Spring Flower Series

And while I'm at it, Spring arrived in Austin, Texas a few weeks back. Many of the pictures in this set are from Zilker Botanical Gardens (with a little help from me) and several are of flowers I purchased at Whole Foods Market because I couldn't help myself.

Reaching for Reality

Thanks to my good friend AdeleS (one of my inspirations on Flickr), I've begun creating a series of images I'm calling Reaching for Reality. These are my first efforts at combining stock backgrounds and models with my own creativity.

Click on the post title to visit my Flickr set, or view them below.

Something new for me

Reaching for Reality, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

My own work, inspired by my brilliant friend Adele.

I'm using stock photography from DeviantArt for the background and the woman, a photo of a flower that I took at Zilker Botanical Gardens a couple of weeks ago, and some massaging in Photoshop.

I'm pretty pleased with the result.

My Review of Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG, Black with Olive.

Originally submitted at Adorama

Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG, Black with Olive.

Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG, Black with Olive.

Does what it should

By Doc from Austin, TX on 2/23/2008

4out of 5

Pros: Comfortable, Strong Construction, Adjustable Harness, Lightweight, Easily Accessible Equipment, Configurable

Cons: Tripod attachments

Best Uses: Protecting Gear, Transporting Gear, Storing Gear

Describe Yourself: Hobbyist/Enthusiast

I really like this backpack. I carried it up Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and had no problems (other than it being hot and humid). The inside is nicely configurable to accommodate lenses and accessories, and I can carry everything I need, including several lenses, caps, filters, batteries, and so on.

It's only real weakness is that the tripod straps are a bit of a pain. Once the tripod is strapped on, it's a pain to get it off again. If I'm going to use my tripod frequently, I have to hand carry it to be sure I can get it set up quickly.

(legalese)

My Review of Bogen - Manfrotto 804RC2 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with Quick Release - Supports 8.8 lbs

Originally submitted at Adorama

Bogen - Manfrotto 804RC2 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with Quick Release - Supports 8.8 lbs

Bogen - Manfrotto 804RC2 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head with Quick Release - Supports 8.8 lbs

Excellent with one small limitation

By Doc from Austin, TX on 2/23/2008

5out of 5

Pros: Fits Well, Versatile, Improves Tripod Function

Cons: Not enough vertical tilt

Best Uses: Portraits, Long Exposures, Stabilization, Photography

Describe Yourself: Hobbyist/Enthusiast

I like everything about this head - it moves well, gives me control over all three dimensions, and does exactly what I wanted. Except that I can not tilt as far back as I'd like - trying to take a shot of the moon, I had to shorten the back legs on my tripod to be able to point high enough. From this one perspective, my ball head is better.

(legalese)

Morning Calm

Morning Calm, originally uploaded by adrians_art.

This one is just beautiful.

Of course, there are some marvelous techinques/features.

The way he has used the reeds to both hide AND reveal the rising sun. The reflection, adding depth. Violating the one-third rule, yet doing so most effectively. And then there is the vibrancy of the colors.

Rare and Strange

CASCATE DI GHIACCIO, originally uploaded by ezio.zaia.

Sometimes I find a shot that is just a bit on the bizarre side, and yet I still find it captivating. This is one of those.

If you look at some of Ezio's other works, you'll find that this one is clearly different.

Look at the light, coming up from above and illuminating the ice, creating some unusual textures and shapes.

Look at the single water drop hanging off the ice. This capture is one that is specific to the time and place.

The overall light and colors and textures give it an abstract look and feel, until you really look closely. To me it looks like something fantastic.

The photographer's mind set at work.

Night Photography

My First Night Shot, originally uploaded by brentbat.

I think this shot is astounding.

No, not because it's the finest or most beautiful shot I've ever seen.

Although it does have some amazing features - the texture of the water, the subtle coloring and shading.

But I think it's astounding because the photographer took it in darkest night with a 500 second exposure!

Go read his description. It's really quite something.

More perspective, and someone to watch

Merlin, originally uploaded by Tiquetonne2067.

As with my previous post, I find that photographer's mindset in play here.

The perspective, for instance. This photographer appears to have taken the time to find just the right spot so that the trees converge toward the opening at the end, drawing and guiding the eye.

Combine that with the colors, the linearity versus organic elements, and the shadows, and I think this is exceptional.

If I were you, I'd be keeping an eye on Tiquetonne2067

Light and Perspective

Lightplay, originally uploaded by nardip.

