Lately I have been trying to broaden my photographic horizons by way of joining various MeetUp Photography Groups both here on Long Island and also in NYC. So far there have been some interesting opportunities and a nice variety of photo themes on offer.
Today I joined the Long Island Photgraphy Group on an adventure to Innisfree Gardens where there was some 30 or so of us, faces all pushed against viewfinders, traipsing about the parts taking pictures.
I shot somewhere in the region of 250 raw images. Maybe 10% will be of any use as we were there in the middle of the day with harsh light and way too much shadow and highlight and let's face it, I am not in the big leagues when it comes to taking landscape photographs.
I was however fairly content with one panorama stitch and the second image which was an HDR file processed out of 7 bracketed shots, with a bit more tweaking and toning afterwards.
In some ways the digital world allows you way more latitude than if you were taking pictures with film. In the old days you would shoot one roll and hope you had a great image or two. Now I take 200 pictures and am happy if I have two that work out.
That 10x factor is surely a nice cushion.
(PS.click on each image for a fuller scale peek..)
I used to go out with photography meetup groups and it was nice because it did introduce me to and get me to go places I wouldn't have known about otherwise. I hope I'll have time to do this again. It looks like you got to enjoy beautiful scenes even if the conditions weren't quite right.
Posted by: Maery Rose | June 19, 2012 at 09:28 PM
Beautiful landscapes. I love the "freedom to try" that digital gives me.
Posted by: joanne thieme huffman | June 18, 2012 at 07:28 AM
Big leagues is all relative. These shots put you pretty high up in my book. Those meetups sound pretty fun too.
Posted by: dori | June 17, 2012 at 05:06 PM
Marie, I love that first image, I think you're doing very well in landscape photography.
Posted by: Frida | June 17, 2012 at 12:53 PM
That panorama is stunning Marie. Such an idyllic place.
Posted by: mary bailey | June 17, 2012 at 08:57 AM
What a great way to challenge yourself, something you're always doing. Love both of these, it was great being able to see them in a larger format, could really appreciate the fullness and the details. You're talking a foreign language for me when it comes to photography, but I certainly appreciate the results!
Posted by: Bren | June 17, 2012 at 06:48 AM