Hanging Out

Lately I have been all in on this new hanging tile idea!  The idea arose when I was thinking of making a line of coasters for my new etsy shop and thought that they would make a great, yet simple wall decoration. I then thought of the best way to design my new line of Ceramic Tile Wall Art Decor.  I wanted to go with a more modern and clean approach that was a bit different then the rustic look of my state of Georgia Wooden Wall Planks.  I decided to use 3/16″ clothesline instead of the all natural twine.  It gave my new listings a more defined look.

Next I needed to figure out a way in which my design would not scuff up the walls and countertops of my customers living spaces.  I went with the use of a small rounded adhesive cork application to the back side of the tile and even added a couple of wine cork cutouts to add some character!  Thus my design was created and ready to be listed in my etsy shop!

I take pride in my product shots.  There is not a whole lot of opportunity in life where you are able to manipulate your surroundings to get the pristine look and result you are aiming for.  This is why I love taking product shots.  You can take a simple shot and make it into something pleasant and free from imperfections.  I eliminate unwanted light and add artificial light in order to achieve the exact look I am going for.  I want my customers to see my product for what it truly is.  Changing the backdrops and adding in set dressing is another way in which to keep the new product shots coming in fresh and appealing.  These in particular I was going for a clean and simple theme.  I wanted to showcase my new line of Ceramic Tile Wall Art Decor in a way that represented my listings best.  Also I photographed my new listings in the hanging position as well as in the resting position to give the shopper insight on how and where to position their tile!  All in all it has been a fun ride creating these new miniature works of art and I hope you enjoy them!  They would be a perfect way to accent your home with a little low country charm.  Follow the link below to explore my shop and see all the listings I have to offer. Thanks friends !

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StillNatureLLC

SHOP^^^^^^^^^^ 🙂

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Still Nature LLC Blog!

I am starting a week to week Blog.  I am hoping to connect on a personal level with the people who support and follow my story!

Inspirational quote of the day : “Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.”- William James 

The Story of Still Nature Photography

It all started around this time last year when I began attending the Georgia Film Academy in Savannah Georgia.  Our first class we dove into the basic understanding of how cameras work and the different variables that work within the manual camera settings starting with Shutter Speed, ISO and Aperture and moving into basic photo composition and framing.  I bought an entry level DSLR camera and started shooting.  Seeing the world through a lens,  I developed an eye for composition.  I began seeing vivid lines and shapes through the lens that were very pleasing to the eye and as I continued to photograph my surroundings I gained a greater appreciation for contrasting colors and dark and light natural tones. A crab trap resting on a muddy bank at low tide became art, shooting it through the lens at a low angle with the rusty orange trap peaking out above the rising tide proved to be a powerful image, an image that otherwise would be a passing moment.

I hope you tune in and follow my story as it develops.  The highs and Lows of starting my own business begins, and with every passing day a new experience is waiting to happen.  Thanks for checking in.  Until next time friends.

 

Getting Crafty in the Studio

This weeks Blog Post is based around my new etsy wooden wall art listings.  I am going to take you step by step on the development of these simple, yet detailed home wall art decor plaques!

 So I was planning my next project in my studio and I was starting to narrow down the search.   I wanted something that was appealing, creative and above all unique.  I’ve worked with wood in the past and it is by far one of my favorite materials.  I love the rustic feel and look of wood art!  I decided to try my hand at developing some new wooden signs that you could hang up in your living area to be used as home decor.  I decided to go small with 4″x7″ wooden planks in order to expand the potential placements of the wooden art decorations.  With a smaller product you could hang it in various places such as above your coffee pot, on your refrigerator or if you wanted to decorate a small bathroom area you could make that happen as well!  So I ordered all the materials listed below!

• 4″x7″ wooden planks. -Used primarily for cooking fillets of Salmon and Steak Cuts-
• Super Glue
• Mod Podge
• Twine
• Sanding Block
• White Paint
• Bobby Pins
• 4×4 Still Nature Photography Prints
• State of Georgia Template
• Sharpie Markers of Various Sizes

Step One

Utilize the sanding block to sand down edges of wooden planks. Note: Make sure sanding block is not too rough, but rough enough to leave a smooth finish around corners and edges.

Step Two

Use a paint brush to paint the wooden planks. Note: Make sure to cover both sides as well as edges and corners.  This is by far the messiest and most time consuming portion of the craft so plan accordingly.

Step Three

Wait for paint to dry and then use Mod Podge to paste the image onto the newly painted wooden planks!

Step Four

Utilize the remaining white space on the wooden plank by tracing a symbol next to the image . After it is dry put another coat of Mod Podge on top of the entire plank in order to seal the image.

