Photo of the Week 2019-10-28 - 'Announcement - 2020 Through The Seasons Calendar'

2020 Through The Seasons Wall Calendar - Limited Availability

This is the 9th year for my "Through the Seasons" calendar project. Started as a Christmas gift project for immediate family members, distribution has grown a bit over the years as more family and some clients have requested copies. This year I've decided to pre-order a few copies and offer them for sale.

"Through the Seasons" showcases a dozen of my images from a single year, each made during the month in which they are displayed. Images may or may not have been previously published in this blog, Facebook, or other social media.

Satin finish calendar pages are 8.5" x 11", wire bound and the calendar opens to hang at approx 17" h x 11" w. Pages can be removed and framed for display ... once you've had the use of the calendar for a year of course ;-) As always, single Fine Art prints are available by contacting me directly for a quote.

They are available to the first 10 customers for $25 + $5 postage via Canada Post, CDN funds, shipping to Canada only. To place an order and arrange payment, email me at djenglandphotography@gmail.com. I'll be placing a second order that should arrive just before Christmas if there are more takers. 

Here is a collage of the images included ...

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-10-21

Fall is a great time to get out and work on forest scenes here in Ontario, and then it can be almost too easy when fall colours are at their peak. Pointing the camera almost anywhere when you're in or near a forest can result in some striking photos. The colours are always inspiring and it's great getting out to bask in the forest, taking in the sounds, the sights, the smells and it's healing goodness.

As I said last week, "Capturing the feel, the true feel of a forest scene is challenging" and I've been out working on it. The recent forest scenes I've been capturing are a work in progress. As I strive to translate what I feel into a finished image, it's taking quite a bit of work, quite a bit of time and ... I just don't have anything ready to share for this week's photo. But soon, I hope.

Sunsets are awesome at this time of year as well, soooo ... on Sunday evening just as we finished dinner, the mist on the bay was calling and I headed out to see what day's end had to offer. Though not the heavy low lying mist over the water I had hoped for, there was still a very light haze across the water heading out to Lake Huron as I paused to watch and capture that mighty orb falling below the horizon ... going under.

going under

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-10-14

Capturing the feel, the true feel of a forest scene is challenging ... an understatement to say the least. 

Once their eye detects "something", that "something" that eludes description, a photographer must decide where to direct the lens and from which vantage point. They must choose whether to "go wide" and pull in an expanse of the scene before them, to "zoom in" and pick out specific details, or something in between. They must decide what, out of a myriad of possible elements to include, what to exclude, what elements work together to build that "feel". 

And, the photographer must make choices that are more technical, focal length aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure that align with their vision for the image.

fall forest shadows

Getting all aspects to come together, in harmony that moves a viewer to "feel" what the photographer feels is the ultimate goal. Success is elusive, seldom achieved, ever enticing ... for me anyway.

I will continue, undaunted, as time spent in the forest is something special in itself.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-10-07

Specialist or Generalist Photographer ? Does it matter ?

I've been checking out the work of a few new photographers lately. While searching places to photograph in Scotland for an upcoming trip (in 2020), I discovered Thomas Heaton. Watched some of his videos on YouTube, he introduced me to Simon Baxter and then a few others.

Looking at their galleries and you tube videos it quickly became obvious that these guys focus their photographic eye primarily in one direction. Heaton bills himself as a Landscape and Outdoor Photographer, Baxter more narrowly as a Woodland Photographer and their work is beautiful.

Studying their work and approach got me thinking about being a specialist vs a generalist when it comes to photography. I can see why those trying to make a living from photography would benefit from specializing to develop an identity, working to become known for their work.

I'm not sure I could specialize, limit myself to one genre of photography. I don't think it matters. I enjoy capturing a variety of subjects, though a lot of my work includes landscapes and nature scenes. That doesn't stop me from learning from those photographers that specialize. Simon Baxter's work has me revisiting the trails and woodlands around home, scouting prospective locations and thinking of what season, time of day and conditions would be optimum.

And while scouting out a local backroad that I've shot in fall before, I didn't think conditions were optimum, but they were close ...

rainy fall road

DJE