photo pages:  <  1  2  3  4  5  6  >  >>
< 40 of 529 >
Gerry Daniel > Going through some galleries today, trying to get caught up with viewing some of the galleries in the community, I was reminded of how fortunate I am to be a part of this community. The sheer volume of great shots on any given day is in itself quite a feat. But the sense of sharing and support throughout this community is what I find so special about the daily group. We are from so many different places, with so many different backgrounds but we have this common interest. In a world that seems to try and find so many ways to find our differences, to find ways of separating us, this group helps remind us what we have to share, reminds us of the ways we are alike. We are a photography group and the talent on display here is outstanding. You are all so creative, so talented, and so ready to help. It is a gift to be able to share your worlds through your photographs, captions, and comments. Today’s iPod tune is by Weather Report, the song is titled “Black Market” from the “Black Market” album. The album was released in 1976 but is just as amazing today as it was back then. The artists on the album included the late Jaco Pastorius who was a jazz pioneer with the fretless bass.
Gerry Daniel > Today offered another late afternoon thundershower and another opportunity to shoot after the rain. So it was a trip to the Aldridge Botanical Gardens in Hoover, AL. By now, it’s no secret that I like shooting plants that are wet from a good rain. There is nothing special about the image processing in this shot. About 80 percent of the color was drained away to give the colors a muted effect. The actual flower was bright red. Today’s iTunes selection is another Peter Gabriel classic, “Solsbury Hill” from the “Shaking the Tree – Sixteen Golden Greats” album.
Gerry Daniel > Texture and color are things that attract my eye. In the woods that were so green with summer growth, an area of dead leaves offered some rich earth tones that stood out from the rest of the surroundings. Today's song is by Bon Iver, the title is "Skinny Love" from the "For Emma, Forever Ago" album.
Gerry Daniel > 2008 Daily Photo Community photo
Gerry Daniel > For those of you secretly thinking that I am just a one-trick pony, I bring you something different today. Yes, I can photograph more than flowers and water. Sorry if it seems to any of you that I am in a rut. To be honest, I have gone through several phases already over the course of 2008 with my subjects and my approach to shooting. This month is the first month I have begun to feel a certain comfort level. I am not saying that I have started to feel complacent. In fact I am very far from feeling that way. I still question my shots every day and I still question my skill as a photographer every day. In fact, it still seems strange to refer to myself as a photographer. I love photography and feel like it has been a great addition to my life experience but I am not sure what line you have to cross to call yourself a photographer. Anyway, back to my original point, today’s photo is obviously not a flower or water. it is in fact a bird. The shot was taken at the Birmingham Zoo and I really didn’t think it would turn out well enough to share because I had to take it through the glass (which was very smudgy) and the lighting was poor. Birds can be interesting; I have noticed a number of you have birds in your daily photos. One thing that stays in the back of my mind when I look at birds, especially exotic birds, is that they are probably one of the closest living relatives to dinosaurs. It is easy to think lizard, but I think birds are considered closely related in some areas. Feel free to contradict me; I am by no means an expert on birds or dinosaurs. Before I post my iTunes choice of the day, John reached back to a Harry Nillson song yesterday. Nice choice, he was a unique artist with an amazing vocal range. So John, I see your Nillson and raise you a Roy Orbison. This song is taken from a special concert he performed late in his career with many of the current greats. It took place in September 1987 and his band that night included Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Jackson Browne. Backup vocalists included k.d. lang, Jennifer Warnes, and Bonnie Raitt. There isn’t a bad track on the album but I chose one of his classics, “Pretty Woman”. If you ever get a chance to see the video, Bruce Springsteen had a ball on this song if I remember correctly. The album is titled “Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night”.
Gerry Daniel > To escape the holiday chaos, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens provide a nice sanctuary. My big decision was whether to shoot inside or outside. With warmer weather expected later this week, I opted to shoot inside the greenhouse. This photograph was in the wing of the greenhouse that is dedicated to camellias. It was an overcast day so the light inside was soft and muted. This photo features one of the many varieties of camellias that are housed in that area of the greenhouse. Today's song is by Papercuts, the titlle is "Outside Looking In" from the "Can't Go Back" album. I know that many of these songs aren't by familiar artists. There is something a bit more honest and unfiltered about the lesser known artists. They don't have record companies tinkering with their music, they are making music for themselves and their fans. It takes a little work to discover these treasures but it is well worth the time.
Gerry Daniel > When I took photographs this afternoon, I enjoyed it as always, but my overall mood was less than inspired. There were a couple of shots that were decent and I think I like this one the best from the choices that were available. Today’s iPod song is by Joni Mitchell, the song is “River” from her “Blue” album.
Gerry Daniel > Something about textures and patterns in flowers and plants often catches my eye. The contrast, the way the light hits both the top and the underside of plants fascinates me. I feel much the same way about patterns formed by branches of trees. All of my shots today were in one way or another focused on patterns and textures. With the relatively limited number of colors in this shot, it could have easily been a black & white shot. The warmth of the greens in the shot was too pleasing to lose by converting to grayscale. No doubt that is a personal preference but I tend to go with what pleases my eye. You will notice a slight bit of post processing with the addition of a slight frame. Like so many other aspects of an image, it is yet another personal preference issue. In this case the frame was more about the presentation, adding just a minor enhancement to the composition. Opinions will vary from person to person and the photograph would have stood on its own without the frame. I placed an order with BH Photo earlier this week. According to the package tracking, it should be delivered tomorrow. One of my concerns about shooting with an expensive piece of equipment is trying to protect the camera. I mentioned recently about getting a waterproof cover. One of my other fears is dropping my camera or having the tripod fall over. So to give me a measure of comfort, I decided to purchase something called camera armor for my Nikon D80. I won’t lie; I like ordering camera stuff and like getting packages. Yeah, there is still a lot of little kid in me. Tonight’s song selection is by The Wailin’ Jennys. The title is “Beautiful Dawn” from the “40 Days” album.
Gerry Daniel > two drops, the remix my work flow and processing for the photographs evolves over time, for the most part i don't go back and revisit images that I shot and processed in the past, this photograph is one of the exceptions so i am going to call it a remix
2008 Daily Photo Community photo
See photo in original gallery.
photo pages:  <  1  2  3  4  5  6  >  >>
< 40 of 529 >

Comments

|
The Sorcerers of Smug are adding new magic right now, so we're in window shopping mode. We'll provide more updates here on our Status Blog.



All photos © Dream Hat Photography! Please don't use them illegally.
Custom Smugmug Design: WolfSnap.com