Fall Semester Final

1. Reflecting upon this first semester, what do you think is the most important thing you have learned? Please use details and please tell me WHY you think this.
I think the most important thing i learned was the composition rules. even though i had subconsciously known about these, i had never knew exactly what they were. These rules have changed my photography and the things that i think about when i take pictures. i no longer just pick up the camera, adjust the settings and shoot. now i plan my photos more and make sure i am in a position to get the best picture. 
2. What is one thing that you wish we had spent more time on? Again please use details and tell me WHY.
i wish we had gotten the chance to share our photos with out classmates and ask them how they were able to get a picture like that. ive seen some really awesome pictures that people have taken and i would like to know how i could try and get a picture like that. i know at one point you had said we would reflect on each others blogs and i really wish we had done that. i would also like to know how to watermark pictures within photoshop. i have done a little bit of it within lightroom but i was wondering if there was a way to do it in photoshop as well and to be able to save it so that you dont have to redo it every time. 
3. Lightroom is a pretty powerful tool and I know we have only touched parts of it, what are two things you would like to either spend more time on, or what function do need more training on? If you need to open Lightroom you should do so, please try to get the correct name for the controls you are talking about.
One of the things on lightroom that i have no idea what it is is the split toning tab. i would like to at least know what this does so that i can play around with it some. i would also like to know more about making collections within lightroom so that i can sort some of my pictures while editing them. and what smart collections are and how to use them.
4. This semester I pushed really hard to finish as much of the required curriculum that I wanted to cover that models the ACC assignments. We are four assignments short of finishing but 2 of them will be done in class, so we did well to get as much done as we did. With that being said, do you feel the work load is acceptable for this class? Please tell me WHY?
Yes i definitely feel the work load is acceptable. we knew that when we signed up for this class we were going to have to do work outside of class. and outside of class is the best place to put your skills to the test. how are we ever going to get better if we only do stuff around school. weekends really help especially now that the sun sets so early. 
4A. If you have struggled to keep up with the assignments (and I know who you are, so please be honest), please tell me what caused you to fall behind? Please be specific and also please be realistic with your answers. If you didn't struggle, you do not need to answer this question, move on to #5.

5. So far, what was your favorite assignment/photo shoot that we did? Please include details of why this was your favorite and what parts of the task that made it your favorite.
my favorite assignment was probably the pet portrait assignment. i feel that interacting with live beings is really fun and it is really challenging. it took a lot of work to get the animals i shot to sit still enough to get a photo, but the challenge is what made it fun. 
6. Which assignment was the most difficult for you to understand/complete? Again, please be specific and include details of why it was that way for you.
i think the creative portion of the landscape assignment was the hardest for me to complete. getting the camera in the exact same position was really hard espiecially since one of the places i took pictures at was rocky so it was really hard. i feel that the assignment itself wasnt entirely that difficult but i had problems getting it set up the exact same for both the photos.
Below is a list of the content/assignments we will be doing next semester. Please look over the list and answer the questions proceeding:

Commercial Photography 2nd semester topics:
Steel wool shoot  - 4th
Tilt-shift lens -  4th
HDR images – 4th
Macro photography – when we get back
Using a Flash – early in the semester
News/Photojournalism formal – early 4th
5 stations (includes colored water droplets, spinning lights, black acrylic, bubbles, and focus stacking) – early in the semester
Studio – with formal shoot MU/Model/Clothing – late 4th, and 5th 6 weeks
Silhouette free shoot - 4th
Time-lapse video – 5th
Hyper-lapse video – 5th
Captions – 6th
Print show – 6th
Film – maybe 6th
Guest speakers – 2-3 people – Mark Heaps - all-around photographer (includes studio tour at his new location), Jeff Campbell - wedding photographer, Jay Janner - Austin American Statesman lead photographer, Steve DeMent - Portrait photographer, Imiko Miller - Portrait photographer, Ariana Price - former student Columbia College Chicago Film School, Jennifer Ramos - specializes in Roller Derby and other event photography.
Field trips – wildflower center, downtown – March for Wildflower, April Downtown, May Enchanted Rock/Fredericksburg flowers - Mark Heaps studio location.

