Going forward

As I sit here thinking about where I am with this blog, as well as where I am in life, I contemplate where I am going. I will continue to explore and travel and by doing so I will continue to take photos and share them with others. This is something that I am certain of. It is not something that I can simply turn off. I hope readers of this blog go out and share their outdoor experiences with others, whether that simply means with family and friends. There are beautiful places all over the world. A lot of them are literally in your backyard. See you outdoors !       

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." - Henry David Thoreau  

Andrew Jackson State Park, South Carolina

Guest Post

Since creating my blog, I have caused a long time fishing and hiking buddy, Evan Neely, to start taking outdoor photographs. I didn't really expect it. This makes me feel good. I can’t believe that my blog could have an impact on someone. I am really glad that he is giving it a shot and trying to learn more about outdoor photography and photography in general. 

I had asked Evan Neely about his view of my blog and what he has taken away from it and here is what he said:

“ Well, You showed me your blog and it made me feel that I wanted to take pictures of the places I have been fishing and hiking at. Plus, I received a camera a few years ago for Christmas and I have never really had the chance to use it. I don’t know much about photography, but this seems like a good start.”

I asked Evan what blog post was the most informative to him and he responded:

“The post about dealing with humidity was pretty good. I have been having trouble with my camera lens being fogged up at times. I didn’t know what the deal was. I need to get that cloth that you were talking about. I don’t want to scratch my camera lens.”  

I was really happy that someone was not only reading my tips, but also attempting to implement them. Even though it is someone that I know, it still feels like a good start.

Digital Photo Editing

Photo editing can be used to adjust photos or create a personalized artistic photo. After pictures are  uploaded from the camera or storage device to the computer, then they can be edited using photo editing computer programs. If you are using a Mac computer, you should have iPhoto under applications. If not, it is easily accessible through Apple's App Store. If you are using a PC and do not currently have a photo editing program, there are multiple programs that can be acquired, ranging from simple and free programs to more costly and advanced programs.

Some of the programs available are:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Fotor
• Picasa
• Fotoflexer
• Picnik

I recommend trying out different programs and their features. Most programs will allow the user to return to the original photo if so desired, so try various adjustments.
  

Here is a sample of an adjusted photo that I created:

Andrew Jackson State Park, South Carolina

Lenses and Adapters

When it comes to taking photos, there is a tremendous amount of lenses that you can select to use. I primarily use two lenses. These lenses are an 18-55mm and an 18-200mm, both are Sony E-Mount lenses. The 18-55mm lens is a good "all around" lens. It is the lens that I use the most.

When looking for lenses for your camera, make sure that the lens is compatible with your camera. This means make sure the lens will connect to your camera. If you have already purchased a lens or received a lens as a gift and it is not compatible with your camera, don't fret! There are lens adapters available for purchase that can create the proper connection from the lens to the camera. You will just need to know the specifications and manufacture of the lens and  of course the cmaera that you wish to attach the lens to, when purchasing a lens adapter. 

Dealing with the Humidity

It has been pretty hot outside this week. Temperatures have been in the mid 90's every afternoon. Though not my ideal hiking temperatures, I ventured out to Raven Rock State Park, here in North Carolina. One problem that I ran into was the lens on my camera fogging up, while in the forest. This was due to the humidity in the air. I used a microfiber cloth to remove the fog from the lens before taking photos. It worked well and the microfiber cloth prevented possibility of scratching my lens. After a while, the lens seemed to become acclimated to the conditions and stopped fogging up. 

Raven Rock State Park, North Carolina

A Clean Camera Lens

If there is one thing that will immediately affect the outcome of your photographs it is a dirty camera lens. I had this happen to me this weekend. When I got home I noticed a problem with the photos that I took being blurry.  After inspecting my camera I noticed that there were streaks of a greasy build up on my lens, which appears to be the cause of the ruined photos.

It is best to carry a lens cleaning solution with you when going out to take photos, as well as a microfiber cloth. I would stay away from using your shirt or other articles of clothing to clean the lens, as it can potentially scratch the lens of your camera and will end up causing more of a headache. I use Pancro Professional Lens Cleaner and a microfiber cloth, which I had left at home this weekend. Live and learn !

Take Your Position

I got off of work early today, so I had the chance to go out for a hike, which allowed me some time to take some photos. I headed to Morrow Mountain State Park in Albemarle, N.C.  There were a few buildings and structures on site that had local area stone facades. I always feel that an important part of every photograph is how it is positioned. You always want to make sure that your subject is the focal point of the photograph.

Morrow Mountain State Park. North Carolina