Michael Kenna : Hokkaido

After reading Bruce Percy`s latest post, I would like to share a little sunday inspiration. See this interview with Michael Kenna by clicking on the image below.

Michael Kenna`s Hokkaido

Wish everyone a blissful sunday.

Seung Kye

Childhood Memories

Childhood Memories_Copyright © 2009 Seung Kye Lee Photography

*this image can be viewed larger in the Waterfalls and Landscapes-gallery.

It`s funny how I seem to remember all sorts of memories when I`m traveling, hiking or during driving my car to a location. The same phenomena happens a lot when I`ve decided to wait on one spot for better light. My mind always takes me back in time. Back to all forgotten memories that makes me wonder if they are mine at all. I`ve often gone back as early as when I was 5-6 years old and can even remember how things smelled like. I recently read in a science magazine that stated that of the 5 traditional senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste), smells will be remembered most accurate throughout our life. Many times I`ve found this to be true. One example is when I was a young boy and went to the store with my mother. As we passed a pasta/spaghetti section I suddenly stopped and let my nose work the surrounding air…the different smells. I followed my nose to a particular kind of egg noodles. Then as my mother approached me I said: “I`ve eaten this before and it`s very good!”. She had never cooked it for me nor did she know exactly what kind of food it was either. My point is, I could not remember seeing it before or remember when or where I`ve eaten it, but I knew it was good and I knew the smell. Probably, I was accustomed to it when I lived in Korea, but forgot all about it after coming to Norway as an adoptive child. Not a unique experience this is, but many of my earliest memories are based on how things, or even people smelled. I am sure many of you have the same, or similar experiences.

The above photograph was made on a foggy morning a couple of days ago. I was happy to see that the water was perfectly still. I could probably have shot a 5 sec. exposure without the boat showing any signs of movement. Anyway, I moved around a little to find out how to shoot this scene and finally stood there observing and figuring out the technical aspects to bring out the feeling I wanted for this image. After removing the polarizer from my lens, adding a 2-stop gnd-filter and while looking through the viewfinder I was taken back to childhood again. The whole scene turned into a dreamy half seeing/half remembering experience. Just like when you blend two versions of the same image at 50%. It`s like when you are lost in thoughts; eyes are open, but with an ignorant, empty expression. The feeling of light sadness that came with it was strong and I forgot about shooting for a minute or two while letting these impressions flow in my mind at their own speed. To force such experiences in either direction often ruins the whole thing. Just observe where they bring you. The image is definitely not a stunner or original, it`s  very simple.But, somehow I really like it for it`s empty spaces, mood and how it makes me feel.

A minute or two (probably) later I felt very fortunate to stand before this empty, but very meaningful scenery and knowing that I would be able to produce a photograph of very personal value to me. The fact that I cannot help visualize a lady in a white dress with a broad-rimmed hat and an umbrella sitting in the boat facing the horizon is just something I`ll have to live with though. It might be a cliché, but bear with me, please.

In this case I would say that the subject came to me instead of being pre-planned and looked for. No plans were made to find this location, or subject. Though it`s in a rather different category than what I tend to shoot, what it gives me in return is a mind travel experience on a personal level. We photographer live in a modern time where sharing and getting feedback on our photographic work is easy and instant, regardless of geographical borders. To remember why we shoot can easily be forgotten in all the chaos.

Equipment used for Childhood Memories: Canon 5D, 17-40mm, 2-stop (soft) graduated neutral density filter.

October has been an ordeal with my health issues and I`ve been quite stationary in my home though I had to (as a matter of course) go shooting at some locations near my home when I felt able to . Spending too much time at home makes me feel a little crazy or like a caged animal…bored. My health issues aren`t completely solved yet, but I`m definitely much better now and soon I will be able to go visit some of my planned winter locations.

Seung Kye

Article on my use of filters at Singh-Ray Filters

Copyright © 2009 Seung Kye Lee Photography

An article on my use of filters is now published in the Singh-Ray Filters` blog.

Many of the questions people mail me about is this…the use of filters. Using the appropriate filters at the right time is one of several important techniques in the making of a good, in-camera photograph, or RAW-file and I would spend too much time behind a computer if I didn`t have them. Further on, there are countless examples of things you cannot re-create or repair in your beloved Photoshop as well that only can be made with the use of right filters. A photographer that never have used graduated neutral density filters before might feel like a challenge to get it right. But, by practising how to use them efficently everyone can learn it. In most cases, different filters are necessary to create good quality photographs that results in stunning prints. Whether it`s landscapes, wildlife, macro, abstracts etc., quality filters can lift your photography to another level than just documenting something beautiful or fascinating.

Earlier I posted a blog article on the RGB Histogram (not to be confused with the brightness/default histogram) on my blog which some of my readers found very helpful. If you struggle with getting good colors, or if your prints doesn`t produce clean, nice colors, you might take your time to read it. I believe in capturing the best possible image in-camera rather than making compromises. It`s quite possbile you already make use of the RGB Histogram and still have the above problems, then it might be a case of monitor calibration, exposure, printer settings/calibration etc. Later on I will post more articles on different techniques that I use to ensure good image quality, clean exposures, effective compositions and thoughts on environment and landscape/nature photograpy in general. My upcoming article will explain the power and utility of custom white balance. You might not believe it, but the colors in a good 85% of my images are based on careful use of custom white balance and color channels and not saturation adjustments.

If you read my article on Singh-Ray Filters, be sure to check out the other articles of many amazing photographers as well.

Until then, take care…and may the light be with you.

Seung Kye

Website: www.leeseungkye.com

From my Archives

Fullmoon Sunset_Copyright © 2009 Seung Kye Lee Photography

- Last light on Ranten Peak (4789 ft.) on Norefjell Mountain, Norway.

This is an older photograph from my archives, captured September 2008. The days of autumn splendor is definitely over for now, snow has found it`s way to norwegian mountains and a long, cold winter is ahead of us.  I always find the change from autumn to winter to be the hardest. The days are getting shorter each day and the temperature has already sunken to 0 °C on many occasions. The only colors you will ever see is the colors the sky produces..everything else is covered in deep snow.  Soon the snow will fall outside my house as well…that`s the final “no turning back now”-cue for me.

Then again, there are so many positive things about this time of year as well. When shooting at sunrise, I can actually sleep longer before I get up. Autumn is also the best time of year to use fog in photography. And, in mid-winter there are so short periods of daylight that you can be outdoors shooting from sunrise to sunset without getting tired at all. Due to the low sun in the subarctic, the light can be so beautiful at all times during the day that shooting at high noon can produce photographs that seems like they were captured in early morning or late afternoon light. Isn`t it wonderful? Don`t worry, be happy.

I just re-processed this photograph as I wasn`t satisfied with how I processed it the first time and I thought I`d share it with you. My latest photographs can be found here.

Seung Kye

Website: www.leeseungkye.com

Travel Shooter`s Photographer Showcase

Arctic Light_Copyright © 2009 Seung Kye Lee Photography

- Light through fog. Oslo Fjord, Norway, Feb. 2009.

Seung Kye Lee is now featured on Travel Photographer Of The Year-website. This does NOT indicate that I am the travel photographer of the year nor that I am nominated as such, only that I have a showcase at Travel Shooter`s Photographer Showcase at the TPOTY website.

Thanks a lot to Karen at TPOTY for showcasing me. I really appreciate it.

Seung Kye