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My New Canon 100mm Macro Lens

I have always had a love of flowers!  Purple Irises remind me of my Mom, who used to have purple irises growing on the side of our house.  On the other side of the house, the driveway was lined with peonia bushes.  To this very day, every time I see a peonia bush, I am taken back to my childhood and the fragrant smell of those bushes on the side of our house.

Last summer, I discovered this gorgeous rose garden near downtown Littleton, CO.  I spent many mornings at the Littleton War Memorial Rose Garden learning about how to capture macro images of roses.  Even though I was marginally successful in capturing some gorgeous images on flowers, I did not have an "official" macro photography lens.  Recently, I was able to obtain a Canon 100mm Macro Photography Lens, just in time for the spring and summer flowers!  The images you will find in the photo album titled Flowers! The New Macro Lens are my 1st images taken with my new macro lens.

I have been by the rose garden several times in the past few weeks, and the rose bushes have not bloomed yet.  Elane, my photography buddy and I are planning to head to the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival in late July, to capture the enormous amounts of fields of wildflowers in that area.  So, needless-to-say, there will be LOTS more flower pictures coming to my blog!

Cheers from behind the camera!
Teri V.

Sunset at the Pawnee Buttes National Grasslands

I belong to several Denver/Colorado Springs Photography Groups, and this adventure to the Pawnee Buttes National Grasslands near Keota, CO, was with the Denver Photowalk Photography Meet-Up. The organizer decided to go to the Grasslands for a sunset photo shoot, so our adventure began later in the afternoon.

The day would prove to be quite the advenuture.  The day started out with bright blue sunny skies and big white puffy clouds.  As we made our way towards northern Colorado, we could see thunderstorms developing off in the distance.  Kind of scary, but my photography buddy Elane and I were excited, because thunderstorm make for interesting photography.  Not long after we turned off the highway onto dirt roads did it start to rain.  It was sunny to the west and raining to the east, which equals a rainbow somewhere and sure enough we turned the corner and there we spotted an end to end rainbow!!!  This was my 1st attempt at capturing a rainbow, let alone a COMPLETE rainbow.  The rainbow soon faded and we continued on the Buttes.

We finally met the group at the trailhead, and began our hike out to the Buttes.  My knee is feeling better, so I thought this would be a good test to see just how much better it was feeling.  At 1st the hike was very flat and easy, but as the trail curved we started to hike down into a small canyon.  It was very cool for pictures, but the farther I hiked the more concerned I got about my ability to hike back.  After we shot the sunset, we would have to hike the canyon back in the dark, even though we had flashlights, I was worried about my knee and making in back in the dark.  The skies had clouded over, and it didn't appear that we were going to get much in the way of a sunset anyway from out by the Buttes, so I headed back to the car.

I am sooooo glad I decided to hike back early, because just as I got back to the car the sun was setting to the west in a SPECTACULAR show of color!  I drove up the hill to the old windmill I saw as we 1st came in, and starting snapping away.  The silhouetted windmill with a vibrant sunset sky was on my camera capture "wish-list"!  YIPEE!!  You can find the images I shot that afternoon under the photo album titled Pawnee Buttes National Grasslands.  The Buttes are out in what seems to be the middle of no where, on the northeastern plains of Colorado.  If you have never seen them, DEFINITELY worth a weekend drive to check them out!!  GORGEOUS!

Cheers from behind the camera!
Teri V.

Great Horned Owl Mom and Baby - 2 Weeks Later

The is my 2nd blog post about the Great Horned Owl Mom and Owlet in Chatfield State Park.  These images were taken 2 weeks after the 1st set were snapped.  I was curious to see how the Owlet was maturing and growing.   Dean Snow and his wife, from the Collaboration of Photographers Meet Up joined me for a late afternoon visit to the nest.

When we arrived to the park, I could not believe how much the Owlet had grown in 2 weeks!  He no longer was just a little white puff ball, he was starting to look like a grown up Owl.  He still had some of his white baby feathers, but from time to time you would catch a glimpse of his brown adult feathers.  At 1st, Mom was no where to be found, but we knew she couldn't have been too far away from the nest.  Sure enough, off in the trees behind the nest, we finally spotted her hanging out.  During our visit she flew by several times, but this time, she never came directly into the nest by the Owlet.  As it started to get dark, we could tell the Owlet was looking around for her, almost wondering when Mom will be back with dinner.

