Shrubs on parade

Yeah, I know… color?

My approach to blog design is under revision. Black and white is so moody and understated. That was the feeling I was going for. But I am finding giving up color is giving up too much… sometimes. So yes, I will still use black and white, but where it is appropriate and fitting you will see more color.

Anyway, here is a boarder of shrubs that, to my eyes, seem to be marching in formation. Because they display such lovely green radiance and eye-popping mulch, using color only makes sense!

Another cookie

This one is morning sun, yesterday's post was evening sun.

The early morning sunlight pattern on my backyard lawn. I love trees and we are fortunate to have some great mature tress in our yard.

Well this is post 20 for me. My aim was to post something every day, and with a few exceptions, that is what I have done. No great thoughts here. No great photos here. Certainly no "art" here, but it is kinda fun. And I think this process of pushing myself to take photos and write someting everyday has been sucsessful. So maybe I will continue. For now.

Cucoloris

A funny name for a funny thing. A cucoloris is often just refered to as a cookie, or sometimes a gobo. Many times when out on a shoot we would pull out our cookie and get these strange looks. “Do you have a problem with termites” they ask?

The cookie is mounted on a stand and placed between a light and a background to breakup the light and create a natural pattern. Most people think you are crazy until they see the effect which looks surprisingly natural.

And here is a bit of proof. This photo shows the action of real tree branches and leaves on the sunlight falling on my back porch shade. And it does look like a cucoloris.

Criminal Offense

There are few things that irritate me more than people who casually throw their garbage out a car window. I have been known to lay on the horn at the sight of someone discarding a cigarette butt while waiting for a red light. Or how about the criminal that empties their ashtray in the parking lot?

We all share this world. We don't need to share our garbage. Is that too much to ask?

Moon in the trees

There's a moon stuck in the trees! It's that big ball that glides over the sky every night, obliquely lit as a slim crescent.

Ever wonder why it appears to be such a perfect round ? I do.

Hidden color

We have had a lot of rain this summer, but not many rainbows. Actually, this is the first I have seen this year. And it was spectacular... photos do not really do them justice.

It is amazing to me that drops of water can break light into its chromatic components. Rain acting as a lens or prism revealing color from where there is apparently none. But that should not be a surprise because white light is actually light of all colors mixed together. Maybe there is a thought there... do not look only for the homogeneous whole, look for the color hiding inside.

Step right up

I find interest in the most mundane and everyday things. Angles and textures catch my eye, even though I see them every day. These are the steps I climb and the door I open to enter my work place. The rail needs paint and the concrete is crumbling, but to me it adds character and is a familiar greeting at the beginning of my workday.

Self Checkout?

What the heck does that mean? Sounds like you need a mirror for that.

Well at Wegman's that now means that you can be your own cashier. Maybe next we can stock the shelves.

The modern landscape

A sign of the times. Used to be once we were out of the city our horizons were defined by a tree line, and maybe an occasional building or utility pole. Now days the cell tower has spouted up, looking like a tree transplanted from Mars or some strange space colony. At least we can now text our friends and let them know we are going to Wegman's.

Hi, It's me!

I was going to say, "me and a my shadow" but clearly there is no me, only my shadow. Anyway just wanted to say "Hi!".

Foggy morning

The drive in today was a foggy one. I kept hoping the sun would break trough and there would be some spectacular streams of light on the horizon. No luck on that, yet the dreamy world of fog brought new interest to my morning commute.

Everybody needs a home

Some houses are big and extravagent, some are small and prosaic. Of course which is which is a matter of perspective. But everyone needs a home, and not everyone has one. So be thankful if you are one of the lucky ones, no matter what your house is like.

Unnatual light

The bane of the modern office worker. Kinda green and that faint buzz. Sure it is energy efficient, but it is a sorry substitute for natural light.

In my many years of work I have been lucky to have occupied a few offices that have a window to the outside world, but I have spent a lot more time under floresent bulbs.

CO PUSA RIP

Sad really. First the big boxes closed the little guys... now the big boxes are being closed by the bigger boxes. Comp USA was a cool store. Lots of nifty technology and gadgets. Even photography. But things change, and when the economy gets tough, the not so tough get gone.

Spot of color

A spot of color is a powerful thing along side all of these black & white images.

This is our bumper crop. We planted zenas along the back porch and as of early August we have seen only two blossoms. I guess the choice of flower was wrong, zenas need more sunlight, and the where they were planted is almost always in the shade. Pretty color anyway if only a small spot.

So I learned somthing... zenas need sunlight.

Got a light?

True, light can be man-made too. Outside of a studio, however, lights are for illumination, not lighting. I am interested in lighting and the visual effects that can be created with light. Even studio lighting is normally designed to simulate the sun. This is called the "key" light. Additional lights (fill lights, back lights etc.) simulate reflections of the sun. At least that is the way I think about it.

Fading light

Yes, I am fascinated by light and the ultimate light is the sky. The energy delivered by the sun is the basis for all life and in reality all photos. Sure there is man made light but the energy for that light can be traced back to the sun.

Morning light

You don't see black and white images much anymore... but you will here. I think it provides a very different feel, especially when the highlights are exposed and the rest of the image falls into shadows. Here is a tree trunk outside my back door, illuminated by the morning light.

Why I am doing this?

I have a great interest in photography. I have had this interest for about 50 years... since I was very young. I am drawn to the technology and also the artistic quality of images, especially how light effects what we see and how we see our world. In our day-to-day lives we do not always take the time to appreciate the world we live in and how wonderful it is.

My intention with this blog is to force myself to be more observant, and to make an effort to document the world around me, as i see it. It is nothing more than that.

It is a view though my window.

Light and energy

Summer maple leafs, in early evening light. I like the way light falls on them.

Leaves are sunlight powered factories. They collect light and convert it to energy for the plant to survive. My camera collects light too. And that gives me energy.

First Post

So what could I possibly show you that you would be interested in? I am not sure. In fact I am not sure I am cut out to be a blogger. But I do feel like this might be a way to force myself to create. So let's see how it goes.