• Art,  Creativity,  fog,  landscape,  Plants,  quotes,  snow,  trees

    It is a Creative Art

    October 12, 2019
    In the Silence

    “Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.”  Ansel Adams

    This past couple of days I have been digging through my archives looking for some image that may spark some creativity within me. I happened to pick the year 2010. This is the first one and taken east of Westerville, Ohio in February. I looks like I started taking images early in the day around my apartment and then ventured outside in the fog and snow. Fog is not as prevalent out here in Colorado as it was in Ohio, so my archive images of fog are pretty much all from this area. I brought out more details in the trees with Lightroom that gives it a different feel for me. I have more from this time period that all are more on the creative and artistic side. Our snow storm was short and sweet but has left us with a few days of cold to deal with. Enjoy your weekend.

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  • Creativity,  grass,  lifestyles,  natural areas,  Plants,  quotes

    Snow is in the forecast

    October 9, 2019
    Backlit grass on my walk along Fisher Nature Area

    “Recently, photography has become almost as widely practiced an amusement as sex and dancing – which means that, like every mass art form, photography is not practiced by most people as an art. It is mainly a social rite, a defense against anxiety, and a tool of power.” Susan Sontag

    Interesting to note that she wrote this back in 1973. 

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  • Ansel Adams,  Art,  Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  Creativity,  lifestyles,  quotes

    Practicing the practice

    October 5, 2019
    Practicing her pencil drawings

    I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious to all that photographers whose images possess character and quality have attained them only by continued practice and total dedication to the medium. – 

    Ansel Adams

    Last week I posted an image of a young artist practicing his craft at a local coffee shop. Yesterday afternoon I  took this image of a young lady practicing her craft at the same coffee shop. What is interesting about this young lady is she is drawing from a book that I assume to be a textbook. While the young man was creating the character from the muse within him. So, I practiced more courage and my photography by asking the young lady if I could take a photo of her practicing her practice. She agreed.

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  • Art,  Black and White,  Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  Creativity,  Fujifilm X-T10,  lifestyles,  musings,  writing/reading

    It takes courage to be…

    October 1, 2019

    A young man sketching at the coffee shop

    “Nature is an art which can’t be described or explained in words. This should be felt in your heart.”

    Discovered this young man pencil sketching at a local coffee shop and had to ask if I could take a few images while he drew. After he said yes I had him put his earbuds back in and continue with his craft. There is a slight blur in his hand that adds to the image for me and I thought the photo worked well when converted to black and white.

    As I walked away I thanked him and realized the courage it takes for me to ask strangers if I can take their photo. Somewhere within me is a false voice telling me they will say no. The truth is I seldom am told no. There are those who will say no and probably due to some history in their lives and that’s okay. But, nowadays many people are comfortable having a camera pointed in their direction. Just look at all the selfies.

    Later, after I loaded this photo onto my computer I had an awareness of the courage it takes to be an artist. But as I reflected on that thought it became obvious that it takes courage to believe in and use our artistic abilities, gifts, practice, hone them and then offer them to the world. He and I both practice our craft with courage no matter what those around us thought of us. And, this young man is a good artist! So much for my morning rambling. Have a super Awesome day!

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  • Art,  Cityscapes/Urban,  clouds,  Creativity,  Fujifilm X-T10,  Fujifilm XF35mm f2.0,  grass,  Plants

    Looking and Thinking

    October 23, 2018

    Grasses against the sky
    Grasses against the sky

    This is an image of tall grasses, 3-5 feet tall, which are planted in a raised flowerbed. So probably a total of 7-8 feet tall. I have found myself just staring at this image for awhile because of the patterns they make silhouetted against the blue sky, puffy clouds and the starburst. It’s impact has come after pressing the shutter.What caused me to see this and then compose, frame and press the shutter? This is so simple but I just keep looking and thinking about it. It’s impact on me has come after pressing the shutter. It’s gotta be Cedric’s writings. 

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  • Art,  coffee shops,  Creativity

    Happy Valentines Day

    February 14, 2018

    Two Hearts
    Two Hearts

    Took the bus to the Transit Center on campus. Grabbed a mocha at the coffee shop in the Behavioral Science Building. When they called out my drink they also called out the name of some young lady who order a carmel latte. Her and I were surprised to see a heart on each of our drinks. Showing us some love.

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  • Creativity,  frost,  winter scenes

    Its Cold This Morning

    December 22, 2017

    Frost on my windshield
    Frost on my windshield

    “Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.” Zen Proverb

    Frost is on everything. Temperature gauge on my dashboard says 7 degrees  (F). Makes for cold toes. We are expecting similar nighttime lows for the next 5 days. Stay warm!

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