Location Location

So in going through my first photography class, we recently read a chapter regarding locations and months within the year that would be good for taking great pictures. There were 12 different locations and each one was assigned to a different month. Well, the professor wanted us to pick one of the locations and blog about it. Also, do a little research about it and why we picked that specific location.

The location that I picked was Mount Rainer National Park. The park is located in Washing and is home to an active volcano. Also, during the August season, there are flowers galore that are blooming all over the place. I picked this location because one of the topics in photography that interests me is landscape. I love the scenery that comes with the landscape photos that are taking. I find it, that if looking at the right picture, as cliche as it sounds, can be quite breathtaking. Seeing great landscape photos makes me want to be able to take photos like that. What I liked about Mount Rainer, is the active volcano with it and it sometimes being snowcapped. Even though its only one mountain, I like mountains a lot. Then the flowers that are blooming around it can really add to the photo.

August seems like the best time to go because there is so much going on at the time. The tourists that go to the park are starting to dwindle down. There is also a little snow on the volcano that makes for great shots. There are tons of flowers in so many different colors and the trees are just starting to change because of fall add to it. In the shots, you can get a snowcapped mountain with fall colors and flowers giving it a sign of spring. It can make for quite some beautiful shots.

The Beginning of a New Class

So in coming back to Rocky, I came with a new major in mind, and that being Art with an emphasis in Photography. In doing so, I am now taking 2 classes that add up to 4 hours in photography. I'm pretty excited for all of this and see where it goes by the end of the year.

The first class that I have (and is making me do this blog) is Digital Nature Photography with Rocky's own Photographer, Dave Shumway. He is having us do reading assignments and posting this blog as to what the actual reading was about.

For our first assignment, we read out of a book called Nature Photography by Tim Fitzharris. We had to read up to around page 46 of it, which wasn't so bad with all the pretty pictures to look at. But, in doing the reading, you learn that there is a lot more to photography then just point and shoot. Depending on what you're taking pictures of in just nature, you need different kinds of gear. Even along the lines of nature photography, the book explains that some people don't think that its an art because you're just taking pictures of animals. But I think that any form of photography is an art because there is so much that you have to put into it and so many options that you can do to change the outcome of a picture.

The book went on about the so many choices of cameras that you can have and the options with them. Some are capable of certain things while others do something different. You can do macro, which is up close and personal with things such as bugs or even flowers. You can take pictures of animals and landscape. Each requiring different lenses that change the outcome. There is even the use of filters that change the lighting or color of the scene.

There was talk of people doing traveling and camping for weeks trying to get the photos that they want. In doing so, they have to have certain bags or even vests that make it easier to carry their equipement. One thing that I learned was that vests are important and help a photographer a lot because you have everything right in something thats on you. It has pockets for carrying items and can easily exchange it between others. Having bags and no vest produces too much trouble because you have to locate the bags and fumble through it looking for the right piece of equipment that you want.

What I learned that is very important for any photographer is that they should always have a tripod. Tripods help a lot in producing the best pictures that you can take because the camera is not moving. Its just set up and standing still and can take pictures with no vibration which would interfere with the picture. Having a remote helps to because just pushing the button causes a little vibration.

Even though that this is just the tip of the iceberg, I'm excited for where this goes. I want to improve my photography skills and who knows, maybe do something with them when I get out of college. :)