Sunflowers, with Photomatix

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 06:29:57 -0700

Here is an image I created with Photomatix. I have much to learn about the software, as I’ve mentioned. My Hydrangea HDR was even discussed in a Flickr HDR group. There is much discussion and info to be found here:
Flickr HDR Group

For me, the best way to learn is to play. I have never paid much attention to the technical details of equipment and software, and prefer to work at a very intuitive level. When I see a creative approach that I like, I start experimenting with it like with Photomatix. I learn just enough in order to get the results I want. Being an expert doesn’t equate to making creative imagery. I don’t consider myself an expert in any technical realm of photography... I just try to learn more everyday.

One of my goals for this blog is to share my efforts, my almost daily attempts to push myself along creatively. I have photographed my sunflower often this week, and watched them come into full bloom. I have made many nice images, and had fun “playing,” but I am still struggling to make an image about which I am thrilled.

Stay tuned! Bill

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Watching and waiting...

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:33:16 -0700

I have been busy with BetterPhoto critiques this week, but did manage to make a few new images. I have been watching these sunflowers in my backyard, waiting for them to bloom. This is the first time I’ve grown sunflowers, and have found these buds to be fascinating in their own right. Stay tuned for the bloom!

Also, come back soon because next week my assistant John will be posting a very interesting Photoshop demo. He worked on another image of mine taken this same morning, and pulled out some great techniques in order to realizing what I wanted for the image.

Enjoy, Bill

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Sunflower Still Life

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:33:21 -0700

Here is a new photograph, made on Sunday morning, on the floor of my family room. I picked a sunflower that still showed the strong fibonacci spiral pattern at the center. As the seeds start to develop, this pattern disappears.

I have a piece of black velvet that I have used for still life photography ever since I photographed a wide variety of subjects for my By Nature’s Design book. Although I prefer to find more natural opportunities to photograph macro subjects, the pure black background helps to dramatically focus the viewer’s attention on the amazing qualities of the flower.

The light source is simply my sliding glass window. I have used simple window light for many of my “set-up” macro images.

By Nature’s Design Portfolio

I have a lot of new work to process from this weekend, so I hope to put up some more new work soon...

Let me know your thoughts,

Bill
Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

HDR Hydrangea

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:31:26 -0700

I have been busy this last week writing critiques for my BetterPhoto students, with about 25 total in my two courses. So I haven’t been making new images, until yesterday morning when I spent about an hour in my backyard photographing my sunflowers, and my bucket full of Mexican pebbles. I tried some Impressions work with the sunflowers, as well as some bracketed exposures for HDR. Will post some results soon...

Still trying to get up to speed with Photomatix software, and here is a HDR image created from bracketed exposures taken about a month ago. My able assistant John O’Connor helped with this image. I am traveling to India in December and want to make use of HDR over there when I am photographing the temples and palaces I will visit, and maybe for some landscapes too! This is one of the motivating reasons to improve my HDR skills.

Here is another interest resource to check out:

Outdoor Photographer’s Editorial Blog

Cheers,

Bill

New essay posted at Luminous Landscape

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:37:21 -0700

I have contributed an essay to the Luminous Landscape website, posted yesterday in the second essay of an ongoing series. If you aren’t aware of the vast resource that is Luminous Landscape, check out this great site! Enjoy the essays, and give me your feedback!

Thinking in Themes

Landscapes of the Spirit

Above is a photograph of one of my sunflower plants, budding and getting ready to bloom. This plant is only about two feet high, so when the flower pops open, I can shoot straight down on the flower. Stay tuned!

Cheers,

Bill

Big Sur Portfolio

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:23:31 -0700

I recently added a new portfolio to my web site. It is a collection of work over many years, including both digital capture and 4x5, from Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula.

Enjoy, and let me know which one is your favorite!

Big Sur Portfolio

Double Exposure Interview

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:15:56 -0700

A few years ago, I did an interview with Double Exposure, an online magazine that is full of good inspiration and technical resources. Hopefully, you will find the interview interesting. I receive their e-newsletter, which I have found that worthwhile. I especially enjoy their Cover Story interview series.

William Neill Interview
Double Exposure Online Magazine
Double Exposure’s Neill Gallery

I can also recommend the web site, RGB Imaging, and newsletter produced by my friend Jay Kinghorn. He has some great resources and tutorials on Lightroom 2. Signing up for his newsletter will get you monthly tutorials. Jay has also written an exceptional book with Jay Dickman entitled: Perfect Digital Photography.

Lightroom 2 Tutorial
Perfect Digital Photography

Please let me know if you find these resources useful, and I will keep posting them as I find them. Thanks!

Cheers, Bill

New Posters!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:17:14 -0700

Earlier this summer, we launched a new line of posters. At this time, they are exclusively sold at The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite and on their web site. To view and purchase one of these posters, just click on that poster. Here is a “blurb” describing the quality of these posters. So far, the response has been excellent!

