OAKLAND CITY, Ind. (WFIE) – You’ll soon be able to visit a local photography business in Gibson County.

The owner of Three Birds of a Feather LLC says they have secured a storefront in Oakland City.

The business announced they will have a fully functional indoor photography studio, a small shop with booths from local area artists and a selfie station.

The studio will be open for same day services for photography needs such as infant, family, couples, engagement and “funny awkward” trending photos.

Three Birds of a Feather will also offers service to help update your professional photo for you resume or LinkedIn account.

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Let’s talk about one resolution you’ll be able to stick to.

I’ve made many a New Year’s resolution over the past few years when it comes to photography. There were the basic ones like improving on specific areas of my work or doing X number of personal projects. There were more pointed ones, like reducing the amount of money I spent on new gear. By the way, I hit a twenty-year low in spending on gear last year. That doesn’t really have anything to do with this article. I’m just really proud of myself for that and thought I’d shamelessly solicit a pat on the back. All of our resolutions are highly particular to our circumstances. So, in truth, it’s impossible to live up to the promise of the title of this article and pick just one resolution that fits all. But, I came to a realization the other day that all the possible resolutions that one could choose should really just boil down to one thing.

I came to this realization in the gym, of all places. Well, technically, it was in my home gym (a.k.a. the corner of my garage). I was standing there in front of a set of dumbbells, about to do my gazillion-ith rep of the last year, and an old adage rang in my ears. Progressive overload.  It’s the idea that the body adapts to your workout. So, if you have any hope of continuing to improve your fitness level without hitting a plateau, you need to keep gradually increasing the amount of weight you’re lifting (or your number of reps) with each workout. So, if you could bench press 200 pounds today, then you should try 210 pounds tomorrow, for example. I’ve just made up those numbers, by the way. We both know you surpassed a 500-pound bench press long ago. But, basically, the idea is that if you want to continue to improve, you have to keep pushing yourself further. Continuing to lift the same amount of weight you always have and expecting better results is an adventure in futility.

I thought about this workout platitude because I think the same rule applies to other aspects of our lives. We often confuse ourselves into thinking that the goal of hard work is to reach some sort of theoretical end point. We work hard so that we can hit a preordained point, then simply spend the rest of our lives staying put with our success. But, much like a shark in the water, if you aren’t moving forward, you are just slowly dying. Hard work is a reward in itself. And, if we are doing it right, we never have to stop getting better. As human beings or as artists.

When I was doing my annual year-end Instagram post the other week, I went about the usual process of finding the images from the year that I was most proud of. As the years go by, this process gets harder and harder. Not because I don’t like the work, but rather because I’ve expanded into so many different areas that it can be harder to create a streamlined and coherent Instagram story that won’t result in a poor imitation of Forrest Gump.  

I’ll admit that, at first, I was a bit annoyed at the difficulty of this routine task. What should have taken five minutes ended up taking several hours as I kept unearthing different areas of my work that I felt made major improvements in the previous year. In the end, all those accomplishments did end up holding together better than I had thought. But, the interesting thing is that the year in review I expected to see ended up telling a completely different tale than I had expected.

The reason was simple. I had accepted that I needed to lift more weight. I had stopped living in my comfort zone and decided to push myself to get better. So, while the results weren’t exactly what I had anticipated, they were, objectively speaking, better than I could have hoped for.

Will those results lead to that theoretical end of the rainbow? I have no idea. Truth be told, that part is completely outside of my control. But making these small strides, little bit by little bit, are the type of steps required to finish a marathon. So, as we head into yet another year of possibilities, instead of picking out a specific resolution which I’m likely to have forgotten by February, I am instead committing myself to simply continue to pick up more weight.  I will keep increasing the demands on my artistic muscles so they can continue to grow. Who knows where it will all lead? But I will get better. And, after all, isn’t that the only resolution we can all agree on?

Photographer Karlina Konsur always lived by the sea but recently it has become both an inspiration and a spectacular subject for her photography. She talks to us about how the photo “Sunset at Kuźnica Beach” was taken, and why it works…

1. Golden glow

Karolina set out to capture this seascape early one spring evening. “I like photographing at this time because, for a short moment, the sun emits a characteristic, soft light with a golden hue and the landscape takes on a completely different dimension and vividness,” Karolina says. During the golden hour, warm, intense light accentuates shapes and creates a compelling atmosphere. With the sun setting, the light illuminates the beach and allows key parts of the picture, such as the grass and the sand, to shine. “In post-processing, I slightly increased the temperature and improved highlights, making the image warmer and emphasising the glow of the sun.”

