In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
I have been quite busy working on photos from two weddings I shot……all by myself. I’ve been walking through lots of fears lately. Made lots of mistakes but learned much.
Today I gave my friend Susan and sister Ginny the wedding photos shot on Xmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Phew. Working the photos is the hardest part. But Art came running when I called asking him to help me with the photos in Lightroom. Watching Art work on the photos taught me tons. I’m realizing I need to be around photographers, shooting and learning as they work their photos in post production. I dream of having a mentor. I don’t know how to find one. Any ideas?
Sunrise colors last week.
All around unique day. I’m sleep deprived and everything today looked and felt as cloudy, overcast, and all-over-the-place as this morning looked.
Fleeting sight of a Cooper's (?) hawk on this overcast morning.
Unsuccessfully trying to blur the color orange.
Spinning is not as easy to handle as it used to be.
Someone requested I post some "dark" photos as a change. Does this qualify J?
Cloud cap over San Jacinto.
I was outside the back door shooting as this color popped. I did nothing to enhance the color in Lightroom. The entire sky in all directions came alive with this red. It was quite startling. I used the 85mm lens that had been on my camera from earlier. Too bad I didn’t go back in and change to a wider lens.
Out of the camera color in the sky.
Now that the day has warmed up I’m off for a walk.
Yesterday I asked Ray about the weather forecast for tomorrow. I asked if we had a storm front coming in. I guess I’m getting good at reading the clouds because I was right in my assessment. Around 8pm last night gale force winds sounded scary and I can see we had some weather overnight.
Things change fast in the mountains. The sky is almost free of clouds now.
Morning clouds lifting to reveal Mt. San Jacinto.
2pm Oops. The dark cloud filled sky is back.
And at 5pm…..
Spray of light.
Over the weekend, during some very infrequent free moments, because I didn’t bring my computer, I read. There are a number of wonderful photography books that have been published this year and the one I was reading is Vision Mongers, by David duChemin. I only wish I had a few days where I could sit, read and contemplate all that David has written in this book in one sitting.
Here is one paragraph in David’s book I highlighted…….. p. 29 -”You don’t see the thousands and thousands of frames of garbage we’ve shot–and still shoot–the visual experiments that we’ve tried and failed at, the stages we’ve gone through to find our vision and master our craft. But this can be your path, too–and because time both speeds by too fast and seems to take forever to get here, I can confidently say, “Be patient, you’ll get there.” If you study your craft. If you shoot and shoot and shoot some more. If you give up trusting your gear to create great images and start trusting your vision instead. And most importantly, if you love putting the world into a frame for the sheer sake of it, for your love of expression.”
I’m home and haven’t exercised since Friday morning. I haven’t photographed anything for way too many days. Time. I’ve got to make the time. I did sneak out for a quick grab shot when I noticed the back-lit clouds, blanketing the snow covered San Jacinto range. Soon Ray was calling me to come back in and watch the Emmy Awards show.
A quick peak before the clouds moved back in.
I’m on the fence again with the Canon G11. I used the G11 for this handheld shot. I didn’t take the time to pay attention to my settings: F4, 1/2000, ISO 200, focal length 13.7 mm, focusing on the lightest part of the clouds. I see the subject distance reads 64.4m, with a lens that is 6.1-305mm. I’m trying to figure out why the photo is so grainy when I view it actual size. I wish I’d taken more shots with a variety of different settings. If I don’t start doing this, I won’t learn. Time, again.
I’d planned a short hike up Bump & Grind for the MHCC Hikers, just to get in some quick exercise, realizing we’d have rain today. Thursday and Friday I received canceling emails. At 7am this morning I received a “won’t be making it” phone call. I certainly understood. It was pouring earlier this morning.
But I’d made a decision I was hiking no matter what. This decision was reinforced yesterday when I also made a decision to give up a one bag a day habit of eating Trader Joe’s popcorn. When I stood on the scale and read my weight, I knew it was time for some changes.
I pulled into the normal MHCC hiking group meeting place just to make sure someone wasn’t planning on hiking that I didn’t know about. After 5 minutes, I was on my way to hike. Me and my I-Pod Touch loaded with Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa, etc.
I talk about the Bump & Grind hike so here is a cloudy, misting day photo essay of the area. The hike took me 2 hours today as I stopped lots to take photos.
Length is 4 miles (2 up and 2 down), elevation gain: 1000 feet.
Driving on Bob Hope to Bump & Grind.
View down on the Target shopping center after hiking for about 6 minutes.
Clouds gave way to shafts of sunlight.
Nearing the top (where hikers are standing).
At the top.
More hikers beginning their hike as I'm descending.
I’m having trouble getting it together today. I’m all over the place, still in my sweaty hiking clothes from this morning’s Bump & Grind hike. My attention has gone from trying to figure out some older light stand and reflector holders (I have a call into Photoflex) to shooting the back of my hand as a subject metering device for some manual practice with the 580EX II, to thinking about making lunch for Ray and me before his NEW golf cart arrives this afternoon.
This shot got me up out of the computer chair:
The clouds are building and some more weather is on the way.
We do live in a beautiful place.