Here is a link for all my posters at the Gallery site:
William Neill posters at AnselAdams.com

“This series of Yosemite posters was created by master landscape photographer William Neill, who has lived in and photographed the park since 1977. Featuring four of his most popular Yosemite photographs, these deluxe posters are printed on high quality inkjet paper. Although not printed on archival photographic inkjet paper, the paper used is much more archival than lithographic posters printed on paper. The posters are printed on the same high resolution Canon printers that are used for fine art prints.

Neill’s posters incorporate the latest inkjet technology using Canon’s 12-color imagePROGRAF iPF6100 printer. Canon’s inks that show exceptional color and resolution. The result is that these deluxe posters offer a combination of color quality and accuracy, print longevity, resolution and cost that is unmatched by an ordinary posters.”

For more of my posters, see my online poster store:

Twilight at the beach...

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:01:43 -0700

On Sunday, I spent the day at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with family, and then had a great Thai meal topped by one of my favorite deserts - fried bananas and coconut ice cream! Afterwards, I stopped by this beach for a little sunset photography. My brother-in-law and I arrived a bit late, after the sun went down and we worked until dark. My last frames show star trails!

Here is one image I like. I must admit that I blew too many exposures, but still there are a few keepers, just not up to my usual percentage. Oh, well...

I will try to get some other images processed and mastered, but I have new BP classes beginning this week, so I will be very busy writing critiques.

If you join in with some comments, don’t forget to add a link to your web site if you wish to share your imagery with visitors here.

Best,

Bill
Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Check it out...

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 14:23:48 -0700

Yesterday was the first day for my next set of BetterPhoto.com classes. I have been teaching for BetterPhoto for three years. First and foremost, I have been very impressed with the effectiveness of their online system. I have seen excellent progress in my students, no matter what level their experience. I have had many students that have impressed me greatly with the high level of their work, and the intensity of their commitment . Below, I want to share links to some of their sites. I would also like to invite my blog visitors, and especially to past BP students, to add a link to your own photographs to share with all of us.

Former BetterPhoto Students:
Laurie Meehan-Elmer recently sent me this link of great images: Liquid Light
website: www.lmeimages.com
Also check out:
Lou Raizin
Robert Brown
Byron O’Neal
Jennifer Rennison

And don’t forget to visit my assistant’s blog:
John O’Connor

BTW, the photograph above was yet another image made at Bass Lake on July 20th....

Enjoy! Bill

Morning Light 2009 Wall Calendar

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

What Ansel said...

Sun, 3 Aug 2008 11:30:08 -0700

In 1983, my work was shown to Ansel Adams in order to determine whether my photographs were worthy for representation in The Ansel Adams Gallery, where I worked at the time. His comments were relayed to me, Ansel saying, “He sees in Black and White in spite of working in color.” Ansel preferred more monochromatic color photography that relied on attention to design and form rather being overly dependent on the impact of color, especially many bright colors. Although I had many wonderful visits with Ansel at his home in Carmel and in Yosemite, I never had the nerve to show him my photographs in person for critique. But ever since I have savored his brief words as a compliment! Equally as rewarding, the Gallery decided to carry my prints, and have done so ever since!

In spite of the fact that I work in color, I love good BW images. Here is a BW conversion I tried today... Enjoy!

Finally, I want to share with you all a cool blog by my assistant John O’Connor. John is a fine photographer, and has been a tremendous help to me here in my studio. In fact, the photograph above would not have been possible since I had borrow John’s tripod since I forgot mine! Check it out and give John some feedback!

John O’Connor

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New image, and update on blog comments

Sat, 2 Aug 2008 12:02:19 -0700

I want to follow up on issues with my Photoblog. I think I have a solution so that you can view the site properly and add your comments. Please click here:

Light on the Landscape Photoblog

If this new link works for you, please update your Bookmark and/or RSS feed to make sure that they reflect the new address.

If you have any problems or questions, email me. If you have some time, please revisit some of my recent blog posts to give me your feedback!

Thanks for your patience! Bill

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Last Light

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:36:00 -0700

Here is another image from Sunday evening. While watching the colorful light on the horizon, I also looked straight up to see this one cloud clinging to the last bit of light!

I hope you enjoy seeing all the variations from Sunday. I am still sorting through them all!

Cheers, Bill

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ripples and a rock...

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:14:15 -0700

Here is another favorite from Bass Lake on Sunday morning...

Enjoy, and please join in with your comments!

Bill

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Sunrise, Sunset...

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:35:11 -0700

On Sunday morning, while I photographed dozens of ripple images at Bass Lake, I also aimed my camera at the clouds that were reflecting in the lake. The top photograph is from that sunrise.

