Shutter Mike Photography

Flowing water can be a difficult subject to capture.  You can capture the motion of the water by using a longer shutter speed resulting in a blur effect that conveys motion.  Or you can freeze the flow by using a much shorter shutter speed that allows you to capture the water in one split second of time.  To keep you lighting accurate for you will need to adjust your aperture (f-stop) to compensate for the shutter speed you choose.  Generally, when conveying motion with the long shutter speed use a larger f-stop (smaller opening) or when freezing motion use smaller f-stop (larger opening).  Again, those are just general rules.  Your setting, lighting, and circumstances will vary and your camera needs to be set accordingly.

These photos were taken in Gilbert, Arizona along a walking trail that runs parallel to Elliot Rd., just on the north side of downtown.

f/5.6 – 1/8 sec – ISO 200 – Focal Length 105 mm

When local businesses support local artists it is a win-win situation for both parties.  One business in my area that frequently supports local artists is Bergie’s Coffee Roast House in downtown Gilbert.  They offer up their wall space to display and sell the work of artists of all mediums.  I had the photograph below hanging in Bergie’s for about a month.  They called yesterday to let me know it had sold.  So this is my first photograph that I have actually sold for real money.

The mystery of the Ansel Adams long lost negatives that I recently wrote about deepens.  As reported by KTVU in Oakland, CA someone has stepped up to cast more doubt on the authenticity of the negatives.  The family of Ansel Adams claims the negatives bought at a garage sale for $45 are not the work of Adams.  Experts disagree and say they are his work and are worth upwards of $200 million.  But now a California woman has presented images taken by her uncle that are remarkably similar to those that are said to be from Adams.  So similar in fact that one Adams expert is questioning if the garage sale finds are in fact the work of Adams.

So the authenticity is still up in the air and the owner of the negatives can’t quite collect his $200 million yet.

Give Us Your Best Shot is the theme of warehouse superstore Costco’s 2010 International Photo Contest.  Open to Costco members and employees worldwide, the contest is rather simple.  There are no theme limits or regulations on post-processing your images, but you do have to be a member of Costco.  For the complete rules and legal mumbo-jumbo click here.

To enter online have your membership number ready and go to the Costco International Photo Contest entry page.  For some inspiration take a look at the winners of the 2009 photo contest.

The prizes this year are as follows:

International Grand Prize: