Author: Hitzeman Photography (Page 13 of 15)

Lake Powell Sunset

May 26, 2010 / Hitzeman Photography

Lake Powell Sunset

My image “Lake Powell Sunset” was selected for the Open Lens exhibit at Gallery 7, Joliet, Illinois.

“We had 449 images submitted and the quality of the work was truly exceptional!” said Hank Erdmann, organizer of the event. “I only wish we had more space to show them all. As it is we expanded the selection list to 50 images — 35 plus images will make up the exhibit with 15 alternates.”

The invitation to enter read: “Open Lens is Gallery 7’s celebration of the Photographic Image. This exhibit celebrates the vision of photographers and their contributions to the art world. You are invited to experience the vision of photographers and possibly yours as well through the open lens of photographers throughout the Midwest and beyond. Jurors are Joseph Baltz, Willard Clay, and Barry Skurkis.”

The Exhibit Opening Reception is June 4, 2010 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. You can meet the artists and see the Juried Artist Awards.

The exhibit runs through the July 16, 2010 Artists Closing Reception.

About Gallery 7

Gallery 7 is a Fine Art Gallery in the Rialto Arts District in Historic Downtown Joliet. Located just one door north of the historic Rialto Theater, Gallery 7 features Fine Art Photography, Fiber Art and other artworks. It is a collaboration of nine member and associate member artists. The gallery is open 11 AM to 2 PM, Monday through Friday, for receptions and by appointment. Call 815.726.1840 for appointment openings.
Address: Gallery 7, 116 N Chicago St, Suite 102, Joilet, Illinois.

Masterclass :: Perfecting Your Timing

May 22, 2010 / Hitzeman Photography

Assignment: Pet Portrait

“Obtain a telling portrait of a pet animal to convey its character, charm, or features. If possible, work with an animal that is lively and has an expressive face. Aim to capture more than the expression or gesture — remember that the composition and lighting should be attractive too.”

— from Digital Photography Masterclass by Tom Ang

Results

Prada is the name of this pug dog, an energetic, curious, and eventually friendly female. I did a lot of crawling around on the floor trying to get the shot, but Prada kept coming over and nuzzling against my thigh. I think she likes me. I shot this image of her in outdoor light on an overcast day. I placed her on a table so I could get more on her level, and not be pointing the camera down on her. And this kept her from wandering around. Her owner, my daughter Lauren, helped to draw her attention towards the camera. She seems to be cocking her head, pondering why on earth was I putting her up on this table and pointing this black thing at her?

Prada Pondering

Tips

Animals move quickly, and many shots will be blurred unless you use a fast shutter speed and wide aperture. Skip the auto-focus if possible. Shots are quicker without it. My best shots were when Prada was still.
Avoid wide open mouth shots of the dog, they look pretty sloppy.
The best shots are of the dog looking into the camera. We want to see her face and eyes. I read a tip that if you keep a little piece of crinkly cellophane in your hand, and keep your hand near the lens, the animal will look toward it quizzically.

Masterclass :: Mastering Composition

May 16, 2010 / Hitzeman Photography

Assignment: Composition on Location

“Imagine that a magazine or website has asked you to illustrate a feature on the techniques of composition and choose a famous landmark as you main subject. Use every trick in the book to produce an unusual interpretation of a well-known local feature.”

— from Digital Photography Masterclass by Tom Ang

Results

This was fun. I try to “use every trick in the book to produce an unusual interpretation” on all my shoots. Or should I say, I look around and try to capture something beautiful on all my shoots.

The tricks are not all in a book, though. I believe they come more from inspiration.

Choosing a single famous landmark for Chicago was something I tried to do and could not. Sears (now Willis) Tower, the Hancock Building, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, boats, lake sunrises, and on and on. What’s your favorite Chicago landmark? What says CHICAGO to me is the Chicago skyline, and I was able to capture it in pre-dawn light, lit by its own city lights glow.

“Chicago North Panorama”, (C) Harry Hitzeman

See this panorama in full screen slide show mode at my Chicago Set on flickr, as well as images from Navy Pier, Ohio Street Beach, North Avenue Beach, and Millennium Park.

“Building Bloom Vertical”, Smurfit-Stone Building, 150 North Michigan Avenue, from Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois

Death Valley

May 2, 2010 / Hitzeman Photography

Death Valley National Park surprised me with countless textures and shapes and colors of rock and mud and clay and stone. I wanted to stop the van every few miles and capture images. And there were vast open spaces, no cars or roads or telephone poles or power lines to litter the eye. Not even trees to block the sight line to the bases of mountains rising up in a snowy patchwork.

Even the weather surprised me with its variety – snow (in the upper elevations), some rain with standing pools of water turning the dust red, surrounding dried-out sage brush. Imagine photographing steam rising from the clay furrows at Zabriskie Point! And there were just enough mostly scattered clouds to give color and texture to the sky.

What Death Valley National Park shows me are the phases of an ongoing geological process that’s over 5,000,000 years old. Pretty long time. 70,000 lifetimes or so. I’m glad I had a chance to see it in this one.

Death Valley National Park has the widest variation in geological forms and colors I have ever seen. This image shows the Mesquite Sand Dunes like waves of gold stretching below the Grapevine Mountain Range.

Mesquite Sand Sunes, Death Valley National Park, California

This trip also included a drive to Lone Pine, California, in the foot hills of the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. They’re called the Alabama Hills — unusual and beautiful rock formations and a few arches. In the early days of movies, westerns were filmed in this site because of its scenic rock formations and nearness to a local town.

“Sierra Gold Sunrise”, Lone Pine Peak, Sierra Nevada Range, California

Zabriskie Point is a part of the Amargosa Range in Death Valley National Park. Its erosional landscape is composed of sediments from Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up 5 million years ago. The site was named after Christian Brevoort Zabriskie, vice-president and general manager of the Pacific Coast Borax Company in the early 20th century. The company’s famous, iconic twenty-mule teams transported borax from its mining operations in Death Valley.

Manley Peak, view from Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park, California

Masterclass :: Obtaining Ideal Color

April 20, 2010 / Hitzeman Photography

Assignment: City Streets

“Working in an urban area where there are plenty of people present, try to capture the busy scene in a balanced, well-composed image. You can either record a general view, or get in close to take a more intimate shot. Take advantage of colors and shapes when composing and organizing the shot.”

— from Digital Photography Masterclass by Tom Ang

Result

This assignment was about looking for ways to compose with color and shape in an urban area with people present. The famous Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park is always surrounded by people. This image uses a clear blue sky to define the three spikes of buildings poking upwards like asparagus, with a huge silver melon of a sculpture stealing the show in the foreground.

Man’s Vegetable Garden.

Author: Hitzeman Photography (Page 13 of 15)

Lake Powell Sunset

About Gallery 7

Masterclass :: Perfecting Your Timing

Assignment: Pet Portrait

Results

Tips

Masterclass :: Mastering Composition

Assignment: Composition on Location

Results

Death Valley

Masterclass :: Obtaining Ideal Color

Assignment: City Streets

Result

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