Expressions add life to photos

Last month I had fun with a photo of an eagle on facebook. The eagle had his talons in the air and a certain expression on his face, so I asked people to caption the photo. The captions people submitted were all clever and funny. I love a good sense of humor. I am especially grateful when people get inspiration from wildlife and nature.

Good photos are meant to be thought-provoking. Sometimes birds and wildlife are so expressive they make it easy to get a reaction. Take the eagle, or the owl posted here. I love these guys for the way they show me they are full of life and on a mission here on this earth. Wildlife, whether it’s birds, fish or mammals, are busy building homes, raising families and teaching their young. And while some may say we humans anthropomorphize them by giving them our thoughts, I like to think we are trying to understand them and through that, we build empathy for the creatures around us. In some ways, it’s them teaching us.

These creatures need all the empathy we can muster. Their habitats are disappearing and their populations are dwindling. The more humans can connect with them and their expressions, the more likely we are to think twice about tearing out trees or filling in wetlands that are vital to these creatures. In that vein, I’d love to see your thoughts about this young burrowing owl in Cape Coral. They are on the imperiled species list, but a population of them has learned to live around the library. ball fields and even on some lands cleared for development. Post your captions in the comments below or on Facebook.

Ybor City offers colorful portraits of life

My recent Street Photography workshop for the Sun City Camera Club included a photography field trip to Ybor City. Ybor City is the perfect back drop for shooting street photography. It’s colorful, architecturally interesting and full of life. Murals dot the landscape. The businesses there are varied, from a cigar rolling business, to eclectic restaurants to art stores. The people are a mix of ages, attitudes and ideas. Most are open to visitors and willing to talk with strangers. They were also willing to have their photos taken.

The students in the workshop did an excellent job of finding scenes that told stories and drew the viewer in. I had a class of about 10 students and we all stayed on the same street, yet the photos were all varied, even when they came back with the same subjects. The styles of photography were all different as well.

One student, Christina, brought back portraits of people she met. But before she showed her portraits to the class she really worked on them in Photoshop, turning them into works of art. They were beautiful and intriguing. They were not “journalistic” but they could be considered a form of documentary photography because the faces were as she saw them.

Others used the city’s architecture to draw the viewer into their photos with scenes of everyday life. Others used humor, contrast or comparisons to highlight the people of Ybor City. The city’s art work, including murals and statutes made for great ways to showcase people. The posters, furniture and tiles made for great standalone photos. Workers in the city made sure there was always plenty of action.

The workshop participants surprised themselves with some of the photos they captured — a woman resting comfortably near a 2-hour parking sign and a man looking closely at a mural where the priest in the painting seemed to have his finger on the nose of the subject. It’s always fun to see what comes out in a photo.

The most gratifying part of the workshop was hearing what the students took away. A couple of them were stretching themselves when they signed up for the class. They admitted they didn’t like having people in their photos and that they were uncomfortable approaching strangers. But they did it anyway. Bob, one of the participants who was reluctant to talk to people, said the field trip got him excited about street photography and interested in doing it again. Others loved learning something new about Tampa. One student called the exercise “beneficial, surprising and freeing.”

To me, street photography is all of those things. It is also a great way to make connections, to see people as they are and to appreciate their differences. It was fun, too, to relive a slice of my days as a journalist.

Light can transform a familiar place

Our morning dog walks at Robinson Preserve have become habit. Photo Dawg Duke insists on getting out soon after the sun rises, so I’m used to shooting in the morning light. It has a crisp quality and is great for photography. It’s also a nice way to start the day.

Recently after a morning filled with meetings and planning, we threw the Photo Dawg a bone and took a late day walk. We arrived at the park during that “Golden Hour,” when the day turns into a canvas of reds, purples, yellows and oranges. I walk Robinson Preserve at least 6 days a week and know it like the back of my hand. That afternoon it was transformed into another place. The trails glowed with the light and the birds were theatrically lit stars on nature’s stage.

I remind my students to learn to shoot photos in any light, so they don’t get discouraged when they can’t get out at that perfect hour. You go when you can and make it work. But too often, we get so busy, we forget to make the most of the perfect time of day. In photography lighting is vital, it is your paint brush. When you can take advantage of the perfect conditions you should — and see the magic that can happen. Even I was reminded that the “Golden Hour” is not to be forgotten.

The one thing I did forget…bug spray. Those No See’ums like this time of day too, I think they call it suppertime!

Street Photography draws attention to every day public life

I’m leading a workshop on street photography this month and as part of my preparation to the class, I went through some old feature photos I took during my 30 years at the local newspaper. it has been a fun trip through memory lane. It’s also been eye-opening to see the things that have changed in the landscape over the years.

“Street Photography,” has a close relationship to documentary photography and photojournalism, It should tell a story, evoke an emotion and freeze a moment. It defines place and time. As I look at the street photography I have done before and since I left the newspaper, my favorite photos are the ones that tell a story in one frame.

First I should start with what I am talking about as “Street Photography” in this class. There are different kinds of street photography, but for me, it’s simply what I did as a photojournalist, to document every day life. It’s the stuff everybody sees, but don’t always pay attention to and a good photograph can make people stop and take notice.

Much of my more recent street photography has come from traveling. But you don’t have to travel to get great photos. Actually, by shooting photos locally, I have an intimate connection with where I live. Documenting local people and places can be eye-opening and Florida’s towns and its people have as much to offer in the way of storytelling as any other place in the world. Don’t miss out.

The things that make this type of photography interesting are universal. The first thing is people: their faces, their eyes, their actions. I love people-watching. We are interesting creatures. I also enjoy seeing people interact. Those moments tell stories and if you watch long enough, you are sure to see a story unfold.

