I didn’t know the moon would be full last night, but when I sat down to wait for the rice to finish cooking for dinner, I could see the moon through the front window. I wish I had been there to see it pop up over the horizon, but I am delighted to have captured the moon at sunset.
I have so many photos that have never made the blog. I didn’t think this one was blogworthy at the time- just an experiment with multiple exposure- but I like it now.
It makes an interesting black and white too (with a frame that’s just an extreme Lightroom vignette).
At least the photographer was looking up when taking this photo . . .
I was on the floor looking up at the flower which was positioned on the counter. That’s my ceiling with “incorrect” white balance providing the sunny background.
It’s all about how you look at things, isn’t it? .
I enjoy just about all kinds of photography, but when I spend time with flowers and my macro lens I can feel my shoulders relaxing and my breath slowing. This is truly my comfort zone and a wonderful escape from life’s stresses. Ommmm. . . 🙂
I’m going through some of my Alaska photos looking for some suitable images to bring to my photo group this semester. I’m considering this shot of the tracks along the Turnagain Arm.
I’m playing it safe this time- just a traditional still life. Although- I know that in my photo group I would get (gently) critiqued for having a square format and mostly for having no space around the edges- and perhaps for the shallowish depth of field! I might even get the kiss of death comment- “It would make a nice greeting card.” But I’m on winter break!
I bought more pears, and the pear madness continues. . .
Another photo of yesterday’s pear- a little more abstract this time.
I started the day with a simple in-camera pear multi-exposure, edited three ways in Lightroom. As usual, I can’t pick a favorite. . .
The camera is an instrument that teaches people to see without a camera.
~ Dorothea Lange
When I started doing photography as a hobby, I soon realized that I was seeing the world in a way I hadn’t since childhood. Pausing to take the time to really notice and see has been the great gift of photography for me. I recently read a wonderful book called Adventures in Seeing by Kim Manley Ort that reminded me of the importance of all this.
As I approach the new year, I know there is no way I can predict what will happen in the world and in my life, but I do know that I want to be happy and present in my own life and with the people I love. I intend to slow down a bit, and take some photographs just for the joy of seeing.
Again- thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comments this year. Whether photography is your hobby or not, take some time to stop and SEE- and perhaps take a photo! Best wishes for a new year filled with JOY!
As I say good-bye to 2016, I am looking back to my personal highlights, photography-wise.
Instagram will compile the best nine photos of the year for each user, based on likes. I’m an inconsistent Instagram user, but have been trying to use it more recently, because that is the way everyone seems to be going these days. Two of the photos (the Thumb Butte abstract and the misty, snowy woods) were actually from 2015, but I posted them later to Instagram. So here are my Best Nine, according to Instagram:
Here are my own personal nine favorites of 2016, a few of which never made it to Instagram:
Three of my favorites were just taken in the last month or so- the peaks with pretty skies. And three were taken in Alaska in November. I know the aurora photo is not stellar- but I’m so glad I got even a little bit of it. There are two from San Francisco- and what is that hawk doing there?- I don’t know, I just like the photo! I noticed that my usual macros, flowers, and still life shots didn’t make the cut- although I still like doing them. And I have to say that my absolute favorite photo of the year is The Magician (top left)- fun to do (and a lot of work to edit).
Icy Eklutna Lake with some intentional camera movement:
As I look out at the melting snow, this image seems out of place- yet I did take it a week or so before Christmas. Let it serve as a reminder that the days are now getting longer, spring is on its way, and the strange, turbulent, and sad year 2016 is almost over.
Shot with Lensbaby Velvet 56
On the day after Christmas we woke to a thick blanket of fog obscuring our view of the houses and snowy hills. The fog lingered until nine or ten, when the blue sky and sun broke through.
On Christmas Day, while the menfolk were absorbed with football, I went outside a couple times to take photos. The snow was deep-ish and the temperature was cold, so I never stayed out long. Since I so often take photos of the same scenes around my front yard, I quickly got the urge to experiment with alternative photography methods . The two photos below are both in-camera multiple exposures of a tree and snow. The snow added a texture to the photos- no photoshop involved. Fun to do- although the lack of control is challenging.
melinda anderson photography 