NATURE’S LIGHT SHOW

Photographing Lightning

Here in the Southwest, on warm sunny afternoons when the humidity starts to rise, there is a possibility that thunder cells will develop over the mountains. As evening descends, if the lightning remains localized, I will be in for a special treat: to photograph one of my favorite scenes. I have always been fascinated by thunderstorms. Throughout my childhood in the southern U.S., I was mesmerized by the brilliant flashes of light and the loud cracking thunder, which was followed by a hard downpour of rain. These days, if conditions are right, I will pack up my camera gear and head outdoors in search of lightning photos.

Of all the scenes that I love to photograph, a lightning storm is potentially the most dangerous. To be as safe as possible, I will wait for lightning to form on the horizon, at least twenty miles away. Lightning can strike within a ten-mile range and a bolt can reach for five to ten miles.

I have been most successful with my lightning photos after nightfall, because with a dark sky, I can leave my shutter open and get several strikes on a frame without over exposing. As night approaches if there is lightning over the mountains, I drive out in the desert to get a closer view. After a level location away from trees is found, I set up my camera equipment close to the car. A car will provide shelter and protection during a thunderstorm; however contact must be avoided with the metal sides.

One disadvantage of night photography during stormy weather is that it’s hard to see the movement of the clouds. Because of this, I am always aware of the wind’s speed and direction. If the wind speed increases and I can feel it blowing on my face, it means the storm is headed in my direction, and I had better seek cover. I would rather not be caught outside, standing behind a large metal tripod and getting zapped by billions of volts of static electricity.

All of my lightning photos were taken with my Nikon film cameras before I made the transition to digital. Since these photos were taken at night, I used a cable release to hold the shutter open on the “bulb” setting. The camera was wrapped in a plastic bag to keep it dry, and then secured to a sturdy Bogan tripod. Most of the time, I used a Nikon 80-200mm 2.8 lens with the aperture set at f5.6 and focused on the distant mountains. I will position myself to frame the mountains in the foreground with the lightning striking over them. From trial and error, I can leave the shutter open and get numerous lightning strikes with out overexposing the frame.

The diameter of a typical lightning bolt isn’t much larger than an inch. The reason it appears so much wider is because the light is so bright. The heat produced by a bolt of lightning can get hotter than the surface of the sun, and can raise the air temperature to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

A lightning flash is usually not a single event. It can have up to 42 strokes, occurring at 0.02-second intervals between strokes, followed by a leader stroke. Lightning can and often does strike in the same place twice.

The length of a lightning bolt can be between 2 to 3 miles long, lasts 1/4th second, and carries a current of 1000 Amps at 100 million Volts.

 

 In pursuit of my photography, I strive to be as responsible as possible and take all safety precautions. Since the weather plays a significant role in my landscape photography, I always study the weather forecasts before venturing out on a photo shoot. On several occasions, after I wandered a long distance from my vehicle, I began to notice the fair weather cumulus clouds changing into cumulonimbus or thunderclouds. A couple of times the thunder was very loud and seemed to be almost overhead, so I quickly turned around, picked up my pace and did a fast trot back to my car.

 

 As a rule, thunder can only be heard from a distance of twelve miles. For an estimate on how close the lightning may be, count the seconds between when it flashes and when it thunders. When there is less than 30 seconds, the thunderstorm is within six miles, which puts you in the danger zone. If you are out in the open and cannot find shelter, protect yourself by moving to the lowest elevation. Make yourself as low to the ground as possible by getting in the lightning crouch: with feet held together, squat down; tuck your head to your chest or between your knees; hold your arms tight against your body and place your hands against your ears. This position can offer some protection by allowing the lightning a pathway to flow over your body instead of through your vital organs. Always, if possible, wait for at least 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder before leaving a shelter.

