Photo of the Week 2010-08-30

... presenting "The Horizontal Element"

Constructive Morning

The Horizontal Element:

Some scenes just call out with their strong horizontal elements, so much so that it’s all about whatever runs across the scene and commands attention. Quite different from a panoramic image that captures the expanse of the scene before the photographer, these are all about a dominant horizontal element.

The standard aspect ratios of film and digital photography formats don’t work for me in these cases. You will find proponents of the different aspect ratios available, those who advocate “no cropping” and some who crop to suit each image. Each of the formats and approaches has merit. I may or may not choose to follow any of them on the photographic journey but, in the case of “The Horizontal Element”, I have chosen to present my images in a manner that shows that slice of the scene that called out to me.

Prints in “The Horizontal Element” series are 5.5” x 21” and several can be found on the walls at Gallery DJ (my home). I hope you enjoy.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2010-08-23

Old Virginia Oak


Our friends Katie and Dan were absolutely wonderful hosts during our recent stay at their home in Charlottesville VA. The knocked themselves out while we were there. I've blogged about our visit before but while I was going through my library of images from the trip, I came across one that reminds my how nice it is to have friends like these two. While planning our trip I mentioned that I wanted to get in a lot of photography while we were there, it's a beautiful area. I'm told that having a photographer around always stopping, waiting for the right moment, dictating where you go, when you are not one yourself could get a little tiresome (imagine that .... hmmm). True to form these guys went beyond the call, making suggestions and providing lots of opportunity for me to shoot as much as possible. Dan recalled a particular tree he had heard about out near the airport, it had been referred to as a "heritage tree". Apparently it was a large old oak tree and it had stood for possibly hundreds of years.
I thought well, let's take a look and while we were out running errands one day, Dan took me there. What a magnificent, majestic, old oak tree, not far from the road in a field. We parked at what looked like a maintenance entrance to the field and I was immediately struck by this enormous lone tree. I cannot recall ever having seen such a large oak, spreading limbs so low and wide. As we approached it's true size started to sink in, it was gigantic. We reached the base of the trunk, I took a few quick shots under the limbs with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background and quickly realized that with nothing close by to include in the image for scale, the immensity of this beast would be lost ... so ... "hey Dan, could ya stand up against the tree and lean on it while I take a shot ... eh" ? Click ... that should do it, but "wait, stay there Dan" ... tripod out, camera mounted low, self timer 10 sec ... run into frame ..... click ! That's it now we're both in the shot buddy.



OK that certainly shows how big the trunk of this tree is but I could not get the whole tree in frame with my 17-40mm @ 17mm. I started to back up to get a shot of the whole tree with the Blue Ridge in the background, back, back, more ... back ... wait WFT is that noise ? Holy crap ! It's a freakin' fighter jet coming in straight overhead. We're at the end of a runway and this guy is on final approach .... man he's low ... real low. I picked up the camera attached to the tripod and started shooting (photographing) ... remember I had my 17-40 on the camera ... not the best lens for aircraft in flight but this guy was close.

... full frame at 40mm overhead

... wait ... so that maintenance gate ... and those towers ... we're just outside the airport at the end of the runway Dan. We better start thinking about leaving before security gets here ... wait here comes the fighter again, click, click, click ... crap are those engines loud !

DJE

Photo of the Week 2010-08-16

I am no "history buff" but my interest in Gettysburg was stirred several years ago during a visit with friends who had moved to Charlottesville VA. While reading a local newspaper I came across a story on an author by the name of Michael Shaara and his Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Killer Angels. I was intrigued by the unique story of how father and son had written a trilogy telling the story of the Civil War. I returned home, found the novels, enjoyed reading the set and an interest in Civil War history and in particular Gettysburg was whetted.

A return visit to Charlottesville recently included a stop at Gettysburg and some photography at the battlefield ...

Sunset at Gettysburg


While I try to learn at least a bit about the locations that I visit for photography, there is so much available about the battle at Gettysburg and the Civil War I could be a while ...

This image is taken from Union artillery positions on Cemetery Ridge at "The Angle", looking west to Confederate lines. The spot is often referred to as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy"

As I stood looking out over one of history's bloodiest battlefields the setting sun broke from behind some cloud and spread it's magnificent light on the scene.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2010-08-09

father & son


Sometimes images just unfold in an instant lasting only a fleeting moment.
On our first day in Watkins Glen while waiting for the footbridge over the gorge to clear of visitors to get a shot, a father and son came around the corner and BAM !!

It was an instinctive reaction that caught just one of those moments.

After I took the shot, I showed the mother on the LCD. We were on a narrow pathway and blocking others wanting to pass so I moved to let them by and the family carried on. I really wish that I had given them one of my cards or got an email address from them. I would want an image like this for the family album if the tables were turned .... I'll be better prepared next time.

DJE

Watkins Glen

calm pools


I held high expectations of Watkins Glen for this type of image. Arriving in town mid afternoon and heading to the glen before checking into the hotel meant mid day lighting for my first visit. It was certainly challenging that first day with the sun high and the uneven lighting. I did manage to get some images but returned the next morning in early light to capture scenes like the one above. Long exposure times and some CS5 layering help to create this calm scene.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2010-08-02

... back from several days of vacation in the eastern US. There are more than a few images I have to go through which is no surprise. There could be more than a few posted here in the coming days.

Starting off is an image from the middle of our trip and one that will serve as a reminder of great times with great friends.


... they are called the Blue Ridge Mountains


We met Katie and Dan back when our oldest children were just starting school together and after several years they moved to Charlottesville VA. That was our ultimate destination. It's been a while since we last visited .... but things picked right up as if it had been last week. It's that way with good friends. Thanks for the warm hospitality and years of friendship guys.

DJE