Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Arizona ~ Taliesen West in Color

Petroglyphs on rock in courtyard
As promised here are a few color shots from my holiday visit to Arizona and Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesen West. Looking back on these amazingly electric blue skies makes me want to go back as we experience the mid winter blahs in the Mid-Atlantic. I am looking forward to working with workshop participants this weekend at the B&O Museum helping to compose interesting images and assist with appropriate camera exposure. I have three spots left if you are in the area. Click here for registration and info. 
And on Sunday I am looking forward to working with iPhone enthusiasts at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. For more info and registration click here. 
And...last but not least we still have a few more spots open on The Magnificent Mediterranean Photo Workshop in May 2015...Click here for more info...
I hope you enjoy these shots from Taliesen West!
Construction details

Whimsical details (looks like a little repair is needed, note the two missing block detail in the roof line)
Landscape meets architecture
Framing shadows

The pool
Pool reflections
Sculpture patio shot from the ground looking up to get the subject floating in the blue sky

Friday, January 9, 2015

Arizona ~ Taliesen West ~ Desert Light in Black and White


Cholla shot from the patio of Taliesen West ISO 400 1/1000 sec handheld f-16 Nikon D4 Lens 28-300 at 300mm
Wow, it has been more than a month since I posted a blog...but it has been a busy season, so I am forgiving myself for making other priorities! However I am up caught up now so...here are a few updates. I had the pleasure of making a trip to Arizona over the Christmas holiday visiting my nephew and traveling with my sister. I knew ahead there was not going to be much time for any serious photography, but I did pack my bag and tripod just in case the opportunity presented itself.
After arriving my sister settled in with her son at his place and I settled into the Best Western in Tempe. The next day we visited Taliesen West. It was a bluebird sky day...and we made it there in the afternoon so the light was bright but the sun was lower on the horizon. I love the Cholla Cactus that grow there and when the light is low they glow back lit. I did carry my camera as photography is allowed outside the property but not on the interior spaces.
ISO 400 1/1000 sec handheld f-16 Nikon D4 Lens 28-300 at 58mm
As we walked around the pool area of the property I saw the outside glider sofa 50's style, which I enjoyed as the light on the subject and the subject itself I enjoyed. I made a compositional choice to crop the sofa on the right side when shooting the image.
As we passed through the house and then around to the back of the house I again saw the matching glider through a portico space...looking toward the pool, I composed and made another shot. All the monochrome conversions were made in Google Nik Silver Efex Pro2. If you ever get a chance to visit Arizona ~  touring Taliesen West is a don't miss! Look for more on Taliesen West in color on another blog post.

2015 is off to a great start with two private tutoring sessions and I have finalized scheduled workshops for Capital Photography Center.
My DSLR and iPhone workshops, sponsored by Capital Photography Center, are on line for registration now and posted through March.
We are still accepting registrations for the Magnificent Mediterranean Photo Cruise in May 2015 if you want to join the group click here: Magnificent Mediterranean Photo Tour
I look forward to presenting at The Horizon Photography Summit, February  27-March 1 Wilmington DE and The Photo Beach Bash, March 21 in Rehoboth, Delaware.
If you live in the Baltimore ~ DC  ~ Delaware ~ Virginia area, I hope you can join me in the field.
Have an interest in a personal photography tutoring session? Shoot me an e-mail and we can work it out! Thanks for a great year in 2014 and for following my work and blog! 
ISO 400 1/1000 sec handheld f-16 Nikon D4 Lens 28-300 at 190mm