Category Archives: portraits

The Six Pack

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Galen Leeds Photography

This post isn’t about some amazing wildlife experience. It’s not me waxing poetic about the delights of photography. I suppose it at least takes place outdoors, and has a little something to do with the… er… human animal. No, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in photography, portraits, SLR | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Focus on the eyes. Really.

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Galen Leeds Photography

I’ve written about this before, and I’ll write about it again. Ask almost any photographer, and they will tell you the same- Focus on the eyes when taking pictures. It doesn’t matter whether you are photographing people or animals, birds … Continue reading →

Posted in How To, nature photography, photography, portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Silhouettes on the water

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Galen Leeds Photography

Creating a silhouette can be a quick, yet powerful way of making a dynamic image. They cut out the extraneous details, bringing the photograph down to a simplified field of light and dark, to outlines and shapes. The fine details … Continue reading →

Posted in How To, kayak photography, nature photography, photography, portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Using long lenses for portrait photography

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Galen Leeds Photography

When people think about “portrait” photography, it seems they instantly think of fast 50mm and 85mm lenses, perhaps going up or down a hair in focal length. No thanks, I’ve been there, done that, and don’t feel the need to … Continue reading →

Posted in How To, How To, photography, portraits, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The nose knows and so do you

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Most of you guessed what the last nose was. For those of you who weren’t quite sure, here is the same nose from another angle. I have a feeling everyone should be able to guess it now.

Posted in nature photography, photography, portraits | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Ardenwood Historic Park: A tour in photos

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Ardenwood Historic Park is a family oriented, interactive park. It is part history, part petting zoo. It is educational and hands on… and oddly enough it is rather suburban. Nestled into the outskirts of Fremont, it is a mix of … Continue reading →

Posted in Location, My favorite Parks, Park, Photo Essay, photography, portraits, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Anatomy of a photo #63: Checkerbloom unfurling

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Wildflowers are marvelous to hike about and photograph. Pictured here is Point Reyes checkerbloom (Sidalcea calycosa), also known as checker mallow or annual checkerbloom. This is one of the plant species endemic to California, and is not found naturally anywhere … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, How To, nature photography, photography, portraits, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Anatomy of a photo #58: Song Sparrow perched on grass

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I have better, higher definition photographs of many birds, including song sparrows, but it isn’t always about having high detail in nature photographs. Sometimes, the story told by an image that zooms out a little, takes in more of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, birds, nature photography, photography, portraits, SLR, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anatomy of a photo #56: Portrait of an old cowboy

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

This is Donald “Red” Rightsell. He was raised in the once small town of Patterson, California. He started roping in rodeos and jackpots when he was 18, and hasn’t stopped in over 65 years. At the young age of 70 … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, documentary, photography, portraits, SLR | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Focusing on Portraits: Animals and otherwise

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

A portrait tries, with a single snapshot in time, to tell a story. This is true, whether the image is of an old ranch hand, a cow, or a wild animal. Usually this will be a tightly focused image, where … Continue reading →

Posted in How To, nature photography, photography, portraits, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Anatomy of a photo #46: Young Raccoons on the rocks

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Early morning, extra low tide, the long days of summer… Put them tgether, and it’s the perfect time to find and photograph raccoons as they search for crabs and tidbits by the first light of the day. The other time … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, How To, National Park, nature photography, photography, portraits, SLR, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anatomy of a photo #42: Finding the invisible sheep

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Out here where I live lambs are born in December or early January. This means that if you head out with your camera in February and March you can get photographs of playful, joyful lbs gamboling through the fields and … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, California, How To, nature photography, photography, portraits, road side, ruminating, SLR | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment