Slide Shows and Workshops

First, I am really looking forward to my upcoming intensive 3-Day photo workshops in Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park Colorado: July 5-7, "Right Brain Photography." August 9-11, "Finding Fine Art In Nature." To register, or for more detailed information on these workshops, visit www.rmna.org. These workshops are sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Nature Association. 

I have been busy lately taking my latest "traveling show" on the road. I have been getting a lot of interest and curiosity about my slide show called "Impressionism and Surrealism Through Photography." I majored in Art for three years and fell in love with those two art movements of the late 1800s and early 1900s. In my slide show, I share several images that represent how I translate those two art movements through my photography. I have two more free shows coming up. You can get more information through my website (www.elivega.net): March 29th at 7:00 at the Boulder, Colorado main library; April 5th at 7:00 at the Mamie Eisenhower library in Broomfield, Colorado.

I will also be showing my "Ten Years In Colorado" slide show on May 18th at Front Range Community College in Westminster, Colorado. It will be in the format of "The Best Hits of...." I will show several of my personal favorite images which I have created since I first arrived in Colorado almost ten years ago. See my website for more details.

                          Here is just one image which I will be showing in both slide shows.


Contact me with questions, comments, or to just drop me a line:
www.elivega.net          vegaphotoart@gmail.com          720-251-1775

How To Photograph The Not-So-Obvious

As I was walking around the historic Taos Pueblo in Taos, New Mexico, with camera and tripod in tow, I saw what most people saw: interesting, old, historic adobe residences, converted stores, traditional wooden ladders leaning against walls, etc. However, as a photo artist, I went beyond that. I was also looking for the art this interesting and intriguing place offered, both by the residents and through the unexpected juxtaposition of perspectives. To find what I found requires intuition, scanning, and extracting from the "big picture."

Most photo-worthy artistic subjects do not just jump out and hit us between the eyes to wake us up. Enjoy.

   

What I really liked about this scene was the

monopoly of earth-tones, with just a hint of blue

If you have any questions about these images, Taos Pueblo, blue doors, etc.

visit and contact me at www.elivega.net

How To Get Good Photographs at Zoos

When I photograph at zoos, I go into it with two overall goals: get some that look more like the animals are in a preserve and not a zoo; get some that are obviously in the zoo. In order to do that I carry a strong telephoto lenses (200mm-300mm), as well as relative wide angles (24-35mm).

Besides the decision on lenses, the number one skill you will need is patience--lots of it! If you are shooting with a DSLR, but are simply not patient, then all you're doing is taking snap shots with expensive equipment.

I like to take my tripod, yes, even when I'm shooting in broad daylight. Why? It allows me to get better compositions. I can use a lower ISO and still get sharp photos. The best way I have found is to put my camera on the tripod, but loosen all knobs to allow me to move the perspective slightly, pan if I need to as the animal is moving, and switch quickly between verticals and horizontals. Sometimes, because the action is happening so quickly, I'll go ahead a get a couple of shots without my tripod before I lose the shots. If the action is still going on, then I'll place my camera on my tripod and keep shooting.

For you left-brain photographers, I shoot at JPEG fine (large files), usually ISO 200 (unless I need to hand hold my camera in shaded areas--but never higher than 800); set on vivid color.

Here are just a few of the many images I got at the Denver, Colorado Zoo recently.

When shooting through glass, put your lens right up against the glass to eliminate reflections/glare.

Patience allowed me to capture him looking straight at me. 

A 200mm lens and patience was required to capture this hippo "posing" for me.

I spent at least 20 minutes photographing this hippo!

Patience. Patience. Patience. 

The action and movements were happening so quickly. I used my multiple-frames-per-second feature to 

make sure I got it just right. I liked this one for several reasons: You can see the dusting, the end of his trunk shows, there's a statue of a hippo in the background, and there are people walking around--an obvious zoo photo. And, yes, my camera on a tripod!

I hope I have given you some useful tips for you to go to your nearest zoo and have fun! Enjoy.

Photography: Same Subject, Different Renditions

My three years of majoring in art in college have had a strong influence in my photography. That is only one reason I refer to myself as a photo artist. There are three art forms in particular that have had an impact on me: Surrealism, Impressionism, and Pointillism. Sometimes, I will create two or three renditions of the same subject. Here is just one of many examples. You can find some my other Surrealistic and Impressionistic renditions on my website--www.elivega.net.

This example started as a "concept image," i.e., I had this concept in my mind to portray a scene that would allow the imagination to fill in the blanks; to complete the untold story. The story concept was a man and a woman enjoying a pleasant afternoon, talking, and sipping wine in the gardens. My concept included some key "props"-- a Wall Street Journal, a woman's hat, table and chairs, and, of course, a garden. 

