“Photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” Elliott Erwitt
“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”
A few pictures from the "Critters" assignment. Click on any one
of the pictures to see them in full size.
Click on the pictures to see the full size images !
Click on the pictures to see the full size images !
I f you’re looking for a spot to capture the essence of spring
with your camera, I recommend you head over to Laurel Ridge Foundation
in Litchfield where there are thousands of the cheery spring flower
blooming in a 15-acre field. Don’t forget to bring a photogenic friend,
walking shoes, and a picnic lunch, because you’ll want to stay a while
and take lots of photos!
Although the land is privately owned, it’s generously open to the public.
This magical springtime sight was founded in 1941 by Remy and Virginia
Morosani, according to a monument on the site. They started a non-profit
foundation to keep the flowering fields for all to enjoy.
Photo opportunities are aplenty. As you wander through the field of
narcissus, you’ll see pathways, a small lake, various trees, hills,
and even a small like with a little island. Each of those elements is
surrounded by tufts of yellow and white flowers everywhere you look.
It’s all so beautifully arranged, it seems they had photographers in
mind when creating the landscaping.
The first time I visited, I thought it was a little tricky to find.
If you simply enter Laurel Ridge into the GPS like I did, it will take
you to the beef farm! The more accurate address for Laurel Ridge Foundation
is actually 160 Wigwam Road, Litchfield, CT 06759. Just beyond that
address, you’ll see the daffodil field on your left. There’s not much
signage, just a small white sign attached to a tree that reads “Laurel
Ridge Foundation”. However, you’ll know you’re there, because you will
see lots of flowers and several cars parked on the side of the road,
especially if you go on a weekend.
I believe peak season varies depending on the weather. However, according
to sources online, the best time to go is the end of April or early
May. Last year, I didn’t make it there until July. There were still
many flowers in bloom, although some were starting to fade. This year,
I have it marked on my calendar for late April. It’s all outdoors and
open every day from dawn to dusk, as long as the narcissus are still
in bloom. Admission is free.
Well finally spring is here! Hopefully we’ve seen the last of
the snow until next winter. Five years ago this month, we actually got
2 feet of snow in a single storm…I hope history does NOT repeat itself.
It was so nice to sit on the back porch and watch and hear the birds,
a sure sign of spring. Although shortly, we will need to put our feeders
away or we may attract the bears to our yard again!
Hopefully you have been able to get outside now that the weather is
nice. We should begin planning a field trip or two so that we can enjoy
the nice weather as well as each other’s company. I’ve been wanting
to get some folks together for a trip to Stone Church. I will send out
a separate email and see if we can get this coordinated. I went there
this past week and the water level is high making for some very nice
photographs of the falls. They have also installed a new bridge near
the cave which gives more access to the cave and offers different views
than before.
Our April meeting will be in-person. The location is still to be announced,
though it will likely be back at Noble Horizons in Salisbury. I am waiting
to hear about any restrictions or requirements they may have before
we finalize the location. They met last week to discuss this and I need
to follow up with my contact to see what those are. The topic of the
April meeting is basically an ‘informal gathering’ to celebrate the
ability to meet in person and to take advantage of having us all together
where we can ask questions about the club, our equipment, and places
to photograph as a means of sharing knowledge with fellow photographers.
We will have coffee, juice and snacks on hand.
Thank you to all who contribute to the newsletter. Lazlo does a great
job for us but we can make his job easier by contributing articles,
reviews and other things of interest to help fill out the newsletter
each month. And remember to submit your photos, correctly sized, when
we have the PSA and NECCC competitions. Even if you don’t submit photos,
you can still vote. It’s nice to have your work recognized by your fellow
HCC members as well as the judges from other participating camera clubs.
I always enjoy the diversity in the photos submitted. Hope to see you
all at the April meeting!
Happy shooting until then.
P hotographing birds and animals in the wild is very exciting
whether you are photographing predators, large animals or even the tiniest
of small creatures such as birds, chipmunks, bugs and insects. Even
creating images of common animals in your backyard or the park can be
exhilarating. My favorite place to photograph wildlife is Yellowstone
National Park but unfortunately, that is too far away and costly so
I am only able to go every few years. My 4th trip is planned for this
June. Yippee!
It is important when photographing animals or birds in the wild that
you not disturb their behaviors, habits and environment in order to
be able to photograph them in their natural habitat. These make the
best photographs. Early in the morning or at dusk in the evening make
the best time of day to capture the most amount of active wildlife.
Hopefully you have been able to get outside now that the weather is
nice. We should begin planning a field trip or two so that we can enjoy
the nice weather as well as each other’s company. I’ve been wanting
to get some folks together for a trip to Stone Church. I will send out
a separate email and see if we can get this coordinated. I went there
this past week and the water level is high making for some very nice
photographs of the falls. They have also installed a new bridge near
the cave which gives more access to the cave and offers different views
than before.
Besides the obvious - a camera - you will need a long lens (anywhere
from 200mm to 600mm are standard). A Tri-pod is always good to have
but not as necessary as when taking landscape photos since you often
will want to track the animals that don’t necessarily sit still for
you. What brand, sensor size and type of camera and lens is up to you
of course. I typically use a Canon Mark III 5d and a 100mm-400mm Canon
lens. Shoot with what you have but be creative and most of all, patient.
This is the recipe for successful wildlife photography.
Sometimes the best way to photograph wildlife is to get low. For this
fox photo, I got down on my stomach so that I could be at the same level
as the fox.
Also have patience. When photographing this moose and her baby in Grand
Tetons National Park, the two subjects were quite a distance apart.
I waited quietly while the mother was feeding and eventually the baby
wandered over to its mother and I was able to get both in the same shot.
This deer was drinking from a small stream in South Dakota. I took several
pictures of her drinking but then I waited and eventually, she raised
her head and I was able to get her with her tongue out which made for
a cute shot.
When photographing wildlife, remember to always look up or down as you
never know what you might see.
When taking photos of wildlife in action or birds in flight, use a fast
shutter speed such as 1/1000th second with continuous focusing on. Take
several photos per second to ensure good results. You may want to try
using the Shutter Priority setting on your camera. This allows you to
choose the speed your camera will take for each shot but the camera
will handle everything else such as aperture and exposure.
When framing your subject, remember the rule of thirds. When photographing
birds in flight, remember to leave space for them to ‘fly’. Another
tip is to focus on the eyes of your subject. Try to catch the light
in your subject’s eyes, this adds more interest to the photo.
Try getting up close to your subject but when that is not possible,
you can attract the viewer’s attention with negative space too. The
goal is to attract the viewer’s attention to the subject so try a background
that is not too busy.
And above all, enjoy the wildlife and all its beauty!
Webmaster/Newsletter Editor:Lazlo Gyorsok