For additional information, please visit
NOAA’S National Weather Service Lightning Safety Web site.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Chasing Rainbows

RAINY DAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Spring offers many of the best choices for outdoor photography, whether it is landscape, wildlife or macro. The climate is warmer, days are longer, and nature’s alive with color and activity. The main factor that can spoil an adventure out with the camera is spring rain. We tend to receive more precipitation during the spring season because of the changing weather patterns. In the Northern Hemisphere the weather becomes unstable when warm air flows over landmasses where the air has been cooled from the Polar Regions. This may produce moisture in the form of rain or fog. The jet stream in spring also plays a significant role in the weather, giving us severe, unstable patterns. It is formed when air masses of different temperatures meet, and the greater difference in temperature, the faster the wind velocity inside the jet stream.

 

Where I live, in the Great Basin Desert of the United States, spring rain can create favorable conditions, which add drama and excitement to a photograph. Rich vibrant colors are muted and contrast is made softer, giving a calm or moody feeling to the landscape. Reflections in pools of water or raindrops create mirror images that add interest to the scene.

 Clouds will always enhance a photograph by giving detail to a solid gray sky
or adding patterns to a plain blue sky. 

I’m a fan of rainy weather, so when the clouds move in, I pack up my gear and head out. My major concern in rainy day photography is keeping myself and my equipment dry. I use a waterproof jacket that is large enough to wear it over my camera. If I get wet, I’ll eventually dry; however water is detrimental to cameras. A waterproof backpack cover keeps my camera bag dry from the falling rain and wet surfaces when I set it down to change equipment. A small water absorbent towel tucked in my jacket pocket is handy to wipe away excess moisture. To protect my camera and keep it dry, I use the plastic elastic kitchen lid covers that come in different sizes, and are usually found in the “food storage bag” section of the store. The cover fits snuggly over my camera and if needed, I can poke a hole for the lens to extend through. Shower caps will also work, but they aren’t available in different sizes or as flexible. A lens filter helps to keep out moisture and protects the glass.

The techniques for shooting on rainy days are similar to clear weather photography, with one exception, and that is shutter speed settings. To catch the raindrops in a scene, the shutter speed should be faster than 1/60 a second. At slower speeds, they will either blur or not show up at all.

Out here in the southwestern United States, one moment it is overcast diffused lighting, and then the sky opens with a brilliance of colors. If you happen to be standing with your back to the sun when there is falling rain, you might be rewarded with an elusive rainbow. Rainbows occur when the sun shines in the direction of the raindrops, thereby illuminating them. Since the rainbow will only form opposite the sun, a tip on where to look for one is in the direction of the shadow of your head. In order to see a rainbow, the sunlight must be at angle, less than 42 degrees. When the sun is overhead, the rainbow will form below the horizon and will not be visible to the human eye.

I don’t shoot rainbows any differently than other landscape scenes. With landscapes, I will have the aperture set between f/8 and f/11 for best depth of field. The shutter speed will depend on the available light, and I usually meter toward the sky and away from the dark foreground. In most cases, a wide-angle lens is needed to frame the dome of the rainbow. On all of my rainbow scenes, I have used a Nikon 24mm 2.8 lens. I have also found that polarizing lenses are not needed to bring out the colors. Most of my lenses have sky filters on them and I do not want to expose the lens to the precipitation by changing it.

A gentle rain can enhance the scene with nature’s special effects, but when thunder cells move in, beware. Photographing thunderstorms is very exciting and one of my favorite subjects. I will cover the details on this topic at a later post.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Nevada's Wild Horses Part III

THE WILD HORSE CONTROVERSY

As inspiring as it is to witness a herd of wild horses enjoying their freedom, it is just as disheartening to hear of the controversy surrounding these majestic creatures.

Many groups consider the present day wild horses as nothing more than feral offspring that were turned out to fend for themselves because they were no longer useful.

Others see the wild horses as nuisances who destroy the fragile desert eco-systems and unlike cattle, provide no benefit to humanity.

However, some researchers are starting to question the theories and documented history of the wild horse. For example, did the horse become entirely extinct in North America, or were there any survivors? Was it the Spanish who brought the horse back to the Americas, or were they returned earlier by the Norsemen or Chinese Explorers? Has the horse always been with some of the Native American tribes as mentioned in their oral histories?

On January 5, 2007, a statement was introduced to the 110th Congress, entitled Wild Horses as Native North American Wildlife, by Jay F. Kirkpatrick, Ph.D. and Patricia M. Fazio, Ph.D., which supports evidence through DNA analysis that the modern horse is genetically equivalent to a horse, that according to fossil records, represented the most recent specimen prior to extinction in North America. In summary, Kirkpatrick and Fazio conclude that native status for wild horses would place these animals, under law, within a new category for management considerations. As a form of wildlife, embedded with wilderness, ancient behavioral patterns, and the morphology and biology of a sensitive prey species, they may finally be released from the “livestock-gone-loose” application.

The future of the wild horse is still uncertain. However, with new scientific methods and research, plus the efforts from a number of preservation and conservation groups, the survival of an American legend is starting to look more promising.

Nevada's Wild Horses
Part III

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Nevada's Wild Horses Part II

WILD HORSES AT COLD CREEK, NEVADA

The wild horses at Cold Creek enjoy an open area supplied with numerous natural streams, ponds, an abundance of desert grasses and other foliage. Joshua trees and creosote bushes are native to this area, along with an occasional cottonwood tree. Most of the time you can find a number of wild horses grazing close around the creek beds.

Cold Creek is located with in the Toiyabe National Forest, approximately 40 miles north of Las Vegas, and 14 miles west of US-95. Being at a higher elevation than Wilson Tank/Bird Spring, the area has cooler temperatures and gets more snow in the winter.

When I am out in the wild and locate a group of horses, I park my truck at a distance. I then walk quietly with camera on tripod, getting as close as possible, without being noticed, to hide behind a creosote bush. In my photo entitled “Wild Horses at Cold Creek”, the horses had all quenched their thirst and started walking toward me. When they became aware of my presence in the distance, they lined up to investigate what was in the bush ahead. I managed to take one good frame before they turned and started walking around me.

 

I am often asked if I ever feel afraid of the horses when I am out in the desert, and away from my vehicle. Since I normally use an 80-200mm Nikon lens and tripod, I can stay away from the horses, but still be able to frame them up close in the camera. So far, I have never been threatened by any of the horses because I believe that if they are aware of my presence, then I’m too close. However, a few times I have had curious horses come up close to check me out. One time, a foal walked right up and sniffed my hand.

A large number of wild horses in the Cold Creek area have been rounded up and relocated or placed for adoption by Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The reason stated for these round-ups is that the wild horses are so numerous and there is too much competition for food and water source. It is believed that the wild horses are in part responsible for the reduction of many native plant and animal populations, including the Bighorn Sheep.

BLM claims to manage around 42,000 wild horses that roam the Western United States on public lands under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. Under this law, wild horses are protected at population levels that ensure a thriving ecological balance.

Nevada's Wild Horses
Part II

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Nevada's Wild Horses Part I

Wild Horses
at
Wilson Tank, Nevada

Exploring in the Southwestern desert for photo opportunities has always been one of my favorite activities; most times I am rewarded with new sights and interests to frame in the camera. The scene that thrills me the most is to come upon a group of wild horses in one of the colorful red sandstone canyons of Southern Nevada.

What a picturesque sight to see the lead stallion standing out in front with his head held high and ears at attention. Because the lore and attraction of the wild horse is so intriguing, visitors to my state of Nevada often asked me where they could be found. Having spent 25 years in Las Vegas, with much of that time wandering the 4-wheel drive trails throughout the desert, I have become familiar with areas where the wild horses roamed.

Some of my best photographs of the wild horses were taken in Southern Nevada, from 1995 to 1998, when the climate was receiving more moisture from monsoons and El Nino. Conditions were good for the wild horses since the streams were full and vegetation was plentiful.

