Project 365 and a story to be told ...

I uploaded to http://www.kweststudio8.etsy.com/  a photograph I took today. It was just a view looking through some trees to the forest beyond, but ...

I used a film grain filter on my photograph, because I wanted to heighten an ambience.

Here's the description I included on Etsy:

There's a tale to accompany this photograph, as it hints of something to be encountered beyond the clearing. The view through the canopy of branches, into the open clearing, and the darkness of the woods beyond enhance some inexplicable anticipation. You feel it, don't you.
02-28-2011


Beyond the Clearing



365 ... four versions

The rain let up long enough for me to take this photograph, before it started falling again. I was happy it melted all the snow. I took this quick shot of the beach across the street from the office.

I love to play around with editing and have a very rudimentary photo editing program I often fall back on using because I don't take the time to learn how to easily work with my Photo Elements software.

In any case. I was curious how different effect filters would alter the appearance of my photograph; interesting results. Two of the filters, Dry Brush and Watercolor, give the photograph a distinctly painterly interpretation.

I want to emphasize that I do not demean or lessen the skill involved in an artist doing an actual dry brush or watercolor painting. It is no easy talent to master. However, I enjoy seeing how my own photograph changes with the application of these effect filters.

02-27-2011




Sand and Cobble (Watercolor effect filter)




Sand and Cobble (unedited photograph)




Sand and Cobble (Film Grain effect filter)




Sand and Cobble (Dry Brush effect filter)



Project 365 and it's snowing ...

Today was a day of work, not of playing with my camera. However, on the way home I almost drove over something in the road. I stopped and with camera in hand went back to check out what was quickly disappearing under a dusting of falling snow.  It looked like a gym bag or the like, but it had a certain grace with the softening of the snow. I photographed it, and it was done today. Voila!

02-26-2011

However, YESTERDAY there was just enough sunshine to snap a couple of shots at a tire recycling place by the post office in Custer.

Day 56 of 365 ...

Waiting

Today's photographic image is a view of a lone tree and an empty bench looking northwest across Semiahmoo Bay out beyond the bouy into the Sound. They looked to be waiting. Were they expecting you?

02-25-2011

OK, OK ... you know I can't stop at just one.  This was a really cool metal bin I found behind a building.

II, 3 and 12

Another day, another Project 365

As a viewer familiar with my work can easily ascertain, my photographic eye is often drawn to patterns, and geometric compositions. Today's photography falls within those parameters, but I love how the arc lends motion to an otherwise static composition.

02-24-2011

Exhibit Acceptance and Project 365



Semiahmoo Shoreline

 Received notification from David Vargo, owner of Loomis Hall Gallery in Blaine, WA, that two of my photographs have been selected for inclusion in "Northwest Sea and Sky." The exhibit will be held in conjunction with City of Blaine's annual "Wings Over Water" northwest birding festival.

I'll provide more information later about the March reception.

I've included the two photographs accepted, Semiahmoo Shoreline and Birch Bay Sunset.



Birch Bay Sunset



Today's Project 365 photograph is:

02-23-2011

A Belated Project 365

Ok, I admit it. I took a little nap after dinner and didn't download the images until just now. So, these photos are technically for yesterday. I'll have more later today.

I was going to use the iPhone photos I took at the post office while I waited 90 minutes for AAA to come and unlock my car. Thank goodness I at least had my phone with me!

But then Suki and I were out previewing a home for a client and we were sooooo close to the state park beach that it would be criminal NOT to go for a quick beach walk. Quick it most definitely was because the wind was howling muy frio and just holding my camera was painfully cold, and the sun was setting. But I managed to capture a shot or two of seaweed making its mark and some driftwood. Here they are.

Oh, one last note. I wasn't the only one out braving the elements. There was a guy out on the water, a sail surfer. I don't have a good enough camera to capture him to advantage, but I've included it here because it was so incredibly cold (snow forecast for tonight) and there he was whipping along the bay.

02-22-2011

Project Neon! and Project 365

I was reading about Kirsten Hively, an architect/photographer in New York. She values that city's gritty character, and is concerned that the big box stores will blot out the moms-n-pops places, the old neighborhood bars and taverns, the budget motels. She has commenced her own photographic project to encourage appreciation of New York's historic neon signage.  She also puts value on the handmade aspect of neon signage.

