Blue Hour at the Olympia

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Blue Hour at the Olympia by Chip Bunnell PhotographyMy summer has been extremely busy with out of town activities. I am truly grateful for each and every opportunity I have had and the amazing people I have met. From a smoked salmon vendor at a Helsinki farmer’s market, to the baker of incredible fresh French baguettes in Claude Monet’s home town, to a creative musician that uses his former baby shoe as a striker against a metal gas can to keep rhythm in WI, well, you can see what I mean. Each day I saw and each person I connected with, whether it be a new face or a familiar family member, left a lasting memory and added another line in the list of this adventure called “my life.”

Last Friday, my grand adventure brought me back to my home turf in South Florida. A photowalk in downtown Miami was set up to celebrate the arrival of a famous HDR photographer, Trey Ratcliff. While photography is typically a relatively solitary activity, this event brought together well over 50 phellow photographers (or is it ‘fellow fotographers’) to take on the night streets and all the urban scenes we could find.

One such place that caught my attention was the historic Olympia Theater. The older marquee still has its lights blazing brightly to announce its place on Flagler Street. The magic of “blue hour” gave a rich contrast to the yellow glow of surrounding street lights. I added energy and motion to the scene by capturing light trails from the passing cars. A single, slightly blurred pedestrian on the right cross walk introduced the human element. To me, this image represents not only the reality that others around me saw, but the surreal reality I envisioned that night.

Photo Stuff: Single frame, 4.3 second exposure on a tripod. Processed in LR and Topaz Adjust 5

www.ChipBunnell.com
©2015 All Rights Reserved

Full Moon During Sunset

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Full Moon During Sunset by Chip Bunnell Photography

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Once a month, there is one day that is my favorite for capturing interesting moon images.  Normally, everyone flocks outdoors to watch the full moon rise.  Don’t get me wrong, that is spectacular for sure.  I, however, am always looking for the moment others do not see.  For me, I rather enjoy the night before the “official” full moon.

“The night before the full moon”, you may ask?  Absolutely!  First, there are far less crowds which makes it easier to work the scene for the best image.  But even greater, it is the one night a month that you can see both the rich, golden colors of the sunset while, at the same time, watch the moon quietly rise with a stealth-like entrance.  But be warned, even with an eye trained on the exact right point of the horizon at the exact right time, you must look closely or you may miss the beginning of its rise.

I captured this moment just minutes after the moon was barely visible.  A single seagull flying over head, searching for its dinner, added the perfect element as it passed through the upper profile of the star of this evening’s show.  People on the pier, already well engaged on their weekend fun, added the human bond to this magical moment in nature.

Photo Stuff:  Single frame, processed in LR, Topaz Clarity and Nik Analog Efex Pro 2.

www.ChipBunnell.com
©2015 All Rights Reserved