The Photographer's Notebook

Spring is in the air! I know that spring is already in bloom for some while others like us up North still have a while longer to wait despite what the calendar tells us. Soon, though, for all of us, snow flurries will turn into rain, and cold winds will begin to shift towards slight warmth. Those gentle raindrops are sure to be welcomed by the new blooms of spring, but can we photographers welcome a rainy day too? I certainly think so! The element of rain can be fun to infuse into spring images. Here are some tips for you about how you can go about capturing gorgeous photos between the raindrops!

1. Protect your camera

It's crucial to protect your camera from the rain. I enjoy embracing the elements and atmosphere that come along with weather, but I always ensure I protect my gear. Rain sleeves are a fantastic solution when you purposefully or accidentally get caught in the rain. So keep one tucked away inside your camera bag for such occasions. I recommend...

Spring hasn't officially arrived quite yet, and it'll still be some time before spring starts blooming up North here in Canada. This in-between season's stage we're in right now is not really all that pretty. There's half-melted snow piles and mud puddles galore. There's squelch and dead all over the forests. All that yuck and muck isn't attractive, but I still have this desire to capture beautiful images, so how do I go about my photography even when it's unsightly? Today I'm sharing with you some ideas about how you can still capture the beauty in your life, within your images, during the in-between seasons. 

1. Crop out the unsightly 

Compose your pictures in a way that crops out what is unattractive. This might mean cropping in on your subject to avoid dirty and melting snow piles. Try and shoot through something pretty, like the branches of an evergreen tree. Or use a telephoto lens so that you have less environment in your image. 

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This week I'm thrilled to feature photographer Nadeen Flynn. Nadeen is a talented multi-genre photographer. Today, Nadeen is sharing tips on how to create stunning flat lays and if you haven't seen her photography before today prepare to be in awe and inspired!

"Thank you for sharing your talents with us Nadeen!"

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How many of you have gotten 'the hand' from your kids when you tried to photograph them? Or maybe it was the 'photographer's child' look. If your kids (this includes fur babies) are not cooperative, but you want to shoot and document your days, what do you do? Because we are all busy, I have some simple tips for quick flat-lay setups for you. And, what a great way to still document life, yours and theirs. Here are seven basic tips to get you started with making a flat-lay image in just ten minutes.

1. Light

It's always about light, isn't it? My favorite light for still life is window light. Look around your home and find a window with some nice indirect light. A...

Do you haul around your heavy telephoto lens in your photography backpack but rarely take it out? I'm hanging my head in shame because my answer is, "Yes." I'm notorious for rarely taking out my telephoto, and this is something I must change. A resolution, per se, even though we're well into February. As the temperatures begin to warm and we all begin to spend a little more time outdoors exploring all the beauty nature has to offer, I'm sure you're embracing your opportunities for landscape photography. Instead of keeping that telephoto lens tucked inside your backpack, adopt the following reasons for why you should take it out and use it in your landscape images.  

1. Isolate your subject

Telephoto lenses are fantastic for isolating a subject. When zoomed in using a telephoto, you can crop out large areas of detail, which will isolate a single subject. The composition of your image is vital in such a situation, though. Think about how you can draw attention...

It's finally happening! The daylight has begun to increase noticeably. Winter up here in the North will stick around until at least April and maybe beyond, but I'm happy to see a significant brightening in the light within my home. I thoroughly enjoy exploring this return in light, and I find my creativity is rejuvenated with the light. I like to think about how I can use the newly returned light and shadow in fun and creative ways. Here are a few ideas about how you can use light and shadow in your images.

1. Look for shadows from windows

Window shadows are some of my favourite ways in which to use light and shadow creatively. Watch for light and shadow during different times of the day as the sun enters your home. Think about how you can use this light and infuse this often creative light and shadow into your images.

There are many different ways in which you can use the same light source and window in your images and create different looks. Try backlighting, side lighting...

