Tag Archives: photography

Let There Be Light: A Light Study

What started as a photo-a-day challenge for a month over a year ago has become a daily practice, a hobby, and maybe even a passion for me. I’ve noticed how my photographic eye has changed over time and how I am now thinking carefully not only about the subject of my photos, but also playing with framing, considering the rule of thirds, thinking about foreground and background, and studying light and its influence on the photo.

Today…Black Friday in the commercial, frenzied bargain hunting world…had us out early on this rare rainy day-after-Thanksgiving checking out bargains and enjoying time spent together. And after the errands and lunch, I desperately wanted to go to the beach on this stormy (at least by our standards) day.

As we drove along the coast toward home, I was on the lookout for an interesting place to stop with a clear view of the beach. We frequently go to the same beach, so today’s goal was to find another place–a new view–to explore.

We stopped at Ponto. And it was surprisingly crowded. The waves were big and the surfers plentiful. People were in bathing suits, full wetsuits, shorts and flip flops, and boots and jackets…it is Southern CA after all.

I already had my eye on the jetty in the distance. I knew I wanted to climb up on the rocks to get a great view of the sea. But on the way I was sidetracked by the collection of lifeguard towers and found myself trying many different angles to capture the light and the ocean in the background. I was struck by the dramatic differences in light and shadow. All of the photos were taken with my iPhone and are unedited and without any filters.

I know the rule about having the sun at your back for the best photos, but sometimes I find myself wanting to shoot into the sun. I love the way that shooting into the light creates silhouettes like in this picture of my husband looking out into the ocean.

And I also played with angling the light behind me to capture more light…and in this case, the movement of the water and waves as well.

When I pivoted 180 degrees in the other direction, the light my camera captured changed dramatically.

Understanding the light and being aware of the source of the light makes a dramatic difference in photography. By studying my photos I’ve learned some techniques that help me make more intentional choices rather than only happy (or unfortunate) accidents. It’s fun to play around and see how shifts in lighting change the photos.

Light can change the mood and tone of the photo, make it more pensive, more dramatic, or lighter and more playful. It changes colors, brightening or softening, creating depth and layers. Earlier today I was trying to capture raindrops with my iPhone, without much success…because light and reflection were working against me. I just couldn’t get enough contrast behind the drops to make them show through my lens. But you can be certain that I will keep trying…whenever the next rainy day comes along.

What have you learned from the light today?

Picture Perfect

Close to Home: Adventures with My Sister

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I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Boston–an interesting town that I only got a tiny taste of because of the demands of the conference schedule and my own travel constraints. I’ve been to Boston before and hope to go back before too long just to explore and revel in all there is to see and do!

And my sister arrived here in San Diego Saturday for a short visit to my parents (who live near me), so we made plans for a little adventure to the zoo today. My sister consistently visits twice a year, in the summer and at Christmas, usually with her family. So this unexpected, solo, pre-Thanksgiving visit is a treat! And although we invited our parents to come along with us today, when they declined we had a great time exploring, chatting, remembering…just the two of us.

Unlike Boston, San Diego is a place I know well–sometimes so well that I take it for granted. Today was a perfect November day. It was mild and sunny, perfect for walking and talking. Kristie and I grew up in this town and have been to the zoo more times than we can count. We remember the days when the zoo was always free for kids 16 and under…and spent many a day exploring the zoo without an adult in sight.

And although the zoo has continued to expand and evolve, much remains the same. We followed familiar paths and enjoyed watching the animals lounging and playing the early morning sun.

And when I caught a glimpse of the historic bridge from afar, I wanted to find a place where I could take a photo. So we tried to remember a place where the bridge was visible…and as we walked down the path, Kristie found that perfect spot where we could see it through the leaves.

I love the way this landmark is framed by the oranges, reds, greens and browns of autumn in San Diego.

We headed from the zoo to lunch at El Indio’s, my sister’s favorite Mexican restaurant and then off to the beach. Even though I live near the beach, I can’t go there often enough…and for my sister who no longer lives near the beach, an opportunity to smell the briny air, feel the sea breezes, and walk on the sand is a welcome treat.

We left our sweatshirts in the car and walked along the shoreline to the pier and back. It was so clear we could see far off into the distance…breathtaking! (Even when I see these views regularly!)

And then off we went to the glider port–a place we don’t remember going to as children, but a place with views that are amazing. We rumbled down the dirt road to the dirt parking lot, which was surprisingly full for a Monday afternoon. My sister called me optimistic as I navigated toward the end of the lot where we wanted to be…and she saw the perfect spot for us to park, just a few steps from the pathway to the cliff’s edge.

