Hey Reader,
I hope you are enjoying the start of autumn! I haven't been able to photograph much the past two months so I'm looking forward to grabbing my camera with cooler temperatures, later sunrises, and the kaleidoscope of colors that are coming our way.
Most of my photography time focused on finishing a big commercial project in the healthcare industry. It was exciting and daunting because it tested my knowledge and the technical limits of upscaling photos to sizes I never printed before. The project remains confidential until the grand opening in a couple of months, but I'm excited to see my work displayed on such a large scale soon.
Additionally, based on the thoughtful feedback so many of you provided during our August survey, I've decided to try an "Ask Me Anything on Lightroom and Photoshop" for the next few newsletters. Below, you will learn how to submit your digital darkroom dilemmas for me to answer.
In celebration of autumn, let's start this month's newsletter with some essential fall photography advice.
Cheers,
Chrissy
While many are excited about the bombardment of pumpkin-flavored everything exploding in the United States, I’m getting goosebumps over the cascades of yellow, orange, and red that will soon shower the mountainsides. Fall photography is coming!
The color and leaves change rapidly so you need to be on point. What's there today may be gone tomorrow. Each year, as the temperatures cool, I remind myself of these 6 essential fall photography tips.
We all need answers to our digital darkroom dilemmas - that's why we're going to test drive this new Q&A section in my newsletter on Lightroom and Photoshop. Each month, I'll select some of your questions and share practical advice that you can apply directly to your photography workflow.
- Puzzled about which Lightroom preview type to select when importing photos?
- Wondering how to best copyright your images using Lightroom?
- Mystified by Levels in Photoshop?
If you have any burning Lightroom and Photoshop questions or specific topics you'd like me to cover in future blog posts or newsletters, now's your chance to ask.
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I'm excited to announce that I'll be an instructor at the Out of Chicago Botanic Garden photography conference, August 24th-28th, 2025.
Imagine 385 acres of pure botanical bliss, with 27 individual gardens. We're talking a kaleidoscope of dahlias, roses that'll make you swoon, and waterlilies that seem to dance on the surface. And don't even get me started on the lotuses - they're simply magical!
Oh, and for us wildlife lovers, we'll keep our eyes peeled for fluttering butterflies, bees, and birds among the native plants.
Late August is the perfect time to visit - the gardens are lush, and the summer crowds have thinned out. You'll have plenty of time to explore, grow creatively, and work side-by-side with our talented instructor team. It's your chance to hone your garden and macro photography skills.
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✅ Save $250 on registration with my code DONADI250CBG.
This offer expires Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, at midnight CT.
As landscape photographers, understanding the science behind fall colors can significantly improve our autumn adventures.
The color change is primarily triggered by shorter days and cooler nights. As daylight decreases, trees stop producing chlorophyll, revealing the yellow and orange pigments (carotenoids) that were always present but masked by green. Reds and purples, however, come from anthocyanins. Unlike carotenoids, these pigments are actively produced by some trees in the autumn, often in response to bright light and cool temperatures. Interestingly, anthocyanins are the same compounds that give color to grape skins and apples.
Different tree species change colors at different times. In Pennsylvania, for instance, Blackgum and Dogwood trees show fiery reds from late August through September. Maples turn red and orange in late September to early October, while Oaks only display their colors in October, often after other trees have shed their leaves.
The variety of deciduous trees in the northeastern United States is why the area enjoys a longer, more colorful fall than many other regions worldwide. By learning to identify these species and their color patterns, you can better plan your fall foliage photography and capture the full spectrum of autumn's palette.
If you are lucky enough to be in an area experiencing the fall color changes right now, apply this knowledge to enhance your autumn adventures. Research the dominant tree species in your area and their typical color-changing patterns. Create a personal "fall foliage calendar" noting when different species tend to turn. Use this to plan a series of outings and photograph the entire season's progression. Start with early-turning species and gradually shift to late-changers. This approach will not only result in a diverse portfolio but also deepen your connection to the natural cycles in your local environment, enhancing your overall photography experience.
1.) David duChemin opened preorders for his book Light, Space, and Time: Essays on Camera Craft and Creativity with the option to purchase the limited edition hardcover or the softcover edition.
2.) Colleen Miniuk confirms the rumor about her "Three-Second Rule" for photography in her latest Dear Bubbles article.
3.) Anna Morgan released a stunningly serene gallery of images from the Olympic Coast.
4.) Nature Photography Classes starts its next live series on The Vision of Wildlife on September 29th featuring Andy Teasdale, Ian Plant, Julie Steelman, and David duChemin.
5.) The International Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition is accepting entries until September 30, 2024.
6.) Jennifer Renwick released a blog post and free eBook A Night Under the Yellowstone Aurora chronicled her photographs during May's strongest geomagnetic storm in recent decades.
7.) Out of Chicago is hosting a free webinar on Pushing Creative Boundaries on October 4, 2024.
8.) Nature Photographers Network is hosting a free live webinar with Karen Waller on September 26, 2024, on Darkness & Light - The Search for Meaning and Connection.
9.) The Natural Landscape Photography Awards announced their 2024 Competition Results and Gallery. Congrats to Photographer of the Year Winner Andrew Mielzynski and all the other winners!
10.) Simon Baxter and Thomas Heaton joined forces to launch The 617 Club, which is a community-focused photography club and platform.