... Close To The Ground

A tight crop of an old image. I seem to be developing an interest in detail recently. It;s a new way of looking at things, for me at least. In fact, I'm coming to the realization that it's something that I have ignored in my photography to a large degree. I guess I'm naturally a 'big picture' sort of a guy. That is to say, when I'm out roaming the streets with my camera my inclination is to look at the big picture. Of course there are exceptions and I have plenty of images in my archives to prove it. But mostly I gravitate away from details. After all, it's a whole different way of looking at the world. I suspect this is true in other aspects of my life, in my learning style for example. Whatever the case, it's certainly something to keep in mind as I venture out this weekend thanks to unseasonably warm temperatures, probably the last time I'll be able to do outdoor photography for some time.

Close To The Ground is actually a partial title, borrowed from Willie Nelson's Angel Flying To Close To The Ground. Hear it on YouTube.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone III

Still playing around with this theme so here's one more. Yesterday's remains my favourite but I've revisited at least one of the former images to apply what I've learned in the process. After I publish this I will print some of them off to see how they match up to the monitor versions.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone II

I am enjoying playing with these dead flower images taken a couple of weeks ago. I have developed a work flow that seems to work well and the addition of various textures transforms them from 'just another picture' into something quite respectable and maybe even worthy of printing and hanging on the wall. Wish I had more of them now. We're supposed to get some warmer temperatures this weekend so maybe I'll try to get out to see what I can find.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone

Another image from my photo walk a week ago. Once again I have borrowed a texture from one of the masters, this time Monet, manifested in all of those swirls in the background which, in the original, was pretty flat and lacking in interest. This seemed to be just what was needed to take it up a notch.

Where Have All The Flowers Gone is a folk standard which has been recorded countless times. I have it in my music library by Peter, Paul and Mary. I was hoping for a good vintage performance from the sixties and this one came closest.

(Click to enlarge)

Empty Chairs

This image was taken from my balcony a couple of weeks ago. When I looked at it today I immediately thought of this crop, tried it, and and liked what I saw. And so, with a little selective tweaking of colour some curves adjustments and the addition of a texture layer lifted from a Van Gogh painting to the plants this is where it ends.

Empty Chairs is from Don McLean's American Pie album. There were several videos on Youtube but the audio was terrible. This one, without only a static video, is better though.

Better Together

Finally got out to capture the fall colours on the weekend but, alas, I'd missed the best of them. I headed for Gibbons Park which has served me well in other years but, with the exception of a dozen scattered trees, most had shed a large percentage of their leaves. Oh well, it was still a great day to be out in the parks and on the walking trails.

Better Together is by Jack Johnson. Watch a performance on YouTube.

A Change is Gonna Come

The plan yesterday was to visit a couple of parks and some walking trails for fall pictures. The colours were spectacular so I had high expectations. But it wasn't meant to be. By the time I was finished with appointments and such, it had started to rain, the wind had picked up and the temperature had dropped. Certainly not suitable for photography. And today, well, it was just plain miserable - all day - so I'm using a picture taken from my balcony earlier in the week.

A Change is Gonna Come has been done by many artists. For something different here's an instrumental version by Arlen Roth. Nothing on the net so will use this temporary link.