Tag Archives: reflection

Centuries Past

“Venice Canal Reflection”
Venice, Italy

Venice pulls my mind back in time. These buildings were built many centuries ago, some 15 centuries ago. The rising level of the canals and the disintegrating brick tell a historic tale. The ground (now sea-level) floors were originally warehouses and shops. Most are now vacated basements flooded by water. Byzantium influence in the tenth and eleventh century is seen in the “Moorish-style” windows in the orange building on the right. Clothes are still dried hanging out in the warm Venetian air. There is a hint of modern times if you look close at the top of the image and see a small satellite dish.

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Made Me Dizzy

“New York Abstract”
New York City

Riding a New York tour bus, I looked up at this building with multiple angles and reflections … I got dizzy! I immediately pictured what I saw as a modern abstract painting. New York City building architecture fascinates me. There is just so much to see. I could spend a whole trip just walking the streets looking up at all the different buildings. I can’t wait to go back.

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Remnant of the Past

Ancient Hawaiian Heiau
Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i

Just to the north of the “Little Blue Church” is the remnant of an ancient Hawaiian heiau (temple). I came to see the church, but my interest quickly turned to the adjacent heiau. How long ago did the ancient peoples worship on this ground? Was it in use when Cook first landed on the island just a few miles south of here? What do these protruding wood branches and line represent? So many questions …

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What is the Clock Tower Doing in This Building?

Raymond Library – Yakima Valley College

What in the heck is the Clock Tower doing in the Library?  It doesn’t belong there! That thought flashed through my mind as I was strolling around the YVC campus this past weekend.

This is a good example of seeing the unusual in the usual.  The contrast made the image interesting to me.

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Reflection

Seattle Japanese Gardens

Many times when I go to a specific place to photograph, I am on a mission of learning and experimentation.  This image is from such a photo shoot.  My mission for this day was to experiment with light:  hard light, soft light backlight, shadows, reflections, color.  Yesterday’s post was a backlight image looking up to the sky from underneath a Japanese maple.  Today’s image is an example of color and reflection.

Searching for different types of light helps me to be more aware of the beauty around me.  I do not think there is bad light.  Different forms lead to different perspectives of what is around me.  As a learning photographer, my job is to make the best of what I see and feel.

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Brilliance: Light and POV

Glass Sculpture in Early Morning Sunlight

I was doing some “homework” for Dave duChemin’s “Compelling Frame” on-line course when I stumbled on this opportunity.  I was working this sculpture from multiple angles when a bright blast of light flashed in my eye.  The light was coming from the rear right of the frame.  It entered the sculpture from the rear right angle and reflected on the rear left internal face.  It blasted back out at me at approximately a 270 degree angle from which it first struck the sculpture.  I took several minutes to capture the bright reflection.  Camera movement of only a few millimeters impacted the reflection.  At the same time the sun was moving slightly.  After several unsuccessful attempts, I caught one that was a “keeper”.  This was an excellent lesson and how an intentional point of view (POV) made the image.

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Symmetry

Beartooth Lake

One of the most beautiful scenic drives that I have been on is the Beartooth Highway from Cook City, Wyoming to Red Lodge, Montana. On the way up to the summit, I saw a small opening through the trees with a beautiful lake peeking between them.  I found a turnout and walked a short distance to see this beautiful scene.  The lake was smooth as glass, the sky was blue, and the snow beamed out its radiance.  Symmetry of the bluff reflecting in the lake was perfect.  It was mid-day, so the colors were muted.  But is was perfect for black and white.

Someday, I will be back for an early morning or late afternoon shot of the warm sun reflecting off the bluff into the lake.

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Happy Thanksgiving

141127_Maple Leaves and Background Dew by . Fuji X-T1, XF18-55mm @ 55mm, f/8.0, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  We have so very much to be thankful for including this beautiful fall day a couple of weeks ago.  Each day is a gift to be lived and enjoyed to its fullest.

This was taken in our back yard in the early morning as the sun was breaking the horizon and shining on a little fresh frost on the ground.  I liked how the sparkle from the sunlit frost made small globes of light.  I then walked around to get something interesting to put in front.  This backlit maple was just what I was looking for.  It was a moment to be thankful for.

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Fonthill: Breakfast Room Reflection

Breakfast Room Mirrors by Karl Graf. Canon 5D MkIII, EF17-40mm f4.0L @ 40mm, f/11, ISO 1600 HDR

My focus for this image in Fonthill’s Breakfast Room was to capture various aspects of Henry Mercer’s tile designs.  A large series of mirrors framed by tile columns and arches covered one wall.  The opposite side of the room was decorated with a brocade mosaic covered Russian fireplace.  By shooting a reflection in the mirror, I was able to capture both designs in a single image.  I needed to combine two images into a HDR to reduce the brightness from the light coming through the window.  I tried to keep the “HDR effect” to a natural style as much as possible.

The image is a little grainy due to the double effect of a high ISO of 1600 and the HDR processing.  I have no idea why my camera was set at ISO 1600.  I just did not check the settings before I took the image.  Big lesson learned here … constantly check camera settings before taking an image.

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