Aug 29
Photography offers me a constant journey of discovery. It offers infinite ways to transcend the limitations of our everyday experiences into something wondrous, meaningful, and even soulful. For me, that’s as important as air to breath, and it’s what draws me back, behind the lens, time after time. Hope you enjoy…
Sep 15
As a photographer, I, like many others, find myself often in the quest for the quintessential landscape. And just as often, when I go out to scout a location, that “Ah!” factor is somehow missing. Granted, I need to spend more time scouting and not delude myself that it’s somehow going to appear without putting in a little legwork, but practically speaking, sometimes you just aren’t in the right place, at the right time.
Such was my evening last night, when I had an hour to myself just before the magic happened at sundown and the sky looked marginally promising for a nice sunset. The place was a local park close to my home and I thought–surely there is a spot in this park where the vista will afford me the shot I am imaging? Brilliant skies, dramatic clouds, tree silhouettes just peeking through the horizon? After driving and walking around for about 30 minutes, it was oh so apparent that I had been deluding myself. No vistas… only garish park lights, flat obstructed views, and cars meandering around as they picked up or dropped off children for sports practice. OK–face it, I thought. This is not going to work.
But luckily, I had armed myself with my macro equipment, just in case. Here is where it all paid off. I settled myself into a remote corner near a bike path, and found a panoply of subject matter. Those little dots of color we all see when we cruise down the road at 40 miles an hour just came alive under a macro view. I spent the next 45 minutes having a ball with the little gift nature had presented to me.
So to paraphrase Churchill, “never, never, never give in”–nature is all around, large and small, and there are often great shots right under your nose. Hope you enjoy…
The power of photography lies in its ability to communicate a story or, even simpler, the sensual essence of a subject to the viewer. Today’s essence is “soft.” I hope you can feel it as well. Enjoy…
May 26
I recently read another photo blog that was discussing the art of shooting ordinary objects and through the photographer’s eye, creating something extraordinary. This theme really resonates with me; I often find myself yearning to act on my creative impulses photographically, but finding myself “limited” to house and home. I say “limited” in quotations because I am using that term in an ironic sense. There really is nothing limiting about photographing your everyday environs. In fact, as I have said here before, it’s perhaps the highest form of challenge to seek and find creative subject matter right under your nose, as compared to iconic national park scenes or exotic wildlife on safari. (Not that I’d turn down a chance to shoot either!) My subject for today is my very non-exotic petunia pots on my front porch. They’ve been bedazzled with a soft misting bottle to create a little sparkle and drama. I also experimented with some depth-of-field layering, and while I have a lot more to learn about that technique (this is my first attempt), I think it holds some real creative possibilities especially for macro photography. It’s always exciting when you teach yourself something new. So to get back to my original point, as a photographer, whether you are born with a photographer’s eye, or you develop one over time, take that eye, and make sure you really “see” the world. It’s right in front of you. Hope you enjoy…
Feb 20
I have been sharing quite a few of my favorite travel photos lately but today I had the yen to go back out in the field, and the early morning frost was the perfect motivator. We’ve been enjoying an unseasonably warm winter here in Middle Tennessee–so much so, that the forsythia has been in bloom for more than two weeks. Alas, I knew Winter would get the last laugh. After a brief snow flurry yesterday, the freeze set in, resulting a beautiful sugar-like frost on everything around. This poor little springlike bloom, encased in delicate ice drops, seems anything but amused. Hope you enjoy…
Had a nice photo session recently with this butterfly who was quite willing to pose and preen for me on one of my late summer marigolds. He seemed quite content to stay around so I had the rare privilege of setting up my tripod, grabbing my macro extension tubes and capturing some great nectar-sipping action. As I have said several times before, one of the greatest gifts photography has brought me is the pure enjoyment of simply observing nature, whether or not I walk away with the image I wanted. And being a good photographer means sitting still long enough to “see” but still having the catlike reflexes to “react.” No wonder it’s often harder than it looks! This particular morning, I really enjoyed the “watching” and as a result, I shot quite a few rounds, of which this is one of my favorites. I may post a couple of others later on, but for now, hope you enjoy…
f/7.1, 1/15th sec, ISO 100, 130 mm with macro extension tubes
One of the best exercises as a photographer is to always push yourself to view the world in a new way. From the underside, this beautiful yellow pansy seems almost to be floating, nearly disconnected from the stem and petals below it. The architecture of plant life is fascinating to me–at once extraordinarily delicate, and yet designed to withstand the harshest elements. Hope you enjoy…
f/5.6, 10th, ISO 200, 105 mm with tripod and macro extension tubes
1107photography 