Author Archives: bobshank

My First Soccer Game

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As you all know, I enjoy photographing sports.

I mostly photograph baseball, which I’ve been doing for several years now. This year I started photographing football, too. I coached baseball and football for nine years, so I understand these games inside and out, which makes photographing them much easier than if I knew nothing about the game.

Soccer is another story. I’ve seen many soccer games over the years, but I never coached soccer or even played it that much. Last Saturday I had the opportunity to photograph a soccer game. I actually enjoyed it very much–more than I thought I might. The game was full of action and the girls played incredibly well!

Here are just a few photos I captured during this exciting game.

Why did the elk cross the road?

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To get to the other side where the acorns were!

I watched this small bull cross the road, debark a tree, and then eat one acorn after the other. If you’ve been out in the woods lately, you know there is a banner crop of acorns this year. They are all over the forest floor! Well, this bull wasted no time and devoured as many acorns as he could find. Then, once he had his fill, he laid down and chewed his cud. Ahhh, the life of a bull elk in the rut!

This bull put on a show for me after he crossed the road. Yep, he crossed the road to get to the other side where the acorns were located!

Dangerous Crossing?

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Back in September I watched excitedly as a small herd of elk crossed the creek. The water wasn’t all that high, but it wasn’t shallow either. The cows went across first and carefully made their way to the other side. In the midst of their crossing, I saw this little calf making its way across the creek, too. Then I wondered, how dangerous is this crossing for the elk, especially for the calves?

We humans take many things for granted–bridges, for example. There aren’t too many times when we have to ford a stream or creek these days. Perhaps the elk’s four legs help them manage the slippery rocks better than our two legs, but I am sure it is still somewhat precarious for them. I could tell that the elk were methodical as they gently stepped into the water and then slowly made their way across the stream. None of them fell or even stumbled. Then the bull followed and made his way across, bringing up the rear.

But my interest was with the smallest of the elk–the calf. It made its way across successfully but this photograph shows just how high the water was for this little calf.

Exposure Might Depend on Main Subject

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Getting exposure right in the camera is important to me. I aim to get the best exposed photograph on site rather than just grabbing a shot willy nilly and then correcting it in software. I suppose this goes back to my film days when capturing the correct exposure was absolutely necessary with the camera. Sometimes I miss those days, but that’s another story for another time.

Capturing the correct exposure not only makes our work easier in post-processing, but it shows that we know how to use our camera, too. Some photographers are so good at seeing the light that they can predict with incredible accuracy which f-stop and shutter speed to use! I am not that good most of the time, but I do know how to use my cameras exposure meter to get it right. Still, there are times when proper exposure is not so cut and dry or as easy as we’d like to make it.

Take for example this photo of a bull elk I captured on a recent trip to Elk County. It was a rainy morning and my main focus was photographing the elk of Pennsylvania. I didn’t notice it until I got home, but this shot showed the drops of rain on the trees in an incredible way. The droplets of rain which formed on the end of the branches produced  a spectacle of light behind the bull elk. It was neat!

However, the elk was took dark. When I slightly corrected the exposure the bull looked better but it appeared to me that the droplets of rain were not as clear or pronounced. I guess it may be because the main subject now properly exposed caused the whole photograph to be somewhat lighter. This appeared to shift the focus of the photograph off the droplets of rain and onto the bull elk. This is normally exactly what I want since I am a wildlife photographer, but I was torn on this image because of the change in look it created. Perhaps the proper exposure does depend on what we want the main subject to be in an image. Here the two different exposures of this photo. Which one do you like best?

Wedding Photography

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I was the wedding photographer of Wilson & Lourdes, who got married in the end of June this year. It was a beautiful day filled with all kinds of exciting wedding-day activities! It was a joy to photograph the anticipation in the pre-ceremony shots, the wedding ceremony, some outdoor photos at a nearby park, and the reception.

The bridal dresses worn by Lourdes and her bridesmaids were absolutely stunning and added an extra touch of elegance to the entire celebration. Lourdes, adorned in a breathtaking gown that exuded timeless charm, looked every bit the radiant bride. The intricate lace details and flowing train of her dress were captured beautifully in the photographs, showcasing the careful craftsmanship that went into creating such a masterpiece.

The bridesmaids’ dresses complemented the overall theme perfectly, with a harmonious blend of colors and styles that added to the visual tapestry of the day. Each dress seemed to reflect the individual personality of the wearer while maintaining a cohesive and enchanting look. The moment when the bridesmaids helped Lourdes with the final adjustments to her gown was truly heartwarming, and I made sure to capture that candid interaction.

Lourdes had found her dream gown at a charming Utah bridal shop, a hidden gem that perfectly catered to her vision. The shop’s expertise in bridal fashion was evident in the exquisite selection of dresses that Lourdes had to choose from. It was evident that her choice was more than just a dress – it was a reflection of her style, the love she shared with Wilson, and the journey they were embarking upon together.

Wedding photographers Portland Maine should take special care to capture the intricate details of the bridal dresses, from the delicate embroidery to the graceful draping. The soft natural light of the pre-ceremony shots highlighted the dresses’ textures and hues, adding an ethereal quality to the photographs. The outdoor photos at the nearby park provided a picturesque backdrop, allowing the dresses to truly shine in the open air.

The bridal dresses, like the entire wedding day, told a beautiful story of love, joy, and cherished moments. They were a testament to the care and attention that Lourdes and Wilson put into every aspect of their celebration, and I felt privileged to capture their journey from the moment Lourdes stepped into that Utah bridal shop to the final dance at the reception.

