#AvsB – #Alpenglow or #Sunset?

Here are two photos of the same subject but with different light and I’d like to ask which one is your favorite, and why. Please vote in the poll then post your reasoning in the comment section.

A few weeks ago I went out to shoot the last sunset of the year. I headed to one of my favorite places to shoot. The sky was clear, the air crisp and cold, the views were fantastic. Plus, with the cold air, the visibility was astonishing.

From Boulevard Park in Bellingham, Wash., you could see Mt. Robie Reid in British Columbia. The added bonus was the beautiful light cast upon it by the setting Sun

Photo A:  Mt. Robie Reid 15 Min Before Sunset

Mt. Robie Reid on Fire – The setting Sun ignites Mt. Robie Reid in British Columbia in its glow as seen from Boulevard Park in Bellingham, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography)

A vs B: Wedding Rings in Flowers

While editing wedding photos from Sandy and Ellen’s ceremony, I am a bit stuck on which one of these wedding rings I like better. Both have their qualities, but I’d like some comments about which you like better.

The difficult part was to get the rings to show the colors. They had to be almost perfectly face on for the camera to capture the colors in the stones. Most did not come out, but these two work really well.

A: Among the Purple –

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography – Ellen and Sandy’s wedding rings resting on a flower.

The only flaw I find with the above photo is that the pair of rings sort of resemble sunglasses. But other than that, I think it works nicely.

For the ring photos, I used my Nikkor 55mm f.2.8 Macro on my Nikon D300s with the white balance set on manual to Daylight, ISO of 400 as it was cloudy, the shutter at 1/250th, and the lens aperture at f/8 to add a little depth of field.

B: In the Lily –

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography – The rings in a Lily.

What I like about this image is that the flower sort of resembles a heart. When presented with this opportunity again, I think I’ll unfold the flower a touch to get a more “heat-shaped” feel to it.

Which photo is your favorite? And why? Answer in the comments section.

To view more of my wedding work and to book your wedding, visit my page Wedding Portfolio.

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Thank you for stopping by to read and view my work. Feel free to comment, critique, or just ask questions.

Also, feel free to share and reblog, link to, and add your site in the comment section. Sign up for updates so you don’t miss on other postings.

Paul “pablo” Conrad

Follow me on these various Social Networks:

1. “Like” my Page on Facebook
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4. Follow me on Pinterest

Paul Conrad is an award-winning, nationally and internationally published freelance editorial photographer living in Bellingham north of Seattle, WA, in the Pacific Northwest. His work has been published in newspapers and magazine throughout the United States and in Europe. He is available for assignments anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.

His clients include Getty Images, Wire Image, AirBnB, The Bellingham Herald, and many local business in Whatcom County. Previous clients are Associated Press, the New York Times, L.A. Times, Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, and many others.

His specialty is photojournalism covering news, sports, and editorial portraits, he also is skilled in family portraiture, high school senior portraits, and weddings.

A vs B: Horizontal or Vertical

Went out for a bike ride yesterday around Bellingham, Wash.. While riding around, I stopped by Squalicum Harbor for a few shots as it was a beautiful day.

Using my Nikon D300s with my Nikkor 17-35 f/2.8 lens, I shot some wonderful purple flowers with the harbor as the background. To darken the skies and add a little saturation, I added my B+W polarizing filter.

Both were shot on full manual: Shutter: 1/4000th      Aperture: f/4     White Balance: Daylight     ISO: 200

Which one of these two do you like better? And Why? What is it that makes it a better photo for you?

A: Horizontal

© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography – Purple flowers form a base for the masts of boats moored at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, Wash., on Thursday afternoon July 16, 2015.

B: Vertical

© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography – Purple flowers form a base for the masts of boats moored at Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham, Wash., on Thursday afternoon July 16, 2015.

For me personally, I like B: Vertical better for these reasons:

• Shallow depth of field: This keeps your eye on the flowers.
• This gives it a sense of place without the distraction of the boats.
• The masts repeat the pattern of the flowers better.
• It would make a better magazine cover – Plenty of room for the flag (Magazine title) and text.

But the strengths of A: Horizontal are not to be dismissed:

• The flow of the photo from left to right.
• The flowers add a good frame, or base, for the boats.
• The masts and flowers are haphazard and mismatched (a good quality to keep repetition from being boring).
• The layering of the flowers, the mast, the city, the sky.
• Your eye wanders all over the photo but still finds its way back to the flowers.
• It would make a great double truck spread in a magazine.

Which one is your favorite and why?

Don’t forget to sign up for email updates to get more tips and tricks to improve your photography.

Thank you for stopping by to read and view my work. Feel free to comment, critique, or just ask questions.

Also, feel free to share and reblog, link to, and add your site in the comment section. Sign up for updates so you don’t miss on other postings.

Paul “pablo” Conrad

Follow me on these various Social Networks:

1. “Like” my Page on Facebook
2. Follow me on Instagram
3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Follow me on Pinterest

Paul Conrad is an award-winning, nationally and internationally published freelance editorial photographer living in Bellingham north of Seattle, WA, in the Pacific Northwest. His work has been published in newspapers and magazine throughout the United States and in Europe. He is available for assignments anywhere in the Pacific Northwest.

His clients include Getty Images, Wire Image, AirBnB, The Bellingham Herald, and many local business in Whatcom County. Previous clients are Associated Press, the New York Times, L.A. Times, Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, and many others.

His specialty is photojournalism covering news, sports, and editorial portraits, he also is skilled in family portraiture, high school senior portraits, and weddings.