The Art of Photography; the duality of Patience and Spontaneity
“The art of photography involves both patience and spontaneity; the imagination of a somewhat mundane scene as extraordinary (given the right conditions) and the desire to dance when the music plays.” Kristen Westlake ‘Once Was’ I’ve eyed this scene up for the past few months and was waiting for just the right cloud pattern to ... Read more
Methods behind this 85mm PCE image
Nikon d810 Nikkor 85 mm tilt + shift PCE lens stitched images shifted at 30º increments To see or purchase the image The Method and Reasoning: With a full frame camera and an 85 mm focal length, Standing where I did would present a few problems: 1. I had to angle my camera upward to ... Read more
The Christmas Train
the Christmas Train last night from the bridge on Maiden Lane Road. This is a 2 part image; the light you see way in the back towards town is when I first saw the light from the train and the rest is, as you see, the body of the lit up train. I parked up ... Read more
How to change the Perspective of the moon relative to a subject with a long focal length
How to change the Perspective of the moon relative to a subject with a long focal length: .. getting closer to or further from the subject will dramatically change the perspective of the moon to a given subject. The moon is always going to be rendered at approximately .55º in any lens’ angle of view. A ... Read more
The Supermoon superstar
Holy Hill last night from 3.5 miles away at 600mm. This image was made at 5:30 pm, 72.9º azimuth from where I stood, and 3.1º altitude, just after the moon rose. My original plan designed the larger than the Holy Hill spires moon (at 3.5 miles away with a 600 mm focal length the moon ... Read more
The Supermoon kisses Trinity Lutheran
‘Blessed’ the supermoon over Trinity Lutheran Sunday evening. (11/13/2016). Ah, it happened just as I had hoped. I’d wanted to photograph a full moon over my country church on the hill for a long time .. but it never was quite the right sightline. But this evening at 4:31 I saw the big pink ball ... Read more
Supermoon time lapsed pattern over Holy Hill
A moon is a moon is a moon … not so! There are a lot of ways to be creative with the moon in artistic photographic compositions. One of the concepts I love to explore from time to time is the idea of timelapse in a still. We see the moon, yes. Yet a timelapse ... Read more
the Omnipotent – Time Lapse Still of Lightning at Dusk
I’ve photographed the dramatic effects of lightning at night, however my preference is the look (and the more challenging) of lightning at dusk. This image is a time-lapse still (layered in Lighten Mode via Photoshop): The mix of colors, clouds, lightning, … and even star trails in this image are achieved in a total of ... Read more
Atop Gibraltar Rock
I’m up here in the dark, looking down from cliffs on a peaceful night after the sun and crescent moon have both gone to slumber. At the time I journeyed up here I nearly cursed the lugging of all the heavy clothing that I’m now happy I have … I was fortunate though, .. this ... Read more
The Reign of Stars – Star Trails from
‘the Reign of Stars’ .. I combined an hour of star trails with one 20 second frame specifically for star points and the light ethereal clouds that whispered .. During the course of the time I spent atop Gibraters Rock last night I enjoyed the mesmerizing quiet, the breeze picking up to chill the air. ... Read more
A drive through the backroads for Fall Color in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
See and purchase prints with fall color There is a theme that subtlety ties my images over the decades and the seasons, the twilight of the morning into the star studded nights. Though it may not be an obvious theme, it’s inherent to the adventure, the passion, the thought, and the excitement behind each image. ... Read more
Moki Dugway – Life is a Highway
The Moki Dugway, Utah .. Heading down the switchbacks that route drivers into another artist’s paradise; the Valley of the Gods. ... Read more
Kristen Westlake’s OUTDOOR ARTIST RECEPTION! Sunday, August 21
Kristen Westlake’s OUTDOOR ARTIST RECEPTION! WHO? Kristen Westlake WHERE? 542 N Oakwood Ave Oconomowoc, WI WHEN? Sunday, August 21 TIME? 11am – 2pm Info: I will be presenting some of my canvas and (many) luster pieces tomorrow at this prime location during the Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts! I will be directly across the street from ... Read more
Presets Review: sleeklens workflow for Lightroom and Photoshop
Every image tells a story; a story of its own. Like the author of many novels, no two stories contain the same content. How preposterous that would be! I see photography in that same vein. I am the author of my images and I elect to tell the story of my choosing within the context ... Read more
Milky Way and Star Trails
The milky way Saturday night over a corn field I have been eyeing for the right night …The moon didn’t rise until 3:30 am, making for a stunningly dark and star studded sky. The Milky Way, in turn, contrasted favorably against the night.. I was creating 2 star trail images for a total of 2 ... Read more
Kristen’s Race of Faith to beat Breast Cancer – the full experience in a pdf
Kristen’s Race of Faith to beat Breast Cancer I journaled my full experience with breast cancer. I was diagnosed on February 12, 2016 and two days later I opened up about it on Facebook. I was pretty scared to do so at first. I had no idea what my path was going to look like. ... Read more
After Cancer : Stronger than Ever in Faith, Spirit, Body and Mind
Sweaty selfie – after a 50 minute jumping and body weight workout with a variety of weighted ropes: 3 lb, .75 lb, and .25 lb. I love what jumping rope with heavy ropes does for the upper body. It’s great cross training for my running and it is a BLAST! ... Read more
Lightning and Lightning bugs play with an abandoned stone house
Last night’s show was multi-faceted. Lightning screamed in all directions, yet it was slow, intermittent, and kept me guessing, giving up nothing to reveal where it would indulge its wondrous display… the lightning toyed with with me as the mosquitoes drank me in … the sunset weaved tapestry after tapestry, overwhelming the senses … it ... Read more
Fourth of July Kiddos – Wauwatosa Parade
The Wauwatosa Fourth of July Parade was chock full of energy, cheering, smiley faces and sticky fingers. Kiddos dressed in red, white and blue plowed the streets of candy inventory … Gooey fingers tore wrappers off colorful sugar as many rumbling tummies triggered smiles on faces. More images here. ... Read more