The environment also is an important part of street photography — whether it’s the other people or animals around the action, or the colors, or the textures, the statues and art or the weather — these different elements add to the story telling and can make the viewer interpret what they see. I will admit I was surprised about what the photographers in my workshop saw in the photos and the questions they asked about each moment.

There is so much to consider when taking a photograph, that the more you take your time to watch, the better your photo will be. For me it is key to visualize, anticipate what could happen, and prepare for that moment. It all takes practice. But that’s the fun (and sometimes frustrating) part. The more you get out there and take photos the better your stories will be and the easier it will be to visualize and then anticipate your shots.

Also it is important to blend in with the crowd. If you want true documentary photos, sometimes you have to be part of the crowd that everyone sees but largely ignores. The more you go unnoticed the more you can catch people being themselves.

I believe It is ok to go up to people and introduce yourself and tell your subjects that you are working on a street photography project, especially if there are certain photos you want to get. Most people are flattered that you find them interesting. Yes sometimes you will get posed photos, but most times, people will eventually be themselves, even though you are there. Also if someone says they really don’t want you to take their photo, I would be respectful of their wishes.

I’ll be heading up to Ybor City with my workshop students and they’re going to test out my advice, and as always, if you have any tips or great locations for street photography, please feel free to share them in the comment section below.

Why I Love Black and White

Recently I had someone make a comment about the inherent value of color over black and white photography. I was surprised at the comment because I consider both of them to be valuable with their own unique qualities.

I photograph most birds in color, because God made each bird unique, including the differences in their hues and markings. That is easier to see in color and a viewer can take his or her time examining what is unique about each bird. It also is often easier to identify the birds when they are in color. I want to see the red markings of a red-shouldered hawk or a red-winged black bird, the blues of a threatened Florida scrub jay, but even in bird photography there are times when a black and white photo takes the picture to a different level.

As with many photographers, a black and white takes me back to the many hours spent in a small bathroom or closet glued to a timer, tapping a film can filled with D-76 on the counter, and that magic moment when under a red light, an image appears through a mixture of Dektol. But even more, I love black and white for what it reveals. When the viewer isn’t looking at color, but at the texture, the contrast, and deeper into the world between deep black and glowing whites. It is a study of shadows, white space, a world that we do not normally see with “our eyes.” When I see a black and white photograph I tend spend time with the image, study it and look for what’s hidden. Black and white tends to draw me into a different space.

Then there is the mood and emotions they can illicit. One of my friends considers them “broody,” while her daughter loves them for the light and shadows. I want to reach out and touch the textures, or step inside the frame and walk through the mysterious landscape. I want to see everything it holds.

In portrait photography, taking out the color can prompt the viewer to look deeply at the face and see the emotion in each line. The viewer may see something in the way the eyes shine or the way it seems as if the subject is about to tell some secret. Black and white portraits reveal a face laid bare and often let the beauty shine through in a different way than color can.

Black and white photography allows the viewer into the photograph in a different way than color does. Sometimes it’s what the viewer brings to the experience that determines how they interpret the photo. But of course that is true for every photograph.

What My Students Have Taught Me

Over the past year I have been giving private lessons in photography. I knew I had plenty to share about photography and the places to find great art, but I have been surprised by how much I enjoy working with photography students and how much I have learned from them.

I have a student who knows more about birds than I may ever know. She can identify them from their songs without ever setting eyes on them. She gave me a lesson on birds and maybe even one in humility. (I thought she couldn’t possible be able to tell a scarlet tanager from just hearing a song in the woods. She and the tanager quickly proved me wrong). She has traveled the world and is well-versed on our feathered friends. It’s been nice to get to know her and to share her excitement about Florida’s birds and the migratory birds that visit the Sunshine State.

Another student has proven to me that the art of photography hasn’t died with the advent of the iPhone camera or the selfie — and that it will likely always have a future. A young student who was recently accepted into Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication, began developing her artistic vision through her incredible drawings. Now she is interested in photography. She has a great eye and has taught me young people are enthusiastic about photography. She is open to all sorts of photography, from taking pictures of her brother playing baseball to going out into the preserves of Manatee County to get photos of wildlife and landscapes.

Finally, I have a student who has reminded me what’s it’s like to be new to photography and to be passionate about it. She taught me how to nurture passion. She has also taught me patience. I guess that comes with the passion. Once she realized she had a talent for photography, she invested in some good equipment and her photos got dramatically better. I have seen this student improve tremendously in a short time. She has posted some photos that made me say, “I wish I had shot that.” She enjoys sharing her photos, so check out what she’s doing and like her page.

After a photography presentation, I took the Suncoast Camera Club out to one of my favorite Audubon spots for bird photography

A juvenile Night Heron gives his fans the once over.

There is Always Something to See

I recently spent a morning with my friend and fellow photographer Steve Nelson. After debating several options for places to photograph, we settled on Robinson Preserve in Manatee County, Florida. We figured it was pretty reliable and we only had a couple of hours in the morning to allow Steve to try out his new video equipment and for me to get some nature shots.

When we arrived at the preserve we were greeted by a frustrated photographer who told us there was nothing out there that day. We decided to give it a try anyway: Here’s what we found.

My best advice to fellow photographers is to not get discouraged if you don’t see what you came out looking for. There is always something out there to see. Sometimes you just have to change your perspective. When I don’t see wildlife, I look at the landscape. Sometimes I look up, sometimes I get low to the ground. The world is an amazing place and there is always something there that others might not see. Sometimes they’re just not looking for what someone else might find fascinating.