One of my favorites...

Just wanted to share one of my old favorites, entitled "Illuminate". It was taken on the Nuuanu Judd trail near downtown Honolulu, where a beautiful hike leads through a huge patch of Norfolk Pines that were planted here in Hawaii in the early 1900s.

I got the correct exposure for this shot by metering off of the leaves above me, and then locking that exposure reading in manual. Then, just before I took the shot, I leaned a little bit to the left and up so the sun's rays were peeking through to give a feeling of warmth and growth, almost like the picture was taken at a viewpoint of a small plant growing towards the sky.

Meet the Artist!

Happy Friday everyone! Today I have the pleasure of kicking off my 'Meet the Artist' series with one of my personal favorites; Flanders Field Photography. Let's begin!

Your full name?
Jennifer Lee Flanders Estep

Have long have you been involved in photography?
Well, I've been taking pictures since childhood, but just got serious about photography as an artistic pursuit in the Spring of 2007.

Describe your first experience taking a photo you were REALLY proud of. What was the photo? How did you feel?
Two experiences come to mind...About ten years ago I took a picture of my brother, sister and three nieces standing in a hollowed out tree trunk on the Oregon Coast. They were in the midst of some make-believe scenario, and the combination of sheer joy on their faces and the beautiful background scenery would make anyone smile. It was just the most playful image!

The photo that made me begin to consider photography as a creative outlet was taken on the University of Washington campus about 3-1/2 years ago. My husband and I were walking with my parents, pushing our infant son in a stroller, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. I took a shot of blossoms and branches against a gray sky that became the first photograph of my own that I matted and framed as a piece of art. I was very proud of it at the time. Now, not so much!

Where do you find your inspiration?
I am inspired by nature, details, and by the possibility of helping people see things in a different way. I have an engineering background, and a friend told me that she likes the "geometry" of my photos. I wasn't even aware of it, but I think that's a big aspect of my work as well.

What is your personal favorite photo?
Again I'm going to choose two...We have this Art Wolfe image in our dining room and I just love it! I think it got me thinking about nature as an abstract subject.http://www.artwolfe.com/cgi/shop/detail.cgi?r=DP010

This is my current favorite of mine. It's just a different way of looking at a tree than I've ever seen before.http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6915179

Anything else to add?
Thank you, Noah, for giving me an opportunity to spout off about a subject that has changed the way I look at the world!

You can visit Jennifer's shop by clicking here.

The Story behind the Picture - Week 2

For week two, I have one of my most recent favorites, entitled "A Dandy Day". This photo was taken in the San Juan Islands in the beautiful Northwest.

I was just recently in Washington visiting my girlfriend's family, and we took a hike through incredible Sharp Park. This area is located on the SW side of Fidalgo island, and is a must see if you ever happen to find your way up there.

A short hike through a cool, mossy forest led us out to Sares Head, where some of the most spectacular views can be found in this area. I must have spent a hour photographing the landscape and surrounding plants, when I came across a small patch of dandelions. I decided to take full advantage of that evening's gorgeous sunset, and used to it light this little dandelion on fire with color. The result was this silhouette shot with amazing detail on the dandelion itself surrounded by warm, inviting colors that make your eyes dance.

This photo is available for purchase in my Etsy Shop.

The Story behind the Picture - Week 1

To kick off the "Story behind the Picture" series, this week I will begin with a photo I took earlier this year, entitled 'An Evening in the Clouds'.

My brother and I were enjoying a brief vacation to Hawaii's Big Island and had just come from a visit to Akaka Falls, a majestic 400 ft waterfall, when we decided to take our trusty chevy cobalt to the top of Mauna Kea, Hawaii's tallest volcano. We left the beach that afternoon enjoying 83 degree weather and embarked on our next adventure.

Most of our drive was spent in the clouds and about halfway up we decided to violate our car rental agreement by continuing on the unpaved road to the summit. An hour or so later we were wheezing and shivering in the thin, brisk 38 degree air. Anything for a good shot.

A short hike to the peak later, I was able to capture this magical sunset from 13, 796 ft. We met two fellow travelers visiting from Scotland and enjoyed the view together as the daylight faded into a vibrant starry wonderland. I would have to loved to stay for more stargazing, but it was just too damn cold after the sunset.

Mauna Kea's literal translation is 'White Mountain'. I didn't believe it actually snowed in Hawaii when someone first told me, but its true!

This photo is available for purchase in my Etsy Shop.