Ready or Not! It's Christmas!

Is it just me or does each year seem to go by faster and faster?!  Especially when we get to the holiday season.  Maybe it's just because we're all so involved in so many things these days.  Knowing that I can't slow the clock down,  l realize time is precious - it's important to make sure we're balancing our lives - work, personal time, family and friends.  Sometimes that isn't easy to do,  but it's critical to our happiness.  As they say, take time to smell the roses!

Anyone who is self employed knows the trap of becoming married to your business and letting other aspects of our life fall by the wayside.  For me this time of year,  as I imagine for a lot of you,  is a time to reflect.  Where we are, personally and professionally.  Readjust some things, plan for the coming year, find and pursue your passions!

Even as chaotic as it can be,  I truly love this time of year.  I realize how incredibly blessed I have been in my life and how exciting the future is.  So many people have helped me grow as a person and as a photographer.   In the coming year,  appreciate and enjoy your family, friends, photography excursions,  and all of the incredible experiences on this planet!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year!

Michael

LIGHTING WORKSHOP

I taught my lighting workshop last weekend in St. Charles - always a great time when I get together with fellow photo buffs!  I love to exchange ideas and try new techniques!  As in all of my workshops, I try to start with a basic foundation of knowledge and principles and then encourage departing from these as the creative process begins. 

The fun really begins though when we start setting lights and shooting photos!  For myself,  shooting film for as many years as I did - and I loved film, the advent of digital cameras have made the learning process so incredibly fun and fast, almost begging us to keep trying different angles, exposures, light placement,  etc.,  For me it's been the single most incredible advance in photography I have experienced!

Really, can you imagine not being able to preview the shot you just made on the camera's LCD?  or waiting 30 to 90 seconds for a polaroid to develop?  Let alone the transporting of and processing costs?
Digital is a beautiful thing!

Lighting a portrait - Photo by Heather Hanna - Workshop Participant

Photo by Heather Hanna - Workshop Participant

Product Lighting - Michael Schlueter

Lighting for Texture - Michael Schlueter

Well, here are some shots from the workshop - we played with light and I believe came away with some nice images!   Enjoy and Happy shooting!   Michael

Photo Workshop - Portraits on Location

Workshop participant Ted Hodges working with model

Challenges and opportunities-that's what you get when you start creating portraits on location!  It's a chance to get out of your comfort zone - like a predictable studio environment - and create something unique and exciting.

Last Saturday, after some hot coffee and delicious bagels,  I had the pleasure of teaching a workshop that focused on this very subject.  As always, whether I'm attending or teaching a workshop these forums offer all of us an incredible way to learn and expand our photo skills.

Lynn models - Photo by Ted Hodges

We were shooting in the historic St. Charles area where I've shot many times in the past and as usual every time we return to a location we always find new angles and opportunities with each new visit.  I always find it fascinating as to all the different approaches and specific ways participants shoot an area and subject in a workshop.  We all really do have unique vision during the creative process!

Ted captures the look & moment

Different Look & Angle - Photo by Ted Hodges

Creating a "studio look" on location - Photo by Ted Hodges

Toni projects a contemporary look - Photo by Ted Hodges

 
Here are some shots from the workshop - we covered a lot of details ... backgrounds, lighting, props, rapport with your subject, and much more!  A big thanks to our models - Lynn and Toni!  They were great to work with!  Hope to see you at the next workshop!

Happy Shooting!   Michael

Shooting Macro-Look Close for those Gems!

Frost on Leaves

The Fall is a great time for photographers to be out enjoying the beauty of nature - all of the changing colors and active wildlife.  Opportunities abound!  Sometimes in our excitement to "get that killer shot" we tend to focuse on the "big picture" and we pass by the subtle, yet powerful images that are revealed with closeup photography. 

These opportunities are everywhere.  Next time you're out in the field, slow down and really observe your surroundings.  When you do this you'll start seeing the beauty that's right in front of you all along!

Grasshopper

Equipment choices and preferences vary, and as they say there is more than one way to do anything.  With that said,  my typical setup is a 100mm f2.8 macro lens on my DSLR.  I rarely use any flash preferring to utilize natural light and modify it with a small portable reflector (white) and diffuser (translucent). 

Keeping equipment to a minimum allows me to move easily, covering a lot of ground and my back always appreciates this!  A tripod is a must however and I recommend getting one that allows low profile shooting.  At high magnification,  camera shake and focus are critical.  A cable release combined with your tripod will help avoid these potential problems.  I usually work in the f22 range and set my shutter speed to give a proper exposure.   ISO is usually set at 100 for optimal results.  I like to  focus using the auto-focus feature and then switch it off for making the exposure or focus manually from the beginning. 

Play with your depth of field / f stop settings - try some of your shots wide open (f2.8 or f4) for a shallow depth of sharpness.  Shoot variations in composition and camera angle.  Play!  Explore! Forget about succeeding -  just let yourself go!  Bring along your polarizing filter and try a few with it for enhancing the colors and controlling reflections.  Wind can be a problem so to avoid this I shoot very early in the day most often and block the wind if possible when necessary.

Dew on Spiderweb

Finally, be tuned in to how the light is playing on your subject.  Look for unique patterns, texture, and color!  So put on that Macro lens and get outdoors!  You'll open up a whole new way of seeing and appreciating our natural world!

Happy Shooting!     Michael
   

Hawn State Park Photo Trip

Every time I get out and explore this great state of Missouri I'm never disappointed at just how beautiful and diverse it is!  Recently I headed South to Hawn State Park, near Farmington,  for some hiking and photography with a quick side trip to Missouri Mines for some HDR photography.  The weather was great and I met some very nice people who share my love for the outdoors and photography. The leaves were turning and as always seems to be the case I was rewarded with what I like to call the "Gifts".  You know, you have a photo or location in mind, go there and of course nothing comes together like you planned so I did what I've learned (finally!!) to do - roll with it!  And whenever I am flexible and accept the situation and work with what is there is when those unexpected opportunities arise - the Gifts!  Here are some of the pics from the trip.  Remember - be open to the possibilities when shooting and in life!

Pickle Creek Overlook

Maple Leaf - Pickle Creek

Fall Colors - Pickle Creek

Reflections - Pickle Creek

Missouri Mines

Missouri MInes

O'Fallon Photo Club Roadtrip

                                  
                  Collage Photos and design by Marge Layton - Great shots Marge!


On October 17th I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful and creative group of people - members of the O'Fallon, MO Photo Club. Three vehicles packed with shutterbugs and loaded with every type of gear known to man were off on a road-trip to the Great River Road in Alton! Exploring and searching for Fall colors and anything interesting that caught our eye. No time was wasted. After taking the Golden Eagle Ferry to Illinois we came across a really cool historic country store, checked out Pierre Marquette Park and wound up at Fast Eddie's for a late lunch! That place was rockin! Big Eddie burgers-gotta love em! A special thanks to Jeff & Marge for their invitation and efforts putting it all together! I had a blast sharing the day with everyone! Great people and a very passionate, creative group of shutterbuggers! Thank you all!!!

Some video and photos from the day....