At Tom Bol Photo Workshops, we celebrate great images created on our workshops by selecting a Photo of the Month. For October we chose an image from our Acadia Fall Colors Workshop created by Traci Rickman. Traci is a real estate photographer and is equally at home photographing landscapes. We hope you enjoy Traci’s images as much as we do!
Congratulations to October 2022 ‘s featured photographer – Traci Rickman
The Story…
I almost missed the window of opportunity. I didn’t have a lot of time because I had stayed back to photograph the Bubbles. Everyone else headed over to capture the fog earlier than I did.
The sun was filtering in from the right side of the frame. By the time I arrived, Tom was saying “Here it comes.” I set up and started shooting quickly. You can just see a bit of sun filtering into the scene below the fog.
I just love the color in this, mm mm mm!
I tried to fill up my frame with color.
There were more grass clusters in the foreground, but they had hot spots on them from the sun coming in. I took them out with Lightroom and PhotoShop to get rid of some of the hot grass.
EXIF Data:
Nikon D500, Nikon 70-200mm lens shot at 70 mm
F16, 1/10 sec, ISO 100 on a tripod
Exposure Compensation -2.0
Aperture Mode
About Photographing in Acadia National Park
I love Acadia. I love Bar Harbor. This was the second time I’ve been there. I was excited to go back with Tom and Cree.
The first time I went I was a bit overwhelmed.
I felt like I missed a lot of the shots. I did more artistoc compositions. When I got back home my husband said “Did you look at rocks the whole time?” This time I wanted to get more iconic shots.
I focused on shooting what spoke to me. I realized that in the past I was shooting what I thought other people wanted to see.
On this trip I wanted to redeem myself!
Traci’s Tips for Photographing Landscapes:
Tip 1: Photograph what speaks to you. Other people will find other subjects to focus on. Find your own subjects.
Tip 2: Broaden your view. Don’t get so focused on what is in your camera viewfinder.
Look behind you. Look around. I will often take out my cellphone and see things differently with it. It helps me see the larger view. Then I’ll take out my camera…..
Tip 3: Try moving three feet to the side or one foot vertically.
When I photographed the foggy scene (below) I decided to walk down the road from where everyone else was standing. I was really drawn in by the grasses and the lines leading into the red tree. Instead of shooting a tight shot with just the red tree, I decided I liked this composition better.
I do this a lot in real estate photography. I’ll move to the right or left by just one foot when photographing a room. Often time this move makes the shot.
On Traci’s Horizon:
Costa Rica
Redwoods National Park
Workshop News
We added another Acadia Fall Colors Workshop for October 2025. Just 2 spaces left. Click here to learn more.
By popular demand we also added our Old Car City Workshop from March 3-April 2, 2023. Photograph classic cars in the Georgia hardwoods. Learn about speed lights for creative effect. Click here to read more.
Finally, we will be heading to Oaxaca, Mexico in January 2024 to explore Day of the Dead inspired portraits and colorful travel photos Click here to read more.
Where are Tom and Cree?
We have been enjoying a few weeks at home in Fort Collins. Our last two workshops of 2022 are in Botswana & Zimbabwe and then on to Argentina and Chile for our Patagonia Workshop. We will keep you updated on social media.
Looking forward to winter and the holidays. Thanks for reading our posts!
Tom and Cree