Orange Azalea Abstract

Nikon D200, 70-210vr, 25mm extension tube,10 exposure in camera multiple, raw capture, ISO 100

This is an example of an in camera multiple exposure abstract. Using my 70-210 vr and my 25mm extension tube allowed me to closely focus my camera on this beautiful Orange Azalea at Brookside Gardens. I wanted to create a soft abstract representation that was more about shape, color, line and design. With my lens attached to my tripod with the lens collar, I was able to twist the camera in a circular motion over the course of 8 exposures. For the last 2 shots of the multiple, I shot an image sharp at f5.6 and then defocused the 10th exposure at f2.8, thus creating this effect. These types of images have been selling well through the stock agency as well as fine art prints, so I always try to produce new and exciting images in this effect.

Please feel free to chime in and let me know what you think. All the best, Joe.

Spring Forest Orton

Here is another image from Great Falls Virginia from over the weekend. My client and I were finishing up our morning shoot at the falls and heading back to the parking lot when I noticed a tree that I had photographed this past autumn. I wanted to create a soft dreamy image that portrayed early spring. I used my 70-210 to frame up a particularly color section of spring foliage. I wanted soft even light to make this image, so I waited until the sun was obscured behind clouds and shot off a couple of images. I decided to apply the Orton effect in Photoshop as opposed to doing it in camera with a double exposure or image overlay technique.

Spring Forest Orton, Great Falls National Park, Virginia.

Nikon D200, 70-210, Singh Ray Warm Polarizer, raw capture at ISO 100

Once I had processed my raw file and had my basic tone, contrast and saturation adjustments, I brought the image into Photoshop and created a duplicate layer. I then applied a Gaussian blur to that layer. The filter was set to 14.5 pixels in Gaussian blur. Then went back into the layer dialogue box and reduced the opacity of the duplicate layer to 45% thus creating the effect.

Please feel free to chime in and let me know what you think. All the best, Joe.

Great Falls, Brookside Gardens and Meadowlark Gardens Private Workshop this past weekend

I had a private workshop this past weekend in Northern Virginia. My client, Joe and his wife were down from upstate New York to photograph early spring along Mather Gorge and the Potomac River. First let me just say how nice Joe and his wife were. It was a real pleasure to spend the weekend shooting with a group so enthusiastic and energetic. We started out at Great Falls at first light on Saturday morning. Joe and I found our way down to a beautiful cascade along the rivers edge. The light was just right with a strong pink glow and blue skies. We spent at least a half hour shooting along this sectioon of the river. Below is the first image captured that morning.

After getting our fill of shooting in the Gorge we wen't for coffee and breakfast before heading over to Brookside Gardens to work on Macro and Multiple Exposure Techniques. The flowers all looked good and we ended up spending around 3 hours shooting in the conservatory. Here are a few images from Brookside.

Click on any image for a larger view.

After lunch and image critiques we headed back over to Great Falls to catch sunset from the first overlook behind the Visitor Center on the Virginia side. We had some really nice light and sunset and twilight lasted for a really long time. This of course allowed the rimwe to make some great images. Here is my favorite image from sunset.

On sunday we met for sunrise again at Great Falls and then spent the rest of the afternoon doing image critiques, software training and macro work at Meadowlark Gardens. All in all, what a great weekend. Thanks Joe and Pam for making the long hual from New York and allowing me the pleasure of leading you to some of my favorite spots in the area. Here are a few images from Sunday's shoot. Enjoy, Joe.

Click on any image for a larger view.

I am available for private instruction and tours from 1 person to groups of 5. Click here for pricing and details.

Morning Shoot at Brookside Gardens

I had to get out of from behind my computer, so I decided to make a quick outing to Brookside Gardens on Saturday morning. Knowing it had rained the night before, I was hoping for some nice dewy images and good light. I was going to go over to Great Falls for a sunrise, but decided against it, thinking that the water through the Gorge would be to muddy with snow melt in the mountains and the recent rains.

