Eleanor Culling’s Photographic Style
Revised in December 2007
Equipment
Background
- Many
years of 35mm slide photography beginning in the middle 70’s.
- A
little 4 x 5 work in the 70’s & 80’s
- Involvement
in Camera Clubs, putting on workshops, teaching the basics
- Writing
tutorials
- 20
years professional wedding photographer … 6 x 4.5 format
- Some
commercial photography
- Exclusively
use of digital equipment now
- Studied
the zone system, attended or coordinated workshops with various teachers
such as Howard Bond, John Shaw, Ernst Haas, and Lee Mann, Alain Briot
etc. Classes in the 80's at Winona School of Professional Photography
- Black
and white darkroom experience
Approach
- Most
photographs are taken during my ‘travels’, often with
photography as the sole purpose of the trip. This was espicially
true of the Photoshoot in the European Alps in July 2007.
- Often
though, I enjoy photographing alone and will wander away from groups.
- A
few day trips in my home area.
- I
don’t
particularly enjoy using a tripod – though know it is necessary.
- Most
photos taken in a standing position –very little macro work
now because of physical limitations.
- I
love to take short hikes, tromp off into the woods, wander around
in an area for as long as I find subjects.
- I
bracket for both exposure and subject matter – often doing ‘composition’ studies
in a small area.
- Most
shots are horizontal because of use on my web site (I should explore
verticals more.)
- I
don’t hesitate to stop by the side of the road.
- Only
color – no black and white any more (would have to purchase
a better printer). Update: I now have an Epson
R2400 printer and my interest in black and white has increased!
Subjects
- Landscapes
and scenics – but not the ‘grand’ scenic when there
is not a main subject.
- Rock
patterns and formations seem to top the list.
- Fall
colors and trees, leaves, mountain scenes.
- Add
foliage and trees to the foreground.
- Lately
the parks in Utah, travels to New Zealand and Australia, Glacier
and Waterton Lake N.P.
- I
generally avoid having people in my pictures. I may include them
in
‘snapshots’.
Quality of Light
- I
usually use what I encounter. I tend not to rise early or stay up
late, nor go back if the light wasn’t right.
- I
often use a polarizer for more saturated exposures.
- I
hope that there is an interesting sky.
- I
enjoy a bright sunny day and hope that Paint Shop Pro X2 and a histogram
adjustment can produce miracles.
Composition
- Usually
horizontal with my normal zoom lens, 18 x 55
- I
lile
deep depth of field.
- I
often DO put the subject right in the center. Often more to the left
than the right.
- I
don’t use much sky unless it is interesting.
Purposed Uses
- Personal
enjoyment of the process. both shooting and the post processing.
- Digital
offers almost immediate satisfaction.
- Use
on my ‘Eleanor’s Travels’ website
- Make
prints up to 13” x 19”.
- Teach
and share my experiences, often with tutorials that I write and post
on the web.
- Can
be experimental – recently learned old-fashioned stereo photography.