Canon EOS R, f/14, 70-200mmm ISO-100

This is my second attempt at this panorama. It is 6 images stitched together, which took me a while to piece together. The first panorama was ok but not good enough, however, I am pleased with this outcome. Being your own critic as an artist is important as a photographer. I still get lost in my own work and that is a trap, very hard to pull out of.

Artists of our Future?

Are you the artists of your own future? - Creating your own future takes effort and creativity.

I had a brain melt at 3 am this morning! It happens on the odd occasion. Often when I load my personal plate up too much and want to overachieve. It just takes a while to reset. At the beginning of this Rāhui I set myself the challenge to share an image a day for this period. It grew into three images and then the blog. Do you do that? I am notorious for seeing the possibilities and saying I can do that and it may help someone. Then at the detriment of myself, I realise I am not helping anyone cause I take on too much. Admittedly I have become wiser at this and on this occasion have made a resolving change.

A blog a day... Nope! An image a day...yep - that's easy!

The last blog got too big in my brain and I feel I didn't even go near what I wanted to share or say. And did it help anyone? I would not have a clue. All this got me wondering, are we doing the same as we did before? I mean all this; go exercise, home school kids, keep occupied, do this, do that. Are we just creating the same old world where we are frantically busy and have no time for anything or calmness? Maybe its time to create space for lost wandering thoughts, quiet times reading a book and learning from our mistakes. I think some people are making more busyness and some are not. And there are the essential workers that are probably working harder than ever, especially those in the front line - bless you all! Its a challenge everyone should consider; How do you want to be the artist of your future?

So my resolve is not to write a blog a day, however, to write often and keep writing from the heart with some photography tips that I hope may help someone. And if I need a day to ponder and wander in my mind, I will. Often that's where I draw on my creativity. So being the artists of your own future often means taking the time required to be one. And not succumbing to personal burdens you may put on yourself at the expense of creativity being dehydrated.

I have said before photography is art! And so I encourage everyone to find their artist's capabilities when out with a camera. Also, spend time reading about other artists. This will help you start to understand the endless plethora of possibilities and you will reap inspiration from this. It will be the difference between seeing vs looking. To help you when you are composing an image trace your eyes around the edge of the frame. This way you can look for distracting items and you may want to recompose. And warm up to your photography. Like any exercise the warm-up is important. I often shoot and the first 10 shots are average before I am really in the game - the beauty of digital photography.

Use your feet. Move when working an image. That way you can work your composition. Think about it - there are an infinite amount of angles you could take - wow! - how exciting.

Cover Image

Canon EOS R, f/7.1, 1/3200sec, 20mm ISO-500

Be the artists of your own life, Be the artists of your photography!

What ridiculous camera settings! haha - I did not require ISO-500. Anyways its a fun shot. And that's what we did today - continuing with painting the front of the house - long overdue and will take a while to complete. You get my metaphor I hope?

Canon EOS R, f/14, 1/15sec, 100mm ISO-200

It is ironic my star sign in Cancer! and today I photographed many crabs. To get this image it took me 32 shots to find one I was happy with. Not to mention the others I was not happy with. How you want to portray your images is your choice. I look for the best, so thought this image is ok. I am sure someone will be able to critique it more than I can. This little critter stayed there for me to shoot and so we are both happy crabs.

Canon EOS R, f/16, 1/100sec, 20mm ISO-200

I could have improved this image by blending two together to increase my depth of field. None the less happy crab on a stunning midday excursion with the Islands and Hereweka domintaing the horizon was fitting for the crabs unique environment.

Canon EOS R, f/16, 1/100sec, 20mm ISO-200

I am not sure if this crab can see Hereweka, and probably more interested in food and not being sea gulled. However many were perched out in the sun today. Very cool to observe.

Andy`s Photography Tip: 'Artistry'

Photography is art. One of the four facets from my blog on the 8th April is;

2. Artistry

- Warm-up in your photography. It is not uncommon from a photo session I might be happy with one image out of eighty.

- Trace your eye around the frame to check for unwanted objects.

- Composition is key to a good image.

- Be the artist of your future, read about other artists for inspiration.

- Move when photographing. There are infinite angles to find!

Please put a comment or emoji below. If you have any questions pop them in the comments box below or send me a video with your questions via Facebook - keep taking photos and get out there!

Andy Thompson