Forest

As the water slips over and around the wet and gleaming rocks, a green summery canopy stretches overhead, diffusing the cloud-hidden sun through its myriad of leaves and bathing the entire forest in an ethereal glow.

ISO 100
17-40L@17mm
East fork of the Coquille River
Weather: overcast

The Design of a damselfly

Any time I look at a Dragonfly or Damselfly
I am struck by not just their beauty, but their wonderful design. Need some convincing about ID ? spend a good amount of time(spring through summer?)observing these creatures.

Are they not well made?

Damselfly
ISO 200
70-300@300 w/closeup filter
weather: sunny

Bugs

This time of year heralds a chance to enjoy something which are not usually appreciated as much as they should(aside from the occasional butterfly or ladybug). These remarkable creatures (although sometimes looked down upon) integrate wonderfully into the fabric of this planet.

Bee fly
ISO 100
70-300@120 w/closeup filter
Weather: harsh sun

Spring has sprung

The first day of spring is always a cheerful one for me. Spring in the pacific NW has been here for a month at least but to have the calender recognize the happy fact is nice. Of course with the thought of spring one has a tendency to think of flowers, greenery, and the dormant earth coming to life... never mind the mud the newly awakened insects, and dreary grey skies. Spring is one of the rare occasions in which the human psyche tends toward the positive. So I say... Hurrah for Spring!!!

Rodenstock

Rodenstock, (They used to make medium format lenses) has a series of interesting tests, a must for anyone who has an interest in human vision and perception...

Phothog

Ruins

These ruins are part of the remains of a once proud and prosperous port city in Italy. Built during the Roman empire, the city is covered in greenery and is a good reminder of the frailty of our strength.

Golden Crowns

California Poppies close enough to touch, crisply te the foreground, drifting slowly into distant flecks of yellow among the green mountain grasses. Their teacup flowers changing from a rich clean yellow before gently melting to a warm golden orange at the base. The deep to pale green plant that support the flower is somewhat sprawling and sports slender alternate leaves. As the ground rises rapidly beyond the flowers in the top third of the frame a thin band of dark trees separate the field and flowers from the blue sky, the monotony of which is delicately broken by small, simple clouds scattered across the length of the firmament. And bold poppy, head and shoulders above the rest, raises its rebellious aurulent crown to join them.

Endurance

In the harsh frozen extremes, the lush fertile interior jungles and the dry arid regions of this planet are areas and places that are quite outside the mundane.

And to experience this most will need to rely on words and recorded media. Here are a few pictures from the end of the world. These pictures are of Greenland also known as Kalaallit Nunaat.








I took these with a Canon 400d and 17-40L lens


Phothog

Reflections

As the year screams past, I wonder how it can go so fast, but I was considering that in two weeks I will have owned my XTi (400D) for exactly one year(It is true I had considered opting for the 30D or 5D but chose instead to put the money into lenses) not only am I happy with its performance and durability,(closing in on 30,000 pictures) it has helped me create some beautiful things, & allow me to help others to enjoy 2007 at a little slower pace :)

The busy pace of life is hardly appreciated anymore, all you hear is "take it easy" "slow down" and "you are going waay to fast" (imagine all these said in an slow southern drawl). I am here to say that life can and should be enjoyed at all speeds! if you spend your time trying to get life at the perfect speed you will never succeed(unless you're attempting to become miserable)So just as when life is leisurely and you have crisp clean focus and all the settings right, enjoy it as much when all you can do is crush the shutter button :)

Phothog

Oh yes!!! Canon has introduced(along with the 40D)the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Digital SLR
A very "cool" camera, and one that I have been anticipating for a while...

way to go canon!

Phothog

The Shadow

A shadow is the commonest of 2D objects, and are an integral part of life. As a photog "painting with light" is only half the story, the absence of light helps define, strengthen, and bring distinctness of the object into play.

However there is one shadow that finds its ugly way into many artist's work. Their own. Photographers can and do experience this quite physically, but sometimes an artist's work is tainted by their own self absorption and narcissism. Many artists fall prey to the notion that it is "their" art and a self centered attitude ensues. An artist's skill or gift is meant to glorify the One who blessed them with it in the first place, It is not merely a tool of self glorification. It can please, and be enjoyed by others, and allow them to give their Maker praise.

So just remember that if you are facing the Light, you will have your back to your shadow.

PhotHog

Of love and lenses (part II)

Beauty. It doesn't just happen, (you should have seen this swallowtail butterfly when it was a caterpillar!) and similarly it won't just happen in our relationships. few things on earth look as lovely merely surviving as a swallowtail. but when you, living your life, see something beautiful, know that it does not occur by chance. be enthused and stimulated by excellent things and be inspired to work for/on something in your life that could be beautiful...

Independence Day !!!

Happy 4th :)

ISO

ISO, High or low? like most things in life -It depends :)
This shot was taken at ISO 400