You might think the old neon signs a blight on the cityscape, but I'm with Hively in placing a historic and visual appreciation on neon.  You can find out more about Project Neon! at http://www.projectneon.tumblr.com/ .

Here the day was a mish-mash weather day. However, I combined my attraction to neon with the raindrops on my windshield to create a composition of color, light, horizontals, diagonals, grids.

(I love ordering Crispy Chicken Kung Pao from this little Birch Bay cafe.)

02-21-2011

Etsy site activity and Project 365

Today my photograph of peonies for sale at http://www.kweststudio8.etsy.com/ was selected for inclusion in another Etsy treasury. What a rush to be featured in these theme collections. Although these inclusions don't pay anything, it does garner more attention for Kwest Studio 8, which seems to be the name of the marketing game. Generate as much activity and name recognation as possible, or so I'm led to believe.

As for today's photograph, I'm a sucker for stairs, or the pattern thereof. This photograph includes all sorts of appealing patterns.

02-20-1011

Etsy Update and Project 365

Uploaded two photographs to http://www.kweststudio8.etsy.com/ and worked in the office all day, so I'm a lazy bum with regard to today's photograph. I came home, heated some leftovers for dinner, and could not get motivated. Here's my unmotivated iPhone foto One Foot Two Boot:

02-19-11

Reality, whatever that means, and Project 365

I wanted to mention "The Innocents" a photo documentary by Taryn Simon. It was totally by accident that I ran across her photography this afternoon when I was administering my Etsy site, but I was so impressed with her purpose and how she executed it, that I must pass it along to you, too.

"The Innocents series by Taryn Simon documents the stories of individuals who served time in prison for violent crimes they did not commit. At issue is the question of photography's function as a credible eyewitness and arbiter of justice."

Taryn photographed people in the locations where crimes for which they were wrongfully convicted were committed, but the truth of the matter, is that none of them were ever at those locations. I was struck by how a moment perceived by a witness as reality can directly impact an innocent life.

I encourage you to check out http://www.beautifuldecay.com/ and click on "The Innocents." (There is nothing gruesome or grisly about these photographs, other than the implication.)

My hat off to photographer Taryn Simon who said volumes with a series of simple photographs!

My photograph du jour has no socially redeeming value, it's just a hole in a white concrete block wall. Period.

02-18-2011

OOPS ... Project 365

It always throws me out of sync when I forget and leave my computer at the office. So, I wasn't able to upload yesterday's photo.

Today's photo(s) AND yesterday's photo ...

02-17-11

02-16-11

Northwest Sea and Sky Exhibit and Project 365

David Vargo, owner of Loomis Hall Gallery in Blaine, WA, emailed a Call to Artists for submissions by photographers and sculptors for an upcoming show to be held in conjunction with the annual Wings Over Water birding festival that draws thousands of birding fans. The deadline for entries was yesterday. I sent in four photographs for consideration. Alas, there weren't as many artist responses as Mr. Vargo anticipated, so the deadline has been set back to allow for late entries. So, I'm waiting with bated breath to see if I get anything in this show.

But life goes on, and today another photograph. Actually--surprise! surprise!-- I have two photographs for today.  A new thrift shop has opened in Blaine and I stopped by, and although it was closed, my eye was attracted to a chandelier hanging in their front window and then upward to a row of brides and "dolls." It made such a nice combination, plus the strong diagonal of the reflection on the glass. Anyway, I like it.

The second one is the back wall of an old brick building I was down an alley in Blaine. I was enchanted by the textures and the repetition of lines.

Happy Valentine's Day and Project 365

... AND Happy Birthday, Paul!

Strong wind gusts and rain weren't a good combination for photography. However, I did capture a shot of some dried pampas grass in a brass container in the living room, and a pot of lilies I have on kitchen counter. It'll have to do for today.

02-14-2011

Project 365

A busy day, didn't get out of the office much, but I did spy and photograph these "stains" on a concrete pad. The rust marks I think are dirt, so eventually the elements will wash them away. There's something engaging about photographing something so ephemeral.

02-13-2011

Project 365 on a rainy, windy day ...

