Category Archives: Ashe County

Photographer’s Choice – Kelly Clampitt

Heron: The Quiet Romantic to the Strongly Dramatic

Kelly Clampitt - Heron at Rest

Kelly Clampitt – Heron at Rest

Kelly is the new owner of a home surrounded by acres of land and, as a bonus, two small ponds: new photographic opportunities just steps out the front door. She quickly took advantage of this fact as these two images show. The first is almost otherworldly as it portrays nature at its most placid. The lighting is ideal with a softness appropriate to the scene and a composition that emphasizes the heron and it’s surroundings (think Rule of Thirds). The background frames the bird perfectly and the diffuse foreground foliage adds a depth to the image which is most pleasing. Even our fans of B&W would have to agree that the colors are a strong component in this particular image.

The image below is a dramatic change as the heron takes flight, panned by Kelly as it departs the frame in a profusion of color. Kelly snapped the shutter with no time to spare. Very pleasing effect as the heron exits the frame.

Kelly Clampitt-Heron in Flight

Kelly Clampitt-Heron in Flight

Photographer’s Choice – Betty Rembert

Why Is This Native Wildflower Neglected?

Dwarf Larkspur - Betty Rembert

Dwarf Larkspur – Betty Rembert


Images of the trout lily, trillium or ladyslipper and others are common spring subjects for local photographers but the dwarf larkspur seems strangely neglected. It is difficult to capture without background clutter and the color is a challenge to reproduce on film or digitally, or on a monitor or print (the deep blue is often “out-of-gamut”). But a challenge is often the impetus that gets the juices flowing and more attempts. Is it not widespread in the County?
Betty did an excellent job here, with a pleasing background and sharp focus, with most of the stem and blossom in the plane of focus. She used a gray card to help set the color balance on a cloudy day.
Below is a cropped version of the above showing more of the delicate detail.
Cropped Dwarf Larkspur - Betty Rembert

Cropped Dwarf Larkspur – Betty Rembert


Canon EOS 5d w/100mm macro lens
1/50 sec @ f8.0
ISO – 400
Tripod used