 My first rendition I call, "Evening In The Gardens" © Eli Vega

  This is my Impressionism rendition, "Monet In The Gardens." © Eli Vega

  This is my Pointillism rendition, "A Tuesday Afternoon In The Gardens" © Eli Vega 

  

As Chic Thompson once said, "The mind is the birthplace of limitations." 

 

 

   

Arkansas: Do You See What I See?

Just sharing with all my newly published e-book about the beautiful state of Arkansas. I spent eight years, off and on, traveling throughout Arkansas--just me, my camera, and note pads. During those years I saw the natural beauty of Arkansas, discovered great places to visit, and met some great people along the way.

I have put all that together in a book that is a combination photography, travel guide, and human interest book which I entitled, Arkansas: Do You See What I See? You can order it through my website by going to my "Stock, Prices, Workshops" page, at www.elivega.net. 

Below are just a few of the 100 photo images I included in my book.  

                        There is a reason why Arkansas is called "The Natural State"

I love doors and windows. In my book, I talk about where

this great abandoned doorway is....

I have always included surrealism in my photo art.

This "see through" tree is one example of that...

West Mountain in the rain--Hot Springs

Note the flag. This was October of 2001

I have included some of these images on my website--Enjoy.

Eli Vega, Photo Artist
www.elivega.net
vegaphotoart@gmail.com

How To Photograph Butterflies

I don't live in the rain forest, so my favorite environment to photograph butterflies is at our local Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. They do a great job of replicating the butterflies' natural environment--dress lightly!

There are several concepts/principles to consider. I'd like to share a few with you. First, most, if not all, butterfly pavilions do not allow tripods--that will create some challenges for you! Let's assume, for the sake of these pointers, that you'll be doing your shooting with a hand-held DSLR or film SLR.

1) Shoot at wide apertures-- This will allow you to convert cluttered backgrounds into soothing backdrops. It will also allow you to shoot at higher shutter speeds to keep your images as sharp as possible. Depending on the position of the butterfly, I usually shoot anywhere from f/2.8 to f/8.
2) Use ISO 400-800 if you have to (and if your camera can still give you great images at those sensitivities)-- sometimes I just can't get a "safe" shutter speed shooting at ISO 200 and f/4.5.
3) Shoot a bright, colorful butterfly against darker backgrounds--they'll "jump out" at you in your images!
4) Watch out for "hot spots" in your backgrounds-- leaves and other objects brightly lit by the sun. They'll come out as large whitish spots in the background that will compete with your butterfly.
5) Don't always photograph the whole butterfly--sometimes close ups are just as interesting---abstracts.
6) Sometimes, if I just can't get close enough to one, I'll get as I can, then crop it later.
7) Remember this guideline, in order to keep your camera hand-held and still get decently sharp images:
Keep your shutter speed equal to, or greater than, the length of the lens you're using. Example: If shooting at 200 mm, make sure your shutter speed is approximately 250 or faster.
8) And, yes, photography is more art than science. There will invariably be that shot that, were it not for those distracting areas, objects, lights, etc. it would be a perfect shot. Sometimes a little "Ansel Adams" work in Photoshop might be necessary.

Here are just a few of my favorite butterfly images from my visits to our local butterfly pavilion.

                               Sometimes, I try some double exposures just for fun.

So, go out there and explore. Get mentally loose with it! And, don't forget the flora in and around those butterfly pavilions--they too make for some interesting, intriguing, and abstract images. Oh, and try some spot metering--great results!!

Enjoy!

Eli Vega, Photo Artist out of Colorado
www.elivega.net 

Sandhill Cranes in Southern Colorado

It's absolutely amazing to imagine how birds find their way through life. In this case, I'm talking about Sandhill Cranes, which migrate annually and spend weeks during their migration near Monte Vista Colorado.
          

Thousands of them stop at the nearby wildlife refuge just south of town to enjoy the marshes, ponds, wild grasses, and wide open spaces in the San Luis Valley (75 miles long!). They are a natural wonder to view and admire. And, for me, they make for great photo art subjects.

Here are some of my favorite images which I created in March of this year (2011). I wasn't just photographing birds; I was capturing their natural beauty, especially against such a great Colorado backdrop.

With Blanca Peak (over 14,000') in background.

Looking west from the San Luis Valley

 

                             It takes patience to wait for this type of courting display 

   

           In flight at sunrise, around 6:30 a.m.

If you go to Monte Vista next year during their annual Sandhill Crane Festival, make reservations early! It is definitely worth the drive, or flight. While you're there, take in the highest sand dunes in north America: The Great Sand Dunes, just a few miles northeast of Monte Vista.

Enjoy my photographic interpretations of the Sandhill Cranes.

Eli Vega, Photo Artist
www.elivega.net