Our photo group “final” was last week, one of the two topics being “Impressionism”. Since our irises are in bloom, I chose to create an impressionist image. I used intentional camera movement layered with a standard shot and some brushwork and a texture to give it a painterly quality. I’m delighted to have a camera, warm weather, and flowers in bloom as an excuse to sit in the backyard for hours at a time.
December impressions.
This is the solstice, the still point
of the sun, its cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold
and unlocking, where the past
lets go of and becomes the future;
the place of caught breath, the door
of a vanished house left ajar.
~ Margaret Atwood
Here is the latest in my series, Beach Ladies. I always love taking photographs underneath the pier- and when I saw a potential beach lady walk under, I just had to photograph her.
We have just returned from an overnight to Flagstaff, where we visited Aspen Corner in sunshine one day and in snow the next. The image above is from our previous visit; newer images will be posted after I have time to process them. Autumn has fully arrived- and Winter is on its way!
Here is yet another image from our last trip up to Flagstaff. We are hoping to get up there again this week; there’s a chance of snow, so fingers crossed!
Today’s image is yet another in my series of gulls captured with intentional camera movement. This gull was photographed “mid-swoop” as it flew over Katsitsna Bay in the early evening. The unpredictability of the result is a big part of the fun of doing this type of photography.
I just finished reading the deep, dark, soulful Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy for our book group. There is beautiful, evocative writing, an intriguing plot, some romance and tragedy- all within the framework of the last migration of arctic terns in a time when climate change has wreaked havoc on the animal kingdom. I didn’t set out to create this image in response to what I read, but the subconscious is an amazing thing. And I highly recommend the book!
This was taken during our stay at Between Beaches on the MacDonald Spit on Kachemak Bay in Alaska. We had beaches in front of and behind our cabin- Kachemak Bay in front, Kasitsna Bay behind. Watching the gulls fly low over the dark waters of Kasitsna Bay in the mornings and evenings gave me a perfect opportunity to practice intentional camera movement techniques to create impressionistic images.
I was happy to hear at my camera club’s online meeting last night that this image won second place in this month’s Open Subject competition. It’s always nice to hear when other people like your art.
Spotted in Southern California
Last week’s Cold Moon after it rose
Our walk by Watson Lake last Friday provided views of fall color in all its hues! The weather has turned since then; we had a light snowfall with heavy wind Sunday evening and overnight. I wonder how this scene looks today!
I am using this image in my photo group today for our photoimpressionism assignment. Coincidentally, our photo club has the same theme this month. I won’t be using the same image for both groups, so I will be posting that photo here next week.
Dry. Parched. Windy. Smoky. Burning.
Those are the words that come to mind when I think of the west these days. October is always fire season, but in recent years ever more so. My home state of California has been on fire this last month, causing tens of thousands to evacuate and thousands of others to be without power. We have a massive drought going on here in Arizona as well- no monsoon season the last two years. Add in a pandemic, an election, and political upheavals- the world of 2020 is not the world we thought we were promised.
I’ve learned in recent years that the process of taking and editing photos soothes my worried soul. Below is a little piece of photo art I created this week. As always, a camera (or in this case an iPhone) and Photoshop ease my worries.
Pray for rain.
As summer draws to a close, the grasses go from green to gold, and a new beauty emerges.
For the month of November, our church has been having us keep track of all the things we are grateful for- writing them down and saying them out loud. I am grateful for my wonderful family and friends- and this month especially I am grateful for my brand new bionic knee and the promise of a more active and pain free lifestyle!
And of course I’m grateful for autumn- my favorite season!
melinda anderson photography 