LaDuke Photography

Backyard Photography

2012-02-05T12:39:00.000-05:00

The campus is full of wildlife and capturing it is not too challenging. I can sit on my back porch and watch the birds, groundhogs, deer, hawks, woodpeckers, chipmunks and many other creatures roam my backyard.

Keeping the camera still and using a fast shutter will give you a quality image.

A photographer must be patient and wait for the exact moment to hit the shutter button. If you wait for the perfect moment, you will get the shot you want.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T19:26:00.003-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

Decoration Day 2010

Christmas Card

2011-12-18T10:44:00.000-05:00

Every year my school sends out a Christmas Card to alums, parents, and friends of the school. Earlier this year I worked on a photo project with our Chaplin to create a photo slide show of Saint Mary's Chapel. The Christmas card is a photo that I took while working on that project.

I wanted to show the beauty of the stained glass window in the background, the vibrant brass of the Crucifer's Cross and the reflection of another stained glass window on the cross.

Time To Shoot

2011-12-12T22:48:00.001-05:00

A full semester of work kept me from shooting and writing. Now that we are in exam week, the holidays are upon us and the kids will soon be leaving campus - I'm looking forward to having time to get back to my artwork.

An Earthquake & A Hurricane

2011-08-28T20:35:00.001-04:00

Well not everyone gets to experience an Earthquake and a Hurricane in the same week, but for those of us living in Virginia ..... it was quite a week. I am about to begin teaching a Photography I course that will keep me busy over the next few months. While preparing materials for the class I began to run through some old folders, and I found a number of good shots.

A Good Read

2011-08-19T21:41:00.000-04:00

The start of another school year is just around the corner. I will be teaching ten students in my level one photography class. I scored big this summer at Barnes & Noble when I found a few new photography books on sale.

Mastering Photographic Composition, Creativity and Personal Style

Another good reference book from Michael Freeman

Photoshop

2011-08-12T21:31:00.000-04:00

Highlighting Color

After opening a colorful photograph and duplicating the layer, you desaturated the top image to give you a complete black and white tone. Then erasing areas of the top layer (B&W), allows the color of the bottom layer to show through. It makes for a great manipulated image.

The Rose Window in Saint Mary's Chapel on my school's campus.

Shot with a Nikon D70

A Trip to the Barn

2011-07-19T17:42:00.000-04:00

As I wandered through the stables, the sounds of laughing young girls filled the aisle way. Summer camp was in full swing and there is nothing more exciting for a little girl - riding your favorite pony. For me there is nothing more exciting than to be armed with my DSLR. The farrier was on-site, the horses were getting new shoes and I had some cool equipment to shoot.

Evening Light

2011-07-11T17:36:00.000-04:00

How important is it?

Well we all know without light, you cannot take a photograph. So as night sets in, use it to your advantage.

Use the setting sun to backlight your subject and create a vibrant look with details.

Create shadows and light up your subject.

Combine a soft light with other composition techniques to create a look that your audience will enjoy.