En Plein Air: Beach Photography
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As a writer, I’m trying to pay attention to the stuff the people aren’t paying attention to.
JONATHAN FRANZEN
When this quote came across my Twitter feed today, I found myself thinking about how it applies to photography too. And establishing a habit of taking photos every day…with the express purpose of posting at least one…pushes me to consider new ways of paying attention to the potential images around me. It’s not that I don’t see what others see…I do, and I often see that others around me take photos and post photos that are similar to mine. So that means I need to pay attention to the details of composition, lighting, angles…
I realize that I use photography for a variety of purposes. Sometimes I am documenting events in my life, sometimes I am teaching myself some new techniques, sometimes I am relaxing and enjoying the outdoors…and sometimes I am working to create art.
Some photos turn out just the way I want them to, with the colors and focus and frame all in perfect harmony. And some pictures benefit from some editing…cropping, light adjustments, filters and such.
When I saw the Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge today was “work of art,” I knew I would focus on photos taken at the beach. I headed to the beach today as a break from worrying about the wildfires in our community. School was canceled, the weather was still hot, and the sand, waves, and briny sea air called to me. As I got closer to the shore I noticed the juxtaposition of the bright blue sky to the west and south and dark smoke rising from the north. The fires on Camp Pendleton had flared this morning, and firefighters were hard at work knocking it back down. As I walked in the cool salt water I aimed for the shot that would capture the brightness of the blue sky and also capture the dark, ominous smoke in the distance.
The carefree playfulness of the children on the beach was contagious! Even though the water is still cool…in the mid 60’s, it seemed that everyone was enjoying the water. I saw this group of kids heading into the surf and wanted to get a sense of the activity. It’s interesting to me that the photo looks like the beach is empty, just by the framing of the shot, when in reality there were lots of people on the beach today. I also played with a filter in Snapseed, creating a bit of a vignette effect, highlighting the children at play.
I ended up back at the beach later this evening when my husband came home from work. It was still quite warm out and I had enjoyed the beach so much earlier in the day that I wanted him to have the opportunity to feel the relaxation and the cool of the ocean. As I walked down the ramp toward the shore I noticed this gull on the roof of the beach building. With this post in mind, I decided to play around with the image a bit, cropping to bring the bird closer and then using a black and white filter. I’ve noticed that black and white is great for some photos…and terrible on others. I like it on this one.
It wasn’t yet sunset as our walk came to an end, but the sun was low in the sky and created a shiny reflection on the water below it. As we sat on some benches on the hill above the beach at the end of our walk, I was drawn to the silhouette of the palm tree in the distance. I’ve photographed this tree before, but not quite at this same angle or at this same time of day. It’s funny that this filter is called redscale, it seems to give the photo a yellowish, sunset kind of glow.
As a photographer, even an amateur, there is a lot to pay attention to. And the more I practice my craft, the more I find that I am able to pay attention to the stuff other people aren’t paying attention to, resulting in some interesting works of art…or alternatively, some interesting prompts for writing. The beach is a rich resource to draw from, a source of inspiration, renewal, relaxation and fun. And for me, today, it was also a welcome distraction.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Going Places
Enjoy taking photos? Love to share them with others? Welcome to this week’s photo challenge! (I post a new challenge every week…check in each week and join the fun!)
As I think about a photo challenge for this week, my mind is also on the horrendous fires burning in my community. (If you are interested you can read more about it in yesterday’s blog post.) Schools were closed today and most, including mine, are also closed tomorrow. The firefighters are amazing and the flames are fierce. At one point yesterday we had at least 9 separate fires burning in San Diego county. And while there is still danger and fear around…it’s time to think about a photo challenge for the week. I had one all ready to go…and then changed my mind and decided to go in a different direction–literally and figuratively.
Seeing the sky fill with smoke creates an urge to move…to check on your home and neighborhood, to see what is going on, to make sure children and animals are safe. This photo was my “going” photo yesterday…as fires moved into my area.
But earlier in the week, I had done some other versions of “going places” as I headed up to the Bay Area to attend a conference and visit my son…and took advantage of the opportunity to ride the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).
Sometimes going places is as simple as taking the dog out for a walk around the neighborhood. (You can see I fell a bit behind as I stopped along the way to take photos of other interesting things in the neighborhood!)
