Seating For One

Coppertoned

Striped Light

Walk Atop Cadillac

Pink Poinsettia

From my visit two weeks ago.

Tree's Splendor

Santa's Hat

Merry Christmas!!!

Presents Under the Tree

Here's hoping the holidays bring you all happiness and joy!

Stairway to Cones

The Three Gift Bags

The importance of choosing the right “white balance” for your photography session. If you rely on the camera’s automatic settings (should that be an option), this could cost you. That said, there are times when you may want to adjust the settings to something other than what you see -- to purposefully alter the image’s colors. Be deliberate, be calculating, and be meticulous if and when you choose to this. Why? To better help you understand what alterations to the baseline result in. The more you experiment and learn -- the more you knowledgeable and creative you can be.

Soda Fountain

Found objects and impromptu photo shoots with people I know are still my favorite approaches to photography.

Trojan Chest Plate

Chrome-toned and ribbed. Photography is about balance -- not just in the final image, but in how one composes. There is something to be said for developing a project or thoroughly observing a subject. At the same time, subjects tend to speak quite clearly, and if the photographer listens, then the strongest images will present themselves immediately.

Benched

Approach a subject fresh. We become accustomed to seeing everyday sights in the same manner. One might think this means we grow to know the subject matter quite well. In reality, people often form an initial mental image and lock this in as the singular visual association. Try something new and deliberately change your perspective.

Day of Craft

Time to get together with family and friends to make holiday decorations and enjoy lots of great chocolate. This year I made a family delicacy that fits the bill.

Light the Seneca

There are people, places, and objects I could return to for the rest of my life to photograph and enjoy every moment. The inspiration they instill in me is limitless.

Trim the Tree

Traditional white for the simple elegant look? Or strings of multi-colored to create a bit of mood lighting? With the latter you also get to watch the ornaments take on different appearances, especially if the lights are set to blink.

Bird's Eye View

Rust to blue. Relic and nature.

Snow Torn Field

Tunnel vision. It is important to step back and see the whole picture. Take in the grandness of it all. Appreciation for individual qualities and points of interest is good, but if one forgets to observe the interaction between objects and their environment, then one’s understanding is incomplete. Don’t lose sight of your own connection to the world around you. Enjoy life.

Bird of Prey

One of two I’ve seen in action at my house. Though even when I don’t see them, I know they are out there, watching…waiting. I have yet to capture the second frequently visiting hawk on film. If you are patient enough, you will witness the hawk switch the talon it perches on in order to tuck one in its feathers to keep it warm.

Gifts

I’m not a big fan of staging photos. Even when working with people, I am about saying, try this and then seeing what happens -- I like the natural poses -- seems more comfortable, more relaxed, more real. I do work on trying to better learn more starting poses, where to place the arms, how to direct people a little though. I’ve been fortunate over the years -- most of the people/friends I’ve worked with have a bit of performer or actor in them and it allows them to run with it and my images to benefit from that. And, I think it allows them a little more fun at times, at least I hope that it does. I bring this up as I have begun my indoor still life journey again. This is not an example of my staging, but a fortunate happening upon on my part on my mother’s birthday. This week you will see my new still life imagery appear in my blog though.

Christmas Bulbs

Just one of nature’s such offerings. Another being fireflies; of course, that speaks more to Christmas in July. Sometimes the review of a day’s photographs can surprise you. A shot or shots you thought would be quite good turn out to be lacking in some way, but then a long shot -- a shot on a whim -- turns out to be the one you like.

Pastel Skies

Painting with light.

The search for the next “beautiful”.

A passion for and a connection with the subject.

These are the constants.


(In this case, sunset was the beginning of the day.)

Rocky Shore Lighthouse

Photography at times, like life, is about taking risks. That doesn’t mean being reckless -- depending on the situation, one should exercise caution and good judgment. Still, have confidence in yourself. Believe that you can overcome the obstacle, the fear, the challenge. Draw on your strengths, be the person you want to be -- don’t just dream…. Achieve! Think of those who inspire you. Perhaps through your triumph and leading by example, you will inspire others.

