outdoor photography

Muddy Creek I visited Western Maryland in late July, and I had a lot of fun visiting my all-time favorite park, Swallow Falls State Park. I visited the park twice. On one day, I went to the main park entrance and walked the trails inside the park.  On the second day, I walked a trail on the other side of the Youghiogheny River. When I lived in Maryland I wasn't a birder, so I wondered what kind of wildlife might be in the park. I was not disappointed, as there singing warblers all over the park, including Pine, Hooded, Black-throated Green, and Black-throated Blue Warblers, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Waterthrush. In Florida I never get to hear thrushes sing, and it was wonderful to hear Veeries, Wood Thrushes and Hermit Thrushes as well.  The biggest highlight was my first ever Winter Wren. Muddy Creek Falls Swallow Falls But when I was out birding, I also wanted to take photographs of the falls and cascades along Muddy Creek and the Youghiogheny River, som...

Trail to Boonie Falls Last week I was on vacation at Deep Creek in Western Maryland, and in the mornings I would visit Swallow Falls State Park, which has some absolutely beautiful waterfalls. I came home to Florida wanting more, but, well, this is Florida.  I've known of a small falls along the Florida Trail in the Little Big Econ State Forest, but I've never gone to see it.  Those that have often joke about how small it is.  But I decided I had to go see for myself.  The waterfall is called Boonie Falls, and it can be accessed by parking in the grass next to Lockwood Blvd in Oviedo. There is hardly any signage, and so you have to know where it is in order to find it. But I made the half-mile walk to the falls. A Nice Little Pond You Can Almost See The walk out there was prettier than I anticipated. I arrived at 5:30pm, so the sun was still a little to high for photographing trees, but I took a few shots with my point and shoot anyway, just...

Monroe Run Our family used to vacation in Western Maryland every August.  In 2009, I found a trail in the Savage River State Forest following a stream called Monroe Run.  At the time, I don't think I cared too much for these photos, and I never did anything with them.  I wanted bigger and better waterfalls and clearer skies I guess.  But now that I live in the land of flatness, I'm somewhat drawn to them, so I figured I'd share them with you. Scenic Overlook of the Savage River State Forest Scenic Overlook of the Savage River State Forest

Cascade Falls, Avalon Area of Patapsco State Park My first article on this blog was on how to photograph waterfalls and cascades .  I looked at it recently only to notice that that post dealt almost entirely with exposure .  So I thought it fitting add a second about composition .  Waterfalls are often so beautiful that almost any photograph of a waterfall properly exposed will look pretty great.  But there are some strategies you can use to build on the natural beauty of the waterfall. Cascade, Avalon Area of Patapsco State Park Timing.  Obviously, the look of a waterfall will change throughout the year through the seasons, with late Spring, Summer and early Fall giving you the bet colors.  Nothing beats a photograph of a waterfall in fall colors.  But the look of the water fall can also change almost daily depending on the amount of rain your'e having.  So if you don't like the look of a waterfall one day, it may still be great on ...

You've probably seen photographs of waterfalls and cascades that have that nice, silky effect in the water, and perhaps you've wondered how this is done.  Well, it's not as hard you might think.  There are some simple things you can keep in mind that will allow you to achieve the same effect in your photographs. You get the silky effect in the water by having a long shutters speed .  When there's no wind, everything in your picture will be still but the water.  So if you use a long shutter speed and a small enough aperture, the whole photograph will be sharp except the water.  Since water flows consistently in its channel, the motion blur in the water will give it that flowing, silky effect.  Here are some things to keep in mind: 1.   Go early in the morning before the sun hits the scene.   Direct sunlight will cause too much contrast in your scene, and your picture won't be as attractive.  You will also have a difficult t...