
UPCOMING 2009 / 2010 WORKSHOPS:
Spring Big Sur Photo Workshop - March 29 - April 1, 2010 (1 spot remaining)
Northern Arizona: Grand Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Sedona Photo Workshop - May 3-7, 2010 (7 spots available)
Redwoods and Mendocino Coast Photo Workshop - June 15-18, 2010 (space available)
Kauai, Hawaii Photo Workshop - July 12-16, 2010 (8 spots available)
Big Sur Photo Workshop Summer August, 2010 (Exciting details TBA soon)!
Arches/Canyonlands Photo Workshop November 2010 (Details to be released soon)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Article on my Website: Creating a "Twi-Night" Image
Books Available for Purchase on my Website:
Photographer's Guide to the Big Sur Coast (e-book version - 102 pages)
On the Edge (printed version - softcover and hardcover - 120 pages)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes a simple juxtaposition of elements can lead to a satisfying image. I spotted this crescent moon while on a early-morning drive through the Diablo Hills east of Hollister, California, and knew I needed something for it to visually connect with. I began scouring the hillside ridges for a suitable subject, and came upon this lone oak sitting as if were a sentinel atop this ridgeline.
Fortunately, there were some cirrus clouds hanging around; they served to provide a splash of warm color prior to sunrise allowing my image to come together.
I did not adhere to the standard rule-of-thirds positioning with the hillside as I did not want it to visually dominate the scene. I did however place both the moon and the tree in strong positions relative to the intersection of the imaginary thirds-grid. The crescent moon has its own weight, and I did not want to overpower it by adding more of the silhouetted hillside than I felt necessary. I played with various crops and settled on this one because of the visual tension provided by the dominance of the sky. The implied diagonal line created by the position of the moon and the tree also resulted in some visual movement.
Think of rules in photography more as guidelines, then break them every so often. This can create visual excitement that will draw and hold your viewer's attention.
My Website: "how to" articles, 2020 WORKSHOP LISTINGS, galleries, stock photos, and more...
www.donsmithphotography.com