September 2018: Reflections

Anything shiny can produce a reflection, such as water, ice, windows, chrome, and mirrors. You can choose your emphasis on either the subject (s) being reflected, or the reflection of the subject. Or maybe show subject and reflection equally. One can use symmetry, or juxtaposition to create interesting shapes. Look for patterns and colors. A polarizer may help with getting richer color and cut glare. One can create a bit of impressionism by having a blurred reflection. For more thorough tips go to: https://www.lightstalking.com/how-to-photograph-reflections-for-awesome-results/

October 2018: Birds

Birds any way, shape, size, or environment can be used here. They can be eating, flying, fighting, resting, nesting, swimming, shown with eggs or offspring, singing, bathing, in the wild, at zoos, posing, or trying to attract a mate. A site to learn about photographing birds would be: https://www.audubon.org/news/10-tips-photographing-birds

November 2018: Faces

Any face qualifies (human, animal, bird) for this, not only portraits, although that is included. Look for an interesting expression, a funny face, clown faces, masks, faces in art pieces like sculptures, mood expressions-somber or pensive look, emotional expressions (laughter, tears, surprise, anger, elation), or a blank/lost in thought stare. Look for “faces” in cloud shapes or in wood grain, or rock textures. Possibly focus on an aspect of the face, such as the eyes or mouth. For a few tips on photographing faces, go to: https://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-people-7-tips-for-photographers-who-never-photograph-people/

December 2018: Bridges

Most bridges are interesting. Some are engineering feats, some are of old wood or rusty metal. Some are artistic, and some merely functional. One can shoot from under a bridge, shoot on it, shoot an abstract of it, or shoot from a distance. Bridges over water can give lovely reflections, and some are lighted at night. This area has two covered bridges: Ada Covered Bridge, which is by a railroad trestle, and Fallasburg Covered Bridge. (White’s Bridge was burned down and has not been rebuilt yet.) Downtown Grand Rapids has several bridges, and some parks have them. Railroad trestles are included in this subject as well. For tips on shooting bridges go to: http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/5723/photograph-bridges/

January 2019: Art

Art is all around us in some form. Businesses and private homes may have art pieces as part of the landscape. A “sure shot” for being where plenty art is found, would be a visit to Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Art Museum, or attending (free) ArtPrize. Downtowns of various cities have murals on or in buildings, and some vehicles have elaborate designs painted on them.

February 2019: Food

Try to make your viewers hungry! One can use food art, food in gardens, food at farmers markets, restaurant food, your own cooking, the Thanksgiving turkey, decorated cookies and cakes, or pizza. The challenge is to photograph food in a creative or appealing manner. One of many sites on food photography is: https://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-to-seriously-improve-your-food-photography-techniques/

March 2019: Trees

There isn’t any shortage of, or difficulty finding this subject. One can choose what part of a tree to portray, or include the whole tree. There are the assortment of leaves, bark patterns, tree shapes, colors, fruit trees, trees used as borders to property and gardens, trees shown with light filtering through the leaves, water droplets on leaves, hoar frosted trees, snow covered trees, birds and animals in trees, insects on foliage or bark, flowering trees, lichen and fungus on trees, tree “tunnels”, or even a tree being cut down. Try a different view, lying under the tree and shooting up into it. Light paint a tree for night photography. Include a person or object by the tree to show height and/or width.

April 2019: Weather

We always have some, and it is ever changing. Show us any kind of weather, snow, rain, storms, lightning, fog, mist, bright sunny, sunbeams/sunrays (officially called crepuscular rays) coming through clouds, rainbows, or weather in morning or in evening light. In whatever kind of weather you are looking for, be sure to dress for it, and have camera protection when in inclement weather. Be ready. Before the weather situation occurs, have planned in your mind where to go to photograph, for instance, a storm approaching. Know where there is as an open field with unobstructed view, or the lake shore would be another possibility. One of many sites for tips on shooting weather is: https://improvephotography.com/39588/weather-photography/. There is a link on that site on how to shoot lightning.