You will find the images I shot from this afternoon adventure under the photo album titled Great Horned Owl Mom and Baby - 2 Weeks Later.  Again enjoy the images, I am also very proud of these captures!

Cheers from behind the camera!
Teri V.

Great Horned Owl Mom and Baby

I haven't posted my images in a while, so I am just getting caught up with a few of my adventures over the past several months.

In early May 2011, I was told about a nest of a Great Horned Owl and Owlet in Chatfield State Park, which is just around the corner from my house.  The 1st set of images I took were taken early on a Saturday morning.  When we 1st arrived at the Park, we made our way to the dead Cottonwood tree where we were told the nest was located.  Sure enough, we soon spotted the little white puff ball - the Owlet.  Mom must have been watching the nest, not to far away, because soon enough she flew in to be close to her baby.

The images I was able to capture, you can find in the photo album titled Great Horned Owl Mom and Baby.  I feel very priviledged to have been able to sit and witness the Owl and Owlet doing their thing, and for a brief second having a front row seat into their world.  Enjoy the images, I am very proud of these captures!

Cheers from behind the camera!
Teri V.

Photos, Friends and Fine Wine!

As I learn and grow as a photographer, everytime I take a picture, I can't help but think that the image I am taking is a moment forever frozen in time.  This weekend I was privledged to attend a joint event with the Denver Digital Photographers and Denver Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun MeetUps...Photos, Food and Fine Wine!  The event was held at the Bonacquisti Wine Company in Denver, Colorado, which by the way is a gorgeous place to hold an event and sample some fantastic wines!  I highly recommend their Syrah, it was soooo good!

I am also learning that photography is a very competitive business, and any way you can differentiate yourself from other photographers is a good thing.  Finding a niche, something that you be come known for and sets you apart from other photographers.  The video in this blog post is just that, something different.  When I take pictures at an event, I don't just want to hand over images, I want to create a story and memories of things that happen that day.  The story can then be shared, and those who weren't fortunate enough to attend the event; can experience event happenings though images, words and music.  Photography is powerful medium in itself, capturing emotion and freezing memories in time, but to combine the images with a story, set to music, makes the memories that much more powerful!

So the next time you go on vacation, attend a best friend's wedding, or capture the memories of the soccer team winning 1st place...consider telling the story, not just capturing the images.  They say "a picture is worth 1000 words", and I agree with that statement.  But life is all about experiencing and enjoying the simple things...and remembering all the little snap shots along the way!

Until next time, cheers from behind the camera!
Teri V.

2011 Visions of Light Photography Show Book

The Colaboration of Photographers Group that I belong to just posted the information to order the Exhibition Catalog from the 2011 Visions of Light Photography Show.  The book contains all the images that were selected to hang in the gallery show.  The cover represents the 2011 Winner, and then the remaining images are alphabetically by Photographer.  All winners of awards in the show are noted on the Photographers page in the book.  My image "Colorado Winter's Glow" appears on page 79!  YEAAAAA!!  The book looks amazing!  Please consider purchasing a copy of this book, it supports a great non-profit organization that is dedicated to the education and support of photography.  All  the details are listed below.

The Exhibition Catalog from the 2011 Visions of Light Photography Show is now available through Blurb.  The link is here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2011640

You can preview the entire book on the site.  It is over 90 pages long and each artist's work is given its own full page.  We hope that everyone who took part in the show will want one, maybe several for gifts as well.

There are several price points for the book depending on if you want a softback or hardback version.  We tried to keep the price low and the softcover version is under $26.  This does not include shipping.

The Collaboration of Photographers put the book together and does make a small profit from sales of each book.  As a non profit organization we put those profits back into the organization. For example, with any profits from this book we plan on sending John Fielder, the judge of this year's show, a copy of the book.  We may buy several other copies for our own library and to use as gifts to presenters at our events. In all honesty, we make little profit from the book sales and we do this primarily as a service to those who took part in the show.

Also, one of the collaboration's photographers, Jim Harris, has a great poster from the show available here: http://www.thequietlight.com/.  He graciously presented copies of this poster to John Fielder and to the art center.

Cheers from Behind the Camera,
Teri V.

