Friday, December 2, 2016

December 2nd, 2016 *Extra Credit Blog*

During ART 247 - Digital Nature Photography we had an assignment where we worked in groups to plan a fictional photography trip. My group and I decided to take a "trip" through Iceland, Faroe Islands, and others. This was an especially fun project to plan real life expenses, travel plans, supplies and equipment, and destinations. Unfortunately in this class we weren't limited to finances, unlike real life.


This assignment aspired me to plan my own photography trip. I did research online to determine where I wanted to go. I found a website, called Dream Photo Tours. I decided to look into an Italy Dream Photo Tour. It lasts 8 days long, and is from May 4th to 12th, 2017. This tour includes information on history, archetexture, as well as winery tasting. It is slightly more expensive than some of the other tours I researched. There is a required $1500.00 deposit with a total cost of $5395.00. The tour includes two tour guides, 5 destinations, hotel accommodations, and transportation.


The tour visits 5 destinations in Italy. There are: Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Viterbo.


Some of the sample photos are: 
I look forward to this trip!

Sierra Hentges

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Art Final - December 1st, 2016

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- Flash - F5.6

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash - F4

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash -B&W

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash - B&W

(iPhone 5S)

(iPhone 5S)

(iPhone 5S)

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

(iPhone 5S)

(iPhone 5S)

(iPhone 5S)

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash

(iPhone 5S)

(iPhone 5S)

Canon Powershot - Stock Lens - Focal Length ~300-400mm - ISO 100 - AV- No flash
Sierra R. Hentges




























Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Thursday, November 17th

My first photograph was taken in Sheridan, Montana. The day was mildly overcast and it was a brisk fall afternoon. As you can see in the photograph, the trees are starting to change during the fall season. The greenness of the grass is starting to dull, and the background with mountains is present-but the colors seem to blend. I like this photograph because of the changing colors in the trees. I adjusted the contrast, shadows, and sharpness of the photograph. Also, I slightly cropped the photograph.
In my second photograph, two small deer are captured as they are running away. This photograph was taken the same day, almost same location. This can be seen in the colors of the trees and the same overcast shadow posted throughout the day. I like this photograph because of the various colors captured and the two deer. I wish that I could have gotten closer to the deer. I also notice there may be some noise in the photograph. I'm not sure how to edit this particular photograph-I have tried adjusting the contrast and shadows. This photograph is also slightly cropped.
Sierra Hentges

Monday, November 14, 2016

Tuesday, November 15th

Share 2 & Critique


Earlier in the year I posted a photograph of the Missouri bridge taken seven miles south of my hometown, Wolf Point, Montana. This photograph shows both the old bridge and the new bridge along the tree line of the Missouri River. The sky is a beautiful light blue and the water is stunning. I decided to re-edit the photograph by upping the contrast, adding highlights, and adjusting the sharpness of the photograph. I also decided to adjust the exposure of the picture.
New:
Old:

In the next photograph, I posted a picture showing a portion of the water at Fort Peck Lake in northeastern Montana. I feel like this picture is uniquely creative because of the color pallet (picture taken at sunset) and the rain falling into the lake. I adjusted the photographs contrast, exposure, and slightly upped the sharpness.
New:
Old:


Sierra R. Hentges









Friday, November 11, 2016

Thursday, November 10th




In the first photograph I chose to show, I found this online from one of my friends (a fellow Veteran) posting this picture for Veteran's Day. I decided to use this photo (with permission of course) and try and edit it to maximize it's potential. This picture appears to have been taken at sunrise off of someone's porch, looking into the light. The way the wind hits the American flag so that the light is too blinding is ideal. You can still see the light source from behind the flag, as well as a broad sky. I cropped the photograph in order to eliminate any distractors, and I'm continuing to play with the contrast and colors to get the most out of the American flag and the sunrise itself.

The next photograph I chose to show today is a picture of bright beautiful flowers.

I wanted to capture the brightness of the colors against the white picket fence in front of the gazebo, however I don't think the photograph turned out very well. If I could go back and change some things I would stand at a different angle (maybe looking directly at the flowers) and I would lower my stance just a little bit to be more eye level with the fence. It's also not super ideal that this day was overcast, I think the photograph would have turned out much differently if it had been sunny outside. I feel like some focus in the flowers are lost.


Sierra R. Hentges

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Tuesday, November 8th

Share Two & Critique


In one of my previous posts I showed a picture of me leaning down in the middle of the road in Yellowstone National Park. There are tall trees beside the road, and mountains seen in the distant background. However, there are two red posts on both sides of the roads that unfortunately captures people's eyes away from the other aspects of the photograph. Instead of ghosting out the red posts I chose to make the photograph black and white. I think it helps avoid the problem of the red posts and it also adds to the awry-ness of the photograph itself.

For my next photograph I wanted to try a close up of an object without losing the focus or details or it in the rest of the photograph. In this picture, I chose to photograph two/three red berries found in a wooded area located in the Ruby Valley area in southwestern Montana. The lighting in this photograph is difficult because this was an overcast day which gives the pictures a natural darker lighting. I especially like how I captured the details and focus of the berries themselves, as well as the stem they are connected on. Unfortunately, the stem in the top left corner could be argued that there is more focus in this region versus the berries themselves. With further editing, I might consider lowering the brightness level and upping the contrast. An option to crop this photograph is available, might I myself want to keep the stem and center the berries within the photograph.




