Fear and loathing on the grid of Phoenix.
11/17/11
11/16/11
Static Electricity
Snap, Crackle and Pop...
Somewhere in the desert steel in the air is mixing with bad brew.
Somewhere in the desert steel in the air is mixing with bad brew.
11/15/11
Palm and Eucalyptus Trees
Towering over the oasis...
In the desert during this time of year trees are unappreciated as they regroup their bark and leaves scorched from the searing heat of sizzling summer. We tend to forget their organic presence and the essential utility they provide us the rest of the year. For trees it is a period of reclamation as they soak up the water needed for the next round of triple digit temperatures. Then in the heat we will again fully appreciate any respite of shade they offer. It may only be cylindrical manhole size dots that are the shade of the palms along a sidewalk; even so they offer a spot to hop from one to another to avoid the hot beam of sun. Most welcome are the leafy trees that provide a wide umbrella of shade, whether filtered through a palo verde or the dark cast shade of eucalyptus or cottonwood. Shade is an essential part of desert oasis living and as in everything in life is far better when infused from a natural source like trees. During winter take care of your trees remembering they make your human existence more bearable during summer.
In the desert during this time of year trees are unappreciated as they regroup their bark and leaves scorched from the searing heat of sizzling summer. We tend to forget their organic presence and the essential utility they provide us the rest of the year. For trees it is a period of reclamation as they soak up the water needed for the next round of triple digit temperatures. Then in the heat we will again fully appreciate any respite of shade they offer. It may only be cylindrical manhole size dots that are the shade of the palms along a sidewalk; even so they offer a spot to hop from one to another to avoid the hot beam of sun. Most welcome are the leafy trees that provide a wide umbrella of shade, whether filtered through a palo verde or the dark cast shade of eucalyptus or cottonwood. Shade is an essential part of desert oasis living and as in everything in life is far better when infused from a natural source like trees. During winter take care of your trees remembering they make your human existence more bearable during summer. 
11/14/11
So Mama Don't
Take my monochrome away...
Monochrome is an opportunity to make the make the maximum out of the minimum.
I like taking photographs in color since I live in the desert that has unique colors. They burst out of the photograph usually with no or little editing and the pigments call out their hue for the world to view. There is a different challenge though creating interesting photographs in monochrome. Although called monochrome actually by nature of definition you are originating something either from a variation of the same shade of color or in the case of black and white, technically two non-colors.
The challenge is to take what limited amount you have, a variety of shades of a single color (or two contrasting non-colors) and make something interesting, aesthetically pleasing and of beauty. The life lesson is that in a gray world of some distant badlands that has cold dark winters or an outback of hot sandy glaring summers, both dominated by a singular omnipresent color, the variation can be used in ways to gratify and amuse through photography.
Shooting in monochrome, black and white or sepia, provides an opportunity to either imply the beauty of the surroundings or take relatively ordinary things and make them speak for themselves in varying shades of singular or duo tones that contrast with each other. The differences between black and white can be stark or with sepia subtle as well as vice versa.
Sometimes a good monochrome photograph comes along that was actually a technical error. This picture of Mount Eldon I shot in black and white in a hurry and didn't know what I had until I downloaded my photos and realized the exposure was incorrect. I have a similar good quality color photograph of the same view but it is not nearly as interesting as this one.
I like to take a basic monochromatic photograph taken in black and white or sepia and with as little editing as possible bend the base color a little bit to give depth and perspective. That is the challenge of working in contrasting shades of the same color. Occasionally it's difficult to tell if a picture that has had a little cross processing was shot in black and white since it can give the appearance of color hues. It becomes an example of how a photograph composed of one color or two contrasting non-colors can be turned into an object to make life more stimulating and artful.
Monochrome is an opportunity to make the make the maximum out of the minimum.
I like taking photographs in color since I live in the desert that has unique colors. They burst out of the photograph usually with no or little editing and the pigments call out their hue for the world to view. There is a different challenge though creating interesting photographs in monochrome. Although called monochrome actually by nature of definition you are originating something either from a variation of the same shade of color or in the case of black and white, technically two non-colors.
The challenge is to take what limited amount you have, a variety of shades of a single color (or two contrasting non-colors) and make something interesting, aesthetically pleasing and of beauty. The life lesson is that in a gray world of some distant badlands that has cold dark winters or an outback of hot sandy glaring summers, both dominated by a singular omnipresent color, the variation can be used in ways to gratify and amuse through photography.
Shooting in monochrome, black and white or sepia, provides an opportunity to either imply the beauty of the surroundings or take relatively ordinary things and make them speak for themselves in varying shades of singular or duo tones that contrast with each other. The differences between black and white can be stark or with sepia subtle as well as vice versa.Sometimes a good monochrome photograph comes along that was actually a technical error. This picture of Mount Eldon I shot in black and white in a hurry and didn't know what I had until I downloaded my photos and realized the exposure was incorrect. I have a similar good quality color photograph of the same view but it is not nearly as interesting as this one.
I like to take a basic monochromatic photograph taken in black and white or sepia and with as little editing as possible bend the base color a little bit to give depth and perspective. That is the challenge of working in contrasting shades of the same color. Occasionally it's difficult to tell if a picture that has had a little cross processing was shot in black and white since it can give the appearance of color hues. It becomes an example of how a photograph composed of one color or two contrasting non-colors can be turned into an object to make life more stimulating and artful.
11/13/11
11/9/11
Silver City Gulch
In 1895 a Wall of Water gushed down Main Street turning the town's streets backwards...
11/8/11
11/7/11
Survive Like A Desert
Save and invest for the future...
In minimalism endure drought and thrive after the rainy season.
There is a lot to be learned from the desert. Millions of people whoosh by it on the Interstate on a journey from one place to the next viewing it as a vast wasteland to pass through as quickly as possible. They are unaware the desert is the ultimate example of ages of adaption of not merely surviving but thriving. Everything in the desert is put to good use, stored for when it is needed, an investment in the present and savings for the future to survive well in the harsh times and thrive in the good ones.
We could do well as people by learning how the desert survives hot dry summers with a sparse rainy season. When a summer storm comes it is a gully washer that seeps into the ground and every plant large and small has grown roots deep to pull in moisture for use and storage since it will soon be dry again. All types of animal life scurries about to either drink in the water or absorb the moisture for later use. In the winter seasons when the weather is cooler all creatures and plants, great and small, take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy what nature has provided them in abundance.
The lesson is desert plants and animals have learned to acclimate and change to the environment and make the best use of what is available. There is no complaint because everything that is needed is provided when it is needed. The inhabitants save and store for the future and invest by growing deep taproots and storage spots of water and food for the future. The desert is prepared to make the best of what it has and turn it into something of value, useful, functional and form with a beauty of its own.
In minimalism endure drought and thrive after the rainy season.
There is a lot to be learned from the desert. Millions of people whoosh by it on the Interstate on a journey from one place to the next viewing it as a vast wasteland to pass through as quickly as possible. They are unaware the desert is the ultimate example of ages of adaption of not merely surviving but thriving. Everything in the desert is put to good use, stored for when it is needed, an investment in the present and savings for the future to survive well in the harsh times and thrive in the good ones.
The lesson is desert plants and animals have learned to acclimate and change to the environment and make the best use of what is available. There is no complaint because everything that is needed is provided when it is needed. The inhabitants save and store for the future and invest by growing deep taproots and storage spots of water and food for the future. The desert is prepared to make the best of what it has and turn it into something of value, useful, functional and form with a beauty of its own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)