I was at home on Sunday evening, and watched the sky to see if the clouds would light up at sunset. The bottom image was taken from the second story stair landing outside my studio door!

What an amazing day for clouds! Enjoy!

Bill

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Cloud Reflections #2

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:57:04 -0700

Here is another version of the previously posted image, but made with a slower shutter speed. Which one do you like better?

Cheers,

Bill

Cloud Reflections

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:37:56 -0700

This morning I woke up at 5am, drove over to nearby Bass Lake for some sunrise photography. The clouds lit up just as I arrived at the lake, and the ripples were simply marvelous! This area is a major tourist destination around here, and it is not very photogenic to me, at least for broad scenes. During the day, the lake is swamped with boats, jet skis, fisherman and lots of noise. But at sunrise, it was quiet, cool, and peaceful...

As I was writing this, the clouds lit up again, this time for sunset. I stepped out my office door and photographed the dramatic clouds and fading light...

Peace, Bill

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Pools in Oheo Gulch, Hawaii

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:51:26 -0700

Here is another 4x5 image recently scanned for the my 2010 calendar. It is so much fun to bring these images alive. We have been using the Epson V750 Pro, and wet mounting straight on the glass with Kami fluid. I have so many 4x5s that need to be scanned!

Enjoy, Bill

Morning Light 2009 Wall Calendar

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Hydrangea

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:03:16 -0700

It is good to be back “online” with my blog after an extra long server update by Apple. Thanks to those of you who gave me some feedback on the Mono Lake Sunrise image by email in spite of the absence of the Comment link!

Earlier this week, I photographed this hydrangea in my studio using window light. The last time I photographed this flower was about a decade ago when I was working on my book, The Color of Nature. I used the same technique, using soft window light, but have been wanting to try again with digital rather than film.

I look forward to hearing comments from you all. Thanks for visiting!

Cheers, Bill

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Mono Lake Sunrise

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:15:31 -0700

I was out of my office over the weekend, and there seems to be a small problem with my last blog post. I am reposting this image as a test. If you can see and comment on this image, please let me know!

Testing 1, 2, 3!

Bill

NOTE: It seems that the Comment option is not uploading correctly. Working on repairing this!

Mono Lake Sunrise

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:21:52 -0700

This last week, my assistant John and I have been preparing submissions for publication in my 2010 Morning Light calendar. The fun thing about this process is that I can make use of both film and digital captures. I get to dig back into my file drawers full of 4x5 film. It is frustrating to see how much good work is “hidden” in there, but it inspires me to get going on scanning them. Here is one 4x5 image that the publisher selected, from Mono Lake.

Enjoy! Bill

PS The 2009 version of my calendar is ready for purchase:

Morning Light 2009 Wall Calendar

Turning around...

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 08:48:53 -0700

Here is another ripple image... I made almost all of the images facing trees with late afternoon light on them. For this image, I turned toward the west where bright sky and shaded trees were reflecting in the water.

This reminds me of a story Dewitt Jones tells, about pushing himself creatively. He tells of being on an assignment, making good images, and then he reminds himself to look for another “right answer,” telling himself to “Turn around, Dewitt!” He does so, and finds the image used for the ad he was working on. For a great source a inspiration, check out Dewitt’s videos:
Dewitt Jones Videos

Enjoy! Bill

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Digging Deep

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 11:31:30 -0700

I am including still another ripple image to give you an idea of the range of experiments that I tried at Manzanita Lake. I am not sure that everyone is as fascinated by ripples as I am, but I hope you can learn something from my explorations. A phrase that seems to fit my approach is “Digging Deep.” See my essay on the subject from my Outdoor Photographer column:

Digging Deep

Cheers, Bill

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Reflection Impressions

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 11:03:19 -0700

This Impression was created by show shutter speed blur, but not camera movement...

Enjoy, and let me know your thoughts on this series!

Bill

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Reflections

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 10:10:10 -0700

Here is another frame from my recent sessions at nearby Manzanita Lake...

Enjoy! Bill

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition

Ripples again, and Happy Fourth of July!

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 15:25:12 -0700

Yesterday evening, I went with my family to a local farmer’s market, and then to a favorite lake for some water fun. Splashing around for my kids, and ripples for Dad. I made 284 images over about one hour while experimenting with different shutter speeds. The light kept changing as the sun went down. The reflections are best when the light goes off of the water but is still on the object reflecting, and I planned for this timing in our outing. BTW, I didn’t total ignore the kids while photographing. I stopped for a refreshing a couple of times for a refreshing swim and romp with them. The great thing about this little lake is that it is about two feet deep in many places so I walked around in the water, with camera and tripod to find many different angles and framing. Nice not to be restricted to the shore!

Join in with your comments! And have a Happy Fourth of July!

Bill

PS. More ripple images to come...

Landscapes of the Spirit - Digital Edition