The first three photographs are made in such a way that pixelation gives a bit of an impressionistic look.
I find poppy flowers mesmerizing but the seed pods are also pure design. They seem to hug the flowers, as in the photographs directly above and below.
There are numerous cosmos in the small urban field and they are just coming into bloom.
Thanks to Victoria, Lluvia, Tim, Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., TTT, Steve, and Connie for commenting on last week's blog. It is always good to hear from people - near and far! I hope that everyone finds an eminently photographable surprise at some point during the coming week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Today's blog came to mind, in part, because of an article in the June 2025 Smithsonian magazine by Jay Cheshes. Titled "The Bittersweet Beginnings of Vanilla", it is primarily about the people involved in growing vanilla on the island of Reunion, near Madagascar. It is considered the world's finest vanilla, but Vanilla planifolia is a New World plant, native to Mexico. In its native habitat, vanilla is pollinated by nature. But the right pollinators do not exist on the island of Reunion, and thus each flower is pollinated by hand, which is the major reason for its price. Setting vanilla aside, I can tell that there are plentiful pollinators for hollyhocks, just within a five mile radius in Santa Fe, because of the variation of colors.
The pollen in hollyhocks seems to flow like a waterfall onto the flower petals.
In the photographs of the two different prickly pear cacti shown below, any light colored speck on the flowers is a speck of pollen.
There are at least three different types of pollinators in this photograph of a prickly pear flower.
Fred and I are both grateful to all of you who commented with such kindness on last week's blog about Rug 423 - his 500th piece of weaving. Many thanks to Barbara F. R., Ross, Tim, Bill & Sue, Victoria, Orlando T., Carolyn S., Earle, Ann A., Suz, TTT, Lisa S., Terry T., Katy D., Marilyn G., Jean & Sam, Steve, M. Fred, Larry J., and Pater. I hope you are able to look near and far as you encounter the world this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Twenty-two years later, Fred has reached a righteous number of 500 weavings. He has woven 423 rugs, and the remaining 77 pieces are floor and table runners, pillows, rifle scabbards, bolsas, place mats, and coasters. Here is his latest, Rug 423, in progress, and then in its completed form, in the style of Joseph Albers' series of paintings Homage to the Square.
Here is a sampling of Fred's work through the years in Southwestern, architectural, and contemporary styles.
Left to right, top row is 346 and 347, followed by 354 below.
From left to right 397 and 403, followed below by 405 (left) and 408 (right)
The Celtic knot below was one of the more complex rugs to date. It took 120 hours to weave.
Below is the bottom half of a stylized landscape "Canyon Storm", Rug 420.
The process of learning to weave, finding the right loom, wool, and achieving certain skills is solitary at times, but many people helped along the way, including Connie Taylor. She and her husband, Sam, were long-time residents of western Taos County, and our closest full-time neighbors. Somewhere along the way, someone asked Fred if he knew Connie Taylor, since she was dying the wool almost everyone was using. She had a flock of Navajo-Churro sheep near Cerro Mojino, and was the national registrar for the Navajo-Churro Association. At some point during 2003, we met Connie, and Fred couldn't have asked for a better mentor. She has a wealth of historical knowledge about the sheep, and overall information about the wool business, and dying, including types of dyes, color combinations, fiber consistency and general "how to the heck to do certain things". She has been and continues to be a major influence in the world of wool. Fred has been lucky to have had a number of people (and you know who you are) who have supported Fred's work over these 22 years with your encouragement, enthusiasm, and purchases. Just in case you would like more information, you can check out his website - https://www.bigsageartisans.com/index.html
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Tim, Karren, Connie, Lawrence, TTT, Kay, Ingrid, Marilyn G., and Steve for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Although the solid-colored flowers are stunning in their own right, there is nothing to compare with the veins of the petals over and through which assorted colors seep and spread.
Even the rusty and yellow tones in the white flower below are stunning.
Perhaps it was my lack of attention or the fact that brighter colors primarily attracted my attention in the past, I find the linen-like texture and tone of the hollyhocks in the next two photographs quite compelling. A costume could be made of this fabric.
Showing off in front of a coyote fence with yarrow in the background, the salmon color of the hollyhock below invites the eye and the camera lens.
And as a counter, here is another example of a more subdued, slightly brown-toned hollyhock, suitable for a costume.
Thanks to Victoria, Jean & Sam, Kay, Barbara F. R., Marilyn G., TTT, Steve, Terry T., and M. F. B. for writing this week. I hope that wherever you find yourselves, cameras in hand, you are safe and well.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>This scene presented itself as we walked up the stairs of the west side of the capitol. The "For Sale" sign with Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Fish and Wildlife Service up for sale to anyone who called the White House telephone number said volumes. Given New Mexico's history with these agencies, that seemed very creative.
But then, I turned my head and looked at the upside down poster underneath the sign. Not being able to find it online, I am wondering if it was a piece of original AI artwork created by someone in town. It is quite the statement.
After the news from Los Angeles this week, I was anticipating a poster that read "I am Alex Padilla." This one was close.
It is obvious that the artist who put this together spent a chunk of time pondering its construction. It is a bit hard to see, but pieces of the printed Constitution are used as the sails. All of the attached American flags are flying upside down, which is the symbol of distress, but he added a banner at the top which reads "Don't give up the ship." I dare say it reflects the sentiment of most of the people at this rally and of the 5,000,000 estimated rally attendees across the country.
The photographs below show the finest costumes of the day.
If you have the capability of increasing the size of the screen image, you might want to do that for the image below. There is a lot packed in here, including large puppets in the center of the shot in the sea of people.
This car was trying to head north on Old Santa Fe Trail, which was impossible at the point when I photographed it, as wall to wall people were marching to the Plaza.
Thanks to Steve, Barbara, Jean & Sam, Terry T. (who shot a great video on YouTube of the No Kings Rally in Taos, New Mexico), Bill & Sue, Orlando, and Ingrid for writing this week. Summer is heating up and one never knows what interesting things lie ahead, so keep your cameras and smart phones handy!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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"Freedom means everything. I pray for freedom for the whole world. For the wars to end in Ukraine and Russia, and in Sudan and Gaza. I think war is disgusting, absolutely disgusting." This from a man who was there and fought.
It is far too easy, particularly in these times when some of the world's leaders seem to relish the fight, to think that war is part of the human condition. When that thought becomes too pervasive, we need to think about the beauty of the planet on which we are privileged to live, and of the many who work every day to keep humanity from plunging into darkness. I also have to smile at the fact that Harold Terens - the D Day hero who doesn't think of himself that way - at age 100 married his 96 year old sweetheart Jeanne Swerline. A truly lovely couple, still giving all of us so much inspiration for lives well-lived.
With high temperatures predicted to be in the 90s this week, summer seems to have suddenly arrived. May all of you take great joy and pleasure in it.
Thanks to Bill & Sue, Tim, Ingrid, Kay C., Jean & Sam, Marilyn R., Steve, Marilyn G. and Pater for getting in touch about last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I have yet to decide whether cactus blooms or the spines that aid cacti throughout the seasons are more interesting. The first four images here are of barrel cactus. I think both are probably a claret cup cactus variety.
I am not certain, but this may be yet another barrel cactus variety with elongated body. But the spines provide their own design, in addition to the blooms.
Below is a yellow prickly pear cactus, commonly found in many areas of the southwestern United States. In all of these blooms, bees were in pollen heaven.
Another color of prickly pear cactus in a purple/fuchsia color. They literally glow.
Being June 2nd, it is beginning to feel like summer. Given the fact that many of you will be out exploring with your cameras and paints in hand, I hope you are able to let those creative juices flow! Thanks to Tim A., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., M. Fred, Steve, TTT and Ingrid for writing last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Thanks to TTT, Steve, Catherine S., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Dave O., Barbara F. R., and Louise Watkins for writing about last week's blog.
I hope your week is full of many good and inspiring things that are ready for a closeup!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Each year, when we heard the first hummingbird scouts, (usually broad-tailed hummingbirds) arrive around tax time, we rushed to the sink to make sugar water for the feeders and welcome our seasonal friends. Watching a documentary film on the PBS program Nature last week titled "The Hummingbirds of Hollywood" reminded me how much I miss the masses of hummers that visited the feeders, thus sharing their lives as masters of the air. The documentary title could have referred to any number of things other than hummingbirds, but we were excited to see that actually was the subject matter. A retired University of California, Los Angeles professor - Terry Masear - has run the Los Angeles Hummingbird Rescue since 2002 and what stories she must have to tell. Some of her stories and experiences are captured in the documentary. It is well worth viewing. I found myself seeing moves in the footage from some of the injured hummingbirds similar to those I had photographed in sagebrush country. So in celebration of these flying wonders' return, a selection of photographs taken from the years spent on the mesa are included here.
Terry Masear was miles away and being in the Los Angeles area obviously could not help, but I am glad that eventually this young rufous hummingbird recovered from hitting a window. Its unfortunate glass encounter gave me an opportunity to get seriously close. I actually held it in my hand to warm it up. You can barely feel them, weighing between .007/ounce for a bumble bee hummer and .85/ounce for a giant hummingbird. Their strength and abilities never cease to amaze me.
Check out these moves.
The flight tolerances are frequently quite small, especially when the competition at the feeder is at its greatest, during mating season, and when the rufous hummingbirds are migrating south in large number. Their acute skills keep them apart most of the time.
But by the end of the season, their feathers are pretty trashed, as you can see in the photograph below. The edges of this female's flight feathers have seen some action, as have the tail feathers which also show some wear.
They loved the Salvia pachyphylla (blue or Mojave sage), spending hours in the flowers.
There are people who use as much as 700 pounds of sugar during the season, feeding hummingbirds in New Mexico along the Rio Chama, in Española, and in the Pecos Wilderness. We used roughly 100 pounds of C&H, filling 4 one-quart bottles every day. At the high point of feeding in early August, we had as many as 350-400 birds. The air races were on!
I hope you are able to see "Hummingbirds of Hollywood", as well as your own hummingbirds while spring continues and eventually folds into summer.
Thanks to Tim, Jean & Sam, TTT, Catherine S., Steve, Barbara F. R., and Marilyn G. for writing last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I have always been interested in design, regardless of medium. And good design is truly timeless. Every single object - whether it is industrial or art for art's sake - usually begins with a single line or squiggly. On a rock wall, a piece of papyrus and later paper, or computer, design is one of those sometimes amorphous things that also frequently defies description. Then there is the concept of form or function. I suspect that function generally comes first in industrial design, followed by form after the functionally of an object becomes settled and the designer can add artistic elements. There are extraordinary designers who can come up with the entire package simultaneously, and I stand in awe of those who are able to visualize an object or function or art at the beginning of the process. Photography provides context and shows the object.
Ever since I viewed photographs of SMEG products, I was enamored with them. Whether it is due to their mid-century modern qualities or the clear and crisp design elements, each product has its function obscured by stunning lines. From the choice of colors and shape, and use of chrome to ease of the functionality, just looking at them enhances my appreciation. After that lengthy explanation, it is time to show you what I mean.
I present the humble hot water kettle. Elegant lines, with high gloss enameled steel comprising the bulk of the container, with just enough chrome utilized as necessary to complete the design. Shooting in isolated light, both inside and outside, the kettle, inadvertently, became a vehicle for self-portraiture.
SMEG was founded in 1948 by Vittorio Bertazoni as an enameling and metalworking company in Italy. SMEG stands for Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla, and the company is known for everything from large home appliances to multiple lines of small kitchen appliances such as hot water kettles and toasters. The creators and workers at SMEG have my appreciation for their sublime designs.
Thanks to Jean & Sam, TTT, Barbara F. R., Terry T., Marilyn G., Brenda, Ingrid, Catherine, Steve, and Sara for commenting on last week's blog!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Being an advocate of natural light and its possibilities, I am always on the hunt for different places and situations in which to photograph flowers. I tried several for this group of tulips with all the leaves remaining and randomly placed in a vase. Messy but also comforting and lush.
A single tulip against an arts and crafts-style door is shown below. I pulled the shadows just enough to bring some light to the blossom that was basically in silhouette.
I liked the way the gold pollen on the stamen is peeking out from the petals. Some of that pollen photobombed the left hand center of the photograph.
Concrete and flagstone offer compelling backgrounds for both flower and bud.
A botanical look at the tulip bowl.
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Catherine, Rebecca, Karren, Louise & Jim, Steve, TTT, and Marilyn G. for commenting on the last blog of April. The merry month of May is here. With luck, each of you will be out with your cameras and phones, photographing those elements of life you find fascinating!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion of the image©
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My guess is that some of the same factors that promote a good bloom in the mountains, are there for garden iris as well. However, the moisture this winter has been pitiful and frightening. And yet, the iris are blooming like mad. It matters not. They are here and in full regalia, even if for a slightly shorter period of time.
A tight bloom yet to unfurl
"The masterpiece should appear as the flower to the painter - perfect in its bud as in its bloom - with no reason to explain its presence - no mission to fulfill - a joy to the artist, a delusion to the philanthropist - a puzzle to the botanist - an accident of sentiment and alliteration to the literary man."
The Gentle Art of Making Enemies
James McNeill Whistler 1834-1903
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Tim, Marilyn G., Terry T., Steve, and TTT for commenting on last week's blog!
until next Monday
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>In my youth, I dreamed of becoming an oceanographer, diving into turquoise blue water, and being part of that huge, fascinating, and mysterious element. Until I came to the realization that underwater archaeology and oceanography are not particularly well-suited to people with a propensity for motion sickness. Not to mention the fact that I had trouble with calculus and organic chemistry (tough to be degreed in biology without that coursework). But I always tried to watch The Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau, a television series that first aired in 1968, and glean what I could from the master himself, along with the likes of Dr. Sylvia Earle, featured in The Underworld. And I am content to learn from aquarium exhibits and those spaces such as tide pools that are at water's edge.
The clownfish and manta ray below are at the Albuquerque Aquarium. Perhaps one of you reading can help me identify the interesting fish shown in the middle. Try as I might, I was unable to put a name on it.
Starfish and sea urchin below were in a tide pool on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.
The takeaways from Susan Casey's books (she also wrote The Wave about surfers and the ocean) are the deep love, knowledge, and appreciation she has for oceans, the massive amount of life contained therein, how little we know about them (she suspects that we know more about the moon and outer space than we know about the deepest parts of the ocean), and how incredibly endangered they are. They are the new frontier and wild west, complete with the greed and lack of consideration that comes with being first and having the most. Rare earth minerals that are so essential to computers, automobiles, and electronics are there - the new gold. You can almost see the avarice on some who are ready, willing, and able to mine the earth's oceans, rubbing their hands together, waiting to strike it rich by pillaging the wealth of the ocean floor. It is happening now and it is not pretty. Plastics in the oceans are bad enough, but mining can take the ruination to a whole new level.
In celebration of Earth Day, I recommend Susan Casey's books. She is an excellent writer, giving a perfect combination of science and story telling. Each that I have listed here are beautiful and cautionary tales about combining exploration, restraint, and conservation in our treatment of the literal life blood of our planet. You won't think about the oceans in the same way. They give all of us life, and we need to ponder and appreciate that fact every day. There is currently only one planet on which humans can exist, largely due to the oceans and the role they play in all of our lives.
Thanks to Karren, TTT, Ingrid, Marilyn G., Jean & Sam, Victoria, Gustavo, Steve, M. Fred B., and Pater for commenting this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The images in today's blog are from a variety of flowering fruit trees in different places that I did not plant, and thus remain unidentified here. But they are a combination crabapple, plums, cherries and assorted other jewels, in full blossom of white and light fuchsia.
Thanks to Victoria, Barbara F. R., Karrenn, Tim, Sam & Jan, Steve, Ingrid, Marilyn G., Terry T., and Pater for writing.
A friend sent a Mary Oliver quote from Grateful Living online and it seems to apply to the feeling of spring. "When it's over, I want to say all my life I was a bride married to amazement." May an assortment of amazing things come your way this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Not having photographed blueberries in combination with other lighter and brighter fruits and texture was an interesting lighting project. Their darkness, along with the reflective power of the glaze that is applied after baking to the top of many fruits used in tarts, provided a nice challenge.
Thanks to Ingrid for taking her tart baking to a whole new level, and to Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Tim A., Marilyn G., Catherine, and Steve for writing during a week of wild and wooly spring weather in the southern Rocky Mountains. I am very lucky and thankful to be surrounded by artists of many stripes, who keep the world sane during unsettled times.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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"Ice Follies" daffodils 'on the rocks'
A variation on the theme of deep woods
Daffodil Tazetta Minnow
Thanks for Jean & Sam, TTT, Victoria, Jim, Catherine, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., Steve, Gustavo, Marilyn R., Char, Ingrid, Lawrence, Ann, and Bill & Sue for your comments on last week's blog. I hope that spring fills the world with joy.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Watching the two men work without bothering them was a dance in itself, but listening to drills and saws and hammers, and not one piece of glass breaking was a pleasure. They clearly had done this many times and it was quite a routine for each window. First, the old window, complete with the window frame and all its constituent pieces, had to be removed. A combination of skill and brawn, and knowledge of precisely how to extract each part at the right time was impressive.
In the photograph below, the gent has cut part of the center mullion, and is in the process of prying remainders from the base.
Removing the window head requires removing the sides first, which is what happening in this photograph.
You have to be very sure of yourself to remove the head, with eyes closed, which is crucial to keeping crud from falling into your eyes.
Window trim is being cut to surround the window in this image. Although pre-measuring can be done for the window itself, each piece of trim has to be measured precisely to ensure a proper fit.
Meanwhile, outside work is being done for a proper seal against wind and weather. The caulking master below could have been rendering something between a Jackson Pollack and Van Gogh. An adhesive piece of thin film on the window allowed him to flick leftover caulk and tape directly on the window without hitting the stucco. He took errant pieces of it and placed those carefully with his fingers onto the film.
10 hours later, after numerous trips in and out of the house and up and down the stairs, we now have six new, fully functional, clear beautiful windows that replaced the others that had seen thirty years of use by a good many owners. We came out of the experience with a new appreciation for the skills and hard work that people in the renovation part of the construction industry do every day.
Thanks to each of you for reading, and to Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Terry T., Brenda, M. Fred B., Steve, and Bill and Sue for commenting, last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Self-portrait on a very windy March day
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado
The layers of change in the sand at Great Sand Dunes is evident in the photographs below.
A detail of one of the many "holes" that occur within the dunes
In the southern part of the state near Alamogordo, White Sands National Park is home to the world's largest gypsum dune field. The dunes are startlingly bright white.
The wild wind, along with the water of the Pacific Ocean, have been working their magic on lava, creating the Punalu'u Black Sand Beach on the island of Hawaii. Sea turtles sun themselves in the warmth of the sand.
Whether the wind is insanely wild as it was in many part of the United States this week, or it barely moves, leaving us begging for more, it will always be part of the formula of life on this planet.
"When a complex system is far from equilibrium, small islands of coherence in a sea of chaos have the capacity to shift the entire system to a higher order."
Ilya Prigogine, Nobel Prize-winning chemist from Belgium
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Ingrid, Victoria, Kay, Barbara F. R., Steve, Catherine, Heather H., and Karren for commenting last week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Packed graupel and snowflakes provided a basic yet interesting setting.
Skim ice with bubbles has enough reflective power to serve as an effective backdrop.
When my rear end was damp enough, I did a few setups inside with a shoji screen Fred made several decades ago.
Another gift from a friend who read the blog came in the form of a quote directly related to last week's edition featuring art for art's sake. From the wisdom of D. H. Lawrence.
"It's not art for art's sake, it's art for my sake."
Spring thanks to Bill, Ingrid, Kay, Barbara F. R., Brenda, Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Catherine, Steve, and Karren for contributing so much, this week and last!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>In January, after a particularly abundant season of leaves, I found a number of large cottonwood leaves that seem to have been varnished. It was something I had not seen before (or more likely had gone unnoticed). I tried different backgrounds and light to see which would best show the coating they had developed. Since this effort would probably not be seen by anyone nor might not be of interest, it was an example of doing it, or art for art's sake.
I wondered if a black and white image would be a better reflection of the coating. The jury is still out on that.
The neighboring flowering plum tree did not bear fruit for the six years we had been watching it. When it did yield, it did so in abundance and the fruit absolutely glistened.
Finally, the Japanese maple we put in a pot six years ago also produced seeds last year. Because of its dense foliage, I probably would not have noticed it but for the lovely color of its winged seeds.
"Art for art's sake is an empty phrase. Art for the sake of the true, art for the sake of the good and the beautiful, that is the faith I am searching for."
George Sand, in a letter to Alexandre Saint-Jean, 1872
All creatures and growing things are definitely responding to the change in light and warmer temperatures. Hundreds of robins, finches, curve billed thrashers, flickers, and Say's phoebes (which arrived this week) combine to fill the air with a spring cacophony!
Thanks to Lisa S., TTT, Victoria, Steve, Brenda, Karren, Jean & Sam, Ingrid, Barbara F. R., and Marilyn G. for your blog comments last week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Last Monday, 17 February, was Presidents' Day in America. Rallies were held around the country, including in Santa Fe. From government workers who had been suddenly and unceremoniously fired or "asked to clean out their desks", to those protesting Russia's war on Ukraine, in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, and of women's and LGBTQ rights, and yes, against government waste, the rally in Santa Fe at the Capitol was enthusiastic and peaceful. Holding the crowd of somewhere between 500 and 1,000 people in check, who seemed to be flowing to the area from every direction, were a number of State Police officers. I felt sympathy for them as well as state employees, staff of and members of the legislature, and delivery people who had to work their way through the waves of people. One group of younger people from somewhere other than New Mexico, was wandering around saying "I think this must be a protest or rally. Let's get out of here." What they missed were some incredibly creative signs and first class people watching. As one of many official and non-official media types, I majored in signs. Being New Mexico, the Zia symbol was prominent, among other signs that were fairly exclusive to the state.
Given the fact that there has always been an attachment on many levels to the national forests in the state, it was not surprising to see these signs.
Some really pithy signs featuring both illustration and words certainly punctuated the feelings of many.
This was one of my favorites - homegrown and delicious.
In the center of the photograph under the two Palestinian and Veterans for Peace flags are bags of food in a box being delivered to the people inside the Capitol Building.
These "signs of the times" will probably appear again, in greater profusion, at future rallies, as people try to wrap their heads around what exactly is transpiring in America. Whether this "cathartic" event translates into concrete action is yet to be seen.
As many move into spring-like activities in the northern hemisphere (or continue to shovel snow, for that matter), I appreciate those of you who wrote about last week's blog, including Brenda, Barbara F. R., Bill & Sue, Marilyn G., Steve, Catherine, and Jean and Sam. Hope the coming week provides good work and play in equal measure!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The Cutleaf Evening Primrose here is also quite white, so much so that when you look on the landscape in the high desert between 5,000 and 8,000 feet elevation in early summer, it appears that someone scattered tissues all over the ground. Primrose petals are so thin and delicate that veins are prominent.
This Oriental trumpet lily flower has dramatic white and crenulated petals, offset by paprika-colored stamens.
My best guess for the name of this rhododendron flower is 'Unique', but some of you may know what it is. As you can see, the petals on each flower in the group are what some might describe as ivory, but there is a definite tinge of pink on the backs of each flower.
The Phalenopsis orchid here is considered white, except for the lip which carries a wild variety of colors.
Double lily or roselily, gifted to us and became an immediate photographic subject.
This white lily bud with its leathery texture is the perfect subject for black and white photography.
Although the rose petals below might be described as light ivory when seen in color, it makes a beautiful pure white black and white shot.
Thanks to TTT, Marilyn R., Karla, Connie, Pauli, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., Steve, Victoria, Jean & Sam, Ingrid, Catherine, and Heather for writing this week and to all of you for reading my blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Today, the mosaic runs for the length of 10 panels of concrete block wall. The concept, planning, artistry, and actual application of the mosaic is impressive. It can be seen by Rail Runner riders as the trains rumble by, and appreciated by cyclists, runners, and walkers along the trail.
Because "generations" of volunteers, from school children to adults of all ages, worked on the mosaic, there are surprises to be found throughout the wall. One element with the most splash is the sun with expansive rays above the mountains, slashing New Mexico's blue sky.
Regardless of the type of animal - real or cartoon in nature - they comprise the topography and layers of the mosaic. Elements such as the sun, mountains, and water have enough common tile shapes, sizes, and color to establish consistency but at the same time they are punctuated by hundreds of two dimensional surprises to keep even the most scattered human brain working.
The "Generations" mosaic mural dedication tiles
February thanks to Barbara F. R., M.Fred B., Jean & Sam, Victoria, Steve, Terry T., Claudia, Heather H., Mary Pat, TTT, and Marilyn R. for commenting this week.
My hope is that wherever you are now, you are able to appreciate art and nature in abundance with camera in hand.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Some of you may know that on 21 March 2020, I began a journal on the computer documenting life during the COVID pandemic. It became much more than that as politics morphed into something we had never seen in America. It was approaching 600 pages in length, as I wrote about everything from the mundane to COVID, natural disasters, and frequently, politics. I can't say that the writing was brilliant (not being Shakespeare), but it did have its moments. Most of all it was meant to jog my own and others' collective memory of the years in which we found ourselves. My parents nor anyone I knew in their generation ever spoke of the flu pandemic that lasted from 1918-1920 and I would like to have known more. Thus, my journal. But due to my enthusiasm for clearing things from our iPhone and not really knowing that it was totally synced to our computer, I seem to have eliminated the most recent version of my journal. It was like losing a part of me. When I tried to add to the journal one day and was unable to locate the latest iteration, I spent a good part of the next three days searching the innards of the computer trying to find it. After working through file after file and searching iCloud, where I suspected it was hidden, I used a free data recovery program and did not manage to locate it (despite searching through roughly 50,000 listings. I made the decision to try to reconstruct things via by blog, photographs, emails, and texts. It is important enough for me to do that. Lessons learned!
What does my sob story have to do with today's blog? Not much except that part of what I blog every week shows how I spend my professional time. Fortunately, I back up my husband, Fred's, portfolio of rugs every time I shoot an image. They are in several different places including two different stand-alone hard drives. His designs and use of color has been particularly brilliant this winter.
First is Rug 415. Truly for the red lover in you, the rug is comprised of different dye lots of chile Colorado, and Sangre de Cristo. It is Navajo-Churro wool dyed at Tierra Wools.
Below is a detail of the rug under construction.
A very "western" feel flows through Rug 416, in which both dyed and natural white, natural medium grey/brown, and natural grey wool are used.
Finally, Fred utilized a technique called pick and pick in Rug 417. It is a bit complicated to present here, but the resulting weaving produces lines that run vertically with the warp rather than horizontally. In this detail shot, you can see the variations of turquoise and viento, along with a beautiful natural black from Cedar Mesa Ranch in Colorado. The red is Sangre de Cristo.
Thanks to Fred who continues to amaze, and to Ingrid, Jean & Sam, Steve, Marilyn G., and Barbara F. R. for checking in this week. As we enter February and slight warming trend in the Rocky Mountain west, I hope you are able to head outside with cameras in hand to capture natural and other offerings wherever you are!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The Mediterranean and Desert Conservatories are housed in the glass and metal building designed by Architect Edward María and fellow architects Edith Cherry and James See. When I originally walked into the garden in 1998, two years after the Botanic Garden opened, the most prominent feature was the Conservatory. During our recent visit, I had to walk a bit before seeing it. Even in the high desert of New Mexico, trees grow in 30 years. Thus, as gardens should be, the vegetation, architectural, and sculptural elements are complementary rather than competitive.
From the inside, one gets an idea of how large the building really is, with walkways winding in and over three levels, and the New Mexico sky everywhere in the inviting, warm, and humid space under cover of glass and metal structural elements.
Myriad species of plants are grown within the bounds of both the Mediterranean and Desert sections of the Conservatory. The blue and gold barrel cacti show below, are native to Baja, California.
There were several areas of the Botanic Garden I had not seen previously, including the G scale model railroad that winds its way on two 400 feet loops from near the Garden entrance.
A lighthouse shown below is just one of the buildings that populate the Railroad Garden.
There were a number of things that were surprises in other parts of the Garden, including the stained glass skylight in the entrance breezeway of the High Desert Rose Garden. Just to whet the appetite for what is to come in the spring, summer, and fall, the roses are very much Charles Rennie MacIntosh in feel.
Another lovely visual is the castle tower of the Children's Fantasy Garden. A bit Medieval and a slightly Disney in feel.
Thanks to Claudia, Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Connie T., Carolyn S., Paule Marx, Steve, Victoria, and Rebecca A. for your comments this week. I hope that the coming week brings warmth, sunshine, peace, and abundant photographic possibilities around your world!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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During my first visit to the garden, it was impressive. At the time, the Conservatory held 3,200 species of plants and 11,000 specimens. But the powers that be had bigger plans for the 32 acres that comprise the Botanic garden. One of those plans was for a Japanese garden, especially since Sasebo, Japan, is one of Albuquerque's sister cities. That plan came to fruition. There is a stunning Japanese garden in New Mexico included in the Bio Park. And it is impressive, even in deep winter. The three elements of Japanese garden design - stone, water, and plants - are combined with asymmetry, enclosure, borrowed scenery, balance, and symbolism. It is easy to see how necessary each one is to hold interest, regardless of season. Portland, Oregon landscape architect Toru Tanaka, designed the Sasebo Japanese Garden in Albuquerque which opened in September 2007. The elegant garden incorporates all the elements and traditional vegetation, in coordination with and complementing the existing cottonwood trees that grow near the Rio Grande. Because the garden is in a moderately level area, geography and slight elevation changes (courtesy of human-made hills), and ponds that weave in and out walking paths gives the feeling of being in a very different place. A wall with several levels capped with tiles, holds the main gate, and gives the sense of an enclosed space.
On the right after entering, a bell tower awaits, with a sense of serenity. Not one detail has been left to chance, with traditional wood joinery and metal base brackets holding the uprights.
Paths take you in and around the entirety of the garden, over bridges and around ponds and waterfalls.
As is traditional in Japanese gardens, bamboo is a connecting thread throughout the garden. It is used in a variety of ways, from walls, gates, and even as overflows to keep the pond level, as seen below. The native cottonwood trees were kept in place.
The bamboo, despite the cold temperatures that kept ice on each pond, was surprisingly green.
It is seen throughout the gardens and is frequently used for structural elements and screens. Here is a weeping blue cedar hanging over a bamboo fence.
After viewing the Sasbeo Japanese Garden in January, I anxiously await a spring visit!
Thanks to Jean and Sam, Terry T., Catherine, Barbara F. R., TTT, Steve, and Gustavo for writing last week! I hope those of you in the path of the predicted blast of cold keep warm this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Over 500 types of oak trees grow world wide, and there are 10 species of oaks that grow into trees (as opposed to those that are shrubs) native to California. They are the Interior Live Oak, Island Oak, Oregon White Oak, Valley Oak, Black Oak, Blue or Douglass Oak, Canyon Live Oak, Coast Live Oak, Shreve Oak, and the Mesa or Engelmann Oak. All are in the genus Quercus and to my knowledge, they all are somewhat fire resistant and they all produce acorns.
Acorns are an amazing part of nature's cycle of life, and are simply mighty in their production. Not to mention the fact that they are great fun to collect, roll between your fingers, and eventually photograph. Acorns have a protective top called a cupule (what I always called a cap and others call a hat) which separates from the nut at the right time. It is a thing of beauty. I spent a chunk of time this week photographing possibly four different kinds of acorns, and quite frankly, I have no idea which trees produce them. Here is an image of a cupule and an acorn. They are not a match, seeing that the acorn did not fit in the cap, which was another clue that the acorn on the right was yet that of another species.
Getting the inside details of the relatively small cupule or cap below, was an interesting process in itself.
Photographing the acorns in both natural light accompanied by occasional full and broken overcast as well as fill flash, again reminded me that if any day I have camera in hand and don't get a lesson in shadow and light, it is a surprise. Here is a linear acorn that looks like it could have been turned on a lathe.
The acorns shown here are oblong but rounder in shape. On different surfaces and in different lighting conditions, it is easy to see they are also different species.
The top of the acorn that is underneath the cupule is so interesting that I wanted to show the area where it is attached.
Thanks to all of you who commented this week - Tim A., Terry T., Ann A., Jean & Sam, Karren L., Steve, Victoria, Barbara F. R., and Bill and Sue. It was good to hear from you as we moved through our first week of 2025.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Several things in our world have come to symbolize renewal in modern culture. All go through the process of metamorphosis, literally and figuratively. The first is the butterfly, and the fact that we saw part of this evolution last summer involved both observation and a bucketful of luck. The caterpillar below is feeding on parsley, making its way toward becoming a black swallowtail butterfly.
Here is the butterfly, drying its wings after emerging from the dried bit of a chrysalis in the lower left-hand portion of the photograph.
The yellow swallowtail also frequents our part of the world.
The lotus or water lily is a dominant, world-wide symbol of rebirth.
Daffodils - a certain sign of spring - start appearing in markets long before they emerge from the ground in the southern Rocky Mountains.
Finally, the egg, a perfect symbol of birth and life.
Thanks to TTT, Veronica, Terry T., Connie, Lisa S., Steve, Marilyn G., Jean & Sam, Karen L., and Catherine Sobredo for your comments at the end of 2024. I appreciate these and look forward to hearing from all of you as 2025 works its magic on us.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Black and white photography does justice to lilies in its own way.
America and the world lost an extraordinary human being yesterday. Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died at the age of 100. Despite what many think of the job he did as president, he was one of the very few politicians in my lifetime who had a true, solid, and unwavering moral compass. He loved people of every stripe and did more after his one term as president than any other president has done, building houses for those in need through Habitat for Humanity, and serving as a statesman around the world. He and he wife, Rosalyn, were a team and force to be reckoned with when it came to caring for those in need. The quote below from Carter himself says volumes.
"The test of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few, but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend on it."
And while we contemplate the new year, words from writer Kurt Vonnegut in Breakfast of Champions, also ring true.
"We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas are humane."
Thanks to all of you who continue to follow my blog, and comment on it, including Barbara F. R., Carolyn, Tim, Claudia, Ann & Tomas, Catherine, Terry T., Marilyn G., Ingrid, Steve, and Jean and Sam. May 2025 be a year of gathering with friends and family, and cherishing life and our planet.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Solstice was Saturday, and tomorrow will be four seconds longer than today. It doesn't seem like much when one reads or says the words out loud, but soon we'll be able to note the difference in the amount of daylight.
Since my photo printer was being extremely cranky during the printing part of the season (eliciting a few choice expletives from the office), some of you received a holiday letter along with the card, and a few received nothing. Thus, I include this year's photograph here.
Now we carry on traditions, including watching some of our favorite holiday offerings, one of which is Joyeux Nöel, about a Christmas truce that occurred among French, German, and English troops on the Western Front during World War 1. It warms the heart and soul like none other, reminding viewers that there can be peace among enemies, even if only for a short time. How wonderful it would be for that to happen in these fraught times! My wish is that you have peaceful and joyful holidays.
Thanks to Claudia, Victoria, Geula, Jean & Sam, TTT, Paule, Marilyn G., Steve Lisa S., Catherine, Barbara F. R., Lawrence & Donna, & Carol for commenting on last week's and other blogs.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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As we await those extra minutes of daylight, there are always things that can be done indoors, including weaving and all kinds of art and writing. And those of us who consider ourselves artists continue doing art, whatever it may be, year round. Among other things I was doing this week, was photographing Fred's latest weaving, Rug 414. But first, I am including photographs of the process, in addition to images of Fred's latest work.
Regardless of my attempts to explain how Fred warps the loom (which can frequently be a full contact sport) it is a difficult process to describe. Quite frankly, if I did not live in the same house as a weaver, I would be clueless. So I offer the photograph below as yet another effort to show how the process of warping is done. He loads enough wool onto the loom for four rugs. The warp hangs over the balustrade, and into the living room as the loom is loaded.
The process is the ultimate in isometric exercise. Here, Fred is doing the final part of warping the loom which is attaching the warp ends to the front or breast beam.
All of the rugs here are made of 100% Navajo-Churro wool, both warp and weft.
Rug 411, in the style of the Navajo Chiefs blanket
Rug 412 in progress on the loom
Completed Rug 412, in Fred's own style, is an homage to the work of Josef Albers and the Bauhaus movement
Rug 413, below, uses five different natural greys, a natural black, and Sangre de Cristo red (dyed)
Rug 414, fresh off the loom
It was great to hear from Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., Orlando, Charleen, Victoria, Steve, and Catherine this week. May the Solstice and the ever-so-subtle change in daylight make your spirits soar!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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With his prominent muzzle whiskers acting as sensory devices, Atticus must have a keen sense of the world around him. He certainly knows a carrot when he sees one.
Thanks to Marilyn G., Jean & Sam, Pater, Ingrid, and Steve for commenting on last week's blog. And to Kate for allowing me to photograph Atticus.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Spatchcock is a turkey or other fowl that has been split down the back, enabling the bird to be flattened. The word is a combination of "dispatch" and "cock", both from 18th century English but spatchcock was originally an Irish usage, not unlike "Dispatch the cock". The action of splitting the bird down the back helps the cook flatten the bird, allowing the bird to cook more quickly and, at the same time, retain moisture. The result is very juicy and tasty meat. Yes, there were comments about it looking a bit like road kill, but one cannot deny the wonderful flavor. Here is Thursday's subject after cooking.
A lovely bowl of greens with nuts, and goat cheese, assorted veggies, and cooked and spiced red cabbage topped off with a pecan pie filled with New Mexico pecans completed the meal.
Thankfully, we all had spatchcock and other leftovers. I hope all of you had tasty, interesting, perhaps exotic, and wonderful Thanksgiving celebrations. Now, in December, we move toward the Winter Solstice on 21 December.
Thanks to gracious hosts Ingrid and Robert, and to all of you who wrote last week - Victoria, Barbara F. R., Veronica, Brenda M., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Catherine, Pauli, Connie T., and Steve.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Another food that originated in the New World food is the potato. My guess is that the fingerling potatoes shown below are a cultivar of one of the 4,000 plus varieties world wide. Peru alone has 3,000 types of potatoes.
And Thanksgiving in New Mexico probably would not be complete without at least one type of pepper included somewhere in the meal.
Onions, apples, and mushrooms are all possible ingredients of the dressing with which a turkey, goose, or duck might be stuffed.
And somewhere on the table is a salad, perhaps made with beautiful Romaine lettuce, as a complement or palate cleanser.
Thanks to Steve, Pater, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., M. Fred B., and Catherine for commenting on last week's blog. I am grateful to all of you who read every Monday and thereby participate in my grand photographic experiments. Have a wonderful and tasty Thanksgiving!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The leaves shown below held a bit of everything - ice and water beads, like the one in the bottom right hand corner that was in limbo between liquid and ice.
The droplets on the leaves below were all liquid, being transparent enough to show the leaf veins.
The near-icy patches on the top leaf could have been a map defining continents.
I found this combination of the top soft yellow aspen leaf and the rich brown leaves below very pleasing.
It was heartwarming to hear from so many of you last week, including Minna, Barbara F. R., Terry T., Victoria, TTT, Claudia, Kathryn and Gene, Catherine, Jean & Sam, Katy, Steve, Ingrid, Pater, and Marilyn G. My hope is that the changing seasons, wherever you may be, provide abundant interest as well as photographic possibilities, with solvitur ambulando in mind.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Not only was the place alive with water lilies and their flowers but with frogs. So it really wasn't a surprise that there would be a photo bomb somewhere in my images. With luck, you will be able to see the frog's head poking up in the upper right hand corner of the image below.
Thanks to Minna, Kay, Tim, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., Steve, Jean & Sam, Catherine, Rebecca, and Geula for writing this week. And as waves of winter move back and forth across the land, I hope that the seasons offer each of you ample photographic opportunities.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The low blue glow of the early morning hours lent itself to a tree, making an other-worldly scene reminiscent of many pirate movies.
It would be a sad day indeed if I was unable to locate a good reflection of something, anything. This morning did not disappoint as sailboat masts appeared on the water.
And what would a coastal community be without a hodge podge of canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards?
Thanks to Victoria, Barbara F. R., Robert, Peggy, Jean & Sam, Dick and Carol, Steve, and Veronica for commenting on last week's blog.
Welcome moisture has arrived in northern New Mexico in the form of both rain and snow. A bonus before a La Niña year begins.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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And where do I begin? Probably with the first big project (and there were no doubt many others) of which we aware - the bathroom. Steve has always been a fan of mechanical things, including gauges, and he knows how everything works. The gauges show both water pressure and temperature. He has an incredible schematic in his head!
The next project that we followed thanks to photographs sent by his wife, Debbie, was the lighthouse. She was always a fan of lighthouses, and Steve decided to build one for her. Not only do you need vision and some semblance of a plan in one's head to build something like this, the artist must be intimately familiar with possible sources of material and what kind of equipment it takes to place things. Frequently, if Steve lacked the tool to make an element, he would fabricate it. And in-person research was required so I suspect more than one trip to Point Reyes was made in that regard. The base is a concrete culvert put on end, which must have been quite the task in itself. A circular staircase allows you to enter the lighthouse and also sit on a metal deck.
What some don't realize is that every piece of glass, every screw and rivet were put in by hand. It is truly a handmade piece of art. Below is the large fresnel lens surrounded by pieces of glass fitted into brass.
Another addition to the house was a replica of the Titanic bow Steve built, complete with searchlight.
The latest project is something Steve had dreamed of getting his hands on for some time - a Stoof. A Grumman S-2F, the Stoof flew in the U. S. Navy Fleet for years, and as the Navy was phasing them out, a number of the aircraft were acquired by Cal Fire. This one was used as a tanker to drop water and retardant on forest fires. This Stoof (in Navy slang "S two F became Stoof) had seen better days and was in pieces in an aviation boneyard, waiting for Steve to find them. Which he did! All the pieces are in place now, and every day, it awaits Steve's skills.
They were powered by nine cylinder, radial-piston engines. My husband, Fred, was a Navy aircraft mechanic in the late 1960's and early 1970's and actually worked on these planes. He was able explain some of the innards of the lovely beast.
There is plenty of electrical and hydraulic pasta here behind the engine firewall.
Below is a photograph of our car, to show scale, in front of the Stoof.
After seeing everything that Steve has fabricated, cut, painted, and built over the years, I will never look at anything human made in quite the same way.
Thanks to Steve and Debbie for giving us the grand tour and allowing me to take photographs, and to Fred for filling me in on the elements of the plane.
My appreciation goes to Victoria, Minna, Marilyn G., Jean & Same, Catherine, Pauli, Steve, TTT, Marilyn R., Lawrence, and Ingrid for commenting on the 13 October blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The scrub oak trees near Chama vary in their color from year to year. These are showing a nice combination of yellow and leaves with ruddy tones, in addition to some lingering green.
The aspen are stunning not only in their brilliance but in stature.
Even garden-variety strawberries are striking as they turn from green to gold and red.
Thanks to Marilyn G., Catherine, Veronica, Jean & Sam, Tim, Barbara F. R., Steve, TTT, Ingrid, and Earle for your kind words last week.
There will be no blog next Monday, as we'll be on the road with our trusty Bolt, discovering the joys and intricacies of driving an electric car out of state. Naturally, many photographs will be made along the way. Some of those will, no doubt, appear in the October 28 blog.
until then,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Friday was set up day. We raked the dirt and hay in the animal barn space before erecting Fred's hanging rack for his rugs. Here it is bright and early Saturday morning.
Fiber was in abundance, and on Sunday, we were treated to a group of three very young alpacas (part of the Camelid family) called "cria" in a space next to us. The youngest was three weeks old, while the elder was six weeks old. At this age, they are all still nursing, but the personalities are already quite clear. The alpacas were from Que Sera Alpacas near Santa Fe.
All of the "cria" were endlessly fascinated with the collar and tag one of the "dams" was sporting. Alpaca chew a lot, which helps keep their teeth in proper working order. When alfalfa and grain pellets were brought in for them during the late morning, the mewing and talking in camel was quite impressive. Yummy noises, to say the very least.
Believe it or not, the very dark brown mother gave birth to the white cria, shown below. A Madonna and child, as it were. When they are not wrestling with other cria, they stick close to their mothers. You might be able to see a brown spot on the white "cria" in the photographs above and below. Owners are thinking that might be evidence of an appaloosa-like coat pattern. There was actually more talk of genetics in alpacas and sheep than I have ever heard at a wool festival before. If you are interested in learning more, particularly in reference to Navajo-Churro Sheep and sustainability, click on the link here. www.riomilagro.org
Below is an image of Hamish, the youngest. Quite the attitude!
One of the mothers or "dam", ever watchful.
Thanks to Barbara, Ingrid and Robert, Carolyn, and Victoria for stopping by the booth over the weekend and bringing great conversation to the mix.
Minna, Claudia, Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Marilyn G., Steve, and Terry T. left comments on last week's blog, which were most appreciated.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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This is one of my older aspen photographs taken while we were living in Taos County. Highway 64 between Tres Piedras, and Tierra Amarilla has some real gems. These had been dusted with snow that left what I call rain "shadows" on the trees.
If you live in the northern hemisphere, I hope you are able to enjoy autumn color and the joy it brings.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Granted, I flipped it off and it ended up on the wall the following morning. These big green aliens scared me endlessly when I was child. They used to show up on a regular basis amongst the piles of leaves into which I would jump. Did not like them one bit. However, I decided to shake my trepidation and started to photographic this particular one. It was drying itself off after the previous night's rain. The first image below, you can see rain droplets on the "pronotum" or extended neck collar. To me, it looks like armor of finely cut and tooled leather. The wings resemble stained glass. And the eyes - those compound eyes. What can I say? Like jewels, these organs are basically "motion/light detectors" (according to Wikipedia).
The pronounced rear leg is actually a femur, and the round part at the end is attached to the tibia which is tucked underneath the grasshopper.
The assorted and chunky collection of parts in the front under the eyes is the reason they can chew through plants so efficiently.
A perfect space alien
It still amazes me to see things close up and this subject was no exception. I wonder if early movie makers of alien invaders actually copied the eyes of grasshoppers for their alien beings.
Since yesterday was the autumnal equinox, it is officially autumn, and with luck, each one of you will be able to photograph and enjoy the most elegant of seasons.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
With their many-petaled construction, roses have room for both tiny water bowls and lines of droplets, as shown in the next four images.
Hosta leaves are photogenic in three seasons before they die back to the ground for winter. Rain that falls onto the curved leaves is shaped into little reflecting pools.
Then there are the spider webs which I encounter on a regular basis while walking through garden, that really shine when it rains.
Finally, lacy Japanese maple leaves carry and shed rain drops quickly.
My thanks to Paule, TTT, Jean & Sam, Catherine, M. Fred, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., Steve, and Ingrid for your blog input last week!
The autumnal equinox is next Sunday, 22 September, as the amount of daylight becomes increasingly less (by two minutes and 13 seconds today). It provides the absolute best natural light for photography, and with luck, you will be able to take advantage of it as autumn progresses.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Below is a shot of Fred's booth area from the 2023 festival.
Included in the stable of this year's 100% Navajo-Churro rugs is #410 shown in the following two photographs. He achieved the stripes using a technique called "pick and pick". The wool is dyed in the traditional Navajo way by Zefren (who is located in Shiprock), using indigo and cochineal. Arts and crafts style side table is also Fred's work.
Detail of Rug 408, which will also be featured at the Festival.
These lovely coasters are also made of 100% Navajo-Churro wool. They will be included in the Silent Auction.
The Santa Fe Wool Festival will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 5 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 6th.
The Santa Fe County Fairgrounds on located at 3229 Rodeo Road in Santa Fe.
Given all the possible activities available during this season, I especially appreciate comments from Rebecca, Jean & Sam, Marilyn R., Charleen, TTT, Catherine, Steve, Marilyn G., and Barbara F. R. last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
forest duff and debris, and it doesn't take long for animals of all stripes to discover them, including humans. It was always a wonder to me when those who were experts said they were going mushroom hunting in the mountains. Eating one from the wild without said expert is not something I would do. But photographing them is another thing all together. This year's late season batch - be them edible or not - definitely seemed bun ready. Easily hamburger or salad-plate sized, the majority of them were located near the bases of spruce and Douglas fir trees. Something about the chemistry appears to work for their growth. Can't you see the specimen below grilled with a bit of olive oil and stuffed in a bun? All the mushrooms shown here were 4-8 inches across.
The mushroom below looks like it has been sautéed and is ready to eat.
Given the color of the mushroom shown below, my guess it could be poisonous.
Nature appears to have already roasted the one shown below.
A great brain?
Chunks of granite provided the bun here.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Tim, Bill & Sue, Charlie, TTT, Orlando, Sam & Lena, Carolyn, Sara and Chuck, Jean & Sam, Ann M., Claudia, Victoria, Gustavo, Dianne, Earle, Dave & Donna, and Steve for your comments last week and for the good wishes. I hope with the opening of September, temperatures are cooler and the feel of autumn is carried on the breezes!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) gave some suggestions for living life.
"Dance like nobody is watching; love like you've never been hurt; sing like nobody is listening; live like it's heaven on earth."
And this particular quote also says volumes about the times in which we live.
"Live your life with joy, despite having all the facts." -- Jane Goodalll
Many thanks to TTT, Sandra B., Veronica, Barbara F. R., Sara, Marilyn G., Chuck, Jean & Sam, Lisa, Steve, and Catherine for commenting on last week's blog. Here's to all of you, and to Fred, I cannot say enough!
We are off for a little hike in the rare damp mountain air to celebrate.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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One thing has not changed. Indian Market is about the people of multiple generations who create and those who appreciate and collect their work. And the people watching is unsurpassed. It is a photographer's paradise.
Walking and styling
Decision time at the booth. I am beginning to think I am the only one who isn't sporting any ink!
Shoes are definitely part of the style, regardless if they are athletic shoes or wedges.
Street photography as shown above comes easily to me, but I find myself having to set my shyness aside in order to ask people if I can photograph them. For one thing, the artisans are busy at their booths and lots of people are around. I hate to interrupt someone trying to sell their work. So the next sequence of photographs were gained by introducing myself as a photographer and asking if they would allow me to photograph them.
Indigenous Designer Shaydee Snow Pretends Eagle was kind enough to be a photo subject.
Having never been very precise with makeup, I cannot even imagine the process and time involved in putting together her style.
Golga Oscar, artist and owner of Third Generation Art in Kasigluk, Alaska, had a winning smile I needed to photograph. The work at his booth included two stunning coats - one made of muskrat pelts, and the other of rabbit.
Marita Ahhaitty Growing Thunder owner of the Growing Thunder Collective and her exquisite bead work.
My thanks go to these great artists and activists for their work and for permitting me to photograph them and their work.
And many thanks to Barbara F. R., Victoria, Catherine, Kay, Jean & Sam, Steve, Ingrid, and Lawrence for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
The praying mantis belongs to a large order Mantodea "that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families." (Wikipedia). They have a habit of rocking, which can mimic the movement of leaves. As a photographic subject, they are perfect because they wait for their many types of prey to come to them. If you watch a mantis long enough, they will start watching you. Despite that, the are very good for the garden, consuming a number of different pests. The following photographs demonstrate the statement "What are you looking at?"
The image below with the front legs together shows why they are called "praying mantis"
Some minor developing adjustments gives a slightly spooky effect.
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Ann, Peggy, Melissa, Catherine, Marilyn G., Barbara F. R., Steve, MFB, Carolyn S., Victoria, Dianne J. and Robert for commenting on last week's blog. During these vacation months when so many of you are out and about, I particularly appreciate your thoughts on the blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
It was quite exciting when I noticed a chrysalis on a lavender stem. Having no clue what would eventually emerge from it, all I could do is wait. Probably a butterfly, but which butterfly? There is an abundance of swallowtails flying the neighborhood, in addition to many other butterflies. Reading that the chrysalis stage lasts between 7 and 10 days, and that the speed depended on the temperature, the best I could do is check every day to make sure it was still intact. You may remember this from my 21 July blog.
Last Thursday, as was our habit, we were about to go for our standard three mile walk when Fred came into the house saying "You had better grab your camera now." The rather rough looking off-white object in the lower left hand third of the photograph, was torn and empty, and a female black swallowtail was drying its wing. I have chased butterflies with my cameras for years, but have never seen one newly emerged, with all the wings perfectly intact, undamaged, and ready to fly. The female of the species is very different from the male, the dots of which are bright yellow rather than a light cream color, as shown in the image below. Both sexes have the blue and orange markings on their wings.
Who would have thought that concrete and macadam pavement would provide such interesting backdrops?
After having seen the evolution from caterpillar to butterfly, I now know why children get such a thrill out of cutting a plant stem with a caterpillar on it, putting it in a jar, watching it create a chrysalis, and then become a butterfly. A better demonstration of one of nature's wonders is hard to find, and it was just plain lucky to see and photograph it.
Thanks to Anne, Marilyn R., Lisa S., Jean & Sam, Catherine S., Barbara F. R., TTT, Dave O., Paule, Steve, Brenda, M.Fred, Marilyn G., Lawrence, and Char for your very kind comments about last week's blog featuring Fred's rugs.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
I
]]>Rug 409, is a particularly complex rug, involving design, geometry, and architecture or engineering. As you can see in the top of the image below, he starts on the drafting table drawing the design before proceeding to the loom. It will probably take a month to complete.
Although at first glance, a viewer might think it is either Aztec or Mayan in feel, but it really is a Celtic knot of his own design.
Rug 408 is a blend of Southwestern themes, as well as elements of the arts and crafts movement.
Rug 407, with its flattened triangles (which in Navajo weaving represent "K'os Yisheh" or cloud terraces) is bold and dramatic.
The rugs above are made of 100% Navajo-Churro wool, both warp and weft. All three of these rugs will be among 18 Fred will feature in his booth at the Santa Fe Wool Festival, Saturday and Sunday, October 5 & 6 at the Santa Fe County Fairgrounds.
Thanks to Fred for continuing to create and carry on traditional weaving. And thanks to Connie, Gustavo, TTT, Jean & Sam, Steve, Catherine, and Marilyn G. for commenting last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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It is also the height of the travel season for many. They are on holiday, scattered around the world, enjoying time away from jobs and the news. And there are a good many who are home but glued to their televisions or are actually on the roadways now, watching the Tour de France, which was won for the third time as I write (spoiler alert) by Tadej Pogacar And the Olympic Games opening ceremony is this Friday in Paris. Given those, I recommend viewing The Boys in the Boat on Amazon Prime. The Boys in the Boat is based on the 1936 Olympic rowing event, and how an underdog junior varsity team from the University of Washington is chosen, trained, and makes its way into national and international races. Based on the true story turned into a narrative non-fiction novel by Daniel James Brown, it is an uplifting story for the ages.
Released in 2023, Tour de France Unchained is airing on Netflix, and goes into the inner workings, strategies, mayhem, injuries, and brut strength that these cycling men/machines possess. Quite frankly, I cannot even imagine how much food each of the cyclists consumes to make it through even part of a single stage. Although the gentleman below is obviously not participating in the Tour, my bet he has pretty decent quads driving this rig around the streets of Bratislava.
Bicycles are everywhere in Europe. They are major means of transport. No wonder the Tour means so much to so many.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Gustavo, Kay C., Catherine S., Paule, Rebecca, Steve, and M. Fred for your comments last week.
I found this quotation in the beginning of a book I am reading and thought it appropriate.
"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper." W. B. Yeats
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Each spring, I plant basil seeds in pots in order to have an ample supply of it for pesto. And I always planted parsley in Taos County as well. It was quite hardy and apparently either reseeded or wintered over in our raised beds, so it seemed a good idea to plant some here as well. The first year's crop evolved into a second, third, and now fourth year. It really is quite a resilient and lovely plant. Normally, I will clip some for a number of different dishes. When I looked down at it yesterday, I saw a caterpillar or worm on it. At first blush, I thought it was a tomato worm, but should have known better because they are quite green and have horns. This particular caterpillar was different. Papilio polyxenes or the American (or black) swallowtail reminded me of a koshare, with its clown stripes and dots of color. The striping is simply perfect. Doing research, I learned that their preferred food is parsley. What are the chances that this caterpillar shows up in a pot in our yard, when probably no one else in the neighborhood is growing parsley? Apparently decent because now two caterpillars are here, and I figure it is worth the sacrifice of some parsley for the beauty that it is and will be as a butterfly and pollinator.
If you look carefully or zoom in, you can see little nails or grippers that firmly hold the parsley stem as they chew. They truly are little eating machines.
Quite frankly, I can't wait to see the butterflies in their fullness next month.
Thanks to Sara, Jean & Sam, Marilyn R., Catherine, TTT, Steve, Barbara F. R., and Marilyn G. for writing this week!
until next Monday
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>It seems to be the case that hollyhocks grow and thrive in poor soil, the same that many gardeners try desperately to amend year after year. But don't be fooled. They are quite choosy. A bit like paintbrush, which is very site-specific, hollyhock seeds plant themselves where they will grow and thrive, despite where we think they should be growing. Which made me wonder about a plant in the gravel at the corner of a house several blocks away. It does not appear to have been planted. And the leaves were different than any hollyhocks I had seen here. They looked more like Boston ivy leaves, coming to a point at the end rather than round. On further inspection, I had to think this was a hibiscus or Rose of Sharon rather than a hollyhock. In the same family (Malvaceae - the Mallow family), they look much more tropical (as most hibiscus are) than hollyhocks, probably because the hundreds of species like the tropics. But we are lucky to have some that grow in Albuquerque and Santa Fe (with additional warmth from southern exposure and warm walls). The following two images are of the local Rose of Sharon, looking quite Hawaiian.
