Miscellaneous – A Photo's Worth

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #217 Opposites

How many times have you heard the phrase “opposites attract”? Having heard it, have you ever really thought about it? Whether yes or no, this week Tina challenges me to focus on it by sharing some examples of opposites through my images. I never know where my mind will go with these challenges.

My first photograph is that of a LAPC host Anne who is currently enjoying (I hope) a well-deserved photo getaway.

Looking down. Seeing outside from inside!

The next images were taken at the Aerospace Museum of California located in Sacramento. A great place to take your photography to the next level. For my second image titled Real Plane, I used Photoshop to merge for the HDR needed to see outside the windows.

These challenges let me see my images in a new light. The more I look at my forest image the more I like it. It may be due to our drought and heatwave. Rain is in the forecast this week.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

Ohmega Salvage is located in Berkeley Ca.

Some more opposites to ponder. There are examples of opposites wherever I look!

New *Harley-Davidsons*. Just the opposite of my featured image!

Did I get you thinking about all the opposites around you? Yet, so many had the same beginnings.

Thank you for visiting my take on opposites. Please leave me a comment!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #210 Picking Favorites

This week Sarah (Travel with me) asks me to share three of what I consider to be among my best shots. This exercise really tests my ability to be self-critical. Pick out three (just three!) that stand out as particular favorites. I need to choose three from different genres: macro, wildlife, street, landscape, architecture, or portraiture.

Genre: Still Life

My inspiration for this photograph started in my photography class. I needed to create a photo with the theme of kitchen. Items from my mother-in-law were recently sent to us. I placed these tarnished serving pieces on a piece of glass and watched for shadows. Pleased with the result. I entered this photo in an online contest and was selected as the week’s photo.

Genre: Landscape

I met with a group of local photographers in downtown Sacramento. At first, a scavenger hunt was the goal, but after looking around Old Sac, I went to the Tower Bridge. After watching the dry lightning strikes I listened and began to anticipate the next bolt of lightning. Got it!

Genre: Telling a Story/Street

This carousel or Merry-Go-Round was taken at a local shopping mall. I wanted to capture movement. In doing so, I created the story of the boy and his horse actually escaping from the ride.

Genre: Nature

The feature banner image of the Peeking Flamingo was taken at the Sacramento Zoo. When I showed this image to my college professor she like it so much that she asked if she could use it as a class example. Made me feel good.

Selecting just three is a tough call. I ended up picking some images that I have hanging in my home. I hope that you enjoyed this post. Let me know which one is your favorite.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #198 Light & Shadow

This week, Patti asks me to explore the interplay of light and shadow–at different times of the day, in different seasons, under natural light, in artificial light. She encouraged me to choose whatever conditions I like. I will look at processing some images in black & white.

My film days started at age nine. I had all my photos printed in black & white. In my twenties I started using Kodachrome. My catalog is filled with silhouettes, shadow designs, and backlit images.

Photographers are often left out of family photos. When I realized this I started taking shadow selfies just to show that I was there.

Fall in the Sierras. The grass is all dried up!

The long shadows indicate that I am shooting a field of sunflowers in the afternoon. The sunflowers are saying goodnight.

Eventually, I started having friends join me.

Long shadows help those who are height challenged.

What’s going on? Looks like I have an unexpected guest.

You can see this in the design subject created by shadows.

A story told in the silhouette I captured in the park

What kind of creature can be found in the woods?

Does the creature appear more ominous here in black & white?

Has the creature followed me to the vineyard?

These photo challenges allow me to take another look at the images I have captured over the years. I hope you enjoyed the journey in Light and Shadows.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #137 Soft

My next Lens-Artists Photo Challenge is Soft. Anne-Christine asks what does the word Soft mean to you? Is it something that you touch? Is it the undefined notion that is the opposite of hard? Is it the contrast to sharp from a photographer’s point of view? This is not so simple a concept.

My first thought was that of a baby. We want everything about this new being to be soft. Soft blankets, soft toys, soft skin, soft colors, and soft sounds Nothing hard, or harsh. We want the world around us to be soft and welcoming.

Only a week later, my Charlie joined the world. We follow his first developing steps on a webcam.

His fluffy soft fur needs tending to. Every evening we bond over grooming

Nature softens the world around me.

Light falling softly on this lotus flower

The dandelion flower pod beakens us to spread its seeds with one soft blow.

My most favorite photographic technique is shooting with a large aperture setting. This narrow depth of field clarifies the subject. This blurred background is called the bokeh. I pay particular attention to this when deciding to purchase a lens for my Fuji x system.