Fine Art Collection
Some of my favorite subjects are the weathered remnants of this pier. For years these great timbers have greeted and parted the incoming and outgoing tides. The sea’s salty caress has eroded and chipped away at these once sturdy wooden goliaths. Yet still they remain through wind, rain, storms, low, and high tides. Maybe I spend too much time observing and thinking of how these old weary wooden stakes remind me of life….or maybe I should spend more time here just enjoying the lady of the sea as she constantly caresses and quietly takes from everything she touches. When she is peaceful, she conveys such a wonderful sense of calm and harmony. And when she is furious, she brings such a sense of perspective at just how small we really are in the grand scheme of life and nature. Still, I find it most theraputic to watch aas she slowly erases the lines in the sand, cleans and heals the scars on her shores. And, brings a fresh start to everything she touches.
Maybe, I should not sip as much wine while I am photographing seascapes…lolol !!
Have a safe (and peaceful) Easter Weekend everyone.
Nature and Wildlife
Portrait of a Pachyderm
I was able to capture this image after waiting patiently for nearly an hour. This big guy finally decided to give me a much appreciated short span of his attention. The more I waited, watched, and studied this huge subject, the more I was simply amazed by the texture and roughness of his skin. The fine details of the texture on his forehead and trunk were amazing. I found it quite magical at how gracefully and silently they can move their great frames and bulk! Heartfelt thanks to this “gentle giant” for his time and cooperation at my attempts to capture the moments he offered my lens.
Equipment used: Nikon D700, nikkor 70-200 2.8 lens, nikkor x2 teleconverter.
Software Used: Adobe Lightroom 4, Adobe Photoshop, Topaz Labs Details Extractor, Topaz Labs Black and white Effects 2.
Stills and digital artwork
Rainy Day Travel
No matter where you go or how you get there, it’s the good and the bad that make the journey worthwhile. In the words of Frankie Beverly and Maze, “Joy and pain, are like sunshine and rain”.
Hoping everyone has a safe and happy Friday and also a wonderful and safe weekend.
Location: Charleston, SC
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens
Image available as wall art print, gallery wrap, puzzle, mouse pad, and more. Don’t forget the 18% Discount code for my WordPress.com friends!
Laura
Sometimes, when the light is right and the camera position is right, and the exposure is right you get the most beautiful images. BUT….sometimes…if you pay attention, a photographer can actually capture the beautiful soul of a person regardless of the light, or camera angle, or exposure…just being there at that moment and being ready to press the shutter release.
As you can see, I removed all the color, the background and foreground, the scenery at the location, and still, her soul just comes shining through. As most of you know, I am recently retired from the military and have become a full time “college boy”, studying for my BA in Photography. Well, with all the math, English design, and research work…I am painfully short on maintaining my photography skills (or, shutter release anxiety!!). So, when Laura asked if I could take some images of her wearing her mother’s wedding dress..of course I agreed. Then, she wanted to know if would mind shooting the images ..ON THE BEACH…near sunset….really??? NOW I was really excited about the photo-shoot While Laura is not getting married anytime soon, I really had a chance to play around with camera angles, lighting, and even some editing tricks and ideas. I hear her and her mother are quite happy with the results (bonus!), and I am thrilled to be back out on the beach at my fav time of day, doing what I love to do. Several of her images are quite lovely (both color and black and white) but this one, just stood out to me to share with everyone. I hope you enjoy the image, and feel free to check my gallery of the entire shoot with her.
Location: Kiawah Island Beach, SC
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 VR lens
(back to the basics here; no reflector, no flash, no tripod)
note: this is nearly a 1:1 crop from a much larger total shot
Fine Art Collection
Smoky Mountain Color
Sometime even a wide angle lens cannot even come close to capturing all the splenor! Looks like I will be trying my hand at Fall Panoramas this year!
Location: Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN
For more fall colors from Gatlinburg: you can click the link at the top of the page for my WEBSITE or, you can click on any of my image and go right to the HIGHRES version. Or, you can go to http://www.stanshillingburg.com and click on my photography gallery. The Landscapes, Fine Art, and other galleries are available for your viewing pleasure!
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).
Landscapes and Seascapes
Mountain Stream in Fall Colors
Maybe I am over anxious for the splendor of Fall and all of her warm colors and crisp clean air….but I feel like I am like a kid at Christmas about it.
Stay safe and please visit often!
Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! (note: if you click on the image to view it in HIGHRES, you only need to click the back button on your browser to return to this page).
Fine Art Collection
With Fall finally on the approach, I am re-posting this image to keep us all looking forward to the warm and brilliant colors of fall! The sights, smell, sounds, and fashion of Fall are things I look forward to every year. I hope to return to Gatlingburg again this year at the peak of the Fall colors, and maybe my camera and I can capture more of these colorful images for you! Stay safe, peace, love, and Happiness to all of you!
