Blog : Page 66 of 107 : Michael Frye Photography

Moonstruck

by Michael Frye | Dec 13, 2013 | Photography Tips, Yosemite Photo Conditions

Half Dome and moon at sunset, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

Half Dome and moon at sunset, February 18th, 2008

There’s something magical about the moon. Putting the moon in a photograph adds a sense of mystery and timelessness, and can elevate an otherwise ordinary scene into something special. Ansel Adams confessed to being “moonstruck,” and I suppose I am too.

The moon will be full next Tuesday (at 1:28 a.m. here on the west coast), and I’m sure many photographers will be trying to capture a rising or setting moon during the coming days, so I thought I would share some ideas about photographing the full moon, and clear up some misconceptions.

Misconception #1

One misconception is that moonrise or moonset photos are taken at night. They’re not: they’re almost invariably made near sunrise or sunset. After dark the contrast between the moon and the landscape is too great, and a good exposure for the moon will make the landscape completely black, while a good exposure for the landscape will wash out the moon. Around sunrise and sunset it’s possible to balance the light between the moon and the landscape and get detail in both, yet have a dark enough sky for the moon to stand out clearly.

Misconception #2

Another misconception is that moonrise or moonset photos are made on the date when your calendar says “full moon.” This can work if the terrain is flat, or you’re at a high vantage point. But if there are mountains or ridges blocking your view of the horizon, you’re better off photographing a moonrise one to three days before the full moon, and a moonset one to three days after the full moon. While the moon won’t technically be full, it will look full enough, and be in a better position than on the actual full moon night. Here’s why:

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Gift Book Ideas

by Michael Frye | Dec 6, 2013 | Reviews

I love ebooks; I’ve written three of them, and I think they’re great for teaching and learning about photography. But there’s something special about a beautiful, well-printed, coffee-table book. Picking one up is like holding an art exhibit in your hands, and the tactile sensations of turning the pages complement the visual experience of looking at the images. So here are four actual, physical books you might not have seen before, but that could make great gifts this holiday season.

The Last Ocean:
Antarctica’s Ross Sea Project
by John Weller
Rizzoli

John Weller might be one of the best nature photographers you’ve never heard of. I first met John in the 1990s when he worked briefly at The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite. John has since gone on to create two beautiful books: Great Sand Dunes National Park: Between Light and Shadow, and his latest, The Last Ocean.

The Last Ocean is part of an ambitious project to document and preserve Antarctica’s Ross Sea, considered to be the most pristine ecosystem left on earth. John made four separate trips to this area and came back with a stunning collection of beautiful and imaginative photographs. And, in something of a rarity for a coffee-table book, the text is as compelling as the photographs, with vivid descriptions of the area, the lives of the animals, and of John’s adventures.

To see some of the photographs in the book, check out this slide show. You can order signed copies of the book directly from John, or get unsigned copies from Amazon.

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Aspens in the Snow

by Michael Frye | Dec 5, 2013 | Photography Tips

Aspens and pines in an autumn snowstorm, Toiyabe NF, CA, USA; 1/8 sec at f/22, ISO 50

In October I fulfilled a long-time dream: to photograph autumn aspens in the snow. I posted one photograph from that snowy day here, and two more from the following morning here. But I made a lot of other images during that storm, and now finally have a chance to show you some of them.

On that snowy October day it was a challenge to keep my camera dry, keep snow and water drops off the lens, and stay warm myself. But it was a rare opportunity, and I didn’t want to wait until the snow stopped, because the falling snow itself gave the photographs an ethereal quality, almost like fog.

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Let It Snow

by Michael Frye | Dec 1, 2013 | Vision and Creativity

Half Dome and Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

In a recent post I talked about adapting your composition to the light, rather than hoping that the light adapts to your composition. Nowhere is this more true than at Tunnel View. Sometimes the classic view – with El Capitan on the left, and Cathedral Rocks on the right – works perfectly. But not always. When I made this photograph the most interesting part of the scene was a small area in the distance where the light was hitting Half Dome and the valley floor below, so I zoomed in with my 70-200mm lens, turned the camera to a vertical orientation, and filled the frame with just those two spots.