And although there were no gliders in sight today, we could see the pier where we had just walked. We looked over the steep cliffs and noticed erosive handiwork of the wind and water. The ocean sparkled and gleamed a brilliant blue in the November sun and we watched surfers hike up from the steep path to the beach…and walked partially down it ourselves for a closer view of the beach below.

We spent a few minutes watching someone get a hang gliding lesson, holding tightly to the giant parachute as he learned to control its movements.

It was a wonderful day to spend together, exploring this place that we know so well and yet has so many more experiences and secrets to discover. This is the place where we spent our childhood together and as adults have to steal away time from our families and work to share time and space and memories.

So many people have been expressing their gratitude during the month of November. During this week of Thanksgiving, I am thankful to have spent time with my sister on an adventure, close to home.

Love

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Even though we are already halfway through November, this morning was perfect for a walk on the beach. It was sunny and mild, perfect sweatshirt weather. Most of the people in the water were in full wetsuits, but there was the occasional beach-goer braving the cool water in trunks or bathing suit.

Toward the end of our walk I noticed this heart drawn in the sand and stopped to snap a photo.

A heart is a pretty obvious symbol representing love, but there is so much more that I think of when I look at this heart. I’m reminded that love is in the little things. I didn’t see who stopped to draw this heart in the sand, but whoever did took the time to kneel down and represent love in some way. This morning I know that my husband would have rather gone to the gym for his workout, but instead, he willingly headed off to the beach with me to walk on the beach…at high tide, no less!

In the long run, it’s not the big romantic gestures that matter most. The marriage proposals on the jumbo-tron, the diamonds, and the roses make a big splash but is the bowl of chicken soup carried to your bedside when you are sick, reaching for your hand when you look nervous, and taking time off work to take the cat to the vet that really make a difference.

In my view, love is being there for the long haul. Struggling together through the hard times and savoring the magic moments. It’s being up when your partner is feeling down, watching that romantic comedy when you’d rather see the latest science fiction adventure, and listening to that story…again.

Love is in the little things…like a heart drawn in the sand. And it’s not quite perfect. I like that it is open…there is still room to grow.

Reach for the Sky

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I spend many Saturday mornings immersed in professional learning. This morning was our first meeting of this year’s SDAWP Study Groups (a hybrid of book study and teacher research). Sixty teachers met this morning to participate in one of five groups…and the energy in the room was palpable!

In three hours we wrote, discussed our writing and the connections of our processes and preferences to the students we teach…and then broke into smaller groups to get to know one another, explore our new book, and make plans for reading and exploring ideas in our classrooms. All this on our own time, because we want to grow professionally with others who are also passionate about teaching and learning.

As I was leaving, I noticed hang gliders and paragliders soaring in the sky near the university. I remembered that the Torrey Pines Gliderport turn off was nearby, so I turned and followed the road down to a dirt parking lot. And there, along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was a spectacular view of the gliders and the ocean!

In spite of the cooler weather (after our 80 degree temps earlier in the week), the conditions were perfect for gliding…and for watching and photographing the gliders in action.

While I have no real desire to glide over the beautiful beaches of San Diego, I understand the urge to fly…to experience the freedom and excitement of soaring with the wind currents and looking at the world from a new perspective.

In some ways my experience in study groups this morning was a lot like hang gliding. There is energy and excitement in gathering with other interested educators to continue learning together. Interactions with teachers of all levels (K-college) and a variety of schools, districts, and teaching demographics offers new perspectives and views of teaching. Rich conversations stimulate thinking and encourage actions…we can’t wait to come back next month to share our beginnings and continue our conversations and learning.

What conditions for learning allow you to soar? How do you set up those conditions for your students?

Layers

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Today’s Weekly Photo Challenge asks us to think about layers…how they reveal, conceal, and make things more complex. When I think about layers, I think about teaching and learning.

When I teach I have to decide if I will start with the broad overview…the big picture and then zoom into the details. Or if I will start with a detail and continue to pull back to let the bigger picture be revealed. The best teaching is layered…creating a foundation that is continually built up so that learners can access the tools they need to keep growing. Learners need to see the beauty so they will continue to dig and uncover the magic of the subject at hand. This pier makes me think of all those different views, it’s like windows layered on each other, creating a view of possibility.

