To use this photo as a desktop wallpaper, download the standard (1600 x 1200) resolution or the widescreen (1900 x 1200) resolution.

When I browse through my photos looking for subjects that other people might find interesting, I’m often short of breathtaking landscapes or other good fodder for desktop wallpaper. Many of my photos are of textures like the burned log above.

I’m fascinated by the detail and the colors of things close-up, but I have a lot to learn about taking good macro photos. Some of my limitations come from my relatively simple camera. Other areas where I need to improve include picking a focal point. In the photo above, for instance, it’s hard to say what the focal point is.

But I love all the abstract patterns and the cracks in the wood that draw your eye deeper into the photo. I love that that the colors are so compelling, even though they are so few.

I’m attracted to texture and complexity in other photographers’ work as well. You may be familiar with the work of Chris Jordan, the photographer who does the composite images of American waste like cell phones, plastic bottles, and plastic bags. The social subject is fascinating, but the colors and textures of his work appeal to me as well, especially the increasingly zoomed in shots of the 2 million plastic bottles used in the U.S. every five minutes or the 426,000 cell phones retired in the US every day from his “Running the Numbers” collection. If you’re not familiar with Chris Jordan’s work, his website is well worth browsing.

For a little Friday treat, here’s a video clip of Chris Jordan being interviewed by Stephen Colbert. Enjoy.

If you can’t see the video above, you can find it here.

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Posted: November 16th, 2007 under Photos.
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To use this photo as a desktop wallpaper, download the standard (1600 x 1200) resolution or the widescreen (1900 x 1200) resolution.

I see many things wrong with this photo, and yet I like it. Perhaps it’s the colors, the way blue shades into deeper blue, drawing the eye down. Blue is a calming color; maybe that’s why I like this photo so much. Or perhaps it’s the subject, the way the tree leans out, yet grips the rock firmly with its roots. And I like the audacity of the red leaves on the left, catching your eye among the cooler colors. Whatever the exact combination of elements, when I see this photo my shoulders relax, I breathe a little slower, and I smile. I have a feeling that I’ll need this kind of serenity in the frenzy of the month to come.

To make this photo better, I think I should have taken a step back. I remember getting close because I wanted to capture as much of that beautiful blue as I could, but stepping back would have helped the composition considerably. I wish the tree on the left wasn’t cut in half. I wish the tree leaning out was framed so that the fork landed in one of the sweet spots of the rule of thirds. Similarly, I wish I had tilted the shot up, so that the red leaves hit the lower left sweet spot. I like the patches of light on the rock and on the trunk of the center tree, but it washes out the color of the leaves a little too much. Technically, there are probably more problems with this photo than good qualities. And yet, it appeals to me. It just could have been so much more.

What do you think? I’m always working on developing my skills and welcome your input. Please leave your feedback in the comments.

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Posted: November 2nd, 2007 under Photos.
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Yesterday I wrote a tutorial on some simple photo editing techniques, using this photo as an example. The original photo is shown to the right, and the result is below.

I enjoyed many elements of the original photo, like the way the grass partially frames the flower and the juxtaposition of the vivid flower against the bland rocks. The composition, however, is uninspired. The central position of the flower and the straightforward angle from which the photo was shot lead the viewer’s eye away from the flower itself and toward the distractions of the background.

I felt that the most interesting aspect of this photo was the way the deepening color of the heart of the flower draws the eye inward. I chose a plain black background to enhance this effect and make the vivid yellow even more compelling. If you’re interested in how I removed the background, please see yesterday’s tutorial.

I’m always working on developing my skills and welcome your input. Please leave your feedback in the comments.

To use this photo as a desktop wallpaper, download the standard (1600 x 1200) resolution or the widescreen (1900 x 1200) resolution.

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Posted: October 19th, 2007 under Photos.
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This was the view out my back door from 7:00 this morning to 7:05.

I was working on the computer when I saw a strange glow out of the corner of my eye. It was the sunrise reflecting off the buildings to the west. That’s interesting, I thought to myself, and got up to have a look. When I turned around, I saw this out the kitchen window. I grabbed my camera, ran outside, and started taking photos.

But my camera isn’t the greatest, my hands aren’t the steadiest, and the light, while beautiful, wasn’t that strong. I raced back upstairs for the tripod, set it up, and took one photo. Then my batteries died. The color was leaking from the sky, the clouds passing on their way, the sun piercing the trees. All I could do was watch, and laugh.

Yesterday was dark and gloomy. If things had gone against me like this yesterday, I probably would have sat down and cried. But today, the experience itself was almost enough. Even if I didn’t have any photos to show for it, I would still be happy.

Lesson: Make your own internal weather. And buy more rechargeable batteries.

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Posted: October 2nd, 2007 under Inspiration, Photography, Photos.
Comments: 2

Every other Friday I post one of my photos. I’m always working on developing my skills and welcome your input. Please leave your feedback in the comments.

To use this photo as a desktop wallpaper, download the standard (1600 x 1200) resolution or the widescreen (1900 x 1200) resolution.

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Posted: September 28th, 2007 under Photos.
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