Posts Tagged ‘williamneill.com’

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New Yosemite Winter Images

Friday, February 8th, 2013

Here are a few new winter images made in Yosemite!

I had a wonderful day with a private student in Yosemite on Wednesday. There were no clouds, no interesting weather, but the ice was fabulous. I helped Shauna find simple but clean designs within all the chaos of patterns. There is always something of profound beauty to photograph in Yosemite.

Yosemite Private Workshops

Enjoy, share and add your comments here!

Ice patterns and grasses along the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2013

Ice patterns and grasses along the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2013

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III__EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM__0.5 sec at f / 32__ISO 100

 

 

I am still post-processing images from Dec. 27th, when we had a killer sunrise, sunset and moonrise. Oh yes, and fresh snowfall. Here is one from the sunset.

Half Dome and Winter Sunset, Yosemite National Park, 2012

Half Dome and Winter Sunset, Yosemite National Park, 2012

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III__EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM__3.0 sec at f / 32__ISO 100

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Posted in Fine Art Photographs, Inspiration, Landscape Photography, Macro Photography, National Parks, Nature, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, The Ansel Adams Gallery, Yosemite National Park | 4 Comments »

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

Gulls at sunrise, Natural Bridges State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
8 second at f/27, ISO 100

My latest On Landscape column for Outdoor Photographer Magazine is now on the OP website! The article features this image. Check it out and let me know what you think.

A Dance on the Beach

 

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Posted in Fine Art Photographs, Fine Art Prints, Inspiration, Landscape Photography, Morning Light, Nature | 3 Comments »

My Favorite Images from 2012

Friday, January 18th, 2013

I am finally pulling together my favorite photographs from 2012.  It is always helpful to take the occasional assessment of our own creative progress. The annual ritual of posting a “best of” has gone viral.  You might be interested in reading an essay I wrote on the subject several years ago in my On Landscape column for Outdoor Photographer on this subject.  I am pleased with the selection, which includes new Impressions of Light images, iPhone images, studio macro setups as well  landscapes taken around my home and in nearby Yosemite.  Since I started teaching private workshop sessions in Yosemite, I’ve been visiting Yosemite Valley much more often so you will see a batch of new Yosemite images taken this past fall and winter.

This year I have numbered each image, which will make it easier for your to let me know which ones are your favorites.  It will be fun and helpful for me to have your feedback.  I will value a list of favs, or general thoughts on what work you respond to the most.  After I assess your feedback, I will then make a final edit of 10-15 that are my top selects of the year.  If you have your own list of top images for 2012, please add your link in your comments below.

Regarding my private Yosemite sessions, you might enjoy seeing the Flickr group that I started for my students to share their photographs with each other:  William Neill Private Yosemite Workshops.

I look forward to your comments and favorites for my 2012 portfolio.

Happy New Year,  Bill

Best Of The Year:  An annual review of your images can point you in new directions of creativity

1. Sunrise, Santa Monica State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/19, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


2. Sandpiper at sunrise, Santa Monica State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


3. Oaks and sunbeams, sunrise, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/60 second at f/11, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


4. Poppies and Lupine. Merced River Canyon, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/32, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


5. Redbud, Merced River Canyon, 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


6. Lilies, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


7. Nautilus Shell Detail, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
15 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


8. Nautilus Shell, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
20.00 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


9. Stones, 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
3 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


10. Ceiling at The Tech Museum, San Jose, California 2012
iPhone,
1/120 second at f/2.4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


11. Sunbeams and Fog, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/750 second at f/8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


12. Sunbeams through Fog, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2000 second at f/2.8, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


13. Rock Formations, San Mateo Coast, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1/1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


14. Hostas, New Boston, New Hampshire 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/120 second at f/2.4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


15. Ferns, New Boston, New Hampshire 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/20 second at f/2.4, ISO 80
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


16. Elderberry Leaves #5, Ahwahnee, California 2012, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E90mm f/2.8,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


17. Pine and Clouds, Sierra Nevada, California 2012
iPhone 4S,
1/640 second at f/2.4, ISO 50
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


18. Half Dome at sunrise, Leidig Meadow, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


19. Gulls at sunrise, Natural Bridges State Beach, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
8 second at f/27, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


20. Yellow Maple Leaves, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/125 second at f/4.5, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


21. Yellow Maple Leave Impressions, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/2 second at f/5.6, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


22. Oak and Pine, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/90 second at f/4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


23. Backlit Black Oaks, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/15 second at f/22, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


24. Bigleaf Maple and Merced River, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
6 second at f/27, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


25. Maple Leaves, autumn, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/4 second at f/9.5, ISO 400
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


26. Black Oaks in afternoon backlight, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/8 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


27. Merced River reflections, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1.50 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


28. Oak reflections and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/2 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


29. Oak reflections, El Capitan and the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


30. Willow Leaves, autumn, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1 second at f/4, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


31. Oak Forest in Fog, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/6 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


32. Oaks and Fog, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/3 second at f/22, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


33. Oaks at sunrise, Ahwahnee, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, TS-E24mm f/3.5L,
1/10 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


34. Winter Sunrise over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM,
1/3 second at f/13, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


35. Sunrise clouds over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/8 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


36. Ice Pattern, Merced River, Yosemite National Park 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1.50 second at f/32, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


37. Winter Sunset on Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1/1 second at f/16, ISO 100
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

 


38. Winter Moonrise over Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest, Yosemite National Park, California 2012
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM,
1 second at f/11, ISO 800
Copyright © 2012 William Neill

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Posted in Apple iPhone, Impressions of Light, Inspiration, iPhoneography, Landscape Photography, National Parks, Nature, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park | 66 Comments »

Open Studio at William Neill Photography – Sierra Art Trails Oct. 5, 6, and 7th.

