Sunset Photography Tips

As we were finishing up editing our Siesta Key vacation photos, I realized that I should share some sunset photography tips.

Sunset Photography Tips 

Watching the sunset is one of our favorite things to do on vacation.  (We’re party animals.)  Watching the sun set is a very peaceful activity.  We should do it more at home.

Sunset Photography Tips (Siesta Key, Fl)

My tips for sunset photos are to be quiet and be the least amount of annoying as possible.  Nate’s tips are a little more complicated because he’s a camera hog.  I mean, he’s in charge of the DSLR and he doesn’t trust others to take precious sunset photos. I did ask him to explain to me what he was doing while taking the photos. I think I learned something.

Equipment (*affiliate links):

Tip #1: Set your camera on aperture priority. 

You should have a low ISO (~100, or higher if you do not have a tripod) and an F-stop of ~8 (for expanded depth of field). A tripod and remote will reduce camera shake, which would result in blurry photos.  If you don’t have a remote, you can set your self time for 2 seconds.

Tip #2:  Plan ahead and arrive early.

Sunset Photography Tips (Siesta Key, Fl)

The sun sets quickly.  Scope out places during the day that will lend themselves to great sunset photos.  Look for interesting places where you will be able to see the sun track all the way down and where there will also be opportunities for shots that include foreground objects (ex. sail boats, trees, rocks, mountains) and silhouettes.

Arrive about a half hour before sunset.  This will give you time to set up your camera and allow you to be able to capture the entire sunset.  Take lots of photos.  The higher quantity of photos, the higher probability that you’ll get some great shots.

Always have your camera on you at sunset. It’s hard to tell if it will be a good one or not.  We left our camera behind on our last night in Florida and missed capturing the best sunset of the week. Womp, womp. 

Tip #3: Consider the Weather

Sunset Photography Tips (Grand Canyon)

Clear days can produce some awesome color but clouds increase the types of patterns and lights in the sky.

Tip #4: Composition is key.

Sunset Photography Tips (Grand Canyon)

The horizon should not be in the middle of the photo. Shoot for the upper 1/3 or lower 1/3.

This is also where your filter will come in handy.  The filter darkens the sky to even out the exposure (otherwise the sky will be bright and the ground will be dark).

Remember those foreground objects we mentioned in Tip #1.  Use them to add visual interest to your photo.  Sunsets are pretty on their own but photograph best with a focal point.

Sunset Photography Tips (Lost Grove Lake, IA)

Tip #5:  Stick around after the sunset. 

Sunset Photography Tips (Siesta Key, Fl)

Some of the best light can come just after the sun sets.

Do you prefer watching the sun rise or the sun set?  Or do you prefer to watch New Girl instead?

Linking up to: Home Stories A to Z

Decor and the Dog Photo: New Photos

Hey.  Remember our shop that we opened way back in November? Our shop that is doing surprisingly well.  (Thanks to all that have ordered photos!!  We super duper appreciate your support. Seriously.)

We finally got around to putting up a new bundle of photos for the start of the new year.  Well, sort of the start of the year.  Let’s go with the start of tax season.  Not much reason to celebrate but we’re going with it.  See ya in April dear husband of mine…

Nate picked out five more of his favorite photos.  Like the first bundle, they are farm themed.  We’re from Iowa.  What can we say?

Bundle 2 Collagepost

We are now offering the option to purchase prints in addition to the digital files.  We know that sometimes it’s just easier to get a print in the mail than have to deal with the hassle of ordering/picking up/etc.  We are here for you.

Head on over to Decor and the Dog Photo for additional details and to purchase a Decor and the Dog masterpiece for your home!

Which photo is your favorite this month?  Any photo theme requests?  Big week-end plans?

Decor and The Dog Photo

There are some prerequisites to being a blogger. You have to like spray paint. And Modge Podge.  You have to be perky and remind your readers of your awesomeness.  You also have to have some kind of shop where you sell your awesomeness.

We are late to the party but today is the day.  We are opening a photo shop.

shoptab

Nate and I feel there are few options for affordable, unique art.  Who is tired of having the same piece of art hanging in your living room as your neighbor?  Why is it that every piece of art that looks remotely decent is a bazillion and twelve dollars?  I don’t know about you but we don’t have an extra bazillion and twelve dollars in our home art fund.

Decor and the Dog Photo is here to help!

Each month our shop will feature five unique photos.  The photos will be part of a set/theme.  Who doesn’t love themes (another blogger favorite)?  I’ll do a post each month alerting you to the new set of photos.  Each set of prints will available for a limited time only so act quickly! (I’ve been watching a lot of infomercials while recovering from my recent illness. Can you tell?)

Each photo is $5.00 or you can purchase the five photo bundle for $20. 