And then there’s this little guy who is genetically programmed (I think) to determine his travels based on eating his way through all available milkweed. I love how the butterflies who lay the eggs seem to be always going places and somehow know how to find milkweed…this particular box of milkweed is outside my classroom.
So this week’s photo challenge is to capture an image or images that show someone or something going places. As always, you are welcome to interpret “going places” in ways that suit you best! Post either the photo alone or along with writing inspired by the photo. I also invite you to use others’ photos as inspiration for your own writing and photography. I often use another photographer’s image as “mentor text” for my own photography, trying to capture some element in my own way.
I like to share my images and writing on social media…and I invite you to share yours widely too. (You might consider Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google+) Use the hashtag #goingplaces and include @nwpianthology to make it easy for us to find and enjoy. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram @kd0602. I’d love to follow you if you share your handle.
You can also share your photos and writing by linking to this blog post or sharing in the comment section below. How will you show going places through your lens? I can’t wait to find out!
Fire!
Palm trees, the Pacific ocean, mild temperatures, sea breezes…paradise in so many ways. But this week we are reminded that even in beautiful southern California, there are risks and dangers that make us all feel powerless and frightened.
High temperatures, low humidity, Santa Ana winds…and extreme drought conditions… combine to make the scariest of conditions for us this week. This is fire weather.
And yesterday…with temperatures into the 90s on the coast, the worst happened, a fire erupted. In these conditions, the smallest of sparks is fanned into a raging inferno. With a single fire yesterday, all fire resources were focused on battling that fire. My husband watched air drops from his office window. Schools were evacuated, residents were evacuated…no buildings burned and that fire is at 50% containment.
Today it was already more than 80 degrees when I woke up…and was warming quickly. Before the end of our minimum day, as I spent time observing reading groups, I noticed what appeared to be clouds in the sky. As I walked out to take a closer look, and take a photo, I noticed the dark smoke in the distance and headed to the office to find out if there was more information about nearby fires. I had heard earlier that there were fires on Camp Pendleton (a nearby military base), but this new smoke was much closer…a few miles from home.
Shortly after students left, we had an announcement that our staff meeting was canceled and we were free to go to our homes–with many teachers living close to areas threatened by the fire. The thing about fires is that they are unpredictable. They aren’t easily controlled and they turn in an instant. Winds whip them this way and that and they create their own weather systems within the fire itself, fanning the flames and generating tremendous energy that seems to spin the destruction in all directions. 100 degree temperatures didn’t help the firefighters, but water drops and the expertise and courage of these people manage to keep devastation to a minimum.
At one point this afternoon there were at least 7 active fires in the county…most in north county. Some houses have been lost, but human life at this point has not. School has been cancelled for tomorrow and uncertainty prevails. I’m fortunate, my family and home are safe…for now, but we are watchful and vigilant because this is not yet over.
Here are a few photos of the fires…courtesy of some of my friends who shared them on social media.
Bernardo fire, Tuesday (photo credit: Abby)
Oceanside fire, today. Photo credit: Janis
Carlsbad fire from Encinitas, Photo credit: Laura
Like tornados and earthquakes and floods and storms, wildfires are scary. They make you feel helpless and vulnerable…and they reveal all the weaknesses of our urban systems. Traffic jams up, electricity capacity is compromised, and we often realize we do not have the plans in place that will serve us best in an emergency. My bags are packed…just in case…and the cat carriers are ready if things change and we have to leave our home.
In the meantime, thank you firefighters for your amazing service, expertise, and dedication. I hate fire weather, but I love this place. I understand that wildfires are a natural part of our ecosystem, made more difficult because of urban development, but it doesn’t make me like them. It does make me more wary about fire, and more vigilant about paying attention to fire safety advisements and preparation.
So, stay safe San Diego, take care of yourself and each other. It’s supposed to be hot again tomorrow…and then cool off. I hope tomorrow brings good news and containment!
A Mother’s Day Adventure
Sometimes one invitation creates space for new adventures and unexpected opportunities. And for me that invitation led to today’s Mother’s Day adventure.
Tomorrow I will attend the 100Kin10 Summit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco–an effort focused on improving STEM teaching by bringing interested stakeholders in lots of different fields together to support teacher development and retention. But more about that later…
So this morning I was on the move, heading to San Francisco on Mother’s Day to spend the day (and night) with my son and daughter-in-law. And all of today’s travels were adventures…trying some new ways to getting where I needed and wanted to go.
