Star Trails

"Star Trails"

When I first started my journey into the art of photography, there was one type of photo that I knew I wanted to learn how to get. I had seen so many different images that others had captured, and I longed to be able to do it as they could. By taking continuous photographs while your camera remains focused on one single point, then stacking them into one image, each shot blends with the last, until you're able to see the movement of the stars through the night sky over any given amount of time. This art is known as star trails, and I believe it is truly one like no other. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Tucson, Arizona and have a workshop with my favorite astrophotographer, Sean Parker.

What I thought would be a very difficult picture to attain, turned out to be very simple. The first thing you'll need is a clear sky with light to no air traffic. I say this about the air traffic purely because of the amount of time it takes to edit once you start to stack the photos. Some other pointers I was taught were to have a dark sky, no wind, and flat ground to place your tripod. This photo was taken with an intervalometer (a device used to count intervals of time on your camera) over the course of one hour.

Some of you may have probably already heard of Sean, and perhaps follow along with him on social media sites such as facebook and twitter. I had been following his work for a while, always stunned when he released another breathtaking image, and when I learned that he enjoyed to teach others, I couldn't pass up the chance to meet and shoot with him so I could finally better learn what I love to do. I highly recommend you check out his page and view some of his amazing images. I'd even suggest taking a workshop with him if you'd like to learn some pointers.


If you would like to purchase this photo, you can visit facebook.com/shaidphotography to contact me, or find me on etsy at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. I invite you to like my page, look through my photos and share your thoughts on them! Your shares, comments, likes and follows are so important to me!

Photo Details:
Canon EOS 70D
Lens: Rokinon Ultra Wide 14mm
Focal Length: 14mm
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 20 seconds per exposure
182 exposures stacked in StarStax

Other places you can find me:
Instagram
ViewBug
Flickr
500px
Twitter
Email

Galaxy Rise

"Galaxy Rise"

If I were to say that I like astronomy, I'd be lying. I'm not even sure that "love" would be a strong enough word. I suppose that everyone has that one thing that they absolutely live for when it comes to hobbies. I live for the sky. The universe encompasses me, and I'm forever filled with wonder, awe and questions. Just the simple thought that I have the ability to look back in time millions of years across such a vast and seemingly endless amount of space sends chills down my spine and makes me yearn for answers to all of the secrets out there.

That being said, I'm lucky enough to live in an area where I have the ability to step outside and look up to view a million stars without the worry of city lights or pollution. This photo was taken in July of 2014, while the Milky Way Galaxy was rising into the sky. If you look closely, you can spot Scorpius in the bottom left, and also Sagittarius on the bottom left. Sagittarius shows us the center of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. The bright band is our galaxy's arms spiraling outwards into the universe, with the center being bright because of the enormous number of stars. Even if you're not a stargazer, the night sky is absolutely something to experience free of light and sky pollutants. If you're lucky, you may even see a "shooting star" like I've captured here.

If you would like to purchase this photo, please visit etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. You can also find me on facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. I invite you to like my page, look through my photos and share your thoughts! Your shares, comments, likes and follows are so important to me!

Photo Details:

Canon EOS 70D

Lens: Rokinon Ultra Wide Lens

Focal Length: 14mm

Aperture: f/2.8

ISO: 6400

Exposure: 30 seconds

Other places you can find me:

Instagram: Smileygirl469

ViewBug: viewbug.com/member/smileygirl469

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/shaidphotography

500px: 500px.com/shaidphotography

Twitter: ShaidPhoto

email: shanna@shaidphotography.com

Where Water Meets the Sky

"Where Water Meets the Sky

Sunsets on their own are incredible. Well, at least I think so. The colors amaze me. So view that beautiful sunset over an ocean and I become speechless as for the words to describe how uplifting the wonder makes me feel. Suddenly, the blue sky becomes an open canvas for the sun to paint on, and the water acts as a mirror to the spectacle. I believe I took about two hundred or so photos with this sunset. I didn't want to miss one single second of it, and wanted to be able to relive the beauty over and over. Although it was getting chilly along the ocean, I insisted on laying down in the sand to get this shot of the foliage on the beach, along with the water and colorful sky. I'm glad that I did, because although my body wasn't feeling great the next few days, I got some great angles I couldn't have otherwise gotten. That's what was important to me. I highly suggest if you have a chance to get to the Pacific Ocean, bring some warm clothes just in case, a lawn chair and your camera, because you'll see an amazing sky show once the sun is ready to set!

