FURTHER EXPLORATION OF THE UNSEEN

Another Attempt at Understanding the Unseen, December 2013

This image is from Christmas day. It was the gift from the alder forest at Dry Lagoon. To me, this is another image that defies any attempt that I may make to verbally explain what I see.

CHRISTMAS DAY AT DRY LAGOON

Winter's Pallet at Dry Lagoon, Christmas Day 2013

These colors are more like what I see through my sunglasses. Hey, I do see things through rose colored glasses - so what!

Merry Christmas!

COALDALE

Ruins at Coaldale, Nevada, November 2013

I think that everyone traveling on Highway 95 that has a camera must feel the compulsion to stop here for a shot or two, but they do not stop to play the "slots" nor to get a beer.

CRUZING UP HIGHWAY NINETY-FIVE

Goldfield

 

 

Here is another image that I am working on.

FINALIZING SOME IMAGERY

Eastside Sunrise Colors, 2013

I shared this image a couple of weeks ago while it was still in the early stages of processing. I think that it is now complete and ready to be printed. I may do so soon.

I upgraded my work station by adding a new and larger solid-state hard drive. I also added 15TB of external hard drives, and installed a new monitor calibration tool. All these upgrades should help me protect my data, and give me more accurate color and exposure controls thorough out the workflow.

RAYS OF LIGHT

Last Rays of Light on the East Side of the Sierra Nevada, 2013

 This is another image that I am working on. Do the blown out clouds bother you?

ASPECTS OF NATURAL PHENOMENA

Buttermilk Country Sculpture, November 2013

I am still working on the body of work from my recent trip to the east-side of  the Sierra. One thing I realize is that I forgot to use focus-stacking techniques while taking this and similar images. I always remember to do so while photographing macro subjects, but I just do not yet have that tool in my landscape tool kit. I think I will remember it the next time I photograph something with "near and far" elements.

TOM BY TOM

Mt. Tom - The East Side of the Sierra Nevada

Mount Tom is an easy landmark to discover and recall. It and Mount Williamson are two of my favorite "spots" whenever I am on Highway 395.

IN THE PIPELINE

Bodie Cabin With Closed Eyes, 2013

I have a large number of images that are "in the pipeline". My workflow is such that I allow my raw imagery time to ripen - if you will. I realize that I need to see and work most images on several different sessions that are usually days or weeks apart. By "forgetting" about an image for awhile I am able to come back to it with fresh eyes. I may revisit an image numerous times prior to printing. This process not only saves me paper, it help turn a good but "young" image into a mature and finished photograph.

STOP, STOP

Stop, Stop at the Minor

MORE OF DEATH VALLEY

Variation One

I think I like the color balance better in this version.

ARTS ALIVE

Asphalt Dancer 

I found out last night that this image won second place in the Humboldt Arts Council member's show.

MORE WORKS IN PROGRESS

Shrubs Growing in the Volcanic Soils 

My vision seems to be focused on this type of a landscape. My recent work on the beaches and in the mountains have a similar feel to me.

WORTHWHILE GETTING UP AT O-DARK THIRTY FOR THIS SCENE

Telescope Peak Surrounded With A Light-show That Only I Could Perceive

NEW EXHIBIT AT THE MARSH CENTER IN ARCATA

Warm Reflections, Arcata Marsh

I just hung an exhibit of eight images at the Marsh Interpretive Center. The show will be up through  January.

ANOTHER EASTSIDE OF THE SIERRA SUNRISE

Mount Williamson Obscured by the Clouds

BODIE IN COLOR

The Same Image of Bodie, but in Color

I am torn as to which version I think is more successful. I think that the context of how the images are presented will determine that for me. What I mean, is that if I were installing an exhibit on the subject of Bodie, than I believe that the images should all be either black and white or all color. If the images are presented individually than it could be either.

PROCESSING

Bodie

I am still processing both my experiences from my recent trip to the east-side of the Sierra and to Death Valley, and my images. I have them all downloaded into the computer, and so far, I am pleased with what I see. Thus far, I have only done some preliminary rendering of a few choice images. It may take awhile, but I realize that I have some keepers in the batch of images.

