Using Landscape/Nature Photography to Glorify God

[DaveKicks]

Hey All,
I'm having some trouble figuring out how to use my new hobby of landscape photography in a way that honors God. I really don't want to be that guy who puts "word art" Bible verses on tacky sunset shots but I really don't know which direction to go. Here are some recent shots:

http://www.davekicksass.com/photo/fluvial.jpg

http://www.davekicksass.com/photo/dry.jpg

Does anyone have any good ideas of how I can glorify God with them?

Thanks!

[mossrose]

Great photos, Dave!

I think just sharing them with others and praising God for His creation is a good way to start.

:smile:

[Michelle]

Gorgeous! I especially love that black/white one.

Just exhibit them. That seems like it would glorify God.

[Teluog]

Just take pics of the world God made. Then show us the pics. That's it. Here's some of mine, no editing.

[mossrose]

Here is one my sister took a couple of autumns ago. It is one of my favourite photos. I have even made an avatar out of it.

[Kelp]

Wow. These are all some really great pictures :smile:

[mossrose]

I like a few of these, too. I took them. Except for the last one.

[DaveKicks]

Thanks for the input guys, and great pictures everyone!

Right now, I've got a gallery online and I'm trying to figure out other ways to display my work so people can recognize how creative and loving God is in giving it all to us.

[Teluog]

I suggest posting pics here in this thread and using this thread to post our pics of nature.

I'll post some later.

[Kelp]

Thanks for the input guys, and great pictures everyone!

Right now, I've got a gallery online and I'm trying to figure out other ways to display my work so people can recognize how creative and loving God is in giving it all to us.
Good idea. :thumb:

[Teluog]

Here's some of mine. Will post more later.

[Soyeong]

Mossrose, I forget the name of the lake (I want to say Net Lake), but was the picture in the top left taken in Oregon?

[mossrose]

Mossrose, I forget the name of the lake (I want to say Net Lake), but was the picture in the top left taken in Oregon?
Yes, Crater Lake! Good eye!

The other pics are also Oregon. The sunset is near Garibaldi, and the other is near Port Orford.

Ornamental crabapple tree in my back yard, and my precious grandbaby!

:loves:

[Soyeong]

Yes, Crater Lake! Good eye!

The other pics are also Oregon. The sunset is near Garibaldi, and the other is near Port Orford.

Ornamental crabapple tree in my back yard, and my precious grandbaby!

:loves:


Cool. This is one my dad took when we were there.

[mossrose]

Cool. This is one my dad took when we were there.
Absolutely stunning!

I like it there. I would like to go back and see it again and spend a little more time, I think.

[pontus]

Here's one from the deep forests of Sweden:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3391/3437652311_e97e09a283.jpg

[Teluog]

Nice.

[DaveKicks]

Mushrooms growing on tree bark under fresh snow in Sleeping Giant State Park in January 2009:
http://www.davekicksass.com/photo/fungi.jpg

I'm in the process of putting together "Dave's School of Kick ___ Photography" on my website. It's going to be aimed at getting people from the "point and shoot" mentality to the "make" a photograph mentality with easy ways to use the full potential of any camera you have.

[Teluog]

Recently, I went out to see a bunch of falls in a nearby city.

[Kelp]

Wow. You guys all have amazing gifts :smile:

[Teluog]

Wow. You guys all have amazing gifts :smile:

...you mean amazing cameras? :ahem:

I got mine for free and it's a bit old actually.

[Kelp]

The skills, I mean.

[Teluog]

The skills, I mean.

Standing still? :tongue:

[Kelp]

Figuring out what will make a good shot.

[Teluog]

Ahhh, right, yes.

[Teluog]

More from the day I went to see a bunch of falls

[DaveKicks]

The skills, I mean.

The camera used doesn't really matter (http://kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm). I do have a pretty sweet camera but learning composition and proper exposure is what makes pictures. I can make basically the same pictures with any camera.

(For those who follow the link above, Ken Rockwell is a raving lunatic so don't listen to most of what he says. However, the article I linked is spot on.)

[Kelp]

Yeah, that's what I meant by skill. Composition ability. :smile:

[SariatheKokiri]

Wow, great pictures, everyone.

Here are some nature pictures I've taken... I forgot I'd taken most of them. I just don't often take many pictures of nature, for some reason. But yeah, here's all the ones I could find...

And the last one is edited some...:blush:

[Teluog]

Nice.

[DaveKicks]

I'm a big fan of the tree branches SariatheKokiri,

[Kelp]

Me too!

[SariatheKokiri]

Thanks!

[Teluog]

Here's some from another hike I went on earlier this summer.

[DaveKicks]

Got a new wide angle lens for my birthday this week and put it to good use the past two nights:

http://www.davekicksass.com/photo/lighthouse-point.jpg

http://www.davekicksass.com/photo/morris-cove-sunset.jpg

God is good.

[mossrose]

Very nice!

:thumb:

[Teluog]

That last pic is awesome Dave.

[Augustine2004]

http://www.davekicksass.com/photo/morris-cove-sunset.jpg
God is good.I'm surprised you got such a great pic out of an at-the-sun focus.

[Teluog]

More from the same place.

[DaveKicks]

I'm surprised you got such a great pic out of an at-the-sun focus.

It's actually a two-exposure blend. I exposed once for the rocks, once for the sky and then composited the two together. There's no digital senson on earth (that I'm aware of) that has the dynamic range to capture that. No film either, for that matter. An alternative method in situations like this is to use a graduated neutral density filter to knock down the sky a few stops. In this case, there was about a 3-stop difference which created the sun flare in the lower portion of the photo.

[SariatheKokiri]

It's actually a two-exposure blend. I exposed once for the rocks, once for the sky and then composited the two together. There's no digital senson on earth (that I'm aware of) that has the dynamic range to capture that. No film either, for that matter. An alternative method in situations like this is to use a graduated neutral density filter to knock down the sky a few stops. In this case, there was about a 3-stop difference which created the sun flare in the lower portion of the photo.

Oohh, I was wondering how you got that so perfect! You did a really great job on it, though, it looks great

[DaveKicks]

I put up the beginnings of my photography tutorials on my website. It will continue to grow as time permits.

[pontus]

I went on a canoe trip with a couple of friends and caught this tree lit by the sunset just north of Uppsala... I just love the golden colors when the sun is setting!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3719148505_873405af1d.jpg

Dave, I liked your website. Great picture on the first page. :-)

[Augustine2004]

I went on a canoe trip with a couple of friends and caught this tree lit by the sunset just north of Uppsala... I just love the golden colors when the sun is setting!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3719148505_873405af1d.jpg

Dave, I liked your website. Great picture on the first page. :-)I think 'honey light' when I see that.

[mossrose]

I went on a canoe trip with a couple of friends and caught this tree lit by the sunset just north of Uppsala... I just love the golden colors when the sun is setting!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3719148505_873405af1d.jpg

Dave, I liked your website. Great picture on the first page. :-)
Absolutely stunning!

[pontus]

Thanks :-)

I'm going to the family cabin tomorrow, so I might post some more pictures here in a week or so.

[DaveKicks]

Pontus,
As you're looking for more nature shots, remember how that golden light helps a photograph. A camera's sensor can't view the same broad range of luminosities our eyes can so at sunrise and sunset, when the sky and land have about the same intensity of illumination you're going to get your best shots. Also at those times, the shadows are the least harsh so you get better nature shots. Good luck and I hope to see some great shots of God's creation!

[DaveKicks]

I live about 2 miles from this lighthouse so it's an easy target I guess...

God has created such a wonderful sky. I love capturing it's subtle beauty juxtaposed to the ragged earth.