Bob Crum

Pick any number between 1 and 20 including 1 and 20. Got it? Hold the number in mind. You picked 12! No? Hmmm. OK, has to be ‘9’. No? Obviously I lack mental telepathy powers... unless by accident I guessed right.

The number game was to demonstrate that I'm not a mind reader. I can't know what you expect or want from this column. Rather than continue guessing I need everyone - you too - to express your wishes and desires. Or complaints!
As Yogi said, when you come to a fork in the road... take it. If only it were that simple. I could easily take this photography column in many different ways. Get more technical or continue keeping it light but still impart technical notes here and there.

I need to know your thoughts and preferences. Your input will be a great help and greatly appreciated. The email address is below. Don't forget!

Onward. Aspens from June Lake up to Lee Vining are turning colors now. It's gorgeous up that way if only it weren't so distant. Five hour drive. Ugh!

Must find a grove of deciduous trees closer to home. Two hour drive is OK. Any suggestions? How about the Kernville area? Or the hills north of Castaic? Time to plan a couple of day trips and go exploring.

Are you also a leaf peeper? Think dramatic colors. Yellow, orange or blaze red! Beware a problem. Digital cameras often struggle capturing leaf colors accurately. One issue in particular is the digital camera's white balance (WB) setting. A wrong WB setting results in yellow leaves looking pink with magenta polka dots. I exaggerate but you get the idea.

Appropriate exposure is also paramount. While I normally shoot exposing on the high side, it's a lousy idea for fall foliage. Brightness reduces fabulous colors to pastels. Pastel pink Maple leaves are awful. Tip: Some situations dictate that I adjust exposure compensation-reducing it approximately one stop-in order to preserve color saturation.

Hot tip: Use a polarizing filter. Fall foliage is highly reflective. Worse when wet. Glare is a serious detriment to quality fall foliage photos. A circular polarizing filter greatly helps eliminate or at least reduce glare and give colors oomph. Caveat: Remember that a polarizing filter effects are strongest at 90° from the sunlight. No effect at 0° and 180°. Now you know why when I'm photographing wet mermaids I want the sun on my right or left. Nothing worse than glare on a mermaid's bottom.

Glare is a constant issue so time of day and location can be a factor for maximum polarizing effect. This entails planning. Being at the right place at the right time will reap big rewards. Sometimes this means going back at the optimum time after a scouting mission. Even so, wish for good light or chalk up the trip to a nice Sunday drive.

Remember that this is about photography... not phonetography. As a photographer you no longer take snapshots. Going forward, you are creating magnificent photos. Got it?

You know that I will never pass up an opportunity for a sunstar. This week’s Photo of the Week is off Perfurmo Road up by SLO. I think the trees are live canyon Oaks. Arborists? The bark structure with lichen captured my attention. Spanish moss adds mystique. BTW, Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is not a moss at all. It is a bromeliad and not parasitic. The sunstar is my “planned” bonus! BAM!

Happy photoing.

Send you comments, suggestions or questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com