This picture reminds me of American Flyers (you know, the movie). It reminds me of the part in the movie where they’ve arrived at the big race out west and the sun is rising on the first day. I know, I know. If you know the area, you’d know that this is a sunset. But it still reminds me of the movie.
A very iconic view of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
I’m really trying to be more efficient when it comes to editing images (and everything else, for that matter, to do with photography) just to improve my workflow. I can honestly say that I’ve spent upwards of hours editing a single image. I have to get more efficient with that. Lightroom can do some heavy lifting when it comes to editing and I’m trying not to always end up in Photoshop because not every image needs it. So I’m trying to create single and, possibly, multiple single one-click presets that can get the job done. This is a photo from back in the Fall of 2012 with two “stacked” presets (2 clicks) in Lightroom.
On the way up to a iconic landmark in the Harrisonburg area – Reddish Knob.
Ah, the first snowfall.
I actually got a little freaked out about not posting an image yesterday. I certainly didn’t want to get out of the habit of shooting so I’m glad it snowed because I recently posted that I wanted it to so I could get some snow pictures.
Ta-da. Of course I shot Handley.
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I took a big risk in waiting until today to try a night-lapse series, but it was a perfect night. I didn’t quite have the best angle (and that really bright light that turns off toward the end really upset me), but I’m definitely learning. I’m determined to try this again at some point – it just takes forever to process it.
I suppose this is what it looked like that night. Well, minus the house and the electricity.
One of these days I’m going to try a night-long time-lapse. I would have done more on this night, but it was just cold. I don’t like cold.
It’s been a while since I took to the skies. I spent some time with my nephew letting him control the yaw of my aerial camera (it’s really the only control that would be safe for a three-and-a-half-year-old to control). I suppose I should have recorded video and posted it here. Next time.
I don’t really get a lot of sleep around this particular holiday. We’re usually visiting family and playing games until late at night. So I was feeling a little wonky when I was editing this one. I shot this one before a couple of years ago, but I wanted to do something a little different with it this time.
Heads up. Watch for the 2015 Winchester City calendar. Yours Truly is featured on the front cover (well, at least my image is) as well as multiple months inside.
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I recently read a photography post compiled by top professionals indicating what photos I (as a professional wanna-be) should avoid because they’re cliche and “tired.” You know what, I don’t care. I don’t always take a photograph based on what the population will consider artful. In fact, I think being a professional means determining in my own mind what I think to be artful. And the sunset, although having been shot countless times every day, is different (IMHO) every single day. That’s the beauty of it. So enjoy this very unique sunset.
I’ve read articles about how various drone sightings are freaking out pilots of major airlines. I certainly can’t speak to what it’s like to fly a plane or what it looks like out the cockpit window – having had only a 1/2-hour lesson in a Cessna once about 10 years ago. I’ve debated whether or not I should write about this because I know the sh*t storm that could ensue, but I think I’d be hard-pressed to see a drone out the window of an airplane. But that’s me. I don’t have the trained eye of a pilot. It’s different up there. Kinda like when I was in Africa and the guides kept seeing all the animals. I had no idea what I was looking at having never experienced it – that’s why they’re the experts. That being said, I can speak to what it looks like from the other perspective and can only assume that it’s a similar view. I know my pilot friends may have a lot to say on the matter and I certainly invite it because both sides need to be considered as the public moves into a new era of unmanned craft hovering around your neighborhoods. I think I’ve done a pretty good job at using common sense since I’ve had the aerial camera. I’ve only had one complaint and that person was questionable at best.
Anyway, can you see the small aircraft (prop plane) in this image? It was flying near my house and I was very nervous about it so I brought the drone back towards me. The plane was relatively close (probably just took off from the local airport) and I could clearly see it from my vantage point on the ground. Look really closely. It took me a little bit to find it and I knew it was there. Now, keep in mind that I’m probably below the plane so seeing it would be easier than it seeing me. I have a more contrasting background from my viewpoint.
Look out! I’m hovering at 374 feet by the way.
What more can I say, it was a great night for shooting. Oh, and I’ve decided that the GoPro is a keeper.
Oh what a night – to shoot the Handley Bowl. | Order a print of this image.
I took the new GoPro out tonight to determine if it’s worthy enough to be considered a decent camera in my photography tool box. I’ve made my decision. What do you think?
The “Beacon of Light” all decked out for the holidays. | Order a print of this image.
Any excuse to take the aerial camera out and fly it, right? I saw these trees across the highway on the way down to Florida and said I thought it would make a cool image. So we stopped on the way home. I really missed out on some cool photography on our cross-country RV trip a couple of years ago.
Our first rest stop on the way home from Florida.
I wonder when I’ll get past the nervous feeling I get when I’m flying over water. Still, it makes for some awesome footage.
With it being almost a year since the demise of the local ABC affiliate in Winchester, I’m thankful that I was able to remain in that area and that my family was supportive as I made the transition into doing what I enjoy doing. It’s been somewhat of a bumpy ride and it’s certainly not over yet, but I’m thankful that they came with me.
I know, it’s not the most traditional image of Thanksgiving. Just another thing I’m thankful for – we missed the first big storm back home.
So is this the broad side of the barn that everybody’s always talking about? Guess I CAN hit it…
I end up shooting almost as much of the location at cyclocross races as I do of the race itself. The Luray caverns cross race has some very cool buildings and old farm equipment on the property. Lots and lots of character and textures. Just really cool to shoot there.
I think it’s cool how you can sometimes see a rain storm way off in the distance. That’s what I saw here, only it’s a sun shower. One of these days I’m going to figure out how to shoot those rays so they look like they do when I’m looking at them.
This morning’s glow was pretty cool. It completely wrapped around the entire sky. So many times I’m so focused on the actual sunrise that I forget to do a 180 and check out the other view. It was tough to pick just one image so here are two.
It’s a real race to get in position for the sunset these days. The last buses from the school day haven’t even left the school, yet! It’s worth it though. I’m flying from the comfort of a heated vehicle these days. I wonder how easy it would be to fly from a moving vehicle. I suppose I should be even more careful now that the FAA is gaining ground with the NTSB, huh?
This one’s on my gallery site, too.
Cedarmeade Studios 