EVENING IN EUREKA

BENCHES ON G STREET, EUREKA, APRIL 2012

I do not have much to say about this image other than I was compelled to take it. I do think there are some nice geometric elements to the composition. I took several other compositions of these subjects, but I think this best fulfills my vision.

I photographed The Eureka Inn tonight. There was only one vehicle in front of it, and I was able to work around it. I used the 17mm PC lens to "shift" my way through a panorama of the inn. I did that by rotating the lens 90 degrees in its holder so that the rise becomes the shift. That allowed me to start my series of three shots with the lens shifted all the way to the right edge of the subject. I took that shot, shifted the lens to its mid point, took the next shot, and shifted all the way to the left where I got the shot of the left third of the inn.

I will attempt to stitch the shots in Photoshop. I never had much luck stitching, but I suppose it is time for me to learn how to get it right. I will post the shots as I work them.

AN INTROSPECTIVE LOOK AT SELF*

*OR THE MANY FACES OF SELF

Last month I shared my first attempt at a self-portrait. I received some helpful advice on how it could have been more effective. So I decided to make another attempt at it, and here is one of the results.

I took a ten second exposure and my granddaughter held the strobing flashlight on my face. I attempted to show several different emotions and moods. I shared the print of this today at camera club, and it created quite a discussion - overall a positive critique.

THE MASONIC BUILDING IN EUREKA

VERN'S, EUREKA, 2012

I normally photograph buildings straight-on, but for some reason decided that this works in this instance. I used the 17mm PC lens even though it tends to distort and exaggerate the closer edges of buildings from this angle. I think because I was far enough away that this is not too strong of an affect. I really like the manner in which the colors of the photograph work together. I did spend considerable time working with the courthouse lawn on the left edge of the photograph.

THE EUREKA FEDERAL COURTHOUSE BUILDING

UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AND COURT HOUSE, EUREKA, 2012

I think all-in-all, that I got at least half a dozen keepers from my outing last week. I really appreciate the fact that the streets were wet, creating reflections of the sky in most of this series. This photograph does not include the same level of "guardians" as some of my other images unless one counts the newspaper racks out front and the solo raven. Perhaps one may read something into the fact that this building stands so clearly alone and solid.

This is another image that I spent a lot of time working on the fine details in Lightroom. I am becoming very comfortable with that program, and am appreciating more and more the improvements in localized controls that it features.

GUARDIAN METERS

MORNING AT THE AVALON

I do not have the intention of having parking meters in all my photographs. The idea of a conceptual art series/theme is not what I am after. That said, I do like this little sub-series of my Eureka theme. As I mentioned yesterday, I do not go looking for specific compositions. I usually have some building in mind when I start photographing. For months I started my mornings at or near the Lloyd Building, and then I would venture in ever widening circles as I explored the business district of town. I think I favor buildings like this one that have not been remodeled. There usually are things about the original architecture that draws my attention to a specific building.

I spent a lot of time on this image in post production processing in Lightroom. My process is not all that different from the days where I used photo oil paints on black and white prints. It is all in the details, and I find that to be my truth with my current process. 

SWEET DREAMS

SWEET DREAMS AT THE EUREKA THEATER

I sometimes think that I would like to own a boom truck. If I had one I would see if I could park out front of some of these buildings and lift myself up about thirty feet. I think I could get some really different perspectives. There are dozens of buildings that I would like to photograph from a higher vantage point, and this is one of them. Perhaps I will get on the roof of the RAA Gallery some bright morning to see how the theater looks from there.

I missed Arts Alive last night. I imagine it was a fun event. This was the first time in a long while that I did not have an art opening somewhere (I suppose I can call my little space in the basement of the Morris Graves Museum of Art an exhibit, and that last night was the opening). Anyhow, I think that the show at the Eureka may have been interesting and fun. It is encouraging to realize all the activity that is now happening on the six-hundred block of F Street.

MORE EUREKA MORNING MAGIC

SILENT SENTRIES

I am starting to see a pattern in my current vision. I was not thinking that I needed to continue finding compositions that include parking meters - it just happens that way. As I look at these images from Thursday morning, I am again realizing that when I get in the "groove" while photographing, that it just starts to flow. To paraphrase Minor White "something else enters into the process" - a third aspect that is created by the subject, and the photographer. As I photograph, my busy mind becomes quiet, and the camera becomes a window to a vision that eludes my normal vision.

I realize that this "extrasensory" element of my art making is capable of transcending time and space. What I mean is that as I work the image in my digital darkroom I come back into a sort of time warp that allows for the magic and mood of the time and place of the photograph to come back into my awareness. I sense too, that the developing process allows for further statements from the subject. It is as if the subject has more to say, and that it is my job to open up a line of communication that allows for that to happen.

MY NEWEST PRINT

AVALON, EUREKA, APRIL 5, 2012

I was not looking to photograph this scene yesterday. I was on my way to check out the lighting at the Carson Block Building when I saw the lighting here. I did a lot of post production work in this image, and I liked it enough that I was compelled to print it. The print looks very similar to this, and is IMHO rich and compelling.

I really appreciate the soft-proofing feature in Lightroom 4. It made my decision as to which paper to use.

I have some images on display downstairs in the Morris Graves Museum of Art. Please stop by and take a look during Arts Alive tomorrow, Saturday, April 7th.

EUREKA MORNING PHOTOGRAPHY

THE EUREKA THEATER

I went to Eureka this morning. I was thinking that there was the possibility of my experiencing an actual sunrise. That is what I found along with some pretty nice lighting. I mostly worked between Sixth and F Streets to Third and H.

I have not worked this image at all, and will do so later.

SHOT OF THE DAY

SLOUGH

 

 

I thought I would share this image. I have not done much with it. I took it this afternoon on private property (I was invited).

VARIATIONS

VARIATION IN MUTED COLOR

When I first reworked this image I made a version that is quite saturated. I liked it, but then I desaturated it, coming up with this interpretation. I then made the black and white copy followed with the toned black and white. I honestly do not know which version I prefer.

VARIATION IN SATURATED COLOR, LAMY CHURCH 2008

I LOVE THIS LITTLE CHURCH

LAMY CHURCH, LAMY NEW MEXICO, DECEMBER 2008

I took this photograph sometime about a month after I took the one I shared yesterday. I was still using my Sony R1, but had yet to work out how to get satisfactory black and white results. In those days I was using the in-camera settings, and I did not really care for the results. In 2008, I printed this image in color, and it did have a moodiness that conveyed some of the feeling that I felt, but it still did not satisfy my vision. This particular rendition fulfills my expectations to a higher degree than prior efforts.

I have not yet applied a tone to this photograph. I toned many of my monochromatic images of late, but I wonder if this print needs to remain a true black and white. Perhaps I will try it, and post the results tomorrow.