Compare those to the hollyhock images that follow. It seems to me that new colors appear every year. There must be some mixing and matching going on among the species and subspecies.
Even the white flowers shine. There is a lot going on here.
The color of the hollyhock flowers below is magnificent, elevating themselves to royalty in the garden.
But they also serve the photographers working in black and white well.
My gratitude goes to Jean and Sam, Marilyn R., Tim, TTT, Victoria, Barbara F. R., Steve, Ingrid, and Marilyn G. for writing about last week's blog.
I hope the summer continues to present plentiful photographic opportunities in your lives.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>But yesterday morning, while having coffee on our small patio, there were very little creatures crawling around on the sandstone. Strange things happen after a hard rain in New Mexico and Saturday night, there was a righteous thunderstorm, yielding 1.05 inches of rain. Literally, things crawl out of many places after it rains in earnest. On closer inspection, Fred noticed that they were snails. Knowing full well that some of you may think of snails as the bane of your existence, I nonetheless had to photograph them just because we have never had them anywhere we have lived. And they were really, really small. So in addition to the macro lens, a tape measure was required for scale. Thus, both the snails and the agave blooms made it into today's blog.
Beginning with the agave, here is the beautiful desert plant as most people see it in a native environment....
...or in a garden
And from this emerges a 10 foot high bloom stalk that yields heaven for bees and other pollinators. Everything that appears to be a dark spot on the image is a bee in motion. Looking at the flowers, I feel connected to ancient history.
Moving on to another ancient creature, the humble snail. These gastropods have been around since the Paleozoic era, some 520 million years ago. To catch these little wonders, I used a macro lens and a fill flash.
Looking closely, you can see the "snail trail" left by the foot as a communication tool for other snails.
With two thunderstorms yielding 2.54 inches here June (not a lot for many parts of the world but for the drier climes of New Mexico it is substantial), I await more oddities to photograph as July begins.
Thanks to Tim, Lawrence, Jean & Sam, Larry & Carol M., M. Fred, Catherine, Steve, Barbara F. R., Kay, and Ingrid for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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This week, I was not a fly on the wall, but a dragonfly on the wall did capture my attention. My knowledge of many species in the insect world is somewhat lacking, so when I noticed the dragonfly, not only did my camera emerge, but after downloading the first collection of images, I returned to do research. Because the dragonfly stayed in the same location for hours, I was able to photograph it at four different times that day. As far as I can tell, I saw my first Variable Darner or Aeshna interrupta. It is in the family Aeshnidae, and according to the Montana Field Guide, darners are among the largest and fastest-flying North American dragonflies. Wikipedia indicates that the variable darner is native to the mountains of New Mexico, among other places including Alaska, and the Northern Territories, New Hampshire, and Michigan. One of those widely scattered insects. Still, it was exciting to see one at close range and have the opportunity to photograph it.
Dragonflies have heads (with compound eyes), thorax, (which looks like some sort of tool for automobile repair) and abdomen - the multicolored sections with two dark colored things (technical term) - at the end. They are the Cercus/clasper and the Epiproct, which are identifiers of the male of the species. There will not be a test, I promise.
I never realized until seeing it in close proximity that the wings are so incredibly reflective. Absolutely pure and beautiful design courtesy of nature. The first three photographs in the series were made around 10:45 in the morning, when the wall on which I found the dragonfly was still in the shade, but enough light was coming from opposing surfaces to light the wings and make them reflective.
At 11:50, the refraction of light through the wings onto the textured wall was something I simply could not ignore.
The light had changed enough at 1:30 in the afternoon that the stained glass effect of the wings warranted another and very different take.
Now that northern hemisphere summer is here in earnest, I hope each of you has plentiful opportunities to witness what it has to offer.
Many thanks to Orlando, Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Robert, Sara, TTT, Catherine, Jean, Lisa S., Steve, Dick & Carol, and M. Fred for writing this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The story of the hollyhock is far from exclusive to New Mexico. Bruneni (again in the Santa Fe Botanical Garden article), "Alcea, is a genus of about 60 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae. They are native to Asia but are high adaptable to different climates and are now found throughout the United States and eastern Canada. They were first mentioned in England in "Grete Herbal" by John Gerard in 1597 as arriving in Britain in 1573, probably from China by way of Palestine." After reading this, I will never see the hollyhock, which seems so iconic to Santa Fe gardens, in the same way. Today's blog features a small sampling of the flowers. There are so many that another blog featuring them may be in the offing at a later date.
After all of the colors that seem to exist within the body of the genus, the white ones make their own statement, including a bee photo bomb.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Tim, Pauli, Kay C., Catherine, Sara, Orlando, TTT, Louise, and Steve for commenting on last week's blog.
I hope your Summer Solstice week (on Thursday) is filled with all the good things that mark summer, including hollyhocks!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
We were unaware of a companion in the rocks until it appeared as we were resting and enjoying the view. Affectionately known as a GMGS, this golden mantled ground squirrel had grown up on snacks from hikers. Had it been able to speak human, it would have asked us what was on the menu. Regardless, its request was pretty obvious.
Along the road were a number of late spring/early summer flowers. There is going to be a bumper crop of wild strawberries this year. I had not noticed walking on the way up that distributed within their numbers were also Canadian violets. The retina-burning brightness of the white at high altitude is stunning, not to mention the clarity of the flower's center. Almost like an eyelash winking at you.
Mountain parsley is scattered along the road...
as is the western wallflower, on which painted lady butterflies (I trust you will correct me if that is wrong, Clyde) were feasting.
This painted lady was working on a dandelion.
Because of the lack of wind, dandelions that had gone to seed were perfect in shape and detail.
Finally, the early afternoon light was playing on a scarlet paintbrush in the shade of aspens.
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., TTT, Steve, Catherine, and Ingrid for commenting on the blog site this week, and to others who comment via email, text, phone, or in person. It is always good to hear from you. I hope you have an excellent week of photography and exploration!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>I have been curious about the fact that the flowers, and actually stems of all Penstemons, are quite hairy. Apparently, the hairiness is a way to encourage bees and insects to go deeper into the flower. So while you are viewing the photographs, check out all the little hairs that grace the flowers. The following images are of Penstemon (beardtongue) Red Rocks. You can see the little hairs all over the flowers.
I made a few adjustments to this particular image, giving it a more painterly look.
We had quite a few Rocky Mountain penstemon plants at our place in Taos County and brought a few with us to Santa Fe, They have been thriving for four years. I am always torn about how to describe their look - The Rolling Stones "Hot Lips" logo, the whales I see in the buds, or just plain alien creatures.
Another image made painterly.
Finally, the Penstemon pinifolius. This penstemon makes tidy mounds of red-orange tubes, attracting insects and hummingbirds alike.
You can still find a wide selection of growing things through the High Country Gardens website, https://www.highcountrygardens.com/?gad_source=1
also a creation of the Salmans. The plants are always superb and arrive in perfect condition. Even in our less than desirable soil, they never cease to thrive. Thanks, David! You left the world quite a legacy.
And my gratitude to Terry T., Ann A., Veronica, TTT, Victoria, Brenda, Peggy, Sam & Jean, Catherine, Christine, Barbara F. R., Steve, and Lisa for your kind words this week.
Go forward with cameras and phones in hand to capture images of your own world during this first week in June.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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A friend of mine attended a wedding in Lake Tahoe two weekends ago and was kind enough to send photographs from the wedding. Two photographers and a videographer documented the event, and the images are stunning. It made me think about the weddings and engagement events I have photographed over nearly 50 years, and how important they really are. If the couple remains together throughout their lives (or not), chances are, few things from the wedding or commitment ceremony - be it lavish or intimate - make it through what are probably multiple moves, and natural disasters effecting peoples' homes and lives. (Some brides keep their wedding dresses. The one shown below has probably been kept in an elaborate box.) But the past week and weekend have been an example of the havoc nature can add to life. Chances are, photographs remain in some format, representing a singular moment in time.
Bride at South Fork, Colorado
So my mission for the last three days was to take a deep dive into my assorted photographic formats - CDs, digital, slides, and prints - in order to make my website "wedding" gallery as interesting and impactful as it can be. More is not necessarily better. I was looking at the the best for the gallery, and it was full of far too much. Remembering, I include a few of the most interesting, funky, and lovely of almost 50 years of wedding and event photography.
engagement shoot with Jessica and Joe along the Santa Fe River
engagement shot, Ashley and Gene, Taos, New Mexico
Not all wedding photographs feature both bride and groom, as the photo below demonstrates. It features the groom with the flower girl, and is one of my favorites.
bridesmaid along the windy Rio Grande del Norte in southern Colorado
a work of art in itself, the wedding cake
Kara and Eero at Prairie Star, Santa Ana Pueblo near Albuquerque
Christie and her father Earle, greater Los Angeles area
Jessica and Joe at Leaping Deer Ranch in Sapello, New Mexico
Cathy and Javier, Hannagan Meadow Lodge, White Mountains, Arizona
As I wait for Zenfolio to complete their weekend's work on the website platform along with the shift to an archival system, I will continue to make my galleries more interesting and less cluttered.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Victoria, Jean & Sam, Steve, Rebecca, Bill P. Christina W., and Marilyn G. for writing this week!
I hope you had a safe, thoughtful, and peaceful Memorial Day weekend, and that the week ahead opens a summer of photography, good work, friends, and family to you.
until next Monday,
db
a passion for the image©
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According to the website Color Wheel Artist, "A Tint is sometimes also called a Pastel. But to be precise, Color Theory defines a True Tint as any Hue or mixture of pure colors with only White added." To demonstrate, I include a bud of the combine hybrid "Early Bird Yellow" below.
As far the Swallowtail Columbine is concerned, the flowers are yet a different tint of yellow, which also changes as the flower opens and evolves. This bud lets us know that the flower will be yellow, but the tints can be very different as demonstrated below in the shots of the maturing bud and of the nearly open flower.
Thanks to Lawrence, Christina, Jean & Sam, TTT, Marillyn R., Rebecca A., Barbara F. R., Steve, Catherine, Karla, and M. Fred B. for chiming in on last week's blog!
With luck, all of you reading today will be able to capture nature - either with your camera or as a memory - as the yellow of spring evolves.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Rug 401
Navajo Chiefs Blanket motif, with hand-dyed cochineal and indigo wool from Rainbow Fiber Coop, natural white from iii dog farm, and natural dark grey from Tierra Wools
Detail, Rug 401
Rug 402
made of 100% Navajo-Churro wool, cochineal from Rainbow Fiber Coop, as well as natural dark and light grey, and dyed Tierra Amarilla from Tierra Wools
Rug 403
100% Navajo-Churro Wool from Tierra Wools. The top and bottom panels of the rug are comprised of six different dye lots of Chile Colorado, while the center panel is natural light and dark grey. The three panels are separated by Tierra Amarilla. This rug is listed in the New Mexico True Summer Gift Guide.
Rug 405
It is made of 100% Navajo-Churro wool from the Rainbow Fiber Coop, with a field of natural dark grey, punctuated by cochineal motifs sometimes called Chinle Stars.
Rug 405, under construction
Thanks to Barbara F. R., TTT, Tim, Jean & Sam, Steve, Catherine S., Rebecca A., and Ingrid for commenting on last week's blog.
I hope some of you were able to photograph the northern lights courtesy of solar flares this weekend, and that the coming week is a more gentle transition into late spring and early summer.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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As is always the case when I have camera in hand, my goal is to shoot from as many angles as possible. The technique also enables me to view the spurs, which give the columbine a bit of an alien look. In all the images below, you can clearly see the spurs. What appears to be a glistening ball or blob on the end of each spur actually secretes nectar.
Thanks to Victoria, Christina, Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Marilyn G., Steve, Charleen, and Carolyn S. for commenting this week!
I hope you are all "spurred on" to photograph your own world during the week ahead.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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It doesn't take long for the buds to open, revealing all.
A little shadow play in the nearly unfurled bud.
Here is another specimen I had never seen before this year. Again, I thought I had come close to a name but, alas did not. We'll just have to settle on its looks!
I found this tulip in a local cemetery. Again, clueless as to the specific name.
Last but not least, some different photographs of the one tulip I think I identified. It is a species tulip Tulip clusiana. I am grateful to Tami for planting it!
Many of you know that I collection quotations. I have an overflowing binder and another folder packed with them, in addition to Barlett's Familiar Quotations. I just felt that the words below written by Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert was more than appropriate for spring and these times in which we are living. He wrote it on the 2nd of May in 2009
"I believe that if, at the end of it all, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try."
Thanks to Jim and Louise, Victoria, M. Fred, Barbara F. R., Marilyn G., Catherine S., Minna, Steve, Ingrid, Ann, and Pater for your comments this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>I actually cannot recall the last time I saw a peach tree in bloom. But a text from a friend last week asking if I would like to photograph her peach tree sent me into action. What a display of varying shades of fuchsia!
Although I had been shooting multiple photographs of crab apple blossoms as well as pear blossoms throughout the week, it wasn't until I really looked at this bud along with the flat open characteristics of the fully revealed peach flowers that something hit me. They were a bit like some of the Austrian copper roses growing in older areas of Santa Fe. The reason is because many fruit trees belong to the Rosaceae or rose family. The family includes apples, peaches, pears, plums, almonds, and apricots, along with numerous others. The family contains 2,500+ species. The peach bud below was a beauty.
Our neighbor, Carol's, pear tree, on the other hand, was a puzzle. No one seemed to know what it was. I spent hours over several days searching its characteristics on the internet and in numerous plant books without luck. The closest I could come was either an ornamental pear tree or a crabapple. The puzzlement was the fact that many ornamental pears were described as having blossoms that smelled like fish. Her tree was just the opposite and had the most delightful smell for weeks. Thankfully, another neighbor took a small sample to a local nursery where the person identified it.
Masses of white blossoms, the petals of which fall like snow flakes, created a beauty of their own.
Then there were the crabapple trees. Since their bloom period is what I would call time-sensitive, I never tire of trying to capture them in slightly different ways to show them to the world. At the risk of boring you, below is a small collection.
Whether in sun, shadow, or silhouette, the clusters of flowers - near or from a distance - are a pleasure, and also offer some surprises.
Finally, just to demonstrate that the flowers are not always the prize, this flowering plum has a trunk that was definitely influenced by the predominant winds out of the southwest.
Thanks to Barbara for texting a photo of her peach tree and asking if I wanted to photograph it. I am also grateful to Charleen, Ingrid, Terry T., Jean & Sam, Kay, Catherine, Steve, Rebecca, Marilyn G., Paule, Robert, and TTT for writing this week and for hanging hummingbird feeders. May all of you be graced with blossoms and birds of many colors in the coming days.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>The black-chinned hummingbird is the next to arrive in the northern part of the state. Even if they have to remain in stasis during a spring snow storm, as were the ones shown below. They were just starting to awaken. I took advantage of the situation to shoot some images.
In flight, as all hummingbirds are, they are mind-boggling machines. According to hummingbirdcentral.com, New Mexico has broad-tailed and black-chinned currently in residence short of an Anna's and two rufous sightings near Las Cruces. They winter in the Seattle area, so it is no surprise they are not residents in New Mexico. From Houston to Chicago and Florida to New York, the entire map is covered with Anna's hummingbird sightings. No photographs of those either but the black-chinned keep us company.
The great majority of photographs I shot over 20 summers were rufous. They usually arrived in July, creating chaos at the four one-quart bird feeders we hung every year. It made the aerial circus that much more interesting.
There is a reason they are called rufous which means reddish-brown in color, but sometimes the males are day-glow orange, as is the dude below.
Looking at the map in Hummingbird Central, it appears there are hummers almost everywhere in the United States right now, so I hope you see or hear one speeding by in your neighborhood soon. Many in the world have never seen one, and when they do for the first time, the fascination is endless. May it be that way for you upon seeing the first one of the season!
Thanks for Louise, Tim, Jean & Sam, Carol M., Lawrence, Barbara F. R., Victoria, Steve, and Tomas for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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But it was little things in the garden that caught my attention. When winds were light, I headed out with my camera to take advantage of the calm. The Daffodil 'Tazetta Minnow' are sweet little things measuring barely an inch in circumference, and were among the first garden blooms this year.
Then there are the Ornithogalum dubium or Star of Bethlehem. Part of the asparagus family and like the asparagus, they produce nice stalks of flowers.
Last but definitely not least, here is a Vinca bloom just awaiting its closeup in the detritus next to a water catchment container hose bib.
My thanks for Christina W., Tim, Suz, Veronica, Barbara F. R., Kay, Jean & Sam, Lisa, Peggy, Catherine, Steve, Paule, and Robert for writing this week, to Cristina for providing some of the subject matter, and to all of you for reading and following my sometimes wildly diverse subject matter!
May the world never cease to amaze you. Happy Eclipsing!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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This week's blog began because I needed a watch. I have always loved watches and when Fred suggested he buy me a watch for my birthday, I hemmed and hawed for a minute or two and went to the computer to search for watches made in America by American small businesses. There were more small businesses than I expected and an astounding number of watches. Dive watches, aviators watches, dress watches. Reasonably priced to extremely expensive. And I wasn't even looking for a digital time piece or smart watch. Going through the lists of "best American-made watches", I was finding the same companies featured. Many of the watches seem to be made for men or those with larger wrists. When I stumbled upon The Waterloo watch at DuFrane Watches, I did wonder if it would simply be too big. So my next step was to send an email to the owner and watch designer Steven Lee with a wrist measurement. He responded very quickly with photographs and measurements of the watch and strap. In my mind, that was a really good sign. After several more questions answered almost immediately, I placed the order, despite the name Waterloo and Napoleon's defeat. Why name a watch Waterloo? As it turns out, Waterloo is the short-lived, original name for what is now Austin, Texas, and apparently, many businesses carry the name. From Waterloo Sparkling Water Company and Waterloo Records, to the Waterloo Ice House, usage of it is very common.
Looking at the great product photography on the DuFrane website, it was truly crazy for me to think I could equal that, which I absolutely did not. But since I had told Mr. Lee I would send him some images, I spent a good chunk of time working on that evasive image. It was an excellent photographic challenge, in which soft but balance light is the key. The first image comes close, with natural brown Navajo-churro wool from Cedar Mesa Ranch in Dolores, Colorado.
The afternoon light in the image below is much too harsh, lending a more dramatic look, rather than soft. On some level, it works.
Then there are the images of me wearing the watch. My skin is of a certain age that lends mostly freckles and spots rather than smoothness. Makes the rocks a perfect backdrop. Fred shot these images.
Since I started with a shot of the watch on wool, it just seem appropriate to include one my very multi-colored hair and the watch.
The light on the watch and rug is balanced enough to bring out the best in the watch. This is Fred's latest rug, 403.
My thanks to Barbara F. R., Ingrid, Jean & Sam, Victoria, Terry T., Char, Kay, Marilyn G., Catherine, Sara, TTT, Steve, Pauli, and Rebecca A. for commenting this week, to Carol, Pater, and Fred for encouraging me to use this as a blog subject, and to Steven Lee and Fred for providing the watch and backdrops.
Spring has definitely arrived in New Mexico as well as many other places in the northern hemisphere, and my hope is that all of you embrace it and its many joys in the coming weeks!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Suddenly, flying insects were showing up on the camera monitor. A closer look indicated that honey bees were already in residence, primed for pollen procurement. It seemed early for the bees as well, but this was due to my lack of observation. Oh, they had been here alright. I just hadn't noticed. The hairs on these bees appear as if a fine barber had given them a buzz cut on top, while the end of their abdomens are shiny black. The wings are beautifully delineated, with sections that almost look like stained glass.
Thanks to Ingrid, Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Cristina W., Lisa S., Pauli, and Steve for checking in and commenting last week.
With luck, each of you will be able to make some exciting and interesting discoveries while out with your smart phones and cameras this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I hope that however you celebrate spring, your cameras and phones go with you to capture incredible shots - from northern lights in Finland to baseball around the world, and pickleball in Arizona and Mexico!
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Ann A., Jean & Sam, Carol and Larry M., Marilyn G., Debbie S., Lluvia, Victoria, Peggy, Steve, Char, & Brenda for commenting last week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Depending on the dish size, several can bathe together while others drink. Note the juncos hanging around the side of the dish in the upper third and lower half of this photograph. They particularly like to slurp water off plants and other objects as the drops fall.
This robin required a private bath.
So as many of you plan or begin spring travel, I hope that your cameras and phones will accompany you to document the season.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Robert, Tim, Jean & Sam, Kay C., TTT, Marilyn G., Steve, and Rebecca for writing this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Walking through the Railyard and downtown areas, there is a wide variety of architectural adornment. For example, the new dormitory at the New Mexico School for the Arts in the Railyard area has a combination of territorial style and art deco brick/tile parapets. Generally, one or two layers of bricks are laid vertically, creating a sharp edging. The Palace of the Governors and the Bataan Building are two examples of this style. But the School for the Arts has added two horizontal layers, giving the traditional design just a bit of an art deco look.
This multi-layered parapet treatment with red tile graduating into a double stacked territorial, is followed by connected diamonds, and finished with angled uprights on the face of the building at 271 West San Francisco, near the Lensic Theater.
The shadow play of the architectural elements in the former Yoberri space, which now houses Henry and the Fish, definitely make the walls talk.
The Lensic Theater, which is featured in the mosaic below created by youth artists from Fine Arts for Children and Teens (FACT) in 2003, reflects the pseudo-Moorish, Spanish Renaissance character of the building exterior. The Lensic itself deserves a separate photo shoot and blog.
Demonstrating the fact that Santa Fe still carries some funk is Evaneglo's Cocktail Lounge "Santa Fe's favorite hangout and live music destination"near the Santa Fe Plaza on the corner of San Francisco and Galiseto. Talk to anyone who has lived in Santa Fe since it was established in 1971 and, and I guarantee those walls will talk.
On the corner of Palace and Cathedral stands the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. The Federal Building which was built between 1920 and 1922, and originally was the post office (along with other government offices), was renovated between 1990 and 1992 to house the museum. Like a number of the buildings in downtown, it was built of brick and reinforced concrete, and "the architects modeled the facade after the portico of Palace of the Governors and its central pavilion after the auditorium of Museum of Fine Arts." (SAH Archipedia). The painting on the east side is the "graffiti inspired work of Yakita Starr Fields".
Finally, the Allan Houser Art Park on the west side of the museum, currently features a mural by Ehren Lee Natay (Kewa Pueblo-Dine').
Thank you for going on this tour of Santa Fe with me. And thanks to Marilyn G., Catherine, Steve, TTT, Barbara F. R., and Jean & Sam for your comments last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I had actually been to both Lamy and Santa Fe on the train during my time as a Girl Scout. It was a day-long, wonderful outing of which I have great memories. The fact that the railroad spur line ended up in this place is a story unto itself, but the area known as The Railyard continues to change. Thankfully, one of the original concepts for the area proposed by the Catellus Development Corporation, formed by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company, which called for the leveling of most of the buildings and removal of the train tracks, was rejected by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Commission and the City Council. It also would have allowed buildings up to six stories high to be built, when heretofore the Eldorado Hotel was the tallest building. Its abrupt three story edifice in itself raised quite a stink. I remember the years - decades actually - of wrangling and plans. One thing about Santa Fe, for which I am eternally grateful, is that when it comes to the historic downtown area, things take time. That is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to large development. Redevelopment of some of the surrounding areas, including the Baca Railyard, were completed first. And, in the end, the Railyard still houses trains, including the Rail Runner that serves as transportation between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
A concise piece and video about the history of the area is contained in the link below.
https://sfrailyardcc.org/the-railyard/history/
The Sky Railway Adventure Train offers rides with meals and entertainment.
Given the time and planning things take in the greater Santa Fe historic area, it did not surprise me to hear of the massive discussions about the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary. Designed by DNCA + StudioGP, its purpose was "to create an innovative structure that adapted an existing building as a showplace for the art of our time". Its opening in September of 2023 drew huge crowds. The original building on the site was a warehouse constructed in 1936, owned by the Charles Ilfeld Company. In 1960, the building was sold to the state of New Mexico where it became the Records and Archive Center. During our trips into Santa Fe from Taos County, where we were living at the time, we began to see bits and pieces of the building being chipped away and wondered what was happening. A good portion of the building was eventually demolished, but the main two story wall on Guadalupe Street and its territorial style brick parapets retained as an homage to its original design. The metal louvres on both the north and south sides of the building give it a slightly abrupt and dramatic look. Not a surprise to me in the least that the design instantly elicited a love-hate relationship from the community.
Windows on the south and east sides of the building window reflect the original Santa Fe Railway building, and other buildings along Guadalupe Street.
Vladam Contemporary has a few surprises, including exterior oscillating light displays, and recorded whale sounds. After all, one of the missions of the New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem is to provide a dedicated educational educational space lacking in the immediate downtown area around the Plaza.
https://www.nmartmuseum.org/vladem-contemporary/
But as the Railyard continues to alter its ego to include a new hotel in the former building of Outside Magazine on Market Street, the water tower tells it all. This area was and remains firmly grounded in the railroad that originally prompted outside interest and brought people to the Capitol.
Old and new, there are still amazing spaces and places to explore in Santa Fe, complemented by the amazing and ever-present smell of food -from chile, bacon, and barbecue to baked goods and coffee.
Thanks to Minna, Barbara F. R., Jean and Sam, Victoria, Catherine, Steve for your comments last week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The juxtaposition of light and shadow always adds drama to an inanimate object.
And little displays one can witness at the oddest times and places, make all photographers smile.
The changes in light as we head toward spring reminds me of the great rock song "Turn, Turn, Turn" released by the Byrds in 1965. Almost word for word from the book of Ecclesiastes in the King James version of the Bible, the song was an anthem of the times, and it remains one of the truest explanations of life that I have read (not to mention some great, honest guitar work)
"To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn,
And a time to every purpose
Under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal,
A time to laugh, a time to weep
and the last three lines of the song sum it up
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace
I swear its not too late"
Not all the verses are given here, but you can find the song lyrics online, as well as the Bible verses.
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Steve, Marilyn G., Catherine, Ingrid, and Lawrence J. for your comments this week.
May you all feel the touch of spring (or autumn in the southern hemisphere) this week, and capture it with your cameras or in your beings!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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These roses have so many petals tightly packed that they almost like flowing water.
My hope is that during these days that frequently feel very unsettled in the world, the week of love does indeed bring a bounty of love, joy, and peace to everyone! Thanks to Barbara F. R., Marilyn R., Christina W., Robert, Mary G., Minna, Paule, TTT, Suz, Sandra B., Lisa S., Catherine S., Kay C., Charlie, Steve, and Claudia for your comments, and to Ingrid for your gift and inspiration this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Woven of 100% Navajo-Churro wool, this rug features natural indigo and cochineal, natural white, and natural dark grey. The middle section design is called a Spider Woman Cross. Fred wove the surrounding indigo wool in slightly more of an oval shape. Zefren from the Shiprock area, dyed both the indigo and cochineal in this rug. The images directly below are details of Rug 399.
Turning to Rug #400, Fred took Connie Taylor's words of wisdom during one of the first Wool Festivals in which he participated in 2005 at Kit Carson Park in Taos. Connie said "Put the red one in front." And she was absolutely correct. Whether people are keen on having a large red rug in their homes or not, it certainly does gather attention. 400 is no different. Bold and dramatic both in color and design, the weaving consists of wool sourced from three different flocks, two different mills, and eight different dye lots (one of them off of our kitchen stove top). With all the differences in wool and how it was spun, Fred feels it contains a bit of Wabi Sabi, or in Japanese, imperfections.
The image below shows how the variations in color are used to create "mesas" and the space in between.
And here is Rug # 400, in all is red glory!
But milestones come and go. Not to burn daylight, here is Fred, once again, obscured by warp, using his instrument to make the rhythm of his next project.
Pure tapestry, each of the eight pieces required its own balls of wool.
A huge heaping of thanks to so many of you who have followed Fred's weaving journey, and helped along the way!
Thanks also to Barbara F. R., Sam & Jean, Steve, Victoria, Minna, Suz, Char, Robert, Sara W., Gustavo, Christina, Lawrence, Char, and Ingrid for adding to last week's blog with your comments!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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"Whiteness and all gray Colors between white and black, may be compounded of Colors, and the whiteness of the Sun's Light is compounded of all the primary Colors mix'd in a due Proportion." Sir Isaac Newton, 1704. His book Opticks was published in 1704. It should be on my reading list...
But let me digress a bit. Every person who has a taken a photograph - whether with a camera or a phone - knows that her or his own eyes, light, and the piece of equipment are essential elements of the image that is ultimately produced. And when one of those elements is missing or behaving oddly, things are not quite right. The only reason I began delving into the subject matter again is because I had a cataract removed this week, and the results were quite astonishing. Everyone I have talked with says that, but the results are hard to explain. So my mission was to try to come up with a clear explanation of the difference in the colors that I was seeing, and that was a tough one.
As wonky as it is, I now have the ideal laboratory for experimentation - one eye containing a brand new lens and the other with my birth lens, aged by a few years. By closing one eye and keeping the other open, I can instantaneously compare the view. So to begin the work, I turned again to my favorite source on the subject of color - The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair. I proceeded to search the book trying to identify one that most closely resembled how my eye was being filtered. St. Clair's "white" category, seemed to include the closest matches, although given variations in the book printing process, none really matched. Isabelline leans more toward a pale yellow, whereas whitewash feels peachy to me. Chalk is close, but not a true fit. Which took me to Shirley Williams' "Color Wheel Artist" website, discovering the intricacies of Hue, Tint, Tone, and Shade. As a photographer rather than a painter, my knowledge of color is mostly experiential, enhanced by some reading, and not color theory. So I turned to my photographs to see if one existed that could duplicate the filtration color.
Was the fall hollyhock bloom, with its bright yellow-green throat and yellow-white petals a possibility? Sadly, no.
How about the curved-bill thrasher in her cholla cactus nest? A bit dark and smokey.
Any part of the mushroom show below, gill to center? Nice variations in color but it was not close enough.
The image of Great Sand Dunes in Colorado also has a wide variety of possibilities. Getting closer.
But the one photograph that seemed to replicate the filtration is one of wildfire smoke I took on 29 April 2022. The gradation from the right hand side to the left in the image shows blue sky being slowly obscured by a graduated filter of St. Clair's colors of Isabelline, chalk, and beige. The contrail adds a special touch.
When a wildfire has been extinguished and is no longer burning, the smokey haze clears, resulting in a stunning brightness and blueness in the sky. It is truly incredible. Exactly like having a lens with many miles on it removed. I am lucky to live in a time and place in which there are medical professionals and facilities available to make cataract removal possible. And I am grateful to have such excellent auto-focus features on my cameras in this time of vision transition!
"The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most." - John Ruskin, The Stones of Venice
Thanks to Christina, Barbara F. R., Tim A., Minna, Brenda M., Ann A., David O., Charlie K. C., Catherine, Steve, Jean & Sam, Lucia, and Charleen for writing this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The purple or so-called red onions, have a deep rich color, with which I am certain a person could dye fabric. The stems left to dry add gnarly character.
As is the case with the flavor, the shape and color of the humble onion has multiple layers.
I like this particular image because the dried growth ends of the onion remind me of a dirt road. It is hard to tell where it leads.
The handmade basket by fiber artist Donna Coates, complements the onion veins. The two photographs that follow just let the yellow onion show off a bit.
Shall we all chop the humble onion, cook it the way we choose, and by doing so stave off the chill of winter?
The days are getting longer. Here in northern New Mexico, there will be 1 minute and 28 seconds more daylight today. Near the border of the United States and Canada, it will be 2 minutes and 23 seconds longer.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Catherine S., Christina, Jean & Sam, Steve, Marilyn G., and Rebecca for commenting this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Roses, in all their glory, make compelling photographic subjects. From bud to initial and full bloom, and even as they dry and take on that aged copper patina, they offer beauty, ready to be captured. Although it is frowned upon in the world of Feng Shui, I tend to keep some dried roses just for the subtle color and shapes of their chameleon selves. Put together with the mottled mini-landscape partially melted snow provides, they shine as if in original bloom. Here are two images of a dried miniature rose bud from last March. In all of the photographs here, the granular snow is a big player.
A lone petal on the snow carries shades of pink and burnished orange.
The full stems with buds and leaves
Two different angles and a slightly darker take on the roses adds a bit of mystery.
And finally, a very Victorian-looking rose, shares its subtleties.
As I said in my mini-book Complex and Sublime: flowers through the lens, I beg to differ with Gertrude Stein who said "A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose", which they are. But then.....
Thanks to Marilyn G., Gustavo, Jean & Sam, Char, Steve, Barbara F. R., Marilyn R., Dianne J., Robert, Lucia, Kay C. for writing last week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Early woven clothing, rugs, and wall decorations share certain characteristics. Historically, they were made of wool, and many still are. Chimayo and Navajo weaving carry designs and colors that may be specific to certain areas, just as Scottish tartans identify a community. And this from Christina Garton writing for the magazine Handwoven explains a lot. "All tartans are plaid. However not all plaids are tartan! Both plaids and tartans are woven of stripes that meet at 90-degree angles. Tartans have an identical pattern of stripes running vertically and horizontally, resulting in overlapping square grids." (Handwoven 18 October 2022). But there is something else that make tartans unique. Thinking about how many modern homes are built is helpful. They have an upright structure, for instance of wooden 2x4 or 2x6 studs/uprights onto which dry wall or other siding is attached. These provide the skeleton or frame of a house. When it comes to weaving, the warp or wool strung on a frame or loom serves the same purpose as the 2x4s. The wool weft is a little like the dry wall or siding which is then applied to the warp in various colors and designs. In Southwestern weaving, the warp skeleton then disappears within the body of the weft. One can only see the warp at the top and bottom of the weaving. That is why Rio Grande, Chimayo, and Navajo weaving and most modern weavings are called weft faced. Tartans are made using what is called a "balanced weave" wherein both warp and weft are visible. Below is a fine MacLean of Duart red muted tartan swatch.
A personal disclaimer. I struggled with geometry in school, and weaving is filled with geometry. So I will just add a couple of things that make tartans distinctive. "The plaid of a tartan is called a sett. The sett is made up of a series of woven threads which cross at right angles." Jeff Ezell, Heraldry Crests. heraldryandcrests.com "Tartan is recorded by counting the threads of each colour that appear in the sett. The thread count not only describes the width of the stripes on a sett, but also the colours used. For example, the thread count "K4 R24 K24 Y4" corresponds to 4 black threads, 24 redthreads, 24 black threads, 4 yellow threads. The first and last threads of the thread count are the pivot points." I admit I have yet to wrap my head around that part, but for those of you who can and are interested, the link above will lead you to the really detailed and excellent posting by Jeff Ezell.
In the mean time, visuals might help. This is a muffler woven in Ireland, actually. It is a Black Stewart tartan. Looking at the warp ends (fringe), you can see the sett and how the weft is worked into the warp.
Given the intensity of the red in this tartan, it is hard to believe it is also a MacLean of Duart, as is the tartan in the first photograph. Frequently, tartans have multiple styles with different colors, including ancient, modern, muted, dress, and hunting (usually darker for camouflage purposes).
Here is yet another MacLean, with the same sett but the weaver has chosen to substitute a maroon or burgundy color yarn for the bright red.
The Black Watch tartan (a regimental tartan also worn by coachmen and servants in the late 1800s ) is comprised of black, dark green, and navy blue yarn.
One of the most frequently seen tartans is the Royal Stewart. Shortbread lovers will recognize it from the boxes.
Finally, a photograph of the New Mexico tartan, officially registered in 1996, with the colors of our state flag nicely included in its setts.
Thanks to Char and Robert for getting me rolling on this, and to Fred for the geometry lesson!
Starting out the New Year right were Victoria, Christine, Tim A. Minna, Gustavo, Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Lisa S., M. Fred, Tomas, Catherine S., Steve, Rebecca, and Ingrid who wrote and commented this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The first is a 10 x 8 book titled Geological Portraits: photographic memories of some extraordinary places.
The second and third are Complex and Sublime: flowers through the lens. I printed two different sizes - one 7 x 7 and the other in Blurb's new "mini-book" version which is 5 x 5. That required some adjustment of photo placement on the 7 x 7 edition, but it was all part of the learning experience. Again, both are soft cover, and the mini has a matte-finished cover. It is a perfect little jewel to keep on a desk, side or coffee table for a spurt of color and refreshment.
Finally, here is a photograph of the trio.
You can check out the first several pages of the book by clicking on the link below and/or purchase them if you are so inclined.
Member Profile: Daryl Black | Blurb Booksblurb.com
Thanks for Orlando, TTT, Marilyn R., Christina, Barbara, Steve, Jean & Sam, Lawrence, Ingrid, Catherine, Rebecca, Claudia, Minna, Robert, and Marilyn G. for rounding out 2023 with your comments. I hope that 2024 is year that becomes a bit more peaceful and one wherein kindness is in greater supply. May all of you find your creative juices bubbling over like a well-filled glass of champagne!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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And to complete the Christmas wish, The Kiss by Gustav Klimt.
Thanks to Marilyn G., Minna, Jean & Sam, Steve, Barbara F. R., Lisa S., and Rebecca for your blog comments about last week's blog.
Best wishes for a gentle and joyous week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Standing stones in the shadow of Ben Lawers on the outskirts of Killeen, Perthshire, Scotland.
All of this leads to the fact that Thursday 21 December, is the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere. It occurs quite late in the day at 10:27 p.m., according to the Farmers' Almanac. "The winter solstice marks the official beginning of astronomical winter (as opposed to meteorological winter, which starts about three weeks before the solstice). The winter solstice occurs once a year in each hemisphere: once in the Northern Hemisphere (in December) and once in the Southern Hemisphere (in June). It marks the start of each hemisphere’s winter season. When one hemisphere is experiencing its winter solstice, the other is simultaneously experiencing its summer solstice!" Northern or southern, artificial or natural, it is all about the light. We consider ourselves lucky to have electric lights, especially having lived with only kerosene lamps at one point.
After the sun rises, there are usually bright blue skies to greet us in New Mexico. Occasionally, like this weekend, the sky was dotted with high cirrus clouds, and contrails (condensation trails), courtesy of the thousands of airplanes literally criss-crossing the sky.
When the sun does set, sometimes I am lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to catch and photograph it.
Then there are occasions when photographers simply have to look around their immediate environment to see the play of light and shadow against a wall to know where the sun is in the sky. Very subtle gradations of white and gray fill the image below.
I will be celebrating the return of light, be it only a matter of seconds per day. But we can still revel in and relish the return of those seconds to our days!
Happy Solstice and thanks to Suz, Minna, Christina, Barbara F. R., Paule, Tim A., Karla P., Catherine, Steve, Geula, Lisa, Robert, Marilyn G., Jean & Sam, and Rebecca for touching base this week about the blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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To secure the ends of the weaving, he ties 366 knots on the top and bottom, and then reverses the process and ties 366 more knots also on the top and bottom, resulting in 366 square knots. When he finishes that process, he adds another touch to the rug - maritime cabling - which secures the Damascus edge. He ties one knot at the end of each cable for a total of 92 knots before the rug is complete. Complicated but extremely strong as well as beautiful.
The photographs below show how he uses this treatment on the warp ends of his rug. The first step after removing the rug from the loom is to trim the edges of the warp. Notice the engineer's scale being using to keep the length exactly even.
In the next three photographs, he is tying knots - the first knot in the warp, followed by the second.
The cabling is the last step before the rug is completed. You can see the structure or architectural elements in the finished piece.
Fred has included a "Spirit Line" or ch'ihónít'i in Navajo, in the lower right hand corner of the rug. A weaver puts her/his spirit into a piece, and the spirit line provides a pathway for the spirit to exit the work.
Thanks to all of you who commented this week and for your often creative words, including Connie, Barbara F. R., Charleen, Christina, Terry T., Jean and Sam, Marilyn G., Veronica (who geeked out at the blog, a high compliment indeed), Steve, Catherine, and Sara. May you be presented with wonderful photographable things and events this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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One of the reasons I bought the Fujifilm X-T5 camera is that it has the same knobs and buttons cameras of yore had before electronic menus were developed - ASA, f stops, shutter speeds. I can change everything without having to scroll through an electronic menu. The camera has the menus as well, but being able to do it on the fly is always handy unless you have tons of presets. I shifted between 1/8th of a second and as high as 1/2,000 of a second to achieve certain effect while the snow was falling. Starting with this shot, you can see what appear to be streaks on both the gate and the stucco walls. That is the falling snow at 1/40 of a second.
I basically shot close to 150 images, and during the process, I found 1/30 of s second more to my liking for the effect I was trying to achieve, which was a combination of the patterns in the existing patterns in the stucco and the long lines of falling snow. The black and white image here demonstrates the early morning grayness that came with the snow.
In the image below, a bit of a breeze had come up, changing the angle of the streaks.
I also experimented with stopping the snow. Even at 1/2000 of a second (a relatively short period of time for the light to come through the lens) the intensity and size of the flakes made a difference in the clarity. It was a too dark at faster than 1/2,000 to provide any contrast between the snow and the wall.
Thanks to TTT, Barbara F. R., Connie, Steve, Lisa S., Rebecca, Ingrid, and Claudia for writing this week.
As the winter solstice approaches and nights are longer, I hope you still find time to be outside with camera in hand (after shoveling) to document the season.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
I noticed the refraction of light caused by sun coming through a partially filled glass of claret, after only crumbs of chicken and dressing remained in the dish.
My father once told me that his mother made pumpkin pie using carrots rather than pumpkin while his family was living in Canada raising wheat. It makes sense. Same color and texture after they are cooked and pureed. And the traditional spices would probably make it impossible to tell the difference. The pie slice in both photographs below was made with pumpkin puree poured into a homemade crust and baked. Two different angles, with slightly altered natural light.
And last but not least, a gifted slice of pecan tart, as only the queen of these delicious desserts, Ingrid, can make it. Layers of lusciousness!
Thanks to Marilyn R., Barbara F. R., Kay C., Jean & Sam, Catherine, TTT, Lawrence, and Steve for commenting during this busy holiday week.
My hope is that everyone reading had the opportunity to celebrate, one way or another.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>The Farmers' Market was packed with vendors both inside the Market pavilion and outside under pop-up tents. And even at 9 a.m., many folks were already busy buying, eating, laughing, and talking in a boisterous and festive way. I joined in the fray because I was on a mission to purchase dried Chimayo red chile powder, cream cheese, and honey from a local vendor.
But the route to achieve the mission is hardly ever a direct one. In the outside booths, I found the chile, and numerous intricately crafted wreaths and ristras. If you have ever tried to construct these beauties, you have a pretty good idea how much work is involved.
Entering the Market building, I spotted the Camino de Paz School and Farm table. Located in Santa Cruz, the students and teachers make THE best cream cheese on the planet, as well as several varieties of "quark". The chile powder is a Chimayo seed variety grown by Jesus Guzman and his partner, Kate, who gave good advice on the heat of each kind.
Feeling pretty good about scoring two out of three items in a relatively short period of time, I had to stop and chat with the owners of CLC Pecans in Hobbs, who happen to be neighbors, and were reveling in the birth of their first grand child. Walking a bit further, I found Steve at Buckin' Bee Honey and Candles. His table was attracting a lot of attention, so it would have been rude to strike up a conversation. Just asked him if I could take some photographs and he kindly agreed.
Another neighbor, Gustavo, raved about how perfect Steve's honey was on bread with butter, so I had to try it. I also promised him a loaf when I bake next time.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Christina, Minna, Lluvia, Jean & Sam, Catherine, Ann A., TTT, and Steve for commenting this week and to all of you for reading throughout the year. I am grateful and thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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As you can see, nature is doing some truly weird and wonderful watercolor work on the trees. Happy as a clam I am!
Thanks to all of you who commented this week, including Minna, Barbara F. R., Victoria, Dianne J., Jean and Sam, Terry T., Marilyn G., TTT, Steve, Pater Ingrid, and Rebecca. With luck, all of you will be able to get out this week and enjoy the season, especially with your cameras and phones in hand!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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In addition to the Santa Fe Institute work and the other books on which I am been spending time curating, designing and writing, I have toyed for some time about using photographs for a black and white/food-themed set of coasters. People still use coasters. Whereas many have turned in their mouse pads and are using the trackpad/touchpad on their laptops, coasters are still part of the home dining and coffee tables. I was also thinking in terms of food and beverages as part of the set. Included in today's blog are some of the many possibilities. The first is a beautifully cast door handle on the Bamberg Backerei in Bamberg, Germany.
A shop with numerous goodies in Bratislava, Slovakia
A New Mexico-made tart being served.
Fancy dancing shoes deftly sculpted of marzipan in a Vienna shop.
Demel Eiscreme in Vienna
Glowing onions
A touch of vin rouge...
...with a touch of brie in Vienna
Just another sampling of the lovely randomness in a photographer's life.
It was good to hear from so many of you last week including Barbara F. R., Tim A., Ann A., Lawrence J., TTT, Marilyn G. Steve, Catherine, Rebecca, and Carol.
I hope that the upcoming week contains some creative and interesting photographic adventures!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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That project aside, here is a selection of photographs for one of the books on flowers. The image below was made in Arizona during a spring time bloom. California poppies and owl clover are the dominant flowers.
Foxglove saturated with fog in Point Reyes, California
Tulip and clouds
Salmon-colored poppy
Polish Spirit clematis
For this particular book, I wanted to feature flowers in both interesting natural settings and in quirky and traditional still life-inspired settings. Curating like mad tends to focus one's eye on what might truly be interesting to others. Which means you may see another blog of this ilk in the near future.
Thanks to Christina, TTT, Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Catherine, Steve, and Rebecca for commenting this week. In New Mexico, we have moved from what has been one of the most spectacular autumns ever to early winter, overnight. Hope all of you have been able to keep warm.
until next week,
DB
a passion for the image©
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If you see a tree that is screaming red in New Mexico, it is probably a maple of some sort. In years past, the leaves on this particular tree had more burgundy hues. This year, orange and yellow are emerging. Perhaps because of the dryness. I don't know. Regardless, it is quite the specimen.
Rather than having the sun behind me on this shot, it was in front of me, showing the backlighting on the leaves.
Leaves on ash trees here are the first to fall. They develop what I call "skirts" or layers of leaves that remain on the trees while others are blowing in the wind. The leaves on this particular skirt went from pale yellow to a ruddy gold. These first ash tree closeups begin to provide some elements of impressionism.
The aspen tree reflections in the images below definitely move closer to the small pinpoints characteristic of impressionistic brush strokes.
I suspect there will be additional photographs in future blogs featuring autumn. It is evolving before us, and, after all, these were just "first impressions."
How wonderful it was to hear from so many of you last week, and especially to see the photographs you sent of the eclipse designs you saw on both the ground and walls. I loved the fact that Connie used a colander as her pinhole camera. In this world that sometimes seems very nearly insane, creativity abounds, and brings joy.
Thanks to Char, Dianne F., Barbara F. R., Marilyn R., Minna, Claudia, Connie, TTT, Tim A., Brenda, Jean & Sam, Christina W., Victoria, Rebecca, Steve, Carol, Terry T., and Marilyn G. for writing this week! It appears that in many places across the globe, the weather will continue to provide great opportunities for photography, and I hope you will be able to take advantage of it.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Some of you had asked earlier in the week whether I was going to photograph it. I am not an astronomy photographer nor do I have the equipment to venture into the realm. I leave that to the experts in the field and there are many amazing dark sky photographers who were out shooting with perfect placement for the eclipse. But the eclipse morning had surprises waiting for us.
As we do during the weekend, we walked over to the middle school track about half a mile from our house to do our martial arts workout and a couple of jogs around the track. Thought it might be interesting to do our routine during the eclipse, just to see what would happen and how it would feel. There are 25 different forms we do, and about halfway through, I noticed that the big elm tree under which we practice was not exhibiting its normal shadow patterns. In actuality, the shadows were becoming the shape of a three quarters or a waxing gibbous moon. My original thinking was that I was imagining things. The patterns were fascinating. There were several people around the track who were awaiting the eclipse so I ran over to get them and show them the shadows. Kid in a candy shop that I am, it seemed my responsibility to show people what was happening. We kept on doing our forms when up walks our neighbor, Rebecca, and we showed her. At this point the patterns were becoming thinner and thinner, revealing the fact that the sun was quickly being obscured by the moon, leaving slivers of light and shadow. The tree leaves were acting as a pinhole camera, directly focusing the light. Luckily, she had her phone and was kind enough to loan it to me. I was totally unprepared for the occurrence.
In this image, you can see the trunk and limbs of the trees in addition to the leaf shadow effect.
Given a bit more contrast, the slinky like shadows take on a rolling look. Having heard that the our part of New Mexico would have roughly 86% darkness, it was interesting to witness the light in the sky very gradually change from the bright, autumnal light to what I would term semi-dark. There was something about the eclipse that was deep and stirring. Something from the early days of human evolution. The event was both "smile" and "sigh" worthy.
Granted, these shots are not quite as sexy as the ring and darkened sun that many astronomy photographers got during the eclipse. But thanks to our neighbor, I was able to capture a different take on this extraordinary event.
By the way, here are two screen shots of the sun being tracked by our solar panels. In the first, a nice bell curve reflecting a normal, sunny pattern.
The dip in the bell curve show below was the precise time when the eclipse began to happen over us.
Thanks to all of you who read and commented on last week's blog, including Barbara F. R., Tim, Minna, Marilyn G., Jean and Sam, Claudia, TTT, Geula, Steve, Ingrid, Christina W., Sara, and to Rebecca for providing the tool to record the Saturday's eclipse. So many of you have extremely busy lives while others are experiencing so many extenuating circumstances that my appreciation of your comments has increased exponentially!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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But I happily spent the weekend at the Santa Fe County Fairgrounds for the Mountain and Valley Wool Association's 40th Wool Festival, as support staff for my husband, Fred, at his display space. Photographic opportunities were in abundance and I took advantage of as many as I could.
As a casual observer, I could tell that many visitors were totally overwhelmed by the abundance and variety of fiber products, and an "inland sea of color". Looking closer, one begins to sense the number of different skills present at the Festival. Eric Wilson, a fiber artist from Cortez, Colorado, had (as his business card puts it) had hand-spun yarn, crochet and knit goodies, handprinted yarn and roving, and lastercut notions. Watching him work throughout the weekend, I would guess he spent a minimum of eight hours spinning a very fine yarn. I asked if his foot and leg get tired. His answered "You get used to it."
You can see how fine the wool is between his thumbs in this photograph.
Minna at Lana Dura renders wool into felt, using natural wool colors.
The festival truly is a celebration of animal fiber, and the llamas and alpacas are always show stoppers, particular for children. I finally got a simple answer about the visual differences between the two statuesque and beautiful animals. Llama are taller but their ears look more like bananas, while the alpacas are shorter and have pointed ears. The llama below is a magnificent creature, designed for roaming the pampas of South America. With their long necks and flexibility, they are able to reach food wherever they find it.
I loved this alpaca and its top knot, ever curious, always mewing to the world as if saying, "Hmmm, what is going on here? Is there something to eat? Do I know this person?"
Sheep shearing was also a featured element of the festival, and Tom Barr - an institution in sheep shearing around New Mexico and southern Colorado - has a skill like no other. Upper body strength and flexibility are essential here, as you can see by his positions working with the sheep while shearing. He has one of the sheep's legs in his left hand while shearing under parts with his right. His knees are keeping the animal under control as well.
I always worry a bit about the horns...
Another thing I pondered as the Wool Festival ended Sunday afternoon, is how incredibly flexible all the vendors are. From using all the fiber they can in any way they can, and not wasting a thing. to taking apart their exhibits, it was like a tribe of plains Indians, moving their camps across the prairie. The process is quick, efficient, and part of who they are. Not something most people recognize when they attend a fair. But the fiber community, in many ways, is like a family of like-mind people who believe in what they do.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Steve, Catherine, Christina W., and Char for commenting on last week's blog, and all of you who stopped by the exhibit space this weekend - friends old and new! And kudos to the vendors for their creativity and sharing it with the wider world.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>I photographed this dancing gent eleven years ago when photographer and friend, Steve Immel and I had cameras in hand, exploring Santa Fe. Here are the "then" and "now" photographs.
One mission was to shoot a decent photograph of a piece of obsidian, for one of the books in process. Much more difficult than I thought it would be. But here is a test shot and finger selfie.
Because the statuesque Ponderosa pine trees have a mention in one of the books, I feature one here.
And the topping on the cake of randomness, is a hummingbird trumpet or zauschneria.
Sincere thanks to all of you who commented last week, including Barbara F. R., Victoria, Connie, Kathryn and Gene, Anne O., Marilyn G., Lisa S., Tomas, Brenda, Steve, Ann A. Ingrid, and Catherine, and a huge debt of gratitude to Christina W. who provided a new home for Rug 386 this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Fred has been busy preparing work for the festival. This week's blog features 8 of the 20 rugs he will have on exhibit. The event is a good opportunity to see his work in the flesh and feel the ample texture and colors of rug-weight Navajo-Churro wool.
Rug 344
Rug 370
Rug 375
Rug 381
Rug 386
Rug 391
Rug 392
Rug 393
The 40th MAVWA Wool Festival will be held on Saturday, October 7 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, October 8 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The juried show is free and open to the public, and features the fiber work of 58 different fiber vendors as well as food vendors offering snacks, beverages, and lunch items.
Thanks to Tim A., Christina, Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Deb R., TTT, Lucia, Terry T., and Steve for commenting on last week's blog!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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While talking and eating, we could watch the world to the south, and a storm developing. Since one hardly ever knows where and when it will rain in New Mexico, we watched and waited. It ended up being quite the storm, complete with probably two inches of rain and hail. As happens here, after the sky had opened and literally poured its contents onto the land, the sun emerged. And as good documentary filmmakers do these days, our host pulled out her drone and computer system, preparing it to fly. While it was taking off, I took some shots of it before it left our sight. She flew the drone over the arroyos, and we watched in real-time as the water tore through them and over the land to end up, eventually, in the Rio Chama. The drone looks rather alien in nature.
As with any aircraft, take offs and landings are the most tenuous times. On this particular day, not landing in the water was also a priority. Notice in this image that the propellers are still in motion, as they are in the other photographs.
Because the storm had been a good twenty minutes in length, the hummingbirds needed to eat after it exited. Got to keep those tiny bodies and hearts going. I suspect these are all female rufous hummingbirds, although they could have been broad-tailed, except I did not hear the audible trilling of their wings that is one of their identifiers.
And after the rain, and the flights of the hummingbirds and drones, I still marvel at and appreciate the great mysteries of how both fly.
Thanks, Cristina, for the wonderful real-time show.
And thanks to TTT, Larry & Carol, Charleen, Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Steve, Christina, Pater, Lisa S., Ingrid, Catherine, and Marilyn R. for your comments on last week's blog. Enjoy the changing seasons, wherever you are in the world.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Araneus gemmoides or the cat-faced spider, is part of a family of orb weavers. The lifespan is said to be a few weeks, but this particular female must feel quite comfortable and happy here because we have been watching her for at least a month. We know it is a female because of its very large abdomen, as you can see here. She was skillfully moving around her web and drinking water from the strands. The cat-faced spiders' legs are quite long and spindly, and although I did not capture her using her legs for weaving, you can see how see they are used to construct the web. The photographs were made over three days and late evenings.
You can see how very delicate the fibers appear but they are incredibly strong. The "hairs" on the spider are actually trichobothria or sensory organs. The abdomens has spinnerets or spigots from which the protein is emitted to create a silk that is so strong it withstands wind and rain, and human idiots walking through the web.
And the pre-Halloween special is this odd image created with a flashlight after sundown.
The reason it is called a Cat-Face spider
Many thanks to Barbara F. R., Christina, Jean & Sam, TTT, Catherine, Pat L., Carolyn, Steve, and Lucia for commenting last week. It looks like we may have, surprisingly, a rainy week in northern New Mexico, offering its own opportunities for photography.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Today, the holiday is so beloved that huge numbers of people are on the highways and in the skies, taking advantage of the three day weekend. I doubt the workers involved in labor rallies at that time imagined such a thing, or foresaw sales on sofas and other stuff as part of the holiday. But the fight for decent treatment of workers prevails, as members of SAG, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Writers' Guild of America continue their strike action. Even though many think of these strikes as being frivolities, there are serious issues involved, including the use of artificial intelligence to replace actors' images and to write scripts. Copyrighting work is almost always an issue for artists. I am glad people are still fighting for their rights in the workplace, wherever that may be.
In addition, there is a huge amount of work in America being done by a relatively unrecognized group of people - volunteers. Quietly, but steadily and efficiently, these people perform labors of love every day in almost every area, including in schools, libraries, hospitals, animal shelters, food banks, gardens, within the national park system, and numerous non-profit and emergency aid organizations. Given last week's blog on Valles Caldera, I thought more information was called for about the volunteers or near-volunteers who have contributed to the restoration of the area and other wilderness and ranch locations damaged in years past by humans, other animals, and machines.
