Month: July 2016

07-27-16 The Buck Stops Here

Apologies to Harry S. Truman. . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

I apologize to Harry Truman for turning his famous quote into a cheesy blog title but I couldn’t resist. And, yes, I have posted two other white tailed buck photos recently. So I also apologize for repeating myself.

In this case of this deer, we were taking photos of the grandchildren when our son Brian pointed him out as he was moving through a wooded area behind us. I pointed my camera towards him, Brian whistled and the deer stopped and struck this pose. Frankly, I couldn’t have posed the deer in a better spot – it is well lit by soft morning light and the dark, internal framing helps show him off.

He looked at us for a few seconds and then continued on his way. Right now, life is good for this beautiful animal but I hope he lays low when hunting season rolls around.

Canon 5DIII 1/350s f/2.8 ISO400 200mm

07-26-16 Glamorous Glenyce

Glenyce couldn’t care less about “glam”. . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

This may be one of the first times that when I said, “Stand here because I’d like to take a picture,” Glenyce cooperated. Often, she says, “No” or just simply turns away from my camera.

When I posed her, I didn’t tell her how to look or how to stand. I did ask her to wait for the clouds to go over the morning sun so we would have softer light. She did. And we got this photo.

Is she glamorous? That’s the last word I’d want to apply to the bright, curious and sometimes impetuous 3 year old. Is she beautiful? I’m guessing that you may already know how I’d answer that question. . . .

Canon 5DIII 1/750s f/4.0 ISO400 102mm

07-25-16 Ready for Church

A beautiful subject on a beautiful Sunday morning . . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

My photo sessions with our two granddaughters are rarely formal. I have the luxury of just trying to be at the right place at the right time and if I get a keeper or two, I feel lucky.

In the case of Ibby (Irene Bernice), I almost always have a willing and photogenic subject. Though the problem I have is that my big camera blocks my face and she’s still occasionally puzzled by that. But, if I have a helper behind me (aka Deb), I can get a smile.

Yesterday, Ibby was dressed to got to church with her great-grandmother Jane in Hermosa, SD. It was a beautiful morning with subdued sunlight. How could I go wrong?

Canon 5DIII 1/350s f/4.0 ISO400 82mm

07-19-16 Just A Few Years Ago

“A few” turns into 10 or more in a hurry . . . .

By Scott Shephard

When our two sons, Brian and Jon, were little, Deb used to tell me that I’d better appreciate them for what they were because they “will grow up in a hurry.” I’m not sure I believed her and frankly, when they were toddlers, all I wanted was for them to get to an age when I could have a reasonable conversation with them. Unfortunately, by the time that happened, they were busy with friends and school and their personal pursuits. Before I knew it, they were in their 30s. They did grow up in a hurry.

I took very few photos of my sons when they were little and I feel sad about that. But every once and a while I come across a photo I took of one or the other, including this one. I don’t know the date (pre-digital) but we were in the Black Hills and I’m guessing Jon was in his late teens. I told him that I wanted to practice taking a portrait or two. Jon was a willing and a photogenic subject.

Years later, when I look at this photo, I don’t long for days past nor do I feel regret about missing opportunities. That seems pointless to me. All I can do is look forward to the many opportunities Deb and I will have to spend quality time with our sons and their family circles.

Canon something or other on black and white film.

07-15-16 Duet

This old piano teaches me something about the meaning of the word “value” . . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

This old piano has been in Deb’s family for almost 80 years. Deb’s grandma Leah bought it used to liven up their home. Eventually, it went from rural Miller, SD, where Deb’s grandparents farmed, to her parents’ house in Sioux Falls. A few decades later, it came to live with us in Watertown, SD. It has now followed us to three different houses.

It has no monetary value and if I’d have had my way, it would have been left behind two houses ago. But as I look at this photo, I am given a powerful lesson on the meaning of the word “value.”

Deb has always said it had “sentimental value,” and while I never scoffed at the idea, I failed to see how a heavy piano that caused more than one mover to curse could be something we’d hang on to. To me it was essentially a very big, somewhat ragged souvenir.

