OverPass
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Perched
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My Little Pumpkin Carvers
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Thought I'd do something a little different and show my little pumpkin carvers hard at work for some candid shots during the pumpkin massacre. :)
Happy Halloween!
There Is Nothing Left to Shoot
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If you are a photographer, sitting on the fence with "I just don't know what to shoot." This one's for you.
I hear it alot from other photography enthusiasts so often, "I just don't know what to go shoot."
There are plenty of reasons you can talk yourself out of picking up that camera in your closet and getting out there.
"The light isn't right." "I don't have time." "Everyone else, better than me has already shot these locations."
..those are a few of my favorites but there are plenty more to pick from.
On this day, I stood here at the Fairhope Pier and all of these situations applied.
It wasn't a new spot - I've been here 100 times. It wasn't quite golden hour. I didn't really have time - needed to be somewhere shortly.. I've seen a hundred photos from better photographers from this area / All the good shots, I felt had been taken already. Plus, how bored will the people who follow my posts be of my posting photos from the same places over and over again?
But, I was compelled anyway. . My tripod, my D800, only had 15 minutes on the ground to capture some stuff.
It was an enjoyable little break to a long day!
It occured to me as I went through the photos, especially this one, that:
Even though I've stood in this exact spot with this same lens and similar settings, dozens of times, this photo had never happened before.
The clouds were never exactly like this, the sun was never in this precise spot when I clicked the shutter.
This kayak wasn't here at exactly this time.
Odds are, I probably wasn't standing in exactly this spot at exactly this time of day.
The light didn't fall in exactly this way to create the silhoette that I wanted.
The people on the pier were likely in a different configuration.
The boats were moored differently, the waves were spaced differently.
Maybe the pattern of seagull poop on the pier, didn't reflect the light back up in exactly this way to create this halo effect. :)
You catch my point, though. Find something you like and photograph it. Even go back and photographic it at different times of the year, differently. You might just surprise yourself in what you'll come up with!
They Built This On Calm Days, Like Today
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Whenever I see these relic piers in and around Mobile Bay, I wonder about the builders. After they sunk the pilings and worked to erect the cross braces up and down the Pier, what were their expectations? Were they seduced by the beautiful October weather on the end of a slow storm season.
"This will be here forever", they said as they nailed in the last few boards and looked back to admire their work. Or.. maybe in a time before Honey Boo Boo, Washington Gridlock, Twitter & Facebook, people were smarter.
Maybe they just figured, "It'll be nice while it lasts."
At any rate, I'm glad they built it even if the subsequent storms have battered their work. After all, where else would the birds sit? ;)
Fossil, by Bruce Larsen
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If you've been to Five Rivers you've probably seen this epic sculpture. What you may not know (at least, I didn't until recently) is that it is from the same talented hand of other iconic culture works you've likely seen in Baldwin County, especially around Fairhope.
I'm always blown away at the creativity and skill to bring something like this to life.
About the artist: http://brucelarsenart.com/about/
On FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bruce-Larsen-Art/224802887537724
The Tiny Graveyard
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This is my front yard..
My kids put these little tombstones out to attract trick or treaters, b/c they totally love passing candy out. Some of them are from the halloween stores over the years, some of them have my previous bosses names inscribed on them, which I always get a chuckle about..
At any rate, the sprinklers came on and the later afternoon light made some interesting visuals so I snapped this with my phone. ;)
Phone Photography
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I know that plenty of great photographers are able to use their phone cameras in their art.
Try as I might, I'm just not one of them.
For software development purposes, on my desk sit an iPhone 5, A Galaxy Note 2, a Nokia Lumia 1020 and I carry around a Galaxy S4. All supposedly have great cameras.
I love the Lumia 1020 for astrophotography, it puts a big sensor on the eyepiece of the telescope without messing with the weight. I've seen absolutely jaw dropping macro work with an iPhone 5 (that I haven't been able to reproduce) and I've seen these others used for very compelling output.
