Over the years, it’s become crystal clear that my wife is my staunchest critic and supporter. However, adding her to the creative aspect of it all is both a major distraction and a pain in the fucking ass. As someone who has become more of a landscape and street photographer in recent years. My wife is, more than often, right by my side. Whether it be asking a million question as to what attracts me to a subject or being over protective to my history of risky attempts of capturing a moment. A good example would be yesterdays trip to Richmond and my fascination with photographing many of the downtown murals.When asked about “Photographing other peoples art.” and, basically hijacking someone’s creative energy. When my explanation of both documenting and interpreting my surroundings didn’t communicate the intended message. Explaining that my approach and goal while when shooting is to document the artists work respectfully. While also interpreting and conceptualizing in my own way. Why that might some like bull cookies to many. It’s how I do.
Category: Landscape Photography
The Early Bird Captures the Shot.
During a recent exchange with a fellow early riser. We shared our appreciation for the pre-dawn moments when one can appreciate a sense of solitude, while enjoying that quickly diminishing moment, when the air feels fresh, as it entices your senses. Whether it was coming home from a night of debauchery or leaving your home for that long commute. Whatever the reason. These moments are to be cherished. Below is a capture taken during my now daily morning walk.
March 1st, 5:50 am Canon R6 Mark II RF 24-105 F4 30.0 f22 ISO 200
Train of Thought
With the wife at the office and my wanting to take advantage of the warm weather and a barely baptized new camera. I carefully navigated the sidewalk cracks and pot holes, and walked my way down to Dolly Madison road to attempt some shots I’ve been wanting to take since arriving in the area. Arriving at the edge of the great divide. I took to time to steady myself and compose the area I wanted to focus on. With my main focus on the soon to arrive train and two towering buildings in the foreground serving as bookmarks. I waited for my photo version of Moby Dick to come into view. This photo opportunity served several purposes, as the day marked my longest solo walk since my diagnosis, capturing a shot I’ve long envisioned, and later discovering the route to a rewarding nature walk.
It is what it is
Taken from the second floor of a parking garage. I only had a moment to catch this and would have explored the rest of the space if not for the fact that my better half wanted to go home before the pizza we had ordered got cold.
Winter Colors
It’s pretty rare when I adjust my camera settings to shoot in color. With my wife now accompanying me in the majority of my outings, Her insistance that I switch to “landscape” mode is really the only time I shoot color. Right or wrong, it’s just my preference. However, when I raised the shades on this wintry morning and saw these colorful leaves showing life on an otherwise bare tree (My wife calls it “The Charlie Brown Christmas tree.”) adjacent to our patio. I jumped into action to capture what will soon be gone.
Second Chances
As I took this image, I promised to return on a cloudy day and both include and better illuminate one of the random kids riding their bike to and fro. Though I may have to wait until the weather warms up and the barbecuers return. I’ve promised to fulfill my vision. While I fully displaying a sense of solitude in my images. Adding that human element often enhances the image and message .
Solitude
Of all the images I’ve captured in recent months. Few express the emotion I was trying to capture as well as this one. While enjoying a heavily populated and lively beach on this particular day, few of the images I had taken stood out or conveyed my thoughts quite as well as this one.
Artificial Filters
I can’t begin to tell you how often I’ve wanted to pull the car over to spend an hour or two taking pictures. Knowing what my wife’s reaction will be, I keep my mouth shut and my enthusiasm in check. That said, there are moments and opportunities that I can’t pass on. Knowing how protective my wife has become and my not wanting to be made fun of, due to my obsession. I’ve been forced to try new things.
The other night was a perfect example as we were on the final leg of our trip back to the hotel. The colors and shapes in the sky caused by the setting sun were off the charts. (My favorite time of the day to photograph landscapes.) With no filters or flash and no intention of asking her to pull over. I adjusted my camera settings, leaned forward and took a few images to take home with me. I was somewhat surprised how well the images came out. With no reflection from our dirty windshield. I guess I found a temporary filter without actually looking of paying for one. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Alternative Plans
Upon hearing that, due to her heart problem, my step mother had not been vaccinated. We wisely decided to change our plans to sit in labor day weekend traffic and head south to Baltimore for some crate digging at Celebrated Summer Records and enjoy violently attacking crabs in order to rob them of their juicy insides. (Poor undeserving things.) All jokes aside, L.P. Steamers is out of this world. Before arriving, we passed a number of places I wanted to stop and take pictures. This river and the Domino Sugar factory just across the way, were just one of the stops we made. The bench image was taken in Baltimore’s Little Italy.
Neutral Density Filters
With the rainy season upon us and second wave of Covid-19 wrecking havoc on people everywhere. I’ve been trying to find ways to spend my time and stay relatively sane. During the week, I’ve gotten into the habit of working from home, taking much needed breaks and going out on the balcony for a breathe of partially fresh air watch the sun set. In the past, I’d await that moment when the sun descends behind the mountains. Since purchasing a Neutral Density filter, I’m able to capture the look of dusk during the middle of the day. I love how the filter helps smooth out the water while giving my long exposures the contrast I need. It certainly didn’t hurt the the rain that day brought some really nice cloud cover. This was one of my first attempts with Neutral Density Filters and though I have a lot to learn, I love the effects.
Cokin NUANCES Extreme Z-Pro Series ND 3.0 Filter (10-Stop)
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