St. John's Sunrise

On an earlier trip to Florida to visit family, I took an image that I later titled "Walk into Infinity. That image has proven to be one of my more popular images. A more recent trip allowed me to stroll along the same stretch of the St. Johns River, this time capturing a beautiful sunrise. No matter how familiar a location becomes there is always something new to experience, if you simply take the time to explore and truly see what's around you. Light and form is constantly changing and even subtle physical changes over time can make a big difference in creating a successful image.

Flint Hills

Earlier this Spring I enjoyed my first visit to the Flint Hills area in Kansas. The Flint Hills span an area of almost 200 miles between Nebraska and Oklahoma. There is a wonderful scnenic drive along K-177 between Council Grove and Cassoday in east central Kansas. Along this route you would enjoy panoramic views of this prairie, which comprises remains of the largest unplowed areas of tallgrass prairie in the entire world. I will be returning to this area in the months ahead and look forward to some great images

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A JOURNEY TO DESTINY

There is so much more and the torment is in the past

yet the sky still flows with uncertainty of what the future might hold.

A breathless encounter with beauty can leave a vulnerable soul stranded to a fate, not
 destiny.

One must walk with eyes open, aware of what changes might occur,

Always preparing for a next step,

Although, do not allow the beauty to escape unnoticed

Or the journey will be all for naught.

by Kirk E. Hunt

(written for the image "Flint Hills")

Mysterious Lands

Mysterious Lands

I would like to introduce Kirk E. Hunt through his poem "Mysterious Lands".  Kirk is a talented writer who has agreed to pair some of his writing with my photographic images.  This is a sample of one he wrote of the image shown here of Half Dome as storm clouds are clearing early morning.  We hope you enjoy and invite your comments.

MYSTERIOUS LANDS

In the crisp early morning comes a bellowing howl out of the mist.

The passion of greatness soars high above the clouds.

In the shadows it speaks of its power above all others.

The valley and the forest echo with the music of those surviving in the vast and

mysterious lands.

Life begins for some today.

For some life is done.

For the greatness of the valley and the forest;

Life will cycle on.

Kirk E. Hunt

Winter Berries

Just another macro using our recent snow as a backdrop.  The red berries from this ornamental tree contrast well against the snow.  In order to obtain the right exposure I had to meter on the snow and increase the exposure by 2 stops.

Had to Improvise

Well, my last post indicated we were in for a little snow.  I was wrong...it was a lot of snow.  Unfortunately, I was snowed in for several days.  Yesterday after a second bout of the white stuff and a serious case of cabin fever, I was determined to get out in search of a few new images.  I didn't get far before though before realizing my vehicle was not quite able to take on the elements.  Next time I'll know to buy 4-wheel drive.  I did manage a couple of images though and ultimately chose to see what I could find within a few safe yards of the back door.  Deciding to focus on macro views I was able to isolate a couple of shots against the snowy backdrop. 

The image here of underbrush remnants of the recent summer is one such image.  The interest was the repetition of slender golden leaves showing the effects of the seasonal cycle, contrasted against the recent day's snow.  Another example of simple and interesting patterns in nature that surround us.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! Supposed to get snow tonight and into Christmas Day. Might be some good photographic opportunities. Here is an image to kind of puts us in the mood. This was taken a few years ago after an hour hike in the snow to Lava Lake, just outside of Big Sky, WY.

Distilling Detail out of Visual Chaos

When I arrived at Yosemite, I immediately took a drive to explore potential sites to photograph. I was overwhelmed with the beauty and anticipation of the vast photographic possibilities. It was seemingly impossible to take it all in. In fact I had to make myself slow down to really begin to see and think creatively. At first I intentionally avoided my camera to force myself to become accquainted with the surroundings and to let my creative eye analyze the possibilities... not just the vistas but the intimate details.

I often make a conscious effort to clear my mind to be receptive to seeing things in a way best suitable for photographic expression.  I then focus on use of the rectangular frame of the camera's viewfinder and other tools and techniques to assist in creating some order out of the chaotic abundance of visual stimuli in the surroundings. Elliot Porter, an early photographic icon in color photography, in his photographic work "Nature's Chaos", makes reference to irregular order created out of pure disorder. This is clearly the case and it certainly takes effort and practice to begin to see in a way to allowing the visualization necessary to capture the intimate details within larger chaotic elements in nature.

First Day at Yosemite

The first afternoon I arrived at Yosemite I was anxious to get right to work.  After checking into my hotel, I headed into the park with the thought of going to Taft Point for a sunset view of the valley.  Unfortunately, I under estimated how long the drive would be and arrived at the trail head right about the time I should have been in position.  I then realized I would also need to hike about a mile in moderate terrain to get to where I needed to be, with a return hike in the dark.  I was unprepared.  Sounded like a rough start to my trip.  Anyway, I scratched the idea and began to head back down to the valley and my frustration seemed to be magnified by what I could tell through occasional breaks in the trees was an incredibly beautiful sunset in progress.  Unfortunately though, I was in no position to take advantage of it.  I did have a brief opportunity to catch just a few shots at a turnout to catch some of the glow reflecting back to the southeast.  This was really my fist shot of the trip.

Light Makes All the Difference

I did make some comment in my previous post about the weather during my Yosemite trip. Not much interest in the sky most days, but there were a few exceptions. I did compose a panorama from Glacier Point overlooking the cliffs, domes, mountains and falls along the course of Yosemite Valley. While this image gives you sense of the scale and beauty of the place, it lacks what I feel is necessary for a strong and moving image.

After the hour drive from the valley to get to this viewpoint I was determined to wait out the sunset, even though I was less than hopeful of the outcome, based on the featureless sky. In photography light is everything, and is often unpredictable. This afternoon, the wait was productive and the resulting image demonstrates what a little patience and anticipation can allow.

 
There was a brief period of patchy and thin cirrus clouds that captured faint colors of the setting sun which had now fallen below the horizon. This cast a soft and subtle light on Half Dome and the surrounding formations and allowed me to capture this final image. The light was rapidly changing and lasted for only minutes. The three and a half hour wait was worth it.

Back from Yosemite

I have not made a recent post because I've been a little busy lately after the Fall art shows. By the way I wish to thank all those that came by. These three shows proved successful but most of all I really enjoyed discussing my work with so many of you. I will be sure to keep you up to date on future events. check my website often for updates on where you can next see my most recent work.
I did just get back from a trip to Yosemite National Park. The beauty of this place is remarkable. I've been so busy though catching up on other things that I have hardly had time to review the images I brought back. The weather was what most photographers would call tourist weather. That is, mild temperatures and clear blue skies. Great for tourists but the bane of many a serious photographer. We prefer weather phenomenon of various types...clouds, clearing or approaching storms, fog...anything that adds interest and mood, or captures reflections of light and color. Unfortunately, there was just not much going on in the sky during my 5 days in the park, with a couple of small exceptions. Nonetheless, I did come back with a few strong images that I am really looking forward to sharing with you.
As a teaser, I offer this image accompanying this writing of Yosemite Chapel. Just thought it appropriate for the season. I will get others up very soon...stay tuned.
Please feel free to comment...I am always interested in your thoughts about which images you really enjoy and why.