Meet-ups – steel wool, any field trips we can't make during school time

7. Which topic listed above are you the most excited about? Be sure to explain why.
i am extremely excited for our steel wool meetup. but i am also really excited to learn about HDR images. i really want to know what it takes to make one and what kind of pictures to get and how to lay them together. i really am curious to know how photographers make these kind of images. i can't wait to make some of my own. 
8. Are there any photography related topics that you want to know more about, but you don't see covered above and that we haven't touched on this semester?
i would like to know more about light painting and long exposures. i know we sort of did that for our free shoot, but i would like to know more about it. and different things to try to do different kinds. 
9. What are you photographic goals for the future? Do you see yourself going to college specifically for photography? Do you want to learn more about your collegiate options specifically for photography?
in the future i would definitely like to something with photography. exactly how much i don't know yet. i don't think i would like to go to college full time for just photography but i would like to know what colleges offer classes about it. 
10. One thing I haven't spent much time on, and that isn't in my plans is about equipment, do you think that we need to spend a little time talking about photography equipment? If you answer yes to this question? Is there anything in specific you want to know? What types of things should I prepare to share with you in regards to equipment.
i would like to know more about equipment. and what lens are good for what. i know we have looked up some of this stuff on our own but i would like to know why that is. i also would like to know more about reflectors. like different kinds and what they do. 
11. Post your best/favorite photo that you took of the semester.

you probably expected me to post this but i am pretty proud of this photograph. it wasn't until i look at it on the computer that i noticed how much the reflection actually showed up. it turned out better than i was hoping for. 

12. Finally, since this is the first semester of teaching this class here at Bowie, what suggestions do you have for me about how this semester has gone, what I could be doing better. What suggestions do you have to improve any part of this class? For example, you could tell me about student/teacher relations, student/student relations, the content we are covering, the lesson plans themselves, the structure of the formal assignments, the directions for event and free shoots, etc. I am open to anything. Part of my job is to make this a positive experience, yet it is also an educational opportunity for all of you and the other part of my job is to teach you new skills.
i wish that we set up more of the shoots during class so that we could see a little more about what was expected. the examples helped a lot but i feel that seeing it being set up would help me a lot more.  
another thing that i wish we did, was learn more about what things we are doing wrong when we are taking our pictures. like maybe every once in a while we could be given feedback from either you or our classmates.

Event Shoot #2

Making Christmas deserts

this picture looks less blown out in light room

Pet portraits

3rd six weeks free shoot

Portrait lighting definitions

Fill light- may be used to reduce the contrast of a scene to match the dynamic range of the recording media and record the same amount of detail typically seen by eye in average lighting and considered normal. will make shadows seem lighter or darker than normal which will cause the viewer to react differently by inferring both environmental and mood clues from the tone of the shadows. any source of illumination that lightens areas of shadow created by other lights. lighten shadows created by the main light.
Main light- primary and usually the strongest light. responsible for providing shape and form.

Hair light- a light that is used to light up the hair. can cause lens flare.
Background light- controls how light or dark the background behind the subject is.
Shadowless lighting- use of soft light. can reduce shadows without creating additional shadows. large light source, close to the subject.
Butterfly- created by the way in which you angle the light to fall on the face of your subject. butterfly shaped shadow under the nose.
Loop- made by creating a small shadow of the subject noses on their cheeks. shadow of the nose and the cheek do not touch.
Split- splits the face into equal halves with one side being in the light and the other in the shadow.
Rembrandt- identified by the triangle of light on the cheek. shadow of the nose and the cheek do meet and creates a triangle of light in the middle.
Grey Card- a middle gray reference, typically used together with a reflective light meter as a way to produce consistent image exposure and or color.
Hard light versus soft light- Soft light refers to light that tends to "wrap" around objects, casting diffuse shadows with soft edges. Soft light is when a light source is large relative to the subject, hard light is when the light source is small relative to the subject. Hard light sources cast shadows whose appearance of the shadow depends on the lighting
Strength - shutter speed and aperture's appropriate to portraits.- low aperture to blur the background so that the attention is drawn to the subject. wide aperture- shallow depth of field. use a shutter speed that is higher than effective focal length.
instrument3:1 lighting ratio- A 3:1 lighting ratio occurs when the light discrepancy between two light sources is one and a half f-stops
Inverse square law of light (remember photography)-The inverse-square law for light intensity states: The intensity of illumination is proportional to the  inverse square of the distance from the light source. the power of the light will be inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

the posing app.
chin out and down
position subject sideways
turn the shoulders
using a wall- to look natural
relaxed hands

Event Shoot 1- 3rd 6 weeks

depth of field

rule of thirds

movement

change of viewpoint (i moved down the sideline to the other end of the field and took from the end of the field instead of the side of the field)