Some layers are more like the supportive structure of bridges or scaffolding. The layers create footholds and braces for continual progress. They are less about the view, but more about feeling safe enough to take some risks. It helps to know that when you stretch to reach the next rung, there are some toe holds to prevent a total collapse. When I teach, I want to layer supports like this bridge does, allowing students places to hang on to as they reach and stretch toward the next level.

Other layers are more like the stripes on these monarch caterpillars. The stripes represent the way our knowledge and skills continue to grow and build, layer upon layer. It makes me think of the small group of students who gathered in the classroom before school this morning. We’ve been learning computer programming…and some made a bit of a breakthrough earlier this week (see this post), and have been working in whatever stolen moments they can find to continue the designs they started. They’re excited and motivated…and they’re teaching each other and learning from each other as they learn from their successes and their mistakes along the way.

Like these caterpillars, they have been layering on their knowledge, black on white on yellow, black on white on yellow…as they experiment with the programming tools in Hopscotch. And like these caterpillars, they are getting bigger and stronger…and closer and closer to transforming into beautiful butterflies.

Layers are like that!

Muir Woods: a Photoessay

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Nestled in a valley not far from the knotted web of Bay Area traffic and coursing flow of humanity is a space dedicated to showcasing some of nature’s treasures.

The majesty of redwoods is best experienced in person. These giants are not only tall, but also express such personality. Each tree is unique from the next one. They seem to grow in families, clustered as if to offer support and companionship to one another.

I found myself intrigued by the light and shadows. At two in the afternoon, the sun struggled to penetrate these amazing tall trees. Occasionally we would see the soft glow of light where the sun found its way through the canopy.

I love the way this forest demonstrates how it sustains itself. Trees that have fallen and died, teem with live as decomposers work at recycling…returning the tree trunks to the soil to feed new life. As I paid close attention, I noticed these mushrooms growing from a broken trunk.

And as I continued walking I spied these beauties growing along the edge of the trail in with the clovers.

The stream was pretty shallow… After all, summer has just ended and the rainy season has not yet begun. I worked to capture the water’s movement…and to my surprise I captured the reflection of the trees above in the water!

And as a southern Californian who has to search for fall colors in trees, I noticed the leaves of the deciduous trees in my adventures today. There were no reds and oranges evident, but this yellow caught my eye.

Walking through the woods today was refreshing. The fresh, fragrant air and the natural beauty of the trees felt like a massage…relaxing and energizing.

What do you do to relax and rejuvenate? What amazing places do you have the opportunity Ito explore?

They’re Back…

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Last school year we planted milkweed in the planter box in front of our classroom…and had a front row seat to view the intricacies of the monarch life cycle.

As the school year continued, what was left of the milkweed (after the caterpillars had decimated it) died away and a native volunteer took over the box.

A week or so ago, a classroom mom came by and cleared out our box and replanted milkweed. And before even an hour had passed, a monarch friend had already visited. We’ve all been on the lookout for evidence of eggs and caterpillars since.

This week, they made their presence known! Teeny tiny yellow, green, and black caterpillars have made an appearance and are busily chomping away at the milkweed.

It is amazing just how quickly they grow from almost invisible to the eye, to plump little crawlers.

These are actually much smaller than they appear in the photo thanks to the magic of modern technology and cropping techniques! But you can see they have been quickly devouring this plant.

And so now we wait. Will these caterpillars survive long enough to grow to the size where they form a chrysalis and transform into butterflies? Is there enough milkweed there to sustain them? What predators will they have to avoid?

These beautiful creatures are fascinating to watch (and photograph), and seem to thrive in our school environment. I love that we don’t need to buy a butterfly “kit” to have our students learn about the majesty and wonder of the insect world.

I always find that the more I learn about something, the more I appreciate and notice the natural beauty right in front of my eyes! What critters sit outside your door for you to learn more about?

One Photo, Three Ways

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When daylight savings time ended early Sunday morning, our daylight hours also shrunk. Instead of getting home with some daylight left, it is now dark.

As I left the university this evening, it was already dark. Looking into the dark, evening sky I noticed the beautiful fingernail of a moon. Even knowing that my iPhone doesn’t take great pictures of the moon, I couldn’t resist pausing to take a shot.

When I got home I thought I would play with this image (which was better than I anticipated) using the app Tadaa. It has some interesting filters that work particularly well with playing with light and shadow.

Here’s a dark version:

I like the way the trees frame the moon in the distance and the reds and oranges are nested in the foreground. I couldn’t resist trying one of my favorite filters, otherland, and was surprised when it turned my dark, nighttime image to white. I love the way the moon is silhouetted in the white sky.