August 5, 2009

July 23, 2009

July 15, 2009

May 3, 2009

March 23, 2009

The cardinals are building a nest. In addition to the tried and true stick/leaf combination, this pair has added an old plastic bag. They don't know what I know - plastic in a nest contributes to a lack of stability. The nest could be blown from the tree in a storm. Every spring I see lost eggs - and worse - hatchlings, because their nest included manmade materials. Should I pull out the plastic and monitor the yard for unsuitable bits of trash? 

I feel a responsibility to these creatures who can't know the peril they're courting. Or is it a path I shouldn't travel? Am I meddling when I intervene with Nature? Or am I stewarding? 

February 22, 2009

January 28, 2009

This picture is a study in line and form. The bodies of the the flamingoes weight the composition - partly because of their size, and the fact that they fill the bottom half of the picture, and partly because of the high color contrast. Gorgeous variations of red-orange vibrate against the complementary blue green of the water in the background.

The fluid lines of the birds' necks have the potential to lead the viewer's eye up and right out of the composition. But the beaks of the birds are the visual save. Black, and curved back into the center of the picture, their form encourages our eyes to return to the composition, where we can revisit the rich color contrast and warmth of an afternoon at the zoo.

Cropping plays an important role, building relationship and interest in the picture. The original photo was much larger. The birds were only bit players in one scene from the aviary. Isolating the flamingoes, and cropping the edges of the picture close to their heads, changes their status. Now they dominate the composition. In the revised photograph the story is all about them.

January 24, 2009

Balance is developed several ways within a picture world. Locating the focal point - the spot your eye goes first - in the center of the composition, is defensible if my goal is to create a meditative piece, but it's a location that also risks being static.

Any other placement must be carefully considered. Placing an important design element too close to the edge or top of a composition leads the viewer's eyes right out of the picture. If these two gulls - mother and hungry child - were the only elements in this picture, their location so close to the right edge would be problematic! My eyes would veer to the right, encouraged by the sharp shadow point of the beaks, and might never come back to the beach.

In this picture the reflection of the humans balances the gulls. I look at the gulls, but then back to the reflections. The juxtaposition of the humans and the birds keeps my eye inside the picture world, where I can continue to look, and also reflect...

January 14, 2009

Oh happy day....That's what I think when I drive past this building. The graffiti is playful, and although NOT spontaneous - is driven by some spontaneous spark. I wish I knew the artist - so I could give credit where credit is due. Don't you think sometimes art that feels gorgeous and hopeful is worth the price of admission?