Architecture Formal Assignment + Creative assignment

Ramos Restaurant Chestnut St, Bastop Texas

f/11.0; 1/80; ISO 1600

f/11.0; 1/80; ISO 1600

f/11.0; 1/80; ISO 1600

Store in Bastrop

f/5.6; 1/60; ISO 1600

f/5.6; 1/60; ISO 1600

f/5.; 1/50; ISO 3200

Slaughter Creek Soccer Fields

f/3.5; 1/200; ISO 1600

f/11.0; 1/40; ISO 6400

5 websites- Stuff to look at...Blogs to complete

http://petapixel.com/2014/11/17/mother-ten-talented-photographer-takes-wonderful-natural-light-portraits/

Lisa Holloway- self taught photographer. has 10 children. runs a successful photography business. photos using natural light of newborns, babies, children, seniors and families. from Arizona.

I picked this photo because i love how it looks as if there is some sort of pixie dust. the golden flecks are illuminated by the light. in a way the trees that are behind her are sort of framing her, however they are not in focus. leading lines with the rays of sunlight. there is a little balancing with her in the foreground and the trees in the background. The photo was taking Lisa Holloway.

http://petapixel.com/2014/11/13/lark-little-offers-tips-shows-you-his-bag-and-takes-you-in-the-water-with-him-in-new-video-series/

Clark Little is a wave photographer. He uses a Nikon D4 with an aquatech housing. He shoots on the north shore of Oahu.
There were four videos. The first is about how he first started shooting.
The second video is an interview with clark little. and how you have to put yourself in a certain spot to get the perfect wave. there is a lot of prep work involved. you have to know where to place yourself. and you can't be afraid.
The third video is all about the equipment that clark little uses. The last video was an advertisement and the video was called I Am Different. it is a nikon tv commercial called 'The Little Project"
i learned that sometimes, in order to get an amazing shot, you have to not be scared and just put yourself out there. most of the time it is worth the risk.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/12/taking-pictures-raising-children/?module=BlogPost-Title&version=Blog%20Main&contentCollection=Multimedia&action=Click&pgtype=Blogs&region=Body&_r=0#
Up until recently, female photographers hadn't made their mark in the photography world. Sexist editors and/or colleagues or their personal lives got in the way. Women working abroad usually didn't have children and those who did have children worked locally. But in the last few years, female photographers have emerged raising children while completing overseas assignments. For a photographer that mostly takes pictures of families, having a child of their own connects them in a way to the family and the family might feel a little more comfortable with them. "Still, like the others, she said photography and storytelling were at the core of who they are, and it was important for a female photographer’s children to see their mother as someone who has a calling and fulfills herself."
i learned that just because you want to have a child, doesn't mean that you have to give up yout dreams. The site related to photography because it talked about how female photographers balanced their job as a photojournalist and a mother.

http://www.lightstalking.com/abstract-nature-photography-3-effective-tips-to-create-captivating-images/
Abstract art separates reality of a subject through the use of imagery. Conveys- feeling, mood, color, movement and/or texture. exploring and using an abstract approach in nature photography positively impacts our creativity in composition; use of color, movement, lines, and texture; and post processing. I learned ways to create specific images. Like for this image:

This image was created doing the following: 

The area needed to be consistently shaded. Bright, small flashes or patches of light would have created distractions (ugly lines) in the background.

If the light had been brighter, a neutral density filter could have been used.

Used a small DOF (depth of field, f/16) and low ISO to get a 1/2 second to 1 second shutter speed.

Focused on the non-moving trunk of one of the trees.

Slowly and slightly move the camera vertically when pressing the shutter button

I picked this photo because i love the blur effect created. There is cropping because you dont see the full trees and only a small portion of the forest is shown. The photo was taken by Sheen's Nature Photography. 

