• Photography,  quotes

    Showing My Photographs

    Sunrise and Dew

    “We are judged, not by the photographs we take, but by the photographs we show.” – Ted Grant

    I took my first steps into photography when I was 10 or 12 years old. Yet, it was not until I was 50 before I printed and matted my first print. And, what took me so long to take that step? I’ll suggest it was my belief system. At that time, I believed I was not a good  photographer, at least when I compared my images to those I considered photographers. I now believe in my abilities as a developing photographer and I’m accepting myself.  Both of those factors are nurtured by having this photoblog/website. I’m more comfortable with showing my images and in fact enjoy showing images that I know do not have as much power as others may. I’ll even put up snapshots, like yesterday. So, I’m much more comfortable showing my photographs.

  • Plants

    Commenting

    20100812-_DSC4414.jpg
    Teasels

    When checking on a favorite photoblogger do you ever find yourself glancing at their image then movinig quickly to the comments, rather than spending time looking at the image to see what it says to you? Well, I do. It seems strange to me that I do this. Am I wanting to know what others see so I can see what they see? Even after posting an image on my blog I find myself wondering what people will say about my images or the commentary I may have included.

    So, it brings up the question: what would our blogs look like if we only were able to post images but were not able to post comments. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

  • coffee shops,  Photography

    The Field of View

    The Chair's Shadows

    As we practice each day in this passion for photography we learn to place our “subjects of attraction” within the field of view of the lens we are using and with our unique vision. We can frame to eliminate objects that distract us from our subject of interest or we can include objects to give perspective and size to our image. In the above image the shadows are all that I included. They were what I my eyes focused on, so I moved in close to exclude “objects of distraction.” There is no identifiable tables and chairs to let the viewer know it was outside a coffee shop or if there were people nearby. It is our choice what we include and what we exclude.

  • Art/Design,  Photography,  quotes

    Scarves

    Scarves

    “The creative act lasts but a brief moment, a lightning instant of give-and-take, just long enough for you to level the camera and to trap the fleeting prey in your little box.”

    Henri Cartier-Bresson
  • musings,  Photography,  quotes

    Finding Ourselves

    St. Agnes Church in Rockville Center

    “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Thomas Merton

    I’m on a 4-day trip and sitting my hotel room. It’s quiet. I like these times. These are times when I read or journal, check emails or read a few blogs. After finding the above quote it has perked my interest to write.

    For me the past year has been focused around art. Most of the books I’ve read all pertain to some form of art: writing, painting, photography, sculpting, etc. I’m not sure how much I considered my photography as art but because of all the reading I’ve done, and looking closely at how I work at photography, my views are changing. Photography is my paint brush for expressing my vision, my creativity and how I see the world around me. I’m learning to listen to the voice within me to create images pleasing to me and even write posts about my photography. As I’m listening to the muse, as Pressfield suggests, I’m finding out new things about myself and seeing the world with a fresher vision. I press the shutter button on my camera for my need to express myself. And, to express myself I need to know more about myself.

    Here are some of the books I’ve enjoyed reading lately:

  • Photography,  Plants

    Paying Attention

    Flowers

    We may notice  amazing details during the course of a day but we rarely let ourselves stop and really pay attention. As a photographer learns to stop and take notice, we have the opportunity to make people notice, make people pay attention.