Red and White Chapel - Mykonos

A View from the Countryside

The Greek island of Mykonos has hundreds of chapels spread along its shores, hills, and roadways. Many chapels were built by sailors in hopes of safe passage on rough seas.

I had time to photograph only a handful of these lovely chapels, many of which are reserved for use only one day a year. This rustic beauty was one of my favorites.

Red and White Chapel - Mykonos, Greece

The chapel is located on a small, winding road in the countryside, far from the crowded shops and restaurants of Mykonos Town. The altitude here afforded a clear view of the sea. I liked the contrast of the blue of the sky and water against the red roof and dome.



Camera:    Nikon D800E
Lens:        Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VRII

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Exploring Santorini

Blue Dome in Soft Light

Santorini is a stunningly beautiful island in the Aegean Sea. It's also relatively easy to visit. A handful of comfortably walkable towns are draped along the edges of dramatic ocean cliffs.

Santorini, or Thira as it's known in Greece, is a fragment of an ancient volcano. Sea views from steep "caldera" side of the island are breathtaking. The architecture in each of these towns is uniformly elegant.

The cliffside topology adds a vertical dimension to the touring experience. Turn to one side, and you'll be looking upward at structures; in the other direction, you'll be looking out over rooftops. Many of the famous view of Santorini incorporate the ability to look out over the roofs of churches and chapels.

Blue Dome in Soft Light - Santorini

The chapel pictured above is a well-known landmark in the lovely town of Oia. The chapel isn't large, but it would be challenging to shoot from this vantage point without being able to stand above it on the cliffside. 

The main pedestrian route through Oia runs right past the chapel. I stood on that pathway when I snapped this photo. Everyone with a camera or smart phone or a tablet stops here - just about in this very spot - and takes a photo.

So, why did I bother to take yet another photo of something that's photographed thousands of times a day? Why not? I was there. And I felt that I had my own interpretation to add to the heap.

This shot was taken on a cloudy morning and benefits from the softness of the light. On other days, direct sunlight yielded a higher-contrast look. I appreciate them equally.

I took great care to maximize sharpness, detail, color fidelity, and dynamic range with every shot. After all, I need to keep up with those ubiquitous tablets and smart phones! ;-)


Camera:    Nikon D800E
Lens:        Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S 

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Stairway Atop The City Walls, Dubrovnik

The most impressive walled city that I've seen in my travels is Dubrovnik on the southern coast of Croatia.

Stairwell Atop The City Walls, Dubrovnik

I captured this shot as the morning sun cast a shadow bisecting the stairway.


Camera:  Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens:      Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2014 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Low Light Photography

Cool Nights Warm Colors

When I began to take a serious interest in photography, I ran down to my local bookstore looking for guidance. There I found one of my favorite how-to books: "The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography" by Lee Frost.

I spent many hours reviewing the beautiful photos and studying the text that accompanied them. Chapter by chapter, I learned about cameras and lenses, films and filters, and the all-important color and quality of light.

I began to understand, for instance, why the camera's internal metering system would fail to properly expose most low light conditions. Mr. Frost presented a variety of techniques to help compensate for this limitation. (Remember that this was during the film era when photos weren't instantly displayed on the back of the camera.)

To this day, I love shooting in low light conditions when the world slows down and the colors take on a vivid and dramatic character.

Venice At Dusk

Special thanks to Mr. Lee Frost for writing so eloquently and informatively about low light photography. You inspired me to see possibilities where once I saw only darkness.

Camera: Nikon D800

Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2013 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Manarola and the Magic of Dusk

Balanced Light

In places where exteriors are illuminated by electric lights, a visual phenomenon occurs each morning and evening.

When the intensity of the light from the sky matches that of the exterior lights, the light sources blend together in a way where neither dominates.  The warm colors of the artificial lights with the cool blue of dawn or dusk to create a unique mix of tones in minimized contrast.

Manarola At Dusk - Cinque Terre

The dusk sky darkens quickly. It's best to get the shot before the blue color fades to black. Warm, artificial lighting and the bright colors of the buildings contrast with the blue background to powerful effect.

Timing is critical. In a few minutes, the contrast will be overwhelming. The lights will appear harsh and glaring against a black sky. But in this moment, the balance enables us to see everything.

Camera: Nikon D800

Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2013 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Stay Out And Keep Shooting

Fair Seas in Foul Weather

It had rained that day, heavily at times.  When it wasn't raining the sky was solid overcast.  I remember feeling that my visit the seaside had met with unfortunate timing. 