Architecture blog

tips: -a fish eye or wide-angle lens is ideal for this genre as it enables photographers to frame the entire building within its environment. 
-the older the structure, the more environmental context is required 
-a little bit of context helps anchor the image

Anthony Golston

1. Why did you pick this photo (be specific and write at least a paragraph)?
i picked this picture because i like how they didn't just take a horizontal of the building itself. The sky and the sunset add to the picture but in a way that doesnt take away from the architecture itself. It just makes it a more interesting photo and draws more eyes to it. 
2. Reflect on the lighting - where is it coming from, what time of day do you think the photo was taken, what is the light source, is the lighting good enough, what would you do if you had to light that type of source.
The lighting is coming from behind the building. The photo was taken as the sun was setting. the light source is the natural light as well as light from a lamp post. the lighting is good enough because the glass of the building allows for the lights inside the building to show adding more light. because this picture requires such a low shutter speed because it is taken at night, a tripod would help to allow the camera to be steady. and by underexposing the photo, the clouds were able to be evident in the way they are and not washed out. 
3. Reflect on the angle the photo was taken - where was the photographer standing in relation to the subject, what did the photographer have to do to achieve that angle, is the entire subject in the photo, do you think there is another angle that would have been better, where would that be and how would you achieve that photo.
the angle the photo was taken at was pretty much level to the base of the building. In order to get the whole building, the photographer had to stand further away. i dont think there would have been another angle because otherwise there might not be as much of the sky. 
4. Reflect on the composition - are there rules of photography evident, do the traditional rules of photography apply to architecture photography, how can one get some of those traditional rules of photography involved in an architecture photo.
i think that balancing is evident because the clouds and the sunset behind it balance out the photo instead of just having a building and a blank sky. 

Polar Impression Photography

1. Why did you pick this photo (be specific and write at least a paragraph)?
I picked this photo because not only did they capture the architecture, they captured the clouds in the sky with great detail. it looks as if the sky is continuous and not simply a reflection. the photographer did a great job of making the building truly look straight and not bending like some architecture photos. 
2. Reflect on the lighting - where is it coming from, what time of day do you think the photo was taken, what is the light source, is the lighting good enough, what would you do if you had to light that type of source.
the lighting is natural light.and looks as if the light is coming from behind the photographer.  i think the photo was taken either in the morning of the evening because the sun is not directly overhead. the lighting is very good because the natural light in this photo is not too harsh. 
3. Reflect on the angle the photo was taken - where was the photographer standing in relation to the subject, what did the photographer have to do to achieve that angle, is the entire subject in the photo, do you think there is another angle that would have been better, where would that be and how would you achieve that photo
The photographer was standing on ground level taking the picture pointing the camera towards the sky. the entire building is not in the photo. the amount of detail that is achieved would be hard to do from another angle. 
4. Reflect on the composition - are there rules of photography evident, do the traditional rules of photography apply to architecture photography, how can one get some of those traditional rules of photography involved in an architecture photo.
there are leading lines evident from the structure of the building. leading lines and symmetry would be easier to get into architecture photos because unless you are adding context into the picture, a close up wont have too many other rules. Cropping is also evident because you don't see the entire building. 

Claudia Leverentz

1. Why did you pick this photo (be specific and write at least a paragraph)?
i picked this photo because the viewpoint gives multiple rules of composition. the angle at which this photo was taken makes this photo show off the beauty of this structure. 
2. Reflect on the lighting - where is it coming from, what time of day do you think the photo was taken, what is the light source, is the lighting good enough, what would you do if you had to light that type of source.
the light is coming from above through the hole at the top of the building. because of the angle that the shadows are, the photo was taken either in the morning or in the evening. the lighting is good enough because the shadows don't make the picture too dark. You have to make sure that you give yourself enough light but not too much because then the clouds might not be noticeable. 
3. Reflect on the angle the photo was taken - where was the photographer standing in relation to the subject, what did the photographer have to do to achieve that angle, is the entire subject in the photo, do you think there is another angle that would have been better, where would that be and how would you achieve that photo
the photo was taken from inside a building at an upward angle. the photographer had to stand in the very center under the hole at the top in order to get an almost 360 view. almost the entire subject is in the picture except the base. i admire this angle because of the entirety of the building surrounding the hole at the top. 
4. Reflect on the composition - are there rules of photography evident, do the traditional rules of photography apply to architecture photography, how can one get some of those traditional rules of photography involved in an architecture photo.
there is symmetry evident. also leading lines. framing is also evident because the clouds are framed by the building. 

