Scott O. Smith Photoblog

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/250 second * f/9.0

After going for a morning jog last week, I ran towards my house looking at this view hoping that it wouldn’t fade away before I could get a shot.  I like how the sun is hitting the clouds with the deep orange color which makes the clouds pop.  They were so low in the sky I felt like I could reach out and grab them.  The color is straight out of the camera, I added sharpness using an action in Photoshop CS3.

We are getting a lot of smoke from the fires in California that are creating some amazing sunrises and sunsets.

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/800 second * f/4.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/1000 second * f/4.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/2500 second * f/4.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/250 second * f/4.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 320 * 1/250 second * f/4.0

This past weekend I joined our local photowalking group on a great outing at the Great Salt Lake. I missed the last event so it felt like it has been a while since I met with the group. We had about 40 people show up, I was surprised at how many were there for the first time. It’s great to have a venue where people with the same interest can get together to share ideas an make new friends.

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/100 second * f/4.0

We met at Saltair then drove west just past the Marina. We had a model that volunteered to do a trashed dress style shoot. She was great and was in the salt water for about two hours. I don’t know how these models can do what they do, I’m just grateful I’m on the other sided of the lens.

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 100 * 1/1000 second * f/4.0

As always I’m amazed at the quality of pictures that are produced. I’ve lost count at how many photowalks I’ve been on but each time I come away grateful for the experience.

Canon 40D * Canon EF-70-200mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 100 * 1/500 second * f/4.0

I’m not going to be able to make the next photowalk. For more information on the details visit our flickr group.

Be sure to check out other photogs blogs that were there:

Rich Legg

Jeremy Hall

Mike Calanan

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/800 second * f/4.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 100 * 1/100 second * f/4.0

I had the pleasure taking portraits of some good friends recently, the Landvatters. Lexi, their daughter, was approaching her first birthday and her mother wanted some photos of her to use for a birthday announcement. They also wanted some family portraits in the park.

Canon 40D * Canon EF-70-200mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 400 * 1/100 second * f/8.0

For the studio shots, I used a roll of white seamless paper with two soft boxes; main to camera left and the fill camera right. I added a third light for the background to avoid shadows. I was able to buy a small light at my local hardware store. I made a small curtain out of black poster board to avoid any light spilling onto Lexi.

This was my first time shooting a one year old. It was fun, her mother was keeping her entertained making her smile and laugh. We took a few breaks to give Lexi a chance to play.

I’ve had the chance to do quite a few photo shoots lately and will be blogging about those later.

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 320 * 1/250 second * f/8.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 320 * 1/250 second * f/8.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 100 * 1/200 second * f/8.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 100 * 1/200 second * f/8.0

Canon 40D * Canon EF-24-105mm f/4.0L lens * ISO 100 * 1/200 second * f/8.0

Cyber-shot DSC-N2 * ISO 250 * 1/40 second * f/2.8

We have had fun watching our new guests in our backyard this spring. My wife and kids have even named the mother robin and her babies. The photo above was taken just a day or two after these guys hatched. It’s hard to see but there are two more eggs under these guys. We don’t think they made it. If they did I can’t imagine where they would fit, their home is pretty cramped as it is.