Renea Roberts - producer, editor, and director for R3 Productions - along with her team and contributors, are putting together a five-part documentary series on water restoration titled Thinking Like Water. It features renowned forester and water wizard Bill Zeedyk. Zeedyk is author of Let the Water Do the Work: Induced Meandering, an Evolving Method for Restoring Incised Channels. Anyone who has lived in the Southwest has seen channel cuts, also called head cuts. Many people see it as erosion, which it is, but it can be fixed. Zeedyk and numerous volunteers he has mentored over the years, have worked on restoring these cuts, including at Valles Caldera. Zeedyk's restoration strategies have been adopted by many government agencies, paid contractors, and private landowners, in addition to the all volunteer Albuquerque Wildlife Federation. The Thinking Like Water website is well worth exploring. https://thinkinglikewater.com/ along with the trailer for Thinking Like Water, front and center on the link. At just over twelve minutes long, it is a great introduction to Zeedyk and volunteer restoration work in the Southwest. You can learn more about and support the project, and spread the word about it. I raise a glass to all of you who volunteer!
East Fork of the Jemez River, a good case for meandering
It was exciting to see how many of you have visited Valles Caldera in years past and were just as enchanted by the place as I am, including Barbara F. R., Victoria, Donna and Dave, Catherine S., Claudia, Tim, Ingrid, Ann A., Lawrence, Jean and Sam, M. Fred B., Marilyn G., Terry T., and Steve. Thanks also to documentary filmmaker Cristina McCandless, who among others, is doing drone footage for the series and alerted me to it.
Since today (in addition to being Labor Day) is the first Monday of meteorological autumn, I hope all of you are ready with cameras in hand to take advantage of the special light that comes with the season.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
We New Mexicans appreciate all water features. The East Fork of the Jemez River, which some from the wetter parts of the country might call a creek, runs through the caldera. The image below is looking east.
Looking west along the river, you will notice other volcanic features.
Grasses being laid down by the water in the East Fork of the Jemez River.
Coots and their chicks take advantage of the water.
I suspect many of you reading this have hiked extensively in the caldera, whereas my experience is relatively new and limited. But it is an extraordinary piece of New Mexico. With luck, you will be able to visit, walk, and hike Valles Caldera at some point in the future.
Thanks to Lawrence, Victoria, Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Earle, Lisa S., Steve, and Catherine for following along and commenting last week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Some 51 years ago, we first encountered the Indian Market on a rainy August afternoon in Santa Fe. We had just been married and were taking everything in, not really knowing what it was. It has grown and expanded remarkably since then, with the 2023 market featuring more than 900 American Indian artists. Our visit this year was primarily to enable Fred to meet one of the weavers in the Rainbow Fiber Coop, along with seeing the work of others featured on Instagram. From my 31 July blog, you might remember the beautiful Navajo-Churro wool that Fred purchased in lustrous indigo and cochineal. Here is Zefren-M, the weaver (and jeweler) who dyed the wool, styling in his reversible pancho.
Fred finally was able to start Rug 393 last week, using Efren's indigo and cochineal-dyed wool, along with Rainbow Fiber Coop dark grey.
And Indian Market would not be complete with a surprise or two, one of which came in the form of a swallowtail butterfly in a puddle of water on Palace Avenue.
Thanks to Tim A., Char, Barbara F. R., Claudia, Jean & Sam, Steve, and Catherine for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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"Two narrow and unusually high tunnels were cut through Precambrian granite in the 1920s to facilitate passage of logging trains through this particularly rugged and constricted section of Guadalupe Canyon, known as the Guadalupe Box. Logs that were harvested in the western Jemez Mountains in the 1920s were taken by narrow-gauge railroad to a sawmill in Bernalillo. The tunnels were enlarged in the 1930s to accommodate logging trucks." (geoinfo.nmt.edu). Not only was I impressed by the size of the tunnels and the colossal rock of the area, but by the work that must have been required to find a suitable area and survey it in the first place, and then to blast and clear rock, without having the luxury of fossil fuels and trucks to haul materials. The original road to the area was probably sketchy to say the least. Like many of the tunnels in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, was well as other places around the world, human power made the project possible. The image below is of the first tunnel you would approach driving from Jemez Springs on Highway 485.
Two closeups of the tunnel ceilings and walls
I insert this detail of the southern part of the Guadalupe Box detail as a demonstration of the massive rock and complexity of it. Some of the rock sheets seem to be shaggy and ready to slough off at any time. Notice a cave forming in the center of the bottom third of the photograph.
shooting north in the Guadalupe Box
"The lower stretch of the Guadalupe River canyon exposes a thick section, including Permian redbeds of the Yeso Formation, Glorieta sandstone, and Triassic Moenkopi and Chinle strata, capped by thick exposures of Bandelier tuff." (geoinfo.nmt.edu). I can guarantee you my memory won't hold all this information, but the photograph, again, demonstrates the incredible and complicated (not to mention beautiful) geologic history of the area.
As the seasons begin to change and move toward the equinox next month, I hope you are able to get out and take advantage of the special light. The trip to the Gilman Tunnels is well worth your time. Although Highway 485 is the former railway grade and bed, it is well maintained and an easy drive. If you continue further into the Guadalupe Box region, the road which carries the number 376, requires a four-wheel drive vehicle.
My thanks to Tim A., Connie T., TTT, Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Catherine, and Steve for commenting this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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These red columbines that were growing along a waterfall on the Aspen Vista Trail near the Santa Fe Ski Basin are remarkably similar to the Aquilegia "Little lanterns" columbines I planted in our yard. They are, no doubt, related.
The shooting stars, also growing near the same waterfall, were a refreshing surprise.
Both sides of the trail were covered with Richardson's geraniums. Ever wonder how the bright red house plants and these are related?
I am considering the images above and others for one of the books I am designing. The other book will feature some geological portraits in New Mexico and southern Colorado. Naturally, the Ghost Ranch area near Abiquiu will be an integral part.
Who knows what will evolve during the week in the world of writing and photography for all of us?
Thanks to Connie T., Robert, Terry T., Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Robert, and Kelli D., for commenting this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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"Rainbow Fiber Co-Op is a Diné-led agricultural co-operative established to improve the financial sustainability and equitable market outcomes for the remaining flocks of Dibé dits’ozí (Navajo-Churro sheep) on the Navajo Nation. Our mission is to close the gap between rural Diné shepherds and an e-commerce marketplace for their wool." You can find more information, see their product, and even shop online by looking at their website linked here. https://rainbowfibercoop.org/pages/about-us
Using one of my favorite references on color The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair, I was able to expand on my knowledge of both colors, which in the case of cochineal was that the dye is made from a bug.
It never ceases to amaze me how things are discovered and put to use in human lives. According to St. Clair, the insect from which cochineal is made, was not actually identified as an insect until the 17th century, when its confirmation was made under a microscope. Dactylopius coccus, specifically the female, is no larger than the size of a pinhead. Dactylopius dines voraciously on the prickly pear cactus, where they can be found in "snowy white clusters on the sunny side of the prickly pear cactus leaf...If you were to pluck one off and squeeze hard enough to crush it, your guilty fingers would be stained bright crimson." It is one of the most brilliant and flexible of the natural dyes. St. Clair adds that "it was used as a dye in Central and South America from at least the second century B. C. and became intrinsic to the Aztec and Inca Empires." In the hands of a skilled dye master, including Zefren Anderson based in Shiprock, who dyed the wool shown here, the color shines in all its glory. It is called Navajo-Churro Zefren's Red Cochineal. The wound balls are the Co-op's dark gray, which I found to be quite reflective of the light in which it was photographed. Perhaps that is because the Navajo-Churro sheep wander through the many colors of their environments?
Shifting now to indigo or the seed mentioned in today's blog title. Indigofera tinctoria or true indigo, is a member of the pea/bean family - Fabaceae. St. Clair, again in The Secret Lives of Color, indicates that although its origins were thought to be in India, the Middle East and Africa, it grows in many areas world-wide and its discovery and use for dying could have been made in numerous places. Apparently, it is notoriously difficult to render and create the dye, and thus was given great value. "Males of the Tuareg tribe in Northern Africa are given tagelmusts, or headscarves, at a special ceremony that marks their transition from boy to man. The most prestigious in the community wear the glossiest indigo tagelmusts, whose gloriously resonant hue is developed through multiple rounds of dying and beating. Because it has always been so highly prized, indigo has, from as far back as records and educated guesswork allow, been a bedrock of global trade." The gloss or patina in the indigo from Rainbow Fiber Coop is quite apparent in the images included here.
Fred has not yet used the cochineal or indigo, but the dark grey field from the co-op was used in Rug 391.
Thanks to Connie Taylor, Zefren Anderson, Kelli Dunaj, Nikyle Begay, and all the artisans, herders, spinners and dyers who are involved in the Rainbow Fiber Co-op and its mission, and of course the Dibé dits’ozí (Navajo-Churro sheep).
TTT, Ann A., Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Marilyn G., Steve, and Marilyn R. commented on last week's blog and I thank you for your words.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
As someone who appreciates gardens as a source of that good energy when things are busy enough to keep me out of the mountains or desserts, I turn my camera on them. My continuing missions this week included selecting photographs for a couple of different collections I am honing for books, and rug photography for Fred's portfolio. But at this time of year when some flowers are starting to wane, the knockout garden standby is a plant that always pleases from the moment its first leaf pokes through the soil until the frost take holds. That is the hosta. Because many of the varieties have ample leaves that are variegated, beautifully shaped and delineated, the leaves rather than the subdued flowers are the stars. Although the flowers are nice surprises when they do appear. The leaves create an automatic backdrop for the light purple flowers.
Showing off the leaves are hostas' speciality.
I almost missed these flowers, sheltering under a neighboring leaf.
It was intensely gratifying to hear from so many of you last week in regard to the agave bloom stalk life cycle. It is still in bloom, with just about all of the bloom pods fully opened. Some of you mentioned that you had seen blooms this year, including in Arizona, Oregon, and California. So thank you, Christina, Victoria, TTT, Sandra B., Barbara F. R., Ross, Claudia, Charlie, Ann A., Susie, Terry T., Debbie, Marilyn G., Robert, Steve, Ingrid, Catherine, and Bob S. for your input and comments! May your week be filled with nature's delights!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>The agave likes heat. It can grow in desert, high desert, and tropical climates, and many of its species have subdued and lovely shades of verdigris, making them perfect elements for New Mexico gardens. Below is an image of the plant featured in today's blog two years before it evolved into its alien stage.
Because most agaves have many years on them before they arrive in a garden from their native habitats
- as many as thirty or more - one can never really know its age or when it will bloom. So when the bloom stalk appeared one day in a local garden around the corner, and continued to grow literally feet every day, we looked forward to seeing its progress on our daily walks. This image was made on 4 June. How much taller would it get?
Just 11 days later, on 15 June, I used a friend's height for scale (Robert says he's just shy of 6') demonstrating how much the stalk had grown.
Another 15 days later, it had gained possibly another four feet and the bloom pods were starting to reveal themselves.
Each one of these branched inflorescences will explode, exposing bright yellow flower parts.
The images below were made yesterday, another 16 days after the pods started to appear. The bloom cycle lasts 3-4 months, and happens just once in a lifetime. New agave-lets appear in the bloom bundle and fall to the ground. Under the right conditions, they may grow into new agaves. Which is the point, since, unfortunately, the agave has put its life energy into the process and then dies. I feel lucky to have witnessed its life cycle. As you can tell, this agave has not quite finished its presentation.
Numerous stamens are waving in the breeze loaded with pollen. The bees had already discovered the newly unfurled pods.
Hope all of you in the northern hemisphere are able to deal with whatever weather conditions nature presents this week. Thanks to Debbie & Steve, Marilyn G., TTT, Barbara F. R., Steve, Jean & Sam, and Lawrence for commenting this week. And thanks to Ann for growing and caring for this agave, and to Robert for giving the bloom stalk scale.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Nearly every photo shoot I do involves some sort of backdrop for the subject, whether it is natural or human made. To photograph the peonies featured in today's blog, I chose three colors as possibilities - grey, white, and black. Two different black fabrics were used. All three colors demonstrate how different a subject can be, dependent on texture and color of a backdrop.
The first two photographs show why so many photographers use a neutral grey for portraiture of any kind. It is soft and capable of producing a lush color spectrum.
White changes everything. The pink peony in the first photograph below (which reminds me of the artwork of Charles Rennie Macintosh - architect, designer, and artist - who influenced Art Nouveau and the Secessionist Movement) has a pink tinge to it.
White on white has a lightness to it that is completely different from the grey.
Finally, black can be quite dramatic when used as a backdrop. It is bold and pulls the eye from the backdrop, leaving only the subject for the viewer to peruse, as shown here, and in the image of the base of the peony.
I "pulled" the shadows a bit in the image below to show just a hint of the texture provided by the black lace fabric.
Despite the fact that it was the 4th of July weekend, many of you commented on last week's blog including Mary Pat., Ann A., TTT, Terry T., Jean & Sam, Lucia, Christina, Steve, Marilyn G., Carol and Larry M., Barbara F. R., Robert, and Pauli. Your comments are very much appreciated! By the way, "Seating for One" seemed to be your favorite from the entrants for Shadow and Light Magazine.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>I also devoted time in the past month curating images for Shadow and Light Magazine's Color It Red special issue competition. Below are a few of the images I included.
"Seating for One"
"Shade Sails"
"weaving detail"
"Amaryllis"
"Bromeliad"
"Carol's peony"
And I wish I had made the competition deadline with this beauty, but perhaps next year.
"Peony on black 1"
I hope all of you in the United States have a safe and beautiful Independence Day holiday.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Paule M., Victoria, Marilyn G., Catherine, Lisa S., Marilyn R., Steve, Ingrid and Dianne J. for your kind and most welcome comments on last week's blog. My gratitude also goes to Cristina and Carol for providing the blooming inspiration!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Mountain streams and waterfalls in New Mexico are petite compared to those in other locations around the world. Nonetheless, they are gems. Using roughly 1/30 of a second shutter speed gave a most interesting photographic effect. At first blush, the shutter speed slows down the water just enough to give a nice blur, as shown below.
But focusing in, the water appeared, at times, to be one sheet of shrink wrap flowing over the rocks.
I hope your screen is big enough to see a couple of things in the shot below. The lens captures the water, making it appear that it was frozen in time. Also, in the bottom third of the shot, toward the center, there is a diagonal line of five dots that appear to have been applied by a white pen. There are a couple of other places in the bottom half of the photograph where this happens as well. It is water literally stopped in frame.
Pulling back offers an image of the sequence of three drops of the falls.
Not only did the waterfalls fascinate me, but the resulting slower water as it crossed the trail/road captured my attention. Water gently moving over rocks and sand. The sequence of photographs below were captured at 1/170 of a second at f8, allowing refraction to be caught in the most interesting ways. According to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, a ray of light can be refracted by water, air, or glass which causes the light ray to change direction when it enters at an angle. There was so much happening in several places that I spent a good amount of time watching and photographing the light and water dance. Viewing the results was the equivalent of finding jewels in the water.
Knowing full well that there are many of you reading who are in the throes of very uncomfortable heat, my hope is that it won't last long and allow you to enjoy summer. Thanks to Lucia, Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, Peggy, Steve, Claudia, TTT, Marilyn G., Catherine, Karla P., Charlie K. C., M. Fred, Veronica, Lena D., and Bill & Sue for kind comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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He dyed four pounds of a natural oatmeal color from iiiDogFarm in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque - two pounds a Flame Red from Greener Shades and two pounds of the same red along with a pinch of Greener Shades Sunshine Yellow. Thanks to Andrea Harrell and Lulu, Cody, Gabe, and Bubba for sharing their wool. The pure Flame Red-dyed is on the left hand side of the image, the natural oatmeal on which it is dyed is in the middle, and on the right side are the skeins dyed with Flame Red and added Sunshine Yellow.
The last time I featured Fred's weaving here was in March while he was working on Rug 384 in which he used remnants from last year's weaving. Because all the wool he uses is hand-dyed, dye lots vary, and thus, each and every rug is different.
Rug 385, below, is in the Moki style, which utilizes narrow stripes.
Rug 386 is as close as Fred gets to a pictorial weaving.
Hanging over a balustrade or wall, an observer can see "weather" in the rug - stylized clouds with rain or virga above the mesas and canyon, and a river running through it.
Rug 387 is in the style of a Navajo Chief's blanket (Phase II)
Finally, a blending of six different dye lots of the same red - Chile Colorado (from Tierra Wools in Chama) - using the ombre or shading technique, make Rug 388 pop.
It was great to hear from Bill and Sue, TTT, Connie, Barbara F. R., Christina W., Charlie, Sam & Jean, Marilyn G., Steve, Ingrid and Marta this week!
Hope your week, and particularly the Solstice on Wednesday, bring extra light to your photography and your lives.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The white of the poppy below does not diminish its beauty in any way, with the large blotches of inky color at the base. An orchestra of nature is playing furiously in the middle of the flower.
a black and white photograph showing more of the inner workings
I had never seen this color of poppy before. Depending on the light, the color ranged from mauve to plum to purple. Each is stunning.
Thanks to Victoria, Lisa S., Barbara F. R., M. Fred, Kay, Christina W., Ann A., Steve, Marilyn G., and Catherine for commenting this week! I hope you find some excellent subjects to photograph during the coming week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>The flower stalks of the yucca go through quite an evolution before coming to full bloom. Emerging from the bottom of the plant, surrounded by green leaf spikes, they look like alien creatures.
The brown/burgundy color begins to lighten as the blooms start to open.
Thread-like filaments curling along the leaves' edges are pure design.
The blooms are quite delicate and lovely, counterpoints to the needle-sharp leaves.
Yucca blooms have a sheen that makes them look like ripe fruit.
I must include here the mammoth bloom stalk of an agave plant I noticed for the first time this morning. Watching it evolve is going to be very interesting!
Thanks to all of you who commented on my Memorial Day blog and the meaning of the day, including Victoria, Barbara F. R., David O., Phyllis, Jean & Sam, Connie, Brenda, Ann A., Sara, Earle, Orlando, Steve, and Ingrid.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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"In honor and recognition of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer and reflection. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance."
President Biden proclaimed today, May 29, 2023 as a day of prayer for permanent peace. "I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day."
Memorial Day has become a collective day of remembrance of all who have died and passed from our lives. There are sometimes heated discussions about why only military members are remembered and not peacemakers and conscientious objectors to war. But one thing I suspect most people can agree upon is the idea, wish, or prayer for permanent peace.
In the spirit of remembering and peace, I am including photographs that seem particularly peaceful, each for different reasons, but that conjure those feelings. As is the case with the bench image below, surrounded by leaves in a cemetery, the images can be in urban or more natural settings.
A reflection of the Grand Teton in Jenny Lake, with stones
A dried lotus blossom among leaves draws in both the eyes and the spirit.
There is nothing like a healthy, open ponderosa pine forest and the smell of the sun-heated bark emitting a butterscotch/vanilla fragrance.
Williams Lake on the way to Wheeler Peak in New Mexico is the perfect resting spot.
Looking up through an aspen canopy of fall quaking leaves settles the soul....
...as does the sight of a columbine flower in deep shade.
I hope that each of you has a Memorial Day filled with good memories of those who have passed and with new memories of those with whom you celebrate!
Thanks to Ingrid, Barbara F. R., Connie, Steve, Catherine, Jean and Sam, Heather H., and Bill and Sue for writing this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Like breeds or species of all stripes, columbine come in different sizes, colors, and shapes. To begin the parade is the columbine "Little Lanterns". In Latin, Aquilegia canadensis is diminutive. Rather than unfurled petals, the little lantern hangs down from the stem, like a lantern, and more like a bud. The spurs come together at the top of the flower.
The image below was taken in the morning after one of this week's rains the evening before.
Next in size is the columbine Origami Red and White Aquilegia caerulea, the same species as the Rocky Mountain Columbine, with similar structural features, but different color and size.
The next two photographs are of a columbine Swallowtail Aquilegia species. It has not yet completely opened, given the cooler temperatures.
Finally, McKana Giants Aquilegia mckana hybrida columbines, are the largest as far as the actual plant is concerned, with a maximum size of 36 inches in height. It was a fascinating challenge to try to photograph these amazing flowers, inside the depths of the petals, outside the petals, and complete with spurs all around.
It was great to hear from so many of you last week, including Victoria, Barbara F. R., Char, Jean & Sam, Steve, Catherine, Marilyn, Connie T., Heather F. H., Lluvia, Robert, and Lawrence J. I hope all of you are finding wonderful things to ponder and photograph on this exceptional planet of ours.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>I made this photograph of the geological jumble along the west side of the highway. The pillars in the top of the image (could be maar deposits) give way to red sandstone layers of a different type and consistency. It is vintage Jemez.
Layers worked by water and wind and time abound.
These resemble a human-constructed dwelling.
Sandstone guardian
Thanks for Barbara F. R., Lisa S., Jim & Louise W., Steve, Geula, Catherine, Steve, Christina, Robert, Paule, Claudia, and Pauli for writing this week.
Who knows what next Monday will offer?
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Since the beginning of April when temperatures began to warm, the small towns of San Ysidro and Jemez Springs, New Mexico, experienced flooding from the runoff of excellent winter mountain snows. The snow melt prompted warnings about not pulling off the side of Highway 4 because of the rushing water. Every time I checked the state of New Mexico highway conditions map, indications were given about the highway being patrolled and police telling people they would not be allowed to utilize the shoulders for parking. But the latest warnings were from the third week in April and I decided last week might be a good time to take a photographic trip to Soda Dam, north of Jemez Springs and Jemez Pueblo. The drive would be enjoyable even if pulling off was not allowed.
As it turned out, the day was perfection, and the small parking area near Soda Dam was not only open but empty short of one vehicle. For at least forty-five minutes, we had the place to ourselves. I mentioned the sensory richness of the Jemez earlier. As we opened the car doors, the smell of sulphur took us back, I am not certain where or even to what time, but it was the start of a heady experience - a delicious stew of smells and sounds. The roar of the water made me realize why the authorities cautioned people not to go near the river. Although there are many more public swimming pools in the state than during my childhood, there are still a good many who do not know how to swim. The speed and intensity of the water would have taken even skilled swimmers for quite a ride.
It is best to begin with a full shot of Soda Dam and the Jemez River going through the calcareous rock. Layer upon layer of history deposit themselves in the formation, which, according to Atlasobscura.com, is fifty feet high and fifty feet wide at the bottom.
Within the body of the dam are small caverns and gnarled, contorted layers, shaped and worked by nature.
The noise of the water rushing through the opening was impressive, shown in the trio of progressively closer images.
The other-worldly nature of these formations cannot be overstated. It is seriously complicated by forces geologists can identify but the likes of me cannot.
A detail of the lower right hand part of the formation (travertine deposit) in the image of above makes me think of a wood burl.
Finally, since Soda Dam is part of the Jemez area, filled with geothermal features, and the dam is fed by 117° water from Valles Caldera, several types of algae or cyanobacteria, thrive here.
Thanks for coming along for the ride, and my appreciation goes to Bill P., Barbara F. R., Christina, Lisa S., Jean and Sam, Steve, and Catherine for commenting last week. Some very uniquely layered red dirt will be the feature of my next biog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Like every person who has taken their phone or camera out to capture snow on patio furniture, after the recent, wonderful snowfall, I made my way outside, camera in hand, as the sun was beginning to melt the snow in the late morning light.
As the tulips declare "Happy May Day", I thank Barbara F. R., Terry T., Catherine S., Jean & Sam, Steve, Bill P., and Larry & Carol for your comments on last week's blog! I like to imagine all of you out and about with your cameras/phones this week, making photographic magic happen!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>First featured are assorted flowering plum tree blossoms that have been in bloom for several weeks. It was during one of my first shoots of those trees I realized that the buds were equally perfect subjects. Here is an image of buds and blossoms providing color rather than focus and form. That is left to the branch shadows on a stucco wall generating a bit of an abstraction.
Below is a single flowering plum tree bud. It is why I pursued buds this week and why it was well worth the time.
Here is another flowering fruit tree bud. I have no idea what type of tree it graces, but am guessing it could be a crabapple.
The buds here that are beginning to open are actually on the same tree as the bud featured in the previous photograph.
Pulling away from the closeups gives an entirely different perspective.
The tulip buds I photographed took their time in opening. Here is what I would call phase 2, when the color begins to appear.
The bud here is poised to open. In addition to the flower, I liked the waves created by the tulip leaves at the base.
It opens.
It was terrific to hear from so many of you last week, including Barbara F. R., Sandra B., Bill P., Lisa S., Jean & Sam, Ann A., Steve, Catherine, M. Fred, and Ingrid! With luck, you will make some wonderful discoveries when you are out and about this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The daffodil "Ice Follies" was featured in last week's blog, but the way light and shadow enveloped the ruffled cup shown here, made it a feature this week.
The same is true for this King Alfred daffodil. The structure of the cup looks so sturdy that it seems to be able to hold almost anything.
On the other hand, the Thalia daffodil shown below has petals and a cup that, in proportion, seem much longer and more delicate.
The stamens look like a starfish contained within the cup.
Finally, the Tazetta daffodil or minnow, has very diminutive flowers, measuring one inch or 2.54 centimeters. It was on-the-ground photography for this one.
Thanks to Christina, Barbara F. R., Lisa S., Ingrid, Catherine, Marilyn G., Steve, Lawrence, and Susie for commenting on last week's blog. Yours words in addition to the flowers, are a breath of spring!
I hope you and your cameras will be out and about this week, discovering the evolution of life!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Two varieties are included in today's blog. The Ice Follies bulbs produce a medium-sized flower with white petals and a yellow cup. Here is a group I photographed in bright, late afternoon light.
The photographs that follow were made between 8:30 and 9:30 in the morning, when available light was bright but softer in feel.
The cups are filled with pollen, a veritable flow of it.
There is mystery produced by the shadow and light in the two images below.
Every single part of the cup is apparent in this image.
A smaller daffodil or narcissus bulb carrying the name Tete a Tete, produces flowers with a combination of yellow petals and orange cups. This one is nodding until the warmth of the sun helps it unfurl.
Thanks to Ross, Ingrid, Barbara F. R., Steve, Catherine, and Charleen for commenting this week. Happy Trails to Cristina, and Robert as they return home from their travels. And may all you photographers who are reading this find more than ample subject matter to photograph as seasons change in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Echo Amphitheater is part of New Mexico's Carson National Forest. Most people who enter the area do so to experience the acoustic wonder. Below is an image of the amphitheater itself that produces the great echoes.
Listening to people whispering, yelling, whistling, clapping their hands and making assorted noises and then hearing the sound ricochet is compelling. But to me, the formations around it are the most amazing elements of the place. You can almost see the original artist at work, layering the sandstone and applying desert varnish over the centuries.
Formations surrounding the amphitheater are stunning in their layering and color palette.
Weather shapes, softens, and alters the colors over time.
One can see pillars forming in the monolithic masses of Jurassic Entrada Formation sandstone (pink to orange) and in the caps of Jurassic Todilito Formation limestone. These are just the basics of a very complicated geological region, described further in an article from the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/tour/landmarks/ghost_ranch/home.html
The geological region extends east of Echo Amphitheater, as shown here, and into the Ghost Ranch area. Jurassic Entrada sandstone is found throughout much of the American West, including in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, in addition to northwestern New Mexico.
Although Echo Amphitheater is currently closed for renovation, work is expected to be complete by late fall or early winter. (The irony of the previous sentence just hit me!). You can still drive up to the bar gate and enjoy the landscape and quiet.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Peggy, Veronica, Christina, Catherine, Donna & Dave, Steve, Lisa S., Sara, and Jean and Sam for your comments on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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As you can tell from my regular use of the cabbage in numerous images, I find them weirdly photogenic. Lots of nice, soft curves and variations in shades of color seem to make a single leaf a perfect backdrop. Even as I placed and photographed the necklace, I could hear the question of a friend "What are you smoking up there?" Nothing but imagination gone wild.
By working with my macro lens, the cabbage background is a little more mysterious and the stone and necklace more pronounced.
Shooting it from a slightly lower angle, the stone and chain are almost like an oyster and pearl
Speaking of shells, I used a large clam shell for the presentation below.
Far from being an expert on sea shells and marine life, I needed to do a bit of searching for this shell, a small conch.
Using another angle of the conch and aquamarine, the natural light filtered through storm clouds accentuated the blue hue of the stone.
Happy Birthdays and Anniversaries to everyone whose names are on calendar, and to those I may have missed. I hope you have had grand celebrations and that the last week of March does indeed go out like a lamb.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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This is the case for my husband Fred, who weaves six hours a day, using 125 pounds of Navajo-Churro wool, and producing 20-24 pieces of weaving (mostly rugs) annually. Between the beginning of January and the Ides of March this year, he wove four rugs.
January brought Rug 380 from the loom room. The rug's field is oatmeal grey, dyed black, cobalt, and chile colorado.
For Rug 381, a piece where arts and crafts tradition meet the Southwest, Fred used a light natural grey wool as the field, dyed black for the borders, and Ganado red. It appears to the eye that he used a dark grey, but while weaving, he alternated light grey and dyed black, which produced the look of dark grey. Here it is in progress on the loom.
Below is an image of the completed rug.
In the detail below, notice the single line or shot of light grey just beneath the top of the black border. It is the last line of light grey, a way out, as it were. This is used historically in Navajo or Dine' weaving, and is frequently called a "spirit line" or "weaver's path", according to Navajo historian Wally Brown. In Navajo or Dine', ch'ihónít'i - a weaver's path - is added to a bordered rug in order to keep the weaver's mind from being locked up inside the rug by the solid border. You can read more about this and other traditions at Mr. Brown's website here. https://navajotraditionalteachings.com/
In the third piece of 2023, Rug 382, Fred used a very dense and luscious natural charcoal grey, along with dyed wool in cobalt blue, chile colorado, and Tierra Amarilla. It feels supportive and spongy underfoot.
The quartet is completed by Rug 383, with wool dyed at Tierra Wools in brown heather, red heather, rust heather, calabasa, Tierra Amarilla, turquoise, and iron springs.
I brought the pieces together with some of the wool used in them.
A slightly different angle
Today is the spring or vernal equinox, a time of emergence. I hope it is also a time of unbridled creativity for all of you! Thanks to Barbara F. R., Melissa M., Terry T., Steve, Catherine, and Robert for commenting this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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As I have indicated before, when you prepare something for photography but intend to eat said subject, timing is of the essence - both to make the photograph and to eat the dish in a timely fashion. I had pondered backdrops and locations, using them at a variety of times during the week, with both natural and other lighting, and made lists of which images in what conditions worked and which did not.
Because of the higher temperature and shorter potential window of time that presents itself when making a pizza, (a pesto pizza) I only used two locations. The first was on a pizza stone and table in some nice controlled natural afternoon light.
In the second shot, some natural light was filled with LED lights.
Below is a shot of green chile enchiladas.
Homemade bread using natural light from the south and west
Finally, an image utilizing an iris and chocolates gifted to me some years ago. My lack of adequate documentation leaves me without the local chocolatier's name. The designer chocolates could have been from either Chocolate Smith or Kakawa Chocolate House.
Thanks to Paule, TTT, Dianne J., Ann A., Ingrid, Carol, and Robert for your blog feedback this week. Despite flooding and massive snow in California, spring seems to be bursting there, with blossoms on fruit and ornamental fruit trees bombing every disaster video. Things are happening here as well, with the first sighting of migrating cedar wax wings visiting the neighborhood this week. I hope your cameras and binoculars are in hand as the week progresses.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Some of the first flowers to bloom on the mesas are ground huggers, and to capture a good image, photographers need to be equally adept at either sitting or laying on your back to achieve that. The Easter daisies suddenly seem to appear at one's feet. Wandering lazily, I sometimes stepped on them before I realized they were there.
Another ground hugger is the Santa Fe phlox, shown below. In a good year after much snow and rain, it is everywhere, in what seems to be the worst, cracking soil.
The cacti - including hedgehog and claret cup - throw splashes of brilliant fuchsia, red/orange, and yellow at your feet and in pockets of sandstone.
Very site specific and somewhat picky about where they grow, paintbrush can be real show offs in years with good moisture.
Finally, turning to the mountains just after the snow melts, at elevations between, I am guessing, 8,000-9,000 feet, wild iris are spectacular. They are great fans of wetness, growing along streams or in somewhat boggy areas. Huge fields of them cover parts of the Pecos Wilderness as well as areas along Highway 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla.
Thanks to TTT, Veronica, Barbara F. R., Christina, Brenda, Kay, Pauli, M. Fred, Catherine, Heather H. and Steve for reading and commenting this week! It is wonderful to hear from each and every one of you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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In the image below, a healthy thunderstorm is developing over the western part of Taos County. If you look closely in the bottom third of the photograph, there appears to be a black line. That line or gash is actually the Rio Grande Gorge, concealing he 800 foot depth of the opening until one comes much closer. The photograph was taken from Highway 68.
Another broad landscape is produced by the lava flow and sandstone of which El Malpais National Monument between Grants and Gallup is comprised.
One can find the flowers known as paintbrush in many New Mexico locations, but not all come complete with a well-aged deer antler.
The Brazos Cliffs south of Chama
Native American corn
Ft. Union, in the northeastern side of the state, was once a crossroads for commerce, settlers moving west, and the military.
The boots below are a little fancy for the likes of Ft. Union, but they are a New Mexico tradition.
Buildings of religious significance - including Catholic churches and kivas - can be found in every town, village, and pueblo. Here is a modern church in adobe style at sunset.
It was wonderful to hear from so many of you last week, including Christina, Marilyn, Lawrence, Ann M., Dianne J., Heather H., Steve, Catherine, Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Victoria, Brenda, Carol, and Ingrid. ¡Muchas gracias!
until next week,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Claret cup cactus on the Arroyo Hondo trail south of Santa Fe
Rio Grande Gorge
There is hardly anything more iconic in New Mexico than the geology of the Abiquiu area.
Cottonwoods found along rivers and streams in the state are trees for every season.
The colors of chile are everywhere.
From the old world to the new, flamenco is also part of who we are....
...as are rodeos around the state.
As the hints of a slight change of season fill the air, I hope you have ample opportunity to enjoy and photograph the world around you!
Thanks to Victoria, Jean and Sam, Ingrid, Christina, Barbara F. R., M. Fred, Catherine, Robert, Carol, and Steve for commenting this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Because there were so many, the geese poured over onto the road, as if waiting for their closeups. They always seem to be on a mission.
One of the most fascinating things about birds is their feathers. They seem absolutely perfect. The neck feathers look as if they have been braided or woven like a rope.
Water beads on the feathers.
Occasionally, they seem to form a flotilla, with most heading in one direction on the water...
...and the next minute, they are out on their own. Ultimately, the group prevails.
By the way, many of you wrote during the week to say that wild turkeys are literally running wild in towns all over the United States, from the West Coast to the East coast, and are considered pests. The same is true for both Canadian and snow geese, demonstrating the sometimes tenuous intersection of humans and nature.
Thanks for Barbara F. R., TTT, Suz, M.Fred, Paule, Ann A., Steve, Luella, Orlando, Catherine, Heather H., Brenda, Christina, Robert, and Jean and Sam for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Bosque del Apache is known for being the wintering ground for sandhill cranes and snow geese, and both were still there in good numbers. Our plan was to spend the day, and charge our electric Bolt along the way. Since we did not spend the night in Socorro, I did not plan on catching sunrise and sunset shots of huge flocks of birds rising into the sky and/or flying in from other areas. My plan was to look, and be surprised and content with what could be found and photographed. I most certainly was.
First, a photograph of a sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) in the field. Other photographers with perhaps 300 mm lenses as opposed to my 70-200 lens, were shooting bursts of 5 shots at a time. There was much complaining about the cranes having their heads down, enjoying the goodies in the fields, and digging the dirt with their ample beaks. The sure identifying mark is the red on the crown.
While shooting the sandhill cranes scattered throughout the fields, two Tundra swans took flight. The docent at the gate told us we might see them. Apparently, they have only been around the Bosque the last two-three years.
While touring the north loop of the refuge, I was surprised by a group of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). As long as I have been hiking in New Mexico, I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen turkeys. Here they were in all their glory. I think these may be the Rio Grande variety.
I am the first to admit my near-total lack of knowledge about water fowl. When I saw these ducks, I thought they were mallards. But after downloading the photographs and comparing the bills of mallards, I knew I was completely wrong. These "dabbler ducks" are Spatula clypeata or northern shovelers, and I was totally enchanted by them. Their thick, stout bills are designed for shoveling and retaining all the assorted bottom goodies found in shallower reaches.
My mission in the image below was to catch the shoveler's wake.
As with many of the birds we saw, they were doing one of four things. Eating, sleeping, talking, or stretching and flapping their wings. This shoveler was catching a quick rest, always aware with an eye open.
Here is a female shoveler, also at rest.
I figure all of the birds are bulking up for breeding and nesting season. Next week: snow geese in abundance.
Thanks for Barbara F. R., Victoria, Paule, Jean & Sam, Lawrence, Ingrid, Steve, and Catherine for commenting on last week's blog.
I hope that wherever you are this week, great photographic opportunities present themselves.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The solids of this chowder or soup get cut first. Unless a photographer has assistants, or is altering the food in some way, potatoes are time-critical because of oxidation. I didn't spend much time dawdling. Natural light and dimmed overhead light were used.
The initial ladle of soup is shown here in two slightly different positions. The golden hue of the cheese gives its own backdrop to the veggies.
The accompanying muffin completes the light lunch.
Each time I photograph food, I realize what a true art it is, and that I have a lot to learn. But what is cooking, photography, and life without a daily lesson?
Thanks to Brenda, Barbara F. R., Ingrid, Sandra B., TTT, Suz, Catherine, Steve, Kay, Robert, Christina, and Paule for your thoughtfulness and comments last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Shooting from the inside out, which backlit the snow and left the decorative uprights in shadow, brought the abstract shapes and architectural elements of the arts and crafts door almost equally into focus. You can see a hint of color in each, courtesy of the stucco wall. All the images in this series were taken with the Fujifilm X-T5 and 30 millimeter macro lens.
Each glass panel creates its own abstraction.
The graceful curve spanning the uprights gave the snow scene its own delineation.
A second image, similar to the one above, reminded me of a bow drawn with an arrow held on the rest.
Thanks to Barbara, TTT, Pauli, Steve, Brenda, Christina, Jean and Sam, Terry T., Victoria, Catherine, and M. Fred for commenting this week. I hope that each of you has a chance encounter to photograph this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The Pecos National Monument mission church shadows with distinct shadow and light characteristics seemed a good choice as well.
The kiva ladder at Pecos has much more subtle shades of black, white, and grey.
The white Columbine below reflects a sharp white and leaves that fade to black.
And the rose in shadow harkens the early days of black and white photography.
Here's to you, Ben, with our admiration and thanks! May you have fair winds and following seas.
Thanks to Christina, Steve, Barbara F. R., TTT, Connie, Suz, Earle, Catherine, Jean & Sam, Victoria, and Ingrid for your comments this week, even though some of you had power outages and an excess of rain water knocking at your doors.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The rhythm section is the warp - the strands of which can be seen here. It provides the structural baseline of the weft or design.
Rug 379 is a variation on the theme of a Spider Woman Cross. In many cultures it represents the gift that Spider Woman gave to humans, teaching them to spin thread and weave.
Rug 380 has four movements separated by the same complex design including what are sometimes called hourglasses or Chinle stars - artistic elements used in weaving world-wide. The melody is in the eyes of the beholder or the ears of the listener.
Shooting the rugs and their details, provided some excellent exercises in the past month, learning about and using both the 30 mm macro and 16-80 XF zoom lenses on the Fujifilm X-T5 mirrorless camera.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Ann M., Mary Pat, Veronica L., Connie, Steve, Catherine, Kay, Lisa, TTT, Andrea, Ann A., Dianne J., Maryanne, and Robert for your comments and inspiration this week.
until next week,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Pomegranates and bromeliads were the unwitting subjects. Luckily, they didn't mind. As a fellow photographer said when I was working with her on a spontaneous photo shoot, "You shoot in circles around your subject". That is true. I circle it, change positions, get down on the floor or ground, shoot from above, basically trying to get as many angles as I can, and change backgrounds. It is all a grand experiment.
The pomegranate's skin looks like a cross between a dyed, treated piece of leather, and a planetary surface. The "crater" in this planetary image is the calyx, in which the stamens (male fertilizing organ of a flower) are housed.
Here are a few of the backgrounds on which I placed the fruit, each showing different streaks and splotches of color in it.
The next subject is a bromeliad. For most in the United States, these are houseplants, but in coastal California and desert areas, they are outdoor plants. Much to my surprise, the bromeliad is in the same family as the pineapple, as well as Spanish moss and some epiphytic orchids. They are native to the tropics and subtropical areas of the Americas, and one is native to tropical areas of west Africa. (Thanks to the folks at Wikipedia for the information.)
Although the above photograph shows what most people would recognize, I wanted to capture something different, and thus, went for the leaf stalk. These are three different images made as I turned the pot in the incoming light.
The acuteness of focus is revealed in different parts of the inner leaves because of the shallow depth of field. Thanks for your patience as I share, photographically, the reason I love the macro lens.
Thanks to TTT, Barbara F. R., Lisa, Steve, Kay C., Catherine S., Pauli, Robert, Sara, Char, Jean & Sam, and Ingrid for your comments on last week's blog.
My wish for 2023 is that it is full of creativity and learning as you pursue life's secrets and challenges.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Last night after dark, we walked around the neighborhood since we had been told many people were putting up farolitos. The farolito is so simple and magical. All it takes is a paper bag, the likes of which some of us carried to school filled with our lunches. Make a nice cuff on the top of the bag to give it structure. Pour enough sand or dirt to weigh down the bag and keep it from blowing in the wind (about one-quarter to one-third of the bag). Place a votive candle on the sand. That is it. The gentle curve of a wall or linear character of a city sidewalk are only enhanced by the little fires.
Wall projections complement the farolitos in the next two images.
The outline of a patio wall draped with traditional lights cuts to the night sky.
Blue lights lend a mystical look to the stucco and stair rail.
I hope you are able to bask in the lights of the season as we move into 2023 next week!
Thanks to Barbara F.R., Steve, TTT, Ann A., Catherine, Carol, and Pater for your comments this week. And a very Happy Birthday to Ben!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Most in the northern hemisphere have noticed that the days seem to be shorter and the nights longer. It is true. As we approach the solstice this Wednesday, 21 December, which is the day with the least light of any day of the year, each day becomes shorter. For instance, today, the length of the day in Santa Fe, New Mexico will be 9 hours and 44 seconds. Tomorrow will be 6 seconds shorter. And that varies the farther north you go. The people in London, for instance, will have 7 hours, 49 minutes and 42 seconds of daylight on the solstice. In Stockholm, the sunrise on the winter solstice is at 9:40 in the morning. It sets at 2:18 in the afternoon. That is a little over five and a half hours of daylight. It gives me the chills just thinking about it!
So in today's blog, I celebrate light in whatever form it comes, even if subdued. Remember on Thursday morning, the days will begin their lengthening process as we move toward spring. In northern New Mexico, our farolitos (and in central and southern New Mexico luminarias) serve as reminders of light and new beginnings.
We are lucky to have electricity that cleverly provides as much or as little light as one prefers.
And there are always candles that have lit the way for humans since their invention.
I end the week's celebratory blog with a photograph I made in March of 2013, of St. Francis de Asis church in Ranchos de Taos. It was after a milonga (tango dance) at Old Martina's Hall, and snow had begun to fall. I had my camera with me because I was taking photographs of pre-milonga dance lessons. One of our tango buddies, Steve Villalobos said, as we all walked outside into a light snow, "Look at that. The church is beautiful. You have your camera. Why don't you take some pictures?" I was hesitant. Too dark, I thought, and way too cold. But Steve is always adventurous, and as an artist himself, knows a good thing when he sees it. So, with camera in hand, I walked to the sidewalk and made some photographs with my trusty Nikon D800 and 70-200 mm lens. The ISO was 6400 and with a shutter speed 1/25 of a second. By golly, it worked, and the resulting photographs ended up being the few night shots of the church in winter, without farolitos. Thanks, Steve!
As we go into the light of the holidays and beyond, I thank everyone who commented this week including Pauli, Barbara F. R., Catherine, Ann, Lisa, Ingrid & Robert, Steve, and Christina. Happy Birthday to Marilyn R., Lena D., Dave K.,and Jessica F. And the happiest of holidays to all of you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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But back to today's blog. While walking during the Christmas season, outdoor decorations pop up little by little, day by day, some even before Thanksgiving. There are human-sized snowmen, with air pumping inside at a steady flow, that seem to frighten even the boldest and biggest dogs. And being New Mexico, bagolitos (the plastic, all-weather version of the traditional farolito made of paper bags and candles) appear on the roof parapets at a rapid pace. Two more houses were outfitted yesterday. But a real surprise appeared around Thanksgiving - a beautiful, good-sized blue spruce tree in the front of a guest house that is gorgeous at all times of year, had been dressed for the season. The first time I saw it, my thought was that a designer and crew had done this, which is possible. Sporting a dazzling variety of baubles and balls in many finishes and colors, the tree is definitely a knockout. I knew eventually I needed to photograph it.
The sun stars and reflections on the glossy balls were impressive.
The strings of matte-finished balls I had never seen before. Light fell on them and radiated in a completely different way. They were all fascinating.
Just one more reflection might say "And to all a Goodnight!"
Thanks to Phyllis, Catherine, Jean & Sam, Brenda, Orlando, Lucia, Kay, Barbara F. R., Steve, TTT, Carol P., Dianne James, Ingrid, and Terry for commenting last week. Feliz Cumpleaños, Fernando and Debbie. I hope each of you is finding delight in the season!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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With every new piece of equipment, an old one might be jettisoned (or not), and a learning curve ensues, including the first steps. "Before using the (fill in the blank), remove and identify everything in the box." This in itself might require a YouTube search, which, thankfully, almost always answers one's question. The new mirrorless camera that was added to the weaving side of the work space provided more excitement to this week's lessons in the technical. It came with four different plugs for use in different countries around the world. Of course, they are not labeled, so it is like playing with blocks and putting them together. Even the dude on the YouTube video briefly juggled the plugs in his hand saying that the camera comes with plugs from different countries. Clear enough. I find the one that works in the United States while keeping the others in their plastic bags, to tuck in the camera bag for future travel usage. Next. Connect the wires, meaning determine whether the end that goes in the computer or USB hub is a USB A, B, or C cord, shift things around if the instructions say "Do not use in a USB hub but plug it directly into your computer." OK. Shift things around in the hub and in the back of the computer. Don't you just love the explosion of pasta running from point A to point B?
Some elements don't necessarily need a permanent home on a desktop, such as this wonderful scanner my sister gave me for Christmas. You use it when you need a scanner and provide a home for it (as I do with my portable CD drive) elsewhere until the need arises. One of my winter projects will be to select and scan the slides and negatives I will use the most.
Amidst the desk pasta, I find this setup totally comforting. See those beautifully familiar dials on the top of the camera? It is like coming home to my old Minolta single lens reflex film cameras from the days of yore. Instead of going into a menu, you can set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO/ASA from the top of the camera.
The photograph below was made with the Fujifilm X-T5. It is Fred's latest, Rug 378. Both exemplify the combination of the technical and the beautiful.
The detail of Rug 378 here was made with a Nikon 5200 and 18-55 lens.
Despite the brain conditioning required, I continue to be dumfounded and delighted with the improvements in all technical applications, and for the beauty in this world. I am eternally grateful.
Thanks to Catherine, Barbara F. R., Pauli, Veronica, Christina, Marilyn, Steve, and Lisa for commenting on last week's blog. Birthday wishes to Ingrid, Fred, Dan D., Fernando R., Debbie, S., Marilyn R., Sam D., Dave K., Jessica F., and Ben D. S.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the images©
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The second gift was a notification from Shadow and Light Magazine about their upcoming competition "Black and White". Using black and white film, and developing and making prints from that film was how I worked in the field from 1994 to roughly 2005. I loved working in the darkroom and found I developed some tactile and navigational skills from bumping around in complete darkness as well as low light. But when I attended the grand opening of the then new Farmington Public Library building and encountered the local newspaper's reporter with four cameras on his body, all of which were digital, I realized the world of photography was taking a leap. I needed to go along with it. Photography is changing once again. I recently read that there will be no more DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras produced by the likes of Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji or any of the other larger manufacturers. Their new cameras will all be "mirrorless". That is a story for another day.
The images below are some of what I have selected as possible entrants for the "Black and White" competition. Knowing this is a busy time of year, any thoughts or comments you might have regarding these would be much appreciated.
Clouds and walls
Pecos National Historical Park arches
Viga shadows, Pecos National Historical Park
Kiva ladder, Pecos National Historical Park
Aspen trees and clouds
Rose red
Rose white
Sporan with all its regalia
And finally, Not the End of the Trail
Many thanks to Charlie, Veronica, Catherine, Ann A., Terry T., Jean and Sam, Steve, and Ingrid for writing about last week's blog.
Special wishes this week to Ben, Cristina, and Wayne.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Lush greens like these were grown in home gardens, in-season.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for Victoria, Melissa, Char, Pauli, Steve, Catherine, Donna K., Robert, Dianne, Fred, and Ingrid, and all of you for following this blog and keeping in touch throughout the year.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
Not knowing much about the game at all except that it is challenging enough physically and mentally, and just plain fun for people to quickly become obsessed by it. And is a game that fits any personality, body type, age, or competitive spirit. It can played with extreme intensity or at a more leisurely pace, which contributes to its popularity. I spent part of a morning photographing our friend, Ingrid, her fellow players, and others on the courts at the Ft. Marcy Recreation Complex in Santa Fe last week. Armed with both my Nikons with both the 70-200 mm lens and 18-55 mm lenses, I photographed only the second sport I have ever photographed (a rodeo in Aztec, New Mexico was the other). I learned a lot, including the facts that I needed just a slightly faster shutter speed (used 1/1600), and that there are ample opportunities to get shots of derrières.
On this particular morning, it did not take long to discover that the people who were playing were all quite competitive and very active in their play. I took over 200 photographs in half an hour, basically because I did not know what to look for, and I wanted to get some decent shots. I will continue to photograph pickleball play, but here is a sampling of my first foray into the game.
Thanks to Ingrid for allowing me to photograph her and the games, and to Barbara F. R., TTT, Steve, Catherine, Donna K., Phyllis, Ann A., Marilyn, Pater, and Lisa for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The pears are diminutive and non-edible but lovely in their own way.
The leaves of this particular tree are quite fleshy and shiny, which may be the reason they hang on the tree longer in the autumn.
Discoveries such as these make a photographer's day, and my hope is that you have many similar encounters this week.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Peggy I., TTT, Steve, Ann M., Jean and Sam, Catherine, Robert, Dianne, and Ingrid for writing about last week's blog!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Santa Fe actually does have a river running through it, albeit diminutive much of the time, and being neither broad nor wide, it is not always visible because of the trees that line it. Those trees, including willow and cottonwood, provide habitat for myriad species of birds and other creatures, and cool shade during the spring, summer, and fall. The tangles of trees and riparian species creates almost a fantasy landscape - light and ethereal with a touch of mystery. Being Halloween, I felt El Parque del Rio or the river park that flows linearly through Santa Fe, would be a bewitching blog for today. The photographs I made using my Nikon D800 with 70-200 mm lens, harken back to early oil paintings of the American West.
The image below puts one into the river's dreamscape.
Thanks to Julie, Barbara F. R., Robert, TTT, Jean & Sam, Veronica, Anne O., Char, Steve, Luella, Z, Dianne J., Paule, and Ann A. for your comments this week. Happy Halloween and El Dia de los Muertos.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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A friend steered me in the direction of part of the Rail Trail in Santa Fe this week, where he frequently bicycles, taking in a variety of views of the city. Between Siringo Road and St. Michael's Drive along the trail is a work in progress. Not a painted mural but one that is being lovingly made of mosaic tiles, along with other ceramic elements, including clay birds created by 5th grade students at Aspen Magnet School, and studded with gears, sprockets, and other bicycle parts supplied by Mellow Velo. The mosaic is the brain child of mosaic artist Julie Deery, (shown in the image above) and it is a community project in every sense of the word. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to participate in the project, and with roughly forty linear feet of wall to cover, the more the merrier. Titled "Generations", it already is a fascinating splash of texture and color.
Two panels of concrete block wall are now covered, with mountains of expressions below and the sky above filled with mandalas.
Under the direction of Deery, mosaics and other elements are applied in grout.
Pulling back from the current part of the mural, one can see what passengers will be able to see from the Rail Runner train.
If you are interested in volunteering or know of youth organizations or schools, or other organizations including bicycle groups who would like to participate or contribute, email Julie Deery at [email protected]. Check out her website at artsong.equalarea.com. My plan is to continue photographing this community art project as it progresses. Work will pause after the first frost but begin again in the spring.
Thanks to all of you who wrote this week, including Barbara F. R., TTT, Catherine, Steve, and Christina, and to Robert for keeping his eyes peeled!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I have always liked the way the head of the onion or greens look when they are cut off and the end dries. Without having a functioning auto-focus, it was a bit of a challenge to hold the onion in my hand and have it adequately focus. But what would still-life photography be without a challenge?
It is also interesting to see a black and white image of almost anything wherein the tones and light are the major features rather than the color.
But the bright green of the parsley nest pairs with the onion skin to make it pop.
Many thanks to Christina, Lisa, TTT, Steve, Catherine, BFR, Elida, Char, and Lawrence for your comments this week. Since there is plenty of fall color in the lower elevations of the mountain areas and the river valleys of the west, I hope you are able to get out and enjoy it, with or without cameras or smart phones in hand!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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For photography, this type of sky is not necessarily ideal as far as brilliant panoramic views are concerned, but there is always something to shoot. I saw several people with cameras on tripods trying to capture the best of what the day had to offer. And it was a splendid and damp day in the rarified air. The gold in the aspen was spectacular.
Shades of red and orange were scattered everywhere.
Each leaf, dotted with raindrops, made its own statement.
I couldn't resist photographing raindrops that had landed and pooled like a ball of mercury into the middle of nature's gold.
My obsession with aspen trunks will probably be with me forever. They are fascinating.
To me, the photograph below is the essence of "forest primeval", with layer upon layer of aspen trunks, leaves, and duff, emitting a fragrance that carries one's spirit back to the beginning of time.
The momentarily empty trail, edged with assorted color, reflected the dream-like state of a day in the high country.
Thanks to Charlie, Christina, Veronica, TTT, Victoria, Catherine, and Steve for writing this week! I hope each of you will pack your cameras or smart phones with you wherever you go. The whole of our world is worth documenting.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The rodeo grounds have a number of buildings in addition to ample booth space, both indoors and outside, and barns for sheep, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, and other livestock. Word has it that the grounds were packed on Saturday, and more people were arriving as we finished our reconnoiter on Sunday morning.
The skies were leaden with the promise of rain, and the wind was picking up as we strolled the grounds. Having experienced weather of every sort when the festival was held in Taos, our hearts went out to the vendors trying to keep their tents and products from flying away. Case in point, the scarves and other apparel by Carol Garnand, shown below.
From indigo dyed fabric using ice to elements of nature including leaves and flowers, Garnand's pieces showed both interesting design and color combinations.
If you don't include the logo for the Mountain and Valley Wool Association itself, the Phoenix Fiber Mill wins the prize in my book for best logo.
Not to mention the myriad socks available from the mill, some of which are shown below.
Just in time for Day of the Dead or Die del Muerto celebrations are these wool skulls created by Ellen and Eric Sibelius of Ellen's Wooly Wonders.
Here is a combination of wooly wonders of the ocean variety.
Since fiber abounds every day in our home, here is a detail from Fred's latest rug, 376, featuring natural grey, Tierra Amarilla, Sangre de Cristo, yellow heather (the green color), dyed black, and Mora Mills blue and purple.
I hope your first week in October brings abundant opportunities for interesting and challenging photography.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Below are a few images I took of Victoria inside the gallery, featuring more of the project results. She was certainly better with those snakes than I would have been!
FOMA Gallery is located at 333 Montezuma Unit B in the Guadalupe Center, on the corner of Guadalupe and Montezuma. For more information, contact the gallery at 505-660-0121.
Thanks to Victoria and Joe for allowing me to use photographs and to Victoria for allowing me to photograph her in the gallery. And thanks to Steve, Marilyn, Catherine, Claudia, Lisa, TTT, and Ingrid for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Liliana Padberg, Co-Owner and Certified Sommelier at the winery, was kind enough to allow me to roam the vineyards and make photographs. I had not visited the winery since the tasting room opened in 2004. My writing had been done too early for Vivac to be included. It was high time for a visit.
