Category Archives: Coastal

Photographer’s Choice – Kim Hadley

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Capturing the Beauty of Coastal NC

Kim Hadley - Hazy Morning in Stacy NC

Kim Hadley – Hazy Morning in Stacy NC

Descending from her mountain top home in Creston to the lowlands of coastal NC, Kim spent a week vacationing in the small township of Stacy, located just south of the lower Outer Banks. “I was waiting for the sun to rise above the tree line hoping for some nice warm morning colors to shoot…in the end, I liked this pre-sun shot better. I love the lime green in the marsh grass contrasted with the dark areas….and of course I made sure there was a ‘leading line’ for Kosinski to enjoy.”
This image is a great example of using High Dynamic Range to bring out the richness of the colors in the grass, the shimmering boardwalk and the contrasting blue of the roof without pushing the envelope too far and losing the softness of the morning light. Kim bracketed three shots at a difference of about 1-1/2 f/stops each, using shutter speeds of 1/20, 1/60 and 1/200/sec, then combined the three for the final photograph. The lens focal length was 41mm, the aperture f/7.1 and the ISO 100.

Photographer’s Choice – Nancy Shoemaker

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Capturing the Essence

Stephen Shoemaker through Nancy's lens

Stephen Shoemaker through Nancy's lens

What makes this such a compelling image? Is it the composition, following the “Thirds” rule so meticulously? Is it the fact that there’s nothing superfluous, nothing to clutter up the scene and detract from the very definite focal point? The light providing a semi-silhouette and yet with enough clarity to allow the subject to be recognizable? Or maybe it’s the imposing figure standing in front of heavy boulders and the vastness and power of the sea. Or the hat? The shadow? The reflection? Yes, it’s all of this working and coming together to “paint” the painter, to turn the tables on the man usually behind the easel. Here, Nancy is the artist and Stephen the subject.