Photolearningism

A PARTIAL PICTURE As you may have noted in my last post, I've been recognizing some weaknesses in my photography (which are becoming clearer through study and changes in photo subject matter). Nature will always be my favorite and focus in photography, but I felt like I could only get closer to mastery in more thoroughly exploring the art form. I consider my standing to be like a photo in which only one corner is well framed and shaped, while the rest is lacking in quality and composition. In exposing (which is a photography pun, yes!) myself to other forms of photography, I do see other principles at play which are harder to observe and practice. For example, when looking to capture nature and landscapes, the field of view is immense, and can be helpful to focus on a object to give the image a depth and a life. Taking this same idea to portrait photography, the need to focus on a object is (obviously) that much more important, while justifying the setting and other objects that ap

SKILL SHARPENING I've spent my time away from Blogspot aiming to refine my photo style and study the technical end of photography to better understand how I can improve. There is such a wide world of growth to explore for technique and best practice! While I recognize that photography is a creative art, it does operate under some basic rules that impact the quality of color captured. Like any constructed piece, even if planned prior to execution, the final product is not as deep a story told if executed with a flawed plan. Hence, a better understanding, and not just practice, is a necessary step.  THE STEPS FORWARD While I haven't updated my camera or purchased any accessories to enhance it, I've gained insight into getting more out of my current equipment. While I certainly desire a more powerful camera, available budget prevents this. Though, in considering my pursuits, perhaps this is good and right that I should focus on how to properly conduct use of my current camera.

THE VANISHING POINT Some of you may be asking, "Where'd you go? Did you wind up under a truck?". I'm happy to clear your mind with the following answers, that I'm right here and still very much NOT under a truck. Whew! Glad we got that resolved. So if I didn't disappear, then the question remains, why haven't I posted any new adventures recently? The answer to this is equally simple; I haven't written. I have been around and posting, if you've been following my various feeds. Truth be told, I haven't been on any grand trips lately. The tick encounters of the last trip really took the wind of me, and I haven't braved anything too far off the road in a while. Rest assured, my discomfort with bugs 1/1,000,000 my size will soon be past me.  UPCOMING PROJECTS I participated in my first ever photo exhibit at the East Fishkill Community Library, which is truly a class-outfit, and did an amazing job of hosting me and my guests to kick off a month o

IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA I'd observed a somewhat picturesque stream heading off into a wooded area on a road close to my house. I should've taken the early warning signs of "intruding trees" blocking the unfettered view I was after. I slipped down into the space, which I quickly realized was not so much a "wood land" as it was a "swamp land". No matter , I had told myself. I'm the adventuring sort.  I managed a few shots, but didn't want to turn back without at least checking the area some. My way was quickly cut off by an offshoot stream that was too wide to step over.  PERSISTENCE WITH CONSEQUENCE I doubled back and attempted to explore from the other side of the stream. Different from the far side, this one was so thick with bushes, thorns, and other plant life that I couldn't get through standing up. I hadn't found my way a quarter mile before getting tired and pushing towards the stream for a few more photo attempts. Observin

WEATHER RESISTANCE I was a little discouraged this morning in seeing the conditions of the outdoors (which was thick overcast, snowy, dark, and just BLAH). I had been hoping to spring out in the afternoon and snap a few photos and had convinced myself that today simply wasn't worth braving the cold and flying, frozen water. I had taken brief retreat in my bedroom because my children had simply used up my "nice and patience daddy-ness" and took to consideration the afternoon before me. I pondered the return of a day such as this and came to the conclusion that since I hadn't means to change the weather, I would bundle myself and embrace the gruff outdoors and prove my resolve. BACK TO THE ADVENTURE I had a spot picked out, not far from my home in Wappingers Falls, NY. I'd been to various stretches of Fishkill Creek and had decided on a new extension of it. I left my adventure-mobile in a safe parking lot and carefully crossed the road between car gaps. After jumpin

GETTING GOING AGAIN After a few weeks of attending to family maters and (to be perfectly honest) my own mental health, I took to the cold this morning, thanks my wife's encouragement. To make the best of a small amount of time, I traveled about two blocks down the road to a pond I'd been before. It was actually the first place I'd ever visited to photograph, from well over a year ago.  DEJA VU It was just as cold as the first visit, with a breathtaking morning. I was still wearing the same hoodie with the same winter coat (with the same paperclip in the zipper to keep it going). I promise that the hoodie has been washed a couple of times since then. Maybe more. To shake things up, I didn't climb a tree this time. I felt like I had mastered that tactic from the last visit and should explore other options (such as not climbing trees that overhang precariously of a frozen pond). FEELING THE GROWTH I shot 21 pictures in the span of 10 minutes, waiting for the sun to