I started out at first light shooting macro images near the conservatory and then as the sun rose over the tree line, I moved up along the hill to shoot dewy grass and tree abstracts. Some of the dewy grass images are my favorites and these were made by laying on my belly with a 300mm and a 25mm extension tube. This allowed me to focus very close while also throwing the background out of focus and created those beautiful specular highlights. By shooting with my aperture wide open, the specular highlights become a big orb of light. Here are a few examples.

I then headed into the conservatory to shoot far about an hour before the light became to harsh and the crowds arrived. All in all it was a really fun and productive morning. Now its time to get back to finishing up on some images for submission to my stock agency. Later this morning, I will be heading over the eastern Shore to St. Michaels to scout some new locations to shoot and for our upcoming workshop this summer. Have a great weekend, Joe.

Getting the best angle might mean getting your feet wet !

Waterfalls along Pendelton Run, Blackwaterfalls State Park, West Virginia.

Nikon D200, 17-35mm, Singh Ray Warm Polarizer, raw capture, 15 seconds @ f16

I made this image of waterfalls along Pendleton Run last month while leading a workshop in Blackwater Falls State Park. On the last day of the workshop I lead the group down to photography waterfalls along Pendleton Run. This small stream drops hundreds of feet into Blackwater Canyon and has some really beautiful waterfalls and cascades along the way.

Climbing down a rock ledge into the stream provided me with a unique angle of this section of falls. I squatted down into the water and ran through compositions. Upon finding a perfect angle, I attached my camera to the tripod and fitted on my Singh Ray Warm Polarizer in order to reduce glare on the wet rocks thus increasing contrast and color saturation. The hardest part of making this image was keeping my lens free of water during the long 15 second exposure. I would have to get up out of the water and creep around to the front of the camera. Wipe the lens free of spray and mist, trip the shutter and keep my fingers crossed. It took me about 15 shots to get only a few without water and moisture on the lens. It was well worth the effort and frozen feet.

Great Falls Spring Photo Workshop

Sunrise from above the Gorge, Great Falls National Park, Virginia

We only have 2 spaces left for our Great Falls Spring Workshop on April 12 -13. This is a great time to shoot in the park. Fresh green leaves, great water along the Potomac, cool temps and fog and mist in the morning. If anyone is interested, please send me an email. This workshop should fill up in the next couple of days.

On a side note, I would like to thank everyone who attended the "Abstract Photography Techniques" class at Meadowlark Gardesn on Saturday. What a nice and info hungry group of students. I had a great time spending the morning with you all.



Now back to putting the finishing touches on a Natures Best magazine submission and my lecture at the Loudon Camera Club for this week. Peace.



Joe

Abstract Nature Photography Class This Weekend

Well it has been an extremely busy week. I have been putting together images for my Abstract Nature Photography Class this weekend at Meadowlark Gardens as well as preparing for a lecture on March 13th at the Loudon Camera Club in Virginia.

The class this weekend has drawn quite a lot of interest and we had to turn away a dozen or so people due to the size of the facility. Because of the interest in the class, I will be adding another date later this year probably in July or August.

On a side note, one of my images from Great Falls National Park has been chosen as a finalist for the 2007 Nature Conservancy Places We Protect Photo Contest. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the image makes it all the way to the 2008 calendar. Wish me luck. If I can manage to get away from the office this weekend, I will try to do some shooting on Sunday morning. Then it’s back to slogging out a few magazine submissions and preparing for a private workshop I am leading in Great Falls Park later this month.

Rain Drop and Autumn Leaf

I made this image this past fall in Great Falls National Park, Virginia. It had been raining on and off all morning and I turned my full attention to creating macro images of the many autumn leaves in a open field next to the river. For this image I used my 105 Macro lens in conjunction with a 25mm extension tube. I layed on my belly and focused the lens of a single rain drop on the leaf. By leaving my aperture wide open at f4 I was able to throw the rest of the image out of focus and drawl attention to the drop of water.

Nikon D200, 105mm Macro Lens, Kenke 25mm Extension Tube, Singh Ray Warm Polarizer

raw capture at ISO 100 - 1/50 second at f 4.5

A Few More Images - West Virginia Winter Workshop

This image is available as a Fine Art Print in sizes up to 24x36 inches. If you are interested in purchasing this image as well as many others, visit my website at www.josephrossbach.com for more information.