Apparently, I'm just not wired in the way necessary to do this :)
I think it is that I really need RAW in order to properly lean on my crutch, Lightroom.
Anyone have any tips or hacks in the phone camera space for enabling raw? If I could get RAW on the 1020 or my S4, food would taste better, the angels in heaven would sing, dogs and cats living together...
Well, maybe that last one doesn't fit...
The Devil's Cellar
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..They say something sinister lurks at the vineyards of Casillero del Diablo. My guess is that it resembles less the likes of a fallen-angel deceiver and tormentor and more the likes of an ambitious marketing campaign.
Good wine though!
DragonFly Sunset
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It is a rare thing in our house, a date night for their mom and I..
We had a sitter over to watch the kids and enjoyed a quiet dinner and a sunset. The Dragonflies were everywhere, in the sky making for a odd aerial show while we watched the sun fall behind this tree.
Etiquette says bringing a camera along on a date is probably uncool. A fair use for the Lumia 1020, anyway...
Tickets, Please
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I guess we all see the fair in different ways. ;)
The Reflecting Pool at the Edge of Summer
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Here we are! (The End of Summer is just around the corner - the Autumn Equinox.) I've been going back looking through my photo catalogs from the summer and spring. I'm happy with the results but know I could have been more diverse in locale, or even more original. I think software projects stole some of the photography creativity juices :)
Something I plan to remedy this fall and winter :)
To celebrate our 800th Page Like on Facebook, I'm going to try something that's completely new to me.
A Promotion! (On facebook) Here goes..
The "Oh Wow, That is 800 more people than I expected" End-of-Summer Promotion
(It is a working title)
A Facebook Fan will receive a Free Print and possibly a Portrait Session! (more below)
Here's what you do to enter:
Visit my photo gallery of Summer 2013 Shots, here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.646102158755842.1073741830.277534392279289&type=1
Pick a favorite shot and share it on your facebook wall. Then, come by to this post and comment, Something like "Count me in!". On October 1st, we will add the names into a hat and draw a name. (I'll record the drawing and post it here for posterity.)
The person whose name we draw, wins the print.
If our Facebook page breaks the "1,000" likes barrier, the winner will also receive a Portrait Session
Limitations, Details and Legaleze:
The print can be up to a 28x22 Stretched Canvas (white bordered), a gallery wrapped 20x30 or smaller Stretched Canvas or a High Quality Lustre Paper up to 28" x 22" in size. Frame is not included. The print can be of any photo in my archives from http://prints.graffitivisuals.com OR any print of your choosing, so long as you have appropriate rights to make said print.
(eg, Favorite Picture of a Child, Favorite Vacation Photo, Favorite GraffitiVisuals Photo)
We will cover shipping and handling in the continental 48 states. Some fees may apply for int'l shipments.
(or will Deliver Locally)
If our Facebook page reaches 1,000 likes (it most likely will) before 12:01am October 1, 2013, the winner also receives a Gulf Coast On-Location Portrait Session for up to 4 people. (exceptions by requst, with verbal caveat) I will meet your party at an agreed time at a locale of your choice, so long as it is within the Alabama Gulf Coast Region. The Eastern Shore, Fairhope, Daphne, Mobile Delta Area, Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.
We will spend an hour or two taking portaits. (Usually 300-400 shots)
I will post-process these portraits within a business week and release to you copies of all photos taken on a usb memory card and online download along with a full release granting you any print rights you may desire. I will also include 4 8x10 prints on Lustre paper from the session at no cost.
*I will retain a copy of exceptional results for use in my portrait portfolio or training purposes only.
Winner is responsible for travel to and from the Gulf Coast and any desired costumes, makeup and props. I will provide studio-quality photography lighting, photography services, post processing and image retouch and prints on archival quality materials and inks. Prizes are not redeemable for cash. (Portrait sessions needs to be scheduled before the end of 2013.)