EARTH IN ABSTRACT
Read More
I visited beautiful Bryce Canyon (in the southern state of Utah) on a brisk and stellar February day. It was truly an amazing day to say the least, and having never been there before I was in utter “Awe”! I was not only lucky to arrive on a sunny day but after a fresh snow fall too! Everywhere I looked the colours seemed saturated, especially in contrast with the shadow cast snow and the high altitude, deep blue sky (the rim is 8000 - 9000 ft. above sea level) . Albeit very cold (-5C, 23F) and very windy, we hiked to the valley floor below, were it was surprisingly warmer, I even peeled off our jacket! On the climb back up I happened upon this view and knew it would make an amazing abstract. With the "rule of thirds" in mind, I captured this shot as you see it. There were trees above the snow line however I chose not to include them in the shot. Notice the the colours! The snow in the distance is purple-blue in color (drawing from the blue sky). The brilliance of the orange and yellow sandstone was the result of reflective lighting from where I stood (I was standing on a vertical ledge and the sunlight bounced back off the wall of the ledge below me). Did you notice that the sun highlights the lip of the yellow sandstone? It's exactly what I looked for when I shot outdoor portraiture. I thoroughly enjoy abstract photography; I hope this photo leaves you wondering, “What is it and where is it?”.
I spent Christmas in Desert Hot Springs (with some dear friends) and although I wanted to travel home to my family I had to considered the implications; my tightening time frame (to the set up of the Arizona Fine Art Expo) and then of course, the threat of covid exposure. One of the most visually interesting things in Palm Springs are the 100's of wind turbines that cover the valley floor and hillsides; my objective here (besides Christmas!) was to get some "signature" shots of the Coachella Valley. It was late day when I noticed a sudden weather change so off I went, to my pre-planned photographic destination. With my tripod firmly anchored in the desert sand and my camera focused on a grouping of wind turbines, I suddenly noticed a change in overall color, and then I noticed why.... and you might say I changed my "focus"! The first thing I noticed was the complimentary colors of the hillsides and then I noticed the matching colors of the sky! "Really!" I exclaimed to myself! I was SO excited! It was (truly) so thrilling to witness this! I'm sure though, that most people wouldn't have noticed the colors of the hillsides but I'm so color intuitive that they "screamed" (lol) at me! With little time to spare, I removed my camera from my tripod, switched lenses and hand held this shot. I wanted a high quality panoramic shot of this scene so this photograph is actually comprised of three shots (that I later stitched together in post production). Sure, I didn't get the shots of the wind turbines I wanted but I got this shot instead; which made my day!
This astrophotograph is first for me. That said however there are so many different facets to photography that I don't think a photographer could possibly be proficient in them all; and because of this, our skills keep evolving. That said, it's with passionate curiosity that I continue to feed my passion. It was really hard to see and frame this shot in the dark so image my surprise when my favorite shot included a falling star! Taken at 1 a.m., facing south at Abraham Lake Alberta. The light (pollution) in the mountain valley is likely Banff and/or Calgary. Look for more astrophotography and aurora photos to come!
Death Valley (California) is known for extremes; it is North America's driest and hottest spot with fewer than two inches/five centimeters of rainfall annually and a record high of 134°F. It too has the lowest elevation on the continent (282 feet below sea level) and yet is only 76 miles from the highest point in the country, Mt. Whitney (at 14,505 feet) and two hours west of Las Vegas. I intentionally composed this photo to make you ( the viewer) question, "What is that?”. It's a barren mountainside, as seen from Zabriskie Point. From here the point offers a stunning and impressive panoramic views of the badlands; it’s various metals have oxidized the clay creating eye-popping reds, yellows, greens, blues, and purples. What a sight to see! There's a 2.5 mile loop trail that leads you through gullies and gulches, however because of our time restrictions, we weren’t able to explore it. We’ll have to go back!
The northern lights are truly Mother Nature’s fireworks. This was my first photo shoot of the aurora borealis and although it wasn’t a spectacular display this photograph (along with the experience being up at such a strange hour) has me hooked. As I stood in complete darkness, I felt a fearless sense of peace in the solitude, and a calm in my own stillness. It was amazing! I look forward to my next “wee” hour photo shoot!