A digital file will be sent directly to your e-mail which saves you on shipping/keeps the cost down.  The digital photo also allows you to choose your own print size.  Can it get any easier? 

The theme this month is Farm Life.

Farm Life Bundle

Wouldn’t the Farm Life bundle be a great gift for the upcoming Holiday season? We think so too.

How do I order? Visit our shop tab located at the top of the blog. Click the ”Buy Now” button following each sample.  You can expect an email with the digital print file attached within 48 hours of your order.

Thanks in advance for supporting our shop.  If you purchase our photos, we'd love to see how they are displayed in your home!

Do you have a shop?  Feel free to share the link.  Any specific photo themes that you would like to see/need for your house?

Nate Goes Hunting

Sorry the blog has been lame-o lately.  I’m still recovering from the bacteria that has invaded my body.  Round two of antibiotics appears to maybe be doing something.

I, obviously, haven’t been into house projects.  Unless you count making a giant dent into my couch as a house project.  I’ve made fine progress on that front.

What do you post about besides your couch cushions’ giant dent? 

You post photos that your husband took while he went hunting in South Dakota.  The boys of the family head off west once a year to hunt pheasant.  I’ll save you the dead bird photos and share the pretty ones.  You. Are. Welcome.

Hunting 2012 148_HDR

Hunting 2012 187

Hunting 2012 072_HDR

Hunting 2012 047

Hunting 2012 029

I really want a cow.  Ike does too.  Nate’s not really into it.  Weak, Nate.  Weak. 

Getting Your Dog to Pose

A question we get asked often is how we get Ike to pose so nicely for photos.

DIYConsoleTable 098pm

I wish the answer was that he is an angel doggy and he does exactly what we ask of him at all times.

But I don’t tell lies.  And our friends and families would rat us out.  Truth be told, Ike is a wild man.  The dog is nuts.  He’s 5 1/2 years old and has a crazy amount of energy.  He is a terrier. 

Luckily the dog is easily bribed.  It’s just getting him calmed down enough during bribery to get some decent photos. Also patience is important.  Very important.  He has had basic obedience classes and does well with commands like sit, stay, and down.  Well, usually he does well.  The following photos may lead you to believe otherwise.

Here are some behind the scenes shots from our recent DIY console table photo shoot.

We start with a treat.  Notice Ike still licking his chops.  Notice me in the mirror trying to get his attention.  It’s obviously going well at this point.

DIYConsoleTable 076

Here is Ike trying to shake off that treat.

DIYConsoleTable 084

The following photos show him confusing “sit” with “down”.  They sound alike. I get it.  Especially when your brain can only focus on treats.

DIYConsoleTable 086

DIYConsoleTable 087

This won’t work.  He’s only interested in the treat on the floor.

DIYConsoleTable 093

We let him have that treat and decide to start over.  Here is Nate trying to get him to refocus.

DIYConsoleTable 095

Staying is for dumb dogs. 

DIYConsoleTable 101

So is sitting…

DIYConsoleTable 103

Okay, now we’re sitting and staying.  Someone had best be fast with the camera.

DIYConsoleTable 096

Let’s move that treat over the photographer’s head…

DIYConsoleTable 098pm

10 minutes later we have the great shot for the ol’ blog.

Photographing Ike has become more difficult over the course of the blog.  He sees the camera and instantly gets this annoyed look on his face.  We’ve upped the quality of treats and know not to be rushed if we want Ike involved in the photos.

Does your pet like to model?  Did you have any clue that Ike was a wild man?

Fireworks Photos

While we recover from doing nothing on the 4th of July, I will share with you all some fireworks photos.  (If you would like tips for photographing fireworks, check out Friday’s post here!)

We enjoyed the show along the Mississippi river.  It was extremely hot and humid. I threw a cardigan in the car.  Nate laughed at me.  I most definitely did not need the cardigan beings it was still 85 degrees at 10:00PM.  You can never be too prepared when it comes to having a cardigan though.  I take cardigan carrying seriously.

I think next year we shall buy a boat and watch the fireworks on the river.  Wait, I get motion sick. Never mind.

I swear I’m only 30.

This is going downhill fast.  Enjoy the show!


Fireworks 2012 295
Fireworks 2012 301
Fireworks 2012 354
Fireworks 2012 373
Fireworks 2012 384

How’d you spend the 4th?  Did you get to catch a fireworks show or were they cancelled in your area?  Who else thinks I should only eat ice cream until this Extreme Heat Warning is lifted?

How to Photograph Fireworks

Who’s ready for fireworks?  They are saying that our local fireworks are supposed to be bigger and better than ever this year.  Don’t they always say that?  I’m holding them to it.  Well, if I can stay up that late. I do have to work at 8am on the 4th.  Rough, right?  Maybe I’ll just have Nate photograph the fireworks for me. Hmmm…

How to Photograph Fireworks.  Great tips!

