I generally am not a huge fan of heavy post processing, but I am definitely a believer in doing whatever it takes to reveal the artistic vision within an image. That is not to say lemonade can be made out of any lemon, and I ruthlessly delete any photograph that exhibits obvious flaws from the get-go. However, I rarely ever delete in camera (memory space notwithstanding) and I at least give every image one go viewing on my computer before I toss it in the trash bin. The above shot is a perfect example of why I like to give every photograph a fighting chance before I give up on it.

This scenic view appeared to me recently as our cruise ship entered the coastal waters of Honduras, early one morning, as the fog was heavy and the mist obscured most of the coastal detail from view. However, my naked eye could discern a shadowy lighthouse and the architecture of the Spanish style structure within the mist. I took several shots as we cruised by, though I was not entirely hopeful they’d turn out clearly enough to publish. Once I began to post-process, I began to feel there was hope, as I gently tweaked my contrast, urged some level of detail and clarity, and finally added a slight warming tone to the final product. The result is an impressionistic scene, which is exactly what I felt as we traveled past peering into the dusky morning light–the small boat adding a human touch to the otherwise lonely waters. I am glad I gave it life, as it’s a special moment and memory to me. Hope you enjoy as well…

The image above is a happy accident. It was not the image I went out to photography last evening, but it’s the one I came home with. And while I am fairly pleased with the result, it falls in the category that we as photographers cannot seem to drill into our own heads: Be prepared.

Here is what happened. Driving home from running errands yesterday evening, I saw the cloud formations to the east looking particularly dramatic. The sun was setting, its rays slowly melting from golden to fuchsia, the clouds were gaining structure and contrast in a way that simply guaranteed I’d have an award-winning shot without breaking a sweat. That attitude should have been my first clue. Ahem. So confident was I about my intention and subject, I quickly stopped by my house and in the blink of an eye, grabbed my tripod and camera–already armed with the perfect wide-angle zoom for my landscape, and within 5 minutes was in position and on location. Didn’t

Only… wait. One problem. The sun died… right in front of my eyes. The cloud formation, which should by all rights should have exploded with color, simply…. fizzled.  The cloud went dark. And there I sat looking at a dark blue cloud on a quickly darkening sky. Hmm…. Any light, anywhere??? Oh, yes… of course… the light BEHIND me was spectacular and the local radio tower was perfectly framed in color. Except, I was standing there with a wide-angle lens and the beautiful tower was far, far away. I tried framing, reframing and finally had to settle for an image I knew I would have to severely crop later. The result is what you see above. OK, so maybe somehow, someway, I made lemons out of lemonade (you all can be the judge) but once again, I had to humbly admit that I let my excitement over getting “the shot” get in the way of my clear thinking about what I should have come prepared for. Yes, a longer telephoto should have been in my bag (I didn’t even grab a bag!) so that if the shot I thought I was going to get didn’t pan out, I might have had some  options.

I tell this story because 1) I think it’s important to constantly remind oneself that the road to becoming a great photographer is fraught with humbling lessons and 2) the joy of the chase is actually the true joy of photography. If you end up with an award-winning image, it’s icing on the cake. Just keep enjoying the journey. Til next time…

The light was fading… I was intent on watching this beautiful Caribbean sunset loftily sink beneath the horizon when this perfect little vessel sailed into view, its white sails reflecting the last vestiges of light that bounced off the darkening seas. I love the play of light and dark in this image–the dusky clouds and brilliant sun, and the way the sails almost glow with a life of their own in a comparatively vast landscape. Hope you enjoy…

I’ve often written here about the joys of discovery in your own backyard and neighborhood–and while I completely believe that artistic and visual creativity can be found under your nose, I’ll admit there is nothing so invigorating as exploring new and far away territory. Travel photographers have the ultimate luxury of making their living doing something they are passionate about–and the best of them certainly infuse their work with that passion. Many of us, however, only get to experience this sense of adventure a few times–maybe if we are lucky, a couple of times a year, when we leave our day jobs behind, pack up our gear, and go out to explore the world.

I recently did just that, on a seven-day excursion through the Western Caribbean, where  had the pure joy of exploring three new countries with my family. The image above was taken at Tabyana Beach on Roatan Island, the largest of the Honduran Bay Islands. The dramatic black rock, coral, and dense small palms, even a black iguana, certainly seemed exotic and were incredibly enticing to photograph. While it’s true there is no place like home–the yen to travel, and to find new inspiration through a lens… is pretty compelling as well. Hope you enjoy…

Postscript: I wanted to say I very much appreciate all the new followers and to all of you who like, share, and stop by with a comment. It’s gratifying to know that I am touching others with my work and my thoughts, and the continual addition of followers certainly helps keep me motivated and inspired to improve. Many thanks for your kind words and support!