1. Why did you pick this photo (be specific and write at least a paragraph)?
this photo is really cool because the colors give it sort of a mysterious look. the picture looks as if a storm is about the rain on the building. the glass on the building creates a mirror like image to show the objects that surround the building and are on the street. 
2. Reflect on the lighting - where is it coming from, what time of day do you think the photo was taken, what is the light source, is the lighting good enough, what would you do if you had to light that type of source.
the lighting is coming from above because the street posts have a shadow. this photo was taken about midday. the lighting is good because otherwise you wouldnt get the effect of the dark, stormy look. 
3. Reflect on the angle the photo was taken - where was the photographer standing in relation to the subject, what did the photographer have to do to achieve that angle, is the entire subject in the photo, do you think there is another angle that would have been better, where would that be and how would you achieve that photo
the photo was taken at the corner of the street where the corner of the building was. the entire subject is in the picture because you can see the top of the building. the lens the photographer used creates a bent effect. 
4. Reflect on the composition - are there rules of photography evident, do the traditional rules of photography apply to architecture photography, how can one get some of those traditional rules of photography involved in an architecture photo.the is symmetry and leading lines. because buildings are so tall and big, some of the rules of photography dont apply.  List a few places you think would be great places to take architecture photos here in Austin - places you could go. How about giving me 5 locations you would like to go try.
downtown austin would be cool to take picures of because our building arent as tall as a lot of city buildings. 
the long center
a church
a mansion 
the capital

Finally -- some equipment research - look up a tilt-shift camera, tell me what it is and what it does.
Find one that will work on a canon camera and link that website on your blog. And what are some other pieces of equipment that might help with architecture shoots? Find 2-3 other items and list them on your blog.
tilt shift camera- Tilt shift lenses enable photographers to transcend the normal restrictions of depth of field and perspective. 
a wide angle lens
fisheye lens 
external flash
tripod
trigger release

Camera Etiquette

http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2011/11/camera-etiquette-in-a-crowd/
1. Summarize this reading. It should take at least a paragraph (3-4 sentences). Make sure to highlight the suggestions they make. we need to be polite in our photography. don't be a hog shot. take as many shots as you can, stay for a considerate amount of time, then get out of the way so others can have a chance. 
be mindful of your gear and how much space it takes up. careful when you have a big lens. careful with a big camera bag. be considerate if you have a tripod. 
keep your other eye open. be aware of your surroundings. 
make friends with people around you. they might keep an eye out for you too. 
apologize for your mistakes. 
let others know-politely- of their mistakes. 
2. Pick your favorite tip. Post it on your blog. Answer the following questions: my favorite tip is to make friends with people around you. 
     a. Why do you think this is the best suggestion? i think this is the best suggestion because not many people would think to do this. most people just stay to themselves. or maybe thats just me. haha but i think this is definitely something that people should consider.
     b. How would you deal with a person who isn't being corporative? yes. some adults at the football games and really rude when it comes to standing in front of you. 
     c. Have you ever run into this before? If so, please explain what happened & how you dealt with it. since there is enough space, i just simply move to the side. if there hadn't been that much space, i would politely ask them if maybe i could crouch in front of them since I'm a smaller person.

http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2011/11/camera-etiquette-at-weddings/
1. Summarize this reading. It should take at least a paragraph (3-4 sentences). Make sure to highlight the suggestions they make. keep in mind that its the bride and grooms day. they hired a photographer for a reason and they most likely had to pay quite a bit for it. as a professional, explain that you want to get your shot, and then you will let them get theirs. know the rules of the church. 
2. Of course this is from the perspective of a guest. But lets think about this from the professional photographers eyes.
     a. How would you deal with a "rude" guest if you were hired to shoot a wedding? simply be polite and suggest taking turns.
     b. What if that person was the Brides mother, or someone else important, would that change how you deal with the problem? if you remain polite and make sure to take turns, there isnt much you can do about rude people. you just have to make them understand that you were hired for a reason, and they can have their turn after. 
     c. What could you do ahead of time to perhaps help with the problem? set the "rules" from the very beginning so that everyone has a clear understanding. 
     d. What could you do during to keep this issue from occurring, if you sense its starting to get out of control? maybe ask members of the wedding party or the wedding planner since it is in their best interests for the bride and groom to be happy. they would most likely be willing to help. 

http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2011/09/annoyances/
1. Summarize this reading. It should take at least a paragraph (3-4 sentences). Make sure to highlight the suggestions they make. blame yourself not the equipment. be polite in your constructive criticism. make sure to apologize if you hit someone and move on once youve got your good shots. make sure your friends and family dont take advantage of you. 
     a. Which annoying thing do you think would bother you the most? i think the fact that people dont apologize for doing something or they just stand right in your way the whole time even when they arent taking pictures. 
     b. What annoying things have you encountered when out taking pictures? Describe the moment? people photobombing your picture trying to be funny when you are trying to be serious. 
     c. What would you do if a family member or friend wanted you to shoot something that you know would take a lot of time and involve a lot of work? Do you work for free? i would ask them to consider how busy my life is and that if they want me to take pictures of something that would take a lot of time and commitment when i could have booked another shoot with someone willing to pay. working for free when it is only for like less than an hour is okay, but if they want prints, then they can pay for those. otherwise i would politely ask them to consider maybe giving a little something in return. 

