't want the marble to appear at all yellow - or the leaf to have any tint of blue. Slight color casts in a shot like this would really dull the photograph. I removed a few tiny specks of dirt from the rock and the leaf, and brightened up the water droplets just a tiny bit.

This is, hands down, my favorite shot from the trip. I love the contrast between the colorful foreground and the subtle background. Heck - this one just makes me smile. What do you think?

#photographytips   #photohowto   #phototips  

Tidelands on Sylt. I was very lucky being able to enjoy this breathtaking sunrise, because the rest of the day was overcast and rainy. The early bird…..

Next Week's #macromonday  Theme-Within-A-Theme Is:  f/4 Or Wider Aperture 
(i.e. f/1.2, f/2.8, etc.)

She'd Breathe Fire If You Looked At Her The Wrong Way

234/366. Literally.

#365project #366project

Paradise Bay in Antarctica is exactly that....Paradise. As we scooted around on our zodiac to get the best angles of the ship for the brochure we came across this Leopard Seal waving to the ship. A special moment for a special destination!

#photography   #antarctica   #photos   #winterwednesday   #iceberg   #landscapephotography   #wildlifephotography   #wildlifewednesday  

-