I love seeing the "earth in abstract"; with eyes that see so much more. When I view Mother Nature's gifts I see beyond a glance.... I see lines, repeated patterns, mixed patterns, vivid colors (obviously!), textures, unique shadows and lighting, just to mention a few. These natural and unique abstracts often go unnoticed, unless you're looking for them. These colors are just as I saw them however some might think they're too vivid, or perhaps unreal. That said however I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to photography but I am also the artist. If "art is in the eye of the beholder", then I have artistic editing choices to make (and it doesn't matter what other's think). We all have our own personal preference(s) in art. I arrived early at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and although it was cold (well below freezing) I wanted to catch the first rays of sunlight. It wasn't long however before the sun filled the canyon and the warm reflective rays felt so amazing! At 7000 feet the sky was exceptionally blue and the sun was so bright that I could hardly see into the canyon. As held my hand over my eyes to see into the canyon, this is what I saw! Wow! The bright yellow cliff-side was being illuminated by the reflective light from the cliff-side I was standing on, and the early morning haze accentuated the colors within the canyon. I suspect most people wouldn't have noticed these vivid colors but I sure didn't! Wow!
Over the years I've grown to appreciate and love all art, and it occurred to me one day that art is so much more than my personal taste or a first impression but that there is an "art" to observation. To stop and look beyond our first impression we see the subtleties in the details and gain greater appreciation. That said, when I approach a scene (or peace of art), it's more about how I see the scene than my first impression. This photo is a prime example. At first, I only noticed the vivid pink leaves (!) but with an intent to observe, I noticed a beautiful blue truck was parked behind the trees, which resulted in this myriad of color.
We visited beautiful Bryce Canyon (in the southern state of Utah) on a brisk and stellar February day. It was truly an amazing day to say the least, and having never been there before I was in utter “Awe”! We were lucky to not only arrive on a sunny day but after a fresh snow fall as well. Everywhere I looked the colours seemed saturated, especially in contrast with the shadow cast snow and the high altitude, deep blue sky (the rim is 8000 - 9000 ft. above sea level) . Albeit very cold (-5C, 23F) and very windy, we hiked to the valley floor below, were it was surprisingly warmer, we even peeled off our jackets! As we climbed back up to the rim, I happened to notice this view across the way, and I knew it would make an absolutely amazing panoramic abstract. With the "rule of thirds" in mind, I captured this shot and a few others of similar. What’s not shown in this photo are the trees above the snow line, but I chose to crop them out so your eye wouldn’t be drawn to them; instead, I want you to notice the the vibrant colors! The snow in the distance is a purple-blue color because it has absorbed the deep blue color of the sky, and the brilliance in the oranges and yellow sandstone is a result of the sunlight reflecting off the canyon wall falling away, below my feet. Notice too that the sun kisses the lip of the sandstone pillars, which helps to define the ridges by separating the two orange tones. This panoramic shot is one of my (all time) favorites, and it hangs on our family’s wall.
I haven't been taking too many photos these days because of all the mosquitos here in the North West (with thanks to a very wet spring and summer). I don't "do" mosquitos very well and doing battle while taking photos is challenging! My brief departure from working out in the field however has given me an opportunity to work on some of my favorite photos from earlier this year; including this one. With my full format camera in hand, I took this photo knowing I'd be cropping it into the panoramic format you see here. I wanted to showcase just a sliver of the forest; using the vertical lines, the variety in textures and these soft and subtle colors to entertain the inquisitive viewer. Mother nature truly created this abstract but it takes a creative and inquisitive eye to see it. :-)
I can't begin explain the level of excitement I feel when given the opportunity to capture some of this world's most amazing places. Even more exciting however is to come across scenes like this that are truly unique and different; they usually involve the weather and the sun (or lack of). In this photo, thick valley fog, falling snow and darkness completely surrounded me; winter was in the air. I was focusing on a field of wispy bulrushes when to my astonishment the sun suddenly appeared, and only on this tiny spot. I had no time to waste, so I found the best composition and adjusted my camera accordingly. I was elated by the vibrant, vivid and contrasting colors; they demand the viewer's attention. That said, I thoroughly enjoy sharing these rare photographic moments with you. I hope that you can feel the "wow" too.
My favorite time to photograph the Grand Canyon is during the “golden hour”; the hour after sunrise and before sunset. The day we were there however, the colors of the setting sun (and subsequent bounced lighting) were lack luster; so I looked for other photographic opportunities. When I looked across the canyon, I noticed the many layers between foreground and background, I knew instantly that this was going to be a great shot. Notice how dark the foreground is (both in color and in density) then, notice how light the far-off mountains are (also both in color and density). What I love most about this photograph are the the many layers, the contrast and the vivid colors!
