South Carolina
Peaceful seas and a gentle breeze at Sunset
One of my favorite images! A huge hello and thank you to all of my several new followers, and great big thank you to all of my dear long term followers! I hope this image finds each of you safe and heppy and much hope for a safe and productive (drama free) work week!
On a side note, it has come to my attenton that several of my images are being used on other websites (business and personal). I need to take a moment to remind those individuals that my images are copyright protected and unauthorized use is prohibited by law. For those of you who want to use my image, you may surely do so provided you link the image back to my website and please give me credit as photographer (I would not steal your work, so please do not steal mine). If you want to purchase royalty free rights to use the images or want to purchase prints for your home or office: please see my About page for info on how to do that.
On the bright side: My school has bestowed upon my a Mimiya medium format camera with a digital back! So now, I need to find a few locations to shoot seascapes and landscape! If anyone if familiar with Coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and even Florida…please send me your suggested locations. I will do my best to get some of them uploaded for your enjoyment!
Thanks to every one of you for your time, suggestions, input, consideration, and suggestions! Have a safe week everyone!
And on the lighter side
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.
Nature and Wildlife
Kodiak Bear Play
I can relate to this Brown Bear…it’s the way I feel before coffee! lolol…had a great time photographing some Nature and Wildlife this weekend. It was the perfect excure to try out my new Nikkor x2 teleconverter (I am just not real comfortable actually being this close to all those claws and teeth!)
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR lens, Nikkor x2 teleconverter.
Nature and Wildlife
Reptile Lounge
Had some fun so far this weekend photographing some wildlife and nature images. I caught this guy lounging around in the sun.
Equipment used: Nikon D700, Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8 VR lens, Nikkor x2 telecoverter.
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
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
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!
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!
Landscapes and Seascapes
Mountain in 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
A Storm Rolls In…
During my visit to Garmisch, Germany, I was able to capture this image of a mountain located near the Zugstpitz. As storm clouds rolled in over the moutain peak, I tried to capture the clouds as they rolled down on my side of this amazing landscape. You can also see two seperate ski lifts dwarfed by the sheer size of this mountain, and the ski lift’s power and transfer station..a massive structure, is also dwarfed.
Location: Garmisch, Germany
Equipment used: Nikon D300, Nikkor 80-300 VR lens, and a circular polarizer 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!
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