Nature
Kasia Sokulska
Can't Wait!

The snow is mostly gone, here on the prairies, but it will be some weeks before we see greenery and flowers blooming. I can’t wait! It has been a long winter and I sure could use a bit of color. Late spring or early summer images are great for it because all is fresh and green is bright and not dimmed by dust of late summer days.

Can't Wait!
Fuji X
Kasia Sokulska
Fall Aurora

We are lucky here in Alberta, because some nights are full of light show. We had a couple of gorgeous Aurora showing last fall and I have managed to capture some shots without leaving the city.

Fall Aurora
Nature
Kasia Sokulska
Not Ready for Winter Images Yet...

I know, I know it is winter and everybody posts winter photography, but I am not ready for it yet. I see it outside my window every day, so I want to see something warm, colorful and pretty. Hope you are in need of this as well.

Not Ready for Winter Images Yet...
Nature
Kasia Sokulska
How Summer Began

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything about Elk Island National Park. So, I think, it is time for some lovely sunset from the beginning of summer, when all was green, flowers were blooming and days were warm and long.

How Summer Began
Nature
Kasia Sokulska
In The Woods

It’s wintery outside. With colder weather and short days I find myself thinking of summer. Summer visits to forest, here in Alberta, are one of my favorites ways to spend a weekend.

In The Woods

star

Night at the Lake

Last night I noticed that the sky was clearing up nicely, so immediately decided to go down to Elk Island National Park, for some night photography.  I called and texted a couple of friends, but none had the time to go.... so I had to go alone.  When it finally started to get dark around 11pm, I setup my tripod, programmed the remote for the 35 picture sequence, and settled in for a long wait.  Unfortunately there were a lot of activity at that spot.  At 1am couple of cyclists went through one frame, then a car showed up and drove around the parking lot.  The best thing happened when the sequence finally finished at around 1:45am.  Right behind me there was a spectacular display of norther lights.  Here are some fruits of hanging around at night at the lake.  Enjoy. Star Trails

Northern Lights

Northern Lights

Stacking Star Trails

For some of you this might be an old topic, but I just discovered this a few days ago.  I've run into it by accident while searching for something else.  It details a different way of taking a photo of star trails.  Basically instead of leaving the camera's shutter open for a long time, like 40 min or longer, one takes multiple photos of 4 to 5 minutes exposure time.  The whole reason for this is that with digital sensors opening a shutter for long periods of time will introduce digital noise in the picture.  Keeping the exposures shorter minimizes that noise. I was very eager to try this, and last night was a perfect clear evening.  So I setup my tripod on the deck and started snapping away.  Of course a remote cord is handy so you don't have to touch the camera, and keep it still.  I took 19 images of 4min each at 100 ISO and f5.6.  Then taken the images into Adobe Photoshop and each image at a separate layer.  This is what I got.

Star Trails

Next task is to find a better location.

Even Jedi love Pilsner

A while back I was invited by my good friend and pal Randy Pond, to do some test shoots at his studio.  At first we tried a Star Wars theme, and I think that Keren Sorensen looks the part in this black outfit.  The picture with the Pilsner is one of Keren's trademarks.  Out of every photo shoot she always has at least one picture with a can or bottle of Pilsner.  Enjoy. Sith or Jedi

Jedi

Jedi

Even Jedi love Pilsner

Jedi

Jedi

Bobba is gone