The same, but different

The two photos below are similiar: both are taken in the snow and both contain an umbrella. However, one works for me and one doesn't.

At first glance, without comparing the quality, which composition works for you?

    When I first came across the one on the left, the haziness of the trees caught my attention. I liked the serene tranquility of the snow on the ground, and how the haziness gave you the sensation of a quiet, cold winter's day where you could allllmost hear the snow-weighted branches crackling to the ground. But my focus soon went to the umbrella. It seemed so out of place.... and so obviously staged. I'm sure the photographer was looking for the effect that the vivid colors created against the black, white, and grey scene of the snow, but the umbrella ruined the shot for me. I can think of other things that would've left a different impression: snow boots...? a concrete statue?... nothing?

   Now to the photograph on the right... It's not fair to compare the quality with the first photo because this was taken with a cell phone at Mizzou while my son was in motion and carrying a 50 lb. backpack through the snow. However, with that aside, this photo works better for me. I like the single, softer shade of the umbrella. The pinkness blends better with the snow tones.... vs. the starkness of the bright rainbow umbrella on the left. At first I wasn't sure if I liked all of the footsteps; I wondered if the scene would seem "less busy" without so many. But after looking at it, I like how the footsteps are the focus of the photo, with the students and the pink umbrella as the subject. The photo creates curiousity because there are only three students walking, but hundreds of footsteps. How many students must've walked down this sidewalk before the falling snow covered their tracks? Obviously, if the one on the right could've been staged, there would've been things that I would change... like the position of the umbrella?... to use only a single person with the umbrella? ...softer focus? But it still works better for me.

Thinking outside of the box with Forced Perspective Photography

Since I've been taking a lot more photos these last few weeks, I've made myself more aware of the backround and surroundings. These photos make me realize how you can have some creative fun by taking a one-dimensional photo and create a two-dimensional photo by combining the foreground with the backround. Although they're not museum quality, it's fun to experiment with because you never know when you might get the right combination

Photographer  of  the  Week #3

IAN PLANT

http://www.ianplant.com/index.htm

 At first, his photos look like all of the others we've seen before, and although they're hardly anything that keeps you from scanning right past it to the next photo, his work reminds me of  techniques that I use to experiment with when I had a film camera.... but forgot the techniques existed. I'm that person that made my brother get off of a highway exit in the middle of Arizona on the way back from a trip to the Grand Canyon so I could lay my camera on the entrance ramp while I left the shutter open in order to capture the catrillions of stars. But the reason I like his work is because he inspires me to experiment again. 
I love the visual effect in the first photo that the hour long exposure creates. The next two photos are a good use of light;  the way the sunbeams burn through the fog and the pines, and then the way that the sunset illuminates the edges of the cacti in the next photo. The last photo is a lengthened exposure to create motion in the stream, and reminds me of the photo I took of a stream in the Smoky Mountains when I had my Pentax K100 wayyyy back when.

S THE EARTH SPINS ON ITS AXIS, STARS WHEEL AROUND THE SKY LIKE RIPPLES SPREADING FROM A THROWN STONE IN A POND. My campfire, almost a quarter-mile distant, lights the canyon during the one-hour exposure. April 2010, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah.

EAMS OF LIGHT PASS THROUGH A CURTAIN OF GEOTHERMAL FOG AS THE SUN SETS BEHIND FROSTED TREES PERCHED ATOP A HIGH HILL. The steam rising from Canary Spring reacts to the cold air, scattering the colorful lght. December 2007, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

HE SUN DEBUTS TO THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE FROM A GROVE OF CHOLLA CACTI. The response from the brittlebush, however, is somewhat more tepid. March 2009, Arizona.

N EXPLOSION OF COLOR GREETS MY EYES AS I TURN AROUND AND LOOK DEEP INTO THE NARROWS. I have been hiking for hours within this majestic canyon, at times wading through water waist deep, looking for a special convergence of light and form. I decide to look back to see the view from a different angle; as sheer luck would have it, I am just in time to witness the peak of color and light. November 2010, Virgin River Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah.

  Do Photos lie?

To me, the most famous of "Photos that Lie..."

According to the Bigfoot encounter data base, by November 2001 he had been spotted: 517 times in Canada, in every state of the U.S. except Delaware and Hawaii (I guess airfare was too expensive) for a total of 4217 times, and in 13 different countries, all the way from South America to Russia. This yeti really is a world traveler!

http://www.bigfootencounters.com/sbs/jg.htm

AND YOU THINK YOUR HAVING A BAD DAY AT WORK !!

Although this looks like a picture taken from a Hollywood movie, it is in fact a real photo, taken near the South African coast during a military exercise by the British Navy.

The truth...... A photograph circulated on the internet in 2001 showing a shark leaping out of the water to attack a helicopter. The image, which claims to be National Geographic’s “Photo of the Year,” was spliced together from a U.S. Air Force photo taken near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and a photo of a shark from South Africa. The final edited photo was created by combining a photograph of a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter taken by Lace Cheung for the United States Air Force, and a photo taken by South African photographer Charles Maxwell.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0815_020815_photooftheyear.html

 

Motivational Musings

http://motivationalstuff.com/blog/2012/02/12/embracing-synchronicitys-blessing/

As I was catching up on facebook today, I happened across a friend's blog. It was one of those moments of discovery that, first, I didn't even know she had a blog and second, it amazes me how  30 years can make high-school friends so successful, educated, mature, and mindful. As I was reading some of Angies's posts, I realized that most of what I read I just "absorb." But one particular post was truly inspiring.

