Nov 16, 2015 | California Nature Photography, Macro and Close-Up Photography, News
Don’t get hung up on the Rules of this and that. I use the “Rule of Thirds” as a guideline. I don’t adhere to it all the time. It is a starting point and then I work my composition to what I think is the most pleasing to the eye. There is another rule that I use when possible. It is called the “Rule of Odds”. 3 and 5 subjects can be more pleasing to the eye/brain than 4 and 6. With the following example, I could have easily left the little mushroom out of the photo. The photo seems more interesting when the “third” little mushroom is included. We Love You Little One So the moral of the story is don’t get hung up on rules of this or that they are just guidelines. Of course, some of the great master painters used these rules or guidelines. Click here for more information concerning the rule of...
Nov 9, 2015 | California Nature Photography, California Wildlife Photography, News
When I first started being serious about photography a few years ago, I would hear speakers and presenters talk about the “rule of thirds”. It was usually when the subject of composition came up. Think of a tick tack toe grid, where the lines intersect is where you want the main focus or subject matter to land. It doesn’t have to be exactly at the intersection. This rule helps with composition/balance. You don’t want your subject to be right smack in the center of the photo. It does not sit right with the eye. You can use this technique for vertical or horizontal photos. Here are a few photos that will help get the idea across. Waiting for Love-Horizontal or Landscape One and Done- Horizontal or Landscape Ready for Take-Off- Vertical or Portrait Do you always have to use the rule of thirds. No you don’t have to use the rule of thirds but it will help your overall photo if you do. Here is a shot that won a lot of awards and does not follow the rule of thirds. Pretty Boy- non-conforming...
Nov 1, 2015 | California Nature Photography, California Wildlife Photography, Macro and Close-Up Photography, News
Sometimes, small is mighty. As in macro or close-up photography. First of all, if you are truly a macro shooter then look on your lens and if it says 1:1 then it is a macro lens, if it does not say 1:1 then it is not a true macro lens. It doesn’t mean you can’t shoot macro. Some cameras have a mode for macro such as my Canon G12. I use a Canon 100mm 1:1 lens. It is not an easy life as a 1:1 macro photography. To the average viewer it may look great. But, to the competitive eye it so so tough to get a great shot with a macro lens. So, I use a Canon 24-70 lens for close up and it does a great job at least for me. I guess it depends on what you want to convey to the viewer. For me, I don’t care what lens I use as long as the impact and sharpness is present. A story would help too. Take my advice to the bank, I have been there done that. Destructive Beauty This little guy was a great actor. He or she was all over the place. Again, patience and anticipation played a role in this award wining photo. Hover Fly Yep Hover Fly is the name of this critter. They look a little like a Yellow Jacket. They are harmless and sometimes you see them hovering in the air. This fly is no bigger than a dime. Was it shot with a macro lens or something else. I will never tell. Let me know what you...
Oct 19, 2015 | California Nature Photography, California Wildlife Photography
Another Word of Wisdom or WOW tenet. The eye has to be in focus, especially when photographing birds for competition, or your toast. If the bird’s-eye is not in focus you might as well just trash it, forget it and move on. Pretty Boy One of my favorite shots. The more you look at the wolf’s eyes the more they bore right through you. Keep looking if you don’t see what I mean. This is a difficult shot because of the depth of field between the end of the nose and the eyes. The nose is closer to the lens than the eyes. What to do? That is another blog down the road. Morning Sip This photo just seems to have a calming effect. Very simple, it’s a rabbit, but it has done well in competition earning awards and recognition from local, state and international competition. How do you think it would have done if the eye was a little off? Catch of the Day Remember competition bird eyes have to be in focus. This photo won Professional Photographers of America International Photographic Competition recognition. It was what is called a Loan Photo. The best of the best and was on loan for display through-out the USA. In another blog, I will show you the importance of getting the “catch light” in the eye of the subject. Click here for a definition of “catch light”. A photo with animal eyes which includes birds can be considered deficient if they don’t have a catch light. Click Here to see more bird shots and Click Here to see more award-winning photos....
Oct 15, 2015 | California Nature Photography, California Wildlife Photography
These two words will help you get THE SHOT. For most it does not come naturally. You have to train your self to anticipate what the subject will do. Plus a little patience helps too. Yes, I always wonder if I had just stayed a little longer could I have made a better shot. Coulda woulda and shoulda are always sitting on my shoulder. Red Wing Black Bird- Cape May, NJ I watched the red wings flying and landing on the cattails. It was a clear windy day. The birds would not stay long on the cattails in addition to the cattails swaying in the steady breeze. I had no time constraints so all I had to do was anticipate the movement of the bird and the sway of the cattail and be patient. One trick that I used is to set my camera up on a particular cattail that seemed to be a favorite of one of the red wings. When the bird is just approaching as well sitting start firing away. You have a good chance of getting a winner shot. Caveat- get your settings set before the action starts. I also used a tripod with a gimbal head for ease of movement. Dinner on the Run- Marina del Rey, California I watched the squirrel and the young inexperienced hawk play cat and mouse. The squirrel knew just how far he was to his tree escape. The hawk would swoop/glide down from a distant tree when it thought the squirrel was far enough away from the tree. The trick was to catch the two in action. Hence, anticipation of what...
Sep 26, 2015 | California Nature Photography, News
Welcome to Jim Akers’s Photography Blog. It seems that I am taking more photos of birds than anything else over the past few years. I think this is because they are more available. It doesn’t mean it is easy just more available. Plus I live on the West Coast along the coast so it makes the availability easier. I shoot exclusively with Canon equipment. The other day I got up early as in 4 AM to go to Bolsa Chica State Park. It is one of the premier birding preserves on the West Coast. When I am bird shooting I use a Canon 500 mm f/ 4l IS lens or the 70-200 f/2.8 with an extender. Here is one of the shots I took at Bolsa Chica. I watched the pelicans diving into the water but from the distance I was at I could not see if they caught anything. I did not know the pelican had the fish in its mouth until I got home and loaded the shots into my computer. The 7:30am golden sun was to my back. My Canon 1DX settings were 1/1000, f/8.0 and the ISO was 800. My Canon 500mm was sitting on an Induro 314 tripod with an Induro GBH2 Gimbel Head. I was ready, I had the right equipment and I anticipated the movement of the pelican. Now all I had to do is be patient. As I continue to blog, I will share my secrets and wisdom of how to get good shots, particularly bird shots. In fact, I have a WOW list that is 4 pages long and still growing. WOW stands for Words of Wisdom. The WOW tenant...
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