Canon 7D MkII, EF24-105mm f/4L IS @ 40mm, f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO 1600
Yesterday’s post was of a bright sunrise. Today’s post is of a brilliant sunset over Limekiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island. Several people just hung around the lighthouse until the last rays of the sun receded. The day was another wonderful gift!
Canon 7D, EF70-200mm f2.8L IS with 2X extender @ 225mm, f/10, 1/500 sec, ISO 400
This is what we came to see on San Juan Island last summer. These beautiful creatures came right in front of us. My 70-200mm lens with at 2X extender was actually too much for many of the images as the Orcas swam directly in front of us. There were many images were I could not capture the whales within the frame. Lesson learned: Be prepared and have two cameras with different lenses available.
This guy was only about 50 feet from where were standing on rocks overlooking a kelp bed. Being so close, I could hardly keep still to take the images. It was absolutely amazing!!!!
Canon 7D, EF-S10-22mm @ 10mm, f/22, 1/10 sec, ISO 200
Some time when it is cold and dreary, I enjoy looking back through my past images to a more enjoyable time. We had some wonderful early summer weather on our whale-watching trip last summer. This image was taken on the SE end of San Juan Island in Puget Sound. How we miss the beautiful Northwest!
Canon 7D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS @ 78mm, f/16, 1/25 sec, ISO 400
Looking back at images from last summer, I recall taking this photo with a thought of peacefulness. We were on San Juan Island near the Limekiln Lighthouse waiting for Orca’s to come by. While waiting, I looked up at the hillside above me and saw this scraggly pine and white daisies. It was quiet and peaceful. All I wanted to do was sit and enjoy the moment.
In processing this image, I added a little contrast and graduated fog to enhance the peaceful feeling I had. It was a beautiful day and moment.
Canon 7D, EF-S10-22 @ 10mm, f/22, 1/10 sec, ISO 200
In the depth of winter, my mind wanders to warmer times. Last summer we joined a couple of friends on San Juan Island in Puget Sound to photograph Orca’s. One morning we woke early to catch a sunrise. The sunrise on the horizon was not very interesting. But looking behind me, I saw the gorgeous warm sunlight on the western shore of the point where were standing. Lesson learned from John Barclay, “When photographing a sunset or sunrise, make sure to look behind you!”
Canon 7D, EF24-70mm f2.8L @ 70mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO 400
Looking back over some photographs taken this past summer on San Juan Island, WA, this image of a lone tree hanging on to a ledge above the water caught my eye. I recall taking this image and trying to get the ripples and the bright reflection of the sun to frame the tree. I spent about one half hour just moving around and trying different exposures and shutter speeds to get what I was looking for. When I reviewed the photographs last summer, I was disappointed with the color image. Today I worked with the subtle shadows and reflections to come up with this B&W version.
I haven’t been very active in expanding my photographic knowledge and experience during the last several months. Something was always in the forefront. I fell into a real slump. When I did shoot, nothing seemed to pop out to me. I continued following my favorite photographers on-line and became more and more envious on what they were doing. My work seemed to be so mundane.
Today, I took a few moments to look back on some of my work last summer. I saw this image of the Limekiln Lighthouse on San Juan Island and felt that it wasn’t so bad after all. It provided me with a stimulus to go back out and continue to shoot and enjoy the outdoors that I love.
This is my first attempt at capturing Orchas in Puget Sound. We joined a couple of friends up in the San Juan Islands a few weeks ago to relax, enjoy each other’s company and watch some Orchas. Capturing whales is definitely a skill that has to be developed. They are either too far away or too close. They continuously pop up where you don’t expect them. However, the biggest skill is to keep a steady hand when you are so excited seeing such amazing creatures.