Fall, Nature & Editing

Like a lot of people I love fall foliage.  I love seeing the trees turn various shades of red, orange, yellow and brown.  Of course I had to take my camera out and capture a few images.  I pulled the images off my card and went into processing mode.  I like nature in color but I'm becoming more and more fascinated with nature in black and white.  Therein lies my problem.  I am still perfecting the art of black and white nature without making it look flat and dull.  In addition to playing around with the black and white, I have to reign in my latest processing addiction, copper toning!  There's something about that particular rich toning that I like ... it just feels so warm.

The above photo was taken late Summer/early Fall and as you can see, the trees were still rather green.  I was exploring the park with my camera, looked up and saw that guy meditating.  He was obviously very good at meditating as there were some children playing rather loudly on the rock right behind him.  

When I first took the photo, I saw it in black and white.  I couldn't see it any other way.  Then, I turned it black and white.  I added contrast, I took away contrast, I tinkered with shadows, highlights and toning.  In the end a photo I thought would turn out lovely, just doesn't do anything for me in color or black and white.  Perhaps I'll re-visit it with fresh eyes down the line.

The above two photos and their edits caused me a dilemma.  I love the color but I also love the copper toning and contrast of the black and white versions.  I still can't decide which one I like best.  

The above is another photo I thought would be great in black and white.  But, I just can't get it right!  I think part of my lack of satisfaction is that it's not composed the way I want it.  I know you're thinking, "well, silly woman, why didn't you compose it the way you wanted?"  Good question!  There were obstructions so I tried to get as close to the angle I wanted as possible.  This photo will drive me crazy and I'll be forced to tinker with it until I find an edit that makes me happy.

Concert Photography: The Broadcast

I went to see The Broadcast down at Mercury Lounge earlier this month.  I hadn't done any photography in dark clubs for a few months so I was a bit rusty.  All of the things you know you need to do to photograph in venues with lighting issues came back pretty quickly.  But, at times I felt like what was in my head just wasn't translating to my vision or my camera.  That being said, I had a great deal of fun, heard some great music and captured a couple of photos I enjoy.

More photos HERE

The above photo I think captures the spirit and fun of the show.  Front-woman Caitlin Krisko and percussionist Tyler Housholder boogie together on-stage.

 

Early into the set, I noticed Krisko's flying hair and decided I had to have a motion shot of her hair.  I got several good hair in motion shots but, what I really wanted was her face in focus while her hair was in motion.  That was a little harder to manage in low and or changing lighting without flash.   

Concert Photography: The Audience

I don't often take photos of the audience when I'm photographing a concert.  It's not my thing and I don't much care for the shots I get of people who aren't on stage.  I'm working on that though.  In the above photo, I was watching the crowd as they were being rather lively.  The band that was playing was Gogol Bordello.  I decided to scan the crowd with my camera to my eye for a bit and saw this guy shaking his head, dreads flying.  Yes, there's motion blur but it's just one of those photos that I like.

Nature: Butterfly Bush

I love the color of the bushes flowers.  But, I was curious to see what the photo would look like in b&w.  I think I prefer the color version but the b&w version isn't bad either.

When I first moved into my new four walled world, I was excited about the plants and trees on the property.  I saw the butterfly bush and thought, oh how pretty.  Well, I'm not all that excited about that blasted bush now.  Oh sure, it's lovely with all of it pretty purple blooms.  But, the previous owners planted the damned thing right by the back gate.  Yes, it looks pretty draped over the back fence but it interferes with walking!  Whenever you walk in or out the back gate, you have to duck down low, really low to avoid it and that's after pruning.  It gets even worse when it rains as the rain weighs it down.  So, beautiful bush, you're less attractive to me now but you make for a lovely picture. 

Nature: Fog & Spiders

As hurricane Irene loomed, it seemed like a good idea to take a photo or two.  Seeing as I'm not into the whole risk getting blown away for the sake of art thing, the front porch seemed like a good place for a quick documentation.  It had been raining off and on.  It was foggy.  The wind had yet to make any major visit at this point.  As I looked through my camera I thought to myself, wonder how this will look in black and white?  When I started processing it, I immediately realized that I have not perfected the art of shooting fog!  At any rate, I wanted it to look somewhat like an old postcard.  I'm into this type of look/processing at the moment.  

