Category: Photo

Floating Purple Flowers

Published March 28, 2023 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

Last year we took a trip to southern California. One of the places we visited was The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. When I lived in California I visited here often. If you go, and really want to see and photograph everything, give yourself at least two days to see the gardens, and one day to see the museums. You won’t be disappointed.

Be aware that cameras and tripods are not allowed in some museums.

This photo was taken at a fountain near the main entrance. The blue flowers had fallen off of a bush, and the moving water in the fountain pushed all the blooms against these green plants. I also liked the shadows on the bottom of fountain. You will often see dragonflies and damselflies at this fountain too.

Click to enlarge

Also, check out their special events. I went there once for a Bonsai show, and stumbled onto a display of office furniture that belonged to William Herndon. He was Abraham Lincoln’s law partner, wrote the first biography of Lincoln and he’s my uncle. That was a very pleasant surprise.

This image was processed in ON1 Photo RAW.

If you want to save 20% when you purchase ON1 Photo RAW, or their plugins, just use my discount code, colburn20. The discount can’t be combined with other discounts.

You can purchase ON1 here https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz or sign up for a free 14-day trial.

ON1 also comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, so there’s no risk to you.

Give ON1 a try, and save some money too.

Have Fun,
Jeff

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Published March 17, 2023 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Click to enlarge

Here is the greenest picture I have to celebrate this day. I took it last week at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Arizona.

Yes, the trees are really that green, and due to all the rain we’ve had, there’s a carpet of green clover-like plants covering the ground.

The trees are Chilean Palo Verde, Geoffroea decorticans, and are amazing to see in person.

Have Fun,
Jeff

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Photo – Floating Bones

Published January 27, 2023 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

Yes, those are real prehistoric bones, and yes, that is a real skull of a saber-toothed cat, Smilodon fatalis.

Click to enlarge

I took this photo at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California. They have a block of resin with these bones embedded in it to show the average density of bones in the asphalt of the tar pits. FYI, there is no tar in the tar pits, it’s all asphalt.

The resin block is in a glass case. To prevent reflecting yourself in a photo, put the end of your lens directly on the glass. And play around with angles and background light sources to get different lighting effects in the resin. The light coming through windows and glass doors changes throughout the day, so keep checking for interesting lighting.

You are not allowed to use tripods anywhere in the building, so bring a string tripod or monopod. Because of the lighting, you will need to use a high ISO or slow shutter speed. And be sure to check out the atrium. It’s small, but packed with many things to photograph.

I processed this image with ON1 Photo Raw. Check it out at https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz

Have Fun,
Jeff

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Photo – Sago Palm Cone

Published December 21, 2022 / by adminjc
Click to enlarge

Hi Everyone,

Sometimes, when you’re shooting nature, you get a happy surprise. That’s the case with this photo of a female Sago Palm cone. Male cones are more, well, cone shaped. Like a pine cone.

I came across this palm several years ago in the atrium of the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California. And I was lucky because Sago Palms only produce flowers once every three to four years. When I went back five years later, there was no bloom.

I like shooting the natural world for several reasons, including the surprises you encounter. They can be exciting, beautiful, dangerous or something that will challenge your photography skills.

If your shooting nature, be flexible, creative and ready to solve problems so a disadvantage becomes an advantage.

Have Fun,
Jeff

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Photo – Aspen In The Fog

Published November 19, 2022 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

I don’t encounter fog very often in Arizona, so when I do I take as many photos as I can.

This photo was taken on the road that leads up to Snowbowl, a ski area near Flagstaff. Half way up the road we drove into light fog. We quickly parked and I grabbed my gear and ran a short distance up the road when I saw this.

I thought the composition was great as it could mean different things to different people. Some may see the large trees protecting the small yellow aspen, while others may see them threatening it. I just like the way the green aspens nicely framed the yellow one.

When I processed the image, I thought of making the yellow leaves very bright, but that  wouldn’t look right for an image in fog, so I left them a little muted.

I managed to take this photo, and one other, when suddenly the sun burned off the fog. I only had about fifteen minutes of fog before it was gone, but it was a great surprise.

Always be prepared to take advantage of any pleasant surprise that nature gives you.

I processed this image with ON1 Photo Raw. Check it out at https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz

Have Fun,
Jeff

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Aspens At Sunset

Published November 7, 2022 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

These aspens are growing in a burn scar. While a forest fire is a tragedy, it clears out all the trees and brush from an area, so when the aspens quickly grow back, and change color, you can easily see their beautiful leaves.

Click to enlarge

I processed this image with ON1 Photo Raw. Check it out at https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz

Have Fun,
Jeff

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Photo – Surprise Lightning With Skyrockets

Published September 20, 2022 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

The other day I was getting some firework photos ready for a stock site and had a real surprise. I noticed a bright area at the bottom left of the photo. At first, I thought it was light reflecting off of smoke, but when I zoomed in I saw that I had captured a lightning bolt during the show.

Click to enlarge

How often do you get a skyrocket exploding with lighting in the background?

I made some adjustments in ON1 Photo RAW to bring out the lightning. What do you think of the image?

What happy surprises have you found in your photos?

Check out ON1 Photo Raw at https://on1.sjv.io/15Mjdz

Have Fun,
Jeff

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More Photos Added To Redbubble

Published August 31, 2022 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

I’ve added more of my photos to Redbubble. They can be put onto T-shirts, mugs, phone cases and much more. Check them out at my RedBubble shop here www.redbubble.com/people/jeffcolburn/shop

Pillow
Pillow
sticker
Sticker
tote bag
Tote Bag

These new photos are designed to inspire you to achieve more in your life. Head on over and take a look.

If you don’t see the photograph you’re looking for, let me know. I can always add it to my shop.

Have Fun,
Jeff

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Photo – Shots In The Rain

Published August 10, 2022 / by adminjc

Hi Everyone,

While shooting on a sunny day is nice, I also love shooting in “bad” weather. I’ve photographed in rain, lightning storms, snow, wind, fog, blowing dust and sand and more. All of these weather conditions really add an interesting element to your photographs.

knot hole
55mm / 1/80 / f/11 / ISO 200 / Tripod used

As long as you have the proper clothes to protect yourself, and covering for your gear, you can have a great time.

These photos were taken near Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Arizona. It had been raining before we got there, and rained off and on all day.

split log
55mm / 1/100 / f/5.6 / ISO 200 / Tripod used

The only scary part of the day was when a large aspen tree fell. We heard it snapping branches on other trees as it fell, followed by a loud thud as it crashed onto the ground. We never did find the tree, but it was close. Nature always keeps things interesting, so stay on your toes.

leaf on a log
51mm / 1/80 / f/5.6 / ISO 200 / Tripod used

Equipment used:

Have Fun,
Jeff

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