The rain poured this afternoon, but I was out early before the deluge came down. I drive along Birch Bay Lynden just about every day. Electric poles are being erected, or maybe they were telephone. In any case, the hardware used intrigued me. The utility company has a temporary storage area where they keep all the hardware they've used in their work. There were just too many metal arcs and bolts and angles for me NOT to stop and snap some shots. Glad I got the photographs before the rain really came down.

Oh my! The stop sign out on Birch Bay Drive just fell over! Whoa! It's windy!

Anyway, here are today's photos and then I'm heading home. No way am I going to avoid getting soaked!

02-12-11

Walkabout in Fairhaven and Project 365

Well, here's my dilemma. While walking around Fairhaven this morning, I took a couple of photographs that tickle me, and because they are so freshly captured, I'm at a loss as to which to use for today's photograph.

I won't squeeze in all of them, but these four particularly please me. A couple of them have been edited with a film grain filter. I'm having a love affair with this filter. I'm sure it will soon run it's course and then I'll be off on another technique. But for the time being, I'm using the film grain.

02-11-2011

Project 365

Shazam! The day is done and I'm watching white and red of head and tail lights passing along Birch Bay Drive. Time to call it a day. But, wait! Have to upload today's photograph.

Most people have window blinds these days in this corner of the country. Seldom do I see drapery, and more infrequent to see lace curtains. Perhaps that's why I was struck with the way the light filtered through the lace and the graceful way the folds created a darker contrast. Curtained windows also look out onto imagination, if you let them.

The lace curtain window transported me back to an earlier time in my life, when visiting Auntie Vivian who had lace curtains. No matter if she didn't, I remember her having them, and looking through them out onto a white picket arbor covered with delicate little pink tea roses and bees buzzing in the summertime--the arbor, roses and bees she DID have. Auntie Vivian is long gone, so is the farm where she lived with Uncle Albert and their brood of 10 children whose names all began with "D."

Oh my! What odd things trigger memories. Here's today's photograph:

02-10-2011

Project 365

I went by Seaside Bakery in Blaine, and the patterns of the tables and chairs tickled my eye. Alas, the bakery was closed so I had to photograph through the glass window. I didn't set my camera to compensate for the lighting--that's what happens when I get in a hurry--but I loved the pattern. So, even though the clarity is missing, I threw a film grain filter on the image to enhance the yellow. It was a good learning experience. (I learned not to be in such a dangblasted hurry!)

02-09-2011

Project 365 and more ...

Good afternoon ... yes, afternoon. Today's upload is being conducted at a reasonable hour and not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin before the witching hour.

I was on my Etsy site earlier and found that--oh joy! Oh joy!--my photograph "Beach Love" has been included in yet another Etsy Treasury. People do love seeing shells and driftwood. I do, indeed. Here's the link to check out my photograph and the other items featured in the Beachcombers Treasury:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d50c08d825b6d918c43e3e8/beachcombers-treasury

Today was to be rainy, but "they" were wrong again as the day turned out sunny, albeit chilly. Plenty of sun to cast some light on the shoreline along Semiahmoo Bay.

02-08-2011:

Project 365

There were a couple of images "clicked" today that I feel have potential, but this one particularly struck me. I almost wished I had shot a video of this landlocked sailboat in Blaine between two brick buildings. The wind whipped all around it and the canvas filled and moved with the air. It looked like the boat was trying shed its tethers to fly away. It was awesome. So, in this case, a static one shot doesn't do the scene justice. I would have loved to see it lift off and flap away over Semiahmoo Bay!

02-07-2011

Project 365

It seemed like I spent most of my day on this computer--probably because I did--but I came up for air around 4:45 pm. Although it was rainy and cold outside, and the day was losing light muy rapido, I hastily decided to don my boots and coat and take a quick drive to see what photographic mischief I could still get into before darkness descended.

I found a couple of possibilities.  Here's today's photograph(s):

02-06-2011

Project 365 et cetera ...

I didn't go out at all today. I was busy with indoor tasks and accomplished a lot. However, I received notification of two more Etsy treasuries in which my photographs have been featured. Confounding me how my photographs are seen and found desirable enough to include in treasuries, but not one sale of a photograph. Hmmm. I have to figure out the whys and wherefores of selling photography on Etsy ... and elsewhere!

These two photographs were included today!

02-05-2011:

 And because I didn't go out, my photo du jour is of pillows in my boudoir. Ohh la la!