Recently, eleven GLLT members joined professional photographers and editors Susan Welchman and Brent Legere, plus amateur photographers and naturalists Mary Jewett and Leigh Macmillen Hayes for an evening photography workshop. At the end of the workshop the participants were given this assignment:
1. Go shoot on GLLT property(ies) of your choice.
2. Send up to six photos by August 25 to Leigh: leigh.hayes@gllt.org
3. We'll provide some feedback ASAP.
Here’s a sampling of their wonder-filled efforts.
As you can see, they noticed colors and textures from close-up and far away.
We praised them not only for the subjects they captured, but also for providing reference of size such as a tiny hemlock sapling beside a mushroom; the invitation offered by an empty bench; allowing light to shine through a mushroom’s gills; the contrast of colors and lines; the list goes on.
In the end, the pros had these general tips for all photographers:
1. It's OK to enhance your photos to bring out the subject (just don't make it look fake or oversaturated).
2. Playing with saturation and contrast are good starting points in the editing tool world. Bring tone and saturation down, contrast up.
3. Zone in on a subject. Play around with it; capture it from different angles.
4. Always think about light; where it comes from; what it looks like.
5. Take hundreds of photos in all different lighting.
6. Try shooting the same subject from a variety of angles.
7. Always remember that water is a straight line on the horizon.
Thanks to the team who offered the workshop and to these participants: Susan Rowan, Madelyn Schweigert, DB Reiff, Pam Katz, Bob Katz, Ingrid Johnson, Zoe Trautman, Jimmy Fleming, Jo Radner, Moira Yip, and Heinrich Wurm, who attended it remotely and then headed out the door to snap a thousand shots.
As our Lovell Rec Nature Hikers would say, “Take only photos (or videos), leave only footprints.” Happy Photographing!