Have a Catch

Americana. Done well, it can be outstanding and evoke a sense of pride, a feeling of nostalgia, or generate historical interest.

Day of Remembrance

It has been 5 years since I’ve laid eyes on the farm. Inevitably, things change. People change colors when they repaint a house, rip out the landscaping to put in something their own, and so on. There are certain places from my past that I choose not to return to because I know this will be the case with each and every one of them. Why spoil the fond lasting mental image in my head by replacing it with something new and not of my time there? Sometimes photos we take do not find themselves classified as art, but there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it is those that document and freeze a moment in time that achieve a value to us that is priceless. For me there are many such photos of the farm.

Sign of the Season

It’s that time of year when the holiday decorations start showing up around the house. Here’s a favorite that’s been out as long as I can remember.

Good Tidings and Joy

I can’t stress enough the importance of carrying your camera with you at all times. For instance, Thursday when I left work there was a great sunset going on and the clouds and sky lit up with purples and reds as a backdrop to the bell towers of a church. Had I my camera with me I could see the shot perfectly, but I had neglected to put it in my bag that morning. Here is a photograph I have because I kept my camera with me when visiting friends over the holidays.

Distractions are like spokes

Imagine you are the axle. You drive the wheels to get yourself somewhere. Between you and the rotation of the tire are the spokes -- and those are all the distractions in life. They are always there, it’s just a matter of how you cope with them. In my case, it’s an ongoing battle, but I continue the good fight.

The 8-5-1

While the out and about “on location” exploration is good and can be both fun and successful, let’s talk about another side of photography -- the project. Creating, developing, designing and bringing to fruition a project can be quite rewarding. Still life, doing portraiture work with someone, choosing a theme, a photo essay, or countless other concepts -- all options.

Pods Galore

Whether it resembles something from a sci-fi film or appears an organic sheet of sorts draped atop a crop of boulder shaped objects, it is the pattern and unity that captivates me. Yellow speckles fuse together rolling green mounds. Rather than being the product of deconstruction, this image is all about construction.

Deep in thought

A fresh bale of hay, full trough of oats, or perhaps running free across an endless green prairie and finding a cool stream for a refreshing drink of water. Still, the look is more serious…maybe concerned…or remembering a past heartbreak.

Gettysburg Skylight

A day of experimenting with the settings on my digital camera. I bounced between photographing in color and B&W. I even did a bit of work in sepia tone. Not everything worked, but then it rarely does. Rolling clouds, good light, and natural backdrops (historical and otherwise) made for a great day of capturing images.

Touch and Go

Photography is full of Catch-22’s. A bit of “Should I stay or should I go” if I were to wax philosophic. Whether it’s Heller or The Clash you look to for reference, the answer remains the same “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”. I could cite you a dozen times easily that I captured some fabulous photographs because I was patient and waited for the shot…took the time to explore and discovered something I would have missed otherwise. By the same token, I may have missed other sights by doing so. So, the question one faces is how much time to spend at a location before moving on. You can’t be everywhere at once, so the best course of action is to make a choice and utilize that camera wherever you are.

A Pattern Full Circle

Regardless of how hard we may try to change, we are likely to repeat ourselves in one way or another. With regard to mistakes, I try my best not repeat them. Unfortunately, I do not always realize I am heading down the same path again until I’ve reached the same place. Other times I recognize the signs earlier on, but still find myself in an uncomfortable situation I must withdraw from. The question is how. There are often many paths leading to the same location, but for those things we want most from life it appears there is but one. Thus, it is much easier to take a wrong turn and end up right back where you started. Be vigilant.

To Scale

I’m talking about how massive this rock formation is. I tend to not want individuals in most of my photos -- unless of course I am specifically taking portraiture images. Sometimes in a case like this I will snap an extra shot of a person meandering around the base for personal reference later. Then I wait for the sightseers to move on so I can avoid any visual distractions from making an appearance in my photograph.

Line 'em up

Each beautiful in its own way, but together, so much more. Each offers something the other does not. Peel the onion. There are layers to be explored and beneath each, another.

On the Road

Today, many of us may take to the highways to have Thanksgiving supper with family, while others presently may be toiling tirelessly in the kitchen preparing delicious meal for those en route. Wherever you are today, my friends and family, know that I am taking this moment to think of you and give thanks for having you in my life.

