Before we say our goodbyes to Winter 2010 (which I’m sure we are all looking forward to doing), I wanted to share my favorite images captured during the season of cold and quiet and subdued light. Locations photographed and shown within this online gallery include Dayton and Hocking Hills, Ohio and Zion National Park, Utah. Gallery – The Best of Winter 2010.
Also, I’ve created a short “Pictures You Can Hear”slideshow presentation to accompany the Winter 2010 web gallery.
I’m happy to announce the addition of a second, full-day photography workshop for spring 2010, to be held on Saturday, May 29 at Cox Arboretum. Class is limited to the first 25 people who call (937-432-6711) or email me to register. As is the case with all of my past workshops, the cost is $89 per person which does include a box lunch.
Summer Garden Photography will be an entry-level workshop program for those who are just starting out in digital photography and wish to take their picture taking capabilities to the next level by capturing the natural beauty of gardens and nearby parks. The emphasis of the workshop will be upon basic photography of flowers, insects and wildlife, particularly birds. Jim will discuss the importance of understanding both the craft and the art of fine art nature photography, including choosing the right lens for particular subjects, use of filters, lighting for creative effects, aperture, shutter speed, film speed, time exposures and more. There will also be an overview of basic digital editing and enhancements on the computer using both Apple Aperture and Adobe Photoshop.
Part of the workshop instruction will be held within the MeadWestvaco Theater room in the main building facility at Cox Arboretum. This facility allows for comfortable seating with optimal viewing of speakers and presentations. Jim will be using a laptop computer with LCD projector throughout the workshop to clearly demonstrate the photography techniques discussed as well as slideshows of various nature and landscape images from his award-winning and often published stock library of his most popular photographs.
During the day Jim will also guide the group out to the gardens and outside areas of Cox Arboretum to demonstrate the photography techniques discussed within the classroom. More information . . .
Hands-down, the “Shoot the Hills” Photography Competition Weekend is the best event in Ohio for anyone with a passion for nature photography. I’ve had the good fortune of being somewhat involved with Shoot the Hills – which helps support all the great programs and conservation efforts of Friends of Hocking Hills – for …the last several years.
Contestants come from all over Ohio, and beyond, and have 24 hours to photograph in the Hocking Hills region. Images are then submitted for judging in several categories including flora, wildlife and people in nature, with awards presented on Sunday afternoon. It’s amazing to see the visual discoveries and photographic talent on display, and all around it is just a ton of fun. Mid-April is often an ideal time to be shooting nature and landscapes in Hocking Hills. Some of the wildflowers are at their peak, including fields of Trillium and Virginia Bluebells, and the streams and waterfalls are almost always flush with spring rain. A couple years back there was a beautiful, evening mist that filled the gorges and hollows.
My friends and founding members of Friends of Hocking Hills – Barb and Jerry Jividen of Jividen Photography and Jennifer Mitchell of Getaway Cabins, along with a team of other dedicated volunteers, willingly and enthusiastically donate a tremendous amount of hard work to make each Shoot the Hills event even more successful than that of the previous year.
This one photography event that I wholeheartedly recommend and endorse. It’s a blast and a great way to support Friends of Hocking Hills and Hocking Hills State Park.
I had been on that same trail so many other times that I’ve lost count. The trail at Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio. However, there was something about the quality of the light on that Saturday following what would become the first of several major snow “events” of February 2010. Rather than having to make the two + hour drive from my home in Dayton, this time I was actually already in Hocking Hills for the big snowstorm on Friday evening, February 5th. For the previous two days I was completing an assignment photographing the interiors and details of all the rooms, cabins and cottages at The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls, for their soon-to-be updated and redesigned web site. On Saturday morning I awoke to a foot of newly fallen – and still falling – snow. The perfect opportunity for capturing scenes of the forest and gorges covered in a blanket of white.
But what would eventually catch my eye were the abstract patterns in the cliffs and open caves along the trail, away from the show of snow on the branches of the Hemlocks and along the stream and waterfalls. All that white covering just on the other side of the trail illuminated the colors and patterns in the sandstone in way that was different than a typical day in spring, summer or autumn. Details often overlooked now were easier to take in with the eye of the artist. There was also the added benefit of very few people on this, the most popular trail in Hocking Hills. I could take my time, in allowing the scenes to come to me and in positioning tripod and camera. The beauty of nature in the abstract on a snow-covered day, deep in a winter’s hush.