http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2011/09/10-tips-for-a-great-photo-walk/

1. Summarize this reading. It should take at least a paragraph (3-4 sentences). Make sure to highlight the suggestions they make.

choose a light lens. streamline your camera. you want to be nimble with your camera. bring other options and leave them in the car- have backup gear. dress for the weather and the activity. be open and polite. use common courtesy and manners. be mindful of other photographers. share cool angles and perspectives. share action going on that someone might have missed. dont hog the shot. shoot in burst mode. stand in one spot and look in every direction. kneel and get different angles. keep mental notes for next time. have fun. 

2. I am considering planning a day for us to leave campus and go on a photo walk. With that in mind, answer the following questions:

    a. Where would you like to go for a photo walk? Remember it has to be close by, not like San Antonio or something, be realistic? wildflower center. or if no cost, botanical gardens in the spring. or around town lake. 

    b. Why would you like to go there (equipment, clothing, etc)? lots of pretty flowers and theres a lot of different things to see so you wont get the same shot over and over. and with town lake, its really pretty. 

    c. What things would you need to have a good day walking and taking photos? water! it gets hot or dress up for the cold. make sure to have more than one lens so a camera backpack might be a good idea. 

    d. Would you prefer an urban or nature walk? Why? i cant decide. i think there are benefits for both. city gives you more action with people and can tell more stories tho. 

Event Shoot #2

Because i was absent today, i wasn't able to edit these in lightroom but i am going to post the JPEG files of the same pictures that would be in RAW.

Urban Style Landscapes

4 tips:
Mid to late afternoon gives you longer and softer shadows producing more interesting results.
interesting parks give you natural landscapes combined with urban landscapes to give you interesting combinations.
Good oppurtunities for beautiful images in an urban area.
Take a variety of lenses.
Look for contrasts
Research your locations

Around town lake
Austin Power Plant
6th Street
4th Street

Monopod or tripod.
Polarizing filters and UV filters.
Spare batteries



1.At first watched a online tutorial. His friend modeled for him. Brainstormed ideas he had never seen before. His photographs use ordinary steel wool thats set ablaze for the sparks.
2. Even professional photographers watch online tutorials. It is important to protect your eyes and your camera's eye from the sparks. wear goggles and put a cheap filter on your lens to avoid getting molten metal on the front element.



1. Clint Davis has dvd tutorials over how to make a movie poster. He goes over composite  images. each tutorial is step by step. Each dvd is a different level.
I learned that professionals offer tutorials for amateurs so that they are able to learn cool tips and ways to composite images.

There is no favorite photo.




Couldn't get to the photoshop website. 

Landscapes Blog

Capture Movement

When most people think about landscapes they think of calm, serene and passive environments – however landscapes are rarely completely still and to convey this movement in an image will add drama, mood and create a point of interest.

Examples – wind in trees, waves on a beach, water flowing over a waterfall, birds flying over head, moving clouds.

Capturing this movement generally means you need to look at a longer shutter speed (sometimes quite a few seconds). Of course this means more light hitting your sensor which will mean you need to either go for a small Aperture, use some sort of a filter or even shoot at the start or end of the day when there is less light.

Seacoasts

Every shoreline is different in some way. Show the difference in your images. 

3 favorite photos-

Marco Carmassi
Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
My goal is to transmit the truth of nature, freezing in time its everchanging beauty, catching the perfect light, patiently waiting for the best (or worst) weather. Nothing is added or hidden in post-production, the landscapes are shot just the way they are at that very moment.
https://500px.com/MarcoCarmassi/about

Junya Hasegawa
From Japan
Reflections from the sunset off the water
Takes mostly landscapes. also takes picture of nature(plants,animals)
https://500px.com/JIN-X3

Kent Shiraishi
From Japan
takes pics of mostly landscapes
long exposure
https://500px.com/kentshiraishi

Tripod
multiple lenses
filters
spare batteries
flashlight
photoshop

In austin you can go to anywhere where there a rural area.
Hamilton Pool Road
Steiner Ranch
anywhere on 360
1626
1826
Mt. Bonnell
Manchaca
Twin Falls
Devils Backbone
Town Lake