One of my favorite places for tracking the wild horses was within the 197,000-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Located 17 miles southwest of Las Vegas, the wild horses were free to roam the areas around Wilson Tank and Bird Spring. As the names suggest, both places had natural water sources, plus a wide variety desert grass and foliage that the horses could easily digest. 

These areas offer natural habitats for horses to sustain themselves in the wild. The terrains are open with gentle hills, and have recesses with rock shelters that offer protection from the elements.

In addition to the natural springs, these locations tend to receive moisture from cloud formations.

Joshua trees and creosote bushes grow proficiently, providing camouflage for the horses and shade in the hot summer months. 

To get my photographs, I just had to quietly wait, obscured by one of the tall plants, with camera on tripod and click away. 

At Wilson Tank, on any given day, as many as 10-20 horses, including paints, buckskins and roans would gather for water. Another occasion at Wilson Tank, I was waiting in the shade of a Joshua tree when I heard some noise behind me. I turned around and saw at least seven horses walking slowly in my direction. All I had to do was pivot my camera on the tripod and click the shutter.

Many of the wild horses that roamed the Wilson Tank/Bird Spring area have been rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and relocated. Since the wild horses compete for limited water and food resources, evidence from studies by wildlife biologists suggest that the proliferation of wild horses in Nevada is responsible for the destruction of many native plants and animals. Each year, the BLM captures and places a large number of wild horses up for adoption through its National Wild Horse and Burro Program.

Nevada's Wild Horses
Part I

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Kodak's Newest Film

Ektar 100

Kodak’s newest film, Ektar 100 is becoming a favorite among traditional photographers and in some opinions it exceeds all expectations. Made for 35mm cameras, Kodak promotes the Ektar 100 as the finest grain color negative film available, and through implementation of the Kodak Vision Motion Picture Film Technology, it produces ultra vivid, highly saturated colors. The only criticism I have found is that the film tends to give off a blue color cast when under exposed areas are in shade.

By emphasizing its enlargement capabilities when scanning and printing, Kodak is enticing the digital enthusiasts back to film. When I was shooting film, I was a fan of the Kodak Ektar 25 that was around in 1990’s. It was also fine grain and had great color saturation. Since it was a slow speed film, tripods were usually a must. This film did not make the cut, and was soon taken off the market. The biggest problem that I encountered with Ektar 25 was that most labs had difficulties with the color reproduction. I then changed over to AGFA 50, which became my film of choice for both 35mm and medium format. In my opinion, AGFA 50 was by far the best color film on the market. At 50 ISO, it was very fine grain, and had superior color reproduction with warm saturated colors. As proof of this statement, I had a 35mm negative enlarged to 30x40 inches. When comparing the larger print to the smaller size prints, the colors and resolution are equal. “Joshua Blooms at Red Rock” was taken on cloudy June afternoon, around 3:30pm. The camera was a Nikon 8008s with a Nikon 24mm 2.8 lens set at f/11 on a sturdy tripod, and the shutter speed was 1/15 a second.

Joshua Bloom at Red Rock, NV

Unfortunately, AGFA also discontinued production of AGFA 50 and their Optima II100 was promoted as the closest replacement to AGFA 50—which in my field testing did not even come close.

The question is, will I dust off my film cameras and give Kodak’s Ektar 100 a chance? Well, only if it is developed for medium format, because other than shooting with my Hassleblad and some of the AGFA 50 that I have on ice, I do not intend to return to negative film. The 35mm digital format more than satisfies my needs as a landscape/nature photographer, when I shoot in the RAW mode. The color accuracy, resolution and enlargement capabilities are more than adequate to reproduce my photographic images. Furthermore, there are no negatives with the potential for getting scratched or fragile with age. And, a big reason for not returning to film cameras is that I do not have to open the back of my camera after 36 exposures to change film. This has always been a worry to me, considering where I do most of my photography: outdoors, in the desert, around sand dunes, along creek beds, by waterfalls, often during rain, thunder and snow storms.