West Virginia Winter Workshop

This years West Virginia Winter Workshop was all about the weather. We had every type of precipitation from snow to ice, fog and even rain. The shooting conditions were challenging to say the least, but the group held up very well and everyone was in good spirits. We concentrated our efforts mostly in Blackwater Falls State Park. The falls were of course a favorite location and we had every possible lighting and weather scenario imaginable to shoot them with. Pendelton Overlook was another fun location and we were even treated to the rising of the moon at sunrise, sweet. I would like to thank everyone who attended this workshop and I hope to work with you again in the future.

Here are a few images from the week, enjoy. Joe

Meadowlark Expo Epilogue

Wow, what a fantastic weekend at the Meadowlark Photo Expo. Frans Lanting kicked of the weekend with a very interesting and inspirational lecture on Friday night. The photographs on display by the various Northern Virginia Camera Clubs were humbling and amazing. What an extremely talented group of individuals. This is our first year at Meadowlark after moving back east from Colorado and it was a tremendous opportunity to meet some really wonderful people as well as some of the finest nature photographers in the business. My fellow instructors at Meadowlark Gardens, Corey Hilz and William Folsom, were their and had a booth set up showcasing their fine work. A local legend and nationally renowned photographer, Tony Sweet and Sue, had a booth set up. Tony not only is one of the finest photographers but also one of the nicest guys I have had the pleasure of meeting. His work is visionary and simply stunning.

In the next few days we will be posting the winner of our raffle for the free spot on one of our Workshop Tours. Make sure to check back in the next day or two for the winning name.

In the meantime, I am putting together the final details for the West Virginia Winter Workshop in Canaan Valley and Blackwater Falls State Park. Their are still 2 positions available and it is sure to fill up in the next couple days. If you are interested in registering, please contact me as soon as possible to reserve a spot.

My self and Amber would would like to take the time to thank all of the staff at Meadowlark Gardens, Corey Hilz, William Folsom, Tony and Sue, and all the members of the Northern Virginia Camera Clubs who made the Expo a great and memorable experience. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year. Now I need to get back to prepping images for Media Magnet Stock Agency and put the finishing touches on a magazine article I am writing.

2008 Meadowlark Photo Expo this weekend

This weeked is the annual Photo Expo at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, Virginia. World renowned nature photographer Frans Lanting will be the keynote speaker as well as many other fine photographers such as Tony Sweet, Ian Plant, William Folsom and Corey Hilz.

I have been really busy this week putting together all of the materials and promotional handouts for our booth. This will be the first year for us at the Expo and we are really excited about getting the word out to so many fine photographers in the Mid Atlantic area. Amber and I will be available to answer all questions about the services we provide, and will be offering a 20% discount to anyone who signs up for a workshop this weekend. Please make sure to stop by and say hello.

Hope to see you there, Joe.

Haunted Tree

A long exposure of 5 minutes and strong winds transform this tree into a surreal scene.

This image is available as a Fine Art Print in sizes up to 24x36 inches. If you are interested in purchasing this image as well as many others, visit my website at www.josephrossbach.com for more information.

Frozen Moments

I have been shooting alot of macro images of ice patterns and formations lately as well as going through and scanning older films for an article entitled "Frozen Moments". Here is one from about 8 years ago that I made while on a stock photography trip to the White Mountains, New Hampshire. I found this scene along the banks of the Swift River.

Tech: Nikon N90s, 105mm Macro, circ. Polarizer, Fuji Velvia 50.

Elekala Duotone

I made this image of Elekala Falls this past autumn in Blackwater State Park, West Virginia. Just recently I purchased Adobe Lightroom and must say it is an amazing software program. I have been importing all of my digital images for cataloging and keywording. In addition, I have been able to go back and re-process old raw files from the past couple of years. This image was developed as a Duotone with minor contrast and saturation adjustments. Enjoy, Joe.

This image is available as a Fine Art Print in sizes up to 24x36 inches. If you are interested in purchasing this image as well as many others, visit my website at www.josephrossbach.com for more information.