On Assignment: Colors of the Bible

by | Feb 4, 2022 | Assignments | 0 comments

As promised last week, the new photo assignment is now launched! You have until Saturday, February 26 to photograph the three colors of the Bible that Suzanne is requesting. And you might want to start on it early. Who knows what unexpected things you might run into like I did!

I was amazed how hard it was to get out and shoot in the mornings. The first or second time it wasn’t too bad, but after that I really had to make a special effort to get outside.

I was also amazed at how many mornings were actually colorful. I think I sleep through more beautiful sunrises than I think. This was a good exercise for me.

Pink was the color I chose to start with because landscape photography is right up my alley. Sunrises are pink.

However, there are other pink things in nature not to be overlooked. At an aquarium, you could find pink fish. If you live in the tropics or southern hemisphere, there may be pink flowers in full bloom.

The first location was easy. My backyard. I knew there wasn’t necessarily an amazing view, but if the sky was pink, I figured I could make something pretty out of it.

And it was pink!

220112_James Staddon_2216 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 34 mm, 1-60 sec at f - 2.8, ISO 100

Off in the other direction it was also glowing pink, but there wasn’t as frameable of a view. Cropping square for the assignment helped, though.

220112_James Staddon_2223 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 64 mm, 1-80 sec at f - 2.8, ISO 200

The second morning I wanted to go somewhere that had a more expansive view.

The foreground wasn’t worth including, so I did some more silhouetted hill shots.

The sky wasn’t quite as pink-looking though.

220113_James Staddon_2228 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 48 mm, 1-8 sec at f - 11, ISO 50

It was exciting to me that I had already had two colorful mornings. But I wasn’t sure how much longer the odds would be in my favor. On that third morning however, I was met with the most beautiful sunrise I had seen in a while that I was able to photograph.

220118_James Staddon_2250 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16 mm, 0.5 sec at f - 11, ISO 50

Having ice to work with in the foreground made it all that more enjoyable! I wish SO badly that I had taken more advantage of this. I am often so enamored by the sky that I am continually deceived into thinking that as long as that’s all that’s included, it will be a great picture. But foreground plays a huge part in landscape photography!

I started with my camera on a fully extended tripod and that was a big mistake. As I continued to shoot, I kept the camera on the tripod, but felt the need to keep lowering and lowering it until I was literally laying on the ice for every shot. This second picture is the only one that I actually like from that shoot, but even it does not feel as well composed as it should be. I really wish I had been thinking more about the foreground on that shoot.

220118_James Staddon_2245 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 16 mm, 0.5 sec at f - 11, ISO 50

Then came the following morning. I couldn’t believe the gate opened a solid hour later! That was a true disappointment.

But at that “making any location work” exercise location, I was surprised to actually come away with two photos that I like.

220119_James Staddon_2258 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 55 mm, 1-160 sec at f - 7.1, ISO 100

220119_James Staddon_2262 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 105 mm, 1-100 sec at f - 11, ISO 400

They don’t necessarily speak “pink” but I really did have fun trying to make that location work.

The fifth and final location turned out to be a complete dud in terms of “pink”.

This was the shot from behind the church. I’m embarrassed to even post it.

220128_James Staddon_2338 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 26 mm, 4.0 sec at f - 4.0, ISO 100

But the church did prove to be a fantastic location to switch gears and start thinking “white”.

220128_James Staddon_2359 Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 25 mm, 1-50 sec at f - 5.6, ISO 200

Now It’s Your Turn

Can you do a better job of finding a sunrise that speaks “pink” more than mine? Can you find some things that speak “white” and “black”? It’s time to get out there and shoot this month’s photo assignment, Colors of the Bible, before the time runs out!

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