(ctd. from Icicle out the Window)
Or perhaps, they merely bow before the might of Winter. Either way, they droop. As does one’s mind.
Trees bow
Trees Lie down, in Despair
Written by Eric W on February 20th, 2010
Icicle out the Window
Written by Eric W on February 18th, 2010(ctd. from So Cold, Rushing Water Freezes)
In other areas, icicles mean you’re losing heat. Here, it’s the direct (cold) sun hitting your roof, creating a semi-runoff – that freezes. All homes have something like this. A lot of trees do, too.
Out the Window
So Cold, Rushing Water Freezes
Written by Eric W on February 16th, 2010(ctd. from Face the Facts)
It’s cold. This is usually our coldest time of year – and since we’re locked indoors so much, it’s also one of the most depressing. This was taken on a warm day:
Rushing water freezes
Face the Facts
Written by Eric W on February 14th, 2010At this point in the long winter, you start feeling like you’re lost in the void:
From the Void
Trying something new
Written by Eric W on February 12th, 2010For the next 2-3 weeks, I’ll be posting a series of pics. Each one should tie in to the previous, although it may be a bit of a stretch. I’ll be trying to tell a story with already shot and used photographs, but each one with a slightly different interpretation or implication than when originally published.
Having written up the rough outline, it feels a bit like a child’s book – like the National Geographic Kid’s books I read as a child. We’ll see what you think.
Thus we commence: Escaping Winter.
This will be a slow read
Written by Eric W on February 10th, 2010Referring to “Within the Frame
I mean, the view was spectacular: clouds rolling in, overhead. The sky blue, but going hazy – the sun was losing its strength. But there, in the distance: yes, it’s light, hitting the mountain! This is a great thing, if only I can show the contrast well. And in that sense, I think it failed.
Early on, duChemin makes a point about color. To paraphrase: if color doesn’t add anything to the meaning of the frame, don’t use it. It will merely dilute the main idea.
Now, Mr. duChemin prefers monotones and duotones. I’m not really sure what I prefer, although I do have a strong affinity for B&W – especially through NIK’s Silver efex plugin. So I played around with a few versions, trying to get a feel for things. What ended up being my favorite:
Hospital again, in B&W
If you view it large, you’ll get the intended effect: the light on the mountains, darkness all around.
This was, perhaps, a tad overdone in processing. But it makes two points: first, color wasn’t really an integral part of the experience. Black and white rendering makes that distant brightness really stand out. Second, the processing in B&W allowed me to focus on really driving in the differences in luminosity, which again drove in the point of there being light in the distance.
Besides, I also got to make it look coolish with the grain and what all…
Stop
Written by Eric W on February 8th, 2010Seriously, just stop. You’re going somewhere – the the store, to a friend’s, to work. You see the light, and it’s beautiful – say, a cold sunny day, but clouds building on the mountains to the east. The clouds pool, like a living mist. It’s beautiful, you should stop. But you keep going – it’s cold, you say. Don’t have the right lens, you say. You move on.
Too late, you’ve missed your chance. Click to continue »
Change in Website Trends
Written by Eric W on February 4th, 2010A Photo Editor popped up on my radar again. Seems this happens weekly. This time it was just a quote, about how blogs will drive more business to photographers than websites.
This is certainly true, if not a bit obvious to many of us. And as I alluded to in a comment there, it’s not a black-and-white cutoff: static pages are fine for static information. Reference sheets, historicals – all good. But the freshness of a blog? Static sites can’t compete.
Something I’ve noticed, though – as the owner of my own business where I provide a certain amount of web-based services: a lot of my recent work has involved setting up blogs. Not just for business clients, but for personal uses as well.
The future is here, which means it’s passé. What next?
Minor Flickr Favebrowsr update…
Written by Eric W on February 4th, 2010It now starts by loading my personal most recent favorites. After only a few days, I came to the conclusion that starting with a blank entry was… Um, lame.
So this is the new it. Such as it is.
Within a frame
Written by Eric W on February 3rd, 2010I’m definitely late to this party, but I’m just now starting to read Within the Frame
On review, it looks like Mr. duChemin has quite a bit of backing. Barely two chapters in, and I’m already excited about reading the rest. To steal and paraphrase a line from the book: finally, a why-to book, instead of a how-to!