Impressions in Sepia

Some of my sepia images were recently published in a two page spread of the magazine of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art. The spring issue of Canadian Camera magazine was waiting in my mailbox when I got home from Portugal. It was a very special moment to flip through the pages and see my photos published.

School Girl in Nairobi

Sheena Wilkie, the editor-in chief of this excellent magazine, did an amazing job of making my photographs stand out on the page.  Canadian Camera is published four times a year and I am very pleased and honored that my images were chosen for the Member’s Portfolio.

Symbiosis in the Garden

Our magazine is only available for CAPA members so I’ve attached three of the images that were included in the article.

Final Rest in Finn Slough

Try changing some of your coloured images to sepia with photo editing software.  They will look stunning framed with a double white mat and classic black metal frame. Impressions in sepia can become yet another way to express yourself. Enjoy!

To see more of my photography, check out the Galleries in the Portfolio section of my website http:marionmccristall.com

© Copyright Marion McCristall, all rights reserved

Sea Foam and Crashing Waves in Portugal

Sometimes life takes you to places where you know that you were meant to go.  The Sintra area of Portugal charmed and seduced me with stunning seascapes, fresh air breezes, quaint villages tucked among rolling hills, and lush forests dotted with impressive granite boulders.

The Atlantic seacoast near Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers up vistas of incredible natural beauty.  There are many bays and sheltered coves with golden sandy beaches nestled between high walls of craggy cliffs.  Each is unique and begs you to stay awhile and listen to the crashing of the waves and the calling of the birds.

In March, I was there on a photographic journey and studied with the well-known Portuguese photographer, Jose Antunes.  http://joseantunes.com We visited the seacoast in both the misty early morning and glowing late afternoon light.  The waves crashed on the shore and danced in the light with vibrant colours of blues, greens, and turquoise. The sea foam twirled and swirled as it pounded the shore.  It was hard to tear myself away from watching the waves roll in, each one bigger than the last, only to curl up, crest, and be spent on the shore.   I would say repeatedly to Jose, “Just one more,” and finally agree to move on to explore a new locale or site.

Sam Abell wrote, “Photography, alone of the arts, seems perfected to serve the desire humans have for a moment, this very moment, to stay.”  Jose provided me with countless opportunities to experience the joy of being near the sea. My images  keep those moments alive for me and I can use my senses to conjure up the impressions in an instant.

Hopefully, it won’t be long before I can return for a longer stay to relax and create even more memories of this remarkable, nature inspired area of Portugal.

To see more of my photography, check out the Galleries in the Portfolio section of my website http:marionmccristall.com

© Copyright Marion McCristall, all rights reserved

Rescued in Marrakech by a Prickly Pear Vendor

Jemaa el-Fna, Marrakech

Photographers take risks when they step out onto the street, in marshy fields, narrow pathways, or rocky landscapes.  I am often absorbed in the moment and so involved in capturing an image that I forget to be completely aware of my surroundings.  And, perhaps rather naively, trust that I will always be okay as long as I am generally careful in my environment.

Two weeks ago I was in Marrakech on a photography trip.  I stayed in a riad in the medina, (walled city,) and enjoyed the intense sights, sounds, and smells of this incredibly vibrant Moroccan city. Bustling is an understatement.  Besides pedestrians, the main square, (Jemaa el-Fna,) is filled with motorbikes, donkey carts, cars, bicycles, trucks, horses and carriages, people pushing or pulling laden carts, vendors selling all manner of goods, snake charmers, shoe polishers, and much more. It’s important to pay attention as you walk through the crowds to get to the somewhat quieter maze of souks.

Generally, the people of Morocco do not like to be photographed.  (I’ll expand on this in another post.) I made an agreement with a prickly pear vendor to take pictures of his juicy fruits. He and his son moved the cart so that I could get a better shot without too much glare from the midday sun. I had just taken one step back to frame my shot when all of a sudden the boy grabbed my arm and pushed me.  In an instant I thought he was going to take my camera and bag when I saw him motion in the direction of my right shoulder. There, coming around a corner and barrelling down on me, was a donkey and cart. This young man literally rescued me from being trampled and seriously harmed.  The edge of the donkey cart hit my right arm and I was incredibly lucky to have only a swelling and bruise on my hand and wrist and, of course, the ability to tell this story. We never know when someone is going to be “there” for us and I will always be grateful that the young man instinctively reached out to help me.

One of countless donkey carts in Marrakech

I walked away rather shaken and then went back to reward the boy.  I knew it wasn’t necessary but he was pleased to be acknowledged for helping me.

This experience was definitely a wake-up call to be more aware of my surroundings before, during, and after I take photographs.

To see more of my photography, check out the Galleries in the Portfolio section of my website http:marionmccristall.com

© Copyright Marion McCristall, all rights reserved

Finding Shadows to Photograph in Winter

Sometimes we forget that we can take photographs of beautiful long shadows even in the winter.  Arboretums, gardens, and greenhouses are great places to search for designs created as the sun passes over and through large leafy fronds.

I recently took these images in the morning at the Jardin Marjorelle in Marrakech, Morocco. The stunning botanical gardens, created by Jacques Marjorelle in the 1920′s, form a quiet oasis of tropical trees and succulents. They are perfect for relaxation and artistic reflection.

Choose a time of day that will cast dark shadows over interesting backgrounds. The following picture was taken before noon and I like the interplay of the shadows with the grain of the cement.  I converted it to sepia to help the texture stand out even more.