Expectations were low; I figured that I wouldn't take many photos, and to be fair, I didn't take many.

Lunch offered a chance to get out of the rain.  Well, more or less out of the rain - all of the cafes in this resort town had outdoor seating.  An umbrella over the table helped, but the air was chilly.  Thankfully, Croatian pizza is warm and satisfying.

After lunch I took a stroll along the water's edge.  Several small boats were moored along a simple dock.  I noticed a man waiting to board one of the craft as another fellow prepared it to sail.

I almost walked past this scene.  The weather was gray and foreboding, but something about the dock and the boats caught my eye.  I grabbed my camera and took a handful of test shots. 

Man on a Dock with an Umbrella, Croatia, 2010

At one point the man leaned on his umbrella in an interesting way.  I felt a rush of excitement as I pressed the shutter release.

This small gesture made all of the difference.  I was able to capture the moment, not by the grace of quickness or skill, nor with talent nor training, but rather with a willingness to be open to the possibilities that were unfolding before me.

If I hadn't been ready...  If I had kept my camera in the bag while moping about gloomy weather...  If I had opted to linger in a gift shop, the shot never would have happened.

I'm glad that I had the good sense to stay out, stay alert, and keep shooting.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Lens: Canon 24-105 f/4L IS

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2013 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Nico

Portrait of Venice

I don't know the boy's name.

I don't know the name of the lady sitting in the window.

If I enlarge the image and look very closely, I can make out some of the names on the doorbells.

Nico - Venezia

But the boat's name is Nico.

And that's all that I really need to know.

Camera: Nikon D800

Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8G ED

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2013 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Venezia La Bellissima

Challenging The Senses

As I walked the narrow passageways of Venice and crossed its countless bridges, a disorienting feeling came over me. Everything that I was seeing - every church, boat, bridge, and structure standing before my eyes - could not have been real. The views are incredible.

View Toward San Giorgio Maggiore

A city built on water, flooded aggressively by seasonal tides, more visually arresting than anything that the mind can imagine.  How could such a place exist?

Campanile di San Marco

Fortunately, after a few hours of walking and wading through flood waters, my argumentative mind capitulated. Better to enjoy the wonders before us than question their existence.

Gondolas Moored Near The Rialto Bridge

Venice is visually arresting. It's also a veritable maze. Be prepared to spend most of your time feeling slightly lost, even if you're not a first time visitor. Finding your way back to the hotel is part of the adventure.

Grand Canal - Venice

The weathered look of Venice adds to its charm. Think of of all of the people who have visited this grand city over the centuries and all of the great artist and musicians who have called Venice home.

Gondolas At Dusk - Venice

As night falls, the city remains breathtaking. Buona notte, la mia bellissima Venezia! Grazie per tutto! Sogno della nostra prossima avventura insieme. Ciao!

Camera:

            Nikon D800

Lenses:

            Nikon 24-70 f/2.8G

            Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G VR II

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2012 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved

Photographing Exotic Locales - Part One

It's A Big World - See Some Of It

Someone once said that if you want to take a better picture, point your camera at something amazing.

It's wonderful to explore photo opportunities close to home, but there's no substitute for travel.

It's a big world.  There's no shortage of fascinating places to visit, intriguing sights to see, exciting adventures to cherish, and amazing things to photograph.

So pack your bags and charge your batteries, because it's time to go on a little trip.

When something catches your eye, photograph it in the best possible light.

Silhouetted Statues, Portugal

Keep in mind that the best light is sometimes bright and sunny.

Fishing Boats Based on an Ancient Phoenician Design, Portugal

Some subjects will be obvious.

St. Mark's Church, Zagreb, Croatia

While others will require some imagination.

Church Tower Through A Round Window, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Isolate features for clean compositions.

Tower Overlooking the Sea from the City Wall, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Or shoot wide to capture a sense of place.

Morning Street in the Walled City, Dubrovnik

Look for things that you've never seen before.

Illuminated Platform by the Sea, Zadar, Croatia

And NEVER lose your sense of innocence and fun.

Dogs Welcome, Zagreb

The images above were captured in Croatia and Portugal.

Cameras:

            Pentax 67 II film camera

            Canon 5D Mark II digital camera

Lenses:

            A whole bunch of 'em.

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2012 Daniel R. South

www.dansouthphoto.com

All Rights Reserved