These steep vertical spires of Smith Rocks separated the view between the images on my previous two posts. Looking at these massive rocks jutting out of the landscape makes me realize just how amazing Nature is. I attempted to use black and white to emphasize the drama of these spires. An early morning sunrise will make this image spectacular. I can’t wait to go back!
This is another image that I will use as a reference for coming back to Smith Rocks for a Sunset photo shoot. A sunset over Mt. Bachelor and the Crooked River should be interesting. In this image I tried to line up the Crooked River so it would lead to Mt. Bachelor in the distance.
We visited Smith Rocks (near Bend, OR) with a couple of great friends in early July at mid-day. Not the best time for great breath-taking images. So I focused on finding good compositions that I can come back to during another trip, at sunrise. This image frames Broken Top between two spires of Smith Rocks. The round boulder in the middle provides a little interest. I removed houses that were located along the tree-lined ridge in Photoshop. If you look close you can still see a few remnants.
From John Barclay, “When you see RED … Shoot!” Yesterday evening I walked out our front door and saw this Salvia “on fire” from the early evening sun. I ran inside to get my camera and try to capture the brilliance of the light. I walked around the Salvia to find a suitable background to set the red against. I stood on my tip toes to see if I could get it against some dark green foliage. I got down on my back to see if I could set off the red against a cloudless blue sky. I finally rolled on by belly and look up against the house and this is what I came up with. I spent about 20 minutes trying to beat the setting sun to find this one image.
Lessons employed/learned:
1. When you see red > shoot
2. Find a good background, then put something in front of it.
3. Explore all angles.
4. Wait for the image to come to me, sometimes it doesn’t.
Lonesome??? … Not really, just beyond the ridge there were hundreds more. I selected to isolate this single wind turbine to portray the landscape the way I remember it back 13 years ago when I moved from the Northwest to the East Coast. Wind turbines now are abundant on the desolate Washington hills above the Columbia River gorge. I roamed on these lonesome hills as a young boy scout so many years ago. It gives me a sad feeling to see the once beautiful open hill country covered with industrial mechanical giants.
This image was taken along the roadside coming down from the Oregon plateau to the Columbia River near Biggs Junction, OR.
During a recent trip to Bend, my wife and I did a little exploring around the area. We took a drive to Tumalo Falls during the middle of the day. The mid-day sun did not do this beautiful waterfall justice. To capture the bright greens without washing the bright water out, I blended two exposures together; one taken for the water and the other for the green trees.
Standing in line in New York City’s Times Square waiting to purchase theater tickets, I looked up and saw this HUGE eye looking down on me. What an eerie feeling!!! Look close and you can see the billboard’s display segments.
I always find something interesting when I walk down the streets of NYC! I constantly looking up, down, side to side, and back and forward.
This is my first attempt at capturing Orchas in Puget Sound. We joined a couple of friends up in the San Juan Islands a few weeks ago to relax, enjoy each other’s company and watch some Orchas. Capturing whales is definitely a skill that has to be developed. They are either too far away or too close. They continuously pop up where you don’t expect them. However, the biggest skill is to keep a steady hand when you are so excited seeing such amazing creatures.
I can imagine what a problem Mercer had with finding places to put his collection. Can’t find a place? Just put a net on your ceiling and stuff it full of interesting things. Here, Henry could lay on his sofa below, look up and view his Etruscan pottery collection.
For some reason this collection captures my attention each time I enter Mercer’s study. Not necessarily for the photographic interest but by my awe of Mercer and his ambition and drive to collect such a variety of artifacts from around the world. His fascination of pottery led him to develop and create his fantastic tiles.
The image below shows the perspective that Mercer could have viewed his collection from. I am sure there were a lot of good naps taken here in the comfort of his study.
Henry Mercer kept impeccable notes on his research, work and collections. Many are kept on display throughout Fonthill. Every time I walk through his rooms, I find new details that I have overlooked or have not seen before.