An Aside: Heidi's Deli photo display comes down

Today, I'm mourning the imminent loss of friendship gained at a Heidi's Deli where several of my photos have been on display since August.



A lot of changes have taken place at the deli, and not all of them happy ones. Marty, the store owner, is fighting cancer for the second time. Marty requested I hang landscape photos in the deli to get exposure for my business and add life to the shop. Oddly enough though, the only sales I made was of my top portrait seller, "Teri's Rose." If you remember, a Heidi's crew member bought a print as a present for her husband who couldn't stop drooling over it every time he came into shop. Then, the editor of the Denver Post surprised me when he purchased a framed print as well and hung it up in his office in the newsroom. When Marty became ill, I donated one of my framed images to a charitable event to help raise money for Marty and his family. Sadly, the Heidi's deli is being sold to new owners, and new managers will be taking over on Friday.



I can't thank Marty enough for his kindness and faith in my abilities. He took a big risk to display my work, even to the extent of possibly angering his higher ups. Over the months, I noticed that many other artists asked Marty to allow them to do the same (and I even tried to hang up several photos shot by friends and members of my Mile High DPS social group!) but Marty always shied away from those offers, saying that he was doing this for me and my business. The experience and confidence gained is immeasurable. Hearing customers comment about my photos, watching all of my business cards disappear, getting accolades from my colleagues at the Denver Post and just having my work out there for people to see and know about was fabulous! Many of the deli staff are going to be leaving on Friday, and I'm so sad to see them go. They've become like family too me, constantly offering support and encouragement.



I pray that Marty and his family are strengthened during this time of need and that the staff will find work and new direction. Thank you to all of you for what you've given to me!

Happy Birthday Ansel Adams!

Today marks the 107th anniversary of Ansel Adams' birth. According to Calumet Photographic, Adams was a "seminal landscape photographer, who's devotion to craft and conservation bolstered both the photographic art form and the nation's landscapes themselves." Adams is know for his breathtaking landscapes, while his life's work placed him in a coveted club of professional photographers who have mountains named after them.



Take this time to reflect on your own landscape photography and your vision of a natural environment. Since I focus most of my effort on portraiture and event coverage, landscape photography is a creative outlet that gives me a chance to take it easy and learn new techniques without the pressure of having to please a client. I especially love shooting water and being around water.



As I did last year, I intend to spend my birthday alone in some city I've never been too before, with my camera in hand because I like the way I "see" the world through my lens. Last year it was north to Rifle Falls; this year I plan to head south to the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings. Taking that time to relish the sunlight, blue skies and wildlife was so refreshing for me. What does landscape photography mean for you?

Instructor's Tip: Frame Edges and Balance

Enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by award winning nature photographer Russ Burden:

Frame Edges and Balance
One of the nice things about landscape photography is the same subject can often net different images with many variations. The most basic is capturing the scene both vertically and horizontally. If you are not in the habit of doing this, write yourself a reminder right now and place it in your camera bag. Another way to create a variation is to add a foreground element. Additionally, you can shoot the scene with both a wide and telephoto lens to get different perspectives. As most variations are based on compositional changes, there are two more ideas I want you to add to your shooting list - Balance and Frame Edges.


FRAME EDGES are very important and often overlooked as many photographers zero in on the key subject area that is usually toward the center of the frame. The concept of TUNNELING the viewfinder happens as ninety percent of the attention is given to what’s occurring in the center. I urge you to carefully scan every corner of the viewfinder.


BALANCE - Prevent a situation where too much of the composition is weighted to either side or to the top or bottom portion of the image. The most common OOPS regarding this is including too much sky, especially if it lacks drama.

The photo(s) in this post were taken by Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured this image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.

To take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

Don't forget to check Take Great Pictures for Russ' most recent tips. On the home page, click on the "Photo Tips And Techniques" button in the left hand column. Additionally, check out his "Digital Tip of the Month" found by clicking on the Digital Photography button.

Birthday Road Trip

I just got back from my birthday road trip a few hours ago, and I had a blast! I decided to head to Rifle, Colorado, a mountain town about four hours west of Denver along Interstate 70 so I could photograph the lush Rifle Falls. The breathtaking waterfall was amazing to see, hear and feel. You'd think you had wandered into a jungle as the spray hit the rocky limestone cliffs, creating a misty secret garden of moss covered rocks. I felt like a child getting pelted with the spray, and I had to resist a strong urge to leap into the base of the waterfall. I've never seen anything like it.

This Cancerian felt like she was home. When I wasn't sitting for hours just watching the falls, I was shooting from every angle I could, amassing nearly 300 shots from morning through the night. I hiked to the top of the waterfall to get this gorgeous bird's eye view. This was the first one I edited as soon as I got home, and more will follow. I'm proud of this one because I used some of the new techniques I learned in my Photoshop 2 class with Armando Martinez. Curves helped me make that rock on the lower left hand part of the frame blend in more. Did you notice it when you looked at the image? I hope not!

These solo excursions on my birthday have become an annual rite of rejuvation. Last year, I went to Mt. Evans...which was no easy feat for this city girl. I had to overcome some fears driving up there alone, but having done so filled me with a great sense of accomplishment. I was a little afraid traveling by myself at first, but I grew more comfortable with it as the days progressed. And I made new friends along the way, including a new photographer buddy I met at the falls, Vince. Plus, being alone gave me the opportunity to reconnect with myself, an act that within itself is always time well spent.