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Seasonal Feature
2011 Summer Photo Challenge

Posted October 15, 2011:
Feel that chill in the air?  No doubt about it - autumn is definitely here.  Leaves are falling, night-time temperatures are dropping, the north wind is beginning to blow...  But before you say your final goodbye to summer, our photo editors in the Submissions Review Team have put together some of our best summer 2011 photo submissions from our visitors.  The photos below are as warm and laid-back as this past summer was - and their beautiful use of compsition and technique makes them equally 'hot'!  Enjoy this new photo gallery.

**This Summer 2011 Challenge is now CLOSED to new submissions.**

Submission by Marcy Edwards
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Canon EOS 7D, 24mm focal length; f/16, 1/200, ISO 100

Hard to believe that Marcy found this particular beach in or near her hometown of Pittsburgh!  Turns out that she was on vacation this past summer, somewhere near St. Augustine, Florida and snapped this really awesome picture with the Atlantic Ocean to the left.  We are so glad that she decided to share this with us.

We didn't do an exact count, but it's likely that, in all, we probably received over 200 beach pictures submited for this 2011 Summer Photo Challenge.  Most of them looked very appealing, but tended to feature a water-face-on style.  It's amazing how much alike different beaches can look after you've seen so many pictures of them.

Marcy's take on this beach picture stood out for us because of her use of sky.  It takes-up about 80% of the entire frame, yet does not pull away from the beach feel at all.  In fact, the beautiful sapphire sky contrasted against the blooming white and grey clouds somehow enhances the  summery beach feel of this photo.

It's a great example of proper rule of thirds.  As well, Marcy's exposure is perfect.  The white clouds have definition and are not 'blown-out', shadows have enough light to work properly and colors are realistic.

We don't know about you, but feeling the cool temps outside right now, it sure seems like a perfect idea to go for a walk down this very inviting beach!

Submissions by Marcial dela Cruz
Manila, Philippines

Nikon D90, 18mm; f/11, 1/30, ISO 100
© 2010, Mar dela Cruz

Nikon D90, 18mm; f/11, 1/13, ISO 100
© 2010, Mar dela Cruz

NIkon D90, 18mm; f/11, 1/10, ISO 100
© 2010, Mar dela Cruz

Mar is no stranger to us here at FreePhotoCourse.com; he has submitted and has had other photos sucessfully selected for our Contributor's Gallery in July 2010.  These latest selections from him are a real treat for the eyes!  Each of the three photos were taken at Manila Bay and, as Mar tells us, the sunsets are so spectacular they seduce people to come watch every night.  They really are gorgeous and would make a beautiful wall poster in the right setting.  In his own words, Mar explains, "Manila Bay never fails to amaze my eyes with its dramatic sunset. This bay attracts thousands of people almost everyday to watch and photograph the 'show'. The rapid change in color of the horizon while the sun sets into the sea is really a fantastic expression of nature's beauty."  We couldn't have said it better!

What really stood-out for our photo editors was the different colors and treatment of the sky on the same night.  It provides an opportunity for us to remind our readers that the 'show in the sky' can and does change dramatically over the course of just a half hour.  Mar captured each of these images on the same night within exactly thirty minutes.  The middle sunset picture above was snapped first.  Thirty minutes later, Mar took the outer two pictures.  The one on the left looks so different from the one on the right because he panned to the right to get a different view of what was happening in a slightly different part of the sky.

His technique is perfect in each.  He keeps the light sensitiveity (ISO) at 100 for the finest resolution and then chooses a nice clean aperture of f/11 throughout.  F/11 ensures some longer depth of field, so that the slight ripples in the water right in front of the lens will appear as clear and well-defined as the sky upon which the lens is focused.  In order to support the low ISO and f/11 small aperture, Mar needed to use rather low shutter speeds to compensate for what would otherwise have been a dark exposure.  His first shot was OK at 1/30 of a second, but a half hour later the sun had sunk even deeper into the horizon, meaning that available light was waning.  To balance the exposure, the last two images (left and right sides above) required slower shutter speeds of 1/13 and 1/10, making the picture brighter.  The pictures are so crystal-clear that Mar almost certainly used a tripod to get these images at such slow shutter speeds.  (More info on understanding shutter speeds is also available on our site.)

