Visions and Nature Autumn Photography
Posted on November 11, 2011
Autumn Photography
by Kristel Schneider
Autumn, one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. A season full with colors and atmosphere .
Every year the Autumn season makes a photographer’s heart go faster and every year is different. This year the season was late, the climate was too warm to bring out the nice autumn colors on the trees. But when the trees finally are at their best, photographers have to act quick because the top season does not last long. Rain and wind can destroy the scenery overnight. The sun is not always required for Autumn photography an overcast day and mist are great weather conditions to get these colors popup.
TIPS for successful Autumn Photography:
– go out even if the weather is cloudy and grey
– get up early to get the first light even in combination with mist.
– use a polarization filter, the colors get more intense and the filter is also very useful for
wet leaves reflection .
– look at your white balance settings, try out different modes.
– when taking photos of mushrooms look at your background to create a nice color
contrast.
Even the late Autumn colors (red/brown tints) are nice to capture in landscape photography. So although this year may not have been the top Autumn season, even now, in November, it is still nice to go out and enjoy some mushrooms and the late season colors.
New autumn workshop/tour dates available for 2012.
Photowalk in Clermont Ferrand
Posted on October 3, 2011
Word Wide Photowalk
Clermont Ferrand, France
By Kristel Schneider
Saturday, October 1st, Clermont Ferrand was part of the largest global Social Event for Photographers: the 4th edition of Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk.
I was happy to organize this local walk and be the leader of a small but enthusiastic photo group. We had a great day and were lucky to enjoy some very nice weather!
From today on the group members can upload a photo of their choice and take part in the Local and World Wide photo contest. I will pick the Local winner, the best image from the Clermont Ferrand walk which will then take part in the WWPW photo contest. Scott Kelby and his team will choose the grand winner.
See for more images my Facebook page .
Stag Beetles series
Posted on June 21, 2011
Stag Beetles Series
by Kristel Schneider
Stag Beetles (Lucanidae) are robust insects with black or reddish brown colouration.
The smaller ones even have a bluish sheen. The males have greatly enlarged, toothed mandibles; females are often smaller. The antennae are elbowed or bent in the middle.
More info about this wonderful insect click here.
For my Beetle photo shoot I wanted to get some soft focus images and some general detailed ones. The insects were wandering around on and in the tree trunk, the males didn’t really fight but where just getting in the defense ‘position’ what was nice for a background. The morning light provided me with some nice soft (background) light.
I tried some different angles and depth of fields and worked with my Canon 5DMark II and Canon 40D with different lenses (300mm + extension tube and the 150 macro lens).
Food in Nature – workshop
Posted on May 30, 2011
Food in Nature – Workshop
by Kristel SchneiderThe nice thing about organizing one-on-one workshops is that you sometimes get funny or unusual requests from your participants. And yesterday I had to organise a workshop with one of those special requests for a private photography workshop. The participant was a cook and wanted to take images of Food in Nature.
After looking on the net and into my own cooking books I thought this was not going to be an easy task. But I liked the request so I agreed to organize this workshop and the date was set for yesterday. A whole new concept for me, normally I walk in nature and drive around to look for some different sceneries whereas yesterday I had to wait while the cook was ready with some kind of dessert or other dish so that we could place the subject on an old moss-covered tree trunk , in high grass or just in the vegetable garden.
I can tell you that food photography is not the same as taking images of wild mushrooms or landscapes. Personally I like images that are a bit abstract or with movement but with food you still have to see what is presented. So in the end also it was a learning process for me and although I didn’t have the time to shoot images for my own archive I took some snapshots with my 300mm to give you an idea of what we did with two little fruit pastries.
Now, if you think you also have a nice idea for a private photography one-on-one workshop feel free to contact me so that we can discuss the 
possibilities. Click here
Visit Kristels website: click on logo
