Wow—another week away from Utah and I’m ready to stick around for a while. Stops on this whirlwind business/pleasure trip included NYC, Boston, Lake Winnipesaukee and Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
I was super stoked to be able to get to Boothbay. For some reason, I’ve been wanting to get to Maine for some time. So many cool images to be made there. While the weather didn’t fully cooperate, I did come away with some great stuff. How could you not in a place that quaint, cozy and beautiful? Lighthouses and miles of rugged coastline provide endless shooting options. One thing’s for certain—if you’re going to shoot (or do anything for that matter) in Maine, be prepared for rain. I learned first-hand how difficult it is to set up shots while trying to adjust the tripod, hold the umbrella, and keep my camera dry. Stinging wind and sea spray were just salt in the wound. Where’s my assistant!?! Riiiight…..
Weather, however is such a key player in making beautiful images. In fact—shooting in good weather—i.e. searing sunshine—is quite often the worst photographing weather around. My point is, if you want to make lasting, dynamic images, be prepared for weather. A good photographer doesn’t necessarily have to welcome diverse weather, but he/she will always find a way to produce keepers—rain or shine.
When confronted with flat lighting conditions, look for scenes with rich tonal contrasts. These scenes will translate into great black and white images. After shooting more and more in B/W, you’ll learn to view scenes in tones instead of colors. I’m definitely still working on it…now you should too!
Until next blog—cheers!