PS.  I just entered another show the Lone Tree Photographic Art Show & Sale...I got my fingers crossed again!  I will keep ya posted!

 

Honors from John Fielder HIMSELF!

Whewwww, what a whirlwind it has been!  Back in December of 2009, I picked up a DSLR Camera for the 1st time in my life!  A year later, I entered my 1st official Photography Contest...AND Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 at the Artist's Reception my image was selected and awarded an Honorable Mention BY JOHN FIELDER HIMSELF!

Where do I start? Since Saturday evening, I can't seem to stop smiling!  I can't even describe the feeling inside of me and how honored I am for a photographer of John Fielder's caliber to find something special in my image and decide to award it honors!

I have learned so much about photography over the past year, and the learning continues. The Visions of Light Photography contest at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts in Palmer Lake, Colorado, was my 1st official contest.  I have never entered anything like that before, so that to was a learning process in itself.  I have to tell you, it took me a long time to send in my image entries.  I went back and forth for a long time, trying hard to convince myself that my photography wasn't good enough.  But I finally made the decision to take the leap of faith and enter.  I have heard over and over, that the only way you will get better is to put yourself out there for critique...so I did!  I really wasn't expecting to get accepted into the Show, but much to my surprise I DID!  I am told there were 220 something images entered and 98 were selected to hang in the gallery for the Show.  Looking back now and all the FANTASTIC images entered into the Show, it was an honor to just be selected for the Show in the first place!

The learning continues...so the images selected to hang in the gallery, needed to be matted, framed and equipped with a gallery mount...A WHAT?  Prior to this moment, I had never had anything matted and framed in my entire life!  And who knew that there was so much to know about preparing your image for a gallery show!  WOW, that was intimidating in itself, I was clearly clueless!!  Thank goodness for the Collaboration of Photographers Group I belong to, who coincidently was the sponsor of the VOL Show.  I am so thankful for all the photographers who offered up their advice and resources for matting and framing, had it not been for their asssistance, who knows where I would have wound up!  Then there was the printing of my entry.  I am a graphic designer and know that how things present on screen, isn't necessarily what prints out!  I guess my knowledge of the printing process really helped me here, because once I did a test print, the printing of my images was a piece of cake!

So the final 98 images are hanging in the Tri-Lakes Gallery for the month of February 2011.  We were advised that on Saturday February 12th, there would be an Artist's Reception, a party of sorts, that was open to the public and John Fielder would be in attendance to present awards to the winning images he had selected.  A week before the Reception, we were told that we were allowed to sell our photography during the gallery Show.  I thought cool, I could make some money on some of my work! HA...more to learn!  Everything needed to be packaged a certain way, priced and marked with the Artist's information.  So the scramble began...again, this was all unchartered territory to me!  Thank goodness for my Photo Buddy Elane Comeaux, one of her images made it into the show as well, and between the 2 of us, we learned where to buy bulk mats, ClearBags, foam core backing, bin displays, places to print etc.  As I was packing my bin images to sell, this wonderful sense of pride came over me.  I held up one of the packaged prints and thought WOW...I took that picture and I was about to share it with the world!

February 12th arrives and I was so excited to attend the Artist's Reception!  I walk into the gallery and located my image.  THERE WAS A RIBBON HANGING ON IT!  I started to tear up, I WON AN AWARD!  I went over to the image and saw it was awarded an Honorable Mention...HOLY CRAP!  From that point on, and as I continue to type my Blog Post...I can't stop smiling!  As the evening progressed, it was time for Mr. Fielder to present the winners with their awards.  As each winner was announced they were brought up on the stage with their image, and congratulated.  Mr. Fielder then explained to everyone why he chose the image, what characteristics stood out to him, to make this an outstanding image.  To stand on stage, and have John Fielder tell you exactly what he loved about your image, was definitely a "pinch me I am dreaming", kind of moment!  John explained that there are several things he looks for in an image, and what draws him in...Color, Texture, Mood, Composition, Lighting and does it draw him in or tell a story.  Recently I have learned that the Professional Photographers of America Association publishes a list of "12 Elements of a Merit Image".  This is a list of what most jurored photo shows use to judge image entries.  So many of the things that John looked for in the winning images, are on this list.

