best of 2011

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Floating Leaf

 

In another forum, I was asked to pick my 12 best photos of 2012. Really! It's like trying to pick your favorite child. As much as I tried to make my selection based on technical merit and composition, my emotional connection the the images kept creeping back into the decision making process.

Narrowing the selection down even further to a single "BEST OF 2011" image would be impossible. So, I will leave it up to you, my readers. Which of these images do you think is the best?

 

Back in the Saddle Again

 

Morning Barn

 

Shy Smile

 

Springfield Solstice

 

Cincinnati Sunrise 2

 

Barn Dance 3

 

Blue Wall, Red Window

 

Grove Pano 2

 

Ballerina Reflection B&W

 

On the Fence

 

Laundry Day 2

 

Leave a comment with your nomination of "Tim's Best Photo of 2011."

 

fourteen months

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Fourteen Months

 

If you are a photographer, you probably put a lot of effort into creating images of places you have visited, friends and family, or special occasions. Then what? You might post them online, e-mail them to friends, and maybe you print some of them out so that you can place them in an album or post them on the refrigerator with a banana magnet (only the best photos get to use the banana magnet.) If you are particularly fond of an image, you might even print one large so that you can hang it on the wall.

Have you ever thought about putting them into a book and having them printed? 

There is nothing quite like seeing your photos printed in a book that you can share with other people. I create an annual book of my favorite photos of the preceding year. I also create a book for every destination vacation and give one to every one that traveled with me. You can see my latest annual photo book, titled fourteen months here: Download fourteen months.pdf (Its a big file at 160Mb).

With today's digital printing technology, printing your own custom photo book is affordable. From small pocket sized paperbacks to large hard bound coffee table books, there is probably a size and style that fits your needs perfectly.

If you have an Apple Mac, you already have alll the software you need on your computer in the form of iPhoto. However, there are a lot of other options available for Apple and PCs. Blurb, Shutterfly, Snapfish, Kodak and many more all come to mind. There are many companies offering similar services, just search Google for "custom photo books."

 

Check these out:

Aperture

Blurb

iPhoto

Shutterfly

Snapfish

 

I have used Aperture, Blurb, and iPhoto publishing services. The Apple products (Aperture and iPhoto) both offer nearly identical services and very good quality. Blurb offers an excellent option for Adobe InDesign users in the form of fully customize-able templates.

 

the one for uncle eddie

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

The One for Uncle Eddie

 

This barn is located just a few minutes from my parent's home in northern Georgia. My Uncle Eddie has had his eye on this barn for some time and though he has photographed it on several occasions, he has never been happy with the results. He asked me to give it a try so that we could compare results.

We packed up our gear and made the short drive. Unfortunately, the gorgeous morning light was on the back side of the building and we had to shoot the front in shade. We tried several angles and lenses & out of the dozen shots that I took, this is my favorite.

Now, I am looking forward to seeing Uncle Eddie's results.

 

 

The stare down

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

The Stare Down

 

Michelle doesn't like to have her picture taken. I can respect that. However, she lets me and I appreciate that.

 

Candle Lit Eyes

 

When somebody who doesn't like having their picture taken allows me to do it, I feel as though I have a special obligation to get it right. I also tend to show them the image in camera so that they can see what they will look like. If you find yourself in a similar situation, take the time to let them know that you appreciate them allowing you to shoot and that you very much appreciate their patience.

 

testing prime

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Sheep Barn 2

 

Sunday, I began using the new 50mm f1.8 prime lens. What better test than to find someplace dark & in which I could never shoot hand held in the past? Sounds like the bottom of the barn to me.

 

Sheep Barn 1

 

In the winter, the sheep and young pigs are moved to the barn so that they can stay warm. This is a dark area and in the past, I've always needed a slow shutter speed and a tripod due to my Len's wide open aperture of only 3.5.

 

Sheep Barn 2

 

With the new lens and its aperture of 1.8, I could shoot hand held with shutter speeds fast enough to get nice crisp images. It's amazing what an extra couple of stops can do for you in low light situations.

 

 

dirty window

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Dirty Window

 

Yesterday, I was in the botton of the barn at Carrige Hill and looked through a small dirty window and noticed just how dirty it was.

 

Through the Dirty Window

 

When focusing through the dirt to the farm yard beyond, the effect was to soften the image. It felt as though I was seeing through the haze of a dream. Who would have thought that dirt would be such an interesting filter.

Have a woderful week folks.

 

launch

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Launch

 

I always really enjoy the beginning of a new project. There is a level of excitement and anticipation that is full of promise. Soon the work begins and routine sets in. Then, as the project nears its conclusion, the excitement returns as the results begin to show themselves.

This image is the first in a new project and I wouldn't normally show it to you, but I am very pleased with the results. In this case, my excitement comes from the subtle tones and shadow of motion that came from a little experimentation and dozens of shots before I got what I want. I think my parents were right when they taught me that hard work always results in the joy of a job well done.

The project? Hold your horses, more on that later.

 

tree lines

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Tree Lines

 

Mid December and the late fall cold has arrived. The wind has stripped the branches of the last of thier colorful leaves. Leaving nothing but bare, dark lines in the sky. This is not outside weather. Instead, we light a fire in the house and stay warm. The season of long naps, on the couch, under soft comforters, has arrived. The season of grey skies and creeping cold. Snow and ice can not be far away.

 

 

mt. tabor

Posted on by Tim McMurdo

Tabor_1

 

View from Mt. Tabor on a chilly and wet morning. Part of an assignment to create a composed image of a minimalist landscape. I suppose this is pretty minimal, don't you? What about the composed part? Well, I removed all of the actual farm buildings, homes, and light poles in Photoshop.