As humans, we are always discovering and altering the the food we eat. Even if most of us have some expectations about wine, we don't necessarily think about the experimentation that goes into making it. This is long-range planning in the strictest sense of the word. Vintners, especially those in New Mexico who are trying to work with our notorious late frosts in the spring and early frosts in the fall, are constantly trying to discover the best grapes for the climates and soils in which they plant their grapes. While interviewing the late Henry Street of Ponderosa Valley Vineyards and Winery in 1998, I discovered he had a test plot of 420 new plants, 10 red and 8 white of 25 cultivars from the former Soviet Union to follow their vigor and hardiness at 5,800 elevation. At Vivac, the elevation is similar - roughly 6,000 feet. Among the rows of vines here are Pinot Meunier, planted in 2021. A red grape, it is part of the grape trio used in champagne to add body and richness. The gnarly juniper post adds to the character of the rows.
The oldest vines I found were the Riesling, planted in 2011.
Petit Verdot vines, a red wine grape, were also planted in 2011. Netting protects the grapes that have not yet been harvested. Barrancos Blancos, the sandstone mountain in the background, appears on the Vivác label.
Vines for Grüner Veltliner, an Austrian white grape, were planted in 2013, followed by Arandell vines, planted in 2015. Arandell is a red grape that is disease resistant and winter hardy in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
What a lovely setting in which to taste wine!
Because I favor reds, I chose Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon for the flight.
The Syrah and Cabinet definitely had legs!
Although a major portion of the grapes used in Vivac wines are grown in the Deming, New Mexico area, all the winemaking happens at Vivac. And grapes in three estate vineyards, "Fire Vineyard", planted in 1999, "1725" (2008 and 2010), and Abbott Vineyard, are organically farmed in the Dixon area.
"Vivác Winery, along with other growers in the area, are currently working to have the Northern Rio Grande Valley named as its own AVA (American Viticulture Area)." Long term planning indeed.
There is such an abundance of information and history about grapes, and wine growing and making in New Mexico, and on the history of the Padbergs and Vivác Winery that it cannot be covered in this blog. I highly recommend an in-person or website visit to learn more.
Vivac Winery is located at the corner of Highway 68 and 75 and is open daily Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.and Sundays 11-6. Summer hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a. m.-7 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 505-579-4441 or cruise the website for additional information.
https://vivacwinery.com/about-us/
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Onions and garlic at a Vienna, Austria market
This very odd, texturally and vibrant fruit is a dragon fruit or Pitaya. A new world member of the Cactataceae family, it originated in southern Mexico and Central America, but is now grown and cultivated world-wide. I photographed it in the Vienna Farmers' Market at about this time of year.
Home grown in Taos County a number of years ago. The best tomato crop we ever had.
Assorted miniature squash and pumpkins from a friend's garden with a backdrop of Navajo-churro wool
The Santa Fe Farmers' Market is also loaded with wonderful eye-popping veggies and fruit, including this bok choy.
Also from the Santa Fe Farmers' Market are these purple radishes, the Jarrahdale squash, and the New Mexico chiles shown below in succession.
I was delighted to hear from so many of you this week about fathers and grandfathers, brothers, and spouses who belonged to unions or still do, or who were union organizers. Thanks to Connie, Earle, Catherine, Steve, TTT, Christina, and Jean & Same for your comments and great stories related to last week's Labor Day blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Some background. Two different McGuires - Matthew Maguire, Secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, proposed the holiday in 1882, while in the same year, P. J. McGuire, General Secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, "suggested setting aside a day for a 'general holiday for the laboring classes' to honor those 'who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.' " The Knights of Labor and the Central Labor Union were promoting it as day to celebrate labor. Numerous unions and organized labor groups were coming together around the idea of the day to insure a day off for workers. Countries around the world have celebrated labor on 1 May as International Workers Day, but President Grover Cleveland was concerned that using that day would associate it with socialist and anarchist movements. The first state to make it an official September holiday was Oregon, in 1887. By 1894, thirty states were celebrating Labor Day. My thanks to all those who labor in this world today, many of whom are working despite the holiday, including those at Wikipedia from which I gleaned much of the above information.
I have known for quite some time that my maternal grandfather was a staunch union member. An iron and steel worker and immigrant from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Dominik kept his union card handy at all times. He joined the union in 1920, I am assuming, after becoming an American citizen. I read somewhere that many of the first unions would not accept neither people of color nor immigrants. Here is a copy of his 25 year membership certificate.
Below is the seal of the Grand Lodge International Association of Machinists Washington D. C. It is now the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, an AFL-CIO/CLC trade union. That union represents over 646,000 workers in the United States and Canada. The backdrop for the seal is a wonderful spatula made for us by our good friend, Earle, who would have a lot to discuss with Grandpa. A master metal worker in his own right, Earle builds custom cars, and designs and fabricates automotive parts.
There are probably more than a few people who don't understand the big deal about labor unions. This tidy paragraph by Deepa Shivaram of NPR says a lot. "Do you enjoy not having to work weekends? The 40-hour work week? Having sick days and paid time off? You can thank labor leaders for that."
Have a magnificent first week of September!
Thanks to Luella, Jim & Louise, Barbara F. R., Elida, Char, Steve, Jean & Sam, Lawrence, Catherine, Charlie K. C., and Steve for writing this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Upon our return and after downloading the day's work into the computer, my mission was then to take a stab at identifying the beauties. Working my way through hundreds of online images, complete with identifying information, it was apparent there was everything from bracket or shelf fungus to Russulas and wax caps, to a whole slew of things I have yet been able to identify. But it has been one heck of a fun ride. Haven't had that many giggles doing a nature shoot in some time, and I am ready to go back for more.
Given the darkness of the forest and the grey skies, I used my in-camera flash about half the time. First, I'll start with what I know - shelf fungus. The particular variety shown here is called turkey tail shelf or bracket fungus (Trametes versicolor). The turkey tail is a Polypore and a wood decomposer, found on downed logs or trees.
As the hiker had mentioned, there were indeed hundreds of coral or rosy colored mushrooms in the mix. Some are in the genus Russula, including the one below, shot from above.
This Russula rosea or Rosy Brittlegill (my best guess) had been broken off at the base by a forest creature, showing the gills beneath the cap. There was a lot of fine dining happening in the forest litter.
One of the other things I know about mushrooms or fungi is that some have gills. But when pouring through online material, I found they also can have pores, or teeth. Mind you, I have no clue what this particular mushroom is, but the teeth are clearly visible. Looking at many of the mushrooms and fungi, I thought I had landed on another planet. Definitely other worldly.
There are also wax cap mushrooms. The one below could be of that variety.
This particular one reminds me of what a neighbor said about one of her paving bricks being pushed up. She thought it was a tree root until it was flipped over and a mushroom lay beneath it.
The mushroom below was on its side with gills in plain view. They are part of the reproductive process.
I was having entirely too much fun, but here are a few more beauties.
I particularly love the design in the stem of the tiny variety below.
It was abundantly clear to me that more research and intensive course work would be needed before I would ever think about harvesting and eating any mushrooms or fungi from the wild. But my bet is that there was a combination of edible, poisonous, and hallucinogenic species in the forest primeval that day.
I hope the final days of August are filled with photographic possibilities and exploration. Thanks to Loretta, Jean & Sam, Suz, Christina, TTT, Steve, and Catherine for writing this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>In honor of the 100th, today's blog features some Native American art from years past. The coral inlay bracelet shown here was made by Rod Kaskalla of Zuni Pueblo, holding a concho belt crafted by Robert Johnson, a Navajo silversmith from the Chaco Canyon area. The backdrop is a rug woven by Shirley Dennison in the Teec Nos Pos style with wool made using natural, vegetable dyes. She is a member of the Ramah Navajo Weavers Association.
Below is the same inlay bracelet along with another holding larger pieces of coral on a Ramah Navajo Weavers Association sampler rug titled "Storm" by Linda Nelson.
Below is the Navajo concho belt and the coral inlay bracelet on the "Storm" weaving.
Robert Johnson's concho belt surrounding the Storm
A necklace comprised of coral beads rests on a rug woven by L. Yazzie, of Ramah, in 1992.
No Indian Market event would be complete without a squash blossom necklace. This one was purchased from weaver Pearl Sunrise in 1971. I suspect it was made by her husband Bill Sunrise.
Thanks to Jean and Sam, TTT, Dave O., Char, Catherine, Luella, Steve, and Dianne for commenting on last week's blog. I always enjoying hearing from you and appreciate your comments.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>For years, people have waxed poetic or railed against art. Oscar Wilde, in the preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray (consider the context) "All art is quite useless." But the quotation from John F. Kennedy in October of 1963 at Amherst College seems to aptly fit these times. "When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses, for art establishes the basic human truths which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment." The only poetry included here is from nature, specifically flowers. They can provide solace, a sense of calm, beauty, and sometimes excitement all in the same unfurling of a petal. One of this summer's columbine plants is going through a second bloom cycle. Lucky us!
There is hardly anything at this time of year (short of the smell of chile roasting), that awakens the senses and spirit like a sunflower.
May art in its many forms, be part of your life this week!
Thanks to the artists and poets all who wrote about last week's blog including Charlie K. C., Lawrence, Victoria, Connie, Steve, TTT, Catherine,
Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., and Marilyn.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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"With Pick and Pick you weave one weft in one direction in one color and then another weft in that same direction in another color to make a line instead of weaving in one direction and then back in the other direction." What the technique does is set up a number of optical illusions from almost every direction. Below are images showing two different details within the body of the rug.
As I watched Fred weaving this rug, I realized how much focus it took to get it right. He couldn't even listen to music during the process.
From left to right the colors are natural dark grey (warp), Tierra Wools-dyed chokecherry heather, Brazos Cliffs, Yellow heather (dyed on charcoal grey), red heather, and calabaza
And when we took it to Tierra Wools to sell on Saturday, I realized how much the colors in their own way spoke of the natural landscape. Years ago at Fred's Taos Wool Festival booth, a group of people were talking at length about color theory. After they left, one woman who remained asked the question "Does it occur in nature?" A sublime and straightforward way of explaining colors and how they work. It was fascinating to see how the yellow heather and red heather worked to produce a combination straight from the New Mexico landscape.
Thanks to Lisa, Barbara, TTT, Christina, Steve, Ingrid, and Fred for comments and contributions to this week's blog. I hope the beauty of August presents itself for your viewing and photography throughout the week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
As I have said before, photographing weddings and other events requires the basics, i. e., viewing the venue to see what areas might provide the best shooting possibilities given time of year, light, etc., charging all batteries, and having cameras and other equipment, if any, ready. But one should also select clothes that are comfortable but appropriate given that you might be on the ground, climbing on furniture or dealing with animals. Check out this totally spontaneous image, grabbed when Arlo joined in the fun.
Photographs during events run the gamut from spontaneous...
...to formal or more purposeful...
...to requests from attendees or organizers. In this case, Marilyn, the family matriarch, wanted photographs with the grandchildren, including the one shown below.
One of the couples was looking for a Christmas card image. I spent some time with them to find different possibilities.
And generally, a random opportunity for some quick modeling presents itself. Possible web page materials?
Generations apart with shared gifts
Thanks again to the Auflegers for offering the opportunities to photograph them over the years.
My appreciation to those of you who commented last week, including Sue G., Victoria, Kay, Lisa, Jean & Sam, Diane D., Ann A., Dianne J., Barbara, and Steve.
Same time, different blog next Monday??
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Like weddings, family reunions hold different elements that need to be captured photographically. There are specific requests from individuals - shots of couples with children, parents with children and grandchildren, spontaneous fun shots, and of course, one has to document the gathering with the all-important group photograph. Sometimes, there is a non-human element that becomes an added personality. In this particular event, it was hats, and thus, the "hat trick" below that only a 22-year old could pull off this well.
At the other end of the age scale is the beautiful matriarch of the clan, who donned the hat below with style and class.
The felt western fedora and top hat made a good pair for the day...
...as did the straw hat accentuating a coiffed beard and ink
Mother and Daughter glam shot
This week, I will be editing and rendering all the reunion photographs, and examples will be featured in next week's blog.
Thanks to Jean & Sam, Victoria, Barbara & Clyde, Geula, Maria, Larry & Carol, Christina, Steve, Catherine, Barbara, Marilyn, and David O. for writing this week. A special thanks to the Aufleger Family for being creative and flexible during the shoot.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>The woman I hope to photograph later this summer or early fall is quite different from Jessica, seen in the images below. However, the photographs make my mind think about different options - reality, fantasy, historic?
Family reunions are a little like weddings in that many people are gathered in one place for a particular purpose - getting together after years apart.
Then, the subject of landscapes pops up as the subject matter of Shadow and Light Magazine's upcoming contest. My dilemma will be whether to go with verdant and green...
...stark and beautiful...
...or geology based.
Planning, pondering, and continually curating are all part of the photographic process, and a great way to work those little grey cells during toasty, sweat laden summer days. You might want to subscribe to Shadow and Light Magazine online. Although none of my images were chosen for the Color It Red contest, the images that did are quite incredible, and challenge me to be more creative.
Thanks to so many of you for commenting on last week's blog including Barbara F. R., Lisa, Connie, Victoria, Terry T., TTT, Charlie, Kay, Ronnie, Diane D., Steve, Christine, Carolyn S., Monica L., Catherine, Jean & Same, Andrea S., and Ingrid!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Fred will be participating in another art event, by entering the AGAATI Foundation Global Eco Artisans Award competition. The "AGAATI Foundation is committed to celebrate and conserve handmade creativity, elevate visibility and the value of artisan made, leading to the socio-economic development of the global artisan communities." The word AGAATI is from the Sanskrit word Agati meaning arriving or arising. As with all competitions, a certain amount of preparation is required, including writing and photography. So the local photography department enjoyed the challenge of shooting photographs of Fred's latest work, Rug 370, for his application.
The rug is made of Navajo-Churro wool, the black/blue/silver field of which is from Andrea Harrell's flock we visited in north Albuquerque in May. It has a lot of lanolin in it and is quite lustrous. For the AGAATI Foundation, "work in progress" images were needed. Here is a shot of the middle of a Celtic knot in "chile Colorado" and with a beautiful gold through line of "Tierra Amarilla" from Tierra Wools. The blue is from the mill in Mora, New Mexico. The knot is pure math/geometry and beyond my comprehension.
Here is an image of the completed knot, and below it, the finished rug.
Fred uses several methods for finishing the edges of the warp or skeleton of the rug, resulting in the fringe at the bottom. Here is a traditional Rio Grande treatment. It is made by gathering four strands of warp together in a single knot, finished with a maritime cabling and one more knot. It keeps the rug from unraveling.
On Rug 370 for the AGAATI competition, he used what is called a Damascus edge, a continuous series of square knots, again finished with maritime cabling.
Thanks to Fred and to everyone involved in the farm-to-finished piece process including, Andrea Harrell, Molly and Antonio Manzanares and Nathan and Toni at Tierra Wools, Connie Taylor, and the folks at the mills in Wyoming and in Mora.
And thanks to everyone for reading last week's blog, including Ingrid, Barbara, Larry and Carol M., Kay, Catherine, Jean & Sam, Wayne, and Steve.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
"The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more." (Wikipedia)
Short of the precise date, Adams made an apt prediction. Last night when we heard what we thought was a bomb it dawned on us that, yes, it was the 3rd of July, the day before the official date of independence, and people love to start celebrating early. I could not help going into my photographic vault or morgue, for a few shots of fireworks.
I am always surprised by the way fireworks are developed and how they "photograph". Each has its own pyrotechnic material in order to achieve noise, smoke, light, and floating debris. The trajectory on the image below creates a palm tree type effect given the slow shutter speed needed to capture it in the dark.
The lily below has its own fireworks in the middle - stamens that reveal a metallic, almost day-glow color. It qualifies as nature's firework, don't you think?
Aerial confetti abounds!
Thanks to Barbara, TTT, Ben, Wayne, Louise & Jim, TPLue, Catherine, Kay, Steve, Lisa, Ingrid, Jean & Sam, and Lawrence for your comments on last week's blog!
Have a safe and delightful holiday.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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With every flower, there is an opportunity for an abstract or still life, and the two below fall into that category.
Finally, a hollyhock, as if leaning against the stucco, resting, full of raindrop joy.
Thanks to Christina, Claudia, Jean & Sam, Steve, Catherine, Ingrid, and Wayne for your kind words about last week's blog.
A quote from photographer Ansel Adams tops off this week's blog.
"Life is your art. An open, aware heart is your camera. A oneness with your world is your film."
Thanks for sending the Adams' wisdom, Victoria!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I have never really experienced the joy of having a big shade tree under which shade-loving plants can grow until we returned to Santa Fe and inherited an ash tree. It opened up all sorts of gardening possibilities, even for a relatively small space.
Although hollyhocks seem to grow in both sun and shade, the ones in the neighborhood and in the vicinity of the ash, are quite happy where they are. It is always interesting to watch the sun and shadow play on their big flowers, and try to capture them with my cameras.
Although I did plant delphiniums before, these Pacific Giant Summer skies have exceeded all my expectations.
The delphiniums also held a surprise for me, once I took a closer look. They are extremely hairy. And toxic.
Sometimes, plants that are green or variegated can be under appreciated. Hostas might be in that category but this particular variety, with its white tipped leaves, give the visual feel of being brushed with paint.
Thanks to all of you who voted for the assorted images in last week's blog, including Ann A., Jean & Sam, Debbie S., Connie T., TTT, Charlie, Victoria, Steve, Kay, Marilyn R., Wayne, Stewart, Sara, Ingrid, Pauli, and Gail. It appears there was a tie between the radishes and the Primary Palette, with the paintbrush in snow and the autumn leaf chosen as close seconds after that. I will let you know if any of the images tickle the judges fancy.
Have a terrific week and for those in New Mexico, let's revel in the rain together, and enjoy the longest day of the year, Summer Solstice, on Tuesday!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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If you have a moment, could you let me know which images you like the best out of the group? That will help me cull the ones I will eventually enter. Thank you!
radishes
autumn leaf
Indian paintbrush (Castellija spp). flowers in snow
rug detail
apples on autumn leaves
primary colors - sky, adobe, red canopy
Fred in Rug 347 at El Malpais National Monument
rose arch
pomegranate
Columbine
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Christina, Kay, Steve, Jean & Sam, Dianne, Catherine, Ann A., and Wayne for commenting this week. Have a great week with lots of photographic surprises!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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....followed by the Goldenes Kreuz (Golden Cross) Castle in the Old Town part of Regensburg, Germany, also featuring crenels.
There are thousands of examples in nature of crenation. The yellow day lily, poppy bloom, and yellow and fuchsia-colored prickly pear (Opuntia spp) images below all fit the definition of crenation nicely.
But the final photograph of the pheasant's eye daffodil, with its highly notched center cup, really shouts the Merriam Webster definition.
Seashells also come to mind when I think of crenation. My knowledge of shells it not great but here is a type of scallop shell, which literally fits the definition.
As you can tell from today's blog, occasionally I establish and tackle continuing education assignments for myself, and this week's blog was one of those.
Thanks to Heather, Christina, Debbie S., Barbara F. R., Wayne, Catherine, Marilyn, Ingrid, Charlie, and Donna C. for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Andrea Harrell of iiidogfarm
People who raise animals are perpetually busy and in motion. Attending to their basic needs, including feeding, watering, and exercising, are only part of the day. Procuring food, giving vaccinations, and in the case of Navajo-Churro sheep, shearing once and sometimes twice a year are part of life. Andrea does her own shearing. Lambing and general clean up make certain times of year busier than others. From having Connie Taylor - head of the New Mexico Navajo-Churro Sheep Association and expert in the breed - as a neighbor for nearly twenty years, we had some expectation of what we would find upon meeting Andrea Harrell in the beautiful Los Ranchos area of Albuquerque. As is true with Connie, Andrea is a woman of great energy and many interests, another wonderful overachiever. In addition to being a neonatal nurse practitioner, and a great photographer - andreaharrellphotography.com - she and her husband grow crops in the fertile soil that skirts the Rio Grande. She also has a flock of sheep including several Navajo-Churro. Her "boys" include Bigs, Kam, and Fisher. Andrea cares for them deeply, as is clear from the photographs below. She enticed them with Baker's Bits treats.
Take a smell first. Fred being introduced to one of the boys whose fleece will eventually yield a beautiful charcoal wool for one of his rugs. Check out that gorgeous coat!
You can almost feel the lanolin in the wool. Fred can't wait to weave with it.
Andrea with one of this year's lambs. And she was a quick one. Note Mama, always present, in the left hand corner of the shot.
Thanks to Andrea and all the sheep for letting us interrupt her very busy day (she is already working her twelve hour nursing shift as I write), and for keeping Navajo-Churro sheep alive in north Albuquerque.
Christina, Suz, Mary G., Kay, Steve, Wayne, Jean & Sam, Orlando T., TTT, M. Fred, Pauli, Barbara, TPLue, Claudia, Donna C., Marta, Victoria, Ingrid and Dianne for commenting on last week's blog. Although the fires continue to burn in New Mexico, we are hoping the worst is in the rear view mirror, and the forecast for possible rain this week comes to pass.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>After walking the short trail up to the mesa where the remains of the Pecos Church stand, it is easy to see why people have lived here and why humans from the Paleoindians and Puebloans to the Spanish conquistadors to Mexican and Anglo armies chose this place. It is on a mesa with nearly 360 degree views of surrounding mountains above and streams below. Considering it is adobe on rock wall foundations, the church is a massive edifice on the grassy knoll.
Smoke from the fire can be seen in the right hand third of the photograph, if you look left from the kiva ladder.
There is something about kivas. More than simply a hole in the ground with a ladder, the smell and coolness of the earth and the latillas in kivas, in addition to centuries of ceremonial activities, give them a curious and comforting feel.
The ladder reaches to the sky.
One of the most fascinating elements of the church itself is the archways. It is unusual to see an arch in early Southwestern architecture. Moorish influence may be at play here. Arches provide openings from one room to another. The second archway reveals a buttress with adobes stacked at an angle to support the wall.
The shadows of different elements in the Pecos Church are fascinating. Below, structural timbers frame the archway.
Shot from almost any angle, the mass of the church is undeniable.
I would recommend a visit to Pecos National Historical Park to anyone, but particularly to those who live in New Mexico or are visiting Santa Fe. It is a very short drive and worth the time. You may also be able to see employees and interns mixing adobe bricks and plaster for continued stabilization. However, while searching the Park Service site this morning, I was surprised to learn that two days after this photo shoot, the Park had been closed due to the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. As always in photography, timing is everything, along with luck.
Thanks, Kara, Wayne, Barbara, Jean & Sam, Marilyn, Catherine, Sandra, Lisa S. and TTT for your kind comments this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The Cerro Pelado Fire in the Jemez Mountains has also provided plenty of sky drama in the last month. At 45,605 acres, the firefighters were able to gain more control over the weekend, when winds moderated.
Except for the pyrocumulonimubus explosions above the fires, commercial airliners fly high above the smoke or around the formations, and contrails or vapor trails can be seen in both the third photograph as well as the one above.
This year reminded me of the two year period of 2011 and 2012 which brought the Pacheco Canyon Fire, the Whitewater Baldy Fire in the Gila National Forest (the largest in our history), and Las Conchas Fire in Los Alamos. It made me wonder what the amounts of precipitation were in both years. I distinctly remember seeing and photographing plumes from the Pacheco Canyon Fire, wondering how dire the situation would become. We had ashes on the roof of our house in Taos County, and very windy conditions existed into the middle of July of 2011, when the monsoon season came to the rescue. We were more than grateful in 2012 when the monsoon began on 12 June with 1.22 inches of moisture, including 3 inches of hail. Not knowing certainly does not prevent one from hoping there will be a vigorous monsoon season this year. And a black-chinned hummingbird hovered at our sliding glass door this morning. A good omen? How do those .50/ounce to 1.5 ounce bundles of energy survive the wind and smoke?
Many thanks to all of you for reading, and to TTT, Barbara, M. Fred, Steve, Pauli, Phyllis, Catherine, Lisa, Wayne, and Char for commenting last week. Wherever you are this week, may your explorations feed your minds and your hearts!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The Little Lanterns and Origami Red and White remind me of a sea creature like a squid in their bud stages, with the spurs almost propelling the flower forward.
Here is the Origami in bloom.
When purchasing a "pot luck" variety of Columbine, like McKana Giant Hybrids, one never knows what the flower color will be. This first example falls in the broad coral color category. The inner flowers are a delicate cream color while the stamens and pistils are bright yellow.
The next three McKana Giant images show red sepals with a yellow cup formed by what are termed "blades".
No blue Columbine flowers yet from the group of five I planted last year. They are the Aguilegia caerules, which also happens to be the Colorado state flower. They can be seen along streams in the mountains of northern New Mexico as well.
Thank you Suz, Steve, Catherine, Ingrid, Greg C., Barbara, and Lawrence for commenting this week. I hope you are enjoying nature in whatever season you find yourself!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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As anyone who falls into the category of spouses and other family members as well as friends of photographers, you learn fairly quickly that if you are with a photographer, especially one with a camera in hand, you are no longer safe from being dragged into a potential photo shoot. You will be waiting. And this is what happened yesterday. Is that music? Up to the office window, and what do I see but bagpipers in the cemetery parking lot - tuning up and preparing for what was a sizable event attended by many members of the Española Police Department. I really wanted to photograph the pipers. Really, REALLY needed to do it, so brunch guests or not, it was off to Rivera Memorial Gardens. After watching the pipers and drummer a bit, with fascination and some hesitation, I finally made my move and asked if they would allow me to photograph them. They were very kind and willing as they were tuning their instruments. Trying to always be prepared, I had brought business cards with me and passed them out. They walked away from the Kiva Chapel so they could tune without disturbing the service in progress. I followed, and began to make images as they tuned. It was interesting to hear them talk about music in general, and proceed to tune the reeds. Things had dried between the time the pipers arrived and the time they would be playing. I did not know that Great Highland bagpipes have three drones within which wooden reeds are housed - one bass and two tenors. The chanter, which also contains a reed, is used to play the melody. The piece into which the piper blows is comprised of a mouthpiece, blowpipe, and blowpipe stock.
It shouldn't have surprised me, but it did, to hear them working on the scales as part of their preparation, as other concert musicians do. Here is Greg Cheyne and his pipes, and another member of the group tuning one of the pipes in the lower right hand corner of the image. James Lamb, Pipe Major, is also shown with his pipes in the second photograph. The chanter has holes in it, like a penny whistle, that are covered or uncovered with the fingers to play the melody.
Fred Hawkins with his snare drum, methodically provides solemn percussion.
In this environmental portrait, both the pipes and Cheyne share the spotlight.
Brandon Davis, Pipe Corporal, his uniform, and pipes
A sporan which serves as a pocket, pouch, or purse, is worn with a kilt. The kilt plaid is called "American Heritage".
No pipers outfit would be complete without a sgian dubh (roughly pronounced skeen doo) or dirk, which is a Highland dress knife, worn in the sock. It must have come in handy walking the moors and highlands of Scotland.
In perfect order, walking back to the Kiva Chapel.
Thanks to the New Mexico Fire and Police Pipes and Drums members Fred Hawkins, Brandon Davis, Greg Cheyne, and James Lamb for their willingness to be interrupted by a photographer. They play music for events statewide and beyond. Since the organization conducts services for fire, police, and military members around the state at no cost, donations help with travel and equipment costs. To donate or for more information, check out their website.
My thanks as well to Barbara F. R., Jean & Same, TP Lue, Steve, Ingrid, Ann A., Sandra B., TTT for commenting on this week's blog, and to And to Ingrid, Robert, and Fred for having part of their day occupied by photography.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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A neighbor's apple tree, complete with soft pint and peach-colored buds.
When I walked into a grouping of three trees in an open space, I noticed a din and originally thought it was traffic noise. But tuning my ears, I realized the trees were full of bees and the sound they were making was fascinating. With that many blooms to be worked, I knew there would be a photo bomb or two, as happened in the image below.
This apple tree has gnarled and peeled bark, with an envelope area where a limb had been cut at some point. It made for a story-book composition.
I can see using this very soft focus image as a backdrop or illustration for a future wedding book.
The blue sky filled the spaces between the flowers, branches, and leaves below, adding to the color palette.
I am lucky enough to have a view of this tree from the office and it has offered a blast of fuchsia color for over a week. It is always amazing that the blooms seem to stay attached, regardless of the 30-60 mile per hour winds that have been with us for what seems like the whole of April.
Finally, today's botany lesson. The tree shown below is almost at the end of its bloom cycle, with the yellow anthers and white filaments, no longer surrounded by petals. Anthers and filaments make up the stamen or male part of the flower. To me, the design rendered by the stamens shows how much is involved in the natural world.
I hope that this final week of April 2022 is full of wonders and photographic adventures for all of you. Thanks to Lisa, Barbara F. R., Lawrence, Victoria, Ingrid, Steve, Kay, Heather, TTT, Jean & Sam, Wayne, Catherine, and Earle for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Rug 347 has a bit of a flying carpet look laying on the slab of sandstone, and in the second image beneath the massive, contorted and beautiful wall.
Since it is woven in the style of a Navajo Chief's Blanket, it seemed appropriate to demonstrate how it might be worn.
To me, Rug 344 is quite western, if there is such a thing, with geometric elements representing mesas and the reflected sky. It was not until we rolled it onto the sandstone that I realized one of the colors very nearly matched the rock.
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Below is Fred's woven panel stitched to a jean's jacket.
Rug 344, 347, and the jacket panel are woven of 100% Navajo-Churro wool, both warp and weft. Thanks to Connie Taylor for bringing awareness to and helping Navajo-Churro sheep thrive, and for dying the wool that Fred has used to weave since his first piece, made in 2003. Thanks to Fred for his patience with this photographer, and to Barbara F. R., Lisa, Jean & Sam, Ingrid, Connie, Claudia, Louise & Jim, Marilyn, and Steve for commenting last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Our trip this week just included exploration of the Sandstone Bluff area, because it was also a test of the real-time range of our electric Chevy Bolt. Going to La Ventanna Arch might have exceeded our range, for returning to Santa Fe without stopping to charge. But we enjoyed walking all over the rock, exploring the folds and colors of the sandstone. Although some formations had calved or lost pieces, much was the same.
The sandstone is a brilliant counterpoint to the lava, and the colors are so intense that on a sunny day, which it was, it feels like it is burning your retinas!
The oranges, rust, ochre, pink, and red are stunning.
While I was desperately hoping that some of the tinajas, or stone basins, would be holding water, not a drop was to be found. Just grains of sand and gravel. Junipers hang on for dear life.
Although the wind was howling and I was practically eating my hair while shooting, we found a protected area to do a product shoot with several of Fred and his rugs. Those photographs will be featured next week.
Thanks to Jean and Sam, Barbara F. R., Jim W., Lisa S., Marilyn, Christina, Steve, and Char for commenting this week! I hope each of you is able to explore the wealth of spring blossoms, despite the windy days.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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This particular variety named "Ice Follies" comes complete with a bright yellow cup and white petals.
As is sometimes the case, the back with its sheath from which the daffodil emerges, is just an interesting as the front of the flower itself.
The sheath also makes an interesting part of a black and white study.
A flower shoot is incomplete for me until I get down and dirty to get the intimate details. I looked like a turtle that ended up on its back while photographing these.
Dianne, Lisa, Ingrid, Debbie S., Steve, Catherine, Barbara F. R., Wayne, and Victoria were kind enough to comment this week.
My thanks for all of you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image ©
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Although rocks like these don't hold the color that roses do, they complement the different colors of roses below in fascinating ways.
Thanks to Dianne, Donna C., Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Victoria, TTT, Connie, Ann A., Steve, Bill & Sue, Wayne, and Diane for kind comments this week, and to Ingrid and Robert for providing the inspiration!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Although my tendency is to try to second guess what judges may like, in a couple of categories I threw caution to the wind, as it were, because second guessing is nearly impossible.
The categories are: Portrait, Wedding Day, Commercial/Editorial, Shot on Film, Group Portrait, Aerial Wedding, Creative Lighting, and Album Cover. I entered the first five categories. Only one photograph per category was allowed.
Since nearly every photograph I make - from people to animals to plants to landscapes - are portraits, I could have gone in any direction. But I chose people. Trying to offer a combination of spontaneous, classic portraiture and the choice of black and white or color made it challenging. I like the two images of Travis below.
The image of "Zorba" at the door of his restaurant on Crete is a study in spontaneity.
But this photo of Jessica is evocative on several levels, so I chose it for the "Portrait" category.
One of the group photos from Kara and Eero's wedding combined both formality and fun, so it seemed like a good entry for the "Wedding Day" category.
I was choosing between Ashley and Buf for the "Commercial/Editorial" category.
Buf is very photogenic and a terrific black and white subject, but he was making something rather than advertising something, so I went with Ashley, modeling work at Taos Fiber Arts.
The next category "Shot on Film" took me back to a photograph I made with a Mamiya 1 3/4 x 2 1/4 format camera. It was my first foray into any format camera larger than 35 mm, and it was before I began using Ilford HP 400 film, which I used for all my later portraits prior to digital photography. This image was shot using Kodak Plus X Pan. It was developed using the Sprint Developer offered at the Santa Fe Community College dark room. Being a filmmaker himself, Walter Chappell was a compelling subject.
There were many possible entrants for the "Group Portrait" category. The suggestion for the category was "we want to see those pre-COVID (or masked and vaxxed) group portraits featuring two or more subjects". I have always been fond of this photograph of Paloma and Fred dancing at a Taos restaurant.
But the word "subject" in the challenge instructions was the key. It didn't say people. I would love to see the reaction to my "Group Portrait" entry - good, bad, or dumfounded. At least it might make someone smile.
Thanks to Victoria, Ann M., Barbara F. R., Paule, Jean & Sam, Steve, Catherine and Ingrid for commenting this week. To hear from so many who were born before or during World War II, or had family members deeply involved was enlightening. In the same vein, many stories are already emerging from Ukraine and Russia, as well as numerous bordering countries. Nice to see Arnold Schwarzenegger's Twitter post, primarily addressed to the Russian and Ukrainian people in such a beautiful and respectful way this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>And then my mind goes to the countries my sister and I visited in 2014 that are receiving refugees. Hungary, Slovakia, even Germany, and wonder how both the refugees and the citizenry of those countries are doing. A military base in Ukraine only eleven miles from the Polish border was attacked on Sunday. That, alone, holds wretched ramifications. There are many people in the whole of Europe who remember personally or have heard from relatives and friends how life was during World War II. None of them want to repeat those days and are nervous about what else Russia has in mind. Today's blog celebrates, in photographs, some regular people in these countries doing what they do, with the hope that they will be able to return to some semblance of normalcy soon. And once again, have a place to call home.
In Budapest, Hungary local police do their jobs before a football match between a Hungarian team and an Irish team.
A street musician near the center of Budapest
Moving on to Bratislava, Slovakia, a shopkeeper at Folk Folk
Bratislava has a vibrant music scene and September is one of the biggest months for music in and around the city. Try as I might to find the event to which these people were attached, I could not. But energy, color, and much percussion abounded.
A driver was ready to take tourists around the area.
As a counterpoint to the drumming and dancing, a harpist played just around the corner.
A tightrope walker on a rainy, grey day in Regensburg, Germany, finishes this sequence.
My thoughts are with all who are without a home in these unsettled times.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Our modern electrical systems evolved thanks to the discovery and development of what is called direct current or DC power, and alternating current or AC power. I don't pretend to have much comprehension of either, but having lived off-grid with a photovoltaic system for twenty years, I have learned a few things. Since my intellectual capacity leans more toward memorization than technical understanding, I know the wattage of just about every appliance in the house. How they work? Well, bits and pieces take hold from time to time. One is that DC energy or direct current is a one directional flow of electrical current. We use many things in our daily lives that are powered by DC including cell phones, laptops, flashlights, and any kind of tool or implement that uses a battery. AC or alternating current is what we use when we turn on a light or an appliance in our homes. It literally alternates or, according to Wikipedia "reverses direction and changes its magnitude continually..."
During the 1800s, numerous inventors were working on these strategies for energy production and communication, including Guglielmo Marconi, Alessandro Volta (his battery was the Voltaic pile), French physicist Andre' Marie-Ampere, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison, to name a few. Two ironies emerged from the competition for electrical transmission in the United States between Tesla and Edison. Ultimately, the nod for what we now call "the grid" , was given to Tesla who promoted AC. However, the Tesla automobiles are based on DC energy, intersecting with and changed into AC to run Nikola Tesla's AC brushless induction motor. Although Thomas Edison helped develop and promote DC energy, many of the power companies in this country are named after Edison, despite the fact that they use AC.
And what does all this have to do with me and photography? Not a whole lot, except that I photographed the technicians and equipment from Positive Energy Solar as they installed two Tesla Powerwalls this week in our garage. Because of that delicate intersection between DC and AC, the process was actually more complicated and took longer than the original installation of the solar panels on the roof. But the completed process would fulfill our plan to have a backup system in the event of an extended power outage in the area.
To begin the job, organization is the key, as the photograph below demonstrates.
The first day was spent installing new circuit breaker and shut off boxes, both in the garage and outside, in preparation for DC and AC joining together.
On Day Two, the Powerwalls made their debut.
Powerwalls are two rather hefty solid state batteries, a variation of the types of batteries used in electric automobiles. At 300 pounds a piece, a dolly and muscle was required to maneuver them into place. The Powerwalls are made to fit together front to back, taking less space wherever they are installed.
It takes teamwork to do a great job, and they did!
It was like Christmas morning having these beauties installed and being able to read real-time energy production, use, and savings courtesy of an app. One of the other bells and whistles are these Steam Punk green lights that pulsate when the batteries are charing. Probably a frivolity but we definitely get a giggle out of watching the lights.
Thanks for your indulgence as I tried to put into words and photographs a small example of the intersection of DC and AC.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I saw elements of the work in the refracted light through the glass.
The position of the glass in relation to the overhead lights created a different "rose" in each image.
Using a slightly different shape of glass produced more of a flower base than unfolding rose.
The flares shown in the next two images are at such an angle that rainbow colors appear. I also put water in the bowl of the glass, which impacted the outcome.
Three lights, three flares
Thanks to M. Fred, Barbara, Christina, Geula, Lawrence, TTT, Luella, Jean & Sam, Wayne, Ingrid, and Steve for commenting this week as we enter the month of March with its feel of spring. I hope you are able to explore all of it this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Weight and balance is essential in many sports and it reminded me of what Fred does for five to six hours every day at the loom. In a way, he is doing his own sport, shifting weight from one treadle to the other. For him and all weavers, the weather is not the variable but the wool with which he weaves. Depending on the quality of the warp and spin of the weft, he has to make adjustments. In the spirit of the games, here is the weaving game. Notice the impeccable equipment, the loom with a few extra bolts and the sandbags as ballast. He is shifting his weight between the treadles as he throws the shuttle.
And the weight changes continue.
Here is a detail of Fred's new arts and crafts style rug, in what is known as the Glasgow Style. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was among the designers, architects, and artists in the Glasgow School movement.
As I mentioned earlier, when a material like four-ply warp becomes one or two ply in spots, the weaver has to catch that and compensate, so there are no breaks in the body of the rug. Sometimes, instead of doing rugs that are 60+ inches in length, he makes square rugs, like Rug 362, shown below.
Or he gets creative and weaves something totally new, like the bags or bolsas here. He wove two designs side by side. They are all eleven inches high. The two on the left are 11" x 7". The two on the right are 11" x 9". They are handwoven, hand-knotted, and hand cabled with no lining or clasps, and are open at the top. All of his work is 100% Navajo-Churro wool, both warp and weft.
Fred's feet continue to shift from treadle to treadle as the weaving olympics continue.
Thanks to Barbara, Victoria, Dianne, Wayne, Ann A., Orlando, Lisa, TTT, Steve, and Ingrid for commenting this week.
Feliz Cumpleaños, M. Fred and Diane!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Even in rain or after drying, they demonstrate profound strength and a sometimes difficult to identify sterling character.
Happy Valentine's Day to all of you, complete with abundant joy and beauty!
Special thanks to Barbara, Connie, Luella, Wayne, Charlie (love the haiku), Jean and Sam, Dianne, Pauli, Steve, Ingrid, Catherine, and Marta for commenting this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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One of the more notable features of the area is La Ventana Arch. I could spend a great deal of time photographing every detail of the arch. The shot below is a bit of an illusion, as the arch is in the foreground and blends into other formations behind it.
Holes and possible future arches can be found on both sides of the arch. As the sandstone weathers, holes are created while other areas are varnished and smoothed.
The vertical wall on another side of the arch shows spectacular shades of desert varnish on the stone.
El Malpais National Monument is roughly 72 miles west of Albuquerque off of Interstate 40 near Grants. All trails are open but the visitor center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the caves on the west side of the monument are closed for a long deserved rest (the National Park Service calls it "resource protection and public safety").
Thanks to Lucia, Kay, Barbara, Victoria, Ingrid, Larry & Donna, Wayne, Christina, Steve, and Jean & Sam for commenting this week.
Birthday wishes to Sue P., Luella, Barbara O., M. Fred, and Diane D., and Happy Anniversary to Gigi and JJ, and Susie and Bogie, all celebrating during the month of February.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>Most of the clouds forming were of the cirrus variety in the higher atmosphere. All I knew is that they were on the move and I had to grab my camera to catch them as they moved from the eastern sky, tracking across the north to the west and then south. Nearly every variety of cirrus clouds was on display.
Although the color of blue skies and feathery clouds framed by the building walls is brilliant, I liked the idea of taking one image to black and white.
Once again, I felt compelled to use the sky as backdrop for the second bloom stalk of the amaryllis.
After the wind, it did eventually snow. Six inches in some parts of Santa Fe. Our total was 2-4 inches, measuring .21 in liquid after it was melted. Here is a shot of the entire bloom stalked against snow, with blue tinges on the right side and pinkish on the upper left where the sun was beginning to reflect off the stucco wall.
I hope the skies wherever you are allow for some fascinating watching and photographic experimentation for you this week! Thanks to Barbara, Char, Lisa, Paule, Wayne, Sandra, Pauli, Christina, Barbara O., Steve, Jean and Sam, Catherine, Veronica, and Dianne for getting in touch this week. And Happy Birthday, Connie!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Although not on the traditional menu for a Burns Dinner, shortbread and tea would be a tasty but light afternoon repast before the big evening, and that is what we will be having, thanks to Fred's sister, who makes the finest shortbread this side of Edinburgh, with plenty of real butter. Notice the fork piercings in each log of shortbread, a traditional marking.
No Burns celebration would be complete without a reading from the works of the poet. The book shown below, a bit worse for wear, was published in 1883, and has graced many tables and shelves before making its way to our humble abode. We have Fred's Gran - otherwise known as Margaret Bryce Borthwick Low Rockingham Bell - to thank for the book. One of these two cups also came from Gran as an engagement gift fifty years ago. The other was a wedding gift from one of his aunts. Both were believers in the tradition of shortbread and tea in bone china tea cups.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.
Chorus
And there's a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
Chorus
Thanks to Barbara, Christina, Jean and Sam, Wayne, Sara, Lisa, Steve, and Dianne for your wonderful and meaty comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>The outsides of cabbages are a little like a fine fabric that has pleats and folds pressed into it, radiating from the bottom along the center line all the way to the top.
The sheen or patina on this red cabbage just seems to glow in the light.
And the tightness of individual layers are pure design wonder, a little like the rocks on which this cross-section sits.
Onions - whether wild or cultivated - say "botanical" to me - with or without flowers.
Nothing like that windswept look from a vegetable.
Photographic subjects can be found anywhere, near or far, and I trust that many of you will find your own subjects this week.
Have fun!
Thanks to Jean and Sam, Kay, Barbara, Catherine, Ann A., Steve, Connie, and Ingrid for commenting on last week's blog!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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A bit of history is necessary here. Thanks to the intrepid and peripatetic Portuguese, a big, brash winter blues-bashing flower appeared on the scene in Europe, possibly as early as the 16th century. The amaryllis, native to South Africa, with its varied colors and patterns, became wildly popular, was hybridized and tweaked, and went on to brighten homes in Europe and the wider world. Appropriately, the name amaryllis is from the Greek "amarysso" which means "to sparkle". A great many names are attached to it, including Christmas Lily, March Lily, Madonna Lily, and St. Joseph's Staff.
After the first bud of our amaryllis opened some five days ago, my camera was in hand, right through the unfurling of the fourth bud. Each day, I would put the pot in assorted and different pools of natural light - both inside and outside the house - during different times of day and with different back grounds. Here is a sampling of the 100+ photographs I shot over the week. The computer mouse was a little worse for wear, as it gathered flour, bread dough, and dirt remnants on it between shoots. Here is a shot of the first flower to open.
The throats and backs of the flowers have their own beauty, as shown in the photographs below.
In this shot, I held a flashlight to bring added light to the interior of the bloom.
A second bud is ready to open in this botanical.
There were two flowers open at this point, but I focused on one in order to give "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt, room to breathe.
Afternoon light saturated the colors of the amaryllis in its full glory.
Thanks to Ingrid and Robert, and to Barbara, Christina, Lisa, TTT, Sara, Wayne, Jean and Sam, Steve, Catherine, and Dianne for contributing to my blogs!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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The patterns and layers created by snowflakes crashing into and plastering stucco walls never ceases to fascinate me.
The same is true of the way it coats aspen trunks.
Fingers of ice create still life.
Water falling from canales creates baubles and bubbles on anything it encounters in temperatures like the 7° low this morning.
Even at the end of the day, dregs from the canale remain firmly attached to the tree like an ice sculpture.
Happy Birthday to all the January babies - Elizabeth H., Anne O'K, Larry J. Mary P. K., Orlando T., Richard S., Karen L., and Connie T., and anniversary wishes to Jim and Louise. And many thanks to all of you who added comments to the closing blog of 2021 including Victoria, Barbara F. R., Jean & Sam, TTT, Ingrid, Wayne, Ann A., Phyllis M., Jim and Louise, Steve, Donna C., Christina, Lisa, Catherine, and Charlie.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
]]>An incredible amount of information has been gleaned by scientists, epidemiologists, and doctors from the two years of COVID, and for that, I am grateful. There is still much to be discovered not only about the virus and its variants but about our world and human behavior. It is a time to look back on the year and jog our memories. For artists and photographers, it is an excellent time to take stock of the work we have done, and ponder why and how we did it, and curate our collections. In that light, I have selected some photographs that gave me and still give me joy on some level, either through the subject matter or the process or both.
January brought a dusting of snow and a feather to use for a still life.
In February, Fred began work on entering the Selvedge Magazine World Fair, and we did a photo shoot for that in March. One of the sample photographs was of the appliqué he wove and attached to the back of a vest.
I liked the range of color and light in this image.
The simple and complex beauty of a single flowering fruit tree branch against a stuccoed wall has given me joy since I downloaded it into the computer.
There is nothing like a spring wedding to bring out the creative juices in me.
Summer brought the curve billed thrashers back to their favorite cholla cactus for nesting. First came the eggs...
...followed by the total chaos of nesting chicks. Pure fun to watch.
The paintbrush on the prairie north of Las Vegas gave quite the show in July.
And autumn of 2021 was splendid. Regardless of tone or intensity of color, the aspen tugged at my heartstrings.
Thanks to Christina, TTT, Wayne, Connie, Catherine, Lisa, Orlando, Barbara, Jean & Sam, Steve, Dianne, Victoria, Geula, and Lena for commenting this week, and to everyone who follows my blog! May 2022 bring new spirit, life, and joy to all of you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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I can't say I ever took note of my shadow at noon on the solstice, but here is the closest thing. Never have I felt so tall!
In attempt to do some interesting shadow work for the solstice, I used wine and champagne bottles. They obviously are different colors of glass that make very interesting designs in the noon sun.
A group of bottles and their effects.
Straight from New Mexico, this Gruet bottle was very obviously a deeper green that the others, and the thicker glass created fascinating designs.
By adding more light to the shadow areas, the deep green shifted to a light shade.
Turned on its side, the bottle takes on a different character.
Happy Birthday to the near-solstice birthday folks - Lena (who actually celebrates today) and Dave (who actually celebrates the solstice), and may all of you celebrate the change in your own way.
My wishes to you are for safe, healthy, and happy holidays, wherever this week finds you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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We would not necessarily have discovered this last week, except for a normal procedure we do when showering. To conserve water, we fill a bucket with water before the water actually coming out of the shower head is warm enough so I don't scream when I get in. After showering, we take the bucket outside and let it sit overnight to eliminate the chlorine, making it better for plants. Conditions were perfect for still life photography. It really could not have been much better.
Still life details abound here and I suspect there are many more waiting to be discovered. The scallop at the center base is fascinating. An atmsopheric scientist could probably explain why it happened, but to me, it was one of the many design points in the ice container. Additional light was provided by the on-camera flash.
The thinner part of the ice in the upper right hand corner and the tiny fissure leading to the fingers below it create a natural abstract.
The outside of the ice bowl in this shot had cracks that looked like lightning strikes.
The image below holds all sorts of things that occurred as the water froze during the cold night, including frozen bubbles, ice fingers, and granules.
May this week before the winter solstice provide you with many weird and wonderful things to ponder and photograph. Thanks to Elida, Barbara, Dianne, Wayne, Jean & Sam, Terry T., Lisa, Marilyn, Charlie K. G., and Pauli for commenting on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Another Parry's agave in lower light, muting the color.
The tops of the leaves have pencil-like points that are sharp enough to serve as needles.
It is tough for a photographer like me not to show the agave in black and white, despite my love for verdigris.
Although the delicately porcelain bowl is technically celadon, the color leans more toward verdigris.
Thanks to Marta, Terry T., Barbara, Jean & Sam, Ingrid, Wayne, Claudia, and Steve for commenting this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Although I frequently feel like I am channeling the enthusiasm of Julia Child while making these, flinging ingredients around the kitchen, the results are worth the effort.
I let the balls "age" for a month or so before putting them in individual containers. The fragrance is heady. Naturally, one must taste the resulting product.
Another element of comfort happened this week. For the first time in a month, it rained here. A quarter of an inch fell and it was an unexpected gift. Most of the rain fell throughout the night and in the morning until about 11 a.m., enabling moisture to soak into the ground. Sheer comfort for everything in the natural world, including the roses, wearing the beads of water with joy. It almost looks as if there was a wee bit of ice on this rose.
To have a bud at this time of year, as catchment device for moisture, is a wonderful thing.
I hope each of you were able to celebrate this week. Thanks to Kay, Barbara F. R., Diane, Victoria, Geula, Marilyn, Pauli, TTT, Ann, Wayne, Steve, and Ingrid for leaving your thoughts about the blog - toast, al carbón or not!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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My thanks this week to Barbara F. R., TTT, Lisa, Terry T., Pauli, Jean & Sam, Catherine, Christina, Steve, and Wayne. I am thankful for all who are so steadfast in reading my blog every Monday, for simple food, conversation, a roof over my head, laughter and love, Fred, friends and family, and Planet Earth. Each precious and essential. I hope your Thanksgiving week is filled with everything you need!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Native American corn is particularly stunning, given the wide range of colors.
The rhythm of the kernels is tough to beat.
Corn offers photographers quite stunning black and white options. Because of the reflective power of the kernels, the above photograph translates well into black and white.
I call these ears suitable for any backdrop.
Marilyn, Terry T., Dianne, Jean & Sam, Ross, Ingrid, Steve, Catherine, and Wayne checked in this week after reading the blog. Many thanks to you and everyone who reads it.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Each leaf has its own distinct character and spirit, a present to those who search its notches and veins. From a flowering fruit tree of an "unknown to me" species, this specimen looks like it is on fire.
Catching the last light of day, another leaf from a different flowering fruit tree, has a velvet softness to show off its saturated color.
From the same tree as the first, the leaf below is hanging on to the tree before falling and joining the gathering below it.
Finally, a side spray of barberry, full of different spirits.
As we move forward in November, there are numerous opportunities for photography, and I hope they will present themselves to you this week. Thanks to Victoria, TTT, Terry, Lisa, Jean and Sam, Barbara, Jim and Louise, and Dianne for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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On 4 November of last year, our solar system installed by Positive Energy Solar came online. There has been nearly a year of electrical production and collection by the system, and I wanted to present an update. Sixteen solar or photovoltaic panels are on the roof, absorbing the sun's rays and turning it into energy, with their accompanying wires and mini-inverters on each panel. It was quite the production, worthy of Broadway, when the panels and electrical boxes were mounted all during one August day, and three months later when the switch was literally flipped, the electrical meter began its journey backward. The system generated 22 kilowatt hours (kWh), that first day. Throughout the year, we discovered it varied day to day, depending on the outside temperature and sunshine, from a low of 6 kWh on a totally cloudy day to a high of 42 on a bright high summer day. Here is a shot of one of the technicians holding a panel on its way to its place on the roof.
A bit of geek stats here. 29% of electricity produced by the system runs the house and charges the electric car. 59% goes to offset the natural gas we use for heating, hot water heat, and cooking. The last 12% offsets the carbon footprint of the food we eat and other miscellany. Determining carbon footprint is a little tricky, as everything humans do and use is considered part of the total footprint - food production, clothing, internet usage, banking, etc. Even a person's diet - vegetarian, paleo, or omnivore - is part of his or her footprint. It is complicated! But given that the COP26 (Conference of the Parties) in Glasgow began this year on 31 October and runs through the 12 of November, it seems appropriate to feature alternative energy here.
One of the engineers at Positive Energy Solar created the layout and design of the panels to maximize energy production, keeping them out of the shadow of pipes and mechanical systems, as well as chimneys. They originally indicated the system would probably produce about 9,600 kilowatt hours over the year and they were pretty darned close. We figure that by the 4th, the system will have produced about 9,550 kilowatt hours. Literally, they have this down to a fine science.
A shot of the nearly completed set of six panels on the garage roof. The other ten panels are on the second story roof.
The completed array.
I loved this guy. A real professional wire and conduit wrangler.
The electrician put on the final touches, linking the system to the old electrical meter on the house and installing new ones to accommodate the additional energy.
I am hoping that the infrastructure package being debated in Congress now will provide the basis for more home, government, and commercial systems, featuring solar and wind energy.
Thanks to Lisa, Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Marta, Marilyn, Steve, Dianne, Kay C., and Wayne for commenting this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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As usual, the amount of food available at the Market is always astounding, and the vegetables, oh my. How delicious and photogenic they always are. Today's blog wraps up the harvest season before the snow flies, with a riot of color from the produce department. To set the scene, here is a shot of the north end of the Farmers' Market at the Railyard.
butternut squash
lovely Peruvian potatoes
beautiful blue, perhaps, Hopi corn
radishes and their wild roots
Napa cabbage
A farmers' market in New Mexico would not be complete without chile.
Thanks for your patience last week while I was trying to get my blog out via email rather than Zenfolio. The blog is now in Zenfolio if you want to take a look at it that way. Lisa, Jean & Sam, Wayne, Terry T., Ann A., Barbara F. R., Jim & Louise, Connie, Lucia, and Steve and Peggy commented despite the glitches and I thank you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Farmers' markets are brimming with color, tastes, and smells. One of the great fragrances is the winesap apple, with its crisp texture and tartness. They are photogenic wherever they are staged. Here is a grouping in dry ash leaves.
Almost burnished in character, winesaps exude warmth amidst chill.
The joy of a simple pumpkin cannot be overstated. it definitely brings out the child in me.
It takes a real artist to put together a table like Team Upton can, as demonstrated by the Caprese salad below.
One of the ultimate reflections of harvest is wine in a glass. The one below was full of design from the base and stem to the bowl.
A final harvest shot, an ear of corn rendered in black and white.
Thanks to Ingrid and Robert, Jean and Sam, Lisa, Wayne, Terry T., Ann A., Barbara F. R., Jim and Louise, Connie, and Steve and Peggy for your wonderful and thought-provoking comments this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image©
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Hiking along the trail, with slabs of grey-black granite and dappled light, there were surprises everywhere, including a branch that had broken off with its leaves intact.
In areas where the conifers opened up and aspens shot through, pieces of clouds provided a gentle backdrop in the saturated blue sky.
I was beginning to discover how satisfying horizontal shots of aspen can be.
Aspen trunks are extraordinary. Some are almost a blue white.
Others, like the one in the middle of the image below, carry a very light greenish yellow to them, with a patina that works its way into your being.
When the gold and red in the trees shine in the afternoon light, it is the topping on the cake of a perfect autumn day!
Thanks to Fernando, Debbie R., Barbara, Donna K., Lisa, Steve, Donna C., Wayne, Barbara D., and M. Fred for comments of the autumnal sort this week! I hope you are able to get out and enjoy some photography or just walk during these rare days on your breaks from work and the business of life.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In the northern locales of New Mexico, scrub oak trees seem to be changing first this year. The images below were shot near Chama.
Mere hints of yellow reveal themselves in the foreground of the Brazos Cliffs.
New world harvest in old world basket from Zimbabwe
Thanks to Tami, TTT, Barbara, Marilyn, Wayne, Dianne, Lisa, Steve, Nevada, Donna K., Ingrid and those both known and unknown who gave last week's blog a look. I hope you are able to get out with your phones and cameras this week to capture the autumn evolution!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>My official introduction to Nevada Wier came earlier when I walked up to the driveway where a jumbled pile of camera bags were located. She loved the shirt I was wearing. After I told her where I bought it, etc., I went into the garage to look at what other tools of the photographic trade - paper, matte, back board, tri-pods, cameras, and lenses - were for sale. But I knew the name Nevada Wier from the times I was drooling over the wonderful workshops offered by The Santa Fe Workshops. She leads photography tours around the world, has worked extensively for National Geographic, Outside Magazine, and Canon Photography Safaris. So what do I do? I ask if I can take her photograph. She may have thought I would take one or two shots. It is a good thing she didn't know how involved I get in environmental portraiture, especially since she was preparing to leave.