This time of year is tough for me. Outdoors it's still wintering with bitter chilly winds that I'm tired of enduring. Indoors, the light is getting more plentiful, but it isn't quite as cheery and bright as I'd like. Predictably, I find myself falling into a bit of a rut this time of year. So I thought I'd brainstorm some ways for me and maybe you too, to feel less rut-like and more inspired to photograph all the beautiful everyday moments. 

1. Just have fun

Rut equals blah. I find that sometimes I need to do the opposite of what I'm feeling to force myself out of a mood. Kick that negative self-fulfilling prophecy in the behind and jump into a more positive frame of mind. For me, the opposite of blah is energy. My children, even though they are getting older, still love to be silly. So let's bring on the silliness and laughter. Activities like jumping on the bed or couch, building a fort out of pillows, or even a trip to the park are bound to spark energy and fun...

It's no secret that I have a profound love for landscape photography. The mountains are apart of who I am today. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, I have spent many summers in the Canadian Rocky Mountains with my camera in my hand. It's no surprise that as a landscape photographer, my very favourite scenes contain images with the beloved mountain ranges I grew up in, continue to share with my children, and enjoy to this day. 

Viewing the mountains through the eyes of a landscape photographer is a powerful thing, and I've come to recognize that there are a few key ingredients to photographing a landscape with impact. I want to share these tips with you so that you can make the most of your landscape photography opportunities. It may not be mountain scenes that you most often capture, but being aware of these key ingredients will help you photograph more impactful landscape images. 

1. Light 

It's also no secret that I adore light both as a mom...

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Love, hearts and sparkly bokeh are in the air! In this week’s article, I’m sharing steps for how to create your own Valentine’s Day heart bokeh overlays. It’s a fun and creative technique that is photographed separately then infused into your images by way of an overlay. Let's get creative and have some Valentine’s Day fun!

1. Preparation

Gather up your supplies! Here’s a list of what you’ll need to create your heart bokeh overlays.

• Camera and lens hood
• Black construction paper or card stock
• Scissors
• Heart-shaped hole punch (optional)
• Tape
• A string of fairy or Christmas tree lights (not LED)
• A black backdrop (You can use a black trifold or a black blanket)
• Photoshop

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2. Cut out your hearts

It's time to create your heart-shaped lens covers! Detach your lens hood from your lens (if it’s attached) and draw a circle on the black construction paper or cardstock....

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the value of setting goals to grow and develop as a photographer. In that article, I discussed some essential tips to keep in mind when setting development goals.  One of the points I mentioned was how important practice is to the developing photographer. Practice will help you grow in your technique and as an artist. 

Before starting a photography project, it's essential to consider how much time you have to dedicate to your project. Any attempt at the process of learning will result in positive gains but remember it's a lot more fun when it doesn't feel overwhelming. Choose something that you're passionate about. If you can commit to one passion project, you're more likely to be motivated to pick up your camera even on days when you don't want to. Passion is a powerful motivator! 

Here are a few ideas for photography projects this year: 

1. Daily or weekly project

Project 365s or Project 52s are fantastic ways in which...

Don’t let winter keep you away from doing what you love! Winter offers beautiful and unique opportunities for the landscape photographer. Snow-kissed mountain peaks, frost flowers, ice bubbles and more! It’s all stunning and begs to be photographed.  Here are a few ways you can capture stunning winter landscapes. 

1. Don’t shy away from the cold

Winter is cold. I get it. I live in a climate where 15 degrees Celsius is considered balmy enough for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I know what it’s like to be cold most of the year. I’ve learnt to embrace the cold and become comfortable photographing in cold temperatures. The trick is dressing for the weather and layering. It is a lot of work, but it’s well worth the effort. Some of the most beautiful atmospheric elements come hand in hand with the cold. Clouds, fog and steam off feezing water are all prevalent during the winter season and can create stunning winter scenes. 

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