2. Motion blur  

“I have a soft spot for the long-exposure effect, which captures the beauty of a seascape as a combination of movement and stillness,” says Karolina. “I wanted the boats to remain unchanged regardless of the shutter speed, but for the grass and a few clouds to reveal more movement. Deliberate use of blur allowed me to create a soft, captivating image, showing the passage of time.” Since long exposures allow more light to enter the sensor, Karolina uses a polariser and an ND filter in addition to a tripod. These help control exposure and prevent highlights from being overexposed.

3. Foreground interest

Photographers often focus only on the obvious, dominant subjects within the scene, but it also pays to include some foreground elements in the composition. “I planned on taking a long exposure shot, focusing not just on the beach itself but also its surroundings,” says Karolina. Foreground elements are hugely important for dynamic compositions, they have a great impact on the viewer and make them feel as though they are part of the scene. By including these elements, Karolina created more depth in the seascape. “The blurred elements in the foreground were supposed to give the image a fairy-tale vibe and lightness, in contrast to the static boats moored at the shoreline.”

4. Straight horizon

“At first glance, the horizon is an insignificant line, but it plays a huge role in the perception of the image and is an integral part of it,” says Karolina. “When photographing a seascape, it is crucial to capture the horizon straight because skewing it may spoil the final effect and give the impression that water flows from one side of the image.” Since she captured the scene on uneven ground, Karolina used a tripod and the built-in digital level gauge in her camera to align the horizon. “Shooting with an ultra-wide-angle lens may cause the horizon to curve on both sides but that can easily be eliminated during post-processing,” she adds.

The sea attracts me with its space and the various faces of its elements. Depending on the season and the weather, the sea can introduce different energy into the picture.”

Tech details

Aperture: f/11

Shutter speed: 8sec

ISO: 100

Camera: Canon EOS 80D

Lens: Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

Accessories: 

– Tripod

– CPL filter 

– ND filters

Karolina Konsur

Karolina Konsur is a landscape photographer from Gdansk in northern Poland, specializing in seascape and long-exposure photography. Photography has been her passion for many years, allowing her to constantly discover new places and capture unique moments in the frame. Karolina’s photographs have been awarded in many prestigious photo competitions, published in magazines, and presented at collective exhibitions.

Others in this series

Photography, a realm where technical skills and creativity collide, presents a perennial question to its practitioners: which is more important? This topic is not just a matter of curiosity but is central to the evolution and success of photographers, both hobbyist and professional.

Coming to you from David Bergman with Adorama TV, this interesting video essay takes a look at the idea of technical skills versus creativity. Bergman stresses the importance of understanding technical elements, but more significantly, he delves into the essence of photography as an art form. His approach underscores a key insight: while technical knowledge is crucial, it must be balanced with creative intuition. This balance is critical for photographers because it allows them to not only master the mechanics of their craft but also to inject personal vision and artistry into their work.

Bergman further illustrates that photography isn’t just about replicating a set formula. Each element, from the model’s unique features to the studio’s ambient conditions, plays a role in shaping the final image. This reality pushes photographers to go beyond mere technical execution. It encourages them to adapt, experiment, and find their unique style and the confidence to create it consistently. For photographers, this is a liberating message. It empowers them to blend technical know-how with creative flair, turning every shoot into a canvas for both precision and expression.

Ultimately, the discussion transcends the specifics of camera settings and lighting. It invites photographers to recognize and embrace the duality of their craft: the meticulousness of technique and the boundlessness of creativity. In doing so, it opens up a world where photographers can continually evolve, learn, and redefine their art. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bergman.

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A harrowing event unfolded at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, where a large tuna fish, in an unusual display of behavior, crashed head-first into the aquarium glass, giving the appearance of taking its own life. The incident was caught on camera and quickly spread like wildfire on Reddit, sparking a heated debate about the detrimental effects of flash photography on marine life in aquariums.

Flash Photography: A Threat to Aquatic Life

At the time of the incident, visitors were seen using flash photography, a common practice that has come under increasing scrutiny for its potential to cause distress among aquatic animals. Shortly after the flashes started, the tuna swam at an alarming speed into the glass wall of the aquarium, then sank to the bottom, lifeless. The stark correlation between the use of flash and the fish’s erratic behavior highlighted the possible dangers of this photographic technique in such settings.

Reflections: An Invisible Barrier

Flash photography, particularly in environments with reflective surfaces such as swimming pools and aquariums, can create disorienting reflections for aquatic animals. These reflections may lead them to mistake the glass boundaries of their enclosure for open water, a fatal error that leads to incidents like the one witnessed at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

Shifting Tides: The Call for Change

This distressing incident has reignited calls for a ban on flash photography in aquariums, with advocates arguing that it causes confusion and agitation in marine animals. A growing number of aquariums, recognizing the potential harm, have already taken the proactive step of banning the use of flash photography. The viral video has served as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of our actions, leading to increased discussions about the welfare of animals in captivity and the human impact on their behavior.