Final Step

Now the tricky, yet creative process of attaching the twine to make your wood art officially a hanging wood art piece!  I really had to think about the proper solution to the problem of hanging my wood art, and I believe my solution is both crafty and creative.  I decided to use bobby pins.  I would have never guessed that bobby pins would be my solution, but they worked so perfectly.  I used super glue to both glue the bobby pins to the back of the wooden planks and also glue the twine to the bobby pins themselves.  It turned out that 10” of twine was the perfect amount to cut off for the mount!  It was a hilarious, yet confident end to a day of crafting and I am so happy with the finished product.

So there you have it a new etsy listing is born!   I hope you enjoyed my short yet revealing insight into my esty studio!  Please take a look at my recently updated website http://www.stillnautrellc.com as well as my store!>> https://www.etsy.com/shop/StillNatureLLC

Youtube Launch!

I have decided to start a Youtube Channel. Still Nature Photography Youtube Link .  This is an alternate way to reach viewers and supporters through a means of online video content creation.  I want to give the viewer a first person perspestive at life behind the lens at Still Nature Photography.  I also hope to created some videos that are educational to both novice and expert photographers.  I want to connect with people on a personal level, and give my supporters another means in which to connect with my photography business.  Creating a Youtube channel was not only necessary, but served as the ultimate tool to create a professional and personal relationships with my support base.  Please take a look at my channel and subscribe to be the first to view new video releases and upcoming projects.  Feel free to contact me below if you had any new video ideas, I am really looking forward to hearing your input and suggestions.  In the meantime sit back and relax and enjoy my Youtube page!

Introduction Video

A dramatic “video short” depicts life on Tybee Island before the arrival of an approaching storm.  I feel that it is always best to travel by bicycle on this barrier island.  The Island is quite small, I usually pack up all my camera gear and load up on my beach cruiser when I venture out to shoot videos or capture photos.

Click Here to watch!

Marshland Daydream

I stalked this heron at low tide on Tybee Island Georgia.  I found it to be an extremely peaceful scene with the birds chirping, the marsh grass swaying and the gentle tide rising. It made for a surreal location for one of my favorite shorts thus far.  I hope you enjoy this video short entitled Marshland Daydream!

Marshland Daydream Video – Click here to watch

http://www.stillnaturellc.com

Etsy! Click Here to Shop!

Pups of the South

I enjoy Photography. I love seeking out new and exciting places to photograph and document.  I also enjoy puppy’s, puppers, doggos, woofers and yappers.  So why not combine my two interest and participate in some local pup shoots?  My recent pup shoot endeavors lead me to photographing the most precious little pooch.  Her name is Vivian and she is a Corgi.  I met Vivian and her owner at the Savannah Yacht Club a week ago after scheduling my very first pup shoot!  The little Corgi was bouncing all over the place and reminded me of a little energetic bunny rabbit hopping from place to place.  The shoot was a blast!  I ended up increasing my shutter speed to 1/1000 just to try to keep up with the little ball of fur!  Rolling around in the grass taking close up pictures of a cute little pupster wasn’t a terrible way to spend the afternoon.  I ended up capturing some great shots and made a couple of new friends.

I am ready to get back out there and do some more shoots if anyone is looking to get some nice looking pictures of their pup.  I am tossing around the idea of expanding into doing cat shoots, but I am just more a dog person right now.  It is going to take some time.  In the meantime I hope you enjoy these pictures from my last couple of shoots and I look forward to hearing from you!

Coming Soon… Cat Shoots?

Sami the cat photographed by Still Nature Photography!

http://www.stillnaturellc.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StillNatureLLC

The Rule of Thirds

There are many simple tricks and tips you can use in order to make your photos come across as more powerful and pleasing to the eye.  One of the easiest tricks to adopt when you are out taking photos is the “rule of thirds”!  I am going to try my best to explain the rule of thirds to you by using three easy steps.

Step One: Locate the subject matter of the photo.

Step Two: Divide the photo into thirds.

Step Three: Place the subject matter on one of the dividing lines!

It is as simple as that, when looking at an image our eyes naturally look for lines and shapes.  The human eye is looking to fully understand what is laid out in front of it, so naturally the eye wants to condense the photo into easy to read shapes and lines. Cropping the photo using the rule of thirds is just a way to simplify your photo structurally so that it appears less cluttered and easier for the eyes to glance at and really focus in on the subject matter at hand. An example of the perfect use of the rule of thirds is featured below in my portrait entitled “Wildlife on the Herb River” . The subject matter is the two birds on the river.  Notice how I’ve shot and cropped the image so that both birds fall on two of the dividing lines?