One of my favorite types of photography is abstract. Abstract photography can is presented in so many forms but I personally enjoy what I call, “Earth In Abstract”, which is essentially the way I see the earth (in an impressionistic way). As an expressionistic photographer, I hone in on linear lines, repeated patterns, strange formations, unusual markings, bold colors and contrast. Equally important in abstract photography however is its composition and cropping; both of which can “make or break” an abstract. That said, although it may be easier to break some the compositional rules in abstract photography, I do remain committed to my personal photographic boundaries (which makes each abstract photographer uniquely different). What I love most about this image is how the background linear lines interact with the opposing grapevine.
"A Long Winter's Day" While traveling east through the Logan Canyon Utah, the morning’s lake effect fog (from Bear Lake) was on the rise and clinging to the aspen trees on the hillside as it did. Watching the movement of the fog through the intermittent rays of sunshine was mesmerizing, and it was so pretty. As I drove I saw this beautiful grouping of aspen trees and also noticed a great place to park right beside them so I drove on, in hopes of finding somewhere safe to turn around. Fortunately, within a mile there was a Nordic area with a large parking lot which gave me plenty of room to maneuver the 22 foot trailer I was pulling. The entrance however was on a corner and I wondered why there wasn’t a “No left turn” sign and why there weren’t double solid lines either. With alarm bells ringing in my head, I slowed to a stop and proceeded cautiously. Just as I was ready to turn, a snow plow truck came barreling around the corner! Oh my gosh, one more second and… well, yikes! We sat dumbfounded by what had just happened and counted our blessings! When I got back on the highway, I looked for a road sign again…. notta one. I was (am) sick to think what could have happened and worry for the next poor soul. Yes, every photo or piece of art work has a story; be sure to ask the artist. I love linear art and patterns (as seen in this photo), so I tend to notice and find that in nature. What I love most about this photo are the intersecting vertical and horizontal lines and colors (or lack of them). I feel this photograph’s simplicity is very calming, thus appealing. That said, not every photo needs a demanding focal point, some photos (like this one), you may merely want to wander in and get lost.
One of my favorite types of photography is abstract. Abstract photography can is presented in so many forms but I personally enjoy what I call, “Earth In Abstract”, which is essentially the way I see the earth (in an impressionistic way). As an expressionistic photographer, I hone in on linear lines, repeated patterns, strange formations, unusual markings, bold colors and contrast. Equally important in abstract photography however is its composition and cropping; both of which can “make or break” an abstract. That said, although it may be easier to break some the compositional rules in abstract photography, I do remain committed to my personal photographic boundaries (which makes each abstract photographer uniquely different).
"Antelope Canyon Color Explosion”
Antelope Canyon is a slot Canyon situated on Navajo land; slightly south-east of Page Arizona. There are actually two canyons; the upper and lower Antelope canyons. The southern upper canyon is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, which (at certain times of the year), produces beautiful beams of light inside the canyon. Lower Antelope on the other hand, is much smaller at the bottom, and wider at the top. On this day, we chose to enter the upper canyon. To view the canyon, we had to purchase a tour. The tour took us on a 2-3 mile open jeep ride through a sandy wash and to the entrance of the Canyon. Once there, we were split into groups; luckily for us we were in a tiny group. We were assigned a vern informative guide who explained that the sandstone canyon was created by years of erosion and flash floods. These flash floods he said, can be deadly so they watch the weather forecast closely. It was a sunny day in February when we visited, and it had been nice for days so we didn’t have anything to worry about. That said however, although we thought we’d see the beams of light that enter from above, we didn’t. Unaware of the sun and canyon’s orientation, we discovered they are only visible from the end of March to early October. Oh well, regardless it was amazing! We left feeling blessed with the intimate experience of this, one of Mother Earth’s greatest treasures. In reflection, I remember how thrilled we were to have shared our day and how pleased we were with our photographic memories too; including this photo. We had a blast!
One late September afternoon, while hiking along the Bow River (near Lake Louise, Alberta), I came across this interesting image floating (if you will) on the river's service. "Floating", you might ask? Well, no... it's actually a reflection of the valley scene on the water's surface. I was in the Rocky Mountains to shoot the vibrant fall colors of the native larch trees however on this overcast day I chose to look for the "abnormal" instead, and found this. What I find most interesting about this photograph are the shapes and contrast of the clouds reflecting in the water, which gives this photograph a painterly style.
