TNMC

Leaves changing color and falling off of trees is such a dominant visual image of the fall that I almost want to avoid it.  My natural tendency is to not do something if everyone else is doing it, just to be different.  But if I don't take pictures of the leaves, I'll have to lock myself inside and not take any exterior shots at all for a few months.  That's clearly not happening.

So I am taking pictures of leaves but trying hard to make them different in some way.  Yesterday I emphasized the reflection of a tree in standing water.  Today, I go for leaves actually in water.  This shot is from my driveway.  Something about all the different colors layered on top of each other with the drops of water on top caught my eye.  Not revolutionary perhaps but maybe not obvious and over done.  

Wed 29 Sep 2010

Day 162: Tennis Anyone? Blog - Photo Blog Written by John Shea

It's important to not mind looking weird when taking pictures.  One of my neighbors watched me wander around this tennis court, stooping occasionally, backing up and leaning side to side for several minutes.  I'm quite sure he thought I'd lost my mind.  And I was aware I was being watched at the time but since I saw the possibility of a good photo, I ignored him and worked out the angles.

The end result isn't necessarily brilliant but it's pretty good.  And I gave a neighbor a nice story to tell people.  Win win.

Tue 28 Sep 2010

Day 161: Here Comes the Rain Again Blog - Photo Blog Written by John Shea

They said on the news we're about eight inches of rain below normal for the year and nearly three for this month alone.  This has not been making me happy.  There has been a steady drabness to life without moisture that does not make for great photography.  Yes I've still been able to find some decent targets but I'm working harder than I should have to for this.  Variations in weather brings about opportunities for great photos.  When every day is the same, not so much.

We didn't quite get the promised downpour but this was at least enough rain to make for big puddles.  And that means reflections.  I never get tired of trying to capture those.

Sun 26 Sep 2010

Day 160: Highway Speeds Blog - Photo Blog Written by John Shea

The rule is, take the camera everywhere.  If you don't take it, you don't get pictures.  Simple as that.  I break this rule all the time and almost always regret it.  This shot is a perfect example of why I should take the camera everywhere.  It wasn't planned.  In fact the idea didn't occur to me until I pointed the camera out the window and took a random shot.  I immediately noticed the motion blur and knew what I needed to do.

The hardest part was the uneven pavement.  It seemed like every time I hit the shutter, we hit a bump and ruined the shot.  But out of many mistakes, I managed one pretty sweet shot.

Sun 26 Sep 2010

Day 159: Victory Dance Blog - Photo Blog Written by John Shea

This morning I got up and felt like I had completely run dry creatively in terms of this 365 day photo project.  The idea of trying to think of something cool to shoot seemed impossible.  It was a genuinely depressing thought.  And the day passed without much to change my mind.

Then something caught my eye just shy of midnight.  And I had a pretty decent photo.  I felt better.  I was walking home, noticing how damn bright the moon was.  No streetlights were needed.  Not exactly broad daylight but not at all hard to see either.  So I grabbed my tripod and remote and headed back out to see what I could do with that moon light.

Night shoots are fascinating to me.  Everything looks a bit weird because the colors and shadows are all wrong compared to our normal daytime perceptions.  I tried a few different shots but nothing too spectacular was happening.  But while waiting for one long exposure, something again caught my eye.  And that is today's tonight's photo.

Suddenly I feel a lot better.

Wed 22 Sep 2010

Day 155: Pollock or Harsh Summer? Blog - Photo Blog Written by John Shea

I've mentioned a few times how dry it has been this summer.  Some friends of mine have been without running water for weeks as their well ran dry.  And here is a photo that makes it pretty clear.  That's what the grass looks like.  And to make it worse, I will admit that this photo has been digitally altered.  I went out of my way to increase the saturation of the color green in this shot to the maximum.

Look closely, there is a bit of green in this shot.  And I've cheated to make it easier to see.  

That's what I mean by dry.

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