It is unfortunate that Kodak has only designed the Ektar 100 for 35mm cameras. Maybe if it is successful on the market, Kodak will make it available for medium format and then I will give it serious consideration.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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The Coming of Spring

Changes in Light

When I was getting serious about landscape photography, I was instructed that the best lighting of all the seasons occurs in fall or spring. At this time, I was shooting with film cameras where there was only a 4 to 5 stop difference in lighting. If you wanted a good print from the dark room, you were forced to meter correctly.

At my home in the northwest portion of the Southwestern Desert, spring offers a longer photography opportunity than the fall season. In northern Nevada, spring can arrive as early as late January and last through June, depending on the mildness of the climate.

The lighting in spring is kinder to the camera, whether film or digital, due to a number of reasons. The sun light striking the earth is diffused because the earth’s revolution is still at an angle. Diffused light is softer and causes less metering problems. As the earth progresses around the sun, its tilt angle becomes reversed, causing the sun’s rays to become refocused, giving us more daylight hours. The increase in daylight signals nature to wake up and be reborn. Longer daylight hours provide the photographer so many different opportunities to photograph the renewal of spring, whether it’s through the diverse color schemes of the landscape, the variety of wildlife, or dramatic climate changes.

So, unpack your camera gear, charge up your battery and trek out to enjoy the splendors offered by the spring landscape.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Spirals

Interesting Shapes in Art and Nature

With the coming of spring, the photography world is in transition from the harshness of the cold, bleak winter landscape to a kaleidoscope of colors, sights and shapes. As in autumn, the natural light of spring is more subtle and pleasing to the camera because of the earth’s proximity to the sun. There is an abundance of activity among the wildlife, as preparations are being made for a rebirth of the species. As a nature photographer, I find the shapes in the landscape as interesting as the colors.

 


One shape that is found to reoccur in many natural objects is the spiral. Look closely at the new growth of many flowers and you will discover a spiral in the tightly woven petals.






The spiral can also be found in the design of a pinecone and in the arrangement of sunflower seeds.

The spiral shape is nature’s way of providing the most efficient design for growing objects. It allows flower petals and leaves to receive the most exposure to sunlight and is the easiest path for rain to travel to reach the plant’s root system. The spiral shape in sunflower seeds allows for more space within the seeds without over-crowding.

The shape of the spiral is so significant in the natural world that it can be found almost everywhere. Good examples are ram’s horns, flowers, the Milky Way galaxy, fingerprints, DNA, and various sea shells, including the nautilus. The mathematical genius, Pythagoras, discovered the mystical shape of the spiral in the fifth century. Through this discovery, the Golden Ratio evolved and has been used in architecture, art and music since the Aztec and Greek civilizations.

 


The golden ratio is 1/1.618 or “phi”. A golden rectangle has the golden ratio and when squared, leaves a smaller rectangle behind which has the same golden ratio as the previous rectangle. This squaring can go on ad infinitum. A golden spiral is formed when a curve is connected through the corners of the concentric rectangles.




 

Basic composition of the “rule of thirds” in art design is derived from the golden rectangle. The 35mm format in photography comes closest to this ratio.

Another form of composition is the golden triangle, which is an isosceles triangle with two short sides and one long side, where the ratio of long to short equals the golden ratio. In my opinion, in photographic composition, the rule of thirds works best with horizontal scenes and the golden triangle with the vertical. 

As photographer, I have been drawn to scenes that I felt compelled to re-create on film. One reporter wrote that I had an intuitive awareness of scenes that would photograph well. As I look back on my early days of photography, I recognize that I was attracted to these scenes because the golden ratio or golden triangles were included within the image.

If you watch closely throughout the growing months, you will come to recognize the natural occurrence of these mystical shapes throughout the landscape.

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.