As we walked into a small patio area, Nevada said "Don't ask me not to smile. I smile a lot." Fair enough. Me too. Then I said something about me not being particularly comfortable having my own photo taken. To that, she said "Since I am photographing people, I have to be willing to have my own photograph taken." Good advice I will try to absorb.
Here are some of the resulting images taken of Nevada on a bench from above, below, and around.
My thanks to Nevada Wier for allowing me to photograph her on a moment's notice, and using some of the photographs here. I encourage each of you to tour her website and view her amazing work at nevadawier.com. Her stunning "Collections" circle the globe in color and her "Fine Art" section, including "Invisible Light" 1 and 2, feature some of the finest selective coloring and modifications I have ever seen. You can also find information about her photography workshops, lectures, seminars, and photo tours.
Kudos to Ann Alexander and ASMP for conducting the sale and bringing people together, and to Richard Khanlian for his inspiration.
And thanks to Barbara, Lisa, Jean & Sam, Marilyn, Debbie R., TPLue, Claudia, TTT, Steve, Wayne, and Geula for your comments on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>January and February
adobe wall with snow, Taos County
winter coyote
March and April
El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico
claret cup cactus near Arroyo Hondoclaret cup cactus near Arroyo Hondo
May and June
high country pond
wild iris
July and August
near-double rainbow in Taos County
Williams Lake on the way to Wheeler Peak
September and October
purple asters on adobe
round hay bales after high country harvest
November and December
aspen trees in late autumn sun
paintbrush in snow
As must be the case when publishers choose and assemble images for calendars, some photographs may be "representational" of a season, rather than the reality.
The autumnal equinox is this Wednesday, 22 September, in the northern hemisphere. I hope you relish the changing seasons wherever you are in the world. Thanks to Christina, TTT, Barbara, Char, Wayne, Steve, and Jean and Sam for your thoughts this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I discovered several things. First, I shoot vertically. A lot. Second, instructions for competition entry are not always clear, requiring phone calls amidst the self-doubt about reading instructions properly. Third, sizing to fit specifications is sometimes dicey, necessitating further consideration of certain photographs. The first entries had to be horizontal while many of the images I wanted to use were vertical. The second set had to be vertical while many were actually horizontal. You get the idea. Curating is a good idea but, like self-promotion, not always the first thing photographers want to do. Especially given the beautiful pre-autumn days the likes of which we have been experiencing for several weeks.
Despite the near-perfect photography weather, I hunkered down during the heat of the day and pondered photographs. The first set had to be black and white. Included here are some that made the cut. Typical of me, they are all over the map as far as subject matter is concerned.
glass reflections
narrowleaf cottonwoods
man on phone, Vienna
bridge dancing
exercise rings
Ashley and Gene, Taos Gothic
Given the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the flight that could have been flown into the Capitol but ultimately crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, I highly recommend two documentary films. The first is 9/11: The Filmmakers Commemorative Ediition by Jules and Gedeon Naudet. The two French brothers living in New York City were making a documentary film about a year in the life of a probationary firefighter. On 11 September 2001, one of the brothers was with the firefighters on a call about a gas leak in the street. As their instruments were measuring in and around a grate in the street, suddenly, a plane flew very low nearly overhead, and everyone, to a person, looked up. It was the first plane to hit the Twin Towers. The rest is history. The new edition of the film has additional footage, as well as interviews twenty years on. It is stunning.
As a counterpoint to that and a slice of life of children learning to dance in New York City public schools, Mad Hot Ballroom is almost as uplifting as a documentary can get. We had watched it years ago, probably when we started learning tango, and I think we enjoyed it more now than we did the first time we viewed it. The spontaneity of the kids, teachers during the process, and of the parents during the competition is hilarious, poignant, and uplifting. It is the perfect antidote to the many weights of life. The film was released in 2005. Directed and produced by Marilyn Agrelo and written by Amy Sewell.
The response to last week's blog on the Selvedge Magazine World Fair was impressive with Christina, Jean and Sam, TPLue, Claudia, Barbara F. R., M. Fred, TTT, Charlie, Marilyn, Lawrence, Lisa, Wayne, Steve, Diane, Ann A., Sara, Ingrid, Connie, and Ronnie all commenting. Many thanks to all of you!
May cameras and phones accompany you during this mid-September week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In February, Fred applied to participate in the 2021 Selvedge Magazine World Fair. He was interested in the event not only because of the truly incredible variety, creativity and artisanship of previous participants, but because of the emphasis on sustainability of the many processes. Since Fred's weaving is now officially "carbon neutral" (thanks to solar panels on the roof producing more energy than we use), and the "ranch and community to artisan" character of the wool itself, he thought the fair would be a good fit for his work. He was humbled and thrilled to be accepted in late May for the 2021 World Fair online which opened this week. Since then, the collective "we" have been shooting and putting together photographs and videos for his entry.
Because the selvedge is so critical in fabric, I wanted to show a few examples of how Fred is able to make his selvedges or edges precise. First, he creates a "peak" with his fingers, and measures it to maintain proper tension on the weft as shown below on Rug 355, in progress.
The peak here has been measured and the shot of wool is ready to become part of the rug.
As far as photographing the work was concerned. square photographs were required, which needed a bit more thinking since most of Fred's work is at least a third longer in length than in width. Definitely not square. We used part of the traveling frames he uses for shows to get this shot of Rug 347 between courtyard walls, as well as the required portrait below.
The same rack was also useful as a backdrop for the official photograph to accompany Fred's brief biographical information.
Rug 328 on adobe wall
Rug 340 showing the selvedges on both sides. The tops and bottoms of his rug are tied off and ends braided to keep the fabric from unraveling.
A detail of Rug 344, showing a selvedge on the right side.
And where the weaving begins, with sheep and their wool. This magnificent specimen is Marcos, a Navajo-Churro ram.
I highly recommend taking a world tour of fiber in myriad forms by clicking on the link to all the 100 artisans featured in this year's world fair. Fred's work is included and linked at the bottom of page 3. It is a lot but worth it when and if you have some spare time.
https://www.selvedge.org/collections/all-artisans-2021
Also, the Selvedge opening video is beautifully done.
On this Labor Day, 2021, I must thank all who, by raising and shearing sheep, and carding, spinning, and dying the wool Fred uses for their part in the process. And huge thanks to all who have labored through pandemic, fires, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes for the greater good. Thanks to Christina, Connie, Jean & Sam, TTT, Victoria, Louise, Steve, Susie, Wayne and Barbara for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In the image below, the stucco does the opposite, serving as a backdrop for the sky and clouds.
A crucial element in adobe style buildings is the canale for water diversion from flat roofs, which here seems to be pointing to the clouds.
A red awning add-on to a plaster wall gives it a real kick.
The possibilities are endless for how walls come together and frame other elements, such as the Russian olive in the photograph here.
Finally, plaster with shadows act as a backdrop for a copper water dish.
Great to hear from Lucia, Terry T., Jean and Sam, Barbara F. R., Steve, Lisa, Wayne, TTT, and Ingrid this week! I hope the last week in August offers much hope, inspiration, and rain for parts of the world in need.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Then I took my "thrifty photographer" backdrop outside to an area that renders near-three point light itself, to capture the final, saturated phase of roses. As always, the idea is to vary the angle or backdrop enough to make the subject more interesting. Of course, I do look for a traditional "botanical" look as well.
For all photos here, shot with the sheet backdrop, I let the folds become part of the images.
The accordion fold on the right side of the photograph below seems to be parting for the rose closeup.
Finally, rose on glass.
I hope each of you is able to embrace some continuing education this week, regardless of the form it takes!
Thanks to Steve, Jean and Sam, Terry T., Barbara F. R., Susie, and Wayne for contributing to my C. E. this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In their bloom lives, roses vary in color from first blush to the end. What I would describe as coral is first.
Toward the end of the petal cycle, the coral fades somewhat to a rich pink.
The petals fall and blow with wind and rain.
Finally, a shot of dark and lighter fuchsia-colored roses with hydrangeas, gifted to us by a friend.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week - Connie, Diane D., Marilyn, Orlando, Steve, Wayne, Ingrid, Pauli, Terry T. Geula, and Earle. It is wonderful to read your words, particularly during these times.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>We are also humbled by elements of nature that survive so well. Probably every book on weeds will have a section on thistles. People love them or hate them, or give these survivors little thought. Part of the aster family, thistles come in assorted sizes and leaf configurations. With my handy copy of Weeds of the West on the desk, I still cannot identify precisely which species I was seeing, but to me these humble, yet stout plants have their own beauty. The Scottish thistle is Scotland's national emblem. I don't think the ones I photographed are of that species. But I was just after the flowers and here are a few of the resulting images.
Because the flower stalks carry a single flower, they make excellent "botanical" artwork.
That one would be framed by the wood and barbed wire fencing is not totally surprising.
Some large sunflower leaves provide a nice sidebar for this specimen.
The giant of the thistle family, bred for consumption, is the artichoke. The image below is from the Santa Fe Farmers' Market.
My hope is that all of you are safe, well, and find the amazing to enjoy in life in ways that are gentle on the Earth. I am grateful and humbled by each of you, including Victoria, Char, Jean and Sam, Barbara, Connie, Marilyn, TTT, Debbie R., Steve, Sara, Donna C., Wayne, and Pauli for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Spent flowers and wool
Simmer, but do not boil, according to instructions.
Wool being prepared to receive the dye by wetting it. Then it is gently squeezed to remove excess water.
After the flowers have simmered, they are strained. It all looks a little like pond scum at this point, with mysterious, slimy creatures in it.
A mordant, made from vinegar and nails (for iron), is then added to the dye pot to fix or set the colors.
At this point, we had an idea that the resulting wool color was going to be a variation on a yellow/oatmeal color range, just as the YouTube experts has indicated. Looks delicious, doesn't it?
This is the skein that went into the dye pot first. Subsequent skeins had less color available to work with and are lighter.
The final skeins and their gradations will make for interesting blending into a rug with other natural Navajo-Churro wool colors. We'll keep you posted on that and any further "grand experiments."
Great to hear from Char, Jean and Sam, Barbara, Christina, Wayne, and Steve about last week's blog!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Like Hafnaoui, New Mexico and the southwestern United States had its own haul of gold during the past several weeks in the form of rain. Although flash flooding occurred in places, most of the western half of the nation is suffering from severe and historic drought, and it is thirsty for rain. Any that falls is pure gold. It has me and many friends exchanging notes about how much rain fell at any given time and place. A friend in Arizona keeps updating the total. First, it was four inches, then it was 5, now it is 6+. Another friend in the downtown area of Santa Fe had an inch on the same day we had .40/inch here. On a walk yesterday, we and friends got caught in a downpour and took cover under a portable tent. Another .36/inch. While other parts of the country might think of those amounts as negligible, it is significant in "The Land of Little Rain" (novel by Mary Hunter Austin). Rain is a spectator sport. When it rains, people watch and revel in it. Here, photographically, are a few stages of a thunderstorm. Dramatic clouds with great uplift and towers building above 35,000 feet are usually significant, but don't always mean that rain will fall directly on the spot where they originate.
The sky in these shots looks more ominous and promising.
I spent quite some time trying to get lightning strikes, but, the storm yielded no rain that day.
Luckily, the storm and sun that produced the rainbow here also came with rain. Those who live in areas with frequent rain deprivation, including farmers and ranchers, have a deep feel for how important this liquid growth hormone is. And how the senses soak in the smell of the earth after it rains, whether it is in the Sonoran or Chihuahuan deserts, in fields pine forests and grasslands, or on pavement. It is one of nature's great smells!
Thanks, Steve, TPLue, Wayne, Paule, Ingrid, M. Fred, Jean and Sam, Christina, and Connie for commenting last week!
I hope that your week is filled, figuratively, with gold!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
One of the most perfect packages, although delicate, is an egg. Anyone who has ever cooked knows how delicate the simple, beautiful egg is. But the shells protect the contents. And they are ideal photographic subjects. First, chicken eggs, directly from the grocery store. By placing them in a glass vase, and shooting with a shallow depth of field, elements of the vase are rendered in abstract.
Eggs as a subject are the entree for an update on the neighborhood curve billed thrashers. They are at it again. A second clutch is on its way. Mama is ever diligent in her work and was quite reluctant to let me see the eggs. That orange/golden eye follows everything.
I had walked by the nest once and saw the eggs. Naturally, when I returned with my camera, she was having nothing of it. But after a couple of tries, she left the nest and I was able to grab this image. These eggs are works of art.
Given my relative lack of height, I returned to the house and brought out a chair on which to stand. Again, poor Mama had to exit the nest. But standing on the chair, I was able to photograph all the eggs. I realized anew why cholla cacti carry the name "jumping cholla". Elements of the cactus, including the spines seem to jump and attach themselves to anything close enough. My hands and arms carried quite a few spines, along with the camera lens and strap. They are nature's original velcro, and fortunately, easy enough to remove.
All sorts of celebrations are happening this month, including the birthdays of Clyde, Sam D., E. J., Marcie M., Dave O., Victoria, Jim W., Gail G., Jennifer W., Kay C., and Steve R., along with the anniversaries of Dalice and Andy, and TTT and Ben. I hope all of you have wonderful ways to remember the special days!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity 22 made a successful suborbital trip to the edge of outer space, taking off into the morning air from, and landing at SpaceSport America between Truth or Consequences and Alamogordo, New Mexico. When then Governor Bill Richardson and Richard Branson originally conferred on the idea 17 years ago, I (along with many in the state, no doubt) were unable to envision such a thing and the money it would cost to build. But regardless of whether one feels this was a huge infomercial for Virgin, or views it as another "what's the point?" venture, seeing the Unity take off above the New Mexico landscape was viscerally exciting. Top that with the praise heaped on the state for taking the plunge into the future of commercial space flight must have produced a true sense of accomplishment for all involved. This, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with today's blog, except for the fact that I am firmly planted here on earth, grateful for every day.
Chrysanthemums are the stars today. Using the geography of sandstone and a black crackled pottery plate, I experimented with emphasizing both backdrops. Looking down from space?
Anything floating on water has always been fascinating to me. These two shots were made half an hour apart. The first was in deeper shade.
Thanks to Connie, Dianne, Steve, Jim & Louise, Ingrid, Barbara, Ronnie, Wayne, Char, Jean and Sam, and Steve for writing this week, and to TTT & Ben for providing the inspiration.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Some years ago, I did an entire shoot of fireworks in Taos with my Nikon D80. Caught at a relatively slow speed without the use of a tripod, the images display a wild and wonderful array of results. Truly abstract and chaotic but also highly structured. The two images below are good examples of that.
I always thought the light turquoise-colored display in the image below looked like a palm tree.
The simplicity of the electric cobalt blue, with off-white accents, shows the pure design that goes into the development of fireworks.
The cobalt blue element is repeated in a mass of other displays, looking more like sea anemones than fireworks, which is what makes them all the more fascinating.
My thanks to Lisa, Paule, TP Lue, Barbara, Wayne, M. Fred, Jean and Sam, Ingrid, and Steve for your comments this week, and for participating in the world of art in your own ways.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Then you begin to see feathers wiggle and the chicks moving. There is a young one under the warmth of breast feathers.
From the position of the parent in the photograph below, I suspect there is another chick somewhere in the pile being fed.
It is becoming active in the nest, and as the other parent flies over, mouths open. A lot of motion is apparent in this shot as well as the one below it.
Shall I label these two "Mine"?
A brief moment of quasi-peace between feedings
Wonderful comments came this week from Barbara, Carolyn, Barbara D., Ronnie, Dave, TTT, Charleen, Christina, Steve, Wayne, and Karla. Thanks so much. Wherever you are this week, may nature provide good surprises in your lives!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
A simple (and some would think rather mundane) "event" happened mid-week. A baby crow either fell out or was pushed from a nest. It was on the ground in the shade of a big piñon tree. Before half an hour went by, there was a small dish of water. Then a bigger dish of water appeared. Then bird seed. Then dog food. All conveniently located close enough so that the baby could survive and build its strength. Several kind neighbors felt we should call animal control or the wildlife center in Española. To a person, they all knew that baby birds should not be touched. Because we had watched ravens a lot at our home in Taos County, we felt the crow was quite well and fit, and was simply a baby and had not grown its tail feathers or learned how to fly. It had just fallen from a nest. What could we expect from that jolting experience?
By the end of the first day, it was hopping around, and ended up on top of a decorative ladder during the night. But during the next several days, we saw a true and clear example of the African expression or proverb "It takes a village." As the chick developed, no less than four adult crows and sometimes one magpie that hangs around with the crows, were looking after it, and feeding it. One of the neighbors said "Oh, I hope it is alright. I saw its little mouth and it looked like it was bleeding." Aha! Sure sign of a chick of any bird species. The mouths are red so parents and caretakers know where to stuff the food. The photograph below is of a raven chick's food receptacle. As with all healthy babies, it is almost constantly open and ready to receive the next snack.
Another tell is the blue eyes members of the Corvid family have as youngsters.
Ample downy feathers are also apparent on their heads and neck areas.
The feathers have a lovely patina to them, but you can see here that the tail feathers have not quite gained their full length.
And just for fun and abstraction, bird and feathers on the move.
The above photographs are of raven chicks from our life on the mesa. I use them here to explain the process of Corvid development.
It was humbling to hear from so many of you about last week's blog. Many thanks to Barbara, Victoria, Christina W., Diane, TTT, M. Fred, Ann, Ronie, Anne OK, Jean and Sam, Wayne, Steve, Elida, Char, and Ingrid.
until next week,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Fred is preparing his work for the Selvedge Magazine World Fair, which will be online in early September. His rugs are primarily rectangular and not square, so the requirement that all photographs be square presents a challenge but also gets those creative juices flowing. Photographer Steve Immel and his wife, Peggy, who is an extraordinary painter, know this full well, given their current show at the Wilder Nightingale Gallery in Taos titled Immel². Two people and work in square formats. So this blog contains only photographs formatted as squares, mostly details, but a few examples of what can be done with rectangular rugs to make a square photograph.
First the two long rugs hung on the rug rack Fred designed and constructed for the Fall Fiber Arts Fiesta in Santa Fe.
Rug 346
Rug 347...
...along with a detail of it
Rug 344...
...with its companion detail
Rug 349 detail
In process, Rug 351, a rug the size of which would also serve as a saddle blanket
Below is another detail, complete with spirit line. In Navajo tradition, the spirit line - ch'ihonit'i - allows the spirit of the weaver to exit the design from inside the borders.
Thanks to Barbara, Wayne, Jean and Sam, Steve, Catherine, Terry, and Ingrid for your feedback this week. With luck, by next Monday, I will have my website reorganized and ready for viewing.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Rose breeder Will Radler developed the cultivar called the Knockout Rose in 1989 and it came on the market for public consumption in the year 2000. Knockout was meant to give leery members of the public a fighting chance to succeed in growing roses that were resistant to powdery mildew, black spot, and other diseases, as well as pests common to roses. They also grow in a wide variety of climates. I am betting that there are Knockout Roses in at least 50% of the yards in our neighborhood.
We have three bushes in a patio area, providing visual interest daily, from the first bloom in May through September or October. Needless to say, I have been out, even during the dreaded 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. photography witching hour, shooting the roses, and watching how the light effects the color and my perception of it.
The first bush to bloom this year produces deep burgundy or maroon colored roses. Shown below are two of the first buds. All four photographs were shot in early morning shadow.
The next two are buds that will soon open flat.
The still-opening rose shown below, was shot in the later morning and in a pool of brighter light.
The "IN YOUR FACE" eruption of brilliant color of the coral Knockout almost screams for your immediate attention.
It is hard to believe this is from the same bush, but again, it was early morning shade rendering a more pink tone.
Last but not least, a bud in shade that seems to glow
My thanks to Barbara, and to my sister, Debbie, for helping with the identification of our roses.
Blog commenters this week included Jean and Sam, Barbara, Jim W., Larry J., Mary G., Victoria, Ingrid, Dianne, Steve, and Diane! My great appreciation goes out to all of you.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Thanks to Jean and Sam, Barbara, TTT, Wayne, Connie, Charleen, Steve, Victoria, Elida, Ingrid, and Dianne for commenting last week! I hope you had a weekend of commemoration and friendship.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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As we in Santa Fe whine about the relative lack of rain and snow this year, we now know exactly where the precipitation was falling - in and around Chama. The green was a surprising treat. A broad, grassy area in front of the building can be used for picnicking, breathing the air, and watching the ducks and geese in the pond, after a day of learning how to use wool in one of the many spinning, weaving, and dying classes offered. As the sign says, you can also "get your lamb here."
the main room
Several additional rooms hold a literal riot of color.
The dying shed is moist and full of slightly pungent smells, including both dry and wet wool along with natural and aniline dyes. To me, it is reminiscent of a darkroom.
If you feel like heading out on a day trip as things begin to reopen in New Mexico, the road to Tierra Wools winds through the geology of Ghost Ranch and Georgia O'Keefe country and beyond, into the high country of Rio Arriba County and is one of the most interesting in New Mexico. Tierra Wools' is now located just south of Chama at 2540, U. S. Highway 64/84, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (masks required), and online at https://www.handweavers.com/shop. 575.756.1650. You can also email them at [email protected].
Thanks to Victoria, Christina, Peggy, Terry T., Jean & Sam, Wayne, Steve, Lucia, Ingrid and Catherine for commenting this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>You have read these words before from me, but they are worth repeating. I have always felt that the best thing a photographer can do is to take a good photograph that needs no more adjustment than what could be done in a darkroom - cropping, dodging, burning, applying a filter, etc. It is a little like my friend, Lena, who gave me advice forty-five years ago about making flour tortillas. Handle the dough as little as possible. Put a bit of flour on the surface, pat it out or roll it one direction, then the other. You are done. That is how I feel about developing photographs, whether in the darkroom or digitally. However, I could not resist using some of the presets in Luminar, and make small adjustments within their structure. The first portrait of the bride is in black and white.
Below I used a wonderful preset called "film noir", with slight adjustments.
The next two photographs are of the groom in black and white and film noir.
The two of the bride were shot before noon and the covered porch area on which they were taken was filled with southeastern light. The two of the groom were taken in early afternoon on another covered porch facing northwest, producing notably different effects.
The couple, newly married.
I like this particular shot with the couple and the groom's father because it has a spontaneous feel to it.
A nice visual, post-ceremony
Thanks again, Jessica and Joseph for allowing me to share the images I shot at your wedding!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
But at this point, I will share a few of the photographs I took here with my trusty Nikons. Most were taken with my 70-200mm lens on the D800. But the group photographs needed the 18-55 mm lens on the D5200. As a general rule, I consider the time of the wedding, predicted weather, and the desire of the couple as far as photographs are concerned, and do presets on each camera. Things happen quickly at weddings and the idea is NOT to need a reshoot. The photographer's worst nightmare and I have seen it happen. It was certainly a cautionary tale for me before I began shooting weddings in earnest.
Although my mission was to shoot more of the traditional type of wedding photograph, but it doesn't mean they can't be fun. In this case, the fun was already provided by the bride's father in full regalia.
While shooting the binding ropes between the groom and bride, I had a sneaking suspicion something compelling would happen and it certainly did. The number of hands involved in accomplishing the task made this a unique photograph. Each hand seemed to have its own agenda.
In addition to the focus of the groom while reading his vows, the inadvertent "ink" rhythm on the arms of both the bride and her maid of honor adds interest to the scene.
More traditional in scope, the photographs below of the bride and groom separately and then together, demonstrate what a fine background a stucco wall is for environmental portraiture.
Many thanks to Jessica and Joseph for allowing me into their wedding day.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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To say I did not expect to see a kilted man at this particular wedding, with accompanying regalia, was an understatement, and it was a wonderful thing to photograph. He happened to be the father of the bride. Here is a detail of his outfit.
The bride is very fond of butterflies. It makes sense that they were flying on her veil.
The groom looked fetching in his fedora.
The temperature was warm enough for tattooed arms exposed to the breeze.
The delicate clay-colored chairs seemed a fitting place for the bride's bouquet.
May this first week in May be filled with hope for great things to come - here and around the world. Happy Birthday to Robin J, Larry L., Louise W., Tomas M., Ann M., Char D., and Katy D. Happy Anniversary to Ingrid and Robert, Lena and Sam, and Karen and Bob.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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But there were a few signs that the times had changed just a bit, including on the beautiful east doors of the building, plastered with paper signs. The doors remain closed because of the pandemic.
Security cameras, including a mobile, solar powered unit with four different cameras and a bull horn on it, are now everywhere. I suspect I was on footage from a variety of angles. In addition to the security cameras, this wonderful bronze spirit "Morning Prayer" by artist Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache), serves as greeter.
Across the street at the PERA building, the American and P.O.W. flags were flying high in the breeze below the Zia symbol, creating a reflective collage.
Just for fun, I walked down Old Santa Fe Trail and shot photographs of two different convex mirrors in place to help drivers view traffic coming into the downtown area.
And finally, a definite sign of the times is the Charge Point DC fast charge or standard AC charging unit across the street from the Capitol Building for charging electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It appears that the last vehicles to use it were a Chevrolet Bolt and a Nissan Leaf. Enough geeking.
Thank you Claudia, TTT, Jean and Sam, Karla, Barbara, Marilyn, Lawrence, Dianne, Steve, and Sara for writing this week! As always, you words are always appreciated!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Apples are much easier to identify, because the blossom in their full open position are white. Apricot blossoms are white as well, but most bloom much earlier than apples. The specific type of apple to which these blossoms are attached will elude me until the fruit arrives later in the summer.
With so many trees in bloom, spring has officially made its 2021 debut. Despite the fact, naturally, that it may freeze tonight in several northern New Mexico locations.
Many thanks to Dianne, Barbara, TTT, Christina, Char, Steve, Jean and Sam, M. Fred, Ingrid, and Wayne for commenting on last week's blog. Everyone is busier now with the new season and possibilities that partial emergence from COVID restrictions bring, and I appreciate you taking the time to read and provide input!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Dithering through the ether and software, I published my first book using Blurb in 2012. It was quite extravagant for a lark, because not only did I choose hardcover, 8.5" x 10", but it also had a dust jacket. And it will come as a surprise to no one that the featured subject matter was flowers. I called it Studies 1.
I was encouraged enough by the finished product that when I was asked to shoot the wedding of one our friends' daughters in 2013, I produced another book through Blurb. It measures 8" x 9.5". Since my first foray into book self-design and publishing, sizes have become, for better or worse, more standardized, although templates and design capabilities have broadened considerably.
Encouraged to participate in a group exhibit at La Tienda Exhibit Space in Eldorado by my friend, Victoria, I decided to create another book including the featured photographs. It carried the exhibit name - Intersection: lens, light, life. It was a soft cover book, measuring 6.75" x 6.75". The exhibit also occurred in 2013, and at that point, I was feeling quite comfortable using the software.
the back cover
The next book I printed was done in October/November of 2016. I switched to Shutterfly to create the wedding book, possibly due to the sizes the company offered, and the fact the Blurb had changed its production software. With our aging computer, downloading it was impossible. I found the Shutterfly printing to be of similar quality to Blurb. Both require a glossy cover, but you can choose from several different excellent papers for the interior. Here are images of the front and back covers.
The center spread
My wedding photographs were also featured in fellow photographer Steve Immel's edition of Kara and Eero's wedding book, but he did the grunt work and put together a beautiful memory book. Here is a shot of the cover he produced.
After looking at different websites, and watching numerous YouTube videos from assorted vendors, I decided to download the new software from Blurb and give the enhanced options a spin. To me, unless I envision selling multiple copies of a book, Blurb is a reasonably priced choice for a good look.
Thanks, Barbara, M. Fred, Wayne, Steve, Char, and Ingrid, for your comments this week. And a special nod to Paule for sighting my Coyote Pup photograph in the most recent edition of New Mexico in Focus on PBS.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In-between light or combination light can bring different elements of the flower to the fore. In this case, the cup is in shadow while the outside petals are backlit.
An hour later and a sun angle change pulled the drama from these daffodils, producing in your face sunshine.
Victoria, TTT, Steve, Erin & Jim, Christina, Luella, Jean & Sam, Char, Earle, Wayne, Terry T., Ingrid, and Charlie K. C. wrote about last week's blog, and the developing talent of a six year old artist. Many thanks!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In my mind, there is nothing like the complicated subtleness of a single rose, using mid-morning natural west and muted southern light.
Inspiration frequently comes in unexpected ways. Shower tile under muted southern light provided quite a tactile backdrop.
Another shot using the same backdrop and light with selective filtering
The stained glass window is emphasized in this shot, rendering soft focus on the roses.
The two photographs below are an homage to Scottish architect, designer, and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. These were shot using natural light as well as fill light courtesy of a Flashpoint bicolor LED portable light.
It was a real gift to have so many comments on last week's blog, including those from Geula, Char, Ingrid, Dianne F., Victoria, Mary G., Sue, M. Fred, TTT, Paule, Wayne, Jean and Sam, Steve, Bill and Sue, Dave, Lisa S., Barbara F. R., and Pauli.
The Photo-Eye blog site linked below offers the beautiful and gentle black and white florals of photographer James Pitts. https://blog.photoeye.com/2021/03/new-work-james-pitts.html
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The first image was achieved using natural light as well as a small amount of fill light to lessen the shadows.
The next two images utilized what I would call isolated or surrounding light from all sides, technically providing fill for the subject.
This photograph was made utilizing in-camera flash for the vest itself and south and west natural light.
The bright, mid-morning light made the vest pop against the wooden gate and stuccoed walls.
Fred was not shivering during these shoots over two days because the 20th was the vernal equinox. It is official, spring is here in the northern hemisphere. For us in the southern Rocky Mountains, the word spring is merely a descriptor, as we know there will be more frosts and snow, probably through the end of April. But it is also nice to know that the snow that falls at this time of year will melt quickly, enriching the soil in the process, and leaving behind the perfect place for growth.
Thanks to Char, Christina, Jean and Sam, Lisa, Donna C., Wayne, Dianne, and Steve for bringing your words to the blog party this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The bright afternoon light provided real drama, highlighting the blossoms and fading the background to black.
It is always a point of interest to see how colors vary under different light, emphasizing, once again, that in photography, light is everything. The three images following were shot against a white wall with natural light.
I liked the way the white faded into shadow in this shot, rendering a grey ombre gradation.
As always, a close-up shot is always required.
Spring is upon us, in all its Rocky Mountain glory, with wind, warmth, and then coolness, snow flurries and occasional rain. Change is afoot!
Thanks to Victoria, Terry T., Kay, Wayne, Jean & Sam, Lucia, Steve, and Catherine for your comments last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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With spring, comes thinning ice and the increasingly fascinating designs to be found therein.
Thanks to Victoria, Ross, Jean and Sam, Pauli, Lucia, Christina, Char, TTT, Terry T. and Steve for commenting this week. I love hearing from all of you! Next Sunday, most of the states in America spring forward to daylight saving time.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>It is a rare day when I look at something in the world and not think of how I could make a photograph. Water, in both liquid and solid form, offers great reflective power. Because ice generally is static, it offers excellent opportunities to experiment with the abstract, as shown in the photographs below. With humps and pockets and ridges, light from the sky and stucco walls reflect blue, light tan, and darker shadows.
Out of the shadows and into the sun, craze lines in the ice become apparent and dazzling.
Then, there was this challenge of the week. Do you know what it is?
Thanks to all of you who commented on last week's blog - Barbara, Donna C., TTT, Lawrence, Christina, Steve, Marilyn, Jean and Sam, Ingrid and Robert, Deb H., Wayne, and Diane.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Because of the past week, I knew today's blog would have to feature snow. It was picturesque all over Texas until the deep freeze set in. It was silently beautiful here. Snow was falling while I was shooting.
Then something happened. Not unexpected but beautiful in another way. The orchid a friend had given us three years ago, decided to bloom and bring forth beauty of its own. A little taste of spring in late winter.
Thanks to Barbara, Wayne, Char, Steve, Christina, Larry and Donna, and Victoria for getting in touch despite the wild ride this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>One of my favorite fruits to photograph is the gnarly and fascinating pomegranate. Outside, the beautiful and rich red stippled skin, almost reflects a rock-like texture to protect its fruit. With an oak backdrop, it carries a native look.
Each backdrop brings different tints of the fruit to the foreground.
Using black and white for the image alters the pomegranate dramatically. Except for the stem area, it looks more like a rock or dung, but the sheen remains.
We are extremely lucky to have access to fruits like pomegranates and oranges in the middle of winter. Below are two photographs of a simple orange - lovely and reflective. It did not take long for the oranges to freeze solid during my outside setups.
Thanks to Lisa, Victoria, Terry T., Elida, Barbara, Christina, Connie, TTT, Wayne, Diane DR, Steve, Jean and Sam, Dianne, and Char for your input about last week's blog. I hope simple things bring you delight this week, with or without your cameras or smart phones.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Echinacea flower
Window detail of the Seattle Public Library
Rug # 54 by Fred Black.
One of his earliest rugs made completely using tapestry, in other words, ball upon ball of wool on top of the loom being woven by hand under and over the warp. It was definitely one of a kind. Fred made it for our hapkido grand master in South Korea.
Expanded metal from the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad yards near Chama, New Mexico
Grape vines and mesh at the Eberle Vineyards in Paso Robles, California
Wall and balcony details, Hotel Albuquerque
Thanks to M. Fred, Donna C., Steve, Jean and Sam, Wayne, Ingrid, and Robert commenting this week, regardless of altered life rhythms.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The deep afternoon shadows created by the equipment were fascinating.
In the hands of a skilled architect/designer, even the swings can have rhythm.
Wherever you find yourself this first Monday of February, I hope you find that inner child (perhaps not a two year old) willing to play!
Thanks to Pauli, Steve, Wayne, TTT, Susie, Barbara, Donna C., Christina, Ann M., Jean and Sam, Char, Catherine, Dianne, Kay, and Ingrid for writing this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>https://www.nmfiberartscenter.org or by visiting in person on Fridays and Saturdays.
Fred's website is https://bigsageartisanscom.ipage.com/index.html
Before we returned to Santa Fe, Connie Taylor, the doyen of Navajo-Churro sheep and wool in New Mexico and the country, was kind enough to dye one more order of wool for Fred. He has been putting the varied colors to the test ever since.
The first three shots below are of Rug 347 - in the style of a Chief's Blanket - in progress. The colors are Ganado (Navajo red) and teal.
Rug # 346 came off the loom last week. Colors featured in this piece are ochre, cereza negra (black cherry) and malachite.
Rug 345 was a late December/early January creation. The ombre-style stripes are sunset into cobre. Dyed black and Tierra Wools turquoise comprise the remainder of the colors.
In a fury of writing this week, I needed to make sure and thank Barbara, Victoria, Steve, Donna C., Diane D., TTT, Wayne, and Dianne here for commenting on the blog. Many thanks to all!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Here is a sprinkling of shots I made of him. Unfortunately, my scanner did not survive our move with all its parts, thus, these are digital photographs of gelatin-silver prints made in 1999.
Mills had an amazing history in journalism and knowledge of the people and politics in New Mexico. But I wonder what Ernie would be thinking about the current political climate in our country, the players in our state, and the insurrection in Washington, D. C. No doubt, he would be fascinated, and perhaps somewhat dismayed. He had such a firm faith in the institutions and people that he would be fighting in some way to keep us together.
Here is the photograph that I used for the book, with Mills standing on the northeast side of the Roundhouse. I was keeping my fingers crossed all weekend, and will continue to do so until after the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on 20 January, in hopes that no harm will come to this historic place or lawmakers during the 60 days session starting tomorrow.
Thanks to Barbara, Char, Terry T., Catherine, Steve, Jean and Same, Louse, and Wayne for your comments this week! I hope all who are reading find beauty and joy in the world, and some of you head out with your cameras to document the world!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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A stray feather - perhaps from an owl or a hawk - appeared in a pile of leaves several weeks ago. I would look at it on the way out to watering plants or hanging laundry. It was a beauty. Simple grey/brown and white stripes, with wonderful edges. It kept calling and when that happens, photography happens. Here it is on sandstone dusted with snow.
On the water's edge...
...and on ice
Here are two shots that reveal the feather's design.
Now it shows off the skill of a Zimbabwean basket maker.
Thanks to Barbara F. R., Dave O., Char, Terry T., Jean and Sam, Lisa, Earle, Wayne, Christina, Dianne, and Steve for your beautifully crafted and thoughtful comments on last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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First, some background and meteorological history. Since you already follow this blog (many thanks for that), you know that both Fred and I are weather geeks. We have kept records of high and low temperatures, precipitation, and assorted anomalies since 1998. One of the reasons for record keeping is that the human brain tends to do things with time and events, mixing them into a stew, the ingredients of which cannot always be discerned. One could swear that a mammoth rain fell during a specific year, when in actuality, it happened during another year. Thus, record books, diaries, and journals, and for a photographer, physical images, accompanied by meta data fill that purpose. Since there are no weather photographs in my morgue from 1971, I will rely on more recent winter photographs as well as data from the National Weather Service. The ones below are from 2012, with Fred plowing our neighbors' road on their Kubota tractor, and elk that were frequent visitors that February and March.
Flash back to January 1971, when a winter storm had passed over New Mexico, leaving in its wake a mass of frigid air, and Albuquerque with some of the coldest temperatures on record. I was living in Albuquerque with my parents and Fred was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, and since we had not yet met, we both experienced the cold in different ways. My father and I set alarms and got up every two hours to start and run his car, my 1958 Volkswagen, and my sister's 1960 Ford Falcon. This was before the time when thinner/lighter weight oil was available, and cars simply would not start if you didn't keep after them. For the most part, the servicemen who had cars and motorcycles at Kirtland could not get them started. Fred seems to remember that Dave O. had a new car, and his was the only one that started. Fred was not only unable to get his 1956 Chevy started, but could not work on the wings of airplanes parked outside because they were coated with ice. They were just huge and dangerous slides. When these young guys wanted to go to a restaurant for a meal off-base, they literally put on all their clothing for the walks. On the 5th of January, the low temperature in Albuquerque was -11.9 and the high was 10.9. On the 6th, -5 and 6 were the high and low temperatures, and on the 7th, the low was -15 and the high temperature that day was 7. Places like Cuba and Gallup and Zuni were having temperatures hovering at -30 or lower. These are life-threatening temperatures, and during the time, down clothing was just starting to come to the fore. The hairs in your nose freeze anywhere below zero, condensation on mustaches freezes, as does wet hair. Without Polartec and other weather-mitigating clothing, it was quite the deal. It is the kind of dangerous weather that renders beautiful images such the one below, if a photographer is willing and able to venture out. Here is a landscape photograph as seen through a lens of ice between aspen branches.
So, fifty years of life and weather have passed since that momentous year of 1971. But each new year carries with it events that should be remembered. This is my yearly quest to encourage you to capture those times, whether through writing, art, music, aurally, or photographically - with camera or phone - to keep them alive. Think of what information we would have now if more individuals had documented the pandemic of 1918, and all the rest of us had access to the information. I, for one, wished I had known enough to ask my parents about it, even though they were children. For better or worse, it is part of our history.
Speaking of events, Elizabeth H., Anne O., Lawrence J., Mary Pat K., Orlando T., Richard S., Connie T., and Karen L. have birthdays during January, and Louise and Jim were married during the month as well. May you all have happy celebrations!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Since Jessica and Joseph are both avid tango dancers, we had to capture some of those looks as well on one of the many foot/bicycle bridges that cross the river.
May 2021 be a better, if not spectacular, year for all of you, including Jessica and Joseph, and those who stick with this blog, whether it arrives on time Monday morning or at a later hour, through thick and thin, literally. Thanks to all of you. And a very Happy Birthday to Ben on Tuesday. I wish I had a book of all your stories from nine decades!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Those of us in the American Southwest are admittedly spoiled by an abundance of sunshine. There are many who dislike the longer nights and cannot wait for the longer days of spring and early summer. 2020 is a year in which we need a Solstice celebration, even if it is electronically presented. One thing about this time of year is that the sunsets can be magnificent.
To take the chill off this Solstice day, I am including Fred's latest Navajo-Churro rug, #344, and calling it the Solstice Rug. Connie Taylor hand-dyed the wool in coffee, buckskin, turquoise, Ganado, ochre, cobalt, and malachite, along with natural brown-black (not dyed).
In addition to being solstice, the planets Jupiter and Saturn will align after sunset tonight in the southwestern sky. Auspicious?
Thanks to Terry T., Steve, Lisa, Kay, Debra, Wayne, Christina, Sara, Jean and Sam, Victoria, Geula, and Barbara for also brightening the season with your comments.
Happy Solstice everyone! We are on our way into the holidays and 2021.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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New world plate from the nightshade family - tomatoes, a potato, and chile
New Mexico apples from a local garden, variety unknown
Poblano chiles from the Santa Fe Farmers' Market
Native American corn
Top it off with a frisky Double Black Zinfandel, chilling in the snow
Thanks to Wayne, Jean and Sam, Steve, Debra, Christina and Barbara for writing this week, and Happy Birthday to my sister, as well as to Fred, Ingrid, Fernando, Marilyn, Lena, Dave K., Jessica, and Ben. Have hearty and warm celebrations all!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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So here are the jewels you were kind enough to write and allow me to use.
"Family is the most important thing."
--Christina
In reference to dancing
"Yes, when things feel more safe."
--Barbara
"I think positive and test negative"
and
"Love's the key to all locks"
--Jean and Sam
"You are a writer, and fast."
"Read their list, admired everyone's talent."
"Now yours just as well, hmm."
"I'm still pondering my slow reply."
--Terry T.
and finally
"The sun burns through the fog"
"When her laughter fills my heart"
"Listening and learning a stranger's story."
--Steve
Thank you so very much for writing and to Char, Suz, Carol and Larry, Wayne, Barbara and Clyde, and Debra for your comments as well!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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But it is still Monday, as far as I know, and much, much later than I usually do my blog. Time to get on with it, so this will be brief. While the washed vegetables and fruit were drying on the counter, I realized it was a still life in the making. Out came the camera, and here are a few of the results.
One the wonderful things that arrived via email this week was a list from the New York Times titled "I am thankful to be thankful" wherein readers were asked to send in six word memoirs that were, according to the Times, a style of writing "popularized by author Larry Smith". There were 10,000 replies and a selection was listed. It challenged me to think about the six word memoir. "The smell of the desert rain", "an enchilada plate and red wine", "exploring little things with my camera", "sharing a warm bed with Fred", "sun shining brightly in my eyes", "hope filled heart for the future", "to bounce wildly around the house", "hearing the sound of friends' voices", "dancing speedy milongas or a lovely tango"
Want to share? I would love to hear from you and post some of your six word memoirs next week if you allow.
Jean and Sam, Barbara, Luella, Suzys, Terry T., Dave and Barbara, Carolyn, Catherine, Wayne, Dianne, TTT, Christina, Orlando, Steve, Pauli, DLDWK, and Debra sent comments this week and they are appreciated, one and all.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Fred was kind enough to allow me to use his rug-in-progress to highlight squash - a New World food - that was in existence long before the first Thanksgiving in America.
We noticed these signs recently and I must applaud personnel at Santa Fe County for planting them.
The sign above is perfect - In bad times, a good face. Be brave and weather the storm.
Have a safe and fine Thanksgiving. We look forward to next year when we can share the joy of in-person celebrations with many of you. Thanks to Char, Barbara, Lisa, Paule, Steve, Wayne, Terry T., Jean and Sam, Karla, Ingrid, Debra, and Victoria for your words this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Obviously, there are many different opinions on the subject of mask wearing, but one thing I have always thought about it is that it had to be cool and fun. From the very beginning, my feeling was that if all the sports teams, restaurants, clubs, organizations, and even houses of worship created their own mask designs more people could wear them as fashion statements rather than feeling like they were being punished. Despite the fact that vaccines will help control this virus, other diseases may well erupt in the future. Why not get some fun and joy from wearing a mask? Match your clothes as you do with scarves or pocket handkerchiefs or squares, gloves, ball caps, and other accessories. Frivolous? Perhaps. Silly? I don't know. But these days we can all certainly use a little levity and brightness. So I present the Black Mask Collection. Sort of. Like earrings, one can never have enough, and it is growing. They look a little like bikini tops, but hey.
A fish story?
My favorite model wearing a dragon mask from Crazy Shirts.
Thanks to Terry T., Christina, TTT, Kay, Marilyn, Steve, Debra, Barbara, Jean and Sam, Wayne and Bill and Sue for commenting this week. Happy Birthday to Barbara, Carolyn, Cristina and Wayne who will be celebrating later this month.
until next Monday
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The weather provided a healthy serving of conditions, and I focused on those that demonstrated the week. Stucco walls reflecting or holding heat or cold become collectors of precipitation, including hail and snow, both of which landed against walls here.
Also suitable in black and white
Veronica, Debra, Donna C., Christina, Dianne, Claudia, Carolyn, Steve, Annie, Jean and Sam, and Ingrid added input and words for last week's blog. Many thanks to all of you and others who follow the blog. Thanks for your inspiration.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Bicycle trails and open space development along the river, which had water in it yesterday because of the recent snow (it frequently lacks water except for an occasional puddle) has been an astonishing accomplishment for a city the size of Santa Fe. Given the fact that the city was basically built along old wagon trails, projects like these can be fraught with challenges. I was impressed. The work of many provided some great places for recreation and an engagement shoot. The cottonwoods and other native trees were, thankfully, left in place, providing unique riparian areas.
The many wooden bridges offer walkers and bicyclists (and occasional tango dancers) a way to cross the river.
And if it is tango, there must be a black and white shot.
Thanks for J, J, & E for being adventurous and delightful during the shoot, and to Debra, Jean and Same, Terry T., Connie, Victoria, Barbara, Char, Kay, Steve, Dianne, and Ingrid for commenting on last week's blog!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Today's blog has what will be some of the final autumnal photographs I shoot this year - assorted still life images featuring graupel. It really sets the scene for some interesting abstract shots, including the one below with aspen leaves in water.
Asian flare lantern with a dusting on rocks
Nothing like a pumpkin with graupel sprinkles on top
Pumpkins on aspen trunks
This Sunday, November 1 at 2 a.m., daylight saving time comes to a close in the United States. Happy Halloween and Dia de los Muertos.
Thanks to Veronica, Kay, Steve, Peggy, TTT, Barbara, Susie, Christina, Connie, Larry J., Wayne, Lisa, Catherine, Bill & Sue, and Ingrid for your comments this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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2020 has been quite the year in too many ways to address here. But the genus Populus - which includes aspen and cottonwoods - is taking the yellow color spectrum to a whole new level. I photograph them nearly every day when they are near or at their prime. Two more images are included here. Stucco walls offer a nicely textured backdrop for them.
Speaking of backdrops, I have also been working with fallen leaves in numerous colors, shapes, and sizes as backdrops for a variety of things, including more roses. It was particularly interesting to photograph both new, fresh, roses and then use them after they were the same relative dryness as the leaves. That touch of home-grown rosemary gifted to us along with the roses added a nice touch.
And finally, the roses as they dry against the already dried leaves of autumn
I have a recommendation for all people interested in photography and photo-journalism. Although the book Obama was published in 2017 by Pete Souza, the NBC networks aired their documentary "The Way I See It" this week, about Souza's life as presidential photographer for both the Reagan and Obama administrations. Souza is probably one of the best photographers and photo-journalists of our time, and he knew his mission - to present a clear history and story for the two presidents he covered. The documentary is moving and beautiful, and if you have not seen it, I would highly recommend doing so. The book should be required reading for all photographers.
Thanks to Terry T., Barbara, Wayne, TTT, Catherine, Debra, Jean and Sam, Steve, Ryley A., and Ingrid and Robert for your contributions to last week and this week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The season would be incomplete without at least one drive into the mountains. Although it was a bit late and much of the intense color had already passed, several aspen stands continued to show their golds and red.
Year after year as I photograph aspen, thinking that there are only so many ways the trees can be photographed, the trunks hold more and more appeal to me. The image below demonstrates the growth lines on this multiple-trunked beauty.
There are several maples in our new neighborhood that catch your eye regardless of how many times you walk by them. The sun not only added intensity to the color but a nice shadow below the bottom leaves.
The total shadow in this image of aspen leaves in water does just the opposite of the maple, making an interesting abstract shot.
A hanging apple renders the comfort of harvest time in New Mexico.
In addition to the brilliant orange of this pumpkin, the stem is a thing of beauty, completing the photographic autumn grab bag.
Terry T., Debra, Luella, Wayne, Kay, Larry and Carol, Christina, Donna and Dave, Sara, Jean and Sam, Steve, Catherine, and Ryley A. got in touch this week to comment on the blog, and as always, your words are much appreciated.
I hope that each of you is able to do some photography wherever you are.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>To begin, here is a coyote teenager I photographed many years ago on the mesa in Taos County. Comparing this wild child with a domesticated dog breed, there really aren't that many differences.
Tucker is a very smart labradoodle, one of the many great dogs who are walked every day in the neighborhood. Even when he is at rest, he is always on the alert, similar to his wild relatives.
More in the "portrait" line, the two images below are vintage Tucker.
It was wonderful to receive everyone's comments last week about National Electric Drive Week, and to know so many are thinking about the possibilities of alternative energy. Thanks to Lucia, Steve, Claudia, Karla, Terry T., Catherine, Wayne, TTT, Jean and Sam, and Ingrid for participating in the discussion. Hope you have a wonderful first week in October.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Because National Drive Electric Week began yesterday and runs through 4 October, I thought it would be a good time to again visit solar energy production and electric cars. There is a massive amount of information online about electrical vehicles. One source we have been reading for years is Green Car Reports. https://www.greencarreports.com It is a pretty complete summary of a the daily news about green energy, cars, and emerging technology in America and around the world.
When people go car shopping at a dealership, you generally sit in the vehicle, look at the features, kick the tires, and check under the hood. Looking under the hood of a Chevrolet Bolt, for instance, Fred's first comment was "I don't see much in here I recognize". Three fluid reservoirs - windshield wipe fluid, brake fluid, and coolant - are obvious. But what the heck is the rest? Well, since electric cars are almost computers on wheels, there are many electronic components along with the wires that connect them. Under the hood of the Chevy Bolt show below, there is a total of eleven moving parts.
One adaptation the automotive industry has made is to offer both 120 volt and 240 volt charging technology in an owner's home. Known to electricians as 110 and 220 volt, one offers a slow charge from a standard electric outlet, and the other, 220, can charge an electric car more quickly from a standard drier outlet. "Quick charge" stations are located along major highways in the country. Here is the Bolt EV charging port and charger.
Fellow photographer and friend Terry Thompson recently purchased a Nissan Leaf, and is equally excited about it. It is called Leafy and pictured below. He also is producing "front" license plates, for those of us who don't sport license plates both on the front and the back of our vehicles. You can contact Terry about getting a front plate from his "Personalized Plates for New Mexico Fronts" and see his amazing photography as well at his business website: http://www.TerryThompsonPhoto.com
Thanks to Barbara, Marilyn, Luella, Debra, Sara, Wayne, Paul, Steve, and Jean and Sam for writing this week. Happy Birthday this week to Earle W. and Kelly S.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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A yellow hollyhock, still viable but telling its storied life
Thank you Marilyn, Wayne, Barbara, Karla, Char, Debra, Donna C., Jean and Sam, Steve, Christina, Geula, and Catherine for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Within the slight chaos that is involved in moving, Fred has managed to weave three rugs. He will start on a commission this week, which will be Rug #343, his 400th piece in total (including runners, pillows, and rifle scabbards). Who would have thought? Here is a shot of Rug #341. It is 100% Navajo-Churro wool, dyed by Connie Taylor, and features three different shades of malachite, along with ochre, dyed black, and Ganado red.
The wool awaits....
...as does the empty loom
I took the opportunity, in addition to photographing wool, to find the beauty in the aging roses I had photographed two weeks ago.
Thanks to Wayne, Bill and Sue, Barbara, Ann and Tomas, Christina, Jean and Sam, Marilyn, Steve, Charlie, Catherine, Connie and Ingrid for your comments this. They make my day, regardless of what day you are able to check out the blog.
My hope is that we can all be gentle with Planet Earth this week. It needs our kindness at this point, and always.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Here is a shot of our home in Taos County, complete with tracker and solar panels.
Fast forward twenty years and our return to Santa Fe. In searching for a place, photovoltaic or solar panels had to be allowed. Period. It would be nice if there were shared walls to make the house more thermodynamic. When we found a home with those features, along with a lovely neighborhood at the right price, we grabbed it. In May, we began what I will call Phase 1 of the plan, which was to contact Positive Energy Solar and begin the process of developing a grid-tie system. We had been told that it could be six months or more, depending on the city and Public Service Company of New Mexico, because of licensing and permitting. On Wednesday of last week, cars and trucks began arriving before 8 a.m., and men poured forth. First order of the day, in the time of COVID-19, was a temperature check, along with a safety meeting.
After that, a well-oiled machine was turned on, and the work of solarizing our home began in earnest. Each of the workers has a particular area of expertise. It was quite the sight to see.
Mounting brackets were removed from the trucks, along with solid cinder blocks for ballast before the panels even faced the sun. Two men worked on the electrical boxes, both old and new. Another worked on shaping the conduit. All were true artists.
Over the course of the morning and early afternoon, 16-370 watt panels were installed on several roof surfaces, attached to brackets and ballast applied, wire pulled through conduit, and junction boxes attached.
The system was complete and ready to go just after 3 p.m. that afternoon. We were dumbfounded at the speed and efficiency of the crew. Now we await Phase II, the final inspection and hook-up to the grid. We are anxious to see how much energy is being harvested from the sun and sent into the grid during the four seasons. No doubt, we will keep a log of that, along with our weather log that we have been keeping for twenty years.
Phase III, an electric car. Ever the solar geeks!
It was wonderful to hear from so many of you this week - Lisa, Maria, Jean and Sam, Marilyn, Kay, Karla, Barbara, Victoria, Debbie R., Ann M., Christina, Debra, Catherine, Wayne, Steve, Robert, and Ingrid. Happy September Birthdays to Steve, Donna K., Earle, and Kelly S., and Happy Anniversary to Barbara and David.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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I truly cannot remember seeing roses as gorgeous as the ones we were given last week, in all their stages of bloom. Here are a few of the results from nearly two hundred shots I took, in different light, and with a variety of backgrounds. I am still shooting after almost a week, all the while discovering things I should have known about our new surroundings. And the learning process with the new computer and programs is ongoing, sometimes a sheer delight, while other times, the expletives bounce off the office walls!
Below are two shots of the entire bouquet and different backdrops.
back to a single rose detail
Huge virtual "thanks" go out this week to Suz, Connie, Susie, Wayne, Barbara, Jean and Sam, Debra, Steve, Claudia, Dianne, Pauli, and Ingrid and Robert.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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A very wet hummingbird resting and getting warm
Hollyhock flower after a shower
The sky filled with the promise of rain
After the rain, a double rainbow
Thanks to all of you who persevered so well, and continue to keep in touch virtually, including Orlando, Carolyn S., Lisa, Ingrid, Wayne, TTT, Christina, Debra, Steve, Jean and Sam, and Donna C. I hope you are all able to record life as you know it with your cameras and other devices. This is an extraordinary time.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>My camera and I did a bit more practice with the live view mode this week. There is still a learning curve, but I am understanding things and becoming more comfortable with it. Using Fred's Navajo-Churro wool rugs and other objects, i. e., things that do not move, helped my efforts.
The image here is of Rug # 245, and features baskets from Zimbabwe.
Rug # 339 hosts an old squash blossom necklace created by Pearl Sunrise.
Detail of Rug 339 and necklace
Thanks to Maria, Steve, Barbara, Christina, Connie, Donna C., Marilyn, Debra, Wayne, Jean and Sam, Catherine, and Donna K. for commenting on last week's blog. May the coming week be glorious.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Building detail rendered in black and white
Entering the parking lot beyond the first flow of grass, the Trail of Memories, with its metal abstract archway bisects the graveyard, leading to the various parts of the gardens.
A detail of the arch from the side
Sculpture features significantly in the gardens. Except for the fact that it is white marble, this piece reminds of the Maltese Falcon.
The Corn Maiden of Sipapu is shown below, complete with corn growing at her base.
Both flowing and bubbling water features attract numerous birds and butterflies.
Thanks to Barbara, Marilyn, Jean and Sam, Karla, Steve, Wayne, Ingrid, and Dianne for commenting this week. May you all have interesting explorations during the coming week!
until next week,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Photographing and editing images of my husband, Fred Black's Navajo-Churro wool rugs, is one of the types of photography I do. But being the great "outside the box" thinker that he is, it was his idea that led me to the live view images in today's blog. Shooting the portfolio shots of his work from above has opened a new way for me to photograph products in the future. Rug # 340 is shown here. Fred used a number of the varied natural grey colors from Connie Taylor, the doyenne of Navajo-Churro sheep and wool.