I apologize for the quality of the images as they show here. I do limit the fidelity of the images that I post either here or on Face Book. My primary intent for my images is that they be viewed on paper. I use these sites to show previews of what I am working on, but they prints have a substantially different aesthetic.

I'M BACK

The View Out My Portable Bedroom's Door

Moonrise on Fickle Hill

Moonrise Tonight

A REAL PIECE OF WORK (If I May Say So)

Asphalt Dancer, 2013

A print of this image is hanging in the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka. I am receiving lots of positive feedback on the image. I took it is September while a crew was doing some improvements on our road.

ALL HOLLOW'S EVE

Cleverly Concealed 

I doubt that candy will appease these critters. Perhaps rain, sunshine and some nitrogen would.

A COUPLE OF DAYS AT PRAIRIE CREEK STATE PARK

Like me, a Work in Progress

I camped at Elk Prairie Campground for a couple of days. It was foggy, damp and cool - perfect for the redwoods, and perhaps for my photography. My images are still downloading from the cards, but this image caught my attention. I took it yesterday.

REDWOOD ART ASSOCIATION WINTER EXHIBITION

Manifestation at Low Tide

I found out yesterday that this photograph won an award. It is part of the RAA's Winter Exhibition at the RAA Gallery in Eureka.

FERNBRIDGE GROUP EXHIBIT

Fernbridge 2012

FULL MOON ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Full Moon Rising Over Snow Camp

I took this photograph this evening up on top of Kneeland. I drove there  via the "Jack Rabbit" or Fickle Hill Road. I took several images that I think fulfill the  vision that I was attempting create.

HIGH KEY WHEEL

I Never do High Key Imagery

ON THE MATTOLE ROAD

Bridge Near A.W. Way County Park

EXPLORING THE SHADOW SIDE

Constructs of the Shadow

MORE STREET WORK

Laying Asphalt

I documented the crew that was improving our road last week. I used the pocket camera (Canon s100) for this series. I think I got some keepers.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Compacting New Pavement

YESTERDAY'S SUNRISE

Yesterday's Sunrise Over Fickle Hill and Klopp Lake

This is where I started yesterday's photography. It was helpful to start my work by doing landscapes before entering town to do architectural photography.

THE CORNER GROCERY

The Shell of the Former Corner Grocery Store at Alliance and Spear in Arcata

In the neighborhood where I grew up in East Bakersfield, there were four neighborhood grocery stores within a five or six block distance from our house. In those days, the nineteen-sixties, people from our class of neighborhoods frequented these stores. We had nearby supermarkets where our parents did the bulk of their shopping, but the corner store was something that all of us frequented. This was especially true for us kids. We took our allowances, and I took my lawn-mowing earnings and spent money in the small store on candy and soda pop. It is just what we did.

I think another reason these stores survived is that many of them offered charge accounts. One of my friend's mother often sent my friend and I to fetch some things for her, including cigarettes. The store clerk would write down the total on a card that was kept at the register. I suspect that charges accounted for a large part of their sales, and I am sure that they helped keep the store going.

Nowadays, I think the corner/neighborhood store was replaced with the newer style convenience store, and with the little stores in gas stations. I am uncertain as to what caused the demise of this store in Arcata. I think as of ten years ago it was still operating. It looks to me that it will not be restored. It looks like it is being allowed to decay, and I wonder how long before it becomes a hazard. I wish I knew its name.

I have been wanting to photograph this structure for quite some time, but I would only think of it whenever I drove by on some other errand. Last night when I went to bed I told myself to wake up at six. I repeated the command a couple of times, and at exactly six, I woke. So I went photographing in the dawn light.

ARCATA'S MINOR THEATER

The Minor Catching the First Rays of the Day

Lisa and I used to go to the movies here at least once a month. Nowadays, we may go once a year. When we first started going to the Minor during the eighties, we could buy a movie card. I think the card was good for six or ten admissions, and it provided a hefty discount. We oftentimes brought our own snacks, and even smuggled in our own popcorn. We were not alone as many of the other patrons were students. One of my art professors even brought his pillow.

The Minor often featured "art films". This is  where I first saw Rumble Fish, Repo Man, and The Man Facing East along with more established art films such as Dersu Uzala, and many others. Most showings were double features, and were often well paired.