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Now here is the part where you get involved!  I want to challenge you to keep the rule of thirds in mind next time you are out with your camera whether it is an i-phone or DSLR camera, take time to see the image unfold before taking that next shot.  What is the subject matter of your image?  Does your image follow the rule of thirds?  Is your image clean and organized? Take some time to really appreciate the composition of your image and  people that view your image will also start to take notice!  Well thanks for tuning in to my brief discussion on photo composition and the rule of thirds.  I hope you learned something valuable! Below is a few more of the pictures I have take this year that really apply to the rule of thirds, use them for some inspiration!

http://www.stillnaturellc.com

Birds of a Feather

I took these two pictures at separate times in my career.  The one on the left portrays pidgins flocking in unison off the South end of the Tybee Island Pier and the one on the right was taken at the Savannah Wildlife Refuge north of the South Carolina/Georgia border.  I found these two photos while searching through old galleries and I decided to create a blog post using the two in tandem.

There are numerous connections that can be made between nature and our everyday lives.  Life is social.  We depend on one another for support in hard times as well as bond together at times of joy and exuberance.  It is a quest really.  We strive to find greatness as a group when challenged as a whole and also find ourselves venturing out on our own to search for a sense of identity and attempt to create our own path.  Both behaviors are equally as important in both nature and everyday life.  As for the Avian Species depicted above, it is a struggle to survive day in and day out.  It is hard not to marvel at all life that surrounds us.  The tenacity of a flock of pidgins tossing around in a fierce wind or a lone turkey vulture scrounging, searching tirelessly for its next meal.  What are some times you have felt challenged? What sort of mentality do you use on a day-to-day basis?  I hope this short article gave you a little Monday motivation…  Thanks for tuning in and I look forward to writing more this upcoming week!

Photo Contest Alert!

Calling all photographers!  Think you have an eye for photography?  Think you got what it takes to climb the charts and win big?  Still Nature Photography is starting photo contest to kick off the summer of 2017!  All you have to do is either follow the link below and submit or tag an Instagram photo with the hashtag #summerisherestill for a chance to win the ultimate prize of one canvas print courtesy of Still Nature LLC (Canvas Print Depicted Below).

(Copy and Paste this link into browser to submit your favorite Summer is here still photo!)

https://foto-app.appspot.com/app/foto/inst/1787059914843261?embed=1&noFb=1

The contest is an ongoing contest and will end on June 28th at 5pm!  I want your photos to really capture what summer means to you.  Submit special photos of past summer memories as well as new ones, and don’t forget to tag the photo with #summerisherestill.  I wish everyone the best of luck.  I am looking forward to seeing your photos and maybe even gaining a little inspiration of my own as we begin the summer season!

“Photo by Still Nature Photography Taken with iphone 6s”

Want to see more! visit my site

http://www.stillnaturellc.com

 

“A Hidden Gem”

Has there ever been a place where you felt at rest?  Have you ever experienced such tranquility that the world dissipates slowly around you and time stops.  This is how I feel when visiting Isle of Hope’s Bluff Drive.  Located on the south side of Savannah the historic drive lies quiet beneath towering 200 year old oak trees, that would make anyone feel small.  Spanish moss dangles and sways in the gentle river breeze above you as you hear birds chirping all around. It is hard to navigate the historic drive because of all the wear and tear as you dodge pot holes and large cracks in the black concrete surface.  It is this rustic feel that gives this quaint drive so much character.  This is where I grew up and I revisit this place from time to time to both recapture old memories as well as create new ones.  Is there a place in your life that holds true to who you are and serves to be a special reminder of where you came from?  Please comment and share your personal experience and pictures of your special place in the comment feed below.  I’d love to hear from you.  Thanks as always for tuning in! Until next time friends.

http://www.stillnaturellc.com

An Etsy Shop is Born!

I decided to start an Etsy Shop!  Developing and organizing my photography portfolio this summer has been a ton of fun, but it got me thinking.  I wish there was a way to market my brand and at the same time create a tangible good that would draw connections between my followers and places that are unique and memorable.  I decided to simplify.  I ended up picking the Tybee Island Lighthouse as a subject for my new endeaver because it is a symbol, a symbol of the great history of the low country and the rustic feel that ultimately captured the true essence of my company’s vision.  My Etsy shop would start off as a simple idea and would later expand into a variety of products, but I needed a starting point and that starting point would be the Tybee Island Lighthouse!   I have experimented with handcrafted coasters in the past and have had a great amount of success with this process.  I started building my inventory and quickly expanded to creating a variety of different products including custom magnets, ornaments and 5 x 7 matted photos.  Thus an Etsy Shop was born out of thin air and I am hoping it serves to be a great complimentary shop to my already existing online presence.  I already have some new projects in the works and am very excited to release them.  So far my experience with Etsy has been eye-opening and a great challenge to say the least, but I can’t wait to learn and grow with each coming day!  Thanks for tuning in once more.  I hope this post was insightful for those looking to follow in my footsteps and start an Etsy shop of their own.  I say go for it!  You will be joining a great community of free-spirited, creative and unique individuals.  Take a glance at my website listed below and I will look forward to keeping you posted.  Thanks again for tuning in!