"The Nude As Art" Photography Workshop

In this blog post I am sharing just a few "Social Media" appropriate images but ones I think, represent the artistic opportunity that we offered our participants.

My workshop partner Kiqe Bosch and I have just wrapped up our inaugural "The Nude As Art" photography workshop in Vermont. The reviews are coming in and we are very happy that the experience was a success for our participants!

One participant wrote ~
"I thought the format really worked well. I thought you and Kiqe made an excellent combination and balance.  You both have an artistic eye but bring different perspectives to it. Your personalities are an excellent balance for each other.  It went very smoothly.  I do not think I have ever gone to a workshop or had a trip where I have come away with such learning and an amazing number of usable, good images.  This was just terrific!
Many, many thanks!!!"

So we have decided to offer it again next year. I have added a link to the workshop information for 2017 on the side bar of this blog, or you can click here to access the link. All images here were processed using Photoshop and Perfect Effects by On One.  I hope you can join us!!

Hilo, The Big Island Adventure

When I planned my trip to Hawaii, I also planned a trip to the big island to photograph the volcano field in an open door helicopter. I must say it was an absolute blast. I met Bruce Omori who owns and operates the Extreme Exposure Gallery in Hilo,  Ryan, our pilot and Mick Kalber a videographer who owns and operates Tropical Visions Video, at dawn where Paradise Helicopters keeps their fleet in a hangar near the Hilo Airport. It was grey, windy and it had been raining overnight but we decided to fly. Bruce said he likes it best with those conditions. The rain causes steam and saturation. I could not wait to get in the air watching as Ryan took the doors off and dawn broke into day. After a few short instructions we all got in the helicopter and Ryan took off.
I decided to shoot with my 28-300 lens on my D4, as we were only going to be flying for an hour and I did not want to even think about carry two bodies or changing lenses, so this lens selection gave me both choices of wide angle or telephoto, for maximum capture opportunity. Bruce suggested shooting in shutter speed mode at 1/1250. I also set my shooting mode to Continuous high. I set my lens to minimize vibration in active mode, the VR mode Nikon suggests for times when you are hand holding in moving vehicles like trains, cars and well Helicopters I assume! I loaded in a 16 gig XQD card backed up with a CF and I used both of them. At times when we were hovering over a vent I could feel the heat from the earth. It was so cool! or should I say hot! These shots were a few of my favorites from this very special morning shooting! The textures of hot lava and the flows were amazing to see in this foreign to me landscape. I hope to be able to make this trip again!! I can see how shooting this natural earth phenomenon can be addictive!!

Oahu....Musings...

Sets!!! Yes!!!

Well I have been here 12 days now and have nothing but good things to say! Time flies by though! The first week, after settling into the condo, I enjoyed a day trip to photograph sponsored by Oahu Photography Tours, owned by Alex Wilson. They did a good job getting to good spots and the driver/tour guide was most pleasant.
Yesterday I drove around the island myself exploring places. I had a plan but ended up just rambling, as I often do....turn left, turn right follow your nose kinda ramble. I actually ate a Teddy Burger for lunch and I don't eat red meat but I just had to try one. It was great; Teriyaki Burger with Pineapple! (I won't have another because I am not a red meat eater anymore, but it was good! A rare indulgence!) The high light of my day was hitting the North Shore just before sunset. If you follow me you know I am a beach girl! I love the sea! When I saw those beautiful BIG aqua waves, well lets just say I was in heaven. I could watch waves forever and I mean that! Each one is different and such an amazing creation of energy and beauty! I found a cool little spot to park and put on the 28-300...cheap, slow lens but the longest one I had with  me, it was low light, the surfers back lit and I wanted a fast shutter ugh!!! Hand holding High ISO...ugh...tough situation but I managed a few keepers after taking some noise out of them with Nik Define 2. I will have to go back to that spot! When I arrived there were two surfers in the water doing their thing...I mean really surfing big waves at sunset...hellooooo.....bliss! Well I was there too. It was a blast for me just to watch and try to get some shots..
This morning I played with a few more images from last nights shoot using Topaz Impression...and I think they capture the essence of the scene and action.