Thursday, September 30, 2010

Photographing Downtown Eureka

The Lloyd Building, Eureka, September 30 2010



I got a bit of a late start this morning, and when I got to town the sun  was all ready up, and traffic was quite busy. I still am excited about the prospects that I found, and I intend to return until I can get some of these without any autos in the scene. I wonder what others think about how the images are affected by the inclusion of cars and trucks? Maybe the vehicles add a time-stamp to the images. I am quite hung-up on the notion of photographing without the inclusion of vehicles and people. Perhaps I am attempting to create a timeless portfolio. Regardless, these scenes are quite inspiring to me, and photographing buildings such as these makes me a happy man. 

Empire Furniture, Eureka, September 30, 2010


No Free Parking, Lloyd Building, Eureka, September 30 2010

Backside of RAA Gallery, Eureka, September 30, 2010

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

One City Block in One Frame

The Eureka First Presbyterian Church, September 29, 2010. I cropped this a bit on the top and bottom, but it is one frame with the 17mm tilt-shift.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Arts Alive Eureka Saturday, October 2, 2010

North Jetty Number 47
I found out yesterday that this image was selected as Best of Show in the photography division for the Redwood Art Association's Fall Exhibition. The award ceremony will be at five-thirty this coming Saturday before Arts Alive! I intend on being at the gallery most of the evening, and would love to greet friends and family there any time that evening. The gallery is really a very nice space and is located at 423 F Street, Eureka right next to Plaza Design. I hope to see you there.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Autumn Mornings

The Arcata Post Office, September 12, 2010


I understand that autumn does not begin for another week or so, but it sure is in the air. This is surly a beautiful time of the year here on the north coast. The quality of the lighting is just superb. I went down to Arcata before sunrise today, and experienced the sun's creativity as it painted the town with its best light.

People's Records, Arcata September 12, 2010


I only used the 17mm tilt/shift lens today. I am impressed with the contrast and clarity that this piece of glass transmits. I am starting to get the feel for the movements, and perhaps the eye for the wide field that this lens provides.


So far these images represent the ones I like best from today's shoot. I do wonder what images of mine that others would chose as their picks.

Green Beans, Bicycle, and the Jacoby Storehouse, Arcata, September 12, 2010


I worked at the Redwood Artists Association's gallery Friday as the gallery attendant for the day. While I was there I really looked at the 147 images hanging on the walls, and made my own selections as to the "best of show". In most cases my selections were different than those of the judge. This caused me to wonder "why did I select the piece that I entered?" Is my judgment of my own images somehow askew? Would I be better off collaborating with others in the selection process? Did I pick the cream of the crop for this post?

Monday, September 6, 2010

Ladakh Update

Thupten and a Friend in Leh 2008


I got a call  from Thupten a couple of days ago (he uses a borrowed cell phone). They are well, but it is getting colder, and living in the tent is becoming more difficult. The good news is that they received the second package which contained more clothing and toiletries. "The toilet paper is very useful."

I urged Thupten to buy a cell phone so that we can have a reliable method of speaking to him. I think he worries about costs of things, and I think he is reluctant to spend the money we sent him. I assured him that he should spend the money as he sees fit, and not feel that it is ours any longer (yes he can now access the funds). I told him about the third package that is now in route.

Thupten is considering taking his family to eastern India for the winter. He said the name of the place, but I could not understand. It is a holy place.

He expressed over and over his gratitude to all the support that they are receiving. I too thank you for all the assistance. This very real family is directly benefiting from all of our generosity and support.

Tenzin Angmo 2008


Sunday, September 5, 2010

Continuing the Eureka Project

In the Quiet of the Morning, Eureka

The primary reason I bought the new Canon 5dMII was so I could use a Canon 17mm Tilt/Shift lens (A tilt/shift lens is one that has built-in tilt, shift and rise movements). This allows for perspective control corrections similar to those of press and view cameras. I recently obtained a Canon 17mm T/S lens, and I was able to go out this morning to give it a workout.

I owned and used a wooden Korona 4"x5" view camera for years, and understand what various movements can accomplish so using this lens was not entirely new to me. Nontheless, it is going to take me awhile to "get it down".

Ragg's Rack Room

The Ritz taken with 24-105mm lens
I know that as with anything, it will take awhile for me to learn the ropes with this lens/camera combination. One thing I realize is that I am going to have to learn how the lens focus works when I use the tilt function. Some of my images are very sharp where I focused, but soft at the edges even though I had the lens stopped down to f 11 or f 16.

The Ritz taken with 17mm TS


The lighting at this time of the year in the mornings and evenings is of the quality that I most appreciate. That light brings out some of the qualities of the buildings that I photograph. I think too that the light brings something in me that helps me become more centered. Maybe this has to do with the Earth being near equinox. Maybe I am at my own personal equinox.

Carson Block

Thursday, September 2, 2010

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON A WARM SUMMER EVENING

Fern in the Community Forest
My friend Steve Catton heard from Thupten the other day. Steve reported that Thupten and his family are still living in a tent. They cook with sticks and whatever they can find. It sounds like they are roughing it. Their wounds are healing, and it has not yet turned cold. We think that Thupten is now able to access some of the funds that we sent him, but we are not positive about that. We do know that he was able to open a new bank account. The phone connection did not last long, and we did not get many more details.

Steve and I decided that we should get them a multi-fuel backpacker's stove because kerosene is available there. So I got them a stove, some light weight cooking pans, a donated water filter, some LED headlamps, batteries, more toiletry items, water bottles, duct tape, light rope, more clothing items, a Leatherman tool, water purification tablets, and other items. I shipped that package yesterday, and I hope it will get there next week.


A friend of Steve's is buying three zero degree sleeping bags. They were ordered, and should ship out by early next week. I am hoping that they will be able to buy warm clothing for the winter.


I want to thank all those whom have sent prayers, money, and items for our Ladakh friends. Every bit of this outpouring is appreciated by myself, and is fully felt by Thupten, Lhamo and Tenzin Angmo. The packages and monetary support lifts their spirits, and it does so for me as well.


Thank you, thank you.