Sierra Hentges

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Thursday, November 3rd



In one of my previous blog posts, I mentioned that I found beautiful pictures from the Ruby Valley Hospital website by a lady named Lynn Lowder. In this blog post I decided to show two more of her pictures. She photographs in the Ruby Valley area. In her first photograph, it is a close up picture of a fawn. It captures beautiful details, especially in the fur. I think the difficulty would be in maintaining the focus in the front of the face of the fawn, especially with the added pieces of grass. Another difficult aspect is the light source, but that would be difficult to adjust without scaring the animal.


In my second photograph, I chose to show a wild hen turkey. I like this picture because the animal is centered, focused, and the color pallet works well together. This picture was probably difficult to shoot because of the quickness in the movement of the animal.




Sierra R. Hentges


http://www.rubyvalleyhospital.com/

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Thursday, October 27th



I found an interesting article in National Geographic titled, "Best of Montana Year-Round: Nature and Wildlife". It contains interesting information regarding Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the National Bison Range, the Wild Horse Island State Park, and Lone Pine State Park as well as beautiful photographs. The photograph I chose to display captures a bison crossing the Madison River at dawn in Yellowstone National Park. I love the color pallet in this photograph, especially the purples shades of oranges and pinks. Another thing I think really helps the bison "pop" in the photograph is the light fog effect and the bison itself being a dark figure with a clear reflection in the water. I actually visited this particular river while touring Yellowstone National Park. I would love to try and capture an image like this-but especially the color pallet it gives.


Photograph by Russell Burden, Getty Images


The next picture is from Glacier National Park. To me, it has a lot of elements such as the sky, the mountains, the snow, the water and it's reflection, the tree line, and the bright colors of the canoes. First, the broad sky gives such depth to the photograph and the clouds themselves don't hide other images in the photograph. The tree line going across the side of the photograph and in front of the mountains shot also gives the image some finesse. The reflection in the water is straight beautiful. The calmness of the water gives a crisp, even reflection of the other images in the photograph. Lastly, the canoes give some character to the photograph itself (especially the red one). It's definitely something that catches your eyes and bring you in to the rest of the photograph.


Photograph by Don Johnston, Getty Images

Sierra R. Hentges


http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/local-montana/nature-and-wildlife/

Tuesday, October 25th

Share 2 & Critique:


A picture I decided to share today is a picture taken at Yellowstone National Park. This photograph was taken at a low angle, looking towards the horizon. I admire that this picture captures that depth and image of the trees on the side. If I could do this photograph over again, I would have taken the picture much further back-making the road (and depth) look much much further (or longer). Some editing that is suggested is highlighting the tree line and darkening the broad aspect of the sky.


The second photograph I chose is also a picture taken at Yellowstone National Park. When visiting the Yellowstone National Park, it was a slightly overcast day-later in the afternoon. This photograph appeals to me because of the dark, ominous feeling it gives. The angle of the photograph is looking up (slightly) towards the top tip of the tree line and overcast sky. I decided to take the picture at this angle because on the bottom ground, new developing trees are shown-which I think is also an interesting image. It gives the illusion of dead trees with new life beginning at the bottom.



Sierra R. Hentges


Thursday, October 20, 2016

Thursday, October 20th



During Midterm Break I went on vacation to my girlfriend's hometown located in Sheridan, MT near the Ruby Valley area. Sheridan is approximately 100 miles away from Bozeman and covered with luscious green grass, tall mountains, beautiful waters, and changing trees. This area includes Sheridan, Alder, Laurin, Virginia City, Nevada City, and Ennis that are closely spaced together. Throughout all these destinations there seem to be unlimited amounts of photograph opportunities with all the beautiful landscape and naturistic scenes available.   The photograph I chose to write about today shows a rare 3-legged deer. I think this is an extraordinary photograph capturing a rare deformity in its beauty. This animal lost one of it's legs, but is able to adapt and live well as you can see. Also, the placement seems to be nice and mid-level, with the animal looking in a positive direction.


The next picture I chose to write about today is a stream of water coming from a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. I especially like the how the oranges, yellows, and reds as well as the light source in this picture because they seem to compliment each other nicely. The only thing I would try to adjust is the light source itself, particularly in making it slightly darker (less prevalent). This is not something typically seen coming from a stream of water. The hot spring itself was interesting to observe, but I also like the effects it has on the environment around it. Yellowstone National Park was definitely a sight to see with many wonderful photography opportunities. I can't wait to go back and visit again!


Sierra R. Hentges

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Thursday, October 6



While doing my research concerning common beliefs and misconceptions regarding vaccines held by people throughout the state of Montana, I came across a hospital website that had beautiful photography. A lady named Lynn Lowder, from Twin Bridges (approximately 8 miles from the Ruby Valley Hospital in Sheridan, Montana). Lynn is a active volunteer for the Madison County DUI Task Force. I decided to share her pictures because they are done exceptionally well.


Her first photograph, a beautiful picture of the Ruby Valley Mountains with a river running through. I especially like this picture because of the vibrant colors and reflection of the sky in the water. She was able to capture a lot of land and nature in just one photograph.




Her second photograph I chose is a picture of a weasel. I like this photograph because the weasel itself is mostly in focus and the side light source emphasizes the weasel's details nicely. The white fur of the weasel stands out vividly in the brown dirt and tan weeds. Overall, this is a nice portrait shot of the weasel.

 
Sierra Hentges








Thursday, September 29, 2016

Thursday, September 29th


Share Two and Critique:


My first photography was taken at Fort Peck Lake. I attempted to capture a rainbow in the photograph.








For my second photograph, it was taken in Wolf Point, Montana and is of the Missouri River.


Sierra R. Hentges