Learn Photography, Learn Plants

Posted on March, 2013 by Mark Turner

My lecture and workshop schedule is shaping up to be busy this year. I hope you’ll be able to join me for one or more of them.

I’ll be teaching photography classes for people with digital SLRs, pocket cameras, and iPhones. My native plant lectures include the dry area in central Washington and the region within walking distance of high tide.

I love to teach and my students consistently report how much fun they have and how much they learn in my classes.

Here’s the lineup. Continue reading →

Frost Flowers

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Mark Turner

Frost blooms. Like a flower. Sort of.

1300045 Frost flowers (hair ice). Lake Padden Park, Bellingham, WA. © Mark Turner

I’d never heard the term “frost flowers” until one of my editors and customers requested photographs of the phenomenon late last year. This is a natural phenomenon that occurs during the freeze-thaw cycle, or at the beginning of winter in places that don’t cycle through warm and cold periods. Continue reading →

Digital Tip: Shooting at the Edge of Night

Posted on January, 2013 by Mark Turner

I’d never make an astronomer. I go to bed too early. That makes it challenging for me to make images at dusk in the middle of the summer when it stays light until ten o’clock. This time of year, with darkness sneaking upon us soon after four o’clock, I can photograph at dusk and still be home for dinner.

Architectural photographers often photograph buildings at dusk. The rich blue of the sky contrasts with the warm tones of artificial lighting illuminating a building and coming from the interior through the windows. There’s not a lot of time each day when the conditions are perfect to get that balance right.

Continue reading →

Digital Tip: Where’s My Stuff?

Posted on November, 2012 by Mark Turner

You’re the designated family photographer and historian. You’re the one your mother is going to call to say, “Remember that deep-fried turkey we had for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago? Can you send me a picture?”

If you have an organized filing system for your photos you’ll be able to say, “Sure. Do you want me to make a print or just send you a digital file?” Then you’ll go to your computer, quickly pull up the Thanksgiving photo and get a copy on the way to mom. Continue reading →

Digital Tip: Recipe for a Photograph

Posted on October, 2012 by Mark Turner

Giant Red Paintbrush is a strong foreground subject, placed in context with its environment and highlighted by back lighting.

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 →

Observe and Control the Light

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Mark Turner

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.

Photographer's Shadow: Front Light — Photographer’s Shadow: Front Light

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 →

Digital Tip: 7 Tips to Tame Bright Summer Sun

Posted on August, 2012 by Mark Turner

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 →

Class Time: Learn to Make Better Photos

Posted on July, 2012 by Mark Turner

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 →

Digital Tip: Get Ready for Fireworks

Posted on July, 2012 by Mark Turner

Independence Day fireworks over Taylor Ave Dock

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 →

Take a Class to Better Photos

Posted on June, 2012 by Mark Turner

You’ve got a digital camera, or perhaps you take a lot of photos with your iPhone. But maybe your photos don’t turn out as well as you thought they would. I can help. Sign up for one of the classes I’m teaching this summer and learn to take control of your camera and make better photos. Continue reading →