This photo helps me understand Deb’s attachment. Here our son Brian sits and plays this old instrument with his youngest daughter Irene. Brian’s innate musical ability came from his grandpa Clint, who first played this piano when he was very young. And, if Irene is lucky, she will inherit her father’s and her great grandfather’s talent.

When Irene puts her little fingers on this piano, she is the fifth generation to come in contact with an instrument that has brought music and life to every room its been in. I have a new-found fondness for this piano. But I also hope that before Deb and I move again, Brian or Ibby move it to their house. 🙂

Canon 5DIII 1/20s f/4.0 ISO500 32mm

Here’s an archival photo of Deb playing this very piano. It’s a bit blurry, I’m afraid but that’s Deb’s Grandpa Arie sitting in the background.

07-10-16 Sister Act

We celebrated Irene Bernice’s 1st birthday and Glenyce enjoyed the event. . . (read and see more by seeing the blog)

By Scott Shephard

We hosted Irene Bernice Shephard’s (left) 1st birthday party yesterday and a good time was had by all. There was much that made it a special day but grandmother Mary Brass made very special outfits for the grandchildren. And they were a colorful hit!

Canon 5DIII 1/2000s f/2.8 ISO400 200mm

07-07-16 Morning Joe with Glenyce Jane

Of course, our grandchildren don’t drink coffee!!! (read and see more by visiting the blog)

By Scott Shephard

Katie, Brian, Glenyce Jane and Irene Bernice are staying with us for a few days and while they’re here, I have a great opportunity to get a few photos.

This morning Glenyce enjoyed a caffee latte with her grandma: Glenyce got the latte part and Deb got the caffe part. And the colorful demitasse coffee cup fit Glenyce’s hands perfectly.

Canon 5DIII 1/250s f/4.0 ISO400 200mm

A few more from this morning:

07-06-16 Aspirations?

What do you want to be when you grow up? (read more)

By Scott Shephard

Generally, when I go looking for photo opportunities, I look for color, texture, and lines, among other things. On the morning I took this photo I was first looking for small things that are easily missed and then for color, texture, etc.

When I am taking photos, I am thinking about composition and framing. It’s only later, when I am back in the “darkroom,” that I think about potential meaning. Today’s photo made me think about how many things start as flowers, including ponderosa pines like this one. (You are looking at baby pine cones.)

It also makes me think of aspirations – things that we hope to be, do and see. Humans can have aspirations but I don’t think trees can. Humans, to a fair degree, can control what they become. Pine trees can’t. It is inevitable that pine cone flowers will become pine cones. Beyond that, who knows? External forces are in total control.

Canon 5DIII 1/125s f/4.0 ISO500 100mm

07-05-16 Rock of Ages

The rocks are as old as the Hills. . . . 

By Scott Shephard

One trick photographers use to recharge is to have a “project.” I’m not so good at that because I am easily distracted. But on our recent visit to the Black Hills I decided I needed something to get me see things I don’t normally see. So on my last day in the Hills, my project was “rocks.”

What I discovered, as I hope you see in this photo, is that there is plenty to look at. There is so much color, so much texture and so much to ponder. For example, it took me a few minutes to make this photo but the subject was in the making for a few million years. How does it happen that mountains get weathered down to smaller rocks? And what’s it like to be strong and sturdy after all those years?

Canon 5DIII 1/60s f/4.0 ISO200 85mm

A few more rocks (in black and white):

07-04-16 A Wary Visitor

This is a rare visit from a white tailed buck. . . 

By Scott Shephard

I don’t know much about deer hunting but I do know that antler size and number is something to notice. I count eight, certainly, but I think non-hunting photographers like me see a male deer a little differently.

For example, how can you not be struck by the soft blue gray look of the antlers? Or the symmetry? And can you see that the very end of the right ear is missing? Or that his fur is somewhat wet from the recent rain? What else can you see when you look at an animal like this as a specimen rather than an object?

I make no judgements about hunters and hunting in asking my questions. Hunting serves a purpose and many see mildly domesticated deer as pests. Nevertheless, I think it would be illegal to shoot this guy on our property in the Black Hills given that he was attracted by the frequent feasts of cracked corn we offer and the nearby salt lick we offer to our forrest friends.

But I sit on our porch with my high power lens and fire away. 🙂

Canon 5DIII 1/180s f/2.8 ISO400 200mm