There are, of course, many ways to see the same thing. (read more)
By Scott Shephard
I showed you three views of the same plant yesterday and today I am showing a a much more literal way to see it. This plant (name???) is the same variety as the one pictured yesterday, though in a different state of bloom.
Except for my photography, I am not a control freak. But I do enjoy exercising the ability to get my viewers to see what I want them to see it as I want them to see it. Sorry if you feel manipulated. 🙁
Canon 5DIII 1/1000s f/2.8 ISO400 100mm
Can an object be real and abstract at the same time?
By Scott Shephard
To be “real” and “abstract” at the same time seems like a contradiction. But I think you are looking at an example. This flowering plant, which I photographed at Indian Canyons in southern California, is certainly real. What creates the abstraction has something to do with my use of focus and point of view and much to do with the fact that I’ve turned the photo into black and white.
I guess I like the ambiguity of the image. If I’m lucky, the ambiguity requires the viewer to impose meaning based on his or her own perceptions and experience. It’s like life itself.
Canon 5DIII 1/250s f/4.0 ISO250 102mm
(For those who need something less ambiguous, I offer two other views of this plant.)
Can you find Deb in this photo?
By Scott Shephard
On the last full day Deb and I were in the Palm Springs area in California, we went to Indian Canyons. There are several hiking trails of varying difficulty but we took the easy one. Deb understands my methods well enough to know that when I am taking photos, a 30 minute hike can stretch into something much longer.
The web site for Indian Canyons says “it is a place of contrasts.” That’s apt because you have nearly barren mountains, flowering cactus and shaggy palm trees all in one frame. Oh, and a brilliant blue sky. (I thought South Dakota’s skies were blue!)
Thanks, Jim and Char, for recommending this place. We would certainly go back if we get back to this part of the world again.
Canon 5DIII 1/500s f/16.0 ISO400 40mm
The birds certainly don’t mind the wind and rain. . . (read and see more)
By Scott Shephard
It was rainy, windy a deeply overcast when we parked our car at the overlook to the La Jolla caves. I thought twice about getting my camera out. Frankly, I’ve thought twice about getting my camera out at any time in 2016. Believe it or not, I’ve even thought about just quitting photography. But then what? The fact is that I’ve just gotten lazy. . .
But I did get the camera out and took a few photos. I’m glad I did. As I’ve taught my students, photography isn’t an accident; its a concious process. And it takes discipline, practice and dedication. Oh, and a good “digital darkroom” to help gray days look just a little brighter.
Canon 5DIII 1/125s f/8.0 ISO400 24mm
A few more from this beautiful area:
