• quotes,  sunsets

    … what is there in front of you.

    Sunset

    “But don’t make the mistake of thinking that photography will always be a relaxed process. The photographer who always sees himself as calm & sedate, as nothing but a slow absorber of a place, will more than often miss the meaning which the place is trying to offer him. Rush to get it if you have to, moving as quickly as nature often does. The quick movement, the sudden noticing of something perfect but passing in it’s perfection – that too must be part of the photographers’ vocabulary, which goes far beyond the boxes of lenses and filters. It is a quality of mind. The shutter in the camera will move in tiny fractions of a second. You must not lag behind.. . . it is that instantaneous, disappearing nature of the beautiful moment that of course makes it all the more precious. To capture that is something only photography can do and is above all – even speaking technically and chemically – a response to what is there in front of you. The light is going, it’s beauty is there for no more than a few seconds, it is fading before your eyes, and you cannot ignore it.” – Charlie Waite, The Making of Landscape Photographs

  • People/Portraits

    Ali

    The Lovely Ali

    I fly  with some really talented and gifted young people. I also think they’re neat because they put up with this old man and my camera. Some crew members tolerate my incessant need to stop and stand in traffic or snow or rain to take a photo, or when I ask total strangers if I can take their photo and some tolerate me because I point my camera at them. This lovely young lady with stunning eyes is Ali. Not only is she a flight attendant but she’s a wife and mother, makes for a busy life. Thanks, Ali, for letting me take a few photos of you!

  • Black and White,  landscape,  Photography,  winter scenes

    Amidst the Fog

    Standing Amidst the Fog

    Fog is an instrument nature uses to create one of its beautiful emotive scene. As a nature photographer we can take this same tool to make our images. Fog acts as a natural soft box, scattering light and reducing contrast. I’ve learned to expose for the the fog and not the subject, very similar to snowfall. As I headed for the coffee shop, I remembered the isolated trees in the open field and actually saw this image in my mind. It was not quite what I had envisioned but it works for me.

  • Photography,  seasons

    In a Cycle

    It's Raining Outside

    The last 2 days I had off it snowed. I then worked for 4 days and while I was gone they had sunshine 2 of those 4 days. I’ve been home now for 2 days and it’s been cloudy and overcast both days. It has rained all day today and may turn to snow tomorrow. I seem to be in one of those cycles where funky weather is hanging around the neighborhood when I’m home. I leave in 2 days and have a few friends who want to see me leave. 🙂

    I will admit I enjoyed the peaceful and calming quiet of the windless snowfall and it was pretty. As I stared out the window, mezmerised by the drifting delicate snow flakes, I found my mind wandering off to a warmer season called Spring. I dreamed of venturing off to one of the parks to see the colors the rising sun would create, or listen to birds sing a good morning song, or feel the coolness of the morning dew, look for new plants sprouting upward. And, today with the light rain I yearn even more for Spring.

  • seasons

    Icicles

    Natures Art

    My roommate let me know that while I was traveling the sun decided to shine. So, now that I’m back it’s cloudy and overcast. I decided to find a quiet table at one of my favorite coffee shops where the mood for writing seems to be present more often. But when I arrived, I find they are closed on Sundays. Their sign says, “Closed Sundays to be with family.” I like that. So, I moved down the street and parked my gluteus maximus at a table in one of the larger chain coffee establishments. I just want to write something.

    With the sun out the last few days, and the temperatures in the mid to upper 30’s, we are gladly seeing the snow melt. As nature warms up the snow and the melting begins, it forms crystalline icicles. They were everywhere along my drive. The eaves and overhangs of buildings, trees, lampposts were all becoming works of art. Each icicle is taking on its own life by creating its own distinct shape and form.