Happy Weekend everyone - A very short post this evening, but I am excited that the weekend is again upon us and I for one am looking forward to kicking back and relaxing while I can. So as I prepare for this, my thoughts drift toward a calm, peaceful beach resort in a hidden bay in Puerto Escondido. If there was one image that captured my feelings from that place- this was it. Enjoy your Friday -
Puerto Escondido, Mexico - Beach Roof
Happy Thursday everyone - This week in the photo club, I get to do one of my favorite lessons: using the edge of the frame to get new and dynamic looks for subjects. Using creative vision to share the idea of the subject without having to show the totality of it allows the viewer to connect with your image and your subject in a more intimate way. This shot here is of an old saxophone that has hung near my grandfather's piano for countless years. I've walked by this particular saxophone so many times that I have lost count. This photo is incredibly simple. I am close, I am filling the frame, and I am using the edge of the photo frame to convey the idea of these keys, but without larger context you would never know that it is a saxophone. Because of my decision to shoot it this way, the viewer has a chance to imagine it in their own, unique way. This style of photography is so easy to explore and can generate so many opportunities with everyday items. It seems very nearly limitless in what you can do. So, as I will also relay in my club tomorrow, remember to use your edges as an editing tool to keep your subjects simple. Fill the frame to provide dynamic subjects, and look for creative ways to frame your subjects that allow your viewers to convey their own meaning. It is so much more rewarding if they can engage in your work with you. The obvious is your enemy. Enjoy your Thursday -
Galena, South Dakota - Keys
Happy Wednesday everyone - Yesterday, I was going through the images I have posted thus far on this 365 project, and I realized that I hadn't posted any of the main waterfalls at which I spend so much time during the summer. Yesterday, I posted one of Roughlock Falls, and today I wanted to continue that with an image from Bridal Veil Falls in Spearfish Canyon. Like Roughlock, this waterfall is incredibly accessible for visitors as it is located right on the side of the highway. As a result, there is always a crowd on the viewing platform. For this shot, I crossed the creek to get to the base of the waterfall (not something I recommend doing), and it gave me a chance to shoot from a lower vantage point and capture the entire falls. This particular summer (summer before last) was a particularly dry year and thus the falls is substantially less impressive, but it does hold the wispy nature with which it has gotten its name. For this falls, it was important for me to get away from the "easy" vantage point so that I could have something a bit different. (Of course, I now walk around the galleries of the area and realize that everyone else had this idea too! - Sometimes great minds think alike -).
Anywho- the lesson with this image is try to remember to "work your scene." Just because you have a great shot doesn't mean an even better one is just around the corner. Enjoy your Wednesday -
Bridal Veil Falls, South Dakota - At the Bottom
Happy Tuesday everyone - I wanted to share just a very quick post tonight as the day has gotten away from me again. This shot was from this past summer at Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon. This is really spectacular waterfall to visit and is incredibly accessible for visitors of all ages. I usually spend a couple of shooting sessions here at the falls as there is quite a bit more to shoot than you might first imagine. This particular image focuses on the lower falls, but you can see in the background that there is a larger and more substantial upper falls to also view. In addition, I spent a good deal of time taking some images of some of the upper area where the creek bends around a public picnic area and forms several mini-falls as wells. If you find yourself in the area, this is a great place to practice long-exposure photography. Enjoy your Tuesday -
Roughlock Falls, South Dakotauick
Happy Monday everyone - As this blog develops over the rest of the year, one of the major themes that I will visit repeatedly is the idea of nature juxtaposed over man-made creations. This idea of man vs. nature has been aconflict I have both studied and remained fascinated by throughout my childhood and various professional careers. With respect to photography, I can trace the exact moment that idea first materialized for me. It was March 2012 and I was doing a casual photowalk in Red Hook. I loved the water, and of course with the docks nearby, there was always some action. However, today, my attention was on a small flock of birds that were resting on this outcropping. With the docks in the backdrop, the theme of nature trying to find a way in a man-made world smacked me on the face. This image here was the first in a series of photos I created specifically for this theme. It was an incredibly obvious to explore and thus began the on-going theme. In the photography club I work with, in which I teach middle-school students photography, this is one of the themes we discuss within the year. The examples are everywhere and it is a great introduction to story-telling with imagery. Enjoy your Monday -
Red Hook, Brooklyn - At Home in the Port