Even in our mild Pacific Northwest climate there aren’t many shrubs that bloom during the dark winter months. One of the exceptions is Bodnant Viburnum, Viburnum ×bodnantense. The cultivar we have in our garden, and the one you’ll find most often in the nursery trade, is ‘Dawn.’ For us, it begins blooming in late October and continues to open fragrant pink blossoms through February. Continue reading
How would you like a high quality professional portrait of your family or children for a lot less money?
I’m introducing a new portrait service called Treasures by Turner. It’s designed for those who want a quick, abbreviated session that will capture their loved ones without the detailed experience, custom products, or investment required of our Platinum Portrait line. Continue reading
As my three-day wildflower photography workshop at North Cascades Institute last summer came to an end one of my students asked a version of the proverbial question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” She didn’t put it quite that way, as she was inquiring about the sequence of steps I follow in going from an idea to a finished photograph. My student was perhaps slightly confused because we’d spent the first part of the workshop discussing technical matters like white balance, aperture, and shutter speed before moving on to what I consider the meat of the course: creative choices. Continue reading
We’ve had Golden Hops (Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’) vines on our vegetable garden fence for over a dozen years now. It’s reliable, hardy, and showy from spring through late fall. It never fails to get comments from pedestrians passing by, particularly this time of year. Continue reading
Photographers, and artists of all kinds, learn to see light. We look at where it’s coming from, how it plays on our subjects, and how much contrast it yields.
I made this series of images last week during the field demonstration part of my pocket camera wildflower photography class at the North Cascades Institute while my students watched me work. They looked at the images immediately on my iPad so they could compare what they saw from where they stood with what I was getting as I moved around my subject and then used a couple of diffusers on a close-up.
We were at the Bridge Creek trailhead, where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses Washington Highway 20. These Giant Red Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) were just a few feet from the edge of the parking lot. It was about 9:15 in the morning under a cloudless blue sky, so the sun was about 30° above the horizon and more than halfway to its peak. In short, the sunlight was strong, high, and bright. In the first photo you can see my shadow as I stood with my back to the sun. Continue reading
This month’s plant, a gorgeous little alpine penstemon from the Sierras, isn’t one that most people will be able to grow in their garden. I bring it to your attention because it’s one that triggers fond memories.
I saw Penstemon newberryi for the first time in the summer of 1974 on my first trip to Yosemite National Park. I was a 20-year old college student taking a couple of photo workshops at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite valley. I photographed this brilliant red penstemon as part of a series of images around Waterwheel Falls in the Yosemite high country. Continue reading
I love long northwest summer days with clear blue skies and warm sunshine until late in the evening. I just don’t like photographing under those conditions. Bright mid-day sun isn’t flattering to people, pets, plants, or landscapes. Yet there are times when schedules dictate working under these challenging conditions. Here are seven tips for making great photos even in the middle of the day. Continue reading
Ramp up your photo skills this summer by taking a class.
I love to teach and share what I’ve learned with others. I finished one class last month, but there are still three more chances to spend some time learning about flower photography with me in July and August at fantastic locations in Oregon and Washington. Continue reading
Most folks love big, bold, noisy, spectacular fireworks displays, unless they’re dog owners or curmudgeons. The fireworks show of the year is usually in honor of Independence Day, the Fourth of July. Here are some tips to get great photos of the fireworks display in your town. Continue reading
Lewis’s mock-orange, Philadelphus lewisii, is an exceptionally fragrant shrub that’s native to a wide swath of western North America from Montana and British Columbia to California. It’s more common on the dry side of the mountains, but is found in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties and 35 of 36 in Oregon. Continue reading
