Category Archives: B&W Photography

Patterns in Stone

Pahoehoe Lava Sculpture
Kilauea Lava Flow, Hawaii

Pahoehoe lava flows and cools slowly. It forms ropey type patterns as it cools. Walking over the Kilauea lava flows provides an infinite source of vignettes for creating images. My mind wanders as it gazes over the terrain. I discover pattern after pattern. Each one is unique and my imagination goes wild. I get lost and lose track of time. Each time I have walked the flows with travel partners, they have patiently(?) waited for me with stern faces by the car ready to drive to the next stop.

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Disappointment Followed by “Ah Ha!”

Devil’s Tower
Devil’s Tower National Monument, Wyoming

On my recent trip to the Badlands, I took a several hour detour to see Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. I drove into the park and was disappointed when I encountered a stopped line of traffic. After what seemed to be an eternity, I slowly moved around a corner and saw a sign, “One Hour to Parking Lot”. I grumbled and turned around and started driving back to the park entrance. After a bit, I broke out into the open from the tree lined road. I looked up and saw this sight. Ah ha!!! It was worth the drive.

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Still in Use

Antique Furrower
Eastern Washington Farm Lands

As I was driving along back roads in Eastern Washington, I saw what I thought was an old abandoned farm implement standing alone in a field. To my surprise, even though this old furrower was heavily rusted, it was still in working order. The evidence was the recently plowed field and the stretched out cables that were ready to hook up to a tractor.

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Exploring

Old Farm
Eastern Washington State

When I get a chance, I like to get off the main roads and explore from time to time with no set purpose. This day I was on my way back home from South Dakota and was tired of driving along I-90 in Eastern Washington. I decided to turn off toward the town of Odessa. Driving along a dirt road, I came across this lonesome old homestead. The old farm was still inhabited. It had a small farm house nestled in the trees behind the barn. The buildings were old and unpainted, but well kept up. The grounds were clean and neat. There were no signs of active farming. A white pickup was parked just out of sight behind the barn.

Before getting out to photograph, I sat in my Jeep and wondered what the people living here were doing. It looked like they occasionally had some animals in the fenced areas and barn. But I could not see any other evidence of active farming. All around the area were large active farms of wheat, hay, and other grains. Here was just sage brush and one or two old abandoned farm implements. I imagine the owners are people who love the rural life and have day jobs in other areas.

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I wish I had my little red sports car !

‘Curves’
Badlands National Park, SD

The first time I was in the Badlands, I was driving my little red sports car. It was early spring and not many people were visiting the park. I had a great time driving the windy roads and enjoying the beautiful scenery. It was just not quite the same this trip, driving my Jeep Grand Cherokee! At least with my Jeep, I was able to pull off more frequently along the side of the road and create an image or two.

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Place for Peace and Quiet

‘Southeast Corner Rest Stop’
Heatherwood Summer

This quiet spot is in the southeast corner of our garden. We planted a set of various conifers and a few deciduous trees to provide a cosy corner to rest and view the lower section of Heatherwood. The corner is highlighted with several uncommon conifers that provide special interest as we sit and enjoy the sights.

In the spring we admire the blossoms from a field of daffodils and trees from our crabapple grove. In the summer we view our multicolored meadow as we gaze up to our house above. In the fall, splotches of yellow, orange, red, and purple of the fall foliage pepper the garden in front of us. During the winter, the green and yellow conifers dominate the view complemented by the red, yellow, and oranges of the red, yellow, and midwinter fire branches of the dogwood shrubs. It is a great place to just sit and enjoy the world around us.

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More Infrared Practice

‘Japanese Garden Waterfall in IR’
Heatherwood Summer

I am working hard to learn and experiment what makes an interesting infrared image. I look for contrasts that infrared will highlight. In this image the infrared pulls out the greens and yellows of the trees and shrubs surrounding the dark shade of the pond, rocks, and sky. The reflections from the water makes the stream flowing over the rocks and the ripples on the pond stand out.

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Hot, Hot, Hot!

“Dog Days of Summer”
Heatherwood Lower Yard

This week has been a scorcher with temperatures rising above 105 degrees! By 10 AM, the temperature reaches above 90 degrees. It is really too hot to do much of anything outside. But, it is a great time to create a few infrared images. I need to do a little IR photography practice as I prepare for a workshop in the Badlands of South Dakota in September.

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Focus on History

‘The Flume Planting Area’
Heatherwood Summer

In the midst of summer, our historic flume section gets lost in the shadows and the green leaves of the surrounding trees. Standard black and white image processing still does not separate the flume from the surrounding elements. Infrared photography turns green leaves and other green vegetation a white or light grey tone. Now the flume pops out from the surrounding trees and grasses.

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Home

‘Lower Yard’
Heatherwood Summer

I enjoy a nice peaceful day at home. A morning cup of coffee overlooking the garden is a nice way to start the day. After a simple breakfast on the patio, we enjoy a few hours of work in the yard to fill out the morning. A casual lunch in the shade of the patio awning is a good time to think what we want to do do for the balance of the day. Maybe it is running an errand or two, a little reading or computer work inside where it is cool, or maybe even a little nap. Then as the temperature cools down a bit, it is time to mow the yard. A glass of wine or cold beer sitting by the pond is a good way to finish off the afternoon. Finally as we have dinner again outside on the patio, we talk about how great a day it has been.

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