To hear someone like John Fielder publicly tell you your image is outstanding and that when he walked by it hanging on the wall, he stopped and was immediately drawn into the light of the image and the warmth it portrayed...would be the dream of any photographer!  After the Awards Presentation, I went back to buy one of John's books and have him sign it.  He stated again, what a fine capture my image was.  I proceeded to share with him that it had only been a year since I picked up a camera...and he said NO WAY!  He could not believe that image came from someone with so little behind the camera experience.  His words of wisdom were to keep on shooting as much as I possibly could, because I have it...an eye for great photography!

What John doesn't know, is that I have been bit by the photography bug, and my camera goes where I go...EVERYWHERE!  Part of me wishes, I had picked up a camera a long time ago...because it has become a passion and obession...I TRULY LOVE CAPTURING MOMENTS IN TIME!  Better late than never, right?

Until next adventure...I am one happy Photographer!  Cheers from behind the camera,
Teri V.

PS.  The book I bought from John's collection is titled John Fielder's Best of Colorado - 165 Scenic Places.  I HIGHLY recommend this book...in fact ANY of his books are a treasure!

If the image hanging in the gallery doesn't sell, I plan to stop by the Ranch I took the picture of, and give it to them as a gift for the inspiration!

The "Little Park Around the Corner"

I have lived in Littleton, CO for close to 20 years now, and I recently discovered this little park and lake that is literally right around the corner from my house.  Ketring Park in Littleton has become my places to walk and take in the outdoors.  It has also become the place I go pretty much every day at sunrise or sunset to photograph what's going on at the park. I have managed to capture some of the most beautiful skies and colors I have even seen, since living in Colorado!

The images in the photo album titled "The Little Park Around the Corner", will grow and change as I add to my adventures and experiences in the park.  I think the biggest thing I have learned about taking pictures is that there is plenty of beauty in the simple things that surround us everyday,  That you don't have to travel to exotic locations to get spectacular images!  Look around you...what you see and experience everday is simple and gorgeous if you just stop long enough to take in the beauty!

Cheers from Behind the Camera...
Teri V.

Winter Sunrise in Rocky Mountain NP

One of my favorite places in Colorado is Rocky Mountain National Park.  I have been to the National Park many times before, but I have never been to the Park in the winter.  So the Denver Digital Photography MeetUp Group scheduled a photo tour to catch a sunrise and winter scenes in the Park.  Not many people know this, but the US National Park Service offers many dates during the year when entrance to any National Park is FREE!  Yes, I said free.  This past weekend for the Martin Luther King Jr Holiday, entrance to National Parks were FREE for 3 days!  Click here to view the other free admission to National Park Days.

We started the day super early, so we could drive to the park and catch the sunrise.  Despite the complaints of my fellow photographers, we were treated to a spectacular display of colors in the sky.  After sunrise, our intent was to hike to Bear Lake to check out the winter conditions around the lake, but shortly after sunrise a weather front started to move in.  It started to snow and wind gusts of up to 45 mph, so none of us were really equipped to hike in such conditions, not to mention it was down right COLD!  But on our way out of the park, we came across 2 Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep Rams standing and licking something on the road.  They were AMAZING!  We pulled off to the side of the road and jumped out to snap as many pictures as we could of the Rams.  To our amazement, the Rams allowed us to take their pictures for about 20 minutes.  They stood there licking whatever it was on the road, and occasionally looking up as to stop and pose for us! Check out the pictures from our adventure under the Winter Sunrise in Rocky Mountain NP photo album.

Cheers from Behind the Camera...
Teri V.

The Morning After a Denver Snowstorm

So far the winter in Denver, it has been unsually mild.  January 9-10, 2011 was the first measureable snow storm in the Denver metro area this season! I am probably one of the few people who have been praying for some snow, and when this storm hit, my camera and I ventured out during the storm itself and the morning after. I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things to do is walk around outside when the snow is falling.  It is so peaceful and quiet, not to mention...ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!

Here are some of the images I captured Sunday evening January 9th, after it had been snowing all day.  I went to my favorite little park...Ketring Park in Littleton, Colorado. Then Monday morning, January 10, 2011, I headed down to Roxborough State Park, also in Littleton, Colorado.  In the state park, I was the first one there after the storm, and I was treated to a hike in knee-deep snow, and I was the first person to break trail!  I felt like a little kid, going out to play in the snow, it was AMAZING!

Cheers from behind the camera...
Teri V.