One late fall afternoon in Sedona, I noticed some strange cloud formations begin to roll in and wondered if they’d stick around and lead to yet another one of Arizona’s famous sunsets. In anticipation, I grabbed my camera, my 200-600mm len and got everything set and ready to go on my tripod, just in case. Sure enough, as the sun began to sink behind the Misgus mountain range those clouds came alive with colour. "Wow" I enthusiastically thought, "The entire sky is filled with colour". I took a few shots before I reviewing them and in so doing I noticed that the colours were not true to what I saw; obviously my camera was auto correcting the colour. What I saw behind the clouds was the brilliant blue sky however because I had my camera set to auto white balance, that sky was yellow. Quickly, before the sun sank, I flipped through the colour balance choices until of found the one that was true in colour and I immediately gave a mental thanks to the gentleman whom years ago that taught me that. I continued then to snap quite a few more, until I thought I had what I wanted and I packed everything up. A few moments later however I looked again and the sky was even more magnificent so I again set everything up and shot a few more, until I thought I had what I wanted and I packed everything up. Wouldn’t you know it, a few moments later I repeated the entire process but it was so worth the effort! "Captivating", as I named this photo, was one of my last photos I took and I chose it as my favourite because of the range in colours and densities throughout the entire photograph. While travelling, I’ve witnessed a number of sunsets however none have been as spectacular, nor as frequent, as those I’ve seen in Arizona.
"River Dance" - Bow River, Lake Louise, Alberta I love abstract photography, those photo's that make you stop.... and then wonder, "What's that?". I'm always on the lookout for the absurd, unique and downright weird things (those that will make you gaze in wonderment and puzzlement) and then shoot away! As I walked along the glacier blue waters of Bow River in Lake Louise, Alberta, I spotted this strange reflective formation, it was dancing between the river rock (so intriguing). Notice the rings around the smaller rocks, they add a stronger, more defined element of shape, which in turn enhances the focal point even more. When I was editing this photo, I couldn't decide which way to rotate it!.... but, in the end, what you see here is the way I saw it. This being said, remember YOU are the artist (in post-production), when you're editing your abstract photos. Have fun exploring and looking for things that are out of ordinary; you're sure to find inspiring abstracts everywhere! *I used a larger f-stop (of 11), to ensure the surface of the water and rocks would be in focus.
This photograph was taken at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, though it really could be anywhere. On this particular day we purposely walked barefooted through the sand; it was a February morning so it was cold! Why would I do such a thing you might ask, because I try to do something different every day and by doing that I create a memory specific to that day. That said however it helps to photo document everything. There are many ways in which I could have cropped this photograph however it's important to remember the direction of flow; and in this case its flow approached me vertically. So, because the footprints approached ME (a mother) I just had to call this photo "Homeward Bound” ....where you’re always welcome.
This photo is started off being the face of a large boulder, then I had fun with it in Photoshop, and transformed it into an abstract.
I love abstract photography. I find joy in searching and noticing nature's little (or not so little) details; perhaps those that others would miss. One October day (while out ATVing with friends) we ventured up into the alpine and along the way we stopped at a vista to capture the valley views. Across the way a was a mountain slop that recently been logged, which made way for the young deciduous trees to flourish. The combination of the fall colours, the green of the coniferous trees and the white snow created this interesting pattern. Although this photo lacks a focal point, viewers are drawn to it out of curiosity. LOL, can you imagine this shot made in to a puzzle!
"Granite Mountain" Scottsdale, AZ Finding and planning photographic locations takes time and physical effort but the reward can often yield some fantastic memories and photographs. That said, scoping out a location is never a chore, it’s a sincere joy! This photograph was taken on the Granite Mountain Loop Trail (north-east Scottsdale, on the Senoran Preserve). As we approached the park's entry gate we heard a beeping noise and discovered that the gate's automatic opener was malfunctioning. As we waited (along with other guests) for the gait to correct itself my partner graciously volunteered to wait and stay with his vehicle so I could cycle off. I had noticed this hillside scene on a previous ride but now (with the early morning sun and the passing storm clouds), it was even more stunning! The color version of this photograph is also a winner however I love how the de-saturated colors created a more powerful and demanding scene. When I’m engulfed in my passions (early morning starts, cycling, hiking and photography), it is truly my “happy place”. That said, what could possibly be more enjoyable then traveling and discovering such spectacular places like this!