If you would like to purchase this photo, find me on facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. I invite you to check out my page there, look through the photos and let me know what you think. Your shares, comments, likes and follows are so important!

Photo Details:

Canon EOS 70D

Lens: 18-135mm

Focal Length: 18mm

Aperture: f/5

ISO: 100

Exposure: 1/250

Lake Erie Waves Hello

"Lake Erie Waves Hello"

Growing up on Lake Erie, I loved going to the beaches and swimming in the lake, riding the waves. Being young, I figured that's what all lakes looked like. Of course, now that I'm grown, I can fully understand why it truly is a Great Lake. Its size and beauty never cease to amaze me. I now live in an area that has a lake, although nothing like what I'm used to. In my eyes, the Great Lakes are like mini fresh water oceans. Especially when I'm reminded of the waves I used to ride when I was young. Any time I return home for a visit, I make sure to put some time aside so that I can return to the beaches I went to so often so that I can take in the beauty and wave hello back. Please follow me on facebook at facebook.com/shaidphotography. This photo is available for sale at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography.

Blowing Dirt

"Blowing Dirt"

I suppose it's a safe statement to say that I love a good brain teaser. Now, you may be asking "what on Earth does this have to do with this picture??" The best answer I can come up with, is that Mother Nature loves to show her mood with the weather. When she's mad, we have storms. When she's sad, she gives us rain, and so on. Then we have the days when it's as shown here. A beautiful, calm sunny day where everything seems perfect, when suddenly along comes her anger. I adore how weather works and how it looks. The wind is always an amazing thing to photograph, and I enjoy all of its wonder. If you like this photo, I invite and encourage you to visit (and perhaps like) my facebook page at facebook.com/shaidphotography. You can also find my photos for sale at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography.

The Half Moon

"The Half Moon"

Since as far back as I can remember, the Universe has captivated me. I can vividly remember learning in school that the Sun was a star. That night, I looked up at a sky full of stars and thought "the Sun is the same as those!" Ever since then, I was hooked. I have a need to capture as much of the Universe as I possibly can (and hopefully share the beauty and wonder with you), and understand how and why it works as it does. Astronomy has fueled my love of mathematics and the sciences. I take my camera outside, hoping for a memory of the night's sky to keep forever. Our own moon seems a good start to the journey. If you like this photo, it is available for sale at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. I also invite you to visit my facebook page at facebook.com/shaidphotography to view this and other photos I've taken. Your comments and ideas are always welcomed!

A Blazing End

"A Blazing End"

The sky....I have a love for it beyond words. Whether it be during the day or at night. It holds so much beauty and wonder! Come dawn and dusk, it creates the perfect canvas for light to paint such a masterpiece. I love that they are never the same, and the colors vary so widely. From the bright yellows to the deep purples, a sunset is rarely a let down as far as I'm concerned. Certainly something that takes my breath away, time and time again. I invite you to visit my site facebook.com/shaidphotography to view this and other photos I have taken. Also, you can by a print at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography. I can also be followed on Instagram as Smileygirl469, and on ViewBug at viewbug.com/member/Smileygirl469

Flying High

"Flying High"

I love to fly. Well, I love to be in an airplane when it's flying. I see so many people sitting in the plane reading, doing puzzles, watching a movie or sleeping, and I just can't do it! I'm drawn to the amazement and beauty I see while looking out the window. The clouds capture my attention with their crazy designs and breathtaking perfection. Whether they're faint and wispy, or huge marshmallows, they beckoned to be photographed. And so, they shall be. At least by me. I invite you to view, share and perhaps like my page at facebook.com/shaidphotography and if you'd like, it is available for purchase at etsy.com/shop/shaidphotography