Interview on Photo Classes on 41 Action News - Carol Fowler's Three Minutes in the Limelight

I was asked to do an interview with the local Channel 41 Action News on the photography classes I teach at the Overland Park Arboretum.  The focus of the interview was basic tips on photography.

Lindsey Shively, the weekend anchor, could not have been nicer.  About three minutes before we went live she asked if I had any photos on the Internet, so I gave her my blog address.  She pulled up the Arboretum Luminary walk photos I took at the annual event in 2013, and we were off and running.  It was fascinating seeing them pull up the photos on an ipad and have them immediately appear on a large screen behind us.  She was so good on the fly.  It was nice being able to highlight the Arboretum and its events!

Other than wearing a sweater that made me look 20 lbs heavier, I was pleased with how the interview went.  Here's a link to the three minute interview.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K2S4OhIaSgc

Plaza Lights in Kansas City

We took our niece, who is interested in photography, on a photo shoot of the Country Club Plaza lights tonight.  We got there in time to get some twilight photos.  Twilight, for you photographers, is the half hour before sunrise and after sunset.  No matter the weather conditions, the sky will photograph a brilliant blue during those times.

Below are some of the pics I took.  Of course we took a Topsy's popcorn and Starbuck's hot chocolate break mid-way through the photo shoot!

My niece

My brother-in-law

Twilight sky

Twilight sky with slow shutter speed showing
the "streaming" headlights and tail lights.
Note the stationary car which
did not move when the shutter was open

Reflections in the partially frozen stream, taken
about a half hour after twilight 

An interesting shadow on a textured wall

The below images are my niece's.  I love the creativity she shows.

Intentional camera movement while the shutter is open makes
for interesting photos

Nice balance with camera movement.  These are difficult to do!

Looks like a bow on a package

   

Store window - wonderful colors

Interesting light and camera angle

One of the Plaza's horses.  Horse drawn carriage rides are a favorite
during the holiday season.

Overland Park Arboretum Arts for Kids

Saturday I was a volunteer photographer for Arts for Kids, an annual two-day event each October at the Overland Park Arboretum.   The weather was great all weekend - blue skies, no humidity and crisp fall weather.

The kids love this event, where they can make all sorts of crafts from nature's fall bounty.  Decorating hedgeapples is always a highlight.  This year they had a hay ride, a straw maze for the little ones to run through, a snake from the Kansas City zoo to pet, story tellers, music from the Kansas City Symphony and a bell choir.  The choir let the kids try their hands with the bells.  A tinkling rendition of "Row, row, row your boat" played by the kids was enjoyed by all.  

Below are a few photos.  The purpose of the photos is for next year's publicity for the event and the Arboretum, so I haven't included any of the kids that are identifiable.  I loved coming across the kids rolling down the teepee hill.  Does it get any better?  Also, the little guy ringing the bells had his hair sprayed green - one of the activities the kids could enjoy!

Advanced Flower Photography Class at Overland Park Arboretum

I had a blast yesterday teaching an advanced flower photography class at the Overland Park Arboretum.  It was a class I designed for photographers who are already using an SLR.  The folks who took the class were a good group with lots of questions.  The Overland Park Arboretum is a hidden jewel of Kansas City.  Here are a few of the photos, taken at the Arboretum, of course.  For those interested, the focal length of the lens, the aperture and shutter speed, as well as ISO is listed on each photo.

Taken with a long lens on a tripod.

Taken with my all time favorite lens - the Zeiss 50mm 1.4.  It rarely is off my camera.

Loved the two-toned spikey grass about 20 feet behind this flower - it adds some texture even with the blur

                                                                       Color play

It is beastly hot in Kansas City, so I'm glad this class was inside!  Keep cool.