Star Effects

There are many filters that can be put on the end of a camera for special effects. One that creates a unique effect is called a star-effects filter. For an SLR camera, digital or film, the lens is threaded at the end. A filter will screw into the end of the lens. In the case of a star-effects filter, the filter can be turned on the end of the lens once it has been screwed in. What it does is any point of light the camera is pointed at, such as a streetlight or the sun or the moon, the filter will create the effect of steaks of light coming off of that light, creating a "star" effect. If used properly, it can add a dramatic and powerful effect to an image. It will cause the image to stand out and take the viewer's attention immediately. One instance that I used the star effect filter was on a closeup of our Christmas tree at home, creating a radient image. The filter can be turned in order to position the streaks of light perfectly for the composition.

In order to show what is meant by a star effects filter, here are two images that have become favorites of mine. I took the same pictures without the filter and they are not worth a second look.

Stories in an Image

Every week, Time.com posts on its website the best photographs for that particular week. When looking over the photographs posted for 2009 thus far, one thing can be made clear: an image is stronger than words.

Many of us will read a news story in the paper or a magazine, reflect on it for a few moments, and continue on with our day. But images have more lasting effect than the news stories themselves. One photo that I found to have a significant impact is a photograph taken on Wednesday, January 27, 2009, titled "Watermarked," taken by Dean J. Koepfler. This image shows just how bad the flooding was in Orting, Washington that week.

To be honest, I had heard nothing of the flooding that occured in Orting. Nor can I say that this news has any effect on me. And I can say with certainty that if I were to have read a news report on this event, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. News in Orting, WA has, after all, virtually no proximinal value here in Towson, MD.

Yet seeing this single image made me stop and wonder about what had occured in the town. This is not because the image shows the flooding, but shows us the frustration and hopelessness of the people in this community. And this is how the image connects this story to us. Many may not have experienced the damage a flood can cause a community. But most, if not all, have experiened similar feelings of frustration and despondency that is shown on the mens' faces in the photograph. We can now connect with the story. This is why images are more vital when storytelling in the news is concerned.

The Winter

A February 6 Gadgetwise blog on the New York Times website highlights some practical tips on how to take care of your camera equipment. This is, of course, if you wish to brave the cold winter to get some winter scenes in the photo album.

Winter is by no means the most photogenic season. The short days, the cold temperatures, and the bare trees do not often generate inspiration, at least from my experience. This is the first winter I am not living in Garrett County, Maryland. One of the reasons I moved to Towson was to get away from the biting winters in Backbone Mountain.

Yet the mountains have their advantage even in the midst of winter. Sometimes, when the snow has stopped falling and the sun makes a rare appearance from behind the clouds, the entire landscape glistens. This, combined with the rustic scenery, can become a photographer's paradise. These images were all taken at my home and the surrounding farms. The one was taken by utilizing the sepia tone format on my Sony Cybershot.

Motion

Many think that pictures are a way to freeze a moment in time. An alternate way to think of pictures is that they can capture motion in a still image. On August of of 2007, I was at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. Anyone who has ever been to a carnival of any sorts will remember the entire night is in motion. The groups of people and the circling rides never stand still. A fairgrounds is a place that feeds (especially when the night falls and the lights come on) off a moving energy. What I wanted was to capture the movement of that night in a series of still images. The way I did this was to slow the shutter speed down to four to six seconds. I recieved some looks from those passing by as I was taking the pictures. I had to hold the camera as still as possible at one spot for the six seconds to reduce camera shake. The flash was turned off to eliminate artificial brightness. Tampering with shutter speeds results in the illusion of movement in a still image. It is also one of the ways to convey your emotions in a picture.

Photography

Photography is the attempt to capture every thought, emotion, belief, fear, hope, and dream of a given moment in one image.