Looking at this photograph made me think about clearing storms, and snow, and Christmas coming. I hope we get lots of snow this winter, not just for the sake of photographers, but for everyone in California. We’ve had two straight years of meager precipitation here, and we really need a wet winter. So let it snow!

— Michael Frye

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Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, Yosemite Meditations for Women, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters. He has also written three eBooks: Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, Exposure for Outdoor Photography, and Landscapes in Lightroom 5: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.

Quick Reminder: Sale Ends Tomorrow

by Michael Frye | Dec 1, 2013 | Announcements

Just a reminder that there are less than 36 hours left in our Black Friday Sale, with 35% off my Landscapes in Lightroom 5 ebook and video package, and 40% off The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite iPhone and iPad app. The sale ends at midnight Pacific time tomorrow, December 2nd. Again, you don’t need to enter any special codes – those are just the prices until the sale is over.

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

— Michael Frye

Black Friday Sale!

by Michael Frye | Nov 29, 2013 | Announcements

Yes, we’re having a Black Friday sale too! Here at our world headquarters in downtown Mariposa, California, we’ve cooked up two sweet deals:

35% Off Landscapes in Lightroom 5: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide

Normally $14.95, this ebook and video package is now only $9.95! You don’t have to enter a discount code – that’s just the price until midnight Pacific Time on Monday, December 2nd.

In this ebook I take you step-by-step through processing six images in Lightroom. You can download the Raw files so you can follow along yourself, plus you get exclusive access to eight videos demonstrating different aspects of Lightroom’s Develop Module.

This is a great gift for the photographer on your Christmas list! Just click “Add to Cart” underneath the words “Gift Coupon.”

40% Off The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite iPhone/iPad App

This app is a must-have for any photographer visiting Yosemite. Normally it sells for $6.99, but until midnight Pacific Time on December 2nd it’s only $3.99! Click here to go to the iTunes store, and once again there are no discount codes you need to enter.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

by Michael Frye | Nov 27, 2013 | Announcements

Sunbeams and corona in a redwood forest, CA, USA

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the United States, a day of gratitude.

As a photographer, one of the things I’m thankful for is the art and craft of photography itself. Photography encourages me to get out and see things I would otherwise miss. I’ve been lucky to witness so many extraordinarily beautiful moments that I would never have seen without the camera tugging at me and telling me to go look – to pay attention to the beauty around me.

And I’m always especially thankful for all of you, my readers. Your participation, ideas, and passion for photography make writing this blog a pleasure. Thank you so much for your support!

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday, filled with good company, good food, and many things to be grateful for.

— Michael Frye

What’s the Least Interesting Part of This Photograph?

by Michael Frye | Nov 26, 2013 | Composition, Photography Tips, Vision and Creativity

Moon rising between El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks from Valley View, Yosemite NP, CA, USA

Moon rising between El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks from Valley View. What’s the least interesting part of this image?

The best compositions are simple; they present only the essentials, and leave out extraneous clutter. The most common mistake in photography – by far – is including too much in the frame. Anything that’s not adding to the photograph’s message is detracting from it.

To help simplify your compositions, ask yourself, before you press the shutter, “What’s the least interesting part of this photograph?” Try to identify the weakest area of your composition, and find a way to get rid of it. Then, once you’ve done that, ask the same question again: “Now, what’s the least interesting part of this image?” And get rid of that. And keep doing that until there’s nothing left that you could possibly cut out without losing something vital.

To give you some practice, look at the photograph above. What’s the least interesting part of that image? And if you got rid of that, what would be next – what’s the next least interesting part of the photograph?

I’ll give you a minute to think about it. When you’re ready, take a look at this next photograph, and answer the same question: what’s the least interesting part of this image?

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