The above fella was bracing for the storm.  We have lots of spiders and webs in our yard and I've been saying I was going to capture some of the webs.  That's easier said than done.  Apparently there's great skill to the art of taking photos of spider webs!  I don't have that skill it seems.  No matter what I seem to do, the web doesn't show well.  Without the processing, you can barely see the web. Oh well.  But, since we have five hundred billion spiders constantly making webs in the yard, I'll be able to get plenty of practice and figure out what I'm doing wrong... eventually!

Newport Folk Festival: Earl Scruggs

Earl Scruggs at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011

One of the things I like about the Newport Folk Festival is you get to see legends as well as the younger artists.  This year, I got a kick out of seeing banjo legend Earl Scruggs perform.  I mentioned to a person I was chatting with right before his set that one of my favorite live albums is Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall.  They looked at me oddly.  Apparently, I didn't look the type to them!  Of course, I looked at that person oddly when they declared that the "Ballad of Jed Clampett" was their favorite and would be disappointed if it wasn't played.  I might have rolled my eyes.  Don't get me wrong, it's a fine enough song and I'll watch a Beverly Hillbillies repeat in a heartbeat but, I wouldn't have been disappointed if it hadn't been played, there are too many classics I'd pick over that.  Thankfully, my fellow festival goer wasn't disappointed as the song was played and more than a few people sang along.

Mr. Scruggs and his band, which featured sons Randy and Gary, kicked things off with "Salty Dog Blues."  I was, for lack of a better word, giddy over that and nearly forgot to take photos because I was too busy singing along.  I went up to the roof of the fort to take photos during the set which is an amazing spot to listen to music.  At some point while I was up there, they ripped into "Orange Blossom Special."  I might have kinda, sorta danced up on the roof; it was impossible not to!  

The view from the fort roof during Mr. Scruggs' set

My Favorite Images: Delta Spirit

Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011
(More Photos HERE) 

Some photographs you just like.  There isn't some profound reason as to why you like it; you just like it.  I look at this image and just like it.  Matt Vasquez led Delta Spirit through one hell of a set at the Newport Folk Festival this year.  "THE PEOPLE," who flocked to the Quad Stage to see the band, showed them insane amounts of love.   

Vasquez is an expressive and energetic performer.  So, I suppose it could be considered odd that of all of the photos I took of him during his Delta Spirit set, and his performance the following day with his other band Middle Brother, that this would end up being my favorite.  Hey, I'm quirky that way!

My Favorite Images: Ambrose Akinmusire

Ambrose Akinmusire at the Newport Jazz Festival, August 6, 2011

I spent this past Saturday roaming around Fort Adams State Park taking in the sounds of the Newport Jazz Festival.  Of course I had my camera!  I wondered over to the Harbor Stage to catch some of Ambrose Akinmusire's set.  I knew before I took the photo, that even though I was taking it in color, it would be a black and white photo.  Some images you just like.  This is one of those that I quite simply, just like.

 

My Favorite Images: Brown Bird

David Lamb of Brown Bird at the Newport Folk Festival

This past Sunday, I was at the Newport Folk Festival.  One of the bands performing that day was Brown Bird.  I was sitting on my knees, on the hard dirt that was sprinkled with worn patches of dried grass, in front of the stage, listening to their warm blend of spirited stomp and clap music while trying to capture a few photos of them.  As I sat there, I was drawn to David Lamb's hand while he was playing the banjo.  My inner voice kept telling me I needed to get a shot of his hand.  I pondered what my inner voice was telling me before realizing why the urge was incessant.  What was that realization?  His hand was three letters short of displaying the word that Brown Bird made their audience feel, welcome.   

Newport Folk Festival: Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011

Legendary vocalist Mavis Staples took the Quad stage this past Saturday at this years Newport Folk Festival.  Staples, who looked to be having a lot of fun onstage, had the crowd dancing and singing along.  She brought The Decemberists' frontman, Colin Meloy out to join her for the second song of the set, "The Weight," before he headed over to the main stage for his own set to close the festival's first day.  She and her band performed a rousing version of "I'll Take You There" that turned into a soul clap sing-a-long.