08. April 2015 · Comments Off on Down Memory Lane · Categories: memory · Tags: , , ,
vista: Is there a memory lane lurking in your photos?

vista: Is there a memory lane lurking in your photos?

 

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” Ansel Adams

Why am I a photographer?  One of the family values growing up was appreciating outdoor beauty.  The family traveled to National and state parks, we would stop along the way and appreciate the views.  From my very first box Kodak Brownie camera I tried to capture the beauty that I saw in nature.  I am still trying.  Photography, for me is the opportunity to capture and hold the beauty that I see in the world.  There is always more beauty, more opportunity to improve making what I capture match the beauty seen in the minds eye.

My father, Ed introduced me to the outdoors.  I spent my early summers  with my Aunt & Uncle Dale Hall in the mountains playing and learning my way around.

 

I am proud that I have passed on to my sons the love of the outdoors, photography, and beauty.  On their first backpacking trip, we were above timber line looking at the Western Divide when my son said, ‘Dad, I had no idea that there was a place like this on earth’ . I don’t have memories of what I might have said to my Dad, I hope that the words were as moving as my son’s were to me.

Do you, or do your photos reflect a memory of a time before?

If you love photography, then you might find it interesting to take some moments of introspection and go down memory lane and find out  what is it about photography calls on you to keep taking pictures?  This may not make your photos any better, but it will likely bring greater enjoyment of the photos you do take.

16. March 2015 · Comments Off on Dreary weather – The Cat in the Hat · Categories: memory, Mental Process, Philosophy, Uncategorized

“The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house
All that cold, cold, wet day.”   The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss

North Zion -What would the Cat in the Hat do on a dreary cold day?

North Zion What would the Cat in the Hat do on a dreary cold day?

The Cat in the Hat… and photography?  What could the   The Cat in the Hat possibly have to do with photography.  As with so much of Dr. Suess (aka Ted Geisel), his stories had morals built into them.
It is Sunday of a men’s ski weekend, and it is drizzly rain outside. What can be done? I have been convinced that the rain hasn’t ruined all the snow, so later we will try skiing. Laurie in large lupine What does all of this have to do with photography? or Fall Colors? Well with my passion around photography, this time gives me an opportunity to visualize and rehearse. The technique has long been used by athletes, and studies are showing that the mental rehearsing changes the brain to make it easier or more familiar. So, I use it here as well as with athletic things.

What do I rehearse? The number one thing that I visualize is checking composition; checking the corners, checking to see where the lines are. I imagine myself checking the focus point; is it on the eye?

CSL,Santa

CSL,Santa

or if it is a landscape, how is the depth of field?.

All of this checking may not be as rewarding as a day in the field but, constructive day dreaming is way better than worrying or being upset with the weather.
This is kind of like the fisherman who organizes the tackle box waiting to go fishing. And when rehearsing gets old, I remember beautiful places and the expectation to visit more of them.

What do you rehearse? Why not rehearse something that is enjoyable and beneficial when you have time rather than the something negative? Try reading Dr. Suess.

“The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house
All that cold, cold, wet day.”   The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss