Seeing with and without a camera

[vaneramos]

rsc was the first, but not the only person to compare some of my water photographs to Escher's etching, Three Worlds. This isn't as good as the one I posted on April 9, but the late-afternoon reflections were so vivid today, I couldn't resist sharing them with everyone who enjoys seeing them.





A similar image posted in waterflow shows even more interesting light effects underwater. Reflections never cease to fascinate me. I was going to apologize for posting them so repetitively. Then I realized this is my journal; I don't need to apologize for posting what I want.

Motivation and concentration have been difficult this week. Today I did something I haven't tried for months, because photography has circumvented it; I did some walking meditation. On the way out I tried to ignore my camera and all other distractions and concentrate inwardly. The hardest part came when I passed a guy with a beard throwing a Frisbee for his dog. It felt good for a few minutes on such a fine day to turn my mind away from framing photographs. I am reminded of how nature writer Barry Lopez stopped taking photographs altogether because he felt it distracted him from seeing. I should do this more often. I walked slowly to my chosen destination. Then, after turning around, I allowed myself to pull out the camera.

The next photo has no particular artistic merit. What impressed me about it was how the late afternoon sun highlighted the yellowish-green colour of lichen in upper branches of the Manitoba maples (Acer negundo). I didn't notice this while I was on the site. I love how the camera sees things I do not; so here I have one argument for continuing to use it. I can take time out from being a photographer without giving it up altogether.





The air was alive with music: chickadees, robins, cardinals and juncos accompanied by water trickling from a drain pipe. The beauty is misleading. It's all about territory. On the pond, Canada geese were fighting for possession of the island. A second pair seemed to think it was a big enough space to share. The original male disagreed and chased them off with a violent beating of wings. The losers gliding away made a deceptive image of serenity.

Comments

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

great images like a breath of fresh air. very lovely.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

The air really was fresh and fine today. Glad you enjoyed the photos.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Seriously. One day we should go down to the Grand River near Caledonia or Dunville and photograph those old black willows that grow down by the banks.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That would be excellent. I want to explore and photograph some new places. Let's make some plans this spring/summer.

How are you feeling today?

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Well it's been a beautiful day, and I had some "work" work to take care of, so I've been feeling good. But I haven't done any of the inner work that's pending.

[kwangjse.livejournal.com]

Been feeling the same sentiments you expressed so well about how much looking for the shot takes away from enjoying the moment as well as how thrilled I am to see something in the picture that I did not see before.

Beautifully delightful photos! :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Another thing that surprised me was how the camera did not see the movements on the water. The reflections look almost perfect, when in fact they were rippling beautifully. Sometimes I wish I were using a movie camera so I could show what is happening.

[kwangjse.livejournal.com]

Me too! :)

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

Nice but, strange without leaves. Florida rarely seems to have a season without leaf covered trees. Of course, we don't have pronounced seasons like you do. :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

We have many of the same deciduous tree species here that range down into the Carolinas, but in Florida the flora is totally different. I wonder where the boundary is.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

This tree, as well as yesterday's posting, are located at Fairchild Tropical Garden so, it's not just found growing here and there. With so many non-native species planted it's hard to say how far they've spread.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

The next photo has no particular artistic merit.

We'll be the judges of that, thank you.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You certainly will, but so will I. ;-)

[jwg.livejournal.com]

The first picture when turned upside down (advantage of viewing on a laptop) looks perfectly normal with faint, wispy clouds in the sky.

The middle one should be posted to color_theory since the difference in the coloring of the direct via reflection in water is an illustration of some nolonger-known-to-me element of the theory of color.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Ah color_theory, a wonderful community, unfortunately it is too busy for my dial-up connection, on top of all my photographer friends and other communities, so I no longer follow it.

I knew those images would look interesting upsidedown, in fact they almost make more sense that way.