The Arcata Theater was about a block away, and the card worked in both. I sometimes went to the midnight showings to see films such as Stop Making Sense. The Arcata usually showed more mainstream movies. It was here that I first saw/heard Koyaanisqatsi. I sat in my favorite seat, dead center and eight rows from the front. Movies like these were produced equally for the visual as well as the audio (music). The theater played the music loud enough, but not overly so. They really knew how to do it in a balanced manner.

The owners of both theaters were the same. They printed a monthly movie guide that was available in as holder at the ticket booths. I wish I had one now. They were very informative, and made it easy for me to decide on what to see. My tastes are more esoteric than Lisa's, and there were numerous occasions where I went alone, and that was fine.

I have fallen out of the habit of watching art films. We do get foreign films via Netflix, and sometimes we see really good ones,  but it feels haphazard. I think we need a source akin to the old Arcata/Minor movie guide.

ARCATA FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Predawn Photograph of the Arcata Presbyterian Church in Black and White

Predawn Photograph of the Arcata Presbyterian Church in Color

 

 

This is the home of the "Thursday Congregation" or of the Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir. I rehearsed and sang in this church for the four years I was a member of the choir. The choir is very fortunate to be able to share this space.

PIZZA IN THE PREDAWN LIGHT

Arcata Pizza and Deli in the Predawn Light

I am working on my development procedures for images of predawn subjects. It is different than photographing predawn skies and clouds. It is similar to photographing in the fog with the exception that the sky often is the brightest element of the composition. I resist the urge to "lighten" up the subject because it can look artificial. I think as a composition, that this image works well.

EARLY MORNING ARCATA

The Arcata Theater at Sunrise

I took this back-lit  photograph yesterday morning. It was fun being out early. It is almost always an adventure, and yesterday was no exception. A nice but inquisitive street guy was talking to me while I was working in front of the Minor Theater. He had a dog, and it got into a skirmish with another persons dog. Words were said then yelled, and while all this was going on I just continued to photograph. After it all calmed down the guy apologized and went on his way.

MORE FICKLE HILL

On the Fence

I am playing around with a hand-held image. I think I need to go back and use a tripod.

Sunset on Fickle Hill

Da Boys in the Glow

I took this a couple hours ago. These Friesians are big and beautiful.

NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Yosemite Unlike Ansel Adams

 

I took this photograph when I was a teenager. It was a color slide taken with a Kodak. The slide is covered with fungus and this is what I came up with today. This was after Hal sent me a photo he took of me (see below).

Last Sunday

MY LATEST WORK

Timeless, 2013

A print of this image is showing at the Redwood Art Association's 55th Fall Exhibition. It was awarded "Best Photograph". Gnarled (see my last posting) received a "Honorable Mention".

UNAUTHORIZED LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Gnarled

More than a week has gone by since I last made a post here. I guess I did not have much to share. I did print three nice prints yesterday, and framed all of them this morning.

This is one of them, and it is one of my entries for the RAA Fall Exhibit. 

MORE FOCUS STACKING

A Fifteen Image Composite of HDR and Focus Stacking

Perhaps this is still not totally successful. There are still out-of-focus areas in the pedals on the left. Otherwise, I think it does what I hoped to do.

ANOTHER MARVEL OF NATURE

An Amazing Flower

I suppose that all blossoms are amazing when you think about it. Perhaps I should say that this one is unique - perhaps too, all blossoms are unique. Maybe I should just shut up and allow the image  to speak for itself.

THE VALUE OF A GOOD CRITIQUE

Pecos Ruins as Critiqued at RCC

This image has been in my portfolio for six years. I showed this version at Redwood Camera Club this past Saturday. What I took from the critique was that it could stand some cropping of the foreground. Below are several variations.

Pecos Ruins Variation 01

In this version the subject is now off center, and nearly in the lower third quadrant. Perhaps I took it too far.

Pecos Ruins Variation 02

In this variation, I backed off of the crop to include more of the foreground foliage.

Pecos Ruins Variation 03

I suppose that I could go on and on. I do think the crop needs to place the subject into the corner. I would love some feedback.