Street?

I’m not sure this qualifies as street photography, because I was standing in the entrance of a building in San Francisco (with my photography buddy, Carol) shooting through the gorgeous lobby and focusing on the Bay Bridge through the windows at the end. It was Carol’s idea to wait for someone in red to come by to make the shot- and she did! I am happy to say that there was no cropping or cloning- just a little work on exposure and then a black and white conversion. The garbage cans (always a no-no) remain for journalistic integrity!

But where is the girl in the red shirt? You have to look at the color version!

Melinda2 Comments

On a Break

A quiet scene from the Anchorage Market

I was thinking of using this shot for one of our photo group assignments, even though it was shot during the summer. The assignment is “editorial” or “street photography.” There are RULES (I hate rules): minimal editing (no trash can removal etc.)- just a black and white conversion. So the color version is my more edited version (straightened and cropped, no cloning- but added tonal contrast etc. in Nik).

My black and white version is the original crop (yuck), edited in Nik Silver Efex, also contrast and with the Ilford film type (not sure if that much editing is allowed). I think I will be heading out to the streets again to try to get it right in camera- but not to Alaska, unfortunately.

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A Different Look

The heavy monsoon rains have brought an amazing array of wildflowers and grasses to Willow Lake this year, creating a different look from previous summers. I don’t know what these pink flowers are (someone will tell me), but they were everywhere.

We went out a couple times last week (me balancing trekking poles and camera and backpack), and each time my photo shoot was curtailed by thunderstorms.  I hear that monsoon season is over now, but I’m not counting on it!

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Born to Be Wild

Until we moved to Arizona, I had never heard of Apache Plume- but now I photograph the seed heads every summer. We have a big shrub of this native plant in front of our house. I can’t say it is lovely to look at as a landscape element- but the craaaazzzy seed heads and little flowers are quite captivating!

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The Book Club

It is a photography paradox to me that many, many, many of my favorite photos were taken on Southern California beaches- when I spent so much of my adult life disliking Southern California (the crowds and the TRAFFIC!). There is something about the serenity of the water and the white sand that appeals to my eye. I remember looking at this trio of ladies with their hats and cover-ups and thinking they looked like my kind of people- so I titled it “The Book Club.”

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Still There

Since our daughter’s family moved to Alaska two years ago, they’ve really learned their way around!  Caitlin drove us up to Hatcher’s Pass one day to see the what remains of Alaska’s Independence Gold Mine (now a state park). There was a beautiful view and wonderful old buildings.  I realized when we were there that this is the third old mine we’ve toured in the last year- and it was definitely the best!

Melinda4 Comments