Below are two details from the rug. The stripe is a cobalt blue, and the burgundy color of the squares is similar to Connie's cereza negra or black cherry color. The striping is described as ombre´ or ombrez in French, or blending one color tint or shade to another. A softer blending, which this may well be, is called sombre´.
Thanks to Barbara, Suz, Donna C., Orlando, Jean and Sam, Wayne, Debra, Maria, and Steve for your comments this week. As we open the month of August, I hope you are all safe, well, and finding new adventures in photography and life!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>As I walk around our neighborhood, there is always something to see and photograph. Several blogs ago, I featured a curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre). Well, there is still a chick in the nest, almost the size of an adult, and looking dazed and confused with the world around it. The parents, ever vigilant, always give me an extraordinary "look" as I investigate the progress.
Flowers of trumpet vines (Campsis radicans) that seem to grow very well in Santa Fe, are hard to miss with their orange-red and yellow flowers.
Decades ago, just out of interest after finishing my degree at UNM, I took a series of landscaping courses at Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute (TV-I). It was geared toward formal landscaping, but I learned a few things about which vegetation (both native and imported) does well in the central to northern parts of New Mexico. One of the trees that is the frequently-used Austrian black pine (Pinus nigra). I believe the photograph below is of the needles and cones of that tree. (And please, if that is incorrect, email me.)
I have heard from a number of friends and family members that they are missing close contact with their fellow humans, as are most of us. In the duration of the pandemic, my hope is that each of you can explore and find elements of nature and life in general that fill those voids. Thanks Lisa, Victoria, Wayne, Barbara, Claudia, Pauli, Catherine, Steve, Kay, Jean and Sam, Lawrence, and Sara for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Hiking that wide (the former road used to build the ski area) and pretty tame "trail" for the first time in over twenty years, was like visiting an old friend and giving and receiving a huge hug. It was overcast for the first two hours, and the smell. Oh, that Rocky Mountain smell! If someone could bottle it, they would be incredibly wealthy. And every single New Mexican knows how precious water is. When you see a waterfall - even a diminutive one like this - it is very exciting.
The fireweed was in its amazing fuchsia-colored glory.
A close second was the paintbrush. I am not certain whether it is foothills paintbrush or Wyoming narrow leaf, but it was also particularly showy.
A new spruce tree is growing up in the middle of the bouquet below. You might have to squint to see it.
The white in the midst of everything else was either yarrow or a Richardson's geranium, shown here.
And another water shot near the end of the trail as we returned.
Thanks to Sara, Wayne, Carol and Larry, Barbara, Pauli, Christina, Catherine, Debra, and Steve for your comments on last week's blog. I hope this finds you and everyone well and happy, and able to express yourselves through art - photography and otherwise.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Curve-billed thrashers are common in southern Arizona and New Mexico, but they do live as far north as Santa Fe. Neighbors told me about a nest in a cholla, so I thought I would take a look. The nest appears very disorganized. How could it be soft and downy in the middle of a cactus? But apparently, it works. Both mother and father are quite attentive, sitting and guarding for long stretches of time. Here is a shot of the well-hidden thrasher, given away mainly by its yellow eye.
Next in the grab bag is an aloe vera plant detail. The way in which the "leaves" flair creates a nice rhythm.
A red umbrella against stuccoed wall layers also adds to the architectural rhythm.
A stucco wall also offers a backdrop for an aspen leaves in light and shadow.
Thanks to Barbara, Jean and Sam, TTT, Lisa, Donna, Victoria, Debra, and Steve for checking in this week, and to everyone for putting up with my transition to new equipment and environs.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The motion of the vehicle is visible in the foreground of this photograph.
Thanks to Lawrence, Catherine, Steve, Brenda, Lisa, Dianne, Kenny, Sara, Barbara, Christina and Debra for wrapping up the month of June with your lovely comments!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The photograph below is of a potted Japanese maple on river rocks against a stuccoed wall. The different variations in intensity of the stucco color provides a soft backdrop.
The last image is an in-your-face, full of color shot of a hollyhock against a stuccoed wall. One of the different strokes that shouts "New Mexico!"
Thanks to Debbie, Karla, Bill, Debra, Donna C., Christina, Steve, Dianne, Ingrid, Jean and Sam, Donna K., Wayne, and Barbara for commenting this week. I hope to get emails to each of you this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>These roses were the "first clip" from a neighbor's rose bush. Neither she nor I know the variety, but its delicate ivory color and fragrance make it a prize in my book, from stem to stern. Light and reflection make the stems a great subject for a toned black and white still life, shown below.
The petals have just enough yellow and pink in them to produce a rich ivory color. The rays of light on the table are a bonus.
What would one of my blogs be without a closeup?
Thanks to Donna, Susie, Pauli, Dianne, Ingrid, Wayne, Steve, Elida, and Jean and Sam for your comments this week. Please forgive me if I forgot to include any one of you here who wrote. There are piles of paper everywhere in the chaos, which is slowly becoming more organized by the day.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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An orchid that was given to us as a gift some years ago, is endless in its giving. I have featured it several times in this blog, but I can't help photographing it in all its glory every time it blooms.
The other happening is the bloom of the Polish Spirit clematis vines on the north side of our house. They just started late last week and have loads of buds waiting to unfurl themselves.
Thanks so much to Barbara, Wayne, Marilyn, Lisa, Donna, Jean and Sam, TTT, Debra, and Steve for checking in this week. With luck, there will be a seamless transition from this week's blog to next Monday's, but I appreciate your patience if it arrives later in the week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>It makes me think about how annoying it must be for elk and deer to shed their antlers every spring. Imagine having a large and heavy hat on your head, twice the size and height of your head, and carrying it around for months. It is off-balancing, disorienting, and probably uncomfortable. So the best thing is to get rid of it, shaking and violently trying to rid yourself of the problem. And elk and deer rub anything that is hard and stable enough to knock off that hat. Many people hunt for "sheds", the antlers that these animals carry with them. Occasionally, we find one here on the mesa. They are counterpoints to their surroundings, including the paintbrush here. The bleached antler amplifies the orange-red of the flowers.
A human-made white in lattice work makes the honeysuckle colors pop the same way antlers do.
Thanks, Kay, Jean and Sam, LIsa, Marilyn, Steve, Ingrid, Christina, TTT, Wayne, and Debra for your words and keeping me on the straight and narrow!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>When photographers look through images and paperwork for projects (the archives, as it were) it is always an interesting process. The opportunity to look at your body of work and see exactly how much you have done over the years is daunting. You just keep using the tools of the trade, and mountains of photographs in different formats begin to form. Thus, an occasional cleaning and weeding is a good thing. I started taking photography semi-seriously during a hike in the Grand Canyon in 1968, but did not become a professional, officially, until selling my first images in 1977 to New Mexico Magazine. Thus, there are a few years worth of material.
There are triggers in life that get your mind going in certain directions. Online graduation ceremonies from high schools, colleges, and military academies. A contact out of the blue from someone I had photographed. Searching the folders of photographs and information sheets of people in my book project, A Place Like No Other: People of an Enchanted Land. All of these things combined and evolved into today's blog. Sometimes, I wish I could have a do-over of some of the weddings I photographed and environmental portraits I shot. But looking back, it was pleasing to find some jewels. The ones included here were made with a Mamiya 1 3/4 x 2 1/4 format camera, using Ilford 400 film.
In pursuit of compelling faces and stories of people in New Mexico, I did a shoot in Albuquerque in 1997 of environmental educator, Hy Rosner. His huge winning smile and approach to life made photographing him a joy. I am not exactly sure why he was not included in the book, but page count was limited or Hy would certainly have been part of it.
Three young women at the New Mexico MIlitary Institute in Roswell, were great fun and willing subjects. The photograph in my book is of the three of them together, but the individual photographs show just a little bit more of each personality. I have no idea where any of them are now, or whether they followed military careers. The first is Barbara Soto.
The next two photographs are of sisters Natalie and Felisa Lopez.
David Cordova, who is now a realtor, comes from a long line of weavers from Truchas that I had photographed before Fred even started to weave. He also did some acting, and was definitely not shy in front of a camera.
Your comments on last week's blog were so interesting and filled with the history of family members serving in WWII, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. Members of Dianne's family were in WWII, Vietnam, and the Gulf war, including her mother who was a "Rosey the Riveter" in World War II, Wayne's father was a medic in WWII, and Pauli's birth father was an Army Air Corps navigator killed in North Africa.
So very much to remember, and I thank you.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I did some photography last year at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. When I revisited some of those photographs, I realized that in the shot below, almost all of the people in the first four rows died in 1944, toward the end of the second world war. From New Mexico, with our relatively small population, so many died that year.
One of the most interesting things about looking at the marble stones is that many of these men were quite young, but others were 30 years or older when they felt compelled to enlist. As you can see here, Pedro Gomez was born 29 April 1911, and died in the last half of 1944, making him 33 years old.
May we always remember.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In all the twenty or so years I have been photographing blue flax, I have never photographed them from the base or back of the flower. One of those things that simply had not occurred to me until recently. But when the light bulb went off in my head, it revealed the flowers in a whole new light, as it were. A windless morning or day is the best for photographing these because of the flexibility of the stems that wave in the wind.
And once again, the face of the blue flax flower.
Thanks to Elida, TTT, Terry T., Jean and Sam, Fernando, Christina, Barbara, Susie, Wayne, Steve, Bill and Sue, Debra, Catherine, Dianne, and Lisa for your comments this week. Love them all!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Some of the cups are more loosely organized than others, such as this one, with different parts curling inward.
And as is the case with human hair color, the colors within the groups of daffodil cups can be slightly different.
Thanks to Connie, Barbara, Christina, Fernando, Kay, TTT, David O., Wayne, Steve, Donna, Jean and Sam, Marilyn, Lisa, Sara, and Pauli for getting in touch this week and commenting. It is always great to hear from you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Solar electricity is more popular than ever, with a wider variety of capabilities and more efficient options available now than twenty years ago when we started building our home on the mesa. There are two types of owners of solar systems - those who love the idea of getting energy from the sun and happily use the systems with minimal knowledge. Then you have geeks, like Fred and eventually me, who understand as much of the inner workings of solar electricity as possible. These are the folks who might have (as in our case) solar panels mounted on trackers that move through the day to track the sun's angle. The house tracker is shown here, with last year's late spring garden in bloom.
Having solar or photovoltaic panels mounted on a tracker enables the owner to change the angle of the tracker, and maximize energy production throughout the year. We change ours quarterly, with dates in conjunction with the winter/summer solstice and spring/autumnal equinox. It is a two-person job - one person pushing up or pulling down - on the tracker, and the other moving the bolts to different positions.
After the angles have been changed, the batteries are equalized, running them to a higher voltage and shaking the sulphur off the lead plates inside. The process prolongs battery life. This is where the man, the batteries, and a turkey baster come into play.
Lead-acid batteries are wonderful things. They enable us to store energy from the sun for use at night and on cloudy days. The process of storing and discharging energy in the battery requires distilled water to replace water loss due to evaporation and the production of hydrogen gas. Thus, the 18 batteries in our house system have two cells per unit, each requiring servicing with distilled water. For safety's sake, when working with acid, mask and gloves are always a good idea. Here are some shots of Fred at work, servicing the batteries. He has done it 74 times in the past 18+ years, at both the house and the well, which has its own solar-electric system. The process requires focus and attention to detail.
He holds a crank-wound flashlight in his left hand to point light into each of the cells, enabling him to see the water level. As for me, I used my in-camera flash to fill the photographs with extra light.
Didn't really think you were going to get a Physics 101 lesson, did you? I do need to take a physics course!
Thanks go out this week, to Christina, TTT, Victoria, Jean and Sam, Wayne, Sara, Ingrid, Barbara, Debra, Steve, and Dianne for sending your most welcome comments this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In areas where rain and snow may have collected, for instance, between rocks, the Santa Fe phlox present themselves in bouquets like the one here.
The stems with blooms extend themselves out from the base of the plant and across the ground or sandstone.
Occasionally, some almost look tropical flowers when the stems are fully upright.
The color of this flower is stunning.
Another thing that photographing on the ground reveals are things like buds, seen on either side of this whitish/purple phlox. They are tightly wound in a spiral that eventually reveals the flower.
Many thanks to Barbara, Chuck, TTT, Wayne, Dianne, Jean and Sam, Steve, Lisa, and Debra H. for your words this week. I hope this continues to find you safe and well and finding pleasures at home.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The aspen trees started to put out "catkins" several weeks ago and they are in full flower now. They don't smell, and because they lack petals, I did not know catkins were flowers. But these long, slim, drooping, prehistoric-looking things are the pollen-producing mechanisms for many trees, including the aspen, cottonwood, and willows, among others, in New Mexico. They are pollenated by the wind or anemochory, and there is certainly an ample supply of spring wind in New Mexico. Soon they will fall to the ground to be replaced by lovely spring green leaves.
In the mean time, I was on the hunt for Easter daisies, and had my first sighting yesterday, while clipping and deadheading last year's dried plant material. Since they are in the sunflower or Asteraceae family, and therefore driven by the sun each day, you won't see the blooms early in the morning. I probably stepped on some as I started to work. They are pretty darned small and tend to blend into the soil and rocks. Here is a lovely bouquet that measures about two inches across, along with a single flower shown below.
The filaments in the flower here are a study unto themselves.
The first narcissus bloomed this week as well - bright, yellow, and awaiting the viewer's accolades.
Given the uncertainty in the world, courtesy of COVID-19 among other things, I hope that all of you are finding joy and new discoveries in your surroundings, and that you are staying safe and well. Thank you Marilyn, Barbara, Christina, Terry T., Dianne, TTT, Jean and Sam, Claudia, Ingrid, Steve, and Lisa S. for your comments this week. It was wonderful to hear from you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>When I muse about food, I constantly am awestruck by early humans who made incredible discoveries because they were hungry. It is very understandable how grains started to ferment and someone liked the smell enough to taste it, complete at this point with enough airborne yeasts to make alcohol. But why would the Mayans and Aztecs think that they could take such a bitter fruit as a cacao bean, and then roast and sweeten it to produce a beverage fit for the gods?
Which leads me to olive oil. Another extremely bitter fruit is the olive. How could a human being think that curing these things with salt or pressing them would produce such delights? The oil can range from grassy and peppery to rich and buttery in flavor. Simple and at the same time, extremely complex. As a photographer, it is a work of art - an instant photo shoot.
Snow fell last night over much of northern and central New Mexico, leaving the skies grey and with even light, a perfect combination for shooting reflections. Nothing like a beautifully blown bottle to showcase and reflect the olive oil. Here are some of the results.
I sincerely hope that all of you are finding simple pleasures in your lives during the time of corona, and that we emerge stronger and smarter, and with a sense of what needs to be done to make our lovely Planet Earth a better place for all! In the meantime, have fun in the kitchen!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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So, we find ourselves moving through the days and weeks quite differently, as time compresses. One 24-hour day seems to contain more than a year right now, leaving many of us wondering what the heck day it is, and when we will be able to see friends and family again in the flesh. It is, at the very least, life in an altered state. Given that, I decided to change things up and do my own alterations to photographs I love. Changing exposure and tone, among other things, is always a fascinating process. Some of the results are featured here.
Few things in nature are as photogenic as the seed pod of the goatsbeard or western salsify (a member of the sunflower family), and I thought it would be a great subject for alteration.
I was a little tentative about putting this deep purple tulip into an altered state, but it seemed to translate in an interesting way. The more I look at how the details present themselves, the more compelling it seems.
I haven't used this image of a lotus pod much, but it was fun to see it undergo an alteration.
Another lotus pod with its own leaves in the back and foregrounds
Finally, as I await this year's crop of daffodils, I decided to work with another image that I haven't used much in the past. It seems much more soft and soothing than expected.
To Dianne, Sara, Debra, Steve, TTT, Barbara, Wayne, Veronica, Terry T., Jean and Sam, and Marilyn, my heartfelt thanks for your comments this week. And for a truly entertaining and uplifting video, search Facebook for Returning the Favor with Mike Rowe. Known for his Dirty Jobs and Somebody's Gotta Do it, Rowe is hilarious. He and the crew released a recent episode of school principal Charity Haygood in Newark, New Jersey. Guarantee, you will feel good all over!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Compared to what so many are doing, the changes I have made are miniscule. Like everyone else, I am more involved than ever in the task of cleaning - hand washing, sanitizing hard surfaces, cleaning groceries and deliveries. I am a pretty clean and organized person, but I am also the first to admit that it seems to take an inordinate amount of time, perhaps time that I would like to devote to photography. But it absolutely must be done to get through this. Given that, I spent an equally inordinate amount of time this week photographing a setup that is representative of these things. Meet my new friends in the time of corona. (As an aside, we have found a very practical alternative to latex gloves in the form of corn tortilla bags. We have a whole stack of the Mi Rancho sacks that are recloseable and stay on your hands better.)
As all of us continue to develop a "new normal", nature goes on as it always does, and there are more signs of spring every day. The beautiful cedar wax wings have arrived at the feeders of friends south of Santa Fe, mountain bluebirds are working on their nests, and assorted sparrows along with other ground birds are singing those unmistakeable territorial songs. Red shafted flickers are drilling into anything they can with their beaks, including ant hills. As I write this, it has started to precipitate - rain, snow, graupel - a real March mashup.
The sky presented quite the mashup this week, with clouds we had not seen before. Something must have been going on in the troposphere, for the cloud scallops to be mixed with the cumulus clouds.
Thanks this week to Wayne, TTT, Steve, Terry T., Catherine, Larry and Carol M., Marilyn, Jean and Sam, Christina, Barbara, and Lena and Sam for your feedback. And what can I say to the grocery store employees, postal employees, delivery people, drivers, EMTs, nurses, doctors, and all medical personnel, home health care workers, janitors and sanitation workers, scientists and researchers, firefighters, police, National Guard members, and other military personnel here and abroad, pilots, flight attendants, ticket agents, maintenance workers, and journalists, reporters, and videographers? Then there are the educators and parents who now found themselves in the role of full time educators? Everyone out in the world, doing their absolute best to make these strange and scary times better for all of us. Thank you hardly even seems appropriate, but it will have to do for now. In the mean time, we'll be thinking about creative ways to express our appreciation when all of this is over.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>My mind has been working overtime, and from what I gather, I am not alone. Thoughts that have popped up in my brain this week, (other than the ever-present ones about the first responders, medical professionals, and scientists who are working massive numbers of hours for the rest of us to learn more about the monster) are varied, and sometimes wild and weird. For instance, how could something that looks as beautiful through the lens of a microscope as the corona virus, be so deadly? That is obviously a rhetorical question, but you get the idea.
Talking and hearing from several of you tells me that many artists and writers are actually appreciating the time to do their work unencumbered by "normal" life. But I do wonder how the men and women in naval fleets around the world are coping with the pandemic. Those vessels and people on them, may not go ashore until COVID-19 is under control. I cannot even fathom being on a submarine for more than several hours. Then there are the logistics and delivery people, the homeless as well as people on the border with Mexico, now closed to everything but "essential people and services", and those incarcerated. What a time! Thus, in addition to doing photographic work, I have begun journaling again, doing online research, and generally trying to make sense of what is happening.
Astronaut Scott Kelly has written some good pieces about life aboard the International Space Station. It is all about keeping structure, having a schedule, and doing work. If you are an artist, you already use some of these tools. Many of you are gardeners and also use those tools, in full preparation for spring planting, as March continues to present itself in all its glory. As several different varieties of sparrows who summer in the sage create a mating concert, and other seasonal birds arrive, the wind blows during fleeting storms complete with thunder and lightning, that drop rain, graupel, and snow on the mesa.
I was lucky enough yesterday morning to shoot photographs of a previous night's moisture in many forms on our roof windows. These things are very time specific. One has to catch them before the sun shines on the windows and melts the image. It appears that the graupel packed down at the bottom of the window before other moisture settled and froze on top of it. I shot some of these while squatting beneath the window, and others while lying on the floor.
It just seemed appropriate to turn one of the shots horizontally, which made the ice look like a weaving.
Thanks to Veronica, Donna, Lisa, Debra, Geula, Elida, Steve, Barbara, and Victoria for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The virus roared in, wreaking havoc, and changing our lives beyond imagination. It feels like a science fiction movie. Yes, we have gone through different outbreaks and pandemics before in the 20th and 21st centuries - the Spanish flu of 1918, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, H1N1 to name a few. But COVID-19, with its truly world-wide spread, seems to have no boundaries and no particular preference (except that the elderly are more susceptible) - just people. And it is new. No vaccine, and no knowledge of its behavior except what the medical professionals world-wide are putting together in real time. There have been knee-jerk reactions in grocery shopping and other preparations, some scammers are trying to take advantage of the situation (I could easily say they should be shot at dawn for that) but eventually, we'll all need to find a new rhythm in our lives. My only and sincere hope is that people remain civil, and can find a certain joy in the resulting relative isolation. Only time will tell, as governors, mayors, and leaders around the world try to wrap their heads and systems around the virus.
Below are a couple of wonderful and inspiring videos, the first of Italians singing and making music from their balconies, and the second is of a runner in Bend, Oregon, who stopped to help an elderly couple with their grocery shopping.
Terry Thompson posted this on Facebook. https://www.cnn.com/.../woman-helps-elderly-couple...
As a photographer and writer, there are always reasons to write and make photographs, but sometimes I don't write or journal as much as I should. My weekly blog is one example but I should be doing more. So while we are restricting trips to town (our last workout at the gym and pool was on Wednesday since the community centers are now closed until mid-April), it is time to start writing a bit more about the sequence of events concerning the virus in the United States and around the world. And I would love to hear from you about how your life has changed, if it has, and how you are achieving new routines, and keeping body and soul together. Regardless of where you live in the world, it would be good to hear from you. For me, if I don't commit pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, documenting what is happening, I won't remember it accurately.
My sister said this week that life continues as well as other parts of nature in its own way, despite what is happening to the human population. One example is the return of the Say's Phoebe. It happened yesterday morning, with my reaction "Isn't this a little early?" Well, checking the nature and weather data notebooks we keep, the arrival was absolutely right on time and perfectly normal. Thus, the written data keeps our memories accurate. Another example is the emergence of the bulbous spring parsley or Cymopterus bulbosus. The very first flower of the spring, it lies prostrate on the ground, and never sends up a tall bloom stalk, but tiny flower bundles. It being "first" happens regardless of the date, and thus we know winter is ending. The purple bundles in the middle are the flowers.
As I got closer, I saw things I had never seen before in these amazing flowers. The wrapper around the purple is white with green vertical lines, and thinner than fine paper.
These are really small flowers.
When I peeled the outer wrapper, there are all sorts of strange things inside. My sister says they are called petaloids, and the slightly tan colored goodies in the photograph are stamens.
There are people in this world who cannot be thanked enough for their work right now, including all of the medical professionals and health care providers, scientists, emergency responders, national guard personnel, caregivers, teachers, day care providers, journalists, those working in the service and hospitality industries who must be at work, and numerous volunteers. My hope is that our appreciation extends beyond just thanks and prayers, translating into better wages and true appreciation for the work they are doing.
Thanks to Christina, Jean and Sam, Barbara, Wayne, Earle, Ingrid, Steve, Debra for checking in about last week's tulip blog. And to Charlie, an incredible writer and poet who wrote "Drowning inside a flower surrounded by color definitely the way to go right now."
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Because of the interior bowl that contrasts the deep purple petal color, I took the flowers outside to let the sun act as fill light.
Turning the flowers in the light, I saw how stunning the exterior base of the bowl was, causing me to shift my focus. This shot was made against one of the remaining snow piles on the north side of our house.
In the photograph below, the eastern morning light is shining directly into the bowl.
Eastern light added to the reflected light allowed the bowl of the tulip to be lit in addition to the petals.
Thank you, Ingrid and Robert, for the tulips, and thanks to TTT, Steve, Catherine, Barbara, Dianne, Elida, Wayne, and Susie for your comments and support.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The wind and accompanying relative warmth completely cleared the stock tank of ice, which, up until this week, was four inches thick. Now, the water moves with the breeze, reflecting the sky.
The winds aloft have been howling this week, as reflected in an entire collection of weird and amazing cloud formations.
Happy Birthday to Susie S., Jan, Brenda, Andrea, Debra, Jean, Sam G., Sam W., Sara, and Carol, who were born in March, and Happy Anniversary to Steve and Peggy, Debbie and Rock.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>But I was able to make some prints of the photographs from last week's blog. I used three different kinds of Epson fine art papers including Epson Hot Press Bright and Natural, as well as the Velvet Fine Art, and to my surprise, the Velvet Fine Art Paper produced the best results. My time, then, except for playing the role of "water person" for Team Black and minder for Fred while he was out chipping ice off the road, was spent working with past photographs of which I am fond, rendering them in black and white. Each person, wearing either everyday clothes or costume, is "dressing the part."
Colin Henderson, a farmer who raises Navajo-Churro sheep in southern Colorado, is shown here wearing his very worthy and well-worn hat.
In the image below, Jessica dresses the part of fantasy maiden in the mountains west of Tres Piedras.
Here is Fred as a modern western cowboy.
Finally, Ashley and Gene loved posing for a quasi-Taos gothic version of American Gothic.
A whole group of you responded to last week's ice abstracts, and it pleases me that you enjoyed them Christina, Luella, Suz, Terry T., Robert, Lisa, David O., Paule, Barbara F.R., Steve, Susie, Dianne, Catherine, Pauli, Kelly, Claudia, Pri, Debra, TTT, and Sara. Many thanks to one and all.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In this series, reflections of terra cotta colored sandstone, the sky (ranging in shades and darkness of blue), shadows of black, and the brownish yellow of aspen bark scraped by elk antlers are in the mix. And ice itself reflecting the snow renders a clean, and in some cases an almost transparent white. If I were an abstract painter, I would be hard pressed to come up with what nature has done.
In the shot below, you can see the outline of the tree bark, accented by the sky.
I cannot say for certain where this shade of midnight blue came from, but it was probably the deepness of the shadows.
Thanks to Conchita, Jean and Sam, TTT, Dianne, Catherine, Pauli, Char, Claudia, Larry and Carol, Bill and Sue, Jim and Louise, Ingrid, Wayne, Steve, Geula, Barbara, and Victoria for all the Valentine love you sent this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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There is nothing like a beautiful sky at sunset following a stormy summer day,
or the blazing sun streaming through aspen trees in autumn.
The sound of hummingbird wings amidst the flowers is magic,
as is the sound or look of water - any water. Although still, Williams Lake is always a feast for the eyes.
These images and petals in a bowl are my Valentine's gift to all of you.
Thanks to Liz, Suz, TTT, Claudia, Christina, Jean and Sam, Char, Paule, Steve, Ingrid, Robert, Lisa, Orlando, and Donna and Dave for your comments last week. Birthdays and anniversaries in February include Sue, Luella, Gigi & JJ, Barbara O., Susie and Bogie, M. Fred, and Diane D.
Tomorrow will be two minutes and three seconds longer than today, so I hope you are able to use the extended daylight in the northern hemisphere to your photographic advantage this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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That was true for me this week. We know we live on the north-south flyway for sandhill cranes. They migrate at certain times of year, so in the early autumn and late winter, I keep my ears and eyes open for them. They seemingly drift overhead when the weather is nasty - wind, snow, and overcast skies are almost always part of the migration formula. That could be due to high winds aloft that enable the cranes to use less energy on their way north, or simply because it is instinctually time to move. Whatever the reason, they are a joy to hear and see. And when they fly low over the mesa, it is a mesmerizing. If all the elements align and I can actually access my camera, that is frequently sheer luck. There were at least 200 birds overhead at any given time, a portion of the 20,000+ that migrate through here and the San Luis Valley of Colorado to points north.
And although some years we don't see them at all because they drift east or west of our part of the flyway, we were graced by their presence this weekend. I am hoping you can view the photographs here on a larger screen because these birds were amazing. I was using my Nikon D800 with a 70-200 mm lens, handheld. The sky was blue with high clouds, or basically overcast, generating an almost abstract quality.
The sky here rendered the birds in silhouette.
I was shooting up at this point as the cranes flew directly overhead.
I will continue to keep my eyes and ears open this week as the cranes migrate from Bosque del Apache and points south, to their summer breeding grounds.
Thank you TTT, Terry T., Christina, Dianne, Elida, Sam, Lawrence, Steve, Wayne, Catherine, Barbara, and Lisa for your comments this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Comments on last week's blog reiterated something that made sense. People definitely have different preferences when it comes to backdrops. These first two photographs appeal to me because of the lightness of the alstroemeria (Peruvian lilies), but the other photographs which are bolder and brighter, might make some of you smile. I used a fill flash for all of the images.
The sunflowers absolutely popped against nature's stunning backdrop. The second shot is closer and gives the flower more of the stage.
And finally, in the photo below, the base of the flower is given prominence.
This is the first time I intentionally used the sky as a backdrop for a flower I brought to it. It was such an interesting process that I suspect clouds will now make me think about more than the sky in skyscapes.
My thanks this week to Lisa, Barbara, Maria, Lizard, Victoria, Susie, Catherine, Wayne, Ingrid, Sam, Cristina, Steve, and Dianne for your great feedback.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Many photographers have favorite subject matters. When it comes to flowers, I tend to think of Imogen Cunningham and her many black and white and toned botanical photographs, as well as Lenny Foster's wonderful magnolia blossom images in both black and white and color. There are so many possibilities. Peruvian lilies are interesting because of both the inside of the flowers and the outside petals. Both of January's gifts are used here. The image below was shot in snow and deep shadow.
This is from another shot in shadow, but I wanted to emphasize the yellow base of the flower and the delicate pinks.
Full light with high clouds tempering the noon sun highlights the range of colors.
A closeup, also in full sun with high clouds.
Thanks to TTT and Ben, Wayne, Lisa, Dianne, Barbara, Catherine, Steve, Sara, and Charlie K. C. for the great comments and contributing this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The # 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is a light and wonderful novel about a woman in Botswana who establishes the agency with the proceeds from the sale of her father's cattle when he dies. And it goes from there.
Hampton Sides, Santa Fe resident and contributing editor to Outside Magazine, is the author of Ghost Soldiers, a true story about a rescue mission in the Philippines during World War II. One of those bits of history about which very little is told.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari takes the reader through humans' DNA evolution to the agricultural revolution to the scientific revolution and modern times. It will put intellectual meat on your brains.
I have written before about The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair. Packed with so much physics, science, and information about color that I treat it as a snack, it is the theme of today's blog. I take a little taste of it each day, and try to remember the pithy details. Here, I address her section on the color green and its many variations.
Green is green is green. Or is it? There are roughly 1,800+ colors swatches in the Pantone color matching system. The company was established in the 1950s in New York City. Later, a color matching system was established within Pantone by a part-time employee and Hofstra University graduate. (That in itself is an amazing story about which you can read more in Wikipedia). But given the huge number of color variations in existence, St. Clair took a sampling of colors from each group to include in her book. Today's blog covers her featured "greens". My mission was to find something that more or less matched the greens she features in her book. Some were a bit more problematic than others because of the basic printing process for the book, the paper used, and how the paper handled the different colors.
Verdigris is the first "green" described by St. Clair. I happened to find many matches for this particular color, both in the landscape and in my closet.
Next was absinthe. A solicitation letter from Habitat for Humanity used almost precisely the same color.
Celadon is interesting because it ranges from a green that has a more yellowish tint to some actual celadon pottery we have from Korea that is similar to the verdigris featured earlier. The tea cup shown below leans more to yellow.
I actually had difficulty finding St. Clair's versions of both Kelly green and Emerald green which both seemed more than a little "off" to me compared to what I think of in terms of those colors. This was the closest I could find to match the page swatch.
Emerald wasn't much better, but this was an exercise in both visualizing color, finding matches, and photographing them.
The surprise of the group was a color labeled Terre Verte. I think of it as a shade of khaki, which I consider a brown. A pair of trousers was almost a total match.
The avocado color on the label of a bottle of olive oil, and actually the oil itself, was a pretty good match for the page edge in St. Clair's book
A photograph I took of lotus leaves was the closest I could come to Scheele's green. A Swedish scientist, Scheele "was studying the element arsenic when he came across the compound copper arsenite, a green that, though a slightly grubby pea shade, he immediately recognized as having commercial potential in an industry starved for green pigments and dyes." The rest, as they say, is color history.
We live in an incredible world, one in which artists and photographers can utilize the many colors around us in addition to the many variations in the grey scale. Enjoy your explorations!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>In the first example, the wax in which the bulb is encased and the flowers are almost a muted red, with the black going from deep black to medium grey because way I chose to situate it in the light.
In the second example the background is a slightly more uniform grey.
Example # 3 is lit from left to right but the background is closer to uniform grey. The backdrops share all their gnarly glory with spots and variations. I think this particular shot is closer to the concept of botanical drawing or painting.
I made the shot below a little darker, making the amaryllis stand out more against the grey/black background.
This final color photograph has a lot of added black, which leaves no variation in the background, and giving the flowers a much bolder and other-worldly look.
Finally, the toned version below shows that black and white is also effective for this type of botanical.
Thanks to Ingrid and Robert for today's subject matter and creative suggestions, and to all of you who commented this week including Geula, Marilyn, Karen, Christina, Orlando, Wayne, Terry T., Dianne, Jean and Sam, Catherine, Kelly S., Barbara, Lisa, Victoria, Bill and Sue, Debra, Karla, Steve, Elida, and Donna C. Many thanks!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Because of the smaller format in which many of you view the blog and its photographic contents, several people commented that they thought these seed pods were downhill skiers. Here it is again, just for fun.
The developing yucca bloom shown below definitely had an element of funk to it!
Deer in the headlights clearly applies to this youngster.
The low light, shadows, and color really "make" this landscape of an area near Ghost Ranch.
I like the photograph below because it was one of many surprises during a shoot of Oregon and black-eyed juncos.
The architectural elements of one of Fred's rugs made a perfect counterpoint to a Peruvian lily bloom.
What can one say about this image? A lot, but one thing I can say is that I was darned lucky to catch it.
This one I describe as "patience induced". Wait for and watch rufous hummingbirds long enough, and you will eventually get a shot you love.
There are two photographic pilgrimages I take each year. One is to photograph wild iris, and the other is to photograph autumn color. Below is one of a number of shots I took of wild iris on the Highway 64 pass between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla. The bloom color is almost perfect periwinkle.
And finally in the year's photographic roundup, a "forest primeval" shot of aspen trees, also along the Highway 64 pass.
Thanks to Barbara, Jean and Sam, Lawrence, Geula, Mary G., Dianne, Wayne, and Donna C. for commenting this week, and to all of you for reading and following my blog during the year. May 2020 be extraordinary, and provide much inspiration, learning, and joy for all!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Father Christmas is a secular and almost universal symbol of the religious holiday. My sister gave us this handsome gent years ago and he continues to brighten any room. Over the years, he has collected some new ornaments.
A twist on the traditional Christmas stocking hung on the mantle is a Native American fabric design from Pendleton with local ornamentation.
And the candle is another universal symbol of warmth, light, life, and renewal.
Until I shot a hundred or so photographs of this candle, I had no idea how the air moves in our house. Another unintended physics lesson.
Thanks to Lisa, Dianne, Ronnie, Jean and Sam, Terry T., TTT, Elida, Steve, Pauli, and Barbara for getting in touch this week. May everyone have beautiful and safe holidays!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>One of the first things I learned through studies like these is that the substance of the background is going to impact the subject. With fabric, if it is woven in such a way that produces a sheen, it seems to, in my mind, detract from the subject. Unless you are looking specifically for a shiny background, a flat backdrop is what I am looking for. In this case, the subject is a humble silk peony shot against a flat black jacket.
As always, I shoot from above, from the sides, with the camera canted low, or lens tight on the subject. There are numerous possibilities, and many outcomes. Although similar to the first shot, this is a little fuller, with more breathing room.
Contrasting the same flower on snow renders totally different results. This is in full shade on groppel.
Putting the flower in morning sun on ice highlights the individual petals a bit more.
I thoroughly enjoyed the creativity and words that you - Christina, Steve, TTT, Jean and Sam, Larry and Carol, Lisa, Barbara, Karen, Ingrid, Charlie, Dianne, and Catherine - posted this week. Thank you! Enjoy the extra seconds of daylight fall on the land starting on Saturday.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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A silk dress can take many forms in a light breeze, and I did quite a few shots before deciding that seeing a slice of fabric could begin a story in the eyes of the beholder. It is shown below.
Our version of the Scottish highlands' heather here on the mesa is sage brush. So it only seemed appropriate to give the Royal Stewart tartan a temporary position in the sage.
And here is the brave Scot standing in the snow, while sporting the tartan.
And a penstemon waving its flag from beneath the snow. Obviously, this is not a winter shot but one taken in the midst of a late spring snow.
Thanks to Jean and Sam, TTT, Donna, Barbara, and Geula for commenting during this busy time of year, to Ingrid and Robert for the rooster, and to Fred for his styling.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>Ice and snow are simply fascinating to me, and I spend time each winter photographing both. The way they fall and what is left behind on the surface of nature and human-made objects is wonderful. We planted two wisteria vines on a clothes line, thinking they would produce some beautiful flowers in the spring. I didn't even consider the ice designs that would be formed on them. Here are a few examples. The way water lands and freezes in lumps and jumbles, makes for great abstract photographs.
When branches and stems are coated with ice, they make their own designs.
Snow that falls, particularly with this storm was deeply influenced and layered by the wind, leaving drifts and patterns. The first photograph is black and white. The second was shot from a slightly different angle and in color.
With luck, the weather will allow for some great outdoor experiences for each of you, and for those photographers in the midst, exciting shooting opportunities. Thanks for all of you who wrote or comment about the blog this week including Debra, Mary, Amanda, Lisa, Lysandra, Orlando, Mary G., Christina, Jean and Sam, Barbara, Ingrid, Connie, Steve, Andrea, Elida, and Lawrence.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Fred was lucky to have a space in the front of the ballroom where his colors and designs really popped. This is a shot of the front of his display rack. He brought twenty rugs and two rifle scabbards this year.
Mary L. Grow, PhD in Ethnography, Anthropology of Architecture and Design, participated in the fiesta again this year. Her expertise is reflected in the fiber work she creates, in addition to her scholarly writing.
One thing that is thrilling about the event is not only the artists and craftspeople who have made this their life work, but the number of younger people who have ventured into the world of fiber and are making it their own. The creativity, and blend of colors and materials is a wonderful thing to see. They are the new generation of artists and experts.
Amanda Speer, half of the duo that is The Warp Zone, is shown here, wearing one of her own creations.
The image below is of Dain Daller, part two of The Warp Zone duo. He is standing in front of their work, and also made the suit he is wearing.
Amanda and Dain use the ikat dying technique to make apparel, scarves, and other accessories.
One lovely surprise was to see Lysandra Nelson, incredibly talented illustrator and fiber artist, with her latest creation, Quinn. He had to be photographed, not only with his talented mother, but on one of Fred's rugs for posterity.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by Fred's space and joined the crowd. It was great to see each of you and we appreciate your comments and conversation that made the days go by quickly.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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My mission this week was to capture some in-flight junco photographs. Using the 70-200 lens, hand held, it was almost as if I had to take a deep breath and settle before shooting to keep from shaking. I began with a shutter speed of 1/1,600, which was nowhere near what I needed to stop their explosive take-offs. So I incrementally upped it to 1/6,400, which seemed to work better. I also did some bursts of three frames per second, which usually left me with one decent shot, one with no movement, and one in which the birds had flown. Switching to five frames per second gave me more decent images. Not being a wildlife photographer, it is always a new day and new challenge. The image below is of an Oregon junco in flight, with his landing gear up, from my second session.
Also from the second session was this "junco chaos". It was taken at 1/3,200 second. Each bird is in a different stage of take off, and going in several different directions. The shutter speed was not quite enough to stop the motion of every bird, but I see it as a study in flight.
The pink or rufous-sided, dark-eyed junco here is in full fighter pilot mode.
I can't even imagine how much energy it takes for these birds to take off and avoid other birds and objects in their flight path.
It seems to me the chances of birds encountering one another while flying are pretty good. Here, an Oregon junco takes off above a pink-sided one at the water dish.
Thanks to Lisa, Ellen, Connie, Terry, Earle, Jean and Sam, Carol and Larry, Donna, Debra, Steve, and Barbara for writing this week. Love hearing from you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Fred's grandfather served in France during World War 1. He is shown here in his uniform and campaign hat.
Decorations worn on uniforms tell a story of where the person wearing them had served and in what conflict and unit. Each pin, medal, and stripe on any uniform has meaning.
The most ubiquitous symbol of the day is the Remembrance Poppy. While growing up in Albuquerque, I remember older men (probably younger than I am now) coming to the front door selling paper poppies. My mother would always give them money for the cause. It was much later that I began to understand the importance of what these men were doing.
My humble thanks to David O., Dave K., Earle, Fred, M Fred, Steve I., Anita, Debra, Larry L., Ben, Ann, Jim W., Harold, Joel, Dalice, Charles, Sam, Al, Robert S., Doug, Jim H., Terry, Gene R., JJ, John C., Randy S., Tom, Wayne, Orlando, Clyde, as well as to Carol who served vets throughout her career as a Veterans Administration nurse. I give my gratitude here as well to those whose names I may have forgotten and to all who served or are serving.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The remnants are divided in half and placed side by side along the floor of his work space, and used sequentially to achieve a symmetrical piece. Here is a small sampling of the colors and amounts, out of roughly 40 feet of yarn balls.
One desirable quality of a handmade rug is straight edges. That is achieved by pulling the yarn into a "peak" to make an equilateral triangle (shown in the middle of the photos below) and physically measuring the height of the triangle.
Two more demonstrations of making a "peak"
Since the loom shown here is a Rio Grande walking loom, it makes sense that the weaver stands in order to weave, and footwork is a big part of the process. It is the way the high tension warp is opened with his feet and thus, body weight on the treadle to allow passage of the shuttle.
Fred will have a booth at the Fall Fiber Fiesta at the Scottish Rite Temple, 463 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe, Friday night, 22 November (opening 5 p.m.- 8 p.m.), Saturday 23 November and Sunday 24 November (open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) If you are in the area and have a minute, drop by for a visit.
We would love to see you.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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What would the day be without a skull, regardless of type. Some creative color and contrast adjustments gives this just a touch of creep, even with the beautiful flowers.
Spider webs have become quintessential decorating elements of the season. Hard to beat nature in this regard.
The webs above have nothing to do with this amazing creature, the tarantula. Fortunately, they move relatively slowly and I was able to slip a piece of white paper underneath it to help accentuate the color and body parts.
Below are two shots of a piece of wood with the bark removed, revealing some designs created by insects that might make your skin crawl.
And Halloween would not be complete without someone who is beguiling. I don't think Jessica would mind me saying that this holiday is her favorite.
Thank you, Karla, Jean and Sam, Lisa, Lucia, Catherine, Barbara, Christina, Claudia, and Steve for your comments this week, and to Jessica, and Ashley and Gene for your contributions to this blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The brilliance of aspen that I have been photographing for the last three weeks is always a huge draw for artists, but the seemingly mundane grasses and seeds pods shine at this time of year as well in their own way.
This bunch grass (and that is the closest I can get to identification) is intriguing regardless of season. Even with the greyness and yellow edges, it makes a statement with its shape, and by the way it reflects the prevailing wind.
The wheat grass below, lit by morning light, always seems to add design elements to the landscape and photographs.
Gaillardia have brought color in spring, summer, and fall, and now the seeds pods are the delight of the juncos, numerous sparrows and other seed eaters.
The clematis vines are loaded with deep purple flowers all summer but after the first frost, the leaves lose their green color and become muted. However, the branches that have wound themselves around one another, always produce interesting elements, such as the arch below. I could not resist giving it a bit more mystery with selective toning.
Many thanks go to Pauli this week for sending this information about aspen from Wikipedia.
"Most aspens grow in large clonal colonies, derived from a single seedling, and spread by means of root suckers; new stems in the colony may appear at up to 98–131 ft from the parent tree. Each individual tree can live for 40–150 years above ground, but the root system of the colony is long-lived. In some cases, this is for thousands of years, sending up new trunks as the older trunks die off above ground. One such colony in Utah, given the nickname of "Pando", is estimated to be 80,000 years old, making it possibly the oldest living colony of aspens. "
My thanks also to Jean and Sam, Christina, Bill, Paule, Claudia, Wayne, Elida, Barbara, Sandra, Catherine, Debra, Steve, Lucia, and Ingrid for your kind words.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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But the yellows and golds were pretty darned spectacular. It was one of those days I could have spent the entire day shooting in the autumn sunshine and smelling the rarified air.
As is frequently the case, I am on my back shooting up to do justice to not only the aspen leaves but the magnificent trunks and branches that carry them.
The morning backlighting of so many of the aspen was magical. I felt like it was a forest primeval in pure gold.
There always seems to be something I don't notice until the photographs are downloaded into the computer, which was true of the image below. The leaf shadows on the trunk reflect the golden character of the day.
Because of the many different elevations in New Mexico, autumn, which is on its way out here, has barely started in some places. So I hope you have a chance to savor the season and photograph everything from aspen to cottonwoods to maples and willows around the state and beyond. Thanks to Barbara F. R., Christina, Jean and Sam, Paule, Steve, Catherine, Lisa, Susie, Connie, Wayne, and Dianne for your comments last week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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First, a shot made in the morning, when the leaves were backlit, there was little or no wind. The second is a general aspen shot, courtesy of nature.
Then, I let my camera do its magic at 1/30 of second. The small branches not only bent in the wind but the leaves flew like flags against the blue sky.
What attracted me to this image is the combination of light peach and yellow, subdued slightly by the grass backdrop.
This shot was taken in early afternoon, leaving the gold very bright and dramatic, taken at 1/10 of a second shutter speed. The photograph below that was made during the same time frame, showing a little more structure in the midst of abstraction.
Before the deep frosts arrive later in the week, I hope to get out and do more aspen and cottonwood photography.
Wayne, TTT, Maria, Marilyn, Barbara, Dianne, Steve, Donna, Pauli, and Ingrid chimed in on last week's blog and I appreciate that.
Thanks for going on this experimental photographic journey with me!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The Santa Fe Farmers' Market is quite the gathering place, with musicians and arts and crafts, in addition to a huge variety of edibles, in both prepared and fresh-from-the-farm form. With camera in hand, I search for the bright and bold, as well as new-to-me goods. Tried and true peppers are always winners.
This Jarrahdale squash or pumpkin was by far one of the most interesting vegetables for sale this weekend. What a subtle and lovely shade of sage it is.
And in the "knock your socks off" color department is the watermelon radish being sold by several growers. Sliced, it reveals the reason for its name.
Being given small, ivory colored carnations with Peruvian lilies recently, I could see the carnation as a toned photograph on the spot.
The combination of the orange Peruvian lily and eucalyptus leaves gets one into the spirit of the autumn season.
All of these flowers and vegetables demonstrate the complicated beauty shapes and colors produce.
Thanks to Cristina and Ben, Wayne, Dianne, Marilyn, Barbara, Jean and Sam, Debra, and Steve for your input this week, and to all of you who gave me ideas for updating my website. I am still fine-tuning it, so if you go to my blog or website and are unable to open it, that is probably due to the fact that I am working on it.
Happy Birthday to Earle and Heather, who are celebrating birthdays this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>As for me, I have been pondering some changes to my website. The busy-ness of growing things and watering and photography kept me away from it, although the concept remained implanted, waiting to emerge. During the past week, I finally sat down, swallowed my fears, and began work. Some of you (including Terry, Cristina, Steve, Barbara, and Debbie) gave me input, for which I am extremely grateful, but I wanted each of you who have been so good about reading this blog a chance to check it out. The link is below.
The biggest change you will see is a home page slide show. The light colored arrows are for directional purposes only. They don't do much of anything else. Left to right, right to left. That is it. Moving your mouse or doing track fingers on other devices will slow down or speed up the movement of the photo strip. If you find one image on which you would like to focus, just move your mouse to the center of it, and stop your mouse. I will continue to work on other elements in the coming weeks, so if, for some reason, you are unable to get into the site, it is probably because work is being done on it. In the mean time, here are two singular signals of a time of change - aspen leaves in our north garden here on the mesa.
Thanks to Jean and Sam, Marilyn, Stacey, Donna C., Dianne, Wayne, Terry T., Steve, Barbara, Donna K., Louise, Elida, and Maria for your feedback this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
Leave it to the birds, however, to provide entertainment and subject matter. They know when rain is coming, and decide, seemingly en masse, to bathe. The western bluebirds start first, but what brought my camera and 70-200 mm lens out of its bag, were the different groups of other birds about to get seriously wet. There were chipping sparrows, field sparrows, a female western tanager, and those distinctive yellow-rumped warblers. Here is an image of one just beginning to bathe, and then, soaked.
What was a surprise to me was the fact that many of these warblers which usually sport black, yellow, and white feathers, had brown heads and scapulars. I thought perhaps they were female, but after consulting The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley, I realized the brown ones are juveniles. They are in their first winter mode (August through April).
Here are an adult and first year warbler together. Looks like the elder has a thing or two to say, like "mine!"
The tables are turned in the image below.
Finally, a couple of shots of the purple asters, which were the original concept for today's blog.
Thanks so very much to those of you who have commented the last two Mondays, including Marilyn, Jean and Sam, Steve, Susie, Terry, Barbara, Maria, Wayne, Lisa, Donna C., Lawrence, TTT, Elida, Catherine, Dianne, Christina, and Debra.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>This week, two mule deer with antlers in velvet dropped by to quench their thirst. One I would call "a buck in training", the other was full grown. With closed doors, I was able to get my Nikon D800 with 70-200 mm lens and capture some images without startling them.
Here is a shot of the young buck. I would caption this "take a look at those ears!"
The more mature buck has more points on its "rack", and his coat is a bit worse for wear.
Whether they sense it or not, this is a dangerous time for both deer and elk, as the hunting season has begun. They are a little like the hummingbirds right now, continually searching their surroundings for trouble.
If I didn't know better, I would have thought this was a decoy, given how still he was standing. Ready, but still.
With luck, many of you will be out with your cameras during the week, capturing the subtleties of the changing seasons!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Obviously, I have not spent nearly enough time wandering Santa Fe lately, because the mural was done in 2015. The trompe l'oeil technique of making a flat surface look three dimensional has been used on plaster for centuries in Europe. Pugh has given Santa Fe a real jewel. To me, it seems as though artists who use these techniques must have a way of seeing that certainly does not come to my eyes. It is quite extraordinary, and lending a "Game of Thrones" feel to the building.
The dragon seems to be bursting through the surface.
The shadows add power to the spines.
The added and final brilliance in Pugh's mural is Beauty in the Beast, feeling the wall and approaching the dragon. This is almost everyone's immediate reaction - to feel the three dimensionality, which is there only in our minds.
I hope all of you are able to see Beauty in the Beast in the near future.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Last year at this time, Steve Immel and I, with the great help of Steve's wife, Peggy, and my husband, Fred, photographed Kara and Eero's wedding at Prairie Star near Albuquerque. Happy First Anniversary to Kara and Eero, with best wishes for a lifetime of joy!
Other couples who I photographed and are celebrating this month include Christie and Joel, shown below.
This was shot with Ilford 400 black and white film, and scanned.
Heather and Stewart
Marilyn and Matthew
Robin and Dominic
Pia and Mike
Who are these people, going to their reception in 1972, for pity sake? Could we look much younger? We had to nab one of the guests from the ceremony to take us to the reception. I missed that part of the planning!
Our thanks to Debra Harbaugh for shooting our wedding those many decades ago. And I am grateful to all of you who trusted me to take your wedding photographs, regardless of month or year.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Which got me thinking about hummingbirds. These extraordinary creatures stay with us at 7,700 feet elevation roughly from mid-April through mid-September. They are seasonal joys, and it is melancholy, even sad when they leave. We love their presence. It also occurred to me that of all the things I had photographed this year, I had not done any hummingbird photo sessions. This week was a fine time for that. As a photographer, photographing them is challenging to my patience, my ability to focus the camera, and my memory. I can see the incredible motion but somehow forget how fast they fly, and how fast the shutter speed must be to really catch motion. During the first of my five sessions in the purple sage and at the feeders, I was using one of my presets - 1/250. That might work for some things, but not hummingbirds. I boosted it to 1/1,600, since that would give a balance of motion and stillness that I like.
Although watching does provide some knowledge about their behavior, I am not entirely sure why every single one of these birds is a female rufous. (It is possible some of these are juvenile males who have not yet developed the brilliant rufuos throat.) They do guard plants and feeders alike, but I am uncertain as to why they seemed to be the only hummingbirds I was able to photograph in the purple/blue sage (Salvia pachyphylla).
I love the way they hover and use their wings to balance as they feed on the flowers.
Luckily, the light was bright enough to show the translucent wings without added flash.
If a hummingbird can have an attitude, this lady does. Pretty darned proud, I would say!
Great to hear from Stacey, M Fred, Christina, Connie, Wayne, Lucia, Steve, and Jean and Sam last week. I appreciate all of you for reading!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The photograph below shows two thunderstorm "anvils" that lacked the moisture to bring rain to the ground, but enough to produce a wild sky painting.
There is a lot going on in the sky here. The different layers of clouds almost look as if they are competing for space and substance as they mixed to make rain.
Things continued to build here. As Fred says "I'd flip on the 'fasten seat belt' sign, and turn ten degrees right."
In other words, get the heck around that puppy.
One of the keys to cloud photography is to keep scanning the entire sky. Things change quickly when storms are brewing. The black and white shot below is similar to the one above, but taken a few minutes later. The sky was getting darker, the clouds becoming moodier.
And then it rained.
Glad so many of you enjoyed last week's sunflowers, including Dave O. (who grew up with them), Claudia, Catherine, Jean and Sam, Lucia, Ingrid, Steve, Annie, Barbara, Pauli, and Victoria.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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While shooting the second group of images, the sun was in and out of the clouds, providing a softer light. It also gave me the opportunity to showcase the stems that were beefy and furry. The back sides of the flowers are almost as intriguing as the front.
What would a sequence be without a black and white, toned image?
Thanks for TTT and Ben for providing today's photographic material, and to Connie, Jean and Sam, Christina, Barbara, Debra, Suz, Elida, Terry, Dianne, Lisa, Ingrid and Robert, Steve, Lue, Ellen, Lawrence, and Maria for commenting.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Watching juvenile birds the past couple of weeks, doing take offs and landings, flailing, trying again, and learning quite quickly, made me think about how butterflies seem to emerge through the development stages from egg to larvae (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis or cocoon) to butterfly, ready to fly. It is astonishing. I was lucky enough to catch a swallowtail butterfly drifting among the blue sage flowers (Salvia pachyphylla) on Friday, With photography almost always on the brain, I began to follow it with my trusty Nikon and 70-200 mm lens. Swallowtails settle and become comfortable on blossoms, making them easier to photograph than some of the smaller ones that give the word "flighty" new meaning. Their big wings allow them to hover and sip every bit of nectar before moving on. My guess is that the butterfly I was able to photograph was fairly new. The wings are unscathed and nearly perfect.
Eating, flying, hovering. It is all about the wings.
I hope your photography takes flight this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Here is a yellow paintbrush bud, in the partial shade of a spruce tree.
Below are two scarlet paintbrush tucked under a single corn lily stalk with its graceful, whirling leaves.
While photographing these meadows and the plants that populate them, I have to constantly remind myself to watch where I step. Some of the flowers are so tiny that not only would I not see them, but it would be very easy to destroy them. Another reason to tread with care is that some flowers, because of their deep colors, hairs, and reflective power, seem to appear out of nowhere. I found myself almost stumbling into a group of Whipple's penstemon. I had neither seen nor photographed these rich, deep wine-hued flowers for years. They are very hairy, and the hairs reflect light in such a way that closer inspection is required before you see the juicy color. Each flower is an ecosystem. Many insects gather on the blossoms.
Another shot of the Whipple's penstemon with the Brazos Cliffs in the background
Those of us who live in the mountain west are lucky. We can escape the heat by gaining elevation, and searching for the gifts it holds.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Here is a shot of layer upon layer of metal that forms the bear's back
The polar bear was built using old car hoods, as well as other vehicle elements which can be seen up close. There are vents and scoops and at least five car logo buttons or badges. The most prominent are Saab, BMW, and Chevrolet. There are two others that Fred and I were unable to identify, despite spending an inordinate amount of time searching online. If you look closely at the left edge of the bear's mouth, you will see a Chevy logo.
What looks like a button in the upper middle of the bear's chest is a BMW insignia. On its left lower hip is another button. Little clues as to the vehicles that were repurposed.
Kennell made its paws appropriately large and serious.
Artist Don Kennell, Project Manager Lisa Adler, fabrication crew Zach Greer, Caleb Smith, and Miguel Lucio, the Railyard Park Conservancy's Railyard Art Project, and the Santa Fe Institute brought the polar bear to life and Santa Fe before it travels on to other locations.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Even in those three years, there are photographs I have since deleted from computer memory of one form another. I am extremely tenacious about weeding my images, and there were a few regrets from that group, but for many that I weeded (in my opinion), it was the right decision. Other things learned from the review is that my photography then, as now, is still all over the map. Whether the images are landscapes, environmental portraiture, weddings, food, nature, flowers, still life, abstract, architecture, or travel, I continue to photograph and study all the possibilities, and try to shake it up. I have used a number of the images from those years multiple times in later blogs. But, just for fun, here are some from 2010-2012. Given the number of blogs involved, this is a real hodge podge of images.
