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- The Smithonian Collection
- What to do with your Photos
- Same Place – New Face
- UnFramed
- Zooming In
- Fisheye On The Cheap
- Snapshots
- Gallery Goes Live
- Baby It’s Cold Outside
- Getting Back On Track
- Earth Day 2019
- Low Light Photography
- Sometimes Green, Sometimes Not
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Lens Settings and the Background
26th June 2022
How Size Matters
When picturetaking, most often I’m concerned about the subject that is closest to me. I’ll pick the length of the lens that emphasizes the subject.
But there are often times that I’ll want the subject to fit in nicely with the background. By using a zoom lens, I can compose the subject in the viewfinder by varying the lens length setting.
While taking these photographs, I stood in the same place at the same distance from the foreground subject. I changed only the length of the lens (using a 24 to 240mm zoom lens).
As I’m not verbally astute enough to give you a proper explanation, I’ll show you visually how changing the lens length interacts with the perspective of the background.
My favorite is the last photo taken with the longest lens setting which emphasizes the mountains in the background.
For those that are interested, the foreground subject is the Moulton barn along Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park. The background are some of the iconic mountains of the Teton Range.

For reference this is a photo taken with an iPhone at 4.5mm (equivalent to 26mm lens)

full frame camera with lens set at 27mm

full frame camera with lens set a 37mm

full frame camera with lens set at 53mm

full frame camera with lens set at 66mm

full frame camera with lens set at 83mm
What to do with your Photos
29th March 2021
Using Smaller Frames
On my computer desktop, I have a folder labeled “To Be Printed”.
Every once in a while as I’m editing my photos, I’ll drop a copy of a favorite image into the folder. As the number of images within the folder grow, I feel compelled to make prints and get them up on the wall.
Years ago I realized that I didn’t have to always make huge prints. By printing smaller sizes more photos would see the light of day and keep from setting my wallet back too much.
To make best use of the limited wall space, I started to use sets of identically sized frames. They are light weight with glass or plexiglass to protect the prints and easy to hang.
A few of the favorite photographs get special treatment – they are printed in a larger size.

these are all 4″ x 6″ prints

here is a small section of the wall with three different sizes

these are all 8″ x 8″ prints

these two prints are mounted in larger 16″ x 20″ frames

this single print is 24″ x 36″
So get those images out of your “To Be Printed” folder.
When your “To Be Printed” folder gets filled again, you can simply change the photos.
Remember that you don’t have to think big; smaller sizes make attractive displays.
Same Place – New Face
25th March 2021
Visiting Monument Valley with the Grandkids
I have a habit of revisiting fabulously gorgeous places. Some have a magnetic attraction that just keep me coming back.
Each fall I ferry Mom’s car to Arizona and then back to Michigan in the spring. When I can make the arrangements, I ask one of our grandkids to come along to keep me company and in turn share some wonderful sites with them.
The small town of Kayenta, AZ lies along the route between Phoenix and Michigan. A few miles north of the town along the Arizona/Utah border is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park – a most unique and eye-popping location. There you will leisurely drive along the 17-mile dirt road to view a multitude of amazing cliffs, buttes and mesas.
These photos were taken at a spot with with either the iconic West Mitten Butte or Merrick Butte in the distance.
![]() Taken April 2011 |
![]() Taken July 2014 |
![]() Taken Nov 2014 |
![]() Taken Apr 2015 |
![]() Taken Apr 2018 |
![]() Taken Apr 2019 |
The photos are a great way for me to remember this magnificent area. Hopefully the grandkids will recall their visit in years to come.
UnFramed
23rd March 2021
Bringing the Feel of Paris to My Living Room
As the river Seine flows from central France to the English Channel it disects Paris the City of Light. In turn, the river is responsible for the large number of bridges that connect the two sides of the city – known as the left bank and the right bank.
By far, my favorite is the Pont Alexandre III, an elaborately decorated structure with gold colored statues at both ends, intricate sculptures arranged along the width of the arches, black elegant light posts, a generous pedestrian walkway.

From the above photo I enlarged a small section. While you can clearly see the textured surface, you can also see how the print retains its sharp detail.
What’s your favorite vacation spot? You can easily bring your past travels into your home.
Don’t let your photos sit in a proverbial shoe box. Get them out of there and show them to the world.
Zooming In
18th March 2021
Zambriskie Point is of my favorite areas to visit in Death Valley. I am awed by its magnificent landscape created by millions of years of erosion. When climb the steep path from the visitor entrance, you’re immediately greeted by the heavily textured, sandy colored alluvial fans.
This day as I walked up the path I could barely see two people standing on one of the flat areas in the distance. They looked like ants on the rocks. The juxtaposition of the tiny figures against the huge backdrop of these badlands was an interesting view.
While I like both images, I prefer the zoomed in version. This is an example of composing your image after the fact.
Snapshots
20th February 2021
I’ve taken an awful lot of photos over the years – some were for professional purposes, some as obligatory family responsibilities (wedding, birthdays, etc.) and some (many, many, many) for my own pleasure.
In this last category are a group that I consider fun photos. I’ve put a large number of them into my snapshot gallery.
I’m happy to share them with you so please click here and I’ll take you to see them. |
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Low Light Photography
30th March 2019
It’s Dark Down There
For those interested, these photos were taken with a Sony A7 III camera using a 24-240mm lens. In most cases, the ISO setting was 16000 or 32000 and taken handheld with a shutter speed of 1/15 or 1/30 and aperture as wide as f/3.5. I think the photos are of pretty decent quality considering the cave environment.
Sometimes Green, Sometimes Not
15th February 2019
Brightening My Winter
Of course the Everglades has much more to see and explore than its amazing foliage. I’m also a lover of birds but I’ll save those photos for another article.
Iceland – a city view
15th October 2018
Reykjavik – the capital
I hope you’ve enjoyed the colorful and picturesque city landscapes, architecture and very walkable areas of Reykjavik.
Tag Along Pal
09th October 2018
Just Migo and Myself
Verek now has a scrapbook to remember the travels of Migo.
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