The Year of the DeLorean

Before this year, I never saw a DeLorean in person. Then, starting with this one at a Blue Moon Cruisers “Cruise-In” gathering at the Haar‘s Drive-In, I saw eight: perhaps it had something to do with this being the 25th anniversary of the film Back to the Future. I got to see some visually mint condition like this one and a fairly beat looking one right next to it.

Lama in Dillsburg

There’s a sadness in the eyes.

The Wagner

With the best of intentions he took the pre-vintage motorcycle to rebuild. Given he only knew enough to keep his own up and running, but saw this as an opportunity to learn…and do something nice for the elderly gentlemen who treated him like a grandson. Procrastination, seasonal affective disorder, and more than a passing interest in the new girl in his history class all but benched the project.

Awaking from a restless sleep that Saturday morning, Kevin needed to occupy himself with an activity in an attempt to keep from doing too much thinking. He got enough of that the night before and he didn’t like where it led. Pulling on a pair of ratty old jeans from a pile on the floor of his bedroom and a grease stained old t-shirt from the hamper, Kevin went out to the garage at the back of his property. The large door was already rolled up and the cool November air never chilled him as he quickly got to work: at his feet, a few open books on motorcycle repair. An added benefit of putting the time in this morning -- that if he saw Valleri at the school’s football game that afternoon and she happened to ask what he’s been up to, he would have something more interesting than playing the latest shoot ’em up video game. Girls like guys who do things.

"Not just a hat rack."

The man stood at the counter of the corner store. He pushed the 45 cents across the glass top to the cashier and picked up his pack of fruit striped gum with the zebra on the cover. Mmm, fruit flavor goodness. A smile crossed his face as he stuffed a piece in his mouth and walked back out the door.

Cool Purple Glow

I looked for something bright and cheery. That said, it seems my mood had something else in mind during the decision process -- a reflection of me.

Fenced In

I’ve photographed both color and B&W exclusively over the years, but it’s the balance of allowing for the option that lends itself to best capturing the image that I opt for.

Beneath the Surface

Don’t just get closer to an object -- explore, examine, and discover. In this case it was moving about until the natural light source was behind it. There is an otherworldly feel about this to me.

In the Driver's Seat

Dozens of switches, controls, and gauges at your fingertips. You can have co-pilots, information officers, and support staff, but you are the one behind the wheel and in control of your life.

Fuzzy Dice

Background is important. Find what appeals to you. Get a feel for how to approach the focal point of your interest. Now, before you get tunnel vision, take into account what is going on in the background. The key is balance. If you can determine how to bring the two together, then the image will be stronger for it.

Equestrian Champion

Blue Coat Purple. What’s going on? I tweaked the settings on my digital camera, but nothing I did corrected what I was seeing through the viewfinder. Later, when I returned home and loaded the day’s images into my computer, the riding jacket was indeed the vivid blue I saw with my own eyes. My camera read what I saw correctly, it just did not translate to the preview screen. This illustrates one of the short comings of the digital view. Certain colors don’t translate properly during composition. This is one area where the SLR (single lens reflex) has the advantage, allowing the photographer to see directly through the lens. Of course, instantly being able to see depth of field or lighting shifts resulting from setting alterations in real time allows photographers to better know what results they are getting. As with different cameras, benefits vary. Still, there is no substitute for knowing how one’s camera performs under different lighting conditions and how it reacts to setting adjustments.

Red Berries Blue

In the mood for some blue skies with a hint of clouds, and I always liked the red berries in this shot. Lifts my spirits when I look at this.

Game Day

The 1st and 4th Subbuteo Club convenes for a day of title matches, PlayStation Battlefront activity, and Laserdome warfare where strategy only gets you so far -- it takes gutsy and reckless risks to win.

Delicate Demise

Trees in bright blaze throughout my neighborhood will soon join the others, which have already dropped their leaves. Like this one as it finishes drying out, the rest will be subject to the dangers of winds blowing them across traffic ridden streets and the shoes of individuals walking to work with no regard for them.