I started my morning on an airline I hadn’t flown before. I made my decision based on both price (of course) and on my need to fly into SFO. There were lots of choices…and Southwest is usually my go to airline for short jaunts like this. But this time I decided to try out Virgin America. Advantages: same cost as Southwest, secured seat assignment (no worries about checking in exactly 24 hours before your flight to get your line-up number). It also has a very different vibe…feels a bit “retro” and “hip”…especially the safety features video (a music video piece…quite amusing!). The purple light decor and the music that played during the boarding process added to that feeling.
My flight arrived early into San Francisco…another plus, and I headed off to find the BART. Today I would ride the Bay Area Rapid Transit system from the airport to my son’s house in the east bay. I’ve ridden BART before, but not from SFO and not to my son’s house. And you probably know, when you don’t do something very often, each time feels like something new. Figuring out how to buy the ticket was probably the trickiest part of my journey…and it wasn’t too challenging.
I spent the BART ride people watching and taking photos of the scenery passing by. While the train was relatively empty when I got on at the airport, it continued to fill as we headed from station to station toward the city. There were travelers with luggage, young people with backpacks, families…a cute family with three exuberant boys got on at one point, the young couple with the bouquet of flowers for her mom, the guy with the electric bike that he positioned between his knees so he could sit and work his crossword puzzle for the journey, the older woman who was off to spend the day with her son, the cute older couple who held hands as they found seats, and more…
I took this shot by shooting out the window while we traveled at a fast pace through a tunnel, capturing the reflection of people in the car with me.
It was fun to watch and notice and recognize the different communities along the way, from the colorful houses on the hillsides between the airport and the downtown area to views of the oil rigs and shipping containers outside of Oakland, and then the expansive hillsides of the suburban east bay communities. I arrived as scheduled, ready for my son to pick me up.
After being treated to lunch out with my son and daughter-in-law, we had a relaxing Mother’s Day, hanging out at their house, catching up and talking, and playing with Roscoe…their Corgi. We were still on the move as we headed out for a walk into the sunny and warm afternoon, giving me an opportunity to explore their neighborhood.
And…it gets better…my son cooked a delicious dinner for us! The perfect ending to a wonderful day filled with adventure, movement, and love. I’ll be back on BART tomorrow, commuting with my son this time, as he heads in to work and I head in for the conference…
A Conversation With a Duck
Sometimes a conversation with a duck takes a surprising turn.
This guy had a lot to say about my camera and the intrusion of his privacy. He stood right up and let me know that my attention was not wanted. Before I had walked toward him, he had been sitting in this spot, relaxing in the cool and sunny afternoon sun. A couple of females swam nearby. This little body of water sits next to a local community college…across the street from the local lagoon.
As I walked back toward my car, this mallard continued his conversation as he stepped into the water and swam upstream, against the current.
I’ve been working to capture some of the sounds I hear on my photo walks these days. And it’s hard. When I am out walking and taking photos and noticing the world around me, I also hear amazing sounds…like the conversation with the duck. Unfortunately, the microphone on my iPhone is simply not sensitive enough to capture these conversations with nature.
Today I headed out to a portion of the lagoon I had never explored before. It was strangely desolate…dry, smelly…not the lush environment I experienced closer to the shore. I could hear so much more than I could see in this setting. Birds called, dragonflies and bees buzzed, the rushes whispered, and I could hear the white noise of the traffic from the freeway not far in the distance. I came across this sign…and it made me wonder if the birds take note of information like this!
As I explored this dry and deserted environment, I noticed these strangely unique plants…I don’t know what they are called and haven’t seen them before…but was immediately drawn to them. My husband called them alien flowers and immediately began a narrative about visitations from aliens (he is a big sci-fi aficionado). Personally, I think these thistle-looking flowers are beautiful!
As I walked along the road away from the lagoon toward my car, I found myself thinking about the distinctions between weeds and native species…and in many cases, I think they may be one in the same! I doubt that anyone planted these flowers, but I recognize them as native. I have seen them often in and around the lagoon…and they are lovely…especially as they blow in the sea breezes. They are like miniature sunflowers or daisies…brilliant yellow…the definition of spring!
I walked through many patches of these flowers growing wild along the side of the road, attracting bees and other pollinators, and simply making the road more beautiful than ordinary dirt and asphalt ever thought of being. And then I noticed this tree, large and stately…and likely home to many birds and bugs, and shade to many more.
