Taken with my Canon 1DX - Canon 100-400mm @140mm - ISO 500 - f8 - 1/1600th second Tv
I have two presentations listed on Camera Club Hub, “African Photo Safaris - Everything you need to know before you go” and “33 Hacks to Improve your scores in Photo Club Competitions” that I’ve presented on Zoom for a number of PSA member photo clubs. In my “Hacks” presentation I used Ansel Adams’ famous quote, “You don't take a photograph, you make it,” for hack #15 and decided to illustrate this for January. I shot this image from the deck of a beach house my wife and I rented on St George Island, Florida ??“ the second I saw the flag waving, the people on the beach, the sun and the clouds I KNEW there was a photograph in there somewhere. So, I purposely shot wide not being sure of just how I was going to compose in post, I exposed for the sky, focused on the flag, and shot at 1/1600 Tv to ensure a tack sharp waving flag and frozen people, and with a bit of work in Lightroom and Photoshop got what I think is a pretty good shot that I titled, “Good Morning America!”
If you open up the shadows in the pre-post image, you’ll see that the flag pole is actually attached to the roof of the building next to ours that I eliminated in post.
9 comments posted
Bev Caine
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
Having traveled all over the world I'm a "sucker" for good old USA and her flag. This one is a bit different and love it. Well done. Posted: 01/12/2025 20:03:26
Butch Mazzuca
Thank you Bev, your kind words are appreciated ( and I feel the same way :-) Posted: 01/12/2025 20:22:37
Barbara Mallon
My first thought was Los Angeles beach with the fires! Glad you had the people included with the flag and sunset. I am a cropper and a former photographer with a Rolaflex. I would make a square photo cropping out the bottom. I am probably way out of style. Posted: 01/15/2025 00:20:01
Tom McCreary
I agree to crop off part of the bottom. I had an old friend back in the darkroom days that like to crop in, and called the area around the area of interest, "finger print room". Meaning of course that you wouldn't have to be as careful when handling the negative to make sure that you fingers did not touch the negative and damage it with the oil on your fingers. However, I am sure that he was however careful and it was only an expression. His name is Gilbert Hill, and he was a long time member of PSA and was also an excellent newspaper photographer. I did consider him a friend and a great mentor. Posted: 01/18/2025 23:07:54
Tom McCreary
You really made the image with your editing. I am glad that you cropped in a lot. I will say that I agree with Barbara that you should crop more off the bottom, you don't need the bottom of the flag pole. The people add a lot to the image. I think that you made the flag too bright, it does not look realistic. Posted: 01/18/2025 22:46:23
Butch Mazzuca
Tom - I'm gonna disagree on this one - I've never thought partial images work well, save for portraits (obviously) - otherwise, Old Glory just hangs in space. The bottom is essential in this image to complete the story :-)
Posted: 01/18/2025 22:53:04
Tomi Kelley
You certainly brought out many enjoyable features of this image with your post processing. Well done, Butch. I'm okay with the crop, but I think most will focus on the flag, sun, water and sky and not give the foreground as much consideration. But is does add context, as you say. I'm a little distracted by the silver of the base of the flag pole compared to the darkness of the top of the pole. Perhaps add back a little "character" to the lower part of the pole? Posted: 01/20/2025 17:55:26
Butch Mazzuca
Valid point Tomi - it will be darkened, thank you :-) Posted: 01/20/2025 19:43:11
