A photograph is not an accident – it is a concept. It exists at, or before, the moment of exposure of the negative. – Ansel Adams
Tag: photography
Project 365 | Day 79 5th Ave
This evenings photo was taken while I was out on my walk in the city. As I was crossing 5th Avenue in Pittsburgh, I stopped and took a few shots down the street. When I got home and uploaded the photos to my computer I was surprised at both the color of the sky and the fact that there wasn’t anyone on the street. Those of you that are familiar with Pittsburgh know that 5th ave is always busy. It is rare to find this street without humans especially just before dark.
What do you think of the composition of this photo?
Project 365 | Day 78 My Photographic Nemesis
For today I am posting what I refer to as my nemesis in photography.
I have been trying to photograph this cactus for many years and just have never been satisfied with the results. I have shot it from every angle, during every season, and just don’t seem to capture the darn thing the way I see it. I’ve tried just photographing parts of it, the whole thing, and sometimes I try putting in the background of another cactus.
And yet again during this trip to Phipps Conservatory I have attempted to capture this cactus and I may have finally at least come close to what I’m looking for but still just not there. I don’t know if it’s just the way the arms go in every direction and always seem to be in the wrong place or if it just doesn’t like having its picture taken.
I would love to hear your opinions on this cactus and let me know if you have any subject that just seems to elude you in your work.
Quote of the Day
The term accessories has come to include a host of photographic gadgets of questionable value… – Ansel Adams
Project 365 | Day 77 Portraits on a Wall
Unfortunately I was running a little behind today and didn’t make the midnight deadline for my post. I guess what they say is true “better late than never”. With that being said lets move on to the photo for tonight.
I took this photo on Monday afternoon while I was walking around town after work. If you are a follower of my blog you know that I spend a lot of time in the city of Pittsburgh walking and photographing just about anything, and Monday was no exception. I walked through a part of the city I normally avoid as there is a place called Pittsburgh Popcorn and every time I get near the place I end up buying popcorn, but that’s a completely different story. So anyhow, as I was walking and eating my caramel and chocolate covered popcorn, I turned up a small one way street and saw this sign on the wall. After closer inspection I really don’t know what the reasoning is behind the sign. But I took a couple of shots and moved on. After looking at this photo I really fell in love with the simplicity of the photo and the composition. I have both a color and B&W version of the photo but feel that the B&W really makes the photo “jump”. Isn’t it amazing how sometimes the simplest of composition and subject matter can make for an interesting photo?
What do you think about my Portraits on a Wall?
Project 365 | Day 76 The Majestic Orchid
As promised in yesterdays post I will be showing you what I feel is the most fascinating flower that I have ever photographed. The orchid has held my attention for years now and every chance that I get I photograph them. There is just something about them that really catches my eye and trying to portray those qualities in photography has become a quest for me.
Fun Facts about orchids:
When you look at an orchid you might think to yourself how delicate these flowers are, but in fact they live on every continent in the world except Antarctica. They range in size from about the size of a fingernail to the largest weighing in at several hundred pounds. They can live upwards of 100 years and their seeds are among the smallest in the world. Orchids have become the most popular household plant of all time.
Luckily in my area we have botanical garden that has many different orchids on display and I make several trips there to photograph them every year. The place that I’m referring to is Phipps Conservatory.
In this evenings post I’m going to show you a couple of different orchids and please don’t request their names. I’m just an admirer of the flowers not a botanist.
Of the orchids that I’m going to show you the white orchid is one of my favorites. This one was shot with available light and I just love the way the light highlights the edges and center of the flower.
The next orchid that I really enjoy is the one on the left here. The pale pink cooler and the bright yellow of the center really make for a great color combination.
The example that you see here is another very interesting type of orchid. I think that it is referred to as a slipper as it kinda looks like a shoe. The way this orchid has its bottom lip is designed as a landing platform for pollinators and in the case of this type of orchid a trap for its prey.
And last but certainly not least is just a beautiful example of a delicate purple orchid.
I hope you have enjoyed looking and reading a little about the flowers that I find so very fascinating. And maybe next time you see one of these majestic flowers you’ll take a moment and really enjoy their beauty.
Do you have a flower you find to be most interesting? I would love to hear from you about your favorite flowers.
Project 365 | Day 75 Major Construction
Today the photography club that I belong took a trip to Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. We had a really great time and got some nice photos. I have been going to Phipps for many years and always find something new and interesting to photograph. Today was no different.
Todays photo is a contraction site from the miniature railroad display that Phipps puts on every year. Over the years I have become fascinated with the displays and always look forward to going there to photograph them. Since I was with my group I didn’t get to spend the time that I normally would have with the trains, but I can say that I will be returning soon. And hopefully you all will enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post of what I think may be the most fascinating flower that I have ever photographed.
What are your thought about the model train display in todays photo?
Project 365 | Day 74 Who’s St. Patrick
Who is St. Patrick?
Well according to the History channel St. Patrick was the patron Saint of Ireland. And the idea of St. Patrick’s Day came from a religious feast in Ireland celebrating St. Patrick.
That being said we know that today, at least in the United States, the idea of the celebration is just an excuse to get ridiculously intoxicated, do stupid things, and make a fool out of yourself. And today, in Pittsburgh, was the celebration and parade. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get away from work to see the parade, and I think I’m getting to old or to mature to do the drinking part of the day. So when I took my walk this evening I was looking for something that I could use to represent the celebration and yet still stay clear of as many of the drunks as I could. What I found was the old Pittsburgh courthouse which was covered in green light for the celebration.
What do you think of my representation of the celebration? How would you represent the celebration?
Project 365 | Day 73 Glory of PPG
Sometimes when I go for my evening walk in the city I find myself uninspired by what I photograph or for that matter what I see. Tonight was one of those evenings. I took several photos but nothing that really seemed to inspire me. Partly because I didn’t get out of work till later than I had anticipated and that made it darker than I had hoped. But I was determined to find something to post tonight and write about.
I took this photo this evening while walking around the city in disappointment. This photo was inspired by last nights photo of the old and the new buildings. Tonight we focus on the PPG building which is an amazing building with some really interesting design. The building can be seen in just about every Pittsburgh skyline photo and is impressive to say the least. Totally covered in glass it will also make for some interesting reflections, of which I’m positive that I’ll post in the future.
I like the way the building stands out in the fading light and blue sky.
What do you think?
Project 365 | Day 72 A Slice of the Old
Todays photo although a little late, is a contrast between the old and the new. As most of you know I like to shoot in the city as if has countless subjects to offer. In the city of Pittsburgh there are plenty of examples of old and new architecture. You can take your pick from different styles, shapes, and colors of buildings. This evening on my nightly walk through the streets I noticed a gap between two buildings which allowed for a view of a contrast between newer types of buildings and an older building. I thought that the view was interesting showing the contrast between styles, a little like looking at the photographs of two different people of the same subject.
Do you like the contrast of styles?
2Eight Photography 