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Fine Art Collection
Sometimes, we just see something and say to ourselves, “thats it, take the picture!”, I am not really sure why I felt that way about this image. I guess thats why our professor hands us assignments and says to just go shoot. I was standing in a parking garage for shelter from the storm, when I looked out and saw this image. The two people walking with umbrellas to keep the rain off of themselves, the strong image of the tree…it’s leaves and branches resembling the shape of the umbrellas, the lamp post and sidewalk, the heavy amounts of water on the ground, and puddles….it just said, “go ahead, take the shot”. I am hoping to come up with a name for this image, so if anyone is more connected to thier “inner artist” than I am, please send me a shout! Thanks so much for visiting!
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikkor 24-70 2.8
Camera Settings: ISO 200, f/3.5, 1/200sec. focal length: 48mm
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting! Y’all come back now, ya hear?
Travel- Grandfather Mountain
Another view of the Mile High Swing Bridge.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Travel- Grandfather Mountain
This is the Mile High Swing Bridge located at Grandfather Mountain Park in North Carolina. The walking platform is actually one mile above sea level… hence the name. The park itself is a wonderful place to visit and hosts many events including a yearly nature photography contest. Please visit the parks website for schedules, events, and attractions.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Stills and digital artwork
Tug Boat off the North Carolina Coastline
Location: North Carolina, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Travel
From the Summit of the Zugspitz, it seems you can see forever. The frozen breath, the snow covered ladder, cables and ledges…crevasses adorned in icles and snow that has yet to be touched by man…solitude, peace, and one’s perspective on life can be felt and pondered.
Location: Garmisch, Germany atop the Zugspitz.
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-300 VR lens, lots of cold weather gear.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Stills and digital artwork
And here is the black and white version
Light after sunset (about 2 minutes after)
Gorgeous scenery after sunset in Key West, FL, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 50mm 1.8 lens, Induro CT213tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Travel
And here is the color version of the cabin in Garmisch Germany.
Location: Garmisch, Germany
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200 VR lens.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Travel
The bench! Time for a break in the steep trail of Garmisch, Germany.
Location: Garmisch, Germany
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200 VR lens.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Travel
Steep trails and snow everywhere, hiking along this trail in Garmisch I stumbled upon the cabin. No one home but the break in the steep climbing was much enjoyed!
Location: Garmisch, Germany
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200 VR lens.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Post cards from the road
Folly Beach, SC, USA looking at the Morris Light House
This reminded me of the storms of life and how many we go through. For me, the rocks seem to hold my courage and resolve firm and sturdy dispite the massive volume of trials and life’s many complicated and overwhelming tides of troubles and woes. And just like the ocean tides, troubles seem to ebb and flow the same. How we deal with those life challenges truly form and shape who we are today. The light house takes the form of our values, morals, and many of the absolutes we believe and cherish in our life. Just as surely as it guides ships and voyagers from certain disaster, our very own souls will do the same of us…if we only take those few moments..sometimes…to look for our own direction, see our way clear of our past and present troubles, and sail on into this glorious gift of life. Embrace our fears and while reaching out…joining together, and build a sturdy bridge of hope and inspiration for others to see, realize, and overcome so many of hours of loneliness and sorrow. For even in our darkest hour….soon, the sun will rise and give a new day, a new chance, a fresh shot at our resolve and our chosen paths of life.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Stills and digital artwork
Big Sky Country
Driving across the Pan Handle region of Texas.
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200 VR lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BDH2 ballhead
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Travel
Triple Falls photographer at the Dupont State Forest, NC, USA
This is an outdoor portrait I did of my son on our day hike to several falls in the Dupont State Forest. The color version of this is on my website as well and is equally as awesome (of course I am biased, it is a portrait of my son! lolol!)
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BDH2 ballhead
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Stills and digital artwork
Garmisch Germany, the valley at sunrise.
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 18-200 VR lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BDH2 ballhead
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Stills and digital artwork
Mountain Home with a view
Location: Gatlinburg, TN, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BDH2 ballhead
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Stills and digital artwork
Winter Scene
Location: Garmisch Germany
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Landscapes and Seascapes
Stairway to …..
After letting my eyes roam across the image in my view finder, Things just seem to be in this image, I will leave that up to you all. This si a steep nature trail on Garmisch Germany, lovely day for hiking but as the clouds (and shadows) began to appear, well, anytime is a good time for coffee and a little break in the action.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 80-300 VR lens, hand held, programmed auto.
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
Landscapes and Seascapes
At the top of the world in Garmisch Germany, the Zugspitz Observatory.
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 80-300 VR lens, gloves, boots, coat, hat, lolol…DANG cold up there!
As always, my images are copyright protected and available to you as wall art prints, wraps, and other merchadise. More info available on my “About” page. You can click on any of my images to see them in HIGH RES. Thanks for visiting!
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