I don't have a lot to say about this picture other than I like its simplicity. I like the shadows and shape of the grain elevator, and the soft light that shows the detail of the roof and sides. The clouds have diffused the harshness of the sun, rendering it much smaller than it often appears. This shot has drama but in a much subtler way than a cloudless day would have provided, and turned out to be much more interesting than I thought it would in taking it.
On Taking Assignments #34 - Street Art
The street art assignment was not one of my favorites to say the least. I always feel like taking pictures of other peoples' art is akin to claiming their work as my own. In the times that I have photographed other peoples' creations (which are few), I have always tried to add some other element of relevance to the photo.
I came upon this creature in Northwest Portland in a vacant gravel lot. It seemed so out of place in against the gray concrete wall. In my non-photographic life, I work with people who own horses to try and improve their management of their land.
Seeing this horse on a very sparse pasture caught my eye and I was able to finish my assignment. In the end it isn't my most compelling work, but at least I satisfied my need to add some commentary of my own to the scene.
On Taking Assignments
I frequently listen to the On Taking Pictures (OTP) podcast, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for good conversation about creativity, especially as it related to photography. In January 2014 the hosts, Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris, began a new segment of weekly assignments that they gave to listeners. Results of the assignments are posted on the OTP Google Plus group. I decided that I would commit myself to the assignments for a year without interruption, and that I would complete each one before the next assignment was announced on the show each Tuesday morning. My 'On Taking Assignments' blog posts are the culmination of my year-long focus on these assignments.
Ideas and Imagery #78
It's difficult to consistently come up with new ways to see a subject once you have spent significant time with it. The view of the Oregon City Elevator is obscured in so many angles that getting a relatively clean shot of it is difficult.
Between power lines, traffic lights, and now a big black projector, the view can get super busy. I wanted to get a sense of movement into my photo and set up on the bridge during rush hour and was excited by this vantage point that minimizes the distractions surrounding the elevator.
I was really pleased with this photo, and the contrast and late day shadows made it a great candidate for black and white. I also feel the lack of color helps to make the motion stand out as an element of the shot.
This was a satisfying find with a subject that I have shot extensively. It goes to show that if you look long enough you can find ways to see a place differently.
On Taking Assignments #33 - Motoring
It's not everyday you see a dune buggy blazing through suburban streets. It came at a perfect time for the motoring assignment.
I have an affinity for shooting out the front window of my car for a really interesting perspective. I will admit I have done it on more than a few occasions to good effect.
I enhanced this photo in good fun as you can see by my caption underneath. It wasn't very difficult to transform the 34 mph this gentleman was traveling at to 84 mph. As a rule I don't typically add elements to my photos, but this one seemed like a fun photo to doctor.
Motoring is a pretty accessible assignment. It's nice to get things you don't have to think too hard about. It's not easy to be on your game every week, so weeks that came easier were welcome.
On Taking Assignments
I frequently listen to the On Taking Pictures (OTP) podcast, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for good conversation about creativity, especially as it related to photography. In January 2014 the hosts, Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris, began a new segment of weekly assignments that they gave to listeners. Results of the assignments are posted on the OTP Google Plus group. I decided that I would commit myself to the assignments for a year without interruption, and that I would complete each one before the next assignment was announced on the show each Tuesday morning. My 'On Taking Assignments' blog posts are the culmination of my year-long focus on these assignments.
Ideas and Imagery #77
The one thing about summer that is difficult for me as a photographer is the lack of variation from one day to the next. I have always been fond of clouds and more dramatic scenes when I take pictures, and during summer all of the days seem to be the same.
From a non-photography standpoint, I am enjoying the warmth and soaking in the sun. However from a photography standpoint, I miss days like the one above where a light fog rolled in over the river.
I really like how this photo turned out. The car trails, sweeping curve and bridge in the distance create a pathway for your eyes, and there are little nuggets all along the way. I love the look of the contrasting red and white of the car lights, and the glow of the city, and there is just enough of the bridge visible to tell what it is.
I have always looked forward to fall. For my photography's sake, I hope it doesn't wait too long. In the meantime I will focus my shooting in other areas than landscape and try to focus on what's in front of me.
On Taking Assignments #32 - Lazy Days
Shooting in public can sometimes be a difficult task without parameters around what it is you are shooting. I shot these two images at the county fair, and I'm not sure I would have seen either if not for the assignment.
When there is no limit to what you can shoot, everything becomes a potential image. That places a large burden on your brain of figuring out the signal from the noise. Armed with the Lazy Days subject, I was able to narrow my focus from a large set of possible images to a narrow one, which in this case yielded two solid images.
That isn't to say that you have to close your mind off to opportunities that arise outside of the subject, but it takes a strong subject to pull your mind away from that focus. Either way the resulting shots are likely to be better.
In this first photo I liked the spacing and subject matter of the folks eating their summer treats. They have varying levels of engagement with their food and with each other.
