Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm Collaborative Blog
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm Collaborative Blog
Rachel and Missy originally met in a local photographer’s group in Vancouver, WA called Viewpoint Collaborative. A group of Pacific Northwest professional female photographers, specializing in different photography genres and styles, but who all share at least one common theme; we believe in community over competition. Missy and Rachel are two landscape photographers in the Portland Oregon area and they adventured to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon together on April 7, 2021.
After their visit, Rachel realized how different each of their photos were on their independent posts on social media.
Then came the spark to create a collaborative blog highlighting favorite images and tips for being at the farm. We hope you enjoy this Collaboration.
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is going on until May 1, 2021.
Electronic tickets are required prior to arrival.
Click Here to Buy Tickets (scroll to the bottom of the page + select the date you’d like to go)
Click Here for General Information about the Farm
The Photographers
Rachel
Hi, I’m Rachel! I’m a landscape photographer in Vancouver, WA and during the past 6 years of being in business, I’ve traveled all over the country. I love photographing the beauty + wonder of this planet we call home, with my partner, Brian, and our pup, Maui.
If you’re interested in purchasing a fine art landscape print of mine for your home or office, feel free to head on over to my print shop.
I’m all about community + would love to connect with you!
Missy
Missy: Hey there, Missy here. I’m a landscape photographer that also captures people in the wild as well. Portraits and weddings that bring the landscape to life. I’m also a mom, a wife, and a giant ball of anxiety that is slowly learning how to chill that part out.
You can check out more of my work on these sites:
Website: https://missyfantphotography.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissyFantPhotography/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missyfantphoto
Favorite Sunrise Image
Rachel: “I woke up at 4:30 for this. Surprise! It was worth it.”
Missy: This one is my favorite. If you saw the line of the photographer image above, I was here lining this up. I was all alone, and I had a blast. I mean, I did have another photographer come over after I got this one and look around like I was crazy, but I’ll take it. And yes, it was cold, the dirt was near frozen and I’m sitting on the ground, watching the sunrise, and clicking with my other hand after I lined it up. I just wish I had a hot cup of coffee on the other hand.
Rachel and I did head back to the car after this for a bit to unfreeze our fingers so we could still be functional.
What gear did you decide to bring?
Anything that worked really well?
Anything you wish you had?
Rachel: Deciding what to bring on a shoot, can be a gamble, especially when you don’t know exactly what conditions are going to be. It can be fun to experiment and force yourself to use/not use specific lenses or tools, but it’s also important to have your basics covered.
For this day, I decided to bring:
Nikon D810
Tokina 17-35 f/4.0
Nikon 28-300 f/3.5-5.6
Nikon 105mm (my fun lens for the day)
Peak Design Travel tripod
Wireless remote shutter release
I’m REALLY glad I brought my 105mm. I ended up using this for the entire second half of the time we were there, just playing, and experimenting and I learned I LOVE that lens. The creamy blurry background in my macro photos is because of this lens. Just beautiful.
I wish I had brought my other camera body! I had my camera on a tripod, capturing a timelapse of the sunrise, and I wish I had another camera available to free-hand capture other things I noticed that I didn’t want to disrupt my time lapse for. I did have my phone, which I did use… but of course, that’s not the same.
Missy: For landscapes recently, I’ve been going bare bones and not bringing much, it pushes me to think outside the box to get something different.
So for this trip, I brought only my prime lenses, something I usually do just for portrait sessions. It also may have been because I lent my favorite zoom lens, my 24-70, to a friend.
Nikon D750
Sigma Art 35 mm 1. 4
Sigma Art 85 mm 1.4
Tripod
My 85mm is the stand out here as I should also admit, it's my favorite lens ever, but also, it is a tight crop and makes you think more about the composition. My plan was to make the tulips the star of the show, not the entire landscape.
I do wish that I brought my ND filter as the clouds would have given me some great long exposures to show the movement of them.
Favorite Macro Image
Rachel: “Sometimes we’re just not quite ready to open up.”
Missy: Not a macro in its definition, but still, a standout with some details. The rebellious mini daffodils growing amongst the tulips.
Your favorite thing about visiting the Farm?
Rachel: It’s totally a unique experience! The farm is a great place to get back in touch with nature and have fun. I also love that they open it for sunrise, and photographer or not, I highly recommend this unique opportunity.
Missy: The different fields of colors and of course, the location. When the clouds don’t move in, there is a great view of the sunrise coming over Mount Hood.
The ‘Black Sheep’ Image
Rachel: “I need to be right here. ...Even if I’m different. I just couldn’t be over there.”
Missy: We went for tulips and landscapes, and I focus on the old tractors scattered amongst the fields.
Top 3 tips
Rachel:
Bring more gear/lens options than you think you need. You can always keep them locked up in your car, and grab them if you decide you want them. If you have a macro lens, bring it.
Explore the whole farm... Look at it from far away, get down on the ground and look at the flowers up close. Heck, do some people watching if that’s up your alley, and watch the little kids in amazement or the flock of photographers each with their own vision.
Go more than once if you can. Every day is going to give you a different experience. Plus, supporting local farmers, and local business is always great!
Missy:
I'm the opposite as I like to think simple. Bringing too much will make you continually guess which one to use at the moment….and then you lose the moment. STOP OVERTHINKING.
Take time to just enjoy it. Put the camera down for a bit, sit on one of the benches, and just take it all in.
DON’T be like everyone else. If you see the massive line of photographers forming for a shot, break out and try a new/different angle.
Breakaway from scenes like this, unless you really do want that shot!
Favorite
Conceptual Image
Rachel: “Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
In loving memory to all those who have passed or lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Missy: If you couldn't tell, my whole spiel here has been to be different and stand out amongst others. That’s EXACTLY what this guy was doing. Be like them. Otherwise, you just blur into the background like the others.
Overall, this was such a fun project for us to take a look at how we see things differently.
We hope you enjoyed it and feel ready to go get your own photos at the farm!
Have you been to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival? Let us know in the comments.
We’ll see you out there!
Similar Blog Posts
All Blog Posts
