Getting it Right

     The first attempt for this week was a dud...  I was going to get out and try again.  Still had some wind to deal with, but I am fairly stubborn. 

Burnt Tree, Hayman Burn scar (angle 1), 2018 - week 13

     Waiting for calm, and the clouds moving through I photographed three different angles of this wonderful tree standing as a monument to what existed before the fire.  It has been 15 years, and nothing seems to be growing back.

Burnt Tree, Hayman Burn scar (angle 2), 2018 - week 13

Burnt Tree, Hayman Burn scar (angle 3), 2018 - week 13

     There is still a lot of beauty there despite mankind's stupid acts.  I will continue to explore this region as nature's monuments are truly delightful.

One of those days...

     There are those days that no matter what you hope for or have in the works, they don't go as planned.  Around here in Colorado, it is usually the weather that causes so many things to "go south" so to speak.  My friend Lloyd and I were going to spend the afternoon on the plains east of Colorado Springs exploring and photographing what ever we found.  At least that was the plan...

     And for the most part, the only person I can blame is myself.  Guess who forgot to put his tripod in the car?  I did not discover this until I was getting ready to set the camera up, over a hundred miles from home.  That was the killer, as there is no way to get a decent image while hand holding my 8x10.

     It took a while for me to get over it, but I did.  No photography for me that day.

     Still it worked out to be a great day exploring some very beautiful country.  Focused more on exploring, and seeing, as well as the great company.   Nothing was wasted, and Lloyd and I will return to get those images one of these days...  Also learned that they build those big wind generators out there for a reason!  There is always some wind.  So maybe the tripod didn't matter after all.

     My totally accidental image from the day, taken while putting my phone away. I actually like it, except for the foot in the picture.  Mine of course...

Around the House 2: Flowers

     I have been very blessed in that I have lots of things around the house to photograph.  I also have a large selection of plants including several orchids.  These orchids bloom almost year round thanks to my wife's ability to care for them.  They sit in our front room and taunt me with a beauty that I have found challenging, to say the least, to actually create a good picture of them. Flowers can be incredibly challenging, especially orchids and iris.

Orchids, back lit by sunshine, 2018 - week 12

A Jumble of Possibilities

Hayman Fire scar, 2018 - week 11

     There are times when things just won't go as smooth as you would like...  This weeks photo trip out to the Hayman Fire region was one of those days.  It doesn't matter why things didn't work out, sometimes they just don't.  Still not a total failure, I found a new place to photograph that has a lot of dynamic possibilities.

     I will return, and get the images that got away from me.  Consider it scouting...

Around the House

Greetings,  2018 - week 10

     There are times when I can't get out to where I would rather be photographing...  No great adventure of seeing something new.  The reason does not matter.  And yet the creative process must/should continue.  Life will go on...

     It has always been extremely hard for me to get something restarted after having stopped or skipped doing it for a couple of weeks.  There have been times when weeks have become months, with depression soon to follow.  Not a direction I would recommend for anyone!

Balance Study, 2018 - week 10

     A way to avoid this is to go ahead and visually explore where ever you currently find yourself. (This time, for me, it means stuck at home...)  Then play with what you see.  No it may not be a great work of art!  In fact you may never show it to anyone.  But for me it is still creating!

Neat Old Rusty Things (NORTS)  #1, 2018 - week 10

     Thus I continue to live my creative life.

Between the Seasons, 2

Cottonwoods, Reflecting,  2018 - week 09

     When you go out to photograph, you often go with expectations...   Sometimes these expectations are based in reality, and sometimes based in a glimmer of hope however unfounded.
This can make for a very frustrating day of packing a 18 kilo pack around searching for some reason to stop and put your camera together to capture an image.  And when you think you have a possible shot...   the clouds move in, or the wind sets the camera vibrating.  Flustered again you watch the clouds move as you search for a new spot, hopefully out of the wind.

     I often rely on this fickle luck of mine to somehow get me through days like this.  Doesn't always work, or does it.  One unexposed negative to go, and I look directly behind me...   is there a better possibility, somewhere?  Why yes, it does pay to look behind you from time to time.  That is where I found this weeks image.