By Kevin Moss, BetterPhoto Instructor
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! I sat in on Jennifer’s WOW session at the BetterPhoto Summit last month, and it reminded me of my aspirations I’ve had for astrophotography.
The Milky Way over Lake Michigan
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.
Upon arriving the first evening, I even shot the diner where I had stopped for dinner.
The Mackinaw Bridge
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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