Random Photo Notes, Vol. 11
These are just some notes I have written about a few of my favorite photos. They range from social media posts to descriptions on my homepage, sometimes handwritten notes made in the field. They are not in chronological order.
I’ve always found it helpful to put words to my images, whether in the form of scribbling exposure settings in a notebook or writing about composition.
If photography can be partly considered the organization of the visible, physical chaos that surrounds us, then I believe writing can be somewhat to do with taming the invisible and internal.
Looking back on my notes has always helped me to reflect on my technical and creative progress, as well as on my journey through life.
Emergent, 11/27/22
Similar to “Old Moon-Eye”, this image was made by shooting straight up at a sandstone ceiling. This one happened to be covered in an interesting system of tree roots and ivy, and early morning light gave the small scene some interesting contrast. The diagonal roots and shadows, combined with a pop of green leaves, made this detail well worth stopping to examine and eventually frame up.
Water Way, 2/14/23
This image was made one Tuesday evening right as the sun was just starting to disappear behind the nearby hillside. I’ve enjoyed visiting this particular creek in all seasons, but winter tends to be my favorite. I believe the lack of vibrant green leaves helps to distill the structure of the place, while the lower sun reflects more colorfully off the clouds. From a technical standpoint, I have been enjoying practicing wide angle photography again and this perspective inspired me to carefully compose an image. While I worked on my laptop, my camera sat on its tripod waiting for the best golden hour light to appear. When it did, all I had to do was stroll to the water’s edge, adjust my shutter speed, and press the shutter button. An afternoon well spent.
A Window in Time, 4/9/23
Geology doesn’t seem to figure prominently in the work of photographers from my corner of the world, at least as much as it does in portfolios created in western states. It’s always a treat, then, to encounter fun shapes, patterns and textures among the ancient structures of our local bedrock.
The field of geology fascinates me due to the lessons of time it teaches. Understandably, many are overwhelmed by humankind’s tiny blink of existence compared to the infinite cosmos. I find it perhaps even more surprising when the timeline of our species is dwarfed by the great age of the mere planet we inhabit.
This small cave once sheltered me and my family from a thunderstorm while we were out on a hike. It’s a special place to me for that reason. Recently I entered it once again, drawn to the warm reflected light entering from the outside. This contrasted nicely with the reddish purple sandstone within which was enhanced by the clear blue sky overhead. I was reminded of the famous slot canyons of the American southwest, and wondered whether anyone had ever visited before the strong Summer storm that drove us inside over a year before.