In the case of the cows, I love the repetition of the rear ends. They are sitting and waiting for their time to be shown, all cleaned and brushed and looking their best. Even their tails and heads are aligned, making them almost seem like they are in formation.
I was please with my results and really owed the assignment a bit of the credit for placing restrictions in my mind to a better result.
On Taking Assignments
I frequently listen to the On Taking Pictures (OTP) podcast, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for good conversation about creativity, especially as it related to photography. In January 2014 the hosts, Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris, began a new segment of weekly assignments that they gave to listeners. Results of the assignments are posted on the OTP Google Plus group. I decided that I would commit myself to the assignments for a year without interruption, and that I would complete each one before the next assignment was announced on the show each Tuesday morning. My 'On Taking Assignments' blog posts are the culmination of my year-long focus on these assignments.
On Taking Assignments #31 - Playtime
This interpretation of playtime was what I came up with as the hours dwindled the night before this assignment was due. I had tried to come up with something involving people, but with work being busy and not having much of an opportunity to get out and shoot, I had to force myself to think of something.
This old leather bound volume of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare had some nice texture and was a good fit for my play on words. I thought that the two text shots turned out great, with focus locked on two of the most well known lines.
I used a flag on the flash to create the slit of light on the lower text while I just used depth of field to draw the viewer's eye to my selected text. This was one instance where I thought the last minute pressure to get a shot resulted in a better shot than what I would likely have come up with otherwise.
On Taking Assignments
I frequently listen to the On Taking Pictures (OTP) podcast, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for good conversation about creativity, especially as it related to photography. In January 2014 the hosts, Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris, began a new segment of weekly assignments that they gave to listeners. Results of the assignments are posted on the OTP Google Plus group. I decided that I would commit myself to the assignments for a year without interruption, and that I would complete each one before the next assignment was announced on the show each Tuesday morning. My 'On Taking Assignments' blog posts are the culmination of my year-long focus on these assignments.
Ideas and Imagery #76
Have you ever wanted to turn yourself into a lamp post? Me neither until this shot. I was out in the early morning and the long shadow created by a nearby lamp ended partway between where I was standing and the end of a long flat driveway.
I'm not sure exactly why this caught my eye, but it did. I wandered over and as I got closer my shadow was reaching out along side it, giving me the idea for this shot.
I thought this shot was interesting and very surreal. Naturally our shadows don't often stretch this far away, so this feels a bit eerie as a result. I thought the pavement added some interesting texture to the photo, and the symmetry of the shadow is what compelled me to center my subject.
Found photos are some of my favorites...no real plan but to just go out and see.
On Taking Assignments #30 -
Crush was an assignment referring to "Crushing the Blacks" in a photo. The meaning of this is to under expose the image leaving no detail in the shadows of the image. I wanted to take a picture of something that would be transformed by the lack of shadow detail.
I looked for objects that had really high contrast. I also had been meaning to take a picture of my On Taking Pictures t-shirt to share on the group. Once the two objectives found each other in my brain, this photo resulted.
I don't mind taking self-portraits, but I don't think I have ever really taken a selfie. To me there needs to be some thoughtfulness behind taking my own picture. I do like experimenting with lights, and since I am a willing participant on my own behalf, I don't ever really have an excuse to not be taking pictures.
I like that the photo is dramatic, and that the contrast between the white and dark blue parts of my shirt were enough to make them seem black. The camera stands out like a painted-on graphic.
I would have liked a bit more catch light in my eyes, but besides that, I was pleased with result.
On Taking Assignments
I frequently listen to the On Taking Pictures (OTP) podcast, which I highly recommend to anyone looking for good conversation about creativity, especially as it related to photography. In January 2014 the hosts, Bill Wadman and Jeffery Saddoris, began a new segment of weekly assignments that they gave to listeners. Results of the assignments are posted on the OTP Google Plus group. I decided that I would commit myself to the assignments for a year without interruption, and that I would complete each one before the next assignment was announced on the show each Tuesday morning. My 'On Taking Assignments' blog posts are the culmination of my year-long focus on these assignments.
Ideas and Imagery #75
This shot is hands down one of my best of 2015 so far. I have photographed from this spot on several locations, but this is the first time that I have encountered the falls lit with the bridge in shadow.
The location of the fisherman's silhouette in the shot makes for an incredible focal point. The mist from the falls adds a softness to the light that is fantastic and the reflection of the light and tones of blue and yellow add warmth and calmness to the scene. I love the shadowy shapes and curved lines of the bridge, and how the light contrasts so heavily around it.
One last little touch that made this a great shot for me was the lamps that are illuminated by the light of the falls even though they are in shadow. They add a little accent to the bridge and pillars that helps move your eye through the scene.
It was a great feeling to come home and see this on the card. Shots like these are what make it worth the time and effort of searching for great shots, and that fuel my passion for photography.