Here are some tips for capturing awesome fireworks memories:

  • Use a tripod as capturing fireworks requires a long exposure. 
  • Set the focus to manual.
  • Change the adjustment ring to infinity (the sideways 8). 
  • Switch the camera mode to manual (M on Nikon).  Select “Bulb”mode (for Nikon it will say TIME on the screen for the exposure time) and then set the aperture to something between f8 and f16 (I used f16 for all our shots last year).
    • Bulb mode lets you set the amount of time the shutter is open.  Use one press to open the shutter and then another press to close it.  This allows you to leave the shutter open as long as you need to capture the fireworks.
    • If you do not have a remote  then do not use Bulb mode.
    • Use a remote shutter release for best results.
      • Pressing the button on the camera will create shake in the camera and the picture will not be as sharp. 
      • If you do not have a remote shutter release, set the shutter speed to at least 2 seconds (most of my shots were somewhere around 10 seconds) and use the self timer at 2 seconds to avoid shake.
      • These photos were shot in RAW and I did some minimum processing in Photoshop Elements Camera Raw (changed white balance, made the color pop a little bit through the camera profile settings) but shooting in JPEG would work as well.

Check out more fireworks photos here and here!

Check out more photography tips on our photography page!

 

Are you pumped for fireworks?  Anyone else going to have trouble staying up that late?  Any other poor saps have to work on the 4th?

Chicago in Black & White

Nate and I set out early the morning we left Chicago.  The morning was gloomy and damp from the rain the night before.  The city was quiet. 

The photos Nate took that morning lent themselves to being edited in black and white. Black and white photos always speak to me.  Very moody.  Very city.  Very I want to move to downtown Chicago.  Yesterday.

Nate and I keep day dreaming about a studio downtown as a vacation home.  We talk like it could happen.  You know, after we both get second jobs or win the lotto.  Doable, right?

Guess we’ll keep day dreaming…

Chicago 2012 221-2

Chicago 2012 225

Chicago 2012 227

Chicago 2012 232

Chicago 2012 240

Chicago 2012 234

Chicago 2012 233-2

I’m not sure why this city has sucked me in.  But it has. Big time. We’re already pondering our next trip!

Anyone else dreaming of a vacation home?  If so, where?  Any black and white photo fans out there or do you prefer the color photos?

DSLR for Dummies- Exposure Compensation

I'm back with a DSLR post.  I am starting to take some photos on my own now.  It's pretty sweet.  I'm digging it.

Nate, however, is not.  The DSLR is his precious child and I'm pretty sure he cringes every time I touch it.   I had the camera approximately 10 feet from the table and he's like "Whoa, watch out for the lens."   10 feet.  Seriously.

I then asked Nate to solve this hypothetical situation for me.  If Ike, the DSLR, and I are tied down to train tracks and a train is rapidly approaching, in what order would he try to save us...


I'll keep you guessing on that one. 

Today I wanted to learn about something called exposure compensation.  Although I had no clue at the time that's what I wanted to learn about.

I tried to take a few photos of our office this past week-end (Fun posts next week. Get excited).  The photos kept turning out dark no matter what I did.  Nate informed me I needed to adjust the exposure compensation.  Who knew.

See that little button right there.

2012-02-19 18.48.47pn

It’s really hard to take a close up of the top of your camera with your camera.  I need a second DSLR for that.  You know, when my money tree in the backyard grows to maturity. In the mean time, you get a camera phone shot.  What did we ever do before camera phones?   Oh yeah, we learned how to use DSLRs.

That button controls exposure compensation.  Exposure compensation helps you when you are in either aperture or shutter priority (aperture refresher here).  The camera will try to expose for what it thinks the best exposure is. Sometimes you will want a different part of the picture brighter or darker.  This button (in aperture mode) will change the shutter speed in order to get a brighter or darker image while keeping the same aperture.

For example...in the following photo the table is exposed properly.  The front side of the cow is darker than we would like...(The cow is an early birthday gift from a dear friend.  Isn't he perfect? Focus.)

170
No exposure compensation
I then dialed the exposure compensation to 0.7.  The front side of the cow is now brighter. Shutter speed longer.
 
168
Exposure compensation 0.7
Nate then had me dial to 1.7 to continue to see the change.  Shutter speed even longer.  Super bright.  I need shades.

169
Exposure compensation 1.7
I then dialed to -1.0.  Everything is darker.  Shutter speed was faster.

171 

In summary, exposure compensation is an easy way to quickly change the brightness to get the correct exposure....because the camera isn't always going to get it right.  Bummer.

Any words of wisdom on exposure compensation?  What do you think is the solution to Nate's hypothetical train situation?   This is a test my darling readers.