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Fall Color Road Trip

Part III: Shooting the Stars and Other Stuff...

by Kevin Moss

The first two parts of this extended article on fall color shooting included info and tips on shooting waterfalls and fall color. In this third part, I’ll talk about all that other stuff that comes along on a 4-day roadtrip. For instance, recently inspired by BetterPhoto instructor Jennifer Wu’s work on shooting the Milky Way, I wanted to try some of that action myself, with some success (see photo below)! I sat in on Jennifer’s WOW session at the 2007 BetterPhoto Summit, and it reminded me of my aspirations I’ve had for astrophotography.


Shooting Other Stuff While On Nature Safari

Though I shoot a lot of nature, I also open my mind for anything else interesting that might come along the way. I’ll often spend time in the giftshops, there is always something interesting there to photograph. I’m always into photographing old farm or roadside structures that seem interesting as well. I call it “opening your creative mind” to other possibilities you might never have thought of!

In becoming a true photographer, you start looking at things differently. When gazing around, you start “thinking” about how these visuals will look in a photograph. Your eyes are always gazing for anything that seems interesting to shoot, just not nature, but everything. Your new subjects can be people, places, or things. When you start visualizing the world photographically, that’s when you’ve arrived as a true photographer.

That in mind, while on my roadtrip, keeping my eye out, I was able to add to my ever-growing image library.


Masterpiece Membership with Jim Miotke


Open Your Mind...

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Upon arriving the first evening, I even shot the diner where I had stopped for dinner.

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The Mackinaw Bridge

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I shot a series of about a dozen abandoned cottages along MI Hwy 2 to add to my Cottages portfolio

In summary, open your mind to all photographic possibilities. You may be a simple nature of portrait photographer, but, your tastes can change over time. Un-chaining yourself from only certain types of photography gives you more creative freedom, and more opportunity!

Check out my BetterPhoto course Digital Nature Photography with Photoshop and Elements



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The Milky Way over Lake Michigan




About Author / Instructor / Photographer, Kevin Moss
Photography Instructor: Kevin MossKevin Moss is a professional photographer as well as author of digital photography books.Most recent written works include Photoshop CS2 and Digital Photography for Dummies (Wiley Publishing), Camera Raw with Photoshop for Dummies (Wiley Publishing), 50 Fast Digital Camera Techniques Revision 2 (Wiley Publishing), and Nature Photography and Photoshop (Course Technology).

Kevins photographic travels began over 30 years ago while in high school. Though specializing in nature and landscapes, Kevin's expertise has grown to include fine-art portraiture, abstract photography, and urban scenes.

In addition to writing books and teaching photographic techniques, Kevin also donates his time and photographic services to various children-related charities, including St. Jude Childrens Hospital, and Learning Circle Academy.

You can learn more about Kevin Moss at http://kevinmossphotography.com


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