Monday, November 9, 2009

77 The Smell of Something Artificial

Little Girl Drinking
Though I am still a novice photographer, I am aware of a certain deepening of artistry. A well respected photographer whose name I can't recall at the moment remarked that young photographers tend to pull in for tight shots but that older photographers learn the value of context and place (a bit of a paraphrase on my part).

It also reminded me of a time when I enjoyed hunting for collectable old furniture and a wise collector warned me then not to be overcome by the glitter of polished brass. That that was a young man's game. But rather to appreciate the beauty of joinery and grain.

One of the tendencies that I had early on was to over-process and, as I look back over some of my work, I realize the ones I love most are the ones I worked least. This train of thought came as I was selecting images for today's post. I was reviewing the last few fall foliage shots. I had run some curves on many of them but there were a few I hadn't touched. These are two of the untouched ones. They remain more natural and have a greater believability. They don't smell like artificiality. Maybe it's all in my head. We'll see.

OSJ Red FenceOf course, it isn't possible to capture and reproduce a scene with perfect neutrality especially in this modern digital era.

And maybe it's a pendulum that swings back and forth until arriving at perfect equilibrium.

My post-processing technique will mature, too. And will become a more refined artistry. Then perhaps I will be able to pull out greater beauty without leaving the smell of artifice.

Till then, maybe I'll step back and take a bigger view. I'll process less and spend more time appreciating the beauty that comes naturally.

Peace friends,
Glen

Thursday, November 5, 2009

76 My 24mm World

Little Girl Drinking
I'm finally posting again ... after reviving from my post-major-$$$$-purchase remorse coma. For months I vacillated round-n-round between
1. 24mm f/1.4 II,
2. 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom, or
3. 35mm f/1.4

You could tell what day of the week it was by which lens I was in love with. Oh, it's Monday ... then Glen must be oggling Jeff Ascough's 35mm wedding portfolios. Tuesday? Then Glen must be scouring through pbase searches for 24mm II shots. Or joining the 24-70mm club on Flickr, Wednesday, just to return to the 24mm on Thursday.

Then, finally, I did it. I bought the 24mm. Spent $1700!!! I got it. I mounted it. I shot it. I stared in horror. I got a hairball in my throat. I feigned a heart-attack (purely a sympathy ploy to distract my wife).

It wasn't sharp.

Suddenly I questioned every decision I had ever made in my entire life. How could I be sooooo stupid!?!! $1700!!! I KNEW I should've gotten the 35mm!! Then suddenly every portfolio I looked at was shot with the 24-70mm. How could I have been so blind!?!

OSJ Red Fence
That was then. Now that the panic has worn off and I've actually looked closely ... it looks fantastic! I apparently succumbed to a drama-queen moment. I've posted a couple here for you to see.

I think part of my reaction was due to the shock of moving from 85mm perspective where I have to back away from folks to 24mm where I have to touch their noses with the lens. That is quite a shock folks. Don't underestimate it.
The other cause of my delusion was the literally HAIR-THIN DoF. I thought I was used to that with my 85mm but I was never able to get so close to my subjects before.

Wishing you more patience than me ... and loving my new 24mm world! Peace,
Glen

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

75 Missing the Misty Mornings

Little Girl Drinking

The misty mornings are quickly passing me by. There's really nothing more peaceful and lovely than light mist hovering over grassy knolls and bubbling creeks catching golden rays of morning sun as it slices knife-like through tree branches. Geese waddling heavily over dew-laden grass while field stone storehouses and lonely willows punctuate the hillsides.

Not that I would know.

At that hour, I'm still brushing my teeth after having just finished my morning devotions and hopping around half-dressed assembling myself for another long and tedious drive down Rt 611 and work. As I drive I watch the sun rise over the stoplights and wish I could just turn aside to chase the mist. "Chasing the mist" ... maybe that would be a good name for this week-old bologna sandwich I call a blog?

OSJ Red Fence

This past Saturday I managed to get free early and just walked around shooting every tree I could find. Here are a couple of them. Oh, and don't worry, they all survived.


And here's another ...

OSJ Red Fence
Now ... for those of you, like me, who love to see the artistry of a good wedding photographer. I landed on Susan's site somehow and was grateful I did. Have a look here


Peace ... oh ... and may you have many a misty morning this fall.
Glen

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

74 Life in a Moment

Little Girl Drinking
Capturing that "life in a moment" is incredibly satisfying. You know ... that picture that compels you to explore every inch of it wondering what the heck is going on. What are these people doing ... thinking ... feeling!?! The story it tells doesn't even have to be real. It just needs to be complete and captivating.

Those "story moments" are usually fleeting and ephemeral. Everything in view falls suddenly, almost unexpectedly into place almost as if scripted. And then ... right on cue ... your subject gives a look that completes the entire story. The moment passes instantly and no one but you knows it even happened. You saw it coming and pulled your camera up to your eye and placed your waiting finger over the shutter and then ... click ... there it is.

Well, that's how I dream it happens anyway. Someday maybe. And I know it will be awesome!

Till then I'll keep capturing half-lidded eyes in mid-blink ... yawns ... occluded faces ... and all sorts of other nonsense hoping for that "moment".

Enjoy the moments when they come ... and be ready!!

Peace,
Glen

Thursday, October 1, 2009

73 The End of Daylight

Pier Walkers at Harvey Cedars
GAHHH ... is it Fall already!?! For us north-ish-erners, fall means dark-to-work-dark-to-home. Which, for us north-ish photographers means ... well ... shooting on the weekends. No more wandering around the neighborhood at 9 pm capturing golden hour photos of Grandma Joan's hibiscus. Now it's "long-shadows" time.

This shot was taken probably sometime around 8 pm leaning off the railing at the Harvey Cedars Bible and Conference Center. I'd hoped the sailboat would come in closer but sometimes you gotta take what you can get.

Now, my REALLY BIG dilemma - can I handle Fall with a puny 85mm field of view? Can those great misty, dew-filled, multi-hued, mountain-hugging, tree-tapestries be funneled into such a narrow perspective?

Oooorrrr ... is this my perfect excuse to fork out $$$$$$$$ (pronounced "mega-bucks") for the 24mm f/1.4 ... bwahahahaha!!

OSJ Red FenceIf I'm totally honest here, I'm a bit afraid that the 24mm will be a big disappointment. I've been spoiled by my almost perfect 85mm f/1.2 grapefruit. Or rather my 85mm "softball" which comes nowhere near describing the lead-heavy feel of my little precious [insert sounds of Golum mumbling "my precious, my precious"].

In truth, I don't think I really ever need any other lens. But then again ... what did need ever have to do with it!?!!!

Peace,
Glen

PS - for my "woulda-coulda-shoulda's" ... this was a single frame I ripped off. I shoulda let the shutter click a few more times to see if the silouhettes might take better shapes. I've been finding myself taking too few shots lately. Gotta get over that.