Most people tend to over-expose sunrise and sunset pictures.  Because the sky is so dark, they allow the camera to adjust exposure automatically, which usually results in an over-exposed image where the colors are played-down.  Mar got it right which allowed for the true colors to dazzle rather than resorting to post-processing.  You should also look at where he placed the horizon.  He wisely chose to put the horizon on the middle lower third line, allowing for the most room to accommodate the most impressive part of the scene - the sky.  Thanks again Mar for sharing your excellent photography and beautiful part of the world with our readers!

We have a really useful article on How To Photograph Sunsets and Sunrises, so check it out if you want to create beautiful photos like these!

Submission by Bob Mac
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Swansea Heads, New South Wales, Australia
Fuji Finepix S5600, 29mm; f/5.6, 1/420, ISO 64
© Bob Mac

Happy New Years!  ...No, we haven't lost touch with reality or with the calendar, but there is an interesting story here.  Bob Mac photographed this image on December 28 of last year and sent it to us a few days later, on New Year's Eve.  We thought it was a very interesting image of some very interesting subject matter, but we decided to hold on to it for this 2011 Summer Photo Challenge.  After all, when Bob photographed this in his native Australia, it was at the height of summer.

A few things really caught our eye in this picture.  First of all, the clarity is superb.  Every detail, the tiny shadows behind the pebbles and the rough texture of the rock formations are so well defined that you feel as though you can reach out and feel them.  Second, the subject matter is intriguing and because of Bob's particular angle, the tallest rock appears to be a head of some sort of strange animal.  Our eyes are naturally drawn to recognizable shapes and this one makes you do a double-take.  Third, we applaud Bob's choice of keeping the colors natural.  So many photographers today choose to artificially over-saturate colors that everything begins to look somewhat fantasty-like and not at all realistic.

We are glad we saved this one for the summer gallery and hope our visitors enjoy it as well.  Congratulations Bob Mac - be proud of the certificate we've mailed to you - you've earned it.

Submissions by Shaun Thesnaar
Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Two Kudu Posing
Addo Elephant National Park, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Nikon D3100, 200mm; f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 400

Warning: Bad pun about to occur.  Kudu's...err...Kudo's to you Shaun Thesnaar, for capturing and submitting this very interesting and attractive photo for our Summer Challenge!  Our question is, "What did you pay these proud and beautiful animals to pose so perfectly for you, Shaun?"

Photographically-speaking, the image is right on target in terms of exposure, focus, use of space, composition and color tone.  While centering a couple of subjects is generally frowned-upon, this actually works quite well.  The animals and their unlikely pose shouts-out, "Symmetry please!" loud and clear.

Shaun is no stranger here, as one of his photos was chosen to be part of our June, 2011 Contributor's Gallery selections.

Kite Surfer in Aston Bay, East Cape, South Africa
Nikon D3100, 55mm; f/7.1, 1/200, ISO 100

Sunsets abound; yet another one here that has the added advantage of sharply reflective water receding from a high tide.  As with the sunsets featured above by Mar dela Cruz, Shaun's composition also takes advantage of the sky.  However, the horizon is slighly higher in this image to compensate for the fact that the lower portion of the image also has some eye candy.

The colors are natural and the golden hue is warm and inviting.  It's interesting how the kite is captured at the moment when it is more sharply contrasted by a brighter spot in the sky, allowing the viewer to more readily notice it.

Finally, the curving water in the foreground provides rhythm for the eye to move around.  Well done Shaun!

