Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Worth a Look (The View From The "Big End") - Vol I Edition 4

Every now and then I'll go wandering through the listings for the Photographers Of Etsy just because I like to look at photographs, even if I didn't create them.  I always go to the "Big End" because I want to catch them before they expire, give them another chance at discovery if you will.  Here are a few of the ones I found this week toward the big end of the list that I felt were worth a look.   I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

 
Sepia Seagulls - HeyHarriet



 
Shadows of Time - batfineart



 
ACEO Racquet-tailed Rollar bird - LDphotography



 
Which Way Today - Limited Edition Route 66 - ljdesignphoto



 
Compton Bridge - curioush



 
bali textures--blue cross - elephantdreams



 
Morning Mist - fosterbk



 
Bushel Not Included - EmmainWonderland



 
Whisked - andreadespot



 
Character - littlepaperthoughts

Friday, February 19, 2010

Check Six

If 12 o'clock is in front of you then 6 o'clock is behind you.  "Check Six" is a term fighter pilots use that means nothing more than "look behind you". 

It's easy to fixate on what's in front of you because, hey, it's right there in front of your face!  If you look behind you, you'll obviously be looking at where you've just come from, but your perspective will be different, so what you see will also be different.  You'll be looking at something you've already seen, but you'll be seeing something new.

The banner at the top of this blog contains a photo that was taken at the end of a day of making beach images.  I was walking away from the beach, toward our cabin.  On a whim, I turned to look one more time at the beach scene behind me and saw the cyclist in silhouette; you see the result.

You obviously can't look over your shoulder all the time, but every now and then check six; you just might be pleasantly surprised.

 
Tide Rushes In


Vatican Window



The Alibi Room



Frosted Window Panes

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Worth a Look (The View From The "Big End") - Vol I Edition 3

Every now and then I'll go wandering through the listings for the Photographers Of Etsy just because I like to look at photographs, even if I didn't create them.  I always go to the "Big End" because I want to catch them before they fall off and expire, give them another chance at discovery if you will.  Here are a few of the ones I found this week toward the big end of the list that I felt were worth a look.   I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

 
Landscape with Split Rail Fence  -  DeepCreekStudios



 
Still  -  moonbuggs



 
Railing - Czech Republic  -  photohale



 
Reflection in Blue  -  racergirl1313



 
Flowers in Window  -  ValeriaH



 
Petals  -  lilacpopphotography



 
minneapolis skyline  -  saramontour



 
Chained  -  JoannasPhotography



 
Ascend  -  AriaImages



 
Three quince in autumn light  -  ajawin

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A Trip To The Park

When I went out yesterday afternoon, it was with the intent to spend some "quality time" with my 70-300mm lens. It's always in my bag, but I rarely use it. I did pull it out to take that eagle shot on Sunday, but I really wasn't happy with its (my?) performance, so I wanted to take it out and put it through its paces.

I ended up at a local park with the intent of just farting around,  you know, taking some throw-away shots. Well, you know how it is, once you put a camera in your hands it's all business, so I put my long lens on the camera, took off my vest (it was too warm for it) and set about making photographs.

I got the shots I got, and was pleased with the effort; I thought I might even have a few keepers in the bunch.  I reached for my lens cap, but it wasn't there!  "Oh", I thought, "I left it in my vest pocket...in the car...with my keys!"  Oh crap!  March to the transit center, hop on a bus, get the wife's keys, hop on another bus and collect the car.  Oh lord! My father was right!  It IS a good thing my head's attached!


New Town



 
New Town 2



Mallard Hen



  
Mallard Drake



Scavengers Row



Reflecting Gull

Valentines Day

"Early Spring" was shot right off my back deck. I thought going b&w with the green leaves was a good way to accent the earliness of the season; I really think winter's done with us here.

Instead of going into the city this week, as has been my habit of late, I headed a little east to the rural part of the county, my old stompin' grounds.

I was using the post in "Chain Locked Gate" to brace myself when I was shooting  an eagle that day ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/photogrunt/4358308190/ ). I knew the session was over when he turned away from me, pooped in my general direction and flew away. I may be a guy, but even I get "subtle" when it hits me over the head. "Fine!" sez I, and I shot the chain.

 
Early Spring


  
 
Nail Shadow



 
Toe Nailed



 
Tall Stumps



 
Busted Bark


 
 
Chain Locked Gate
 

Yellow Rubber Boots

Do you remember what it was like?  That feeling of power, of near invincibility, when, as a young child, you had your rubber galoshes on and no mud puddle was safe from your assault? 

At this time of your life there wasn't much you had control over, but with your rubber boots you held dominion over any body of water up to and including 6 inches in depth.  This image is meant as an homage to that feeling of youthful power and control.

 
 Invincible

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Shoot on the Shoulders

Photography without light is like swiming without water; it's tough to do, and when it comes right down to it, what's the point?  I mean, really.

While there are different kinds of water, there's only one kind of wet; the different types of light, however, will do incredibly different things to your photographs.  So, the question is, in natural light situations, when do you shoot?  Generally speaking, you're going to want to shoot earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.  Why?  There are many reasons, and they all can be found in any number of articles on the internet.  Look, here's one now:  http://www.guideto.com/outdoor-photography/the-best-time-of-day-to-take-pictures

I call this morning/afternoon thing "Shooting on the Shoulders", but you can call it whatever you want to.  Now, let's go to the photographs.



 
Chimney Rock and Courthouse Mountain  -  AlisonDuBois



Sunset on the Fleet, Placida, Florida  -  NaturesCall



 Into the Ocean  -  FlashForward


 
Long Pier  -  madsuncaribou



cafe du monde  -  mailelani



Is this a dream...  -  TheLittleRooster



Red Barn  -  JBWPhoto



Old Mill  -  StephsShoes



Garden Bench with Snow  -  CreationsAnew



After the Rain  -  penguinpalace


Then again, sometimes rules are made to be broken...


 
One for the Road  -  rrobertsphoto

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Worth a Look (The View From The "Big End") - Vol I Edition 2

Every now and then I'll go wandering through the listings for the Photographers Of Etsy just because I like to look at photographs, even if I didn't create them.  Here are a few of the ones I found this week toward the big end of the list that I felt were worth a look.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

 
I'm a Fan  -  ceejay60



Lake of Bays  -  jennifersquires



Blue Interior of Steam Train  -  henatayeb


   
Not on the Tour  -  jrenphotos



Miss Jasmine Take Two  -  kellywarrenphotoart


 
vintage shutters 
-  levansphotography



The Old Mill  -  eireanneilis



Sunflower, Reprint of Polaroid Transfer  -  jessicarogers



Ristras and the blues--Rancho de Taos  -  elephantdreams