Fragments

There are some images that don't quite make it as a "complete" photograph. The photographer Minor White, who I was incredibly lucky to study with for 3 years while I was at RIT, referred to those images as "fragments." I think that it is really useful concept to be aware of. Sometimes when I am struggling to make a photograph after seeing something that interests me, I realize that it will never be a complete photograph, but it can be an interesting fragment. I think that this shadow of an ornate railing in an old mansion falls into this category. It's nice, and I thought it was worth taking.

The Bridal Shoot

Wow, look at all that's going on here! It's a bridal shoot that I did in one of the great old Long Island mansions. Lovely architectural backgrounds, beautiful light from the large windows, and the models were easy on the eyes as well. But these things don't just happen - they require an entire cast, including the producer who chooses the dresses, those who get the clothing to the shoot, unpack the clothing, jewelry, and shoes, set clothes up on hangars, steam the wrinkles out, and then there are the two hair and makeup stylists and finally, the clothing stylist. Wow! Oh, and the photographer. That's me! That's a lot of people. I find the specific location in the house, and set up my electronic flash units to light the scene. Just before I get to shoot, the hair, makeup and stylists all swarm over the models to make sure everything is just so. "Clickclickclickclickclickclick..." and we are done with one shot, and on to the next.

The Mystery

This makes me crazy. I have labeled the photo "colonnade" but I am not sure this structure is one. I took this photo at Old Westbury Gardens, and I have two books about the gardens, and the PR Director's phone number. I can't find the books, and it is after 1:30 in the morning and it is a bit late for me to call her! I was here to photograph the gardeners making Christmas decorations for the main house, and when leaving spotted this as I drove past. It stopped me in my tracks! Isn't this just lovely? The combination of the beautiful architecture and trees in late fall has that wonderful feeling of a faded beauty which I love so well.

End of the Line

I was on the way home after my last assignment today, and realized that I hadn't seen anything worth shooting for the blog. I thought I would use an older photograph, and then I caught a glimplse of the sky. It was pretty spectacular with the grey overcast with breaks near the horizon, as seen through the clear cold air. The closer I got to home the better it got as the light continued to fade. I was shooting through the windshield with my Canon SD800, and when I came to these red lights with the power poles on either side, I realized I had something. I'm not sure what, of course, but the "something" I feel that I feel when I have seen a complete photograph, and not just a fragment of a photograph.

The Promise

So about two days ago I promised to stop posting photographs of the Japanese Maple. On the morning of the snow, I spent about half an hour photographing the tree, both up close and from a distance. I finally decided to post the close-up for visual variety on the page - I wanted a photo at a different scale, just to break up the sameness of the images. But I was struggling with that decision, and sent a couple of friends the photo that I was not using. They all wrote back and said "Post it!" So I am. I like the subtlety of this image. It seems more delicate, and there is more "going on" in the image (as we photographers are likely to say.) I think this is a "better" photograph than the close up. And now I will stop photographing the tree for the time being - as a result of a wind storm, most of the leaves are now gone. But what a gift this tree was to me this year.

Our First Snowfall

I woke up this morning to find the ground covered with a thin layer of light snow that had fallen in the early hours of the morning. This is quite unusual for us to get snow while there are still leaves on the trees. The snow was light enough sit gently on the tops of the leaves. I did mention a few postings ago, how delicate the leaves were on the Japanese Maple. Aren't they beautiful seen up close?

Early Morning on a Gray Day

One day last week I had to wake up early for an assignment. Unaccustomed as I am to rising early, I was lying in bed trying to come awake, and noticed the play of light and shadow on the bedroom curtains. I staggered out of bed, went downstairs, and returned with my Canon SD 800 point and shoot, and got back under the covers where it was warm, and then spent the next 5 minutes or so trying to find the best composition. It is amazing what kind of photographs we can find in the very familiar in our lives.