Short video of the gear I use when I am out on landscape photography trips. Hope you enjoy!
Sleepless In Seattle
In July 1993, I visited Seattle for the first time. I was a ROTC Cadet at Fort Lewis, training to be an Army Officer. If I’m not mistaken, we had to be in training (advanced camp) for approximately 8 weeks. At about the halfway point, the cadets were all given a weekend pass to Seattle. During that break, we all watched Sleepless in Seattle, and from that point forward, I knew I would live and work in the area. The movie featured a boathouse that I had the opportunity visit 10 years after I saw the movie. At any rate, every time I see any houseboat, it reminds me of when I was just a college kid with a plan – – a plan that I stayed with all the way up to this point. I hope you enjoy the image.
© A.J. Wright Photography l All Rights Reserved.
The Secret Weapon…
Well, there is at least one secret weapon. There are several others in my arsenal, but the primary tool used to construct this image is the ND and polarizer filters. For any serious outdoor or landscape photographer, they are an absolute must.
These two images were taken from the same location – both are directly out of camera with no post editing. The difference in the images are remarkable in my mind. When I first started out in photography, no one told me that images weren’t gonna pop right out of the camera. I thought I didn’t have the talent to take a decent image, and the more I worked, the more I learned.
It took me at least 2 years to figure out many of the nasty secrets in photography. Pardon me for sharing them with you.
Happy shooting!
AW
Seattle Cityscape Images
My cityscape gallery has been growing for a couple years now. You can check out the gallery here: http://www.ajwrightphoto.com/#at=0&s=0&p=2&a=3&mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000. Over 90% of the images are actually in Seattle. There’s only 1-2 taken from other places.
My goal is to add at least 40 more images of the city, which will certainly take a considerable amount of time due to my hectic schedule. Would love to know which ones you guys like best, and would definitely appreciate your opinions of what areas of Seattle I should capture next. Thanks!!!
Celebrate 48!
I fell in love with Seattle in 1992. At that time, I was a college student / ROTC cadet visiting the area (Fort Lewis) for officer training . From that visit forward, it was my dream to live in the Northwest. Approximately 6 years later, my dream was turned into a reality. I fought to be stationed in Fort Lewis, served my time, and resigned from the military. I quickly took a job in downtown Seattle. I quickly began following the Seahawks (as I did the Sonics and the Mariners). I’ve been a resident of the Northwest now for a little over 15 years. I’m glad I call this place home. I’m glad to be a part of the 12th man. He is real… 2014/15 will be insane. I can’t wait.
Leaving Seattle
I hung out near the terminal in Seattle a few days ago, wanting to take a cool pic of the ferry as it departed for Bainbridge Island. As I stood there, it reminded me that I need to leave Seattle more often to photograph other parts of the Pacific Northwest. So, during that time, I made a promise – a promise to develop a written travel plan.
I am happy to report that I am 90% done. If I can get this done in 2014, I will add no less than 100 images to my online portfolio. Keep your eye on my website (www.ajwrightphoto.com). My next trip is Jan 24-27. Wish me luck!
Wild Rivers
Since I can’t swim, it will be rare for me to post an image of moving water from this perspective. Couple that with the fact that I have a very expensive camera (and lens, and tripod) the chances of this happening again are quite slim…
Actually, I’ll be honest. I’ve been to too many places where the shot was “ok” from the safe area, but I just knew it would be better if I took just a little more risk. Be it the Grand Canyon, Palouse Falls, or the Cedar River…. I’ve found myself pushing my photography more and more as my passion for photography grows. I AM NOT in any way shape or form suggesting that we (you) do anything unsafe to compose an image. However, if the risk is calculated, and you have taken the necessary safety precautions – go for it!
These little tweaks and adjustments to your perspective can make a HUGE difference in the final image.
Enjoy!
Seattle’s Best!
I can still recall the first image I had critiqued by a “real photographer”. It was of a tree at Deep Lake, about 30 miles south of Seattle. Before I get started, I must tell you, the image was absolutely horrible… It was out of focus, poorly composed, bad lighting – you name it… I, however, was proud of the image (at the time). The “real photographer” who critiqued the image gave me only positive feedback. He asked me a lot of questions about the image…. and I gave him a lot of answers. At the end of his review, he told me that the image was “good”, he talked about my vision, and he encouraged me to keep shooting. He motivated me. His name was Rick Sandler, and he lives in Olympia, Washington.
Fast forward about 6 years later. I have a thriving photography business that specializes in outdoor landscapes and portraiture. I mostly sell and license images online, and work with a few organizations to do commercial work. I got where I am today through motivation and support from my friends, family, and now, customers – which brings me to one of my new year’s resolutions… I will encourage, support, and help other photographers who aspire to learn more about this craft. I will do this because its how I got where I am. So, here’s to a prosperous and creative 2014. I hope to blog at least twice a month and give you guys as much feedback as possible.
The attached image (taken at Redondo Beach) can be viewed on my website at http://www.ajwrightphoto.com. All images © A.J. Wright Photography.
See you guys soon!
Hawaiian Sunset
Lagoon at Ko Olina.
A December Wedding: Blue Ribbon Culinary Center
This beautiful wedding took place on 12/12/12 in Seattle at a very popular wedding venue, the Blue Ribbon Culinary Center. The below images are just a few from the last hour or so at what turned out to be a full day of shooting.
A.J. WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY 