Author Archives: GAR

Photo of the Week – Kelly Clampitt

Nature Is The Ultimate Artist

Uluru in Ulu?u-Kata Tju?a National Park- Central Australia

Uluru in Ulu?u-Kata Tju?a National Park- Central Australia

Uluru (also known somewhat lamely as Ayers Rock) is a giant sandstone monolith in Australia with a circumference of 5.8 miles which reaches a height of 2,831 ft. above sea level. As impressive as these facts may be, they do nothing to describe the delicate beauty of the scene Kelly captured during a visit in May of 2007. In her words, “When it rains the rock catches water which runs down basins and gullies formed over the millennia to the ground where catch ponds form. There is almost always water running down from somewhere on this monolith. Thus the area immediately around the rock is like an oasis for plants and wildlife and magical to the Aboriginal people who request certain areas of Uluru, which were used in specific rituals and ceremony, not be photographed. I was fascinated by the feminine aspects of the etched stone, the reflections, and the silvery color of the light in the reflected water trickling down into the very quiet pool fringed by green plant life.” The colors, shapes, lines, textures and overall composition contribute to a totality that defies description. The gentle diagonal curve of the quiet pool is the final touch.

Photo of the Week – Betty Rembert

Grasshoppers Beware! This Lady is Waiting for You.

Common Black and Yellow Garden Spider- Argiope aurantia

Common Black and Yellow Garden Spider- Argiope aurantia

What is required to make a common garden creature the subject of an interesting photo? A very strong focal point in sharp focus without a jumble of distracting objects, a composition that pleases the eye and a background that doesn’t interfere and confuse. It all comes together in this image. The soft focus on the delphinium buds also serves as a frame to help define the colorful and contrasting spider.
Betty used a Canon 5D fitted with an EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens zoomed in to its maximum focal length. The ISO was a low 200 and the shutter speed 1/40 sec. No tripod was used but good camera technique produced tack sharp focus. It’s worth taking a look at a cropped version to see the fine details, particularly the gray hairs which give the impression of tight wool knitting. Fascinating! Click here.