ith the arrival of noticeably warmer breezes, I feel in my bones a sense of excitement that manifests itself most visibly with a desire to return to capturing the outdoors.

With camera in hand, the joy of capturing spring as it unfolds begins.

The predominantly monochromatic palette is giving way to delicate shades of green, pinks and pale golds, as my uphill backyard awakens from its long hiatus.

Whether equipped with traditionally bulky photographer’s gear, or my much lighter, “user friendly” and overwhelmingly popular these days, iPhone, an enthusiasm for documenting and perhaps preserving nature’s fleeting beauty will drive my inspiration with a renewed vigor.

One doesn’t need to travel far - a walk in the local park, or down neighborhood back streets, and/or a contemplative survey of one’s backyard, can supply photographers with an abundance of creative stimuli for meaningful photography.

The world comes alive

Various plants spring up at different intervals, producing a wide range of colors and shapes, and the whole process of springtime awakening can be documented by observing birds, bugs, flowers and whatever animals happen to be trespassing in your yard (which could be aided sometimes by time-lapse photography).

Naturally, the quality of images produced during these early outdoor excursions (or any other time), often reflects an individual photographer’s experiences, his/her eye for composition, attention to detail, choice of subject matter, technical know-how (particularly when dealing with traditional cameras), and level of spontaneity in approaching the task of photographing nature.

The ‘Eureka Moment’

Those of us who grew up with analog cameras must have had at some point a “eureka moment” when discovering the amazing abilities and ease of use that digital cameras, especially those that come with a smartphone, have to offer - allowing the capture of good stills at any time of the day, and under most weather conditions, without worrying too much about the image’s over-or-underexposed qualities.

In the case of spontaneous shooting, when inspired by a transient moment, it is most helpful when aided by the marvel of smartphone technology, with its various apps, to create an image of perfect tonal balance. As a consequence, more often than not, one tends to put away the traditional camera in favor of the iPhone, particularly when traveling.

Personally, I still use a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT for my more complex and ambitious photographs. It is my long and trusted friend, which over the years has allowed me to create various atmospheric still life compositions, moody interior shots, and architectural details.

It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to set my Canon on manual and work with it as a fine-tuned instrument requiring my expertise. I still own a small collection of lenses, some of which appear surprisingly heavy to carry around these days, and I also have a couple of old point-and-shoot cameras that no longer see much action due to their inferior resolution capabilities.

Overall, I want to enjoy using my Canon camera as long as it serves my need for creativity, but it has become apparent that when it comes to shooting an outdoors full of multifaceted vistas and shimmering light, my Canon’s technical range puts a lot of demand on my skills as photographer, rather than if the same landscape was captured with a smartphone at the click of a button.

These days, a sophisticated editing app in an average smartphone can take several captures of the same image at various exposures and merge them together into one, producing a well-defined image - saving the photographer a lot of time and effort. But, maybe this is what creativity is all about when it comes to great photography… it depends upon the skills and individuality of the artist behind the lens, creating a unique footprint, including technical imperfections.

Don’t be afraid of post edits

My “Evening Shadow” water lily, for example, was captured on a hot summer day at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square. I mounted my Canon on a tripod and carefully adjusted the settings. I usually shoot in raw mode, and afterward use Photoshop software to edit the selects I consider the best - I may remove an unwanted insect, touch up an unsightly spot, or crop the image proper.

When appropriate, I favor post-editing processes and image manipulations, because, in my opinion they can be an important part of the overall creative process - to me it’s not cheating, but some purists may disagree; well, for them there are smartphones, so they can feel virtuous - I am happy embracing both.

Often, the best way to learn, enjoy and expand one’s horizons in photography is to hang around with other like-minded individuals.

The Palmerton Camera Club provides such an opportunity, where a group of passionate photographers under the leadership of its president, Jeannie Carl, enjoy various field trips, member challenges and photo competitions. Open to Carbon County residents and beyond, the club’s monthly meetings include informative presentations. If you are interested in joining, or learning more about it, you can email pccphotographersrus@gmail.com, or Jeannie Carl at naturalist_eec@yahoo.com. Due to pandemic concerns, meetings are conducted via Zoom the fourth Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Visit the club’s website at www.palmertoncameraclub.com.