Paul Lester Photo

Shapes

Sunday morning, we had quite a bit of fog. Normally, like a kid on Christmas day, I can’t wait to get out into the fog. This day was no exception. The first thing that I do when I get out of bed is look at the eastern sky. I want to see if there are any interesting clouds on the horizon. I generally wake up about 45 minutes before sunrise. Sunday, when I looked out, there was a pleasant surprise, fog!

There are 2 weather events which bring me lots of shooting pleasure, fog and snow. Even though I grew up on Ohio and saw plenty of snow, I’ve lived in the south for 23 years and snow is a special event, not just a hassle.

As for camera’s and technology, fog is the great equalizer. It can take that highly engineered, auto focus camera with the tack sharp lens and turn it into a manual focus camera that will render ‘soft’ images. During my stroll, I had to keep my camera on manual focus because the camera just couldn’t deal with the super low contrast of the fog.

Attempted sunrise

For me, fog provides a huge amount of mystery. I get to see things, on foggy days, without the details. They are just ideas, shapes, etc; the objects no longer have names, they just have presence.

I suppose that each outdoor photographer has their preferred type of weather. What’s yours and why do you like it?

I feel that my favorite photographer is Paul Lester. I just get his work. I understand where he’s coming from! Since getting my Epson 3800, I’ve printed a number of prints, not a huge number like I thought I would, but about 14 or so 13 x 19 prints. As I start hanging prints on my previously bare walls, it adds a certain ‘flavor’ to the house. Also, it is having an unexpected side effect on me. I’m inspired to shoot even more and come back with pictures that I can hang on the wall! When the images resided on the computer only, they didn’t have the same effect.

Now, when I’m out, sometimes I see a shot and think: Hmmmm, that might look great above the fireplace, or perhaps in the guest bathroom, etc. I don’t go out with this intention, but I do get the feeling sometimes. Also, as I go back through my archives, I see more and pictures that I would like to hang. Time to go to Office Max and get some more Velcro!

I’m still hanging the gallery style prints, without frames. I just love the modern look and, instead of costing $75+/print to hang, it only costs about $ 4.00. Plus, our home is starting to morph into a very non-traditional home so frames don’t quite fit. We are starting to have bold colored walls, contemporary furniture, heck we even have a meditation room!

Anyway, seeing my work in print makes me appreciate it even more, not the work itself, but the subject that I captured and the feelings that I had when I took the picture. If you’ve never printed and hung something on the wall, you might give it a try. Share your creative energy with others and yourself. Also, it is a constant reminder for me that I’ve only captured a minuscule amount of the beauty and that I need to keep my eyes open for more! I know, now I’m a printing evangelist! I told you that I’ve changed over the year!

About the image: Forbidden Territory was taken a couple of days ago. The sun was about to set so I went for a walk in Reedy Creek Park with my Nikon D40 to see what I could see. Very close to the trail head there is an old dilapidated sharecropper’s cabin surrounded by barbed wire fence. The sun was only on this fence post and wire for a moment. I had time to take just a few shots. During the rest of the year, the sun doesn’t penetrate this far into the woods because of all of the leaves on the tree. Another plus for winter time shooting!

Addendum: 2008/12/08 The quoted costs of about $75 was based on prices of frames, mats, mount boards, and hanging kits from local stores such as Hobby Lobby. I have found that I can get a complete kit with 4-ply mat for about $45, including shipping from Frame Destination. This price is for 12×18 inch artwork, 16×22 inch frame with glazing (glass). They have a number of types available. I can see that it is best not to buy these items locally as you have to endure a large mark up.

Flow
At this time of year I start to hear rumblings about New Year’s resolutions and changes that people are going to attempt. I don’t set resolutions because I never know what life will bring my way. I’m really into going with the flow, now. This doesn’t mean that I don’t make long-term plans, but they are made with a whole lot of flexibility in them!

One of the cool things about writing a blog is that it is a personal journal, of sorts, where one can pour forth thoughts, opinions, photographs, etc. Although a public blog does not usually contain very private thoughts and feelings, depending on what is written, one can generally get a ‘feel’ for the person writing, I think, especially if given enough material to work with.

I like to go back to my previous writings and see what I was thinking about at that time. Sometimes I go back a year, other times, even further. I can see my opinions or what was important to me at that time. I can tell you that in the past 18 months that I’ve changed a great deal, especially in the relationship with my wife and my kids. I’ve shed a number of ‘values’ that didn’t feel right. Some of these changes have been very painful, indeed, but well worth going through. Sometimes I felt very lost and scared.

I’m a lot more easy going than I used to be, a lot less controlling. I used to think that I was easy going, but I wasn’t compared to my current attitude. Heck, I’m even seriously considering getting an ear ring! My wife thinks that I’m joking, but she is certainly not opposed to it. I don’t think that it’s a mid-life crisis where I’m trying to recapture some youth; I just think that it’s something that I might like to try. After all, my very good friend, Richard, has one, so why not?! I’ll keep you informed.

Changes

I know that through the year my photography has changed both in style and subject. I’ve gone from being very literal in my interpretations of landscapes, to very gung ho in photographing people after my Next Step Workshop, shooting still lifes, back to landscapes, but a lot of them with a more abstract feel. I’m into following my heart and intuition rather than any label that I placed upon myself, such as “grand landscape photographer”, preferring to be ‘labeled’, photographer with no adjective to describe the type.

If you’re a long time reader, you’ve probably seen this blog switch gears many times and may have wondered what the hell is that guy doing. As my dog Hobbs taught me, I’m just following my nose. One thing that will probably continue to change in a positive direction is my love of the light.

This year, I’ve learned so many lessons, but I have so many more to learn. Stay tuned!

As always, thanks for reading!

Winter Light

Sometimes people remark that winter’s light is cold and flat; however, I see it as yet another opportunity to explore a different type of light. It seems that winter and late autumn light afford the opportunity shoot all day due to the low angle of the sun as well as the general cloudiness which seems to be ever present during the winter.

Another advantage, for those of us who like to traipse around the woods is that the leaves of the deciduous trees have dropped and allow light to penetrate deeper into the woods where, at other times of the year, there would be only shadow. I rather like seeing these ‘new’ areas. As I tend to visit the same place over and over again, it’s nice to see a new look. Also, as most of the leaves have fallen, it’s easier to see the white-tailed deer running through the woods, but no easier to photograph them. I’m usually walking about looking for shots rather than trying to remain perfectly still in the hopes that deer will pass my way. Many do pass my way, but they are always running! They must be in a hurry.

Somewhat simplified

Fortunately, it doesn’t get so cold here in the Carolinas, so there is really no time when it is extremely uncomfortable to shoot, so I still try to get out every day! However, during the winter months it’s a little bit more difficult because it can be below freezing outside and that nice toasty bed has incredible strength on those cold mornings. Sometimes, I just can’t seem to break its grip! I have, however, braved the North Carolina cold as low as 17 degrees F! Nowhere close to the Ohio cold that I use to endure, but I’ve lived in the South since 1984, so I consider my blood to have thinned and officially a Southern boy!