Submission by Dina Rossi

 

Space Shuttle Atlantis - Last Shuttle Flight
July 8, 2011 from 528 Causeway, Merritt Island, FL
Nikon D5000, 300mm; f/16, 1/1600, ISO 600

Dina was enjoying her summer vacation in Orlando with her husband and kids, when she heard some pretty big news about an area event that would be exciting to both watch and photograph.  The last-ever space shuttle launch was scheduled to occur just before the family's vacation was over.  So the Rossi's did what any sane family would do and that was to fight the massive traffic jam from Orlando to the 'Space Coast' in order to see the historic event in person.

Dina tells us that they got to the Cape Canaveral-Cocoa Beach area in the early-morning hours before sunrise on July 8.  Surprisingly, she said the traffic had already begun to build.  Once settled-in to their position on the beach, Dina kept an ear to the radio, as NASA was threatening to scrub the launch due to poor weather.

As you can see in her picture to the left, Shuttle Atlantis successfully lifted off just before 11:30 a.m.  As far as the photo is concerned, it is a decent shot of a difficult subject.  Dina said in her email to us, "It's not the photo I expected from a quality standpoint, but at least I was able to capture the very last space shuttle launch and using my longest lens, at 300mm, I was able to get the outline of the spaceship itself."

Space launches are among the most difficult of subjects to photograph.  A lot of factors prove to be the photographer's nemesis under these circumstances, the most common of which is haze.

Being sub-tropical in nature, Florida-based shuttle (and now) rocket launches during most daylight hours are often difficult to photograph without a great deal of humidity and haze mucking things up between your lens and the rapidly rising spacecraft.  As well, depending on your position and the sun's angle, the sky can mess with exposure.  Dina's picture still has merit, as her exposure is proper and she still captured the shuttle body despite the challenges.  Good work and a great souvenir of a very important milestone event!

If you want to know more about how to photograph space launches, read our article for great tips.

While many of our reader submissions to this Summer Challenge photo gallery had to do with beaches, flowers, wildlife and landscapes, some people had a completely different take on what summer meant to them photographically-speaking.  We selected the following three pictures because they so simply and effectively crystallize an aspect of summer that is familiar to most people - and that is the quintessential "Family Summer Vacation."  Take a look:
 

Submission by Joe R.
Akron, Ohio

Trestle Bridge over I-77, Virginia Mountains
Canon T2i, 72mm; f/5.6, 1/500, ISO 320

Our photo editors felt all warm and fuzzy when they saw Joe's summer vacation photo.  The old railroad trestle bridge was a familiar site during those long road trips over many family vacations.  Joe's picture is postcard-like, in that it depicts something to which most people can relate well and effectively sums-up an important part of many families' vacations.

Notice how Joe thought of using the fast shutter speed which would have been necessary to freeze the motion caused by his moving vehicle.  As well, there is a good sense of depth into the mountainous terrain.

Joe tells us that he took this near Ingleside, Virginia, on the I-77 corridor as he was traveling with his family south toward coastal Georgia.  Nice work with this one, Joe. 

Submission by D. Allen Jackson, Mississippi

Elvis Presley's Boyhood Home
Tupelo, Mississippi
Sony a390 DSLR, 38mm; f/8, 1/200, ISO 100

O.K., we'll admit that it's a little kitcsh, but then again, who can't remember visiting one landmark or another during the ol' family summer vacation.  It's there in our bag of childhood memories and most of us have been to some sort of tourist attraction like this one.

We like that the contributor thought about perspective.  While most people would photograph Elvis' boyhood home from the front angle, this shot is perfect; taken from a 45 degree angle does the job to show the depth and scale.  Also notice how the photog took advantage of the diffused light instead of photographing the house from the side that was directly lit by sun.  Very nice and a good memory as well!