First, an image in a series I made of coyote puppies that graced us with their presence one summer.
Another series I shot during those years was of some bright red-orange poppies in Taos. Here is a detail that, to me, shows the fascinating parts of the flower other than the full petals or the bowl.
Coming into Taos from Santa Fe yields the most amazing view of the Rio Grande Gorge. I have used this many times and continue to feature it in many applications.
Another place it didn't take long to love is Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. So many great photographic possibilities present themselves in this constantly changing landscape.
A pergola on Museum Hill in Santa Fe yields eye dazzling patterns of light and shadow.
As simple and fun as this photograph is, I never tire of the bride dipping her toes in water reflecting autumn brilliance.
Finally, a photographer can hardly miss when photographing Stewart Herd.
Thanks to all of you who follow my blog every Monday, regardless of format, and over the years including Barbara, Susie, Geula, Wayne, Char, Jean and Sam, Steve, Christina, Lisa, Ellen, and Bill and Sue who commented this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Once again, the amazing season of flowers is today's blog theme. This week, I shot photographs, printed a number of the wild iris shots from last week, and worked on several images from years past to create juicy black and white prints. First, Gallardia, class of 2019. The Rocky Mountain penstemon, in the background of several shots, are also having a banner year.
As the standard darkroom did and still does for some photographers, digital darkroom work takes up a large chunk time. Here is one image I worked with this week of a white camelia that seemed perfect for the black and white application.
My thanks to Victoria, Wayne, Lisa, Donna C., Ingrid, Dianne, Susie, Pauli, and Steve for you most welcome comments.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Although acres of grazing land behind barbed wire fencing were loaded with them, I was able to find blooms just below the high pass along rivulets and streams. Given the fact that there are still huge lenses of snow waiting to melt, water is everywhere and so are the iris. Moving from rock to rock and dry spots to avoid sinking into the bogs was like doing a not-so-graceful dance. Glad there wasn't video! Below is an example of iris right on the edge of slow-moving water, which lends a contrasting backdrop to the flower, leaves, and grass.
In addition to capturing the different colors and patterns of the petals, I wanted to continue my search for interesting natural backdrops, camera angles, and other photographic elements such as depth of field. In the case below, a rotting log served that purpose.
The grasses and iris leaves are nature's background in the three closeups below.
The height of the iris in this shot adds interest.
What really appealed to me about the bloom and other iris shown here was the color. Almost a pure periwinkle. The splashes of yellow come courtesy of golden peas.
Thanks to Suz, Kay, Donna C., Maria, Christina, Heather H., Steve, Victoria, and Wayne for participating in the blog process this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Sagebrush makes a beautiful backdrop - in both color and texture - for the flowers that grow in between the sage leaves.
The paintbrush flowers in the image below look fairly typical but the windswept look of the sage skeleton behind the blooms adds interest.
In this shot, my intention was to give the flower and buds some "breathing room" or depth.
Here are two slightly closer shots, using the cracked earth as the backdrop.
A single "prairie fire" flame of the Castilleja on the mesa
Thanks to Sam, TTT, Ingrid, Barbara, Dianne, Ellen, Christina, Steve, Catherine, Lawrence, Heather, Elida, Bill, and Carolyn for your kind comments!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>When you live like this, there are regular things one does on a regular basis, such as checking the controller to see how much energy is coming into the system at any given time. Whether the system is "bulking" - filling the batteries, "absorbing" - batteries are nearly full, or "floating" meaning the batteries are totally full and any sunshine landing on the solar or photovoltaic panels is extra wattage. Because we chose to be thrifty and incorporate a wood-burning cookstove into the system, 95% of our meals are cooked using the good old Stanley from Ireland. Not only does it enable us to cook meals, but it provides extra heat, especially on the cold, winter days that frequent the high mesa. Our inner geeks also heat the water for washing dishes after our meals. Here is an image of the beast, in full meal mode - fry pan, two pots of water, and a tea pot.
For this blog, I decided to photograph preparation of our dinner - green chile enchiladas. I started by photographing the corn tortillas, which we discovered long ago take much patience and practice to make. Never got the hang of that. All the corn tortillas we use conveniently come from the grocery store, although both Fred and I make flour tortillas. Still not quite as round as Lena D. makes, but they are tasty nonetheless. The concept got my creative juices going and made me really think about the process of making a meal, off-grid. First step was a little styling with the corn tortillas, photogenic as they are.
I also grate cheese for the enchilada filling. This time it was a sharp Kerry Gold cheddar, combined with Jarlsberg cheese.
While I was doing this, Fred was constructing the fire in the wood burning stove, and lighting it, to get the heating process started.
After the stove top gets to a temperature that will heat the olive oil, it is time to gently fry the tortillas. The job is in Fred's capable hands.
At this point, I put the cheese on the tortillas and layer them, before adding the sauce which I prepared before hand (chopped green chile, salt, chicken broth, and flour or cornstarch as thickener), and pop them in the wood burning stove's oven. Add a beverage of your choice and contentment is assured.
A couple of photographic notes. First, when using primarily natural light, sometimes black has a tendency to look a little blue. Adjustments can be made, either to the light source or to the image to rectify that. Second, while coordinating food photography with actually consuming a meal that comes from a wood burning cook stove, the photographer needs to think things through ahead of time, be organized and ready. No dawdling around.
Bon appétit!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In addition to the paintbrush and the Santa Fe phlox that are everywhere right now, a penstemon with rather small blooms, will soon cover the land. It does seem as if every seed that fell to the ground has sprouted in a year of more than normal moisture. This little bouquet caught me eye. I apologize for not being able to provide the botanical name. There are a lot of penstemons and my research has yet to find a name. It is a beard tongue of some sort.
Finally, the wild blue flax - Linum lewisii - are really starting to bloom. You can catch them in the morning hours on the sides of the highways. Morning is also the best time since even the slightest breeze moves the delicate stems and blossoms.
I hope this first week in June brings lots of photographic opportunities
your way.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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I did not notice until this visit that it seems the headstones of wives/husband who were not soldiers or veterans face the headstones of the soldiers/veterans. The three engraved stones in the middle of the image below are of wives married to soldiers/veterans.
Although much more could be done to honor service members who have passed, and to assist with the needs of current veterans and their families, I am pleased that the tradition of honoring each with a flag on Memorial Day continues.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>During the past week, I spent time with my Nikon D800 and 70-200 mm lens, shooting the black headed grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) and the western tanagers (Piranga ludoviciana). Both species seems to have had a very good chick production year in 2018. There are least six male grosbeaks and two females here, and a minimum of four tanagers. I photographed the male grosbeak below as he waited in a New Mexico privet.
As you can see from this shot, grosbeaks, in addition to the orange and black body, accented by white wing bars, have a stunning splash of yellow on their lower breasts.
One of the interesting things about watching them is how they deal with a bird feeder that is technically meant for smaller birds. Despite the fact that the feeder is designed to keep such feeder hogs as jays as well as grosbeaks from getting the seed, when it comes to food, they find a way. The grosbeak below had to run his wings each time for balance as he moved his head toward the seed hole.
The female of the species was, as frequently seems to be the case, much more docile and able to develop her own system for getting seeds.
Although a bit smaller, the bright yellow and red western tanager is hard to miss, and also develops its own way of dealing with feeders.
And then there is bath time...
I hope you are able to get out with your cameras this week to explore the wonders of nature. Thanks to Christina, Pauli, Connie, Wayne, Susie, Conchita, TTT, Steve, and Lisa for your comments this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
It took a bit of online research to find what I think is the name of this brain-like fungi or puffball - Calbovista subsculpta. It was the size of a dinner plate and may have been edible, but I do not have enough knowledge about them to take a chance.
Downright dangerous, just by looking at it, but this is a thistle bud. I loved the way the fibers are literally woven over and around the prickly points.
In their many stages on the way to flowering, yuccas definitely carry bloom stalks that are worthy of the Alien movies.
Finally, its circular interior makes the flower of the mariposa lily look space-ship like, with all sorts of creatures inside.
The images in today's blog were made using a Nikon D5200 with 18-55 mm lens. No muss no fuss no filters. Just nature - out there.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Most of the year on the high mesa, the only time we see barrel and claret cup (also called hedgehog) cacti that hug the ground and blend into their surroundings is if by chance we step on one, or mistakenly run into one cutting high grass, or pulling "weeds". Thanks to friends who have been keeping an eye out on the cactus, we had the chance to hike on a trail that was new to us yesterday and see the bloom. It was and remains quite impressive.
Cactus do like warmth and seem to plug themselves into nooks and crannies that gain both sunshine and occasional moisture provided by nature's drip irrigation. A perfect example of that is shown below. The Echinocereus viridiflorus is hedgehog cactus offering splendid yellow-green blooms, and frequently found in rocky landscapes.
Much brighter and easier to spot are the scarlet hedgehog cactus, often called Claret Cup, Echinocereus triglochidiatus.
The claret cups are often in the company of other wildflowers, as shown in the photograph below, with daisies.
The photograph here almost looks like a bridal bouquet, courtesy of the artistry of Mother Nature.
Although they like the heat, these cacti sometimes plant themselves in the shade of a piñon or juniper tree and are happy as long enough sun shines on them.
And one more closeup to round out the set.
I want to thank all of you who participated in my blog survey of images for the Tasty and Artful card set last week - Lucia, Ellen, Lisa, Sam D., Char, Barbara, Dianne, Louise, Myra, Terry, Marilyn, Susie, Charlie, Pauli, Steve and Ingrid. Over the two blog period, the images with the most votes were:
Native American corn
New World food
cauliflower soup
coffee in Zimbabwean basket
heirloom tomatoes
mini squash in basket
tea
veined lettuce
Victoria's apples
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Ah, but I am not done with you yet! I need your help on a second set of photographs, which appear here. Again, any and all comments are welcome.
Grapes in the Vienna Farmers' Market
set for tea
butterhead lettuce veins
rows of lettuce
cherry tomatoes
heirloom tomatoes
coffee in Zimbabwean basket
cauliflower soup
mini-squash
Once again, my thanks to you for participating in the development of my card/print collection. I hope your week holds many good nibbles.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Grab a snack and a beverage. This blog is image heavy! With food and food photography on the brain, I am asking for your assistance (and I may do this several times in future blogs) in helping me choose images for my new greeting card series. My food series is called "Tasty and Artful" and will contain 10-15 images. And I may do subsequent volumes, but it would be great before I venture forth, to get your input. This means that I have already done some self-editing, which as all photographers know can be both a plus or a minus. So I am asking your indulgence in telling me which images you think are the strongest, the ones that you like the best, and ones you would like to send to someone. If you don't like any of them, that input is also helpful.
Bell peppers
Yellow corn
Native American corn
Egg reflection
Victoria's apples
Handmade chocolates and iris
New world food on Navajo-Churro wool rug
Pears in box
Artichoke
Cauliflower cross-section
Rum balls under construction
Caprese plate
Thanks to Lawrence, Charlie, Cristina, Marcie, Marilyn, Mary Pat, Myra, Steve, Wayne, Christina W., Connie, Terry T., Jean and Sam, Barbara, Deb H., Sue, and Pauli for your comments during the past couple of weeks. They are much appreciated!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In anticipation of daily signs, I call this black and white photograph "Before".
Then, one day it seems, one leaf after another begins to unfold.
There is nothing like seeing aspen in spring.
The Easter daisies, shown below, are the high mesa's version of the Easter lily.
Last but not least, scrub oaks, with their extremely short growing season, add splashes of bright green amidst the conifers.
Happy Spring to all of you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The pond and surrounding area are fairly undramatic except for that precious commodity - water. When clouds cover the sun, the light can be flat, rendering the water totally lack luster. Here is a shot of the water's surface under a mixed sky, somewhat ordinary but interesting in its rhythm.
But when you crop different parts of the series of photographs I took, magical things happen, such as is shown in the image below. There was just enough blue sky to mix with the overcast and produce some really interesting results.
This is a broader shot when the sun was beginning to shine...
...followed by slightly brighter sun on this particular section of the water. The water almost looks like it is woven into a design.
And finally, the clouds, filtered sun and a reflection of trees on the shore create a totally different abstract.
I never cease to be caught off guard by what can be seen in nature, and hope that you are presented a delight or two by it this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>One of the things that is intriguing to me is the occurrence in nature of things that are soft and hard, strong and seemingly weak, linear and random. And I enjoy creating still life images with the same idea in mind. My husband, Fred, with his background in architecture, aviation, and engineering, has an extremely keen eye for structure. The Navajo-Churro wool rugs that he weaves make perfect backdrops and give contrast to flowers and food and all sorts of softer objects. And yesterday was the perfect day to experiment with those ideas.
Fred's "end of the year" striped rug (Rug #325) - a symmetrical blending of all the smaller pieces of wool he collected from his year's weaving - provided an interesting counterpoint to sunflowers.
Peruvian lilies highlight part of the architectural detail in Rug 318.
Those same lilies soften the bold details and colors of what is almost an "eye dazzler" rug, #318.
All of the images included here were made with natural light from several different sources, punctuated by lighter or heavier cloud cover. Regardless of the weather, there is almost always a good time, place, and subject matter with which to experiment in life's photographic laboratory.
Thanks to Connie, Cristina and Ben, Wayne, Ingrid, Lisa, Maria, Dianne, Steve, Wayne, and Jean and Sam, and Fred for adding to the photographic discussion this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Environmental portraiture - photography in general - as is true with many of the arts, leaves you with gifts that last forever. I think of the person, the time, season, and conditions during which the photograph was made, and what the individual is doing at the moment each time you view the photograph. For me, about half the time, I don't really know the person I am photographing, and can only hope to reveal a little about them - their lives and stories. And even when I do know the person, something seems to pop before the camera revealing a little something else. Although I have many favorites, some I cannot show here because of privacy concerns. But the images below are a small sampling of my favorites.
There is nothing like a chef who loves his work. Robert Hudak, of the Viking Cruise Lines, was thoroughly enjoying the smell of sweets at the Vienna Farmers' Market.
Fiber artist Christine Hernandez is shown here wearing some of her creations. Her wistful confidence permeates the image.
Travis Webb is a man of many talents, the greater field of martial arts being one. His shaved head phase was not long lived, but his interest in swords and blades has expanded. He is now creating knives that are both utilitarian and beautiful.
Jessica Fry is posed here as a magical woman of the earth, one of her many personas.
The stories that this wedding officiate wears in ink would take some time to see and hear, but there are a great many tales in his eyes and smile as well.
Paule Marx, shown in her studio, is one of the most gentle people I know. It shows in her eyes and approach to life.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>During the winter months, I have been working on several card series, and will continue to do that, while adding to the library with spring shooting. Here are a couple of images from the "Tasty and Artful" set. Grilled shishito peppers and radishes are two of the images.
"Noir/Blanc/Gris" contains a wide variety of subject matter, rather than the edibles featured in the previous set. With luck, every card included will demonstrate the potential and beauty of black, white, and grey.
"Fresh and Painterly" is a sampling of flowers, plants, and trees in all the seasons. Shown here are apple blossoms, fern "fiddles", and a big sage (Artemisia tridentata) abstract.
I hope you are able to get out this week, and use your cameras with glee!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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My quest for different backdrops and light to complement the blooms continue here, with a plastered wall and natural light from the north, east, and south in the example below.
I like the idea of juxtaposition of flowers with more rugged backdrops, and decided to use a cactus as the background for the two shots below. Indirect southern light with reflected light filled the orchid.
The warmth of oak furniture enhanced the orchid in the shot below.
Letting the natural light fall on a variety of objects, including a cream-colored wall, gave a slight green hint to the flower and wall backdrop.
Happy Birthday to all the Pisces and Aries out there who are witting or unwitting blog participants, including M Fred, Diane, Susie, Jan, Brenda, Andrea, Debra, Jean, Sam, Elida, Carol, Sara, John, Rowena, Steve, and Rock.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>California and Mexican poppies are synonymous with the Southwestern United States desert areas, but they seem to be quite flexible, liking the moisture provided by the ocean as much as the lack of it. The poppy bud shown below is cloaked with water droplets, courtesy of morning fog.
The California poppy here has emerged from the lupine.
Foxglove are everywhere on Point Reyes, and they appear in varying shades of pink and fuchsia.
This foxglove is surrounded by a lighter shade of lupine.
It won't be long before the deserts, mesas, and mountains come alive with blooms, courtesy of El Niño moisture.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The effects of wind are everywhere on Earth. Wind and water work every day - shaping, molding, building up, tearing down, and otherwise leaving their marks. Here are some that I found after the high mesa and points west, including Chama, received a healthy dump of snow. After the storm exited east, and the sun was no longer obscured by an overcast sky, I got out for a couple of different shoots among the drifts. There is a black and white feel to this image, despite the fact that it is shot in color mode.
Wind whipped around a sandstone upright to make graceful drifts in the two photographs below.
A humble garden pot required the wind to deposit snow in an almost perfectly straight line.
I have always loved "The Great Wave off Kanagawa", a woodblock by Katsushika Hokusai. It inspired me to take this snow wave and give it a computer tint with selenium.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Multiple-story dwellings require a way to get from the ground floor to the upper floors. In some parts of the world, stone or concrete ramps provide the needed rise in elevation, but stairs seem to be the most common solution. Even in modern high rise buildings that incorporate elevators to achieve the rise in elevation, there are still stair wells in case of fire. Staircases can be strictly functional or provide both function and great beauty. Either way, I love the look and the feeling of rising to another secret or unknown space by climbing them. If designed and built well, stairs and staircases are architectural wonders. It does not matter whether they are straight or incorporate graceful curves, they are fascinating.
Below is a staircase at the Territorial House in Taos, that can be closed off by massive wooden doors. It is very vertical and frontal, but still manages to provide drama.
Humble adobe and brick combined adds the functionality of mass to the mix.
In order to maintain the symmetry of a pyramid or temple, stairs were on all sides, such as the Temple of the Seven Dolls in Dzibilchaltun, Mexico.
A gracefully curving stairway in the Tlaquepaque area of Guadalajara, Mexico
More curve and twisting is quite apparent in the beautiful staircase located in one of the dormitories at United World College, in Montezuma, New Mexico.
And finally, an ornate and beautiful staircase in Melk Abbey, Austria
Perhaps a staircase of interest will help you rise to an occasion this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Flat grey skies are the bane of photographers' existence when it comes to some architectural, landscape, and travel photography. But those same skies can be perfect for shooting portraits and still life subjects. I used the snowy landscape and a pearl-colored fill disc to shoot red silk poppies under the leaden skies. The snow first.
The toned rose bud shown below was shot through filtered light.
Gentle rose petals in water with soft focus light to bring out the base color
May everyone feel love this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion fro the image@
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All one has to do is drive on U. S. Highway 84 after it splits from U. S. Highway 285 north toward Chama, and it becomes apparent quite quickly why O'Keefe fell in love with the area. The geology is spectacular, and a photographer's dream. My first introduction to it was in 1994, and in 2003, I took a photography course through Ghost Ranch. For some reason, most of the trips I have made to the area have been in the morning. This time, I was working with bold, in your face afternoon light, and a cloudless New Mexico sky. It gave me a different perspective on formations I had photographed before.
The iconic Ghost Ranch scenic includes Chimney Rock. A photographer has to be a little creative to keep power lines out of the image, and, quite frankly, I am not patient enough to work in Photoshop to eliminate them. Here is my latest rendition, aided by a 70-200 mm lens.
As always, my search for details never ends, as the photographs below show.
Here are two slightly broader shots.
Happy Trails to you this week, hopefully with camera in hand.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Coffee beans are particularly interesting in their shape, color, and patina when roasted. The trio below, from left to right, features Mexican, Yannan Arabica, and Sumatran. The Chinese beans are very lightly roasted, whereas the Mexican and particularly the Sumatran, were roasted to such an extent that the oils come pouring through.
The white bag in which these beans are contained provides a light tent, as it were, allowing the light to land evenly on each bean.
Chocolate is another fascinating food that, when rendered in various ways, lends a shine to anything it covers, such as the almonds shown below. Reflective power was provided by a clear glass to the left of the set up.
Below is the most dear of New World foods, the vanilla bean. The orchids from which the beans come are, to this day, hand pollinated during a relatively short bloom period. Although I have not even seen a vanilla orchid, I thought an orchid leaf would provide an appropriate backdrop for the bean. The brown in the bean shown here reveals yellows and reds.
After reading the list and looking at the shades St. Clair calls browns - khaki, buff, fallow, russet, sepia, umber, mummy and taupe - my love of the hue is even greater. And photographing it even more challenging.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Angel of the snow shoveler
The snow angel left by a trusty broom used for sweeping snow
In a more industrial vein, the solar panels, well casing and pitless adaptor stand together in earnest and in shadow.
Steel wire that has come uncoiled projects a lovely shadow. A nod to my photographer friend, Steve Immel.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The two images below relay well the "Fargo" feeling of the landscape this morning.
And the blue sky begins to break through.
If you are in the northern hemisphere, please keep safe and warm while you are photographing winter.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In the early 1980s, I worked at the Secretary of State's office, and was also doing freelance photography. It was a perfect fit for the Official New Mexico Blue Book published in 1981-1982, which included a number of my photographs. The seal of the state on New Mexico flag gold inside the Zia symbol was paired with a photograph I shot along the Aspen Vista Trail near Santa Fe Ski Basin. Obviously, these have been through several generations of printing and scanning.
Something to catch the eye and palate - one of Fred Black's Navajo Churro wool rugs, red chile power, and Anasazi beans.
One of the more iconic places in northwestern New Mexico is Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The photograph below shows some of the incredible architectural elements and stone work you can see on a visit here, when the government opens again.
Cacao Santa Fe has developed a "Chaco Pottery Shards" collection that reproduces designs on pottery jars recently discovered. According to the description page, the jars contained residue of liquid chocolate. These little jewels also gave me the opportunity to play with food again.
Happy Birthday, New Mexico! And thanks to Pauli, Catherine, Lawrence (almost the New Mexico birthday boy), Steve, Andrea, Connie, Debra, Dianne, David, Wayne, Ingrid and Robert, Jean and Sam, Barbara, and Lisa for your blog comments.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The frost Saturday morning was applied in the largest variety of shapes and construction I have ever seen. These large feathers clinging to a wisteria vine were delicate but extremely strong.
Icicles hanging from every available upright were complicated as well. The first image shows the full icicle, while the second and third include details of the top and bottom of the ice.
And life would simply not be the same without evidence of animals as they make their way through the snow. The mouse tracks below were crisp and clear as if applied with a very acute paintbrush.
My hope for 2019 is that each of you is able to practice or enjoy art and life, and that only good prevails on Planet Earth!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The stock tank continues to offer amazing ice designs as the water level builds and then retreats, and freezes and thaws. I wanted to share a few photographs with you. The first was taken without direct sunshine, rendering the color more of a blue, with the ice reflecting the sky.
The second two shots were taken with direct sunlight shining on and through the ice, resulting in a greenish tint - the truer color of the water. The bubbles shine like jewels here.
Happy Christmas everyone!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>My father had a Sochard Fotoclock, made in the 1940s. It was a trifold wonder, crafted of leather, with the clock and works in the middle section, and two side wings attached, each capable of holding a photograph. It was a wind-up clock, no quartz works in the day, and it was extremely noisy. So when we found the need for a new clock, Fred and I both decided to utilize the face from the Fotoclock, encased in a brass frame. For a relatively inexpensive clock at the time, the face is a lovely example of art deco design, which would be nicely complemented by arts and crafts woodwork. Fred went to work on a design, and using hand tools and oak, along with a new quartz clockworks, he built what I am calling a "solstice clock." In the images below, it seems to rise from the adobe into the sky, a little like the standing stones in Stonehenge and other stone circles in Europe. As you can see by the time on the clock (a little less than two hours before sunset here), it was perfect for these still life shots. rendering good, solid light, giving me the ability to capture some of the architectural details.
Beginning on Saturday, I hope you find the tiny addition of sunlight each day exciting. Thanks to Terry, Steve, Jean and Sam, Pauli, Wayne, Veronica, Barbara, Catherine and Connie for your kind comments about last week's blog, and to all of you who follow my work throughout the year.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I love good illustration and great writing wherever they appear, and when I was actually looking at the wine corks stowed away for recycling, I noticed something. Since my nose is usually on the cork, I generally only see the logo and name of the winery. But looking at them carefully, I noticed, to my delight, that many had quotes on them. For instance, the cork for a Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel had a quote from George Herbert which was particularly apropos. "Old wine and an old friend are good provisions". Another cork simply had three things printed on it - sought-after, wanted, and in demand. Simple, lovely font, pure design.
You know where this is going. Taking advantage of the remaining patches of snow and early morning light, I headed out with my trusty camera and did a setup with a few of the corks, a glass, and holly berries. Here are three of the results.
Thanks for Catherine, Maria, Wayne, Steve, Sandra, Lucia, Terry, TTT, Connie, Andrea, Lisa, Barbara, Marilyn, M Fred, and Elida for commenting on my recent blogs.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The feathers and assorted designs in the photograph below came from the greenhouse glass, which is totally vertical, leaving very different types of frost crystals than those that appear on the roof windows at 45 degrees.
The next two shots were made just after sunrise, under the roof windows, and the frost is catching those first hues of pink and peach.
Gold is scattered all over the photograph below made from underneath one of the roof windows. It could be a slab of granite or wallpaper.
Winter solstice does not happen this year until Friday, December 21 at 3:23 p.m. For now, winter will continue to whet skiers' appetites until the main course arrives.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>When one pours hot liquid into a cup, a reaction happens causing some of the liquid to atomize when it hits the air, turning it into steam. Tiny droplets of water rise from the cup, and, depending on the air currents and temperature in the room, those droplets are shaped into curls and waves and wisps. I could watch them all day. They are mesmerizing. All of this begged the question: can I catch any of this action with my camera? It is something I have always wanted to do, so why not? I was somewhat successful (more work to do) but it was a great indoor project for a cold morning, with the bonus of being able to consume the finished product. A nice column of steam is rising upward from the cup shown below, accompanied by a 1904 edition of Whittier's Complete Poems.
There was a lot of action on top of the coffee in this image.
I was almost "burst shooting" to catch a curl at the top of a column here. It is just visible on the "W".
Finally, a close-up shot of the base droplets in action.
The design of light on the left hand side of the mug in all of the shots was created with the help of a multi-sided, empty and clear glass that was just a bit taller than the mug.
Enjoy your explorations of life, wherever they take you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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I begin with the two incredible women who had their table next to Fred's space at the Fiesta. Being in such close proximity with people for several days provided a great opportunity to get to know them and their work. Fred and I were thrilled to be seated next to Lysandra Nelson and Liza Ryus.
In addition to the needle felting work she does (shown below), Lysandra is an animator, illustrator, and computer graphics artist of incredible talent. She works in both 2D and 3D computer and gaming graphics, as well as both traditional and computer animation. Her needle felted New Mexico bird population sold out by the second day. The magpie shown here sold shortly after I took this photograph. The art of needle felting is quite fascinating. All the pieces in the foreground are made of felt, firmly manipulated to render shape and dimension with sharp, thin needles. Lysandra's fingers are the proving ground of her skills.
Shown below is one of Lysandra's armadillos with one of her bird illustrations. You can find her work at https://lysandraws.com/
Liza Ryus has a number of "day" jobs, including serving as a costume designer for the San Francisco Opera. But one of her other creative endeavors is The Millenimals, finely knit and accessorized animals which are "self-described young artists trying to make it in a boomer world". They have a heavy social media presence of their own and travel around the world. Check out the likes of Pola-Bear and Bropossum at https://www.themillenimals.com/meet-the-millenimals. Here are a couple of shots of Liza and the gang at the Fall Fiber Fiesta.
Lisa was constantly working while talking about some of her favorite characters with clients. Note the Social Justice Terrier, protesting in the middle of the photograph.
It seems that even the support crew at the various artisans booths are talents in their own rights. Kelly Pasholk was assisting artist Wendy Clarke - www.dancingdonkeyart.com - at her table but also by modeling her hats and tiaras at the Fiesta. I caught her walking through the exhibit area. She has designed covers for a number of books, and is a water colorist. http://winkvisualarts.com/winkvisualarts.com/Designs.html
Not to let a possible environmental portraiture shoot go by the wayside, I noticed Christine Hernandez on the first evening of the Fiesta and knew immediately that I wanted to photograph her. She was kind enough to spend some time outside at various locations around the Scottish Rite Temple while I tried to capture the perfect image of her extremely expressive face. Christine's business is titled "Lil Weavy Handwoven" - lilweavy.com. She wears her work well.
That is certainly enough for one blog. Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The New York Times headline that day read "Armistice Signed, End of the War! Berlin seized by revolutionists; New Chancellor Begs for Order; Ousted Kaiser Flees to Holland." Given our collective attention span these days, that was one heck of a long headline. But it captured everyone's attention because very few were unaffected by World War I. Roughly 20 million people were killed, with another mind-boggling number of people injured - some 38,000,000. Most of the world now lives with hardly a thought about Veterans' Day, except that one can buy a mattress or automobile at a discounted rate. We are, sadly, disconnected from the military and what its members do for those of us not involved. Veterans, active service members, and reservists deserve much more than lip service. The least I can do here is to remember and highlight them, just as newscasters and journalists are doing on BBC America and other networks by wearing the poppy pin on their lapels. This year is especially symbolic, since Sunday is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
Fred's grandfather, Frederick Rockingham, joined the Army when the United States entered WWI. Here is a photograph of him in uniform. He was in France 100 years ago, in the 62nd Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps. Because everyone in the unit was from the San Francisco Bay area, it was called "The Market Street Artillery."
It occurred to me while writing this that a German man who lived in the apartment below us in Albuquerque when we were first married had served in WWI. He said that, physically, in addition to the terrible death and destruction of World War I, the worst thing about it was the mud. It was everywhere, and if an inanimate object can be relentless, the mud was. Oskar had joined the German cavalry, but mechanized war made horses and the cavalry obsolete and he was put in the infantry. It is hard to know whether horses or vehicles were better in the mud. As with most who fight in wars, Oskar would come to tears every time he spoke of WWI.
Below is the Weeping Window by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper at the Caernarfon Castle in Wales, featuring thousands of metal poppies. They became the symbol of war dead based on the poem "In Flanders Fields" written in 1915 by Canadian physician-lieutenant John McCrae.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe! To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high! If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
The Weeping Window
These gents in the United States Navy, joined after the end of WWI. The man in the middle is my husband's great uncle Willie.
Since Armistice or Veterans' Day celebrates all veterans, I move now from World War I to World War II. The photograph below is simply wonderful, and a quintessential wartime photograph. It features Paul Williston Ayres, a navigator in the Army Air Corps 35th Squadron, 64th Troop Carrier Group on C-47s, with his wife, Shirley Anne Rockingham Ayres, They were parents of my husband's cousin, Pauli Anne, with whom we recently visited in Santa Fe. This photograph may have been made in California, since they were married in Sacramento. After training in Nova Scotia, Paul was stationed in England, and ultimately flew from Lincolnshire to Tunisia, with a mission of transporting paratroopers in north Africa. He never returned. Pauli Anne sent us part of one of hundreds of letters she still has from his service time, written to his brother a month before his death. One death that effected generations, and a major reason for us to learn and abide by the lessons of history. His ending words express humor, but to me, are heartbreaking. "Write when you can and I'll do the same. Until then - watch your drift - Love, Paul A."
There was also many who were stateside, including my father Alan Dale Douglas, who, after training in Missouri, became an air traffic controller in the Army Air Corps, based in Deming, New Mexico (yes, there was a base there and it also served as a German P. O. W. camp.) This is one of those classic staged shots. He did not fly for the first time until the 1970s. Since he was a local stage actor, he loved cameras and the cameras loved him. Very photogenic.
Fred's father, Forest E. Black, was also an air traffic controller in the U. S. Navy, based at Alameda Naval Air Station in California during WWII. Note the two essentials: his identification button and a comb in his pocket. Another handsome serviceman.
Which brings us to the Vietnam era. This shot was taken in 1972 with Fred hanging out the door of an H-2 helicopter somewhere in the South China Sea while serving as crew chief for HC-5 (Helicopter Combat Squadron 5).
Thanks to Fred, M. Fred, Ben, Earle, Steve I., Bogie, Anita, David O., Doug E., Debra, Chuck, Dave K., Jim H., JJ, Gene, Larry, Jim W., Randy S., Sam G., Tom R., Wayne, Clyde, Orlando, Robert S., and Terry. If I have forgotten to include anyone, I apologize but know my appreciation is always with you.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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So what does this have to do with photography? Not a whole lot, but in a way, more than we know. My father's words that always goaded us made me wonder this week "What would happen if on one day, such as election day in the United States, people said a few kind words in person, on Facebook, in an email, or gave a small token to the people around them?" For just one moment, would the world break out in a spontaneous smile, as if it was being presented with a handful of rosebuds...
...or a single rose?
What is wrong with saying "a few kind words"? Everyone and our singular, beautiful planet needs them.
Thank you Elida, Ingrid, Catherine, Wayne, Steve, Lisa, Maria, and Dianne for your kind words about last week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The first three images below are from Ojo Caliente. Rogue thunderclouds moved across the sky, yielding a combination of striking sun and shadow, as I explored the woods.
The color is certainly not exclusive to the river valleys. Even in the city, shades of red, peach, green and yellow present themselves in places as mundane as the Whole Foods parking lot. A woman rolled down her window when she saw me with my camera and said "Aren't they beautiful? I wish I had my phone with me." An excellent reason for having a camera (or an iPhone) with me at all times.
When we were graced with rain last week, I took the opportunity to head outside between showers and shoot rain drops on aspen leaves.
Wherever you are, I hope that you are able to get out into the richness of nature this week. If you are in New Mexico, perhaps you will be able to follow autumn, as it heads south along the Rio to the central and southern parts of the state, with cameras in hand (or not), even if just to take deep breaths of air filled with the smell of leaves and soil and water working their magic.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Morguing (not in the dictionary) is a professional hazard of being a photographer. Just as our documentary filmmaker friend, Cristina, mentally assesses movies technically when she sees them, I look at books, magazines, newspapers, movies, and television, observing the sets, scenes, costumes, and lighting with an eye for the way in which the photographer or cinematographer worked. Led by HBO and BBC, almost all television now has at least really good photographic work. If I cannot physically tear a page from a beautiful magazine like The New York Times, Western Art and Architecture, Sunset Magazine or Wine Spectator, I take mental notes of setups and light for future reference. That being said, I would never go so far as to copy the work someone has done. If I am looking at it with admiration, I would not even think about trying to duplicate it. But all these things train the photographer's eye to observe. With a clipping, one can look again and again, with more appreciation of what the original artist has done.
Included in this photograph is shot of Kiera Knightley and Jeff Koons in a Wizard of Oz-inspired fashion shoot by Annie Leibovitz (bottom center), a clip of a photographer using modern scaffolding, shooting down to capture camping equipment (middle right) from Sunset Magazine, an elaborate setup from Wine Spectator magazine (middle), above that on the right is a famous fashion shot of Louise Brooks taken in 1928 by Eugene Robert Richee, and above that a black and white image made in retro, early 20th century style, and the other a color food spread from another Wine Spectator magazine.
The real curiosity in the group is a menu (middle left) from the Aviation Terrace Restaurant operated by Hotel New Yorker in 1941. I have always admired this commercial art piece after discovering it in my parents belongings after they died. The cover illustration is a steel engraving done by Dr. Jos. Guttman titled Wings of the Night Over Land and Sea at La Guardia Airport. It is a gorgeous, detailed menu cover from a time when the United States had righted itself after the Great Depression, and six months before America became involved in the war that became World War II. You could get the Club Luncheon special of Broiled Ham with mashed potatoes and new peas for .75, Switzerland Swiss cheese for .30, or Little Neck Clams for .35. The Hotel New York was also providing food for Pan American Airways, American Airlines, and Canadian Colonial Airways, as well as Eastern and United Air Lines. What a time!
My mission, as a photographer, is to continue to observe both visually and physically, and continuing morguing to learn and to improve my skills and creativity when I get into the field - whether that is in a studio, on the street or in any landscape.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The aspen still have golden leaves that hold snow crystals.
An autumn serviceberry bush just began its own color show this week.
Some new flower stalks appeared in the purple sage and are also dotted with snow.
The gallardia or blanket flowers have had an extraordinarily long bloom season this year. The blossoms now nod downward under the wetness.
Gallardia seed pods are like painted buttons in the snow, waiting for the goldfinches and juncos to pull them apart.
Thanks to everyone who explores my blog every Monday and those who commented in the last several weeks, including Peggy, Wayne, Catherine, Elida, Steve, Terry, Sara, and Dianne!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>This strange place explorers encountered held incredible riches, not only in precious metals but in plants they had never seen nor tasted. Plants that one could say changed cultural and culinary landscapes forever. The list of New World foods is huge and I cannot think of a single country or culture that does not use at least a few of them They include some of my personal favorites and I cannot imagine a world without them. Vanilla, chocolate, corn, peppers, squash, potatoes, beans, pineapple, pecans, and peanuts, to name a few. A tip of the hat to the Indigenous Peoples who originally discovered and cultivated these jewels, as well as to those who explored and returned to the Old World, spreading the "taste" wealth far and wide.
Peppers in a Budapest market
Bagged cacao beans from Venezuela at Cafe Chokola in Taos.
Marigolds and gourds are both New World plants.
from the 2017 tomato harvest on the mesa
Old World meets New World - beautiful Native American corn, on Navajo Churro wool of sheep originally from the Old World and brought to the New World by the Spaniards.
As a photographer and a person with an interest in food and its history, I try to embrace these humble plants and crops with my camera. They provide numerous photographic opportunities in addition to the joy of eating them. I encourage anyone who is a photographer - amateur or professional - not to forget food and its origins while exploring at home or abroad. Some of my favorite images by professional photographers include food.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The first example, below, was shot with my 70-200 mm lens against a wood balustrade painted white. The short depth of field keeps the detail in the wood at a minimum to bring full attention to the leaf colors and shape.
The green of other aspen leaves as well as a touch of blue sky provide the backdrop for this branch of aspen leaves, in varying shades and conditions.
The off-white of trunks and green leaves let the color in this shot come to the fore.
As backdrop, muted tones of soil, adobe, and sandstone give a slightly different feel to this branch.
As artist and photographer Sam Taylor once said to me (I am paraphrasing) "If you consider yourself an artist, you have to work at your art every day." Every day, I either use my cameras or work with photographs in Lightroom, or look at other works of art, and each time I do, I learn something. The world is an enormous and endless photography school, and I want to make the most of it.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Sometimes the way in which light falls on the yellow gold of the leaves is so brilliant that it nearly burns the retinas!
To me, aspen trunks are almost as interesting as the leaves. Smooth or gnarled with wild branches, they come in the most delicious shades, ranging from almost pure blue white, to cream, green tinged and yellow.
This photographer's day in the aspen would not be the same if I did not lay flat on my back and shoot upward toward the sky to gather the trees in all their glory.
I hope those of you in the vicinity of autumn colors are able to view and photograph them this season.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The red of the cherry tomatoes shown here, under a white canopy, seems to be amplified and dense.
More subtle are the bok choi and summer squash, which are in abundance right now. Photographically, farmers' markets challenge the shooter with different light and situational conditions, but also present abundant possibilities.
The colors in these peppers would probably make designers at the Crayola@ Corporation "green and red" with envy.
When I have a mission, such as photographing a farmers' market, I wander and try not to carry too many expectations along with me. That makes the unexpected so much sweeter. Looking down and seeing this non-vegetable combination was fabulous.
Of all the things I could have seen at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market, a woman dressed in Steampunk was absolutely the most unexpected. She was kind enough to allow me to get some shots of her near the old Santa Fe Southern Railway car.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Here is Kara with her beautiful grandmother.
The image below is one of Steve's favorites from the wedding. His encouragement helped the group have fun, and thus avoid a more traditional shot.
Here is one of the bridesmaids, Haley, as statue, with Eero's father looking on in the background.
Generally after a photographer (or team, as was the case in this wedding, of Steve Immel, his wife, Peggy, and my husband, Fred) has made the formal wedding shots, a short block of time exists before the bride and groom officially enter the reception. I call this "drifting time", and both Steve and I spent it shooting photographs of relatives and friends who attended the wedding. This particular shot was courtesy of the fact that there was a children's table set up with craft-making materials. Naturally, more fun than making things was getting under the tables, amidst the satin skirting. Katiana was clearly in her element.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>To me, weddings are a combination of photo journalism/documentary filmmaking, sports, and environmental portraiture/fine art photography. The long and short of it is that a wedding is a story. Complete with a cast of characters and plot, it happens on a specific date and time, in a certain location, and unfolds before the photographer's eye and camera. The photographer's job is to capture the story in photographs. Steve and I kept this in mind as we were shooting, trying to catch important shots as they occurred and from different enough positions to produce a combination of original and pleasing results.
Given the three categories of photography I mentioned, I selected some from each. Shooting the preparation for the wedding actually was a longer process than the ceremony itself so there are many photographs in the category. Here are a couple from the women's side (Steve photographed the men). The makeup and hair artist, Genica Lee, was amazing. A magazine or newspaper article could definitely be written about this woman, who works for television and film, as well as for photographic subjects and special occasions, like weddings.
It is important that a photographer catches bridesmaids making costume adjustments behind the scenes...
...as well as documenting the wedding including the signing of the wedding license.
Parts of a wedding are almost like sports events, in that the photographer needs to be moving quickly enough to catch a particular part of the wedding sequence, whether it is the bridesmaids and groomsmen, or the flower girls, as shown below...
...or the bride, Kara, and groom, Eero who are definitely on the move, making their way to the reception.
Then there is the dancing.
Since environmental portraiture and fine art photography are two of my favorite types of photography, I try to make sure that there are many images of that ilk at every wedding I shoot. In their own right, these images tell stories about the subjects. The photographs below all show the bride and groom. Others will be forthcoming in future blogs. The first in the sequence features the bride, Kara, before going downstairs for the ceremony.
Both Kara and Eero wanted black and white photographs in addition to color, so Steve and I wanted to make sure there were plenty of them.
But the sky, as is frequently the case during monsoon season, held lots of drama, and color photographs highlighted that in a different way.
Thanks to Elida, Ingrid, TTT, Wayne, Steve, Conchita, and Dianne for commenting on my previous blog, and waiting until now to be thanked for their kind words. Thanks also to Kara and Eero for allowing me to use their wedding photographs in my blog. It was a real privilege to photograph them, their families, and friends.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The buds are as fascinating to see close-up as the flowers.
And what would a blog be without a tight abstract, courtesy of the blobs and blotches (technical terms) on the flowers.
Thank you, C&B for the lily gift and inspiration for creativity!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>So just imagine a tiny young bird, with a wingspan of 4.3 inches (109 millimeters) inches and weighing less than one ounce, emerging from the nest, pretty much ready to fly into the world. Such is the case of the rufous hummingbird. The last three days, I have watched a female rufous, which must have been born here, guarding the flowers of purple sage plants. With camera and 70-200 mm lens in hand, I followed her doing what I can only describe as endurance training. She would fly and then rest, almost anywhere, which is not common among hummingbirds. She would land on the ground, on the side of the water dishes, and literally crash into branches. She is clearly part of this year's freshman class, and is going through a rigorous orientation.
Here she is making her way over the flowers, working each one as well as she is able to at this point in her young life.
This was very nearly a crash landing but she hung on. She is one strong bird!
After the extremely active session of guarding "her" flowers, rest is essential. Her eyes are starting to slam shut in this shot. Having one's tail feathers in the water must also feel good on a warm afternoon.
But after a hummingbird-length nap, it is back to work, always diligent.
Thanks to Maria Davila for sending the Colibrí (hummingbird) species residing in Coahuila - Oreja blanca (white-eared), magnifico (magnificent), garganta rubi (ruby-throated), garganta azul (blue-throated), and barba negra (black chinned).
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The first and third sessions, I worked in shutter priority, using 1/200 of a second shutter speed. This will stop a moderate amount of action, but certainly not the wings of a hummingbird. Thus, the blur. But you can get some really interesting effects, as shown below. The beak seems to be piercing the air.
Luckily, that shutter speed caught the tongue of this rufous hummingbird, hovering.
Another female jet jockey was working as "feeder guard" and already has some damage to her tail feathers.
The female shown below has also seen some action, as reflected by the tears in her flight feathers. According to Hummingbirds.net, the rufous are the most maneuverable of all the hummingbirds, and they also have the longest migration route. They have been seen in every state and Canadian provence except Quebec and Prince Edward Island. I was able to stop the wing action using 1/5,000 second shutter speed.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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In 1996, I started a photography project that eventually led to my book "A Place Like No Other: people of an enchanted land." A photography instructor happened to have a nice Mamiya 645 with a Schneider lens and he offered it to me for a good price, which was still a lot of money. My constant thought is - just work on your technique and take better photographs. You don't need more or bigger or better equipment. In that particular case, I bought the camera and never regretted it. It served me well, and the 1 3/4 x 2 1/4 format was perfect for those environmental portraits.
However, during the late afternoon/early evening hours this week, two bull elk drifted by the south side of our house, and I grabbed my Nikon D800 with 70-200mm lens to try to capture these rather large animals, with antlers in full velvet. According to Wikipedia, the so-called velvet "is a soft layer of highly vascularised skin" that protects the growing bone until it is fully developed. This presented me with a "velvet conundrum" - should I buy a 500 mm lens so I could shoot more effective images of these animals during occasions such as this? My logical brain's answer was a fairly straightforward "No". I am not a wildlife photographer. The shots I am lucky enough to get represent part of my general interest in nature and, although a definite interest, not one of my major subjects in the photographic field. So included here are photographs documenting the elk. Regardless of the philosophical ramblings here, it was great to see these bulls sporting their velvet.
The gash in this one's coat, probably from a barbed wire fence, is clearly evident in the image below.
Photographic conundrums are out there continually and I still try to balance true necessity, desire, and expense along with getting out there and producing really good images.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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As a photographer, I find photographs that either I or other photographers have taken that are of "cooling" scenes help to bring visual coolness on hot days. The photographs below fill that role in a number of different categories, even environmental portraiture and fantasy shots. The first features Jessica Fry in the aspen high country on a June day that seems to exude coolness.
There is nothing like a body of water to fill the visual coolness bill. This is a water feature at the Santa Ana Pueblo Prairie Star golf course, north of Albuquerque.
Water plants, including the lotus and the marsh marigold shown here, also lead the eye into a nice summer comfort zone.
And finally, nothing, literally, cools the air like a summer thunderstorm, regardless of where you are in the Southwest.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>There are stories of human survival on land and on the sea every day - those who break through the trials of a disease, immigrants trying to find safety in this world, and those, who in trying to get away from the feeling of safety, take literal wrong turns, and survive despite the odds.
Survival exists in nature as well. I have often wondered during this year of very little rain, how the animals are faring with sparse food and water, and how plants covering the landscape manage to survive with so little of both. Somehow, they do. Years ago, a friend gave us an envelope filled with prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) seeds. Having just thrown them out on the land, I wasn't sure how successful they would be. Not only were they successful, they proliferated with great vigor, despite not really being watered, just surviving on the moisture that falls upon the high mesa. Photographically, they are one of those flowers that is somewhat difficult to capture, because of their shape, and the fact that even the slightest breeze moves them. I've been trying to get some decent shots for years. The ones here are part of my latest effort.
The hairy yellow daisy (Heterotheca villosa) might be considered a weed by some, but its small, daisy-like flowers add dots of yellow to the dry landscape.
Finally, both the Salvia pachyphylla and the spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) are survivors this year. One of the generally common pollinators we have here are numerous butterflies. Few are around this year, I suspect, because the birds are eating everything they can catch. The swallowtail had a big chunk taken out of its wing. The Salvia seems to be happy with the relative lack of moisture.
My thanks and admiration to all of those people who work to facilitate survival, and those who are able to dig deep within themselves and pull through.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Like a photograph, novel, short story or any creation, my blogs reflect and have contents pertaining to a particular time, place, or even mood, and reaction to the subject I am photographing or about which I am writing. A little bit of everything goes into the total package. Given that, I could not possibly say I have a favorite in that time period. In some, the writing was more inspiring and wittier than others, and the same goes for the photography. But, fortunately, a lovely few were spot on.
So in developing a theme for #500, I had pondered doing a compilation of what I thought were the best. However, because of the many fires in the western United States, I have been thinking a lot lately about an assignment I chose for myself in May, 1994 while photographing for The Birder's Guide to Bed and Breakfasts by Peggy van Hulsteyn. Somehow, I wiggled my way into photographing a group of rappelling firefighters in the Gila Wilderness. I was allowed to tag along with them as they packed their gear and ropes, chose food from a huge pantry of very high energy products, and made sure everything was packed as it should be in the helicopter from which they would be rappelling. Fire season really had not started yet, so this was a drill. I also was lucky enough to be able to ride along in the helicopter with them. It was quite the deal for this former Girl Scout and Ranger Aide. I wrote an article and submitted it to the Albuquerque Journal for their use on June 10. It was returned to me in the mail, unpublished, two days before that same helicopter crashed, killing the pilot, and two of the firefighters, and injuring two others while moving firefighters from one wildfire to another. It was then and still is a very dangerous job. In the end, employees of the Gila National Forest asked me for photographs for their memorial to the men. I sent 35 mm transparencies of the individuals for this purpose. The Santa Fe New Mexican published the article I wrote for the Albuquerque Journal and made a memorial article with photographs. The editor and I worked together on it and in the end, it did justice to these truly wonderful men, who loved the work they were doing and being part of the greater good.
The images here are of other firefighters who were on the team at the time and not involved in the crash. This blog is for all who work in firefighting and those who gave their lives for it.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>From our place on the high mesa, we have been offered some extraordinary visuals, in the form of cumulonimbus clouds or events, what I call "cumulus bombs" because they literally look like an atom bomb has been exploded. The first formed in late afternoon and continued as the sun set, in the area east of Taos. The eastern part of New Mexico seems to be the only place that has the magical combination of enough moisture and heat to create the uplift for one of these bombs. One such event happened last Saturday evening. It was huge and particularly beautiful at sunset, created totally by nature.
There were so many elements to it that I wanted to give you an idea of the complexity with the photograph below.
This cumulonimbus cloud was a result of the Sardinas Canyon Fire, 18 miles southeast of Taos.
With a closer look. As the crow flies, this fire is on the other side of the Rio Grande from us, roughly 35-40 miles away.
Although this fire is not yet contained on any level, it does not appear to be as intense as it was earlier. Unfortunately, the Spring Creek Fire near Ft. Garland, Colorado, a mean blaze that has charred over 50,000 acres and burned much of an entire community. It is now 5% contained. Both of these fires were human-caused. I feel conflicted about photographing fires because of the destruction on the ground to animals and humans alike. This kind of smoke means something totally different to those directly involved. We are thinking about you, Anne, and rain to recharge the West.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>David Salman of High Country Gardens gave us three "Polish Spirit" clematis vines many years ago to plant at our then new house. I had never grown one but it was a very kind gift. He said that they were quite hardy so my goal was to not fail. They are actually quite resilient plants. The soil in which I planted them was decent but definitely not enriched. But a little manure and "Yum Yum" mix each year seems to make them quite happy and in early summer, they are full of incredible blooms. Even in windy conditions, with patience between gusts, they are quite photographable. The flowers hang on, despite the winds. Set amidst elegant green leaves, they instill a sense of calm and coolness on summer days.
Enjoy some great summer photography during those early morning, late afternoon, and evening/nighttime hours.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Working with the second big spray of orchid blossoms this year, on a tiny plant given to us some years ago, I changed backgrounds and times of day for different effect. Always in the improvisation mode when it comes to backdrops, I used a grey wool vest for the first image.
The second shot, made with indirect natural light, has a gallery white matte background.
The third is against a flat, black fabric.
As soon as the midday shower ended, I headed outside to capture the first daylily blooms of the season.
The flowers are big enough to act as rain collection devices, in the area where the stamens and petals meet.
Nature will do what it will and perhaps that is one of the "normal" things in this world.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Bourdain was definitely an omnivore, savoring all parts (that is ALL parts) of beasts - both land and sea based. The two shots below were taken at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, with Fujichrome Velvia film, and scanned for inclusion here.
He got to know places by roaming the streets and exploring markets. I would be surprised if he had not visited the Farmer's Market in Vienna, where fresh cheeses and fruits are in abundance...
...or the Grote Markt in Antwerp, Belgium, another culinary wonder with foods and people from all over the planet.
One episode of the Parts Unknown series featured New Mexico. I was never quite sure what he thought of the Land of Enchantment, or if he enjoyed his Frito Pie from the Five and Dime (formerly Woolworth's) on the Plaza in Santa Fe. Any meal prepared with fresh ingredients, heart and soul, and shared leisurely with others over good conversation and drink was fine with him. Whether it was in a back alley in Hanoi, or in a hotel in Beirut where he helped prepare meals for people trapped by conflict, Bourdain brought the world, its food, its cultures, and his adventures into the homes of many, and along with it, a new appreciation of common bonds at the table. Bon Voyage for your next adventure, Anthony Bourdain.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>One question I always ask a couple when preparing to photograph their wedding is whether they would prefer black and white or color photographs. Some people don't think in terms of black and white photography, and wouldn't even ponder it until you ask. Others realize the beauty and importance of it, which was the case at our brunch meeting, wherein we discussed the merits of both black and white (endurance, gravitas, and history), and color (popularity and brightness), and came to the conclusion that a combination of both would be the best option.
Given that, I have divided images in this blog into three categories: black and white, bright color, and muted color/monochrome. As many know, there is nothing like a dramatic black and white photograph, regardless of the subject matter, and in this case, weddings. The photographs below were in outdoor settings. The first was taken during a half hour window in the mountains of southern Colorado when it wasn't raining.
The image below was on a very bright autumn afternoon but in the shade of the lovely trees at El Monte Sagrado in Taos.
Early evening, sea level light in August on a golf course in the Los Angeles area provided a nice balance of light and shadow, perfect for black and white photography.
The next category is bright color. Sometimes, situations or things seem to demand color, such as the photograph of a spring wedding in the Arizona mountains. High altitude, intense light was perfect for color.
The choice and color of flowers enhanced the autumn colors in this mock wedding done for tourism in New Mexico, in which both Steve and I served as photographers. Morning light on the Rio Grande also rendered bright color.
Muted color or near-monochrome can also be wonderfully effective in wedding photography, as shown below.
Except for the purple in the flowers, the image is carried by light and dark ivories.
So what do you think? Black and white or color or both for weddings? If you have a moment, let me know your thoughts.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>If I were somehow able to time travel and be in the presence of so many stellar spirits, I would go up to each with a flower, and say "thank you." Since it is important to say "thank you" every day, I do it here with variations on a theme of wisteria in their fragrant bloom. This is only the second bloom the vines have produced in seventeen years. Significance for the coming months?
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>This weekend was the New Mexico Fiber Crawl, courtesy of the wonderful people at EVFAC, otherwise known at the Española Valley Fiber Arts Center. evac.org. Artisans and shops from south of Albuquerque to the Colorado border participated in the crawl. Fred had his work at EVFAC so we spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday getting to know fiber artists and their work. But first, I needed to photograph the wall mural "Through the River it Flows" by Nanibah Chacon and EVFAC. It is a beautiful piece of art gracing the east side of the building, making it pop.
Here is a shot of Fred's rugs situated on his new mobile display rack. You can see more of his work at bigsageartisans.com
It is hopeless. I cannot resist an interesting face, so I utilized the afternoon shade and reflected fill light on the east side of the building to do some impromptu "fashion shots" of two of the artists at the show. The first series features fiber artist Vanessa Harris. Two shots below show one of her scarves as well as the earrings and necklace she made utilizing fiber.
Amanda Speer and Dain Daller are fiber artists and owners of Warp Zone Weaving - warpzoneweaving.com. Prominent this weekend were their Ikat weavings and apparel. The next two shots feature Vanessa wearing one of their beautiful scarves.
April Jouse, the current director of operations for EVFAC, is a multi-faceted artist in her own right. It is easy to see she did performance art and theatre.
The wind machine was in full force in the shot below.
April's website is apriljouse.com.
So, we'll wrap up the fiber in anticipation of the warm months. But I wouldn't be surprised if some black and white images arose from this shoot and appeared on the blog at some point in the future. My thanks to everyone at EVFAC, all the vendors, April, Vanessa, Amanda and Dain, and Fred for allowing me to photograph them and their work.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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http://www.nmfibercrawl.org/sites-and-events
All of this means that our house is currently packed with product created by my husband and weaver Fred Black, and fiber is literally everywhere. Here is a shot of his latest, Rug # 313. He had originally planned to incorporate a design in the middle of the rug, but was enjoying the variegations of the Ganado red wool he had measured and worked into the body of the rug that he decided to leave it plain. The result is a generous span of juicy red.