I’ve written before about the joy of discovery right in your own backyard, and there is no better time to do so than spring. After months of cold weather, it seems both man and beast are equally delighted to be outside. Here are a few of my feathered friends who visited my little corner of the world this week. Hope you enjoy…

Nothing terribly deep this time…. just a little lighthearted musing now that spring is in full swing. It is such a delight to welcome all the new neighbors, furred and feathered, as they appear once again now that the spring temperatures are so inviting. Say hello to this little guy, who was nice enough to stop for a moment and let me take his portrait. Welcome spring! Hope you enjoy…

You never really get a sense of how vast the earth is until you are in the middle of a body of water that has no visible bounds. No landmarks, no sights, not even a distinct horizon. My family and I recently took our first cruise, so it was the first time I had experienced the phenomenon of feeling like I was a tiny dot in the middle of an enormous, boundless sea. The first couple of days we set sail in pea soup–gray, misty, and damp;  hour after hour of nothingness. Initially, I was disappointed at not experiencing the beautiful tropics touted in the travel brochures, but slowly, this gave way to a feeling that was  just as strangely exhilarating–the feeling of being utterly alone in the middle of “nowhere.” Of course, it wasn’t actually “nowhere”… we were sailing across the Gulf of Mexico and  the Caribbean Sea on our way to Honduras, but emotionally, it felt like nowhere. It was existential and spiritual at the same time–looking out over a sea such as this certainly makes you reflect on the courage of the world’s early explorers or of anyone who was ever  lost at sea, and even more so, how your own, singular life fits into this huge, vast world. Eventually, I began to use this time to relax, let down, and simply breathe in the moment, which is one of the best rewards of any vacation. Hope you enjoy…

One of my favorite themes as a photographer is to try to create images that capture the artistic essence in the natural world. Art, as they say, truly is in the eye of the beholder, so  what resonates with me is completely subjective. Like any artist, I accept that premise and, while it’s a pleasure when I can strike a  chord with those who view or follow my work, it is not acceptance that drives me. Photography for me is an inner passion, an outward expression of thoughts, feelings, and emotions as I find them reflected in a subject or composition.  High minded? Perhaps. Is this image a picture of a cactus, or does it represent a beautiful symmetry of purpose, each geometric row of needles aligned in a perfect tactical position to defiantly defend this succulent life form against harm? The answer is, it is both, it’s more, and it’s whatever you see in it, as well. This is why I love  photography; this is what moves me to create. Hope you enjoy…

When you are out on a photography assignment, it’s easy to become focused on the business at hand. But when you have a camera around your neck, the world is your oyster. This shot is an example of why it’s important to look up and around, and not just through the lens. I was out shooting a soccer practice at the fields close to our home, when I saw this blimp go bobbing by. It came closer, and closer and at first I didn’t react, but the more it sat there, in my field of view, I figured I’d see if I could take more than simply a grab-and-go shot. As it turned on its end to make a loop in the sky, I took my shot. In the end, I really liked the way it’s isolated with the dramatic clouds underneath, a small alien in a sea of atmosphere. Hope you enjoy…

Sometimes you reach a point where you know it’s time to stretch a little. You know that feeling, when you sitting in one place too long, and the desire to move, reach out, and extend yourself comes over you? It’s a natural human reaction to confinement. I believe this is an apt metaphor for the artistic life, as well. I’ve been pretty comfortable lately–enjoying my own work, enjoying my blogging and the positive comments that occasionally come my way, and enjoying sharing my work and skills with friends, family, and work associates. But change is good, and challenges are good, and in these last few months, I realized I needed to step out of my nest, to push and extend myself a little more.

The photographs here represent three I submitted to a juried exhibit to be hung at our city library that was sponsored by our local photography club, of which I recently  became an active member. I have not tried to exhibit since my days at college, more than three decades ago, so this was an exciting prospect for me. The theme of the exhibition was simple “Books”–and being a lifelong reader, holder of a masters in literature, and owner of some “gazillion or so” books, I certainly felt the subject itself was not a stretch. The stretch was simply taking that first step, which I committed myself to do.

The image above was the one that I am happy to report, was selected by the judges to be included in the 25 final photographs for the exhibit. Those below are the additional two I submitted, so perhaps  my blog readers will have an opinion these as well.  I think the one selected was probably the more creative one, and therefore stood out from many of the others, so perhaps that was why it was selected. In any case, I am  thrilled to have had one chosen, and so proud to be among the 25 stellar prints that are currently hanging in the library’s exhibition hall. The entire process has done wonders for my sense of artistic development and my enjoyment of my craft.

So as spring is upon us, I hope the season breaths new life into whatever you enjoy doing, as well. Hope you enjoy…