Majestic

Early this morning I was on a flight from Seattle WA to Reno NV. This route is always spectacular when the weather is clear as you can see all the mountains from Rainier shown above. As we were climbing out of the Seattle area I knew the possibility of a really nice side shot of the mountain may exist. We were on the shadow side though which provides a different view of a traditional mountain shot.

The image below is of Mt. Hood southeast of Portland OR. We were somewhat higher and on the sunny side of the mountain. This angle though provides some interesting lines due to the time

of day. It was 7:15 pacific and as you can see form the long shadow, the sun was still working its way up in the sky. It really gives good definition to the ridges in the mountain.

Below is another shot of the same intro image only in B&W. I figured I would go Ansel Adams seeing as how our route of flight was going to take us over his infamous shooting grounds.

Tomorrow I am going to try and give an evaluation of Lightroom 3 as I have been using the fully released version of it for the bast few days.

For now though, take care... Doug

Some Artistic Thoughts

A photograph is usually looked at - Seldom looked into.

                                                                             Ansel Adams

I have been a sponge over the last year and a half on all things photography as we have spooled up the company and the direction in which we want to take it. One thing is guaranteed is there are as many opinions as there are photo sites on a 21 megapixel sensor.

The technology that exists in photography is astounding. It makes image capture easier, quicker, and less expensive in the long run. That is unless you grab every upgrade that comes along. What fails here is that without the artist eye, none of these devices are worth a hoot!

As I was saying earlier, some of the issues my cranial sponge has been absorbing have been more along the philosophical line. The zen, yin & yang, or a transcendental philosophy's to photography. 

No I am not a follower of Eastern Religions but simply the fact that many people find wisdom and reason in

such things brings the thought process into the realm of art and thus photography. There is an innate sense of the human spirit to seek things in balance, in that we are happiest when all things are stable in our lives. On a spiritual note I believe we humans have a desire to be "right" with our creator. From an artistic perspective what translates from the artist eye to the canvas or print the viewer eventually sees must be in balance. Often we can not put words to an image or a piece of art as to why it draws our attention. What is it that causes us look into the image?

The word image originates in the word imagine. But who's imagination is it that an image reflects. Is it the artist who captured it or the viewer who interprets it? Much like verbal communication where the speaker will say something but the listener may interpret it in a much different way. The less concise the speaker, the more open to interpretation the words are.

So where are we. Do we make an image so descriptive, say an architects blue print where there is no allowance for interpretation. I say not! Where a writer communicates with words, and painter or photography communicates with color and light. The less descriptive the more personal interpretation is allowed by the viewer. This is one part of a fulcrum in the balance of the image. The other is very simple... It must tell a story. The viewer must have somewhere to go in the image in order to allow their imagination to carry them. 

That my friend is what I believe to be the essence of art.

Take care and I may choose to continue this tomorrow... Doug

Rules, Rules, Rules...

This is an image that captured my eye when I was out on the Grand Haven MI pier las summer getting some sunset shots. It is the time of day when many boaters take the opportunity to get out on Lake Michigan and enjoy the view from that perspective.

I saw a couple of boats go by and looked down the channel and saw this subject motoring out to the lake. I set up the shot with a couple of test images to check my settings and waited for the boat to make it's appearance.

This is where composition and framing become blended. Typically photographers frame a shot unless they can control the placement of objects in the shot. Otherwise we simply frame a shot. While I could not control the positioning of the boat, waiting for it to come into position essentially gave me the composing tool. Kind of framposition if you will.

One last self critique would be my violation of the rule of thirds. Rick salmon says that center is deadly and that is normally true. Then again Ansel Adams position on the rules of photography are that we should now them well enough to know how to break them.

Finally I would do Vincent Versace proud as I did not capture this image, the image captured me and I simply recorded it on a sensor.

Take care... Doug