Before I get to this image, I wanted to talk about what it brings to mind for me.

There is a photographer's mindset that - if we're lucky - some of us develop. I don't know that I have it yet, but I'm working on it. It's pretty much the next evolutionary step up from "Oh, that would make a nice photo."

Consider this shot. It's likely that dozens, hundreds, maybe thousands of people have walked down this corridor without ever seeing what this photographer saw.

It's not a location for "Oh, that would make a nice photo."

It's much more - the play of light, the lines, the perspective and convergence, the geometry of it, and the warm light at the end. These things set this apart, for me, from "a nice photo".

Would I hang this on my wall? Probably not. But I can truly appreciate it for having many excellent qualities, and being an example of something that might only be seen by someone with the right mindset.

Is it real, or is it...

SpiralswithinSpirals, originally uploaded by littlelady2008.

I don't know how she did it yet, but I find this shot compelling.

It looks as though it's a slow shot of something being spun.

Regardless of how it was done, the colors and composition are exciting and eye-grabbing. I love the sense of motion and the overall design. Definitely one to frame and hang on the wall!

The Flexibility of Water

Of Rocks and Docks, originally uploaded by blakelipthratt.

I think this shot is an excellent example of what you can do in shooting water. Note that the closer in water has the smooth look that you get from a slow shot. And yet the water in the distance still has some finer detail, as do the static items in the shot.

I also think this is a very good overall composition. The Rule of Thirds is well applied. Also, the way in which the foreground items lead the eye toward the background is very nicely done, giving the shot an overall sense of dynamic motion.

Miracle

Miracle, originally uploaded by Agrakos.

I don't know what to say about this. The title that the photographer gave it suits me just fine.

Note the subtle coloring and lighting to make it almost surreal.

It just makes me go "aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh".

Fuzzy or mysterious?

Art of Dreams, originally uploaded by adrians_art.

Sometimes a photo just seems ill-focused or fuzzy. In this case, I find the composition to be exceptional.

A shot like this seems to have the ability to evoke different emotions. Is it mysterious and fantastic, or dark and sinister? Is the light on the left growing, or being consumed by the dark and the mist.

This shot encourages the viewer to spend some time just looking, finding the subtleties and mysteries.

The Magic of Black and White

, originally uploaded by tmorris31.

I find it fascinating that this photo is so captivating. No color.

And yet there's something magic happening here.

The look in the little girl's eyes, the way in which her face and that of the stuffed animal line up, the difficulty in judging her emotions - is she grinning slightly, sad, quirky, thoughtful?

I find this quite compelling.

"The Dragon Cloud"

"The Dragon Cloud", originally uploaded by * Nina *.

Sometimes I come across something that just makes me say "Oh, my!"

First, there's the color palette of this shot - amazing tones and subtleties. If you draw your eyes to the top, which initially seems less interesting, you'll see a variety of colors and shades in the clouds. The richness of this visual experience is quite stunning.

And then there's the clouds themselves, which do indeed look like a dragon - in fact, this could easily be seen as the Worm Ouroborous - the world-spanning worm eating its own tail.

Stellar work, I think, both by nature and the photographer.

Macro, Colors

A630 1031r, originally uploaded by sonia furtado.

First of all, I'm always amazed when someone captures something like a fast-moving insect in total stillness this way. Then there's the clarity of the shot - look closely, and you'll see that it's ALL clearly in focus and sharp.

Finally, the contrast of the colors brings out the richness of the insect's colors and lines and body amazingly well.

Fooling the Eye

high royds 043, originally uploaded by tractorpirate.

Most photos with reflections show them either below (water, floor), or from the front or side (mirrors, windows). What I like about this shot is that the reflection is above, which causes a moment of disorientation.

Add to that that it's an interesting composition done in B&W - high contrast between windows and walls, a few linear elements in the foreground, and the windows going off into the distance - and I think this is quite a good example of photographic art.

Presentation and Framing

Texas Wildflower 08, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

This is another one of my own shots. I took this at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center here in Austin.

With a bit of cropping, and creating the presentation, I think it's a pretty solid image.

Note the depth of field, such that the berries (?) in the center are sharp and clear, some of the leaves are clear, and the background blurs out of focus.

I used a framing technique I learned from Digital Photo magazine (September 2007, page 76) to put the inner frame partially behind the image. Pretty cool stuff. I think that the framing adds a special element to the shot.