Hello to all and welcome!
I can't really say what you should expect to see here as I've never before tried blogging or anything similar. It'll have to be a work in progress. I'll probably talk about photography in general (and mine in specific) as well as point out different things that are going on that I find interesting or worth commenting on. If anyone (assuming anyone actually ends up reading this) has questions or suggestions on topics, feel free to let me know.
I'm here you're with me, here at the beginning of all things.
Roger
p.s. Comments and feedback are very welcome.
Photos of the Week - Sometimes you get lucky!
Sunday was one of those perfect days in the year. Temperature in the mid-70s, not too humid, occasional breeze. One of those days that you have to get outside and do something. Go for a walk, take some pictures.
At first I thought I'd go out to Lake Calhoun and see what was around, but I had other things going on that made it inconvenient. So, instead, I decided to finish the book I was reading and go over to Lone Lake and see what the path down to Bryant Lake was like.
Not much was of interest at the lake itself; the water lilies and lotuses were basically gone. I did come across a small broken tree stump that I likes. Took a couple of shots and continued.
A little ways past, I heard a quiet thumping, rhythmic. Similar to woodpeckers that I've frequently heard there, but much deeper in tone. Probably from a dead tree with thick bark.
I heard it again and looked up at the tree I was next to. No sign of anything.
A couple of steps up the path and I could see the other side of the tree. And there it was. The woodpecker I had heard.
Now, if this was a normal excursion, I would have taken a couple of shots of a downy or hairy woodpecker and continued on my way feeling please with having seen them.
But it was not a normal excursion nor a normally spotted woodpecker.
No, this was a pileated woodpecker. The kind Woody was based on. The kind that has teased me for years without providing a chance at a photo. The kind I've been wanting to get a good image of for over 15 years.
Pileated WoodpeckerClick to Purchase
I start shooting and smiling. But, there is a lot bright sky, which leads to silhouetting. So, I overexpose some shots in order to get the bird bright enough to see. And, change to auto-ISO so that I can concentrate on getting the depth of field deep enough and still fast enough to stop motion.
Pileated WoodpeckerClick to Purchase
The bird jumps to the side of the tree away from me, so I go back to the other side and try and get some more shots. But, it is amongst some leaves and not clear.
I back up hoping to get a better angle, and capture the first couple of clear images. Boy is he wonderful (and yes, it is a male - females have a black forehead and don't have the red moustache).
But, I'm too far away, so I make my way back up the hill and to the side.
Pileated WoodpeckerClick to purchase
As I get close again, it occurs to me that I haven't actually heard it pecking in quite a long time, even though I can see him doing so. Then, some tree bits start to fall. Peck and clear..peck and clear.
Pileated WoodpeckerClick to Purchase
Pileated WoodpeckerClick to Purchase
A beam of light shines right by the head. The head disappears when he pecks and comes into the sun when he stops.
I'm at this for somewhere between 5 and 15 minutes and my shoulder really starts to ache from holding the camera and lens steady above my head. So I bid him a fond farewell and continue on my walk as planned.
Did I find anything else interesting on the walk? Butterflies - not really, other tree stumps - not really, deer - no, other birds - no. Do I care? Sure, because it would be nice to capture those as well. Does any of that affect my enjoyment of the day, though? Absolutely not!
And it occurs to me just how lucky I had been. I could have gone somewhere else to shoot. I could have been there at a different time. Even a minute or two later would have made a difference because the pecking sound became inaudible due to him pecking in the looser dead areas, and I would have just walked past not realizing what was happening.
But, in the end, I was there and got some shots that I've been waiting over 15 years for. Sometimes you DO get lucky.
Photos of the Week - Back at Como
I was back at Como Park/Zoo a week or so ago and got some more shots I'm really happy with. Here are some:
This year I have visited all 4 Japanese Gardens in the Twin Cities area (Como was the last). Here's my favorite shot of the garden.
And, here's a close-up of one of the water lilies.
I also finally got some good shots of the large male orangutan.
The baby was out and having fun. Most of the shots were not quite up to snuff (no face visible or slightly out of focus), but this one works. And ending with extreme cute is always a good idea.
Photos of the Week - Catching Up
Sorry it has been so long since I posted anything. The reason is fairly simple; I haven't really had anything worth posting about. I've not done a ton of shooting this summer, and what I have done hasn't had a whole heck of a lot that's worth sharing. In fact, I did start one blog post about dealing with failure, but the subject failed to move me (pun intended, but still true).
So, here's a couple that I am happy with.
I went to the Como Zoo almost two months ago in order to check out the butterfly exhibit there (I haven't processed the butterfly shots yet but I think some turned out pretty decent). While wandering around I noticed these flamingos resting off in the pond. I liked the way they became almost abstract shapes due to the way they were standing.
I also liked this orangutan. They have the most expressive faces (or poses).
Finally, here's the newest addition to my Dead Tree/Stump/Branches project. Besides the large arch formed by the tree, I found it quite interesting that the only bit still remaining was bark (and such a large piece, well over 10 feet).
Photos of the Week - Portrait
It has been a while since I posted something here, mostly due to time spent going through the 5500 photos I took at CONvergence. Since almost all of those were of people, I thought this might be a good time to talk about portraits.
**Please note that all of the below portraits were taken at CONvergence this year. I have not talked to the people about using their picture in this posting and do not intend to identify them. They are used strictly for illustrative purposes. The rest of my favorite shots are available here: http://www.pavellephoto.com/p817444870
Starting with the obvious, there are two ways a picture can be oriented: Horizontal (landscape) or Vertical (portrait) [**square is not an orientation, since all sides are the same, and panorama simply changes the proportion of the sides, not the orientation]. It is not a hard and fast rule that portraits must be done in portrait orientation, but that is how they are done classically because that is how people best fill the available space while sitting or standing. Go with whichever works best.
The next consideration is the circumstances in which the picture is taken. How conscious of you taking the photo is the subject. Are they actively participating (posing, as in the above photos) or is it a candid image (as below)?
The last thing to consider is how can you go beyond simply capturing a picture of someone. How can you make the image special? How can you show the character of your subject, the inside as well as the outside?
I want to first say that it is much easier showing character when people are in costume, because they are playing a character at that time and know how that character acts and thinks and are showing that to you.
This is also why I prefer taking candid shots. You can capture the emotion in the moment it occurs. They say a person's face lights up when they laugh and it is certainly true that the amusement and joy can come through in a picture.
Even thought can come through. Shoot people talking and listening to each other and you can see the interest that is generated.
I have one final thought that I want to share with you. I was told this in a class I took many years ago that was given by John Gregor of Coldsnap Photography. We were out shooting flowers, and he said that there is a difference between making a good flower picture and a good picture of a flower. The former is pointing your camera and clicking the shutter. To make the latter, treat it like you are making a portrait. Find the character or essence of the flower and make that your subject. It's a piece of advice that I use whenever I'm out shooting. It works for flower, birds, butterflies, and anything else. Capture the character of your subject. Make a portrait. The results are worth it.
Blazing SaddlesClick to purchase
Yellow Lady SlipperClick to purchase.
Photos of the Week - CONvergence is Imminent
If you don't understand the title, go here: http://www.convergence-con.org/
Here are a few of my favorites from last year. Check the menu to see LOTS more.