In the end, the photographs not only captured the elegance of the dresses but also the emotions and memories that Lourdes, Wilson, and their loved ones will treasure for years to come.

Afterward, I was busy editing the photos and posted them to my website within 24 hours. This allowed the couple and their families and friends to see the photographs of their big day. Proofs were ordered and then delivered to the couple. From these proofs, the couple ordered the photographs for their wedding album.

I recently received these final selections from the couple and they picked some great photos to include in their album! The 8″ x 10″ enlargements turned out great, too! I assembled their wedding album and sent it out today. I am sure these photographs will bring back some very happy and special memories of their wedding day and the detailed happenings of their special day.

Here are a few photos from this wedding.

 

 

One Incredible Football Game!

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East Stroudsburg-South vs. Pleasant Valley

This was the match-up for Friday night high school football here. It was billed to be the match-up of the year.

Two quick possessions  by South and the score was 14-0. So much for all the hype–so everyone thought. From that point on both teams began a battle for the ages. The game went back and forth almost with each possession. Pleasant Valley scored what was going to be a tie score at 35 each, but PV went for two instead of one extra point. They didn’t make it, so the score stood at 35-34. South was driving the ball just around mid-field when it was suddenly fourth and one yard to go. They chose to go for it instead of punting it deep into PV territory. But they didn’t make it and turned the ball over on downs.

PV put together an offensive drive that looked an awful lot like one of the Colts drives–precise passes and making critical 3rd downs. With 18 seconds left in the game, QB Derrick Walling threw a pass to RB Robert Getz for the go ahead touchdown. The TD pass ended up being the winning and final score. Absolutely amazing!

The sidelines were abuzz all night with photographers, television cameras, and reporters. It was a media maze! I was so glad to be on the sidelines photographing this incredible game and honing my sports photography skills. It may not have been a great night for me, but it sure was for these two football teams!

Fall Newsletter

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I just posted my new Fall Newsletter to my website.

The Fall Newsletter has some articles about the Pennsylvania elk, the Elk County Visitor Center, and a Photography tip. You can view my newsletter here. It features a brand new format and is now produced in PDF format.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

My photography adventures take me on many exciting experiences. Last night I photographed the local high school game between East Stroudsburg South and Pleasant Valley. It was absolutely the best high school football game I’ve ever seen! The game went back and forth the entire time and Pleasant Valley pulled it out with 18 seconds to go on the clock! It was enthralling and I was honored to be there to capture the action with my camera. You can see these photos here.

It is experiences like this and seeing the beautiful Pennsylvania elk that keep me behind the viewfinder. I could think of no better place to be in my spare time!

The Bull Known as 8A

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I guess I am a purist of sorts. Perhaps it was the education I received at Temple University when I earned my communications degree back in 1987. I like my photography to depict real-life situations and tell the story exactly as it was seen by me. For example, I never use Photoshop to remove a collar from an elk. I know some photographers who do this extremely well and they are definitely better in Photoshop than I. And I don’t knock them for what they do, I just prefer a different route in my own photography I guess. To me there is no right or wrong here–just a preference, and I prefer to keep my photos as they were captured. I do some crop some of my photos once in a while, but to me this is a little different from removing part of an image that is seen as the main subject. Go ahead and call me a purist and I promise not to knock you for removing a collar in Photoshop.

Those of us who photograph the Pennsylvania Elk see these collars often. They are radio transmitters used by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to assist in tracking the elk herd. This research tool is quite helpful I am sure, but as a photographer, I prefer to see elk without the big yellow or brown collars attached to their necks. Again, I am a purist. However, the collars some elk wear are part of the elk story and culture on Winslow Hill. So documenting and even photographing them makes sense to me even though I usually prefer to show only those elk without collars.

So yesterday, when I saw a blog entry by my photo friend, Brad Myers, and a comment by Coy Hill; I did a little digging. Brad and Coy were discussing the 8A bull, which is a beautiful bull this year! He garnered a lot of attention during the rut. I went back through my photographs and found these photos of the bull known as 8A, since that is the description on his yellow collar. I am kind of embarrassed that I did not post any photos of this bull earlier. And I most likely would not have posted any photos of  him without the prompting of Brad’s and Coy’s blog conversation. I hope these photos help tell a little more of the Pennsylvania Elk story and help to show just what a magnificent bull is 8A!

Is It the Camera or the Photographer?

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We all hear comments about our photography. Positive feedback is always welcome and has a way of encouraging us to keep at our task in a very positive way. But sometimes the comments we receive are unintentionally backhanded. For example, have you have been told: “Wow, that’s a great photograph. You must have a really good camera!”

You see, the intention is probably well-meaning, but how do you feel when you hear this? Doesn’t it sound like anyone could have taken that photo if they just had an equally expensive or quality camera? So what makes a great photograph–the camera of the photographer?

Some may be quick to answer, “Both.” But let’s look a little deeper into this answer. Surely a better camera is going to produce results, but don’t you think a pro can take even an inexpensive camera and make it look good?

You see, I am of the mind that it is more the photographer who makes good photographs than the camera. I know some photographers who are excellent in their craft and make unbelievable photographs from film even today. It doesn’t really matter which camera they use, they put their knowledge of the craft into use and the results speak for themselves.

Yes, a good camera can make a good photographer better, but I don’t think a great camera can make a non-photographer good. What do you think? Is it the camera or the photographer that makes a difference?