Monday, September 10th, 2012

Once again, I am participating in the Yosemite Foothills Open Studio Tour – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 5, 6 & 7, 2012. My home studio will be full of my fine art prints, books and posters. I hope to see old friends and meet new ones!  Let me know if you think you can make it, and ask any questions if you have them.  Also, share this with friends who you think might be interested.  Thanks!

See the official web site for more details:
http://www.sierraarttrails.org/index.html

My living room gallery set up for Art Trails in 2011!

Open Studio at William Neill’s Home

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Posted in Books, Calendar, eBooks, Fine Art Photographs, Fine Art Prints, Impressions of Light, Inspiration, Landscape Photography, National Parks, Nature, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, Yosemite National Park | 2 Comments »

Emotion – The Magic Element

Monday, August 20th, 2012

 …this essay was recently added to my collection of essays at The Luminous Landscape website as posted recently here in my blog, but am now including the full essay here…  Enjoy, and please share any of your own stories about how emotion has “appeared” in your own images.

 


Mudcracks, Zion National Park, Utah  1983
Camera: Wista 45,  Lens: Rodenstock Sironar-N 210mm f/5.6

One important characteristic of an artist is the ability and willingness to express emotions in his or her work.  For example, paintings can show anger, or a sculpture can convey joy.  Of course, the viewer can only imagine the state of the artist’s mind but if the work is successful, one can often gain an insight into the artist’s experience or mood. A strong work of art can elicit emotions in the viewer both obvious and unexpected whether they are the same emotions the artist felt or not.

Apparent or not, the artist’s emotions will, and should, affect the work.  Most of my best images are a result of a passionate response to the subject.  Many years ago, I was exploring in Zion National Park.  One day, when returning from a solo hike up a narrow canyon, I slipped on some steep sandstone and slid (in shorts of course) down about 30 feet into a pothole full of water.  All my gear was in a pack on my back and the water was five feet deep.  It took me several minutes to get my pack off, throw it out of the pothole, and climb out.  Meanwhile, my gear, which included my 4×5 and 35mm cameras and lenses, got soaked.

I was scrapped up pretty good, and so I cleaned up the “rug burns” on my arms and legs, and then spent hours trying to dry out my equipment.  I remember using a hand dryer in a local campground restroom, and leaving lenses on my car’s dashboard, to dry them out!  At the end of the day, I called home only to hear some more bad news.

Needless to say, I was seriously bummed out – half my camera gear wasn’t working plus some personal issues were not helping any.  Fortunately, my 4×5 dried out nicely, and the lenses and film were ok so the next day I went exploring again.  As I wandered though a stream bed, I found these incredible mud cracks.  They had formed in a depression so that somehow the cracks were small at the top of the slope and progressively got bigger lower down where the moisture had stayed longer.  The composition was made to show this transition.  Making the exposure was straightforward due to the even lighting in the shaded canyon.

I liked the image when I exposed it, and I liked it even more when I saw the processed film.  But I didn’t really stop to think about how my emotional state of mind might have affected it. It was only months later, when printing the image, did it strike me that the image reflected my mood that day.  My emotions had surfaced, and I don’t think it was a coincidence. Looking back, I am happy to have made something good out of a bad situation!

Thinking about my own work, the way emotions effect my image making varies from image to image.  Most often, it is the excitement of discovery, the passion for the subject, of finding a captivating subject in extraordinary light, that demands that I make the photograph.  On occasion, I have found that some images are also influenced by my overall frame of mind like my Mud Crack image shown here.  If one can accept that there is an artistic advantage to creating emotional work, perhaps those feelings will come through more often.  The best suggestion I can think of for doing this is give yourself permission to do so.  I don’t think there is an easy formula for doing this, nor do I believe it can be done every time out. It is more a matter of feeling and seeing, rather than deliberating and analyzing, the subject. Also, trusting one’s one own instincts about what or how to photograph is a vital link in the equation.

 
Waterfall and Sunbeam, Sierra Nevada Foothills, California 2011
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III__EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM__1.5 sec at f / 27__ISO 200

 

 

Fortunately, most of us don’t have bad days too often.  I am glad I went out for those hike that day in spite of my mood.  I know that experiencing the beauty of nature was therapeutic.  So often nature’s beauty has restored my spirits and sometimes even resulted in a good photograph!  My waterfall image is another excellent example of this.  Just a few days after the passing of my father, I led a private student to this local falls for an early morning field session.  As the sun rose through the surrounding forest, the spray was lit with radiant sunbeams right in front of the waterfall!   As I wrote in my Light on the Landscape blog a few days later,
“I am unsure of the right words to describe the emotions 
I felt when standing before this scene, 
but “powerfully uplifting” is what comes to mind. 
It caught my breath 
and soothed my soul at a moment when it was most needed.”

It is beneficial for our photographs to convey emotion – those of joy, curiosity, of quiet meditation, or even those bummer days.  Rather than make an ordinary photograph, I hope that you will let your emotions make their way into your images.  How else will we see your special way of seeing?

“Seeing, in the finest and broadest sense, means using your senses, your intellect, and your emotions.
It means encountering your subject matter with your whole being.
It means looking beyond the labels of things and discovering the remarkable world around you.”  
-Freeman Patterson

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Posted in Fine Art Photographs, Fine Art Prints, Inspiration, Landscape Photography, Morning Light, National Parks, Nature, Nature's Design, Patterns of Nature, photography, Sierra Nevada, Southwest, Zion National Park | 8 Comments »

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