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.
Location Bridal Portfolio
Did I ever mention about how much I just love the light at sunrise? Chelbie and I had just finished shooting on the beach with the rising sun over the ocean as her background and we were driving back in to civilization to grab some MUCH needed coffee..when we spotted this old boat dock jutting out into the marsh. The light was incredible, so I asked if she could just jump out and run to the end of the dock and turn around. This was the first exposure I took, she didin’t even want to put her shoes on. She is a true girl from the country and wanted to be as natural as possible in some of her images.
For everyone who believes they need all this expensive gear (now I know for some imagery, there are many items I could use to really bring a different look and feel to this image), but, i really like this capture. The only equipment I used (or just grabbed while I chased after her! lolol) was my Nikon camera nd my lens (thank goodness I still had my trusty 70-200 2.8 VR attached to the camera) I photographed this back in the summer, and I am SO looking forward to warmer weather soon.
Model: Chelbie
Location: Folly Beach, SC
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR lens
Photographer: Stan Shillingburg http://www.stanshillingburg.com
Moments in Time
By Popular Demand: Here is the color version.
I hope this post and image finds everyone safe, warm, and happy this weekend! Valentines Day is coming and true love..well, that is special, very hard to find, and can be even more difficult to hang on to. Taking things for granted is a sure way to lose those things we think will always “just be there”. Take a few moments this weekend to make sure anyone who is special in your life knows how you feel about them!
Finally, just a shout out to my many new friends here in the bloggosphere! Each you help me improve my quality of life and inspire me to work harder at bringing my photography to a new level while seeing everyday people and events in a whole new perspective. Stay safe everyone!
Moments in Time
…and there I was, just me and my camera, listening to Al Greene’s “Still in Love With You” being piped out via several large speakers at the Lowcountry 30th Annual Oyster Boil that was held at a sprawling and gorgeous Boone Hall Plantation, when I looked out towards the cotton field and saw this lovely couple. Yep, Moments in Time like these are priceless!
To answer those of you asking…
Nikon D700, Nikkor 70-200 2.8 lens, hand held.
Stills and digital artwork
Coastal twilight can be so peaceful. I had just finished up shooting a sunset swimwear shoot and we were walking back up the beach when we cam upon these two fisherman. the young boy disappeared in the shadow of his older brother, but his fishing pole shows sharply just below his big brother’s. Sometimes the beauty of family can simply add so gracefully to the beauty of Mother Nature and her evening colors. Luckily I still had my camera attached to my tripod so grabbing this shot was far too easy for the amount of pride I get from the capture. I know it is not perfect in it’s post production work, but the pure enjoyment of the moment is priceless!
Location: Folly Beach, SC, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT 213 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! Y’all come back now, ya hear?
Leah G
Wife, mother, waitress, and now model…the lovely Leah G.
Location: Columbia, SC
Model: Leah G.
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR lens, one SB800 fired wirelessly from camera left, soft white dome for diffusion of flash.
Travel
This is a closer look at that lead boat in the previous image. The Lady Linda is located near Beaufort, SC, USA and works daily as a fishing vessel. She is also famous for being featured in a movie…it featured such stars as Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand…can you name the movie? It was not until later after photographing this image that I learned of her legacy from a local that was also enjoying the early light of dawn (at a different lcoation). He had asked if I had photographed the boat. When I replied with yes, he began to tell the tale and also educate myself and my fellow photographer Neil Owens about the boat and the area of Beaufort, Fripp Island, Hunting Beach, and the A.C.E Basin…ya just never know who you are going to bump into out there! I grabbed this shot just seconds before the first direct rays of light fell on the Lady Linda and the marsh.
Location: Beaufort, SC, USA
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!
Fishing Boats at Dawn
Sometimes, if your patient, you can be blessed with catching those very first rays of light at the sun comes over the horizon. Some of this image is still in the shadows while the marsh grass, boats, and some of the clouds begin to recieve those first golden rays of direct sunlight.
Location: Beaufort, SC, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens, Induro CT213 tripod, Induro BHD2 ballhead, and a Cokin reverse ND filter.
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
The most peaceful feeling………
I posted a similar image in my blog already, but just could not decide which on I liked best…this has the sail boat sailing away from the sun, the previous image has it sailing into it (the benefit of being at the right place at the right time I guess!). Hope this one brings even warmer feelings for everyone.
Location: The Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 lens
Camera settings: Focal length 70mm, f13, 1/500s, ISO 100
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
Waterfall in North Carolina
Sorry guys, not exactly sure which park this was in (whirlwind photo safari, many stops!) I was trying my hand at the “post card edit” style of editing, hope this is good enough for you guys! I can tell you there is an upper falls (with an overlook) and a lower falls (where this shot was taken) and I hiking all the way down to the plunge basin for this image. I will caution anyone who make the hikes up here…take plenty of water! It is a long way down, the change of socks came in handy, as did the trail mix and protien bars! And the hike back out is…steep! The portion of the falls visible here is about eighty feet, there are two more smaller falls about this final drop bt those remain hidden in the rocks. The river above that feeds this looks so calm and peaceful, then it drops rapidly down and makes a couple of twists before finally flowing out from this lowest level of the falls.
Location: North Carolina, USA
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!
Stills and digital artwork
The final light of the day, and a lone star.
Note: This image was grabbed under duress! lolol…the ferry was about to leave, I had one chance to get this. Shot this image at ISO 6400, f/3, shutter speed 1/60th, minus 1/3 exposure compensation, hand held! Focal length 24mm.
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
Peaceful, Easy Feeling.
Location: OBX, NC, USA
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-70 2.8 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
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
Sunset over Key West, FL, USA
The sun is actually setting over Sunset Island. This image was shot from Zero Duval Street, Key West, FL, USA. The famous saying here is “Start your crawl, at Zero Duval”!
I chose to post this UN – filtered image to illustrate how we percieve life. Only minor adjustments in Adobe Lightroom. SO, we can call this Life- UN filtered. aka “it is what it is”, seeing things how they are, take nothing for granted, don’t read anything into it, here it is, take me as I am, etc..etc..
So very often in life, all of these things are true…at least to some degree. MODERATION I feel, it the key to success. Know when, how, and how much to apply…priceless!
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!
Post cards from the road
Sunrise at Folly Beach, SC, USA – DAY 1
Okay guys, I know this is not my standard of work on images, but hey…I spent MOST of the sunrise just sitting back and enjoying the sounds of the ocean, the beach, and the spectacle of light and color as they all played an amazing (and much enjoyed!) symphony for me, my camera, and my steaming cup of caffinated sanity and bliss.
Oh, and many thanks to ALL of you for visiting and commenting! I will be getting to all those replies and thank yous soon!
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!
Model Portfolio
Simply Chelbie…..
I had paused the photoshoot of Chelbie in order to change out lenses, after attaching my long lens to my D700 I looked up and saw this unposed scene of Chelbie. Without warning I grabbed this shot and Chelbie was kind enough to allow me to post it. I do just love those candid images, even on a planned photoshoot.
As we remember our fallen….have a safe Memorial Day.
Travel
Sunrise over Charleston, SC, USA
Location: Charleston, SC, 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!
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