By: Steve Kohls on February 28, 2011 - 3:42pm - Add new comment
Recently I was assigned to photograph the girls basketball clash between Esko and Pequot Lakes. A point of interest of that night was that Pequot Lakes Patriot Emily Lueck was poised to surpass her 2000 point in her high school basketball career. It was unknown if the game would be stopped when Lueck passed the mark or not. As it turned out the game was not stopped when Lueck hit the basket breaking the 2000 point mark. Many parents struggle with capturing their children on the field, court or pool during sporting events.
By: Steve Kohls on January 30, 2012 - 9:36pm - Add new comment
When Mary Tabor walked her dog recently, it was below zero and her breath could been seen in the morning light.
As a photographer I use techniques that illustrate what I see. In other words, how do you use the camera as a tool in capturing a person in cold weather. In order to see water vapor in the air on a cold day, it must be backlit. There also should be a dark background to separate the illuminated vapor.
By: Steve Kohls on February 20, 2012 - 11:46am - Add new comment
Many times, I am asked how I find the photos that appear in the Brainerd Dispatch? My response is always, "80 percent of the images are a direct result of my editors and friends." Throughout the years in central Minnesota, residents have been very kind and considerate and passed along photo tips to me as a friend. This degree of trust has been built one person at a time. I learned from my first editor Les Sellnow that a person's request is the most important idea or thought the resident has that day. So always be respectful no matter what it is.
By: Steve Kohls on December 20, 2010 - 4:22pm - Add new comment
Many, many times I have heard from people how they photographed something during a snowfall and it turned out really dark and the snowflakes were not visible.
First of all, your camera turns everything medium gray because that is what a meter does. So to turn the snow white, go to the compensation dial and plus up the exposure to overexpose the scene. This will make the snow white.
By: Steve Kohls on December 22, 2010 - 6:29pm - Add new comment
Our area is blessed with lakes and woods but very few places where photographers can photograph moving water showing motion in the winter.
The exception is Stony Brook in Fritz Loven Park in the City of Lake Shore. With your tripod in hand, head for the rushing water as it tumbles over the rocks in the brook.
By: Steve Kohls on November 4, 2011 - 3:52pm - Add new comment
When you are faced with illustrating a story with your photograph, you have to consider creating an image that tells the story within the information contained in the image. It must be simple but compelling. The more simple your image the more compelling it is. Choose a frame from the scene on location and work with placing it over the image or shoot through the frame to create depth. I have chosen the image of the felled pine tree on a hill overlooking the College Drive construction project. Watch for background elements that standout to complete the composition such as the school bus.
By: Steve Kohls on November 8, 2011 - 2:28pm - Add new comment
When Warrior Riley Kline went out for a pass Saturday in the Section 8 5-A final game against the Moorhead Spuds, I never realized the image would show a moment just before the catch. I really like to shoot football especially during the day because it means I have a chance to capture great color as well as stop action. When shooting sports, I always shoot on Shutter Priority. How can an old timer like myself resort to the "Auto Modes"? Another good friend of mine, Bill Marchel, confessed he many times uses the Shutter Priority setting when shooting wildlife.
By: Steve Kohls on November 24, 2011 - 7:54pm - Add new comment
I had a great discussion with a student of mine last week about keeping photos simple but complete. If we shoot for our family, they will always appreciate those wide, sweeping photos that include everyone.
If you shoot for a readership that does not know your subjects, then another principle applies.
This principle is — always keep it simple, but tell the story — or as I like to say "crop until it hurts."
By: Steve Kohls on December 1, 2011 - 7:09pm - Add new comment
The concept of photographing Christmas lights late at night never seems to produce the best results. Instead, head out just as the sun sets and use the twilight sky as your background. Shoot your wide angle photos with the sky until you lose your color in the background. Those twilight skies will give you a beautiful blue with the Christmas lights. This old trick comes from news photographers who shoot a number of Christmas decorations but really need that blue background to set off the colorful lights. Remember that lights look better on the image if they are overexposed.
By: Steve Kohls on December 13, 2011 - 3:02pm - Add new comment
For all you shoppers out there this is your favorite time of the year. For me, following the swans always coincides with Thanksgiving and Christmas. The swans are out in the lakes and rivers but the freezing temperatures brings them to areas where we can expect to see them for photography. I can tell when we are close to the right time of the year because the Bald Eagles are also moving into the area, fishing and hunting on the dwindling areas of open water. The swans love the shallow water where rice beds grew during the summer.
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