© 2020 Nomadict. All rights reserved.
My photography journey started in Spring ‘18. I wanted to get quality photos of the places I visited while I studied abroad in Newcastle upon Tyne, England in Spring ‘19. I wanted to be able to show my family/friends all the great places I would visit in the year to come. The first year of photography was mainly just experimenting around my hometown of St. Louis. Once abroad, I was fortunate enough to visit 18 countries in Europe. My favorites being Scotland, Switzerland, and Italy. I’ve always been a person who loves to travel, but this took my passion for travel to the next level.
My love for mountainous landscapes moved me out West to Denver, Colorado. I love the raw conditions of the Colorado Rockies. The seasons feel more intense here than in the Midwest. Every season has something to offer (yellow aspens in the Fall, backpacking trips in the Summer with friends, or ski resorts in the Winter). Any active person can find something to do no matter what the time of year. So my goal is to bring the beauty of Colorful Colorado (and other locations) to the fingertips of as many people as I can. I want everyone to enjoy this beautiful state even if they can’t live here.
Some of my favorite fall colors in Colorado are in Crested Butte. Crested Butte is home to some of the largest aspen groves in the world. During late September and early October, all the aspens turn bright gold. This was my third straight fall visiting SW Colorado, and it never gets old. What was special about this photo was that there was fresh snowfall the night before. I have never experienced snow clashing with fall colors before in Crested Butte. There was perfect cloud cover letting the sun peak through slowly. The peaks were covered in a thin layer of snow while the lower valleys were covered in golden aspens. It was just one of those mornings when everything was perfect. To get the shot, I used a DJI Mavic Air 2. I have been to this location many times, and I feel like this is a nice tip for new photographers going to new locations. If you can, scout out a location before a shoot. You’ll spend less time trying to find compositions and more time getting the shots you want!
The obvious low-hanging clouds, the curved river in the valley below, the snow-capped mountain whose peaks were covered in clouds, and finally the golden aspens. First, I wanted to treat the river and clouds as leaders in the upper parts of the photo. To do this, I brightened the valley floor to retain some detail. (Tangent, but I always bracket my photos and merge them in post-production to get high-quality images and never miss exposure). I sharpened the mountain, while also bringing detail back into the cloudy skies. I used to change colors a lot in post-production, but the longer I edit, the less I change colors now. I like a more “natural” look to my photos. The only color I will purposefully desaturate is blue. On your next overcast photo, try desaturating blues and playing with the luminance tab. Not only will this create mood, but it will also bring detail into clouds!
Outside of travel and photography, I enjoy watching Newcastle United and cooking. I have been following Newcastle since 2014. It’s a team that I will forever support, and I always try to watch every game I can (even if it calls for an early 5AM alarm!). Howay the Lads! Cooking is also a passion of mine. My mom taught me everything I know, especially when it comes to Lebanese cooking! I see cooking as an activity and gesture that brings people together. There’s no better way to learn about someone than eating a meal together!
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© 2020 Nomadict. All rights reserved.