 

It’s All About Perspective…What do YOU See?

by Angie Buckner Lay

Recently I was on a plane and was fortunate enough to get the window seat since I love scenic views. I had been taking pictures and noticed something interesting.

The window was all scratched up, and depending on how my focus was set, I could either focus on the scratches on the window, or the beautiful scene just outside.

Interesting….isn’t it?
And so it is with life. You can either focus on the beauty of life, or on the “scratches.” If you’re going through life on auto focus, make a little shift and allow yourself to focus on something different. Your life can change for the better in a very short time when you change what you choose to focus on.

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
- Wayne Dyer

How many times have you focused on others’ shortcomings? How about turning that around the next time you catch yourself doing that and think about one thing that’s good about that person?
What about yourself? When your inner critic starts hounding you about how you’re coming up short, remind the little dickens about how fabulous you really are! (and if you have any doubt about that, I can help you with that – shoot me an email and we can talk – I’ve got several options to help.)
Here’s my challenge to you, should you choose to accept it…
Just for today, every time you judge yourself or another, think about the scratches on that window and what’s just outside if you choose to change your focus just a bit.
You’ll be a much happier person. Guaranteed.

Finally over the hump……

Last Saturday morning started with, “honey, I think I screwed up your laptop.” What happened: my hubby clicked “yes” to allow a pop-up message to “SCAN NOW” while he was on a website. The result: so many red X’s and error windows that I couldn’t shut down fast enough. So, after getting dressed, I drove an hour to deliver my laptop to a friend for repair, and on the way back stopped by MoBap Hospital. No, I didn’t have to check my computer-challenged husband in; I went to visit my Dad who has pneumonia.  Upon leaving there, we went to Tee’s Golf Grill to celebrate my son’s 22^nd birthday with my family. The restaurant had a table set up for 11 people, even though I reserved it for 17 (note to self: inform them that math should be part of their training). The server did make it right, but not before arguing with me for five minutes about how that’s the best they could do… even though the dining room was almost empty. We got home about 8:30 p.m….It was a very long day.

Manic Monday: I left work and drove straight to school for a PBL meeting, then went to class at 4:00. Besides the campus police in the building because someone’s purse was stolen, my hard drive was not formatted. So, I had to look over someone else’s shoulder and take notes. I am the type that learns hands-on; it all makes sense while I’m watching, but then I can’t remember when I have to do it myself. After formatting my hard drive at the end of class, I finally left school pretty discouraged at 7:15. I then drove to Fenton to pick up my repaired laptop (which still isn’t the same), and got home at 9:30 p.m…. It was a verrrry long day.

Tiring Tuesday: I left work and drove straight to school to do Photoshop homework in the lab and study for a test, went to my 7:00 class, and got home about 8:30 p.m….Uneventful, but still a very long day.

Weird Wednesday: I left work and drove straight to school for my 4:00 photography class. There was a guy in the hallway asking people if they were photography students and if they’d like to rent his house (note to self: lock the classroom door). Then, during class as the student next to me adjusted the brightness in a dark sunrise photo, she noticed what appeared to be a person sitting on the other side of her fence looking towards her house. (note to self: make sure the blinds are closed). BUT…. as long as the last 5 days have been, I finally feel that enthusiasm again: my hard drive was formatted so I got to actually play with Lightroom and adjust some photos.

 After a five-day climb….“hump day” really lived up to its name.

This was a "layers" project that I submitted in my Adobe Illustrator class Spring 2011. The instructor asked for layers of anything; colors, photos, images, etc. I submitted two projects, but this was the one I liked the most. It consists of five layers; the backround consisting of the sky, hay, and grass, and 2 different barns in the front layer. I cropped and resized the two barns so they matched up, although the red barn is considerably larger in real life. This photo was entered in an SCC Multimedia Design Contest, and got 2nd place! I really like that the picture is so simple and that the colors are so vivid, even though no photo enhancement was done.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK #2

My choice for photographer of the week is from the SCC Art Show.

Richard Glass Photography

http://richardglassphotography.zenfolio.com/

I have found my inspiration!

Very seldom do I ever see a photograph that I would REALLY consider purchasing or one that gives me that "aha" moment, but once I saw his work, I don't know how I can find another photographer of the week that moves and inspires me more. I like "different" and I really like the way he enhances the photos. But his perspective is also amazing....and a lot like I "previsualize" my work.

Altered Reality Collection
"The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist - Savannah, GA"

 

Altered Reality Collection
 "Southern Missouri Farm"

Abandoned Collection
" "Terminal" Terminal #3"
(taken with my phone at the SCC Art Show, but is one of my favorites)

"Sunset's End"

 Not the best quality since it was taken with my phone, but a perfect photo op as I was leaving my photo class on the way to a photo display.