Spring Details will be a mid-level workshop program for those who are experienced in digital photography but wish to take their picture taking capabilities to the next level. The emphasis of the workshop will be upon macro (close-up) nature photography, particularly as it applies to small details discovered in the early spring landscape of Ohio. Jim will discuss the importance of understanding both the craft and the art of fine art nature photography, including choosing the right lens for particular subjects, use of filters, lighting for creative effects, aperture, shutter speed, film speed, time exposures and more. There will also be an overview of basic digital editing and enhancements on the computer using both Apple Aperture and Adobe Photoshop. More . . .
This past Saturday – January 30, 2010 – marked my third in what is now becoming a regular presentation of full-day photography workshops, directed primarily toward the subject of nature and landscape photography. Each program has been held at the teaching facility at Cox Arboretum MetroPark, just south of Dayton in Miami Township.
Photography by Greg Wise at Jim Crotty Winter Nature Photography Workshop
Although we didn’t have much of a snow cover to work with, I was pleasantly surprised at the unique photographic discoveries made by all of the workshop attendees. They did a great job in putting into practice on the grounds of Cox Arboretum what it was that I was teaching within the classroom. I was also worried that the colder than usual weather would cause most attendees to want to stay inside, however, once we started into the practical application and technique demonstration portion of the program – which at first I was going to do in the atrium lobby of the facility – everyone was anxious to get outside. Seeing and sharing what was photographed became everyone’s favorite part of the day. We were having so much fun that Zip, the resident geese-control dog, followed us inside to be part of the group.
I try to keep a good balance to my workshop outline. I provide a good, solid overview of photography fundamentals in the morning (exposure theory, aperture, shutter speed, and learning to use camera settings and controls for creativity) followed by an outdoor session, without camera gear, to demonstrate how to see nature and landscape as an artist. We then head back inside the classroom for a solid run-down on the mechanics of nature and landscape photography, discussing the benefits of different lenses, such as wide-angle, normal, telephoto and macro.
We have a delicious “working” box lunch, served by Benham’s Catering of Dayton. Then it’s back outside for actual photo shooting, when everyone has some time on their own to capture images amongst the gardens and grounds of the Arboretum. When we return to the classroom it’s time to go over the basics on effective digital editing and work-flow. The last part of the program is where students are encouraged to share their images of the day, via my laptop and LCD projector. Here I provide constructive critiques. What always impresses me is how workshop students often learn and are inspired by each other as they are by the instructor.
I am currently in the initial stages of planning my next, full-day photography workshop. It will most likely be held in early April with the primary subject being flower and landscape photography for spring. More details will be announced soon. To maintain quality of instruction I limit these programs to 20 people. Once I announce (by way of my e-newsletter mailing list) the exact date and location, registration is open to the first 20 people who contact me, either by phone or email.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting a local office where prints of my work are on display within the client waiting area. The most recent addition to the collection is a 30″x40″ gallery wrap canvas print of Upper Falls in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Next to it is an older print, simply displayed on white mount board, of an autumn landscape from Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Both of these prints show how fine art photography can effectively be displayed without a traditional frame.
In my home I have 13 of the 30″x40″ gallery wrap canvas prints of some of my favorite photographs captured in Hocking Hils, Cuyahoga Valley, Dayton, Zion National Park of Utah and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
By all means I’m not against traditional framing. In fact when done professionally the frame in of itself can be a work of art. I just believe in providing customers who look to buy prints of my photography with as many options as possible when it comes to hanging and displaying large format prints.
The gallery wrap canvas print is an option that I wish more people would consider. It is ideal for an environment where there are neutral walls and where the print can be fairly safe from wandering hands. These prints come direct to the customer from my professional lab, wired and ready for display. For their size they are very light and easy to hang. These prints also provide that added dimension, hence, the “wrap,” that gives the pleasing effect of almost walking the eye “around” the photograph.
For more information regarding sizes and prices, please email or all 1-877-JCrotty (527-6889). Special pricing is available for decorators and commercial art representatives.