I really like the bold look of the shadow against the brilliant green in this palm leaf.

Think about using  lights and darks, shade and shadows to help you find new compositions for your photography.  Experiment until you find some shapes that are pleasing to your eye.

To see more of my photography, check out the Galleries in the Portfolio section of my website http:marionmccristall.com

© Copyright Marion McCristall, all rights reserved

African Wildlife Photos Antique Style

Sometimes I experiment with different photographic effects.  I saw this antique style a while ago and tried it on some of the wildlife pictures I took in East Africa a few months ago. I converted the images to sepia and added an off white vignette.

The slideshow was made using an iPhoto template. I added a little African Music from Nature Lounge.

I decided to share my experiment with you. Not everyone has an acquired taste for special effects such as using pale vignettes so I hope you will think about whether you might like to try this with some of your images. You may be pleasantly surprised.

You can see more of my wildlife images on my website http:marionmccristall.com in the “Creatures” gallery in my Portfolio.

For best viewing you can watch the Safari Antique Style slide show at http://vimeo.com/37581998 or here: 

Spring Tease

Just dropping by to tease you with a little spring colour.  It’s supposed to snow here on the west coast tonight but I am thinking fresh, perky, brilliant flowers.

I added a watercolour effect to these images using Adobe Photoshop CS5.  I like the way the edges melt together ever so slightly and the colours pop a little more than in the original photos.

Think spring and smile…it’s only a few weeks away.

To see more of my photography, check out the Galleries in the Portfolio section of my website http:marionmccristall.com

© Copyright Marion McCristall, all rights reserved

Photographing Glass Blowing

Sunday was one of those serendipitous days when I had the wonderful opportunity to see a master at work.  Robert Gary Parkes gave an exclusive glass blowing demonstration to members of my camera club.  He was articulate in explaining a little of the history of glass blowing, talked about various kinds of glass, and showed us how he combined glass to create stunning colours.

We were all happily snapping away trying to catch his every move. I experimented with a variety of aperture and shutter settings and used a tripod to help capture some of the action.  If you’ve ever seen glass blowing you will know how fast the artisan has to work to keep the molten glass from hardening too quickly.

Here’s an image I took while Robert was swinging the rod with hot glass back and forth in an almost dance-like rhythm.

With twirling and whirling and crimping and shaping, Robert created an exquisite glass bowl.  I captured this image while he was in motion and just before he was ready to cut it off the rod.

If you live near Vancouver,  it’s an easy drive to Robert’s studio in Surrey, BC. He’s more than happy to give demonstrations for groups and has a beautiful collection of glass pieces for sale in the gallery.  His website is http:/robertgaryparkes.ca  Don’t forget your camera!

Here’s a tiny portion of a vase on display in the gallery.

© all images copyright Marion McCristall

You may also enjoy my images on my photography website http://marionmccristall.com

Say “I Love You” With Your Photographs

Valentine’s Day is a perfect day to use one of your photographs to say “I love you” to the people who are special in your life.

I used a lovely tulip pairing, an exquisite rose with dewdrops, and a picture I took of scarves hanging in a market place in Paris to make my valentines for this year. I created these with photo-editing software and added textures, text, and borders to give them an artistic flare.

Try making your own.  Your friends, family, and loved ones will be happy to receive a note or email with your own special touch.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

© Marion McCristall, all rights reserved

Photo Safari Slideshow

Epic Safari Day in the Masai Mara...Photos by Marion McCristall

Finally I’ve completed a short slideshow of some of the images I took while on a photographic safari in Kenya.  I know the cliche “trip of a lifetime” may be overused so I’ll just say that my journey really topped all of the other travel adventures I’ve had.  Partly because I have been wanting to go to Africa since I was a child but also seeing the wildlife in their natural habitat left me practically breathless.  There are not enough positive words to describe my most amazing adventure.

I hope you’ll take time to see a little of what I saw by checking out my Vimeo slideshow. http://vimeo.com/36309038

You can also see more of my African wildlife photos in the Portfolio section of my website.  http://marionmccristall.com

I will be writing about my incredible visit to Nairobi and my safari in future posts.

Camera Speak

My DSLR journey began in the spring of 2008.  It was a time for me to get serious about what I call “Camera Speak”.

I wanted to combine learning more about camera settings with a holiday abroad.  Peter Evans, a British professional photographer now living in France, created a lovely home for art students with his partner, Jill Fellows.

I was thrilled with the warm welcome, spacious en-suite accommodations, and Pete’s ability to patiently explain the function of f-stops, shutter speeds, and ISO settings, over and over and over again.  I have to admit it took a little time to sink in.  Perhaps it was the jet-lag or maybe the thrill of being back in France again. No excuses.  It was a remarkable week and I learned so much. I came home with a desire to return and in May 2009, I was flying across the Atlantic to spend another amazing week with Pete and Jill.

Jill is an artist who gives workshops and teaches week-long courses for painting enthusiasts.  She welcomes absolute beginners to those with years of experience.

Their website is http://painting-photography-france.com

My weeks with Pete helped me to develop a better understanding of camera terminology and knowing when to use the different settings to improve my photography. F-stop, shutter speed, and ISO roll off my tongue like another language.  I feel almost bilingual.

Take a look at the galleries in the portfolio on my website to see the kind of photography I do. http://www.marionmccristall.com 

Prints, canvases, and greeting cards are available at my Fine Art America website.