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.

A fitting photo for the rainy weather we’re having this weekend, taken a few weeks ago on a short outing. Winter is my favorite time of year. The plant life all seems distilled and simplified, and on damp days the subdued colors don’t complete with each other like they do in the warmer months. Everything is resting now and allowing nature to run its course after a year of thriving and surviving. Respite well deserved.

Spring is a truly joyful time to be outside. For weeks I found myself attracted to the fresh greens throughout the forest, lit softly by ever-changing, partially clouded skies.

This mature oak lives among younger trees in a patch of dense, chaotic scrub that I would typically avoid walking through. However, the new translucent leaves behind the tree appeared to envelop it in a jubilant spiral-like pattern, which made me think of some kind of celebration. The tree almost appeared to spin or sway, sending confetti out in all directions.

The light was tricky, but only about ten minutes were needed for clouds to block the direct sunlight and create a soft box effect on the scene. This was perfect for the type of image I wanted to make. In processing, I burned a bit of the lower corners and edges, and raised the luminance of the leaves to bring them out a bit more.

Photos don’t normally happen when I walk through this section of woods. I've always found it nice to look at as I pass by, but it's never felt quite right to stop and spend much time with.

The sun on this particular winter morning provided just the right amount of light between passing clouds overhead which allowed a soft glow to reach the forest floor at an angle. Dormant plants covering the forest floor became backlit and reminded me of swampy mist or even thick snow blanketing the ground. The trunks of trees often meet with the ground abruptly, but it was somehow comforting to witness a soft transition.

After I played with a few different focal lengths and positions, I settled on a telephoto and vertical composition to tighten and accentuate the trunks and their relationship with the floor. There was no mist (something I had hoped to find) but I have become content to make the most of forest scenes without any atmosphere handed to me.

The rest of the day was spent tromping around a large boulder field beyond these trees, making strong coffee and enjoying a hot backpacking meal with no one but a few noisy birds and squirrels for company. After a busy holiday season it was pure medicine.

Random Photo Notes, Vol. 13

Random Photo Notes, Vol. 12