Submission by John Stein
Colorado

Inside Tampa International Airport
Pentax K-r, 55mm; f/3.5, 1/60, ISO 250

Yet another summer vacation photo - but what John captured here is quite artistic.  Forget what's beyond those doors.  Taking center stage is the awesome reflection in the highly polished floor.

John took a bit of a diversion from the hustle and bustle of the airport leg of his own summer family vacation and noticed how abstract the reflection appeared.  It's as if there had been a flood and the wall of glass and doors are reflected in some gently moving water.

While it's not something one would hang on a wall, it is artistic in its own right and a very interesting scene at that!  Good work John.

Submission by John McGregor
Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada

A Monarch Butterfly Feeding on Milkweed Flowers
Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada
Fuji HS30, 80mm (equiv.); f/8, 1/200, ISO 160

The king of butterflies, the Monarch, spends its summers spread out across the northern parts of the US and Canada, where it feeds on milkweed and thistle nectar.  John photographed this beautifully composed image while portaging in the pristine beauty that is Algonquin Park.  We are impressed how the butterfly, while obviously the focal point, is not lost in the abundance of purple-pink flowers.

John gave a great deal of thought to lighting and his position in relation to the sun.  He also thought about getting as low to the ground as he could, so that the beautiful butterfly is contrasted well against the light blue sky.  (Had he shot this from eye level or above, the monarch would likely have been lose in the dark bokeh of green brush in the distance.)  If you follow the rule of thirds, you'll notice that the butterfly is just about perfectly positioned in the frame.  What a beautiful summer photo from a shutterbug who really understands how to take a common sight and turn it into something rather extraordinary!

Submissions by Alyssa Wright

Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida
Pansonic Lumix FZ35, 24mm (equiv.); f/6.5, 1/500, ISO 180

Ghost Crab in Sand Pail
Panasonic Lumix FZ35, 80mm (equiv.); f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 160

Thank you Alyssa for sharing a part of your summer vacation with us!  'Beaching' it in late June, Alyssa took the enticing picture to the top left.  We're wondering where everyone is, because it looks so perfect!  In any event, she took care to cut the horizon above the middle.  The sky in this case is a beautiful azure color, but without many clouds, does not warrant taking-up any more than about 1/3 of the photo.  Good call.  As well, the colors look true and the perspective appears to be a bit lower to the ground than usual, which accounts for the appearance of the slope down toward the ocean.

We had initially decided not to include the crabby little guy in the green pail, but then recanted when we considered the fun of it.  Photography can be aesthetically beautiful, technically accurate and just plain fun, and there's no doubt that this one definitely belongs in the fun department!  Anyone who's been to a southern beach knows about these fiesty little crustaceans and this particular picture reminded our photo editors of crab encounters of the past, when the palm-sized pipsqueaks would take a  stance and literally pick a fight, jabbing the large claw at the giant human.

Alyssa assured us that she let little crabby go merrily on its way as soon as her toddler-aged sons had a chance to get a good close-up look at it (and she got her picture!).

Send us your "best of the best" and if it's good enough, we'll post it for the world to see!
If our Submissions Team decides to post your image it means something special is going on with your photography.  You have the pride of knowing that your photography is at a higher level.  Best of all, you can show your posted work to friends and family - you can also put-up a link to this page up on your Facebook, Flickr or other sharing site!

SHOW OFF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT TO YOUR FRIENDS!  Contributors with a photographic work that is accepted and posted in any of our Challenges, Themes or regular Contributor's Gallery will receive a special certificate by e-mail.  In a way, it's a bit like winning a photo contest where your work can be seen by the world!

Please read our Contributor's Gallery Guidelines and Terms of Use before submitting or using this gallery.
SUBMISSIONS - Click HERE or send ONE of your best images to: submissions@freephotocourse.com
(By submitting a photo, you release all rights to www.FreePhotoCourse.comfor the purposes of storage, adjustment, display and transmission.  Please name your image according to how you want your name to appear.  ie. "David S." as opposed to "David Smith".) 

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