I learn so much on my walks with my camera…even when I don’t capture it in images. Today I was much more aware of sounds than images. What looked like dried grasses and brush hinted at a richness of life within. I could hear birds calling, the rustle of animals, and the wind singing in tune with the plant life. I came across a hidden babbling brook and wondered if the water were fresh or brackish. At one point a bee came to whisper in my ear and stayed with me longer than I really wanted.
And so I am reminded to not just look…but also to listen to the world around me. There is so much to be learned from a conversation with a mallard or the whispers of a bee, if you just take the time to listen.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Chasing Shadows
Enjoy taking photos? Love to share them with others? Welcome to this week’s photo challenge! (I post a new challenge every week…check in each week and join the fun!)
Inspired by the Daily Create (and a little nudge from Kevin), I’ve been chasing shadows today. Actually, when I first saw the daily create prompt for today, shadow guessing, my thoughts immediately went to a photo I took over the weekend.
I’m sure you know by now that I love to walk on the beach. Something you might not know is that my husband (who often accompanies me on my walks) loves to walk with a trash bag in hand to pick up trash from the beach. About a year or so ago I discovered the #litterati movement–people taking and posting photos of trash they come across, especially in nature, and then throw away. By posting these photos on social media using the #litterati hashtag, they hope to bring more attention to the importance of taking care of our world. This shadow is my husband as #litterati.
And then I remembered this photo of a sign in Ocean Beach that projected a wonderful shadow of itself…perfectly positioned for a picture!
But I wanted to find photos to take today…hence, the shadow chasing rather than shadow guessing prompt. Luckily we had some sun this afternoon, and as I headed to my car after work I came across some interesting shadows.
And I love that the light stays out longer these days. The sun was still present even when I got home this evening. I captured this interesting shadow playing with the railing on the stairs in my house.
So this week’s photo challenge is to chase some shadows…or create some shadows. You can play shadow guessing or chase some interesting shadows that you just can’t resist snapping up with your lens. Post either the photo alone or along with writing inspired by the photo. I also invite you to use others’ photos as inspiration for your own writing and photography. I often use another photographer’s image as “mentor text” for my own photography, trying to capture some element in my own way.
I like to share my images and writing on social media…and I invite you to share yours widely too. (You might consider Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google+) Use the hashtag #shadow and include @nwpianthology to make it easy for us to find and enjoy. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram @kd0602. I’d love to follow you if you share your handle.
You can also share your photos and writing by linking to this blog post or sharing in the comment section below. Go out and chase some shadows…who knows what interesting images the shadows will help you create!
Morning Light
When you live in a place with moderate temperatures all year long, the end of winter and the beginning of spring often pass unnoticed. Plants grow and flowers bloom all year long…outdoors! So this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge at the Daily Post was a hard one. I feel like I have already posted photos of beautiful blooms and outdoor fun…so what does spring really mean to me?
We had a few days of unseasonably hot weather last week…it felt more like September than the end of April/beginning of May. But this week we’re back to more usual, cooler temps (in the 60’s).
I came across this quote from photographer Henri Cartier Bresson last night and realized that I, too, use my camera as a sketchbook, capturing moments and feelings as I come across them.
“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.” ― Henri Cartier-Bresson
I’ve been paying attention to changes in light and color, especially when it comes to my photography, trying to capture those instances of soft glow and light that seem to kiss the subject. And I have instances in my camera roll that capture these noticings.
This morning my eye was drawn to the clouds on my way to work…and I had to pull over to snap a few shots of the ocean and the clouds above.
And while the original was nice, I love the way the filter adds even more dimension to the clouds.
Even before I left the house this morning I had my camera (phone) out as I noticed Phil laying on our new rug (no furniture in that space yet) in the morning light. This is unedited and unfiltered.
On Saturday morning my husband was up early baking. I could smell his handiwork as I woke up, knowing that he enjoys the early morning quiet for his cooking creativity. When I made my way down to the kitchen, I saw the blueberry pie cooling in the morning light and couldn’t resist taking a photo.
Later that morning, when I was walking on the beach I noticed the reflection of this fishing pole on the sand. And I managed to not only capture the reflection of the pole in the wet sand and also the soft light on the beach on a sunny Saturday morning in May.
Now that spring is here, the days are longer and I’m noticing differences in the quality of light, especially in the morning and early evening. So maybe spring is about light for me. At least right now it is.
Thinking Through My Lens 