A Pop of Color

The colors in our photographs are evocative and rouse emotions within us. Color can elevate a mundane image into something intriguing and meaningful, and can tell a particular story within the frame.

The blue of the sky really makes the pink flowers pop and stand out from the old rusting car.
The blue of the sky really make the pink flowers pop and stand out from the old rusting car.
Peacocks have amazing colors not only on their feathers but their whole body. This blue is so electric.
Peacocks have amazing colors not only on their feathers but their whole body. This blue is so electric.
Even though the blues of the sky and ocean are very noticeable I think the bright red waverunner breaks up the blue color.
Even though the blues of the sky and ocean are very noticeable I think the bright red waverunner breaks up the blue color and helps draw your eye to that part of the photo.

Quality of Light – Part I

Light makes photographs more interesting and over this weekend, as part of the Photo101 assignments, we’ve been asked to look at the quality of light. How light varies throughout the day.

Depending on what time of day you take your picture will have an impact on the final result.

  • Dawn — before sunrise — can cast a cool blue light, with no shadows.
  • Later in the morning, the light tends to be neutral — and to some, ideal.
  • At midday, the sun reaches its highest point, resulting in dark shadows.
  • Later in the day, in the “golden hour” before sunset, daylight grows softer and redder, creating a magical atmosphere.

Factors can change these conditions, including weather, location, and the time of year.


Here is a selection of photos I have taken at various times of the day to illustrate what light can do to make even the simplest of photos something more interesting.

 

If you would like to see more photos experimenting with light, please check out my post – Quality of Light – Part II

Mystery

Some photos are significant not because of what’s depicted, but because of the mood they create. They communicate an idea that transcends the actual subject of the image.


Here’s a photo that conveys a sense of mystery. Can you tell what it is?

Whist wandering around the Everglades I suddenly felt as if I was being watched!
Whilst wandering around the Everglades I suddenly felt as if I was being watched!

In case you need a clue – it’s an Alligator lurking just below the water – it was extremely large and very close. It’s very well camouflaged against the stones and quiet. He had swam up close without me even realizing.

Let’s move on shall we 🙂

The Natural World

A good photographer is a constant observer: always watching and studying a scene, from patterns in city traffic to movements in nature. A photographer notices big, sweeping changes — like the sky at dusk — but also the tiniest details.

Exploring the outdoors, with camera in hand, is an opportunity to look for natural lines that lead our eyes to different parts of a frame. Envision the bend of a stream, or the curve of a petal: how can you use these lines in your composition? If you see strong vertical, horizontal, or diagonal lines, can you play with the orientation to create a more dynamic composition?

The Natural World

Interesting Tree bark
Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree has interesting Tree bark – Miami Botanical Gardens
A Lizard examining a tree
A Lizard examining a burnt tree – Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
Did you spot the frog relaxing?
Did you spot the cheeky frog? He looks so comfortable in his own private oasis

Bliss and Solitude Revisited

To finish off the weekend review of the photo101 week of assignments I’m revisiting the last two subjects of Bliss and Solitude.

Here are a few more photos that represent these categories.

Bliss

Solitude

If you’re interested in looking at the original articles click on the links below.

Bliss
Solitude

Experiment with Composition

So I’ve made it to the end of the first week of the Photo101 assignments and have covered topics ranging from Home, Wider Views, Water, Bliss and Solitude.

Now it’s a free for all weekend where we can revisit some of these topics and put into practice what we have learned. I’m using today to showcase some of the other photos that fit into the Home, Wider View and Water category.

Home

Wider Views

Water

Come back tomorrow to see my gallery of pictures depicting shots of Bliss and Solitude from the Photo101 assignments.


If you enjoyed this article, why not check out the original assignment posts related to each of the above categories.

Home
A Wider View
Water

 

Bliss

Day 4 of the Photo101 challenge is to show an image that represents Bliss.

What is your idea of bliss? Is it an image of your family, laughing at the dinner table? A state of total relaxation, while lying on the beach? Your latest painting, drying on the canvas?


In this picture I am relaxing under the palm trees looking over the bay after a cycle – bliss.

Relaxing by the bay, under the palm trees after a cycle.
Relaxing by the bay, under the palm trees after a cycle tour to the mainland.     Investigating led us to a small island called Brickell Key.

 

 

Water

WATER – A source of life. A place of recreation. A calming presence, but also a destructive force.

We have different relationships to and stories about water: how it has saved or defeated us. How it reminds us of family vacations, outdoor adventures, or the hot summers of our childhood. How it might also symbolize a place we’ve left behind, or a location we dream to go.


Here are a couple of pictures depicting life on the ocean wave. Being near the water is relaxing, fun and invigorating.

Water Taxi - a great way to travel
View from the Water Taxi – a great way to travel
Island on the Water
Island on the Water – mysterious and calm island sanctuaries that can only be reached from the water.

 

A Wider View

Today’s Photo Challenge is capturing a wider view of a scene with the emphasis on looking at the basic elements in the scene – what will be in the foreground and in the background of the picture.

I think this photo taken at the Bass Museum of Art hits the spot.

Some interesting artwork in the grounds of the Bass Museum of Art
Some interesting artwork in the grounds of the Bass Museum of Art

Home

Today I’m starting the Photo101 Challenge where you post a photo a day based on a particular topic.

The first topic is HOME.

Home is elusive. When we think about this word, we might picture different physical locations. And while home is often found on a map, it can also be less tangible: a loved one, a state of mind.

This is an interesting one as my birth home is the UK but my new home for the last three years has been the U.S. They are two completely different places but here is a picture showing where home is right now – Miami Beach.

Ocean Drive
Panorama: Ocean Drive, Miami Beach

It’s a great place to be!


So how did I take this picture?

Since the introduction of iOS 6 it’s possible to take great panorama photos right inside your iPhone’s native camera app. The panorama feature only works with iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and the latest generation iPod touch, so if you have an older device you have to use another panorama app.

I love the panoramic feature that is available on the iPhone. Sometimes you just want to capture your whole view.

Have you used the Panoramic option on your iPhone yet?

In order to access the panorama feature, open your iPhone’s Camera app, tap on Options, and choose Panorama. This will launch the panorama mode. Once you tap capture, slowly and steadily move your phone from left to right. You will see a guide line – this will help you keep your phone steady and produce a much straighter final result.


If you enjoyed this article you may be interested in finding out more about Miami in the following posts:-

Miami Beach on a Budget

The Best Places to Eat in Miami Beach

The Most Tasty Cocktails

The Wild Green Parrots of Miami Beach