Here is a detail from Rug 313. The blue is a Tierra Wools turquoise, and the black is dyed black. Both the Ganado red and black are dyed by Connie Taylor, registrar of the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association and artist extraordinaire.
http://www.navajo-churrosheep.com/breeders-nm.html
A shot of another skein of Ganado red wool from Connie Taylor
Finally, some of Fred's Navajo-Churro wool rugs and rifle scabbards that will be on display and for sale at Española Valley Fiber Arts Center
Fred will have work at both Tierra Wools https://www.handweavers.com/ and at the EVFAC. You can find his work at http://bigsageartisans.com/index.html
If your weekend has open time, I would encourage you to find a member of the Fiber Crawl near you and feast your eyes on some truly exquisite art, and enjoy the beautiful New Mexico landscape.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Depending on the phase of a particular dandelion bloom, it can look almost like a different flower.
Kneeling and then almost laying down, I got these two shots. Pollen anyone?
The common dandelion almost looking like a sea anemone
I hope your explorations of our world lead to wonderful places this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Nearly ten years ago to the day, I was fortunate to do a photo shoot with a new friend, Catherine Sobredo, in downtown Santa Fe. She is a great photographer, with a love for the arts, having done photo series on ballet, flamenco, tango, and modern dancers. I have since learned that, in addition to her compassion and deep love of people, those feelings are shared with other creatures particularly those in jeopardy, including the wild horses of the western United States, and others that are abused. We are both quintessential children of spring. We had a lovely time wandering around the Plaza and environs, taking photographs of places and faces, although my mission was to shoot some photographs of her. Shooting with my Nikon D80, I had serious lens envy seeing the lenses she was using on her Pentax.
Catherine wears hats well, and her black hat added drama to many of the shots.
For some reason, this photograph seems to say so much.
Thanks, Catherine, for giving me the opportunity to photograph you, and Happy Birthday to you and all the springs stirring the air out there!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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We went to learn more about Leonardo Da Vinci and his incredible work. Naturally, the Mona Lisa was prominently featured. Thanks to Lumiere multi-spectral digitization, at 240 megapixels, varnish that has yellowed and distorted the original colors can be removed, revealing the original paint as seen using different light spectrums. The eyebrows and eyelashes are no longer apparent in the original painting. Here are variations on a theme of the Mona Lisa's eyes.
Pascal Cotte created the Lumiere Technology, and used it to analyze and photograph every part of the painting, including the hands shown here. The technology is fascinating.
But there was so much more to Da Vinci than I can even grasp. A seemingly perfect balance of art and science occupied Da Vinci's incredible brain. Ideas flowed like an arroyo during a summer thunderstorm, and his interests were endless. From the Citta Ideale or Ideal City, the concept for which came forth after the plague of 1484...
...to the many flying machines and parachutes that he rendered and conceptualized...
...Da Vinci continually created, built, wrote (mirror image and in Old Florentine), and painted. To me, some of his most ground-breaking and amazing work were his anatomical studies, including his pen and ink drawing of the Vitruvian Man. The Man demonstrated the "ideal" proportions of the human body as described by the Roman architect Vitruvius.
Here is one of Da Vinci's drawings of the human arm and shoulder musculature.
What would the day be without a selfie in the Stanza degli Specchi (mirror room)?
There is no one like Da Vinci to open one's mind and get the imagination rolling. I would highly recommend visiting the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque to see Da Vinci, The Genius. It runs through July 29. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/visitors/hours-and-admission
Take a field trip this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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All photographers are observers of the world around them. One does not necessarily need to hold a Ph.D. in meteorology to know that something is afoot in the atmosphere these days. But it is fascinating to watch clouds developing, taking shape, morphing and moving over the topography - just like water encountering rocks in a stream. This is a very simplistic description, and photographs show so much more, including the two images below. Even to the amateur weather geek that I am, I can see there is a whole lot of action happening here. Holes are developing, with almost a whirlpool-type activity. One heck of a bumpy ride for those traveling by airplane!
From a slightly different angle, a few minutes later, and rendered in black and white, the clouds work their magic.
Later, in the western sky, the sun is setting amidst a set of swirls.
If you are interested in reading more about weather, there are several great sites for in-depth information, including the NOAA Aviation Weather site at:
https://aviationweather.gov/adds/
It features data on winds aloft (at 30,000 feet), icing, and significant meteorological warnings, among other things. The NOAA National Weather service radar loop shows the "painted" radar readings. This particular site listing includes radar data roughly west from the Arizona border and east to the Texas border and south to north from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, to the Colorado border.
https://radar.weather.gov/radar_lite.php?rid=abx&product=NCR&loop=yes
And finally, the every day go-to forecast page (this particular one is set for Taos, New Mexico but you can input any location):
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/nm/taos?cm_ven=localwx_10day
It features all sorts of juicy tidbits like high and low temperatures, wind, humidity, barometer reading, sunrise, sunset, moon sequences, historical weather data, and on and on.
Enjoy your explorations this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Once again, it must be said that light is everything. Isolating light and/or using shade and fill light is one way of making an on-site or environmental portraiture work. Such is the case in this exterior shot of Jesse Ortiz at Tierra Wools in Los Ojos.
Clouds and sun were playing games when I shot an image of Julia while she was visiting the United States in conjunction with the film From Zimbabwe to Santa Fe, by doc filmmaker Cristina McCandless.
Weaver Joe Bacon seated at his home in Arroyo Seco. Light from two different windows filled the scene, and white walls acted as diffusers and reflectors.
Although this is obviously a seriously posed shot of Ashley, I took a number of photographs of her on the Taos Territorial House stairway before capturing the image below. The walls are white, and a west window filled the small space. Some eastern light was also scooting down the first set of stairs at her.
I am quite envious of photographers who not only make amazing portraits of other people, but are so comfortable with their own beings that they mug and play with the camera when in front of it rather than behind it. Although I am getting better about having my photograph taken, I am much more comfortable behind the camera, capturing interesting and beautiful faces of the world. And I do my very best to make those I photograph feel comfortable and make the experience fun. Being camera comrades, Steve and I have fun shooting. He, unlike me, is one of those examples of people who are almost as comfortable in front of the camera lens as behind.
And finally, a shot of Fred in Cossack hat and sunglasses. Lots of reflected light from the surrounding snow.
There are so many images I would love to share with you, but out of respect for either minors or people in private events, I don't feel I can do that in this blog setting. As photographers, you may struggle with this as well. So I suppose those are for the pleasure and memory of the people involved and us as photographers.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>One of the primary examples of this type of structure is the Nautilus. Although I have never photographed one of those, the shell shown below from the Philippines is an excellent representation of structure. Despite the fact that there are twelve segments, my suspicion is that the 13th was broken off at some point.
The Fibonacci sequence is vividly apparent in daisy-type flowers but it made me wonder if it also follows in the intermediate layer of bark from a palm tree in southern Arizona, shown here...
or in this wonderful agave specimen from the United States Sonoran Desert...
or in bamboo segments from the Napali Coast on Kauai. Or is part of the formula simply a reflection of growth and available water and nutrients?
Nature, in all its elements and mysteries, is awe-inspiring. That is why so many photographers choose it as their primary source of inspiration. I hope you are able to get out this week and get up-close and personal with it.
Thanks for the comments on last week's blog, Ingrid, TTT, Steve, Terry, Dianne, Catherine, Wayne, Larry, and Orlando. Always great to hear from you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>In Sacred Emily, written in 1913, Gertrude Stein penned the now famous phrase "A rose is a rose is a rose". I might add, perhaps. They come in myriad colors, sizes, shapes, and fragrances, and all are photogenic in one way or another. The buds and fully opened flowers are both wonderful, but the petals have such expression. In celebration of spring, today's blog pushes petals. One of the reasons I like to use them for photography is that from the base to the petal top, there is a broad range of colors. Some of those colors can't be seen unless you remove the individual petals at the base, where, in this case, white, yellow, and light green radiate outward.
As the petals oxidize, their colors turns, as is the case in several of the petals below.
Bud and removed petals used together are complementary.
Regardless of your celebration this week, I hope it brings joy and peace. Thank you C & B for presenting spring!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>It was that kind of weekend, and yesterday in particular, when the wind was howling and waves of grey-purple clouds were moving across the mesa that yielded snow, graupel, and everything in between to bring on those organizational skills.
I am privileged to know many photographers, and I suspect I am not alone in my thinking about and delay of organization. We would much rather be shooting. Having written about this before in blogs, I write again as a reminder to self to get my act together, and to realize that regardless of the photo shoot being random or educational, or it being a project or assignment, each has value. One person, a group, buildings, nature, travel - each should have its own category and file. My slides and black and white projects are very well organized. But then, there are the files marked "People - black and white", which means that to know what is in that file, I need to go through the file in its entirety. That could be good because you see your work afresh and perhaps from a new perspective. But, on the other hand, it involves time. And then there is the ultimate photographer's sin - leaving a proof sheet or sleeved negatives without a date when they were made. The negative may say "Ilford HP", signifying the type of film, but self-developing leaves no date. And darned if I don't have sets of those. Then there are slides that were made into prints or prints for which I have no negatives, or were digitized onto floppies that can be no longer accessed in the current format.
The great thing about all of my viewing the past few days was seeing images I had completely forgotten, and wondered why I had not digitized them. Like the image below of the owner of Zorba's tavern on Crete. I had previously used one of him I thought was better, but this one is casual and on the wild side, which is lovely.
There are several shots from Crete and Santorini that, for some unknown reason, I had not bothered to scan, such as the one below.
Two more slides that were dormant in their files are below. The first of bamboo on Kauai and the second of a hotel complex in Cabo San Lucas. Beautiful, bold paint and architecture, but the slide needed some attention.
Any working photographer has quite a body of work that probably needs to be revisited from time to time. The long and short of this morning's blog is a lesson - shoot, download, label, print, and organize. I am no longer counting on a particular format but printing so that if a format/computer/electronic system/program changes, an image can still be scanned. Yes, second generation but at least you have it. It is one's digital negative or physical memory.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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But just to give those of us faith that winter may still grace us with snow, here are two photographs from the 2nd of April 2017. Yes, last year. So different.
And the grand finale, with aspen in full leaf and daffodils blooming, this quick shot is dated 19 May 2017. I remember it will because I had foolishly planted our basil seedlings, grown in the greenhouse, outside. After all, the official date of last frost, May 15, had already passed.
The weather in the Rocky Mountain west always seems to keep us guessing, which is probably a good thing.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Typical of New Mexico at this time of year, the wind blew like mad yesterday, stirring up dust, pollen, and numerous particulates which turned the normally crystalline blue sky into an antique tinted photograph. From their behavior, the birds have certainly felt spring coming for a few weeks. And this morning, we thought we heard our first Say's Phoebe of the season, which, from our records, is at least two weeks early. We hope that he or she has enough flying insects to eat.
Even in the driest of seasons, green things start poking out of the ground in March. Soon, some of the ground-hugging flowers will start to bloom, including the "Easter daisies" shown here.
More low-growing, daisy-type flowers (the composite family) pop up later in the season.
Just as there is a meteorological spring and an astronomical spring for different scientific and planning purposes, there are two springs where we live, depending on whether plants and trees are on the north side or the south side of our house. In normal years, the north side of the house can have snow covering the ground until April, and sometimes longer, whereas we see the first signs of spring on the south side of the house about three weeks to a month earlier. In essence, our high pitched roof gives us the two springs here as well. The first daffodils on the north side signify that the warm season is on its way. The two images shown here are from my new "Fresh and Painterly" art card collection.
All of these photographs were made in the morning hours, before 9:30 a.m., which yielded brighter, more stark light for the daisies, but isolated light for the daffodils.
Whatever weather presents itself where you are on this wonderful planet of ours, I hope you find pleasure in it, and plentiful photographic opportunities.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Another modern day event has its roots in real life, real time necessities. The rodeo is a competition based on skills needed for riding and roping animals in order to get them and keep them on the range, in the corral, or to the train depots or stockyards. From the photographs here, you can tell this was definitely "my first rodeo" - not as a participant but as a photographer - and I discovered that photographing a rodeo requires very special skills exclusive to the sport. The first two shots were of rodeo clowns preparing for their work.
Here is an action shot of the rodeo clowns at work, distracting the bull.
I call this image of a cowboy waiting to compete "The Working End"
Now the work is done, for the time being.
A technical note. These shots were made using a Mamiya 645 1 3/4 by 2 1/4 format camera, on lford 400 film, and scanned.
A tip of my hat to all, who, regardless of their work or sport, are constantly taking what they do to higher levels!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>"Whose woods these are I think I know..." reminds me of the many trips we have made, heading west and gaining elevation toward the pass on U. S. Highway 64. Despite multiple visits, do I really know the woods in all their seasons? Probably not, but I love them. nonetheless. One stand of narrow leaf cottonwoods has always enchanted me.
Oaks in New Mexico are generally scrub or Gambel oaks, rather than the tall, towering varieties of the eastern hardwood forests in the United States, European oak forests or the live and white oaks growing in patches in California and Arizona. Their growth habit is a tangle and beautifully messy.
Along the highway, just a few places fit Frost's line "the woods are lovely, dark, and deep...". Plentiful water allows the growth of aspens and spruce "All Together", as I named this image, rendered here in black and white.
The woods tell their own stories, open to interpretation by the photographer or artist.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The first task for me would be to scope out the venue/venues to determine ideal photographic locations. Fairly quickly after that (with comments or questions gleaned from location research) I meet with the couple to determine their wants and needs as far as wedding photographs are concerned. Giving them a form to complete about specific photographs they might want helps them think about the photography, and the photographer know and mentally set up the work at hand. Just a hint from experience. If tents are going to be used, encourage the couple not to use colored tents. Unless you want to come equipped with massive fill light.
Weddings are the one event when family and friends gather together - whether relationships are good or bad - to celebrate. But opinions differ as to what photographs a couple wants taken and in what style. The wedding site and its character - whether formal or informal, inside or out - is in the mix as well. Some want traditional or "normal" photographs, wherein the couple are photographed straight on, and families are in huge lineups. Others say they don't want "traditional" wedding photographs. Usually, the couple wants a combination of both. But you can bet if the photographer doesn't get a photograph of an aunt or uncle or grandparents or best friends, there might be disappointment. Then there is the situation which actually happens quite frequently wherein a family member or two want photographs but the couple is ambivalent about them. So the second task in the planning process is to sit down with the couple and really get a feel for what they want.
Regardless of the style, I always try to remind myself to let the creative juices flow. How can I make a group photograph more interesting? In the photograph below, the wall and table enabled part of the wedding party to be on the wall with some standing in front of it, while the couple sat, giving the image a little more depth and interest.
Is it possible to take traditional shots in a different way? This is a big one for me. If a bouquet and flowers are used, they are delicate, temporary, and expensive, so most people want good photographs of them. In the photograph above, many of the flowers are included.
Then there are photographs of the rings. It is always a bit of a challenge to give them a little snap. Here are two that show the grooms' rings, rather than the bride and groom's rings together, just for fun and something out of the ordinary.
Shots that usually set wedding photographs apart from the standard album are the spontaneous shots. I loved this pairing of groomsmen relaxing after the wedding, and making sure it was made in the 21st century, with cell phones in hand.
The opportunities to shoot environmental portraits at weddings is endless. The bridesmaid in this photograph looks like a Venus. The wind was absolutely howling as her hand moved to keep her hair out of her eyes, I took this shot. Inclement weather can actually enhance some photographs.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Solitaires and robins have eye rings that differentiate them from other perhaps similar looking birds. At first blush in flight, the solitaire looks like a fairly nondescript grey bird. But a closer look reveals that white eye ring and some buff colored feathers above the tail area.
The American robin also has an eye ring, as shown below.
Roosters and chickens seem to have large, intense eyes. Apparently, eye rings are not required.
Eyes of all species are constantly searching and sensing what is necessary for survival, true of this coyote watching me.
Then there is the human eye, coming in all shapes, sizes, and colors, each speaking its own language within a smile, a frown, glare, or in a stare of wistfulness.
I do not know the significance of an eye ring, or the particular color or shape of an eye, but I have a deep appreciation of them. In my book, the eyes do have it!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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From the totally practical aspects of the sky allowing sun to generate energy...
...and the tail end of a thunderstorm blocking the sun...
...to the view through a window at Chaco Canyon...
...or across the plains near Fort Union...
...the sky is huge in New Mexico and in our lives.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Some of the same types of ice formations I had seen before, but the "creatures from outer space look" of snow melt freezing soon after contact was wonderful. This "ice claw" was the first creature I saw and photographed.
In our seventeen years of living on the mesa, I had never seen this before. A ice lace ornament, hanging from a very thin wisteria branch.
But the encapsulated seed pods of gaillardia looked very much like the Hollywood version of the heads of aliens.
I was taken by how clean and clear the water was that dripped onto the pods and froze.
I hope these jewels of winter find you healthy and content, with creativity flowing within and without.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Victoria sent us a video link about a woman who is both a photographer and caretaker of the Oceanic Hotel on Star Island off the New England coast between New Hampshire and Maine. I was taken aback by the starkness, loneliness, greyness and cold of the place, but my initial reaction was replaced by Alexandra de Steiguer's peace with being alone and content there. She embraces the aloneness, and uses photography during the off season (winter) when tourists are not there, as her record. She works with film, shooting stills of her surroundings. Although Steiguer has a broad palette (which must be monochromatic much of the time) and an enormous number of locations to shoot, she photographs what is around her. The black and white photograph below of the California coastline and Monterey cypress that I shot years ago, reminds me of the film.
Watch it on The Atlantic - http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/549518/winters-watch/?utm_source=eb The piece is titled "The Quiet Exuberance of Winter", and it is a stunning example of documentary filmmaking.
Musing over tea this morning, I thought about the film, about her life of isolation during the off-season for 19 years, and others' lives as fire lookouts (including Edward Abbey), and photographers filming their own surroundings. Photographers and artists have always traveled miles to different places to capture history and fascinating locations, but many of the most memorable photographs were made by those who photographed the nearness. Both present juicy material and frequently produce rich results.
Further musings with a lovely cup of Darjeeling included the many photographs I had looked at, seemingly again and again, this week, as I embarked on a project to truly organize and further categorize my work within Zenfolio, the website I use. A few changes had been made by Zenfolio, and I had, quite frankly, been putting off this task. As every photographer knows, most of us would much rather be taking photographs than organizing. But my friend, Susie, said she was running short on greeting cards and was unable to find names and information on my photographs. Thus, I took the dive. Having 800+ photographs featured in the Zenfolio blog alone, made it an interesting task. I am very nearly finished.
Regardless of where you artistry or photography takes you this week - near or far - I hope it provides joyful and creative experiences.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Yet, it is January, and there is still much less sunshine. Combined with lows in the single digits most of last week and highs in the 40s, winter is holding on tight. This made me think about what makes me smile in the winter. Which also turned my mind to art and photography. Art is evocative, period. No one can look at a piece of art, whether it is a painting, a sculpture, or photography without eliciting a reaction. That response may be "you call that art?" or "isn't that stunning?" but there is always a statement either verbally or emotionally to accompany the piece of art.
The process of making an image includes many emotions, and the end product reflects those feelings in some way. You know from reading my blog that I love many subjects and I react to each in a different way. But I thought that during this winter month in the northern hemisphere, perhaps some January smiles were in order. I frequently smile at portraits of people, but I wanted to include other images today that always make me smile, for whatever reason or reasons. Perhaps they will make you smile as well.
Roses for you...
A very curious coyote pup in the garden...
Reeds in a pond in the suburbs of Denver...
Frog of a most princely type...
and a few challenges and smiles for me this afternoon as I attempted one of the few selfies of me you will ever see...
May many things bring smiles to your January!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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A toast to you and life!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I did two different shoots, both in natural light. The first shoot took place under high overcast, rendering a soft and mostly even light, shown here.
The second shoot was in shade of late afternoon light, using a light-toned pine board, which created the painterly cross-section below.
I also shot is obscured sun, resulting in a subdued sheen on the pomegranate profile here.
Happy Christmas all!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Another interesting thing is that juncos (the smaller grey birds with brown on their backs) love to eat water off of grass and branches, just as they eat snow and ice.
Photographing the organized chaos of bathing is interesting. I did bursts of shots with the shutter speed at 1/1250 of a second in order to stop some of the motion, using my 70-200mm lens at 200 f.28. Then, upon occasion, as in the shot below, a robin will just sit and hog the water. It must feel good.
As we enter the holiday season, I hope you find ample opportunities to create photographic images of all types, learn, and have fun during the process.
Keep safe.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>All of the buildings, even when there are no festivals or demonstrations in progress, are extremely photogenic. The mill building offers details almost as interesting as the mill wheel itself.
A few of the buildings are constructed of wood. There must be some history in the lace window curtain.
As they do on human skin, wind and weather always work on adobe plaster, leaving cracks and crenulations,
If you visit El Rancho de las Golondrinas, the morning hours before 11 and afternoon hours after 2 are probably the best for broad building shots. You can tuck some details in from the shadows at any time of day, but the New Mexico sky produces intense light on the buildings and land, offering some real photographic challenges. Regardless, it is well worth at least one photo shoot, and more if you plan on doing environmental portraiture.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>All this is to say that during the past week, I didn't shoot much, but devoted my time to photographic development at the computer, working on the sets of prints and greeting cards I am assembling. Choosing images, making sure their rendering works well with the papers being used, and each print is what I want. As they say, the best way to start any day of photography is with a good breakfast.
And to top it off, one of the great flavors of life, coffee.
I look forward to getting out and doing some architectural and environmental portrait shoots this month, and learning more secrets of development. Hopefully, you will be able to do the same.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Often we hear birds before they make their presence known, but what I think is a hairy woodpecker has been, literally, hanging around lately. It could be a Downey woodpecker, but I think because of the length of the bill and lack of dark spots on the white tail feathers it is a hairy. This one had been taking a bath and was very busy fixing its feathers.
Then there are the "bathing beauties." Members of the thrush family - robins, solitaires, and bluebirds - are almost like ducks in their attraction to and affinity for the water. A group of western bluebirds flew in, staging in the New Mexico privets before their bath. Here is a pair - male on the left and female on the right - and a lone male in the next image.
Once again, I am struck by the talent of wildlife photographers and the images they produce. Mine pale in comparison, but serve more as a record of time and space. Which, truly, what photography is and photographers do. And so it continues.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The shot below presented itself in the morning hours. Nothing like a shadow on black steel and an adobe wall to make an interesting black and white image.
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is one of the world's most iconic structures. I took a shot of one of the uprights using Fujichrome Velvia transparency (slide) film while walking across the bridge in 1994, and have always loved it, but never thought in terms of black and white until recently. When I resized the image, I noticed the beautiful art deco elements for the first time. It is a work of art.
I also reached into the past to create a ghostly black and white rendering of a building on the island of Barbados, probably part of an abandoned sugar plantation. I almost like the black and white better than the original color image, which, again, was shot on slide film.
Finally, a lily I had worked with before but this time rather than toning it, made it strictly black and white. When I was spending six to eight hours a day in the darkroom and shooting black and white, I felt as if I was almost seeing in black and white. This exercise is taking me back to those roots.
Keep exploring...
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>At our house, wool is always available, and with its texture and patina, it makes a nice backdrop. Below is a natural white Navajo-Churro wool.
Squash, jalapeño pepper, and wheat grass on Fred's Rug 254 in the style of Chiefs Blankets.
The image below was shot in mid-afternoon, which, at this time of year, produces a nice, low light with interesting shadows.
I found a couple of what I call "juicy" details while checking for focus in several of the images. The ridges in the pepper mimic the larger ones in the squash.
This is a shadow on one of the squashes. It was a complete and total surprise.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Although it was built, if my memory serves me correctly, in the late 1960s, the Hotel Albuquerque (formerly the Sheraton Old Town Inn) has quite the striking edifice. At that time, it housed dignitaries and heads of state from all over the world.
It's new sibling, the Hotel Chaco, about which I wrote last week, has its own rhythm created by windows and sandstone.
Many different elements are highlighted in the Albuquerque Museum (aM). Here is a building corner with glass, and again, sandstone.
The outside of the museum blends sculpture garden and park.
As the shift from autumn to winter begins, and animals and birds change locations, many photographic opportunities await. I hope you are able to take advantage of the richness these alterations provide.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Stepping into the Hotel Chaco for the first time, several things immediately impressed me. The design is geometric, dramatic, and stunning. The project is a product of the architectural firm M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. and Associates, Inc. Some might feel it is a bit stark, with detailing coming from its namesake, Chaco Culture National Historical Park. But it works, incredibly well. From the sandstone-lined doorways, openings, and light wells to Native American artwork, seemingly nothing was left to chance. Great intention and care have been given to the building, inside and out, from the entrance to the gift shop, featuring the work of Patricia Michaels' Waterlily fashions, along with the work of other Native American Artists.
The oculus in the hotel lobby, shown below, was designed by Santa Clara artist Tammy Garcia.
The south entrance features a ramada or pergola, with wood and Corten steel, creating a latilla and viga ceiling effect.
Huge advertising photographs for the Level 5 restaurant cover the south and east windows, where future shops will be, adding to the aesthetic. Steel cable is strung between the uprights along the outside sidewalks, one of the many examples of transitions from thick to thin and chunky to delicate that hallmark the hotel design. Acknowledgement of the areas's industrial roots is demonstrated in the building materials and large steel architectural elements. Liberal use of more traditional stone and plaster blend with the metal to make a winning combination.
The topper on the Hotel Chaco cake is the Level 5 Rooftop Restaurant and Lounge. Once again, no detail has been left to chance. From the slabs of wood that serve as bar table tops to the sheet and angle steel legs and supports, this is form and function at its best. Something seemingly simple like the tableware adds interest and texture.
Another element of Level 5 is the creative use of indoor and outdoor space. Most of the window-doors slide open to the outside, and in warm weather, people can wander in and out of the restaurant to get a better view of the city. Gas fireplaces dot the area, a modern-day ode to gathering around the fire. While we were having breakfast, a couple was finishing their coffee outside by one of the fireplaces. Ottomans accompanying the outdoor furniture have the look of huge stones, but are actually made of fiberglass. In the west wall, openings provide a framed view of west Albuquerque.
We actually went to the restaurant because we had heard good things about it from friends who had gone to lunch there the day before. It exceeded our wildest expectations. The hotel partnered with Chef Mark Miller of Coyote Cafe and Red Sage fame, and he is the mind behind the menu offerings. When we told our server Soly that the Sage Scrambled Egg Tartine sounded good, she said "It is like Thanksgiving dinner for breakfast." The creation combined scrambled eggs, aged cheddar, a spicy tomato jam containing lots of fascinating ingredients, assorted locally-sourced, in-season greens, and seeds and nuts piled on top of a huge slab of sourdough whole wheat bread. A steak knife is brought to the table for cutting into the crusty mix. It was unlike anything we have had. The yummy sounds kept pouring forth.
This brief tour of Hotel Chaco would not be complete without mentioning the attention to service that is found in each and every part of the Heritage Hotel Group. As I mentioned, Soly was our server at breakfast, and service is her middle name. She was amazing. Here she is, shining like her namesake.
Our thanks to her and everyone at the Hotel Chaco and Hotel Albuquerque for anchoring the Sawmill District and making it an extraordinary place.
until next Monday
DB
a passion for the image@
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Even a tree such as the one here, with dead branches, carries living ones with leaves in assorted stages of transition.
With me, there is also the challenge and adventure of making alterations in color and saturation, as demonstrated below.
Bravo and kudos to nature during this golden season!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The first was "On what kind of loom do you weave?" He weaves on a Rio Grande walking loom. Fred's particular loom has a wealth of character, as it lived in a woman's greenhouse for some time before it came to him. Being made of pine, it was a little warped and required adjustment in the form of rebar, screws and additional pieces of wood. Below is a photograph of him standing on the treadles of loom. He can use up to four treadles but since he is doing weft-based Spanish style weaving, he only uses two.
The second question: Do you make these pieces? Answer to that is a simple and absolute "Yes." Here are a few shots of the process of weaving a rifle scabbard.
The third question: "Do you dye your own wool?" Although we experimented one winter day years ago and dyed a pound of lovely spring aspen green, the woman who dyes the Navajo-Churro wool that Fred uses is the legendary Connie Taylor. She is the National Registrar for Navajo-Churro sheep in the United States, and if anyone owns a rug woven by Fred, 99.5% of the wool has been dyed by Connie. Some of it also came from her flock. The colors shown in the scabbard below are Ganado and teal, along with undyed, natural brown-black.
After the weaving is complete, Fred rolls it off the weaving surface of the loom, as shown below, and cuts the piece, leaving enough warp for fringe.
You can see that he knots the fringe to keep the weaving together. There are 368 fringe strands and 92 knots on the finished piece.
The completed scabbards #38 and 39. The client, who has been extremely supportive of Fred's work since his first Wool Festival, ordered two more of this style to match another he purchased last year.
I am certain Fred would be happy to answer any questions you might have about his work. Thanks to everyone who is in any way involved in the process from feeding the sheep to shearing to carding to spinning and dyeing the wool, and to those who purchase his work.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Teamwork is the key during the festival, and my job is to help Fred during the event in any way I can. So my primary mission was definitely not photography. These are grab shots and just a very brief representation of the "booth" and some of the animals in the park.
I suspect the caged rabbits were going through their own traumas will all the people oohing and aahing, trying to get their attention. It would be interesting to know what this one was thinking.
These vicuñas were absolutely adorable. About the size of a seven year old, children and adults alike love their sweetness.
Fred and I would like to thank the many people who stopped by to say hello and wish us luck. Bill and Sue, Barbara and Jerry, and Victoria came from Santa Fe and we appreciate them making that long drive. Buf, Steve, Terry, Geraint, Steve V., Gail and Earle, Andrea, Melissa and Steve, Janet, Paule and Maury, Elida and Alfie, Klara and Jivan with their wee one, Richard and Matt, Paul and Helen, and others "the day after the weekend fog" keeps me from remembering, brightened our days. We appreciate your presence. And many thanks to the people who bought rugs and rifle scabbards, and those also who came to see Fred's work and admire it from afar.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Photographing aspen involves several elements. A decision has to be made whether the light and weather will "cooperate" with the shooting schedule you establish. Because the quality of light is a bit more forgiving in autumn than in summer, you can sometimes tweak the rule about shooting between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Particularly when you are working with overcast or partly cloudy skies. One of my favorite aspen shots I titled "Aspen Rain Shadows", made on 6 October, 2004 at 9:33 a.m. A combination of rain, hail, and snow had just fallen, leaving the aspen bark wet on the side where the moisture struck the trees. I include it here again, just as a demonstration. of what can be done given adverse weather conditions, patience, and luck.
The next element of photographing aspen is totally up to the photographer. What am I looking for in the photograph? Frequently, I don't have a clue. Do I want trunks or snags? What do I want? That is the joy of human spontaneity in combination with nature.
Details, a scenic shot, or both?
The choices you make vary depending on conditions and timing. I look, I see, I adjust, I shoot. Then I turn around, look to the side, look down or up, or lie on the ground and find the subject matter, dust off my bum and try again.
All of it is good and part of the continuing photographic education process.
This week, Fred and I will be preparing for the Taos Wool Festival on Saturday, 7 October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 8 October, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Kit Carson Park (Big Sage Artians Booth 6). Something furry may walk in front of my camera lens. Who knows?
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Because of the sky and light, the tree trunks looked particularly white and clear. Here is a shot of some aspen "legs", which are such good subjects for black and white photography.
Ostensibly, the drive is full of aspen color, which I really wanted to photograph. But the sky was diverting my attention. Standing mountain waves are fairly common in New Mexico, but the eastern sky on Tuesday held one of the largest and most dramatic formations I have ever seen here. It lasted much of the entire day, altering only slightly in shape. Definitely not part of a summer sky, telling us autumn was definitely in the air. Here is a sampling of the waves.
At this time of year in the high country, livestock trailers dot the highways, as cattle are being herded and loaded for their trip to warmer winter feeding grounds. The last hay cutting of the season is also in progress. Rolls of hay sit in the fields, drying in the sun. Even though every movement made by human and machine is for a purpose, I have always thought the hay rolls and geometrics left by the cutters in the field are beautiful.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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And what, indeed, would Monday be without a closeup?
I hope that you have time to revel in harvest season, and the gift of lovely, early autumn light that nature brings to photographers and artists of all stripes.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>In our benign patch of Taos County, the Sunday generally set aside for assembling a Monday blog did not go precisely as prescribed either, in a most interesting way. For those of you who may not know, our primary tool for cooking is a wood burning cookstove. A cast iron Waterford from Ireland, the black beast serves most of our cooking needs. Every stove and fireplace has a stove pipe that goes through the roof, to carry the smoke outside and away from the house. On top of the pipe is a cap. Last year, after numerous bird incursions into our parlor stove, we replaced it with a cap that has small mesh screen beneath it, discouraging birds from being enticed into this seemingly secure space.
As it happens, there has never been a bird entry under the cap of our wood burning cookstove, probably because at night, it is usually hot from the evening's dinner fire. The one night we chose not to build a dinner fire in the stove this week, an opportunist entered the scene. In the early pre-dawn hours, we heard something on the roof. The noise could have been from the metal gutter, or on top of either stove cap. Scratching on metal. This is not a particularly unusual part of rural life. Animals happily live around us. So we went back to sleep. A couple of hours later, scratch, scratch. Back to sleep. After sunrise, scratch scratch. We get out of bed, listen, and the sound is indeed coming from the kitchen, which means the wood burning cookstove. On the surface of the cookstove where the stove pipe goes into the body of the stove itself, there is an iron plate that can removed to clean inside the space and up the pipe. As we slowly removed that plate, we looked inside and saw what appeared to be fist-sized ball. "What the heck is that?" Got the flashlight and here were two yellow eyes staring back. An owl. A sweetheart. Something that would basically occupy our morning. Here is a photograph of it sitting in the opening at the point of entry of the stove pipe.
Two decisions were made immediately. The first, of course, was that we had to get this lovely creature out safely before we cooked dinner, and second, I had to get my camera. Given the circumstances, this was not exactly my finest moment as a photographer, and the photographs will win no awards, but the point was to document.
Owls, as sweet as they seem, are definitely birds of prey and have beaks and talons for that purpose. Even this juvenile had a very sharp beak and awesome talons, so we knew that shoving a hand in there to get the bird was definitely out of the question. It was already making snapping noises with its beak like dolphin sonar or perhaps a stress-induced response, but we weren't going to take chances. Fred built a rectangular cage out of hardware cloth that we used for the garden raised beds so that we would encourage "Hoot" to crawl into the cage. That "encouragement" included a flat stick and a piece of cardboard to cover the hole so the owl could not drop down into the stove. It would be all over if that happened. And that owl was putting all its might and weight into keeping Fred from getting under it and behind it with the metal tool with which we clean the stove. It was not happy with us in the least, but eventually with Fred's tenacity and both of our isometrics, we were able to encourage the owl into the cage.
Then, with another bit of genius that do-it-yourselfers would have appreciated, I took a dust pan and shoved it behind the owl to keep it from going back down the stove pipe and into the abyss. Fred put on hefty gloves, picking up the cage while I held the dust pan over the opening, and escorted the owl outside. It was temporarily dazed and blinded by the light, but very quickly flew away. Using both Sibley's and Peterson's western bird guides, we came to the conclusion that this was a young western screech owl. It had both "ears" and "whiskers" and yellow eyes, or we would have thought it a flammulated owl. We'll keep researching.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The color of the photograph below was adjusted for effect.
I hope you are able to take some time off your work on this Labor Day, to spend with friends and family.
until next week,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Because I am out with my camera a lot, there are usually shots, not particularly of one theme or subject matter, that sometimes make a whole in a weird sort of way. As the light changes and people in the high country of New Mexico start to sense the feeling of autumn in the air, lots of photographic possibilities present themselves. The gold in flowers, green in chiles, and different creatures in the garden. All of these images were made this month.
Sunflowers line the highways...
...Shishito peppers grilled and salted, ready to nibble...
...tomatoes, basil, and cheese from the Farmers' Market...
...and fresh from the garden, a praying mantis keeping a sharp eye out on this photographer
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>People who live in the western United States, particularly mountainous areas, are familiar with the capricious nature of the weather. Sunday's forecast wasn't too dramatic. Not much of a chance of rain, but when the ominous, dark clouds started brewing to the east near Taos, it certainly looked like we were going to have rain. It came in suddenly and with violent wind and driving rain. I went out onto the portal to savor the event, and to check the hummingbirds to see if they were out. Some, as there usually are, were busy hanging on to the feeders, some were bathing in the spray. But a small hummingbird was perched on top of an aspen branch, just sitting. I moved slowly, wondering if I could get my camera in time to catch it. Almost going into stasis, this bird was not going to move into the storm but instead stayed in the relative shelter of the roof eaves. It was something I did not expect, and I darted upstairs to grab my camera with 70-200 mm lens, went outside, and the bird was still there. Using the in-camera flash, I got off about 10 shots, downloaded them into Lightroom, came back to the portal where the bird was still in its same place. This time, I was a little more prepared and managed to shoot more. It was a treat.
Fred and I have poured over our bird books - two editions of Peterson's and one of Sibley's, and we still cannot determine what type of hummingbird it is. The givens are that this is a male and a juvenile, but being wet, it was difficult to determine the species. It is either a black chinned or broadtailed.
The white stripes to the right of the bird are drops of rain.
This guy is starting to nap!
I hope that during your photographic sojourns this week, whether they involve the solar eclipse or not, offer the unexpected!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I plant a variety of lettuce, both for different flavors and textures, and there are usually volunteers from past years that pop up. Very generous of them!
Fresh squeezed orange juice is always a treat. At a May brunch, Cristina brought orange juice she had hand-squeezed. Being the filmmaker and artist that she is, she suggested we do a setup with the juice and the woven napkins we were using.
And thinking again about chile, my mind turned to the whole of New World foods, of which the Nightshade family (chile and other peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes) are part, I decided to title these two photographs "New World Order 1 and 2". The backdrop for these is Fred's Rug # 261, woven of 100% Navajo-Churro wool in the style of Navajo Chief's blanket, Phase II. The first features Anasazi beans and red chile powder.
A potato, tomatoes, and 'Cañoncito' Landrace pepper, grown in Dixon, New Mexico comprise the shot below.
All the photographs were shot with a Nikon D5200, with natural light from south and north facing windows in the first two shots, and east, south, and a bit of western light in the second two images.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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My husband, Fred, is a weaver of fine, 100% Navajo-Churro wool rugs, runners, and rifle scabbards, made on a Rio Grande style walking loom. He uses wool dyed by Connie Taylor, the authority on Navajo-Churro sheep and their history, and the national registrar for Navajo-Churro sheep. To keep a record of Fred's work, I photograph each piece and print it for his portfolio. This involves use of a tripod and lights, and it has taken me a bit to understand the concept of perspective, being that I am a bit thick when it comes to geometry and anything spacial. Luckily for me, Fred has those concepts deep in his DNA, as is reflected in his latest rug, #303. The colors are Ganado, dyed black, ochre, and sea breeze.
Moving from the "studio lighting" setting out into the garden, I am always on the lookout for new flowers in bloom, butterflies, birds - any part of nature that presents pure design. Because of the cooler weather and overcast lately, the butterflies have not been quite as active, enabling me to follow them around and get better shots. The swallowtail butterfly (Papilionidae) below is really getting into the cup of an orange day lily.
The next two shots are of the variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), working on the flowers of a purple oregano plant. Not only are the patterns and colors stunning, but I love the white knobs on the end of the antennae.
The humble evening primrose flower is probably considered a weed by some, but they are great photographic subjects.
Drifting around as I tend to do with camera in hand, there are always new blooms to photograph. Echinacea flowers are layered with drama.
Always at this time of year, the afternoons bring thunderstorm build ups of cumulus clouds. Whether are not they drop their rainfall in our neck of the woods, they are almost always brewing and stewing.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Once again, all of these photographs are of rufous hummingbirds, basically because they are aggressive and are continually guarding feeders and blooming plants. Which means they are almost constantly in flight. I often wonder if they ever get to eat. Obviously, they do, because I also see them at rest, in places perfectly suited to keeping their eyes on the situation.
One things that is fun at this time of year, is the fact that both newbies and adults are present. The newer birds generally have shorter beaks and tail feathers, like the young male shown here.
Compare him to the adult female below, that has a much longer beak.
It is always a challenge to try to photograph more than one hummingbird at a time. Because they are traveling at different speeds and they are at different focal lengths, I usually get one in focus and one that is not, as is the case below.
These birds sometimes seem to be in suspended animation. The adult male rufous and female below are lovely examples.
Photographer Terry Thompson asked last week what shutter speed I was using. I liked last week's results, so I continue to use 1/400 second.
Some time next month, the hummingbirds will begin their migration south. We always miss their presence in our lives and look forward to their arrival in mid-April, around tax filing time, when they come to mate and continue the cycle of life.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The image below was shot with clouds in the background, rendering the backdrop a slightly grey/off white, and producing motion interest and spare wing impressions.
Since the hummingbirds are migratory and stay through the end of September at the latest, I will take advantage of the time they are here to photograph these beauties. There is also an abundance of youngsters in the mix, and they are great models. So stay tuned.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Goat's beard or yellow salsify (Tragopogon dubius) is part of the aster family, and is similar to the common dandelion in its seed distribution. After the yellow flowers go to seed, a puff ball sits at the top of the stem, awaiting an animal, insect, or strong wind to send its delicate stemware flying. At least to me, the seeds look like a champagne or wine glass rimmed in gold. You can see a clearly defined base and bowl on each stem.
What is astonishing is that from a distance, the seed head looks like a puffy ball. But viewed in detail, each stem brings the feathers together that form the "stemware", and each stem gives the head strength and substance.
If the seed head is touched or blown by the wind, and if one or more of the pieces of stemware is carried away, the cycle is complete. The fine stemware evolves into its utilitarian stage of planting future generations. Many photographers have photographed and left incredible images of goatsbeard. Now it is the turn of other photographers, including you, to take up the challenge nature offers us.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Henry Horenstein, in his 2nd edition of Black and White Photography: a basic manual, defines depth of field as the "zone of focus in a photograph or the distance between the closest and farthest parts of the picture that are reasonably sharp." This is determined by the aperture setting (lens opening), the focus distance, and the lens focal length.
In past blogs, I have discussed stucco and how it can provide the almost perfect, simple portraiture backdrop. Another natural, unobtrusive, neutral colored background is sand, as the closeup below of a hole at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado shows. The "fan" in the sand would not intrude but enhance a portrait.
The sandstone below provides the background for a volcanic rock, but because the texture is primarily contained in the rock itself, the depth of field of the sandstone can be acute and in focus without disrupting the subject matter.
But the picture, cropped to just feature the rock, creates a totally different backdrop. It is very sharp and angular, and might work well for a piece of jewelry.
The palm tree bark, shown below in black and white and extremely sharp, would make a great and gnarly portrait backdrop, but again, I would need to be careful not to let the bark's character overwhelm the subject being photographed.
The relatively shallow depth of field of a "big sage" (Artemesia tridentata) shrub, has just enough detail and soft color to make an interesting backdrop, again, for clothing or jewelry.
The depth of field is shallow enough in the images of lavender and salvia below that the shapes have an impressionistic feel to them, making them more suitable for a written text overlay.
I suspect I will be experimenting with this more in the future, and will, at some point, show how I use the backdrops.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>During the heat of the day, butterflies are everywhere and they are extremely active, flitting from blossom to blossom, clinging to flowers and gathering nectar. They take their pollination work seriously! I am not by any means an expert in this area, and I apologize to those of you who have studied these fascinating creatures all your lives. With luck and the help of my new favorite butterfly identification website "Gardens with Wings" - gardenswithwings.com, I hope my identification is correct.
Here is a series of photographs of the variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia). I originally thought the first butterfly shown here was an American lady or painted lady, but after looking at the website, I think the shot is of the fritillary with closed wings.
Of the butterflies I photographed, these clouded sulphur butterflies (Colias philodice) seem to be the most active. I had one heck of a time catching them, and had no success during three shoots of getting a decent image of one with open wings. This particular butterfly has seen some action, as evidenced by the layer of wing that is missing.
The checkered white butterfly (Pontia protodice) is on the move here, but I use the shot to demonstrate the blue body that I would otherwise not have noticed.
The two-tailed swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) is always a joy to see and photograph, as it seems to linger on blossoms longer.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Summer skies in the Rocky Mountain west have lots of variety and drama, providing a palette of colors and textures. Here is a shot of some cumulus cloud buildup in the northeast. The top layer of lower cloud fingers are like a curtain staging the thunderheads.
A slightly different shot of the same formation in black and white
To the south, different forces were at work, producing this formation.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Although it looks like an anemone, the strawberry hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus fendleri, is known for its blossoms' retina-piercing color. The body of the cactus is a barrel and so nondescript that it is almost guaranteed you won't see it except when it is blooming. Although I shot the photographs contained herein between 2 and 3 p.m. (a shortened shoot because the cedar gnats were out in force) which is not exactly prime shooting time in summer, I did not adjust the color in these photographs.
Scouring the mesa for these costumed beauties, I would occasionally come across some that carried much more subtle hues, such as the ones below.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>In my case, doing photography with an eye on thrift, presents definite challenges, forcing me to be creative with the materials I have at hand. At any given time, I use what is in my immediate surroundings. One afternoon, I wanted to make sure to work with the white and pink lilies given to us by friends Cristina and Ben. The shelf life of flowers varies from bloom to bloom, and the more you move flowers around from one location to another, the greater the chances of creasing the petals and shaking the pollen onto your carefully chosen backdrops.
The thrift factor coming into play once again during this photo shoot, as I searched the house and its surroundings for possible backdrops. I have found that the black that works best for the still life photography I do cannot carry a shine, patina or or loose weave. Thus, the plain black cotton of several vests I own seems to work the best.
Here are two images of a white lily with its cayenne-colored stamens. I was shaking these a bit too much, as you can see from the spots of pollen in the photographs. The first was taken with the in-camera flash. The one below it was taken with natural light and a white reflector, without flash.
I used a pink lily, along with a shallow depth of field, and natural light to produce three different images. The aqua is actually the metal roof of our house.
The next image is the same lily with its stem in the weave of a basket, with plain white paper as the backdrop.
And finally, the same lily propped on the window sill, just a hint of the roof line, and the wood floor below darkened for effect.
Keep experimenting!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Our final snow of substance this spring was on the 19th of May. Melted, it translated into 1/3 of an inch of moisture, which was a perfect addition for the flowering mesa plants. The Santa Fe phlox had already had a banner year, and some are still in bloom. But the extra boost from nature has enabled the paintbrush (Castilleja integra) to thrive and make a huge splash among the grass and sagebrush, not to mention the white of snow.
The wonderful thing about late spring snow is that it melts and sinks into the soil quickly, because the ground is no longer frozen. After the late snow this spring, the paintbrush really swung into action. So did I.
I suspect there are several more paintbrush shoots in my future, not only on the mesa, but in the mountains. Flowers are just starting to bloom now at the higher elevations. While I await the effect of time on the mountain flowers, I will continue to search nature in all its messy and wonderful glory.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Fred B., M. Fred B., Earle W., Ben d S, Steve I., Jim W. and his mother, Debra H., Dave K., Alan Dale D., Orlando T., Forest B., Chuck W., Bogie B., Jimmy B., Robert B., Dave O., JoNell T., Anita T., Don, Clyde D., Sam T., Doug E., Jim H., JJ LM., Sam G., Larry L., Randy S., Joel M., Stewart C., Steve C., Robert S., Gene R., Ken B., Tom (of E & T), John C., Ed G., Al McC. If I missed anyone, it is due to a defect in the name recognition software of my mental hard drive, since you are all in my thoughts. I thank you for being part of my life and for your impact on the world.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Case in point are these photographs of lichens on sandstone. The colors and textures on the rocks create designs that would be difficult to duplicate, and look more like they belong deep beneath ocean waves.
Then there is this creature. Definitely prehistoric, the lizard has scales that compete with lichens in the design category. In the first photograph, if you look closely you will see a touch of cobalt blue under its chin. In the photo below that, the blue is on its belly.
One never knows what weirdness I'll discover next. With luck, you will find some fascinating things to photograph this week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The garden variety daffodils are many and wildly different. I planted these so long ago that I do not remember their names. But they speak for themselves. Early morning, filtered light creates lovely shadow potential.
I always need to remind myself that the face-on view is not the only one of interest. Here are images of the back or under portion of both white and yellow petals.
Two frontal views of a double daffodil with yellow petals and orange cups and fringe.
Wildflowers in the high mountains will be blooming soon. I hope you have the opportunity to see them up close.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>But let me go back to the beginning. Reminiscent of the New Mexico Blizzard of 2017 last weekend, it snowed shortly after we arrived at Bluewater Lake between Gallup and Grants where our land was located. What can we say? It was spring in New Mexico. Our mission was to take care of the most immediate necessity, which meant building an outhouse. The finest in the county, it was an insulated, two-seater with a Formica bench, and a window. The pit was vented through the roof with a solar chimney and kept the seating area free of bad smells. It served us well for the next three and half years, despite the fact that at -30 degrees, our body heat had to melt the ice and warm up the seats. Here is the outhouse. Obviously, haircuts were out of the question at that point. Our friend, Debra Harbaugh, took this photograph.
The other mission was to finish building the house as quickly as possible and before the next snow, which could have been in October. Fortunately, it was not. First in that process was the excavation of the house site to put the floor three feet underground where the natural heat of the earth would help us stay warm. That was followed by roughly three months of stone work. Shown below is a photograph taken from the windmill of the house footprint after the completion of the stone work. It was, by far, the most labor intensive part of the building process.
The framing that followed only took seven days. It was extremely exciting to see the house take shape. The first two photographs below are taken from the windmill and show the framing, the house framed and roofed, followed by a shot of the south elevation where a greenhouse would be attached to collect and heat the "trombe wall".
The "trombe wall" concept of solar heating was, in our opinion, not very efficient, but was tauted as the best solar building design at the time. They were being used in buildings throughout Europe as well as in America. But our house frequently felt like a tomb. It wasn't long before we realized that direct gain of sun through south facing windows onto massive walls and floors was the real answer, and we never turned back. Our other two solar houses have been made of adobe and south facing glass, which works like a charm.
The east and west elevations are shown below.
Here is the kitchen, with handmade cabinets, and the hand-carved handle of the door into the greenhouse.
From the beginning, our source of water was from a 120 foot well and pumped by an Aeromotor windmill on a 33 foot tower. We had running cold water in the house and, on a windy night, it was always reassuring to hear the "kalumpf" of the windmill turning followed by the splash of water filling the inside water tank. In calm weather, Fred would climb the tower and turn the fan by hand. Since we were off grid, refrigeration was provided by Tupperware floating in the cool well water of the covered stock tank and, in the winter, when it was frozen solid, we had ice.
We were "off grid" in a big way using kerosene lamps, candles, a battery powered radio, and a wood burning stove. Due to their expense at the time, solar cells were not part of the formula. It was like an extended camping trip, and as with every adventure, the learning curve was high and expansive and worth it. We could not have done it without our wonderful neighbors, Louise and Jim Watkins, who still live there after building their home down the road from us, and having a baby girl the same summer. Our gratitude to them is eternal!
A note on the photographs. Most of the images included here were taken using a Minolta 200 SLR camera on Kodachrome transparency film and scanned. Others were scanned from prints that have degraded somewhat and the negatives were somehow lost over time. Yet another reason to have photographs in several different formats and backed up in a number of places.
Thanks for celebrating forty years of solar living with us!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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It was a day of variable weather in northern New Mexico, which lead to dramatic skies as we drove into the Railyard area and the Violet Crown Cinema, where the silent auction took place. Naturally, I had to get out with my camera and do a bit of shooting. Below is a photograph of what has become the iconic Santa Fe Railyard water tank.
I cannot overstate the quality of craftsmanship of the tank and the entire Railyard Park, designed by Frederic Schwartz Architects of New York City. Here is a black and white shot of some of the details.
I could not resist photographing some reflections in the windows of the of the Violet Crown Cinema of water tank's brushed metal letters.
Thanks to Sue and Bill Primm, who are now the owners of the coyote pup portrait, and to those of you who supported the event.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>And our waterways are really running this spring. Whether it is the Rio Grande del Norte or the Rio Ojo Caliente, or if the water is quietly burbling in an acequia or rushing towards its goal, all that water is a thing of beauty. There is still snow in the high country, but the pond along Highway 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla that I photographed last year, will soon be quite full.
Much of the snow melt from the south side of the Highway 64 pass adds to the Rio Ojo Caliente watershed. The photograph below was shot and is presented here "dirty" - power lines, fences, assorted buildings included. Just a week after this image was made, more trees and bushes are already showing green.
Another shot of the Rio Ojo Caliente, toned.
It is often hard to tell the volume or intensity of the water in the Rio Grande del Norte when shooting from above. The cut in the earth, however, tells of its power over the millennia.
Since each and every body of water has its own characteristics, you will, no doubt, be seeing more images of our life blood in coming blogs.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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A friend of mine once laughed when I showed her a wild phlox. Being from California, she is accustomed to the phlox that is a much larger and very showy plant with huge flowers. These diminutive blooms, again, spread over the soil's surface.
Many things that we call flowers are classified as weeds. Such is the case of a member of the pea family - vetch.
I have to remind myself that as a photographer, while shooting outside rather than in a studio or isolated light situation, I need to look not only straight forward, but up and down as well.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Although humans have been able to use building materials from a much larger geographic circle for thousands of years, the most expedient and convenient construction methods use products surrounding them. In environments where tall trees grow, wood has been used since humans had tools to cut it into timbers. In deserts, in the Southwestern United States, and in Mediterranean climates, soil of many types has been and still is used in home construction. Whether for structural or aesthetic purposes, it has proved to be a most practical and convenient building material. It is workable with the human hand and non-metal tool, can be shaped at will, and mixed with colors to great effect.
A modern adobe brick, below, is semi-stabilized and brushed with water to create a mud plaster.
Another modern wall with colored plaster creates a warm tone at the Hotel Los Gatos in California.
Layers of white and more white on buildings in the Mediterranean, along with pastels in blue, brown, and pink give Santorini much of its character.
Probably as a protective coating from ample moisture in Germany, the colored plaster wall around this window enlivens the sometimes monochromatic sky.
A wall at Chaco Culture National Historic Park in western New Mexico stands as a testimony to the resilience of stone and timber in the dry Southwestern climate.
These eminently convenient materials are still part of our lives in the 21st century, and I am grateful for them.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>A single iris and a box of four chocolates were part of a wonderful celebration, and eventually became my week's work. I began with the iris, steadying it in a vase and using the greenhouse as a staging area for it. Here is one shot with the blue sky of mid-morning in the background.
Despite the fact that the depth of field is relatively short, I was still not entirely pleased, because the background seemed to conflict with rather than complement the bud.
A solid light background was more of what I had in mind, so I recruited my fill disk, and soon realized that the color was too much of an off white, and the fabric was wrinkled. It was not meant to be used as a backdrop but for filling a subject with light. I then pulled out a 13" x 19" blank sheet of Epson Hot Press Natural paper and propped it up behind the flower. Here are two different images utilizing that background.
The iris, being a linear element, was a perfect divider for the chocolates and this is one of the resulting photographs. I put the chocolates on a textured glass tray with a white napkin beneath it to give the elements light from several directions. Chocolates courtesy of Cacao in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The red chocolate was particularly rich in patina and color.
While developing the photographs in Lightroom, I discovered patterns that the glass produced in the sunlight. A bonus of the process.
Thanks to Ingrid and Robert, and Susie and Bogie for the gifts and the opportunity to work with extraordinary things.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The yellow-green of new leaves match the tubes of the flowers and complement the white.
With the wind blowing, I thought a toned black and white image would match the day.
I hope you will be able to watch nature's spring show this week!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Most of you know that when someone brings flowers to our mesa abode, I am thrilled for two reasons. Their beauty, and the excuse to photograph that beauty and showcase it online. So my thanks to Cristina and Ben for bringing a lovely batch of Alstroemeria (Peruvian lilies), in purple no less. A gift like this challenges me to try to create images worthy of the flowers themselves. I did three sessions with these in different locations and both morning and afternoon light.
In this detail, you can see the stamens, loaded with pollen, which also dots the petal in the upper right hand corner.
May today be a wonderful opening to spring for you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>But here at 7,800 feet elevation on the piñon-juniper mesa, there are definitely signs of spring. The birds certainly know the seasons are changing and it is high time to ponder mating and nesting. The activity borders on frantic in the hours just before and after sunrise. Red-shafted flickers are drilling on our wood burning stove pipes, both western and mountain bluebirds slurp water off the metal roof as the sun melts the frost, and the sandhill cranes that started their migration north in January, are much fewer in number as things settle in for serious life-producing activities.
Another bird that flies in for a brief visit is the cedar waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum. At first blush, these spring breakers seem fairly nondescript because they usually fly in groups, making it difficult to see their markings. But if you are lucky enough to see them through binoculars or a moderate camera lens, they are stunning. Marked by masks that a painter might have applied with a very thin, delicate brush, their faces are like leaded glass. Then the painter took a full brush, dipped it in yellow paint, and wiped it across their tailer feathers. As a final touch, red was applied to the secondary flight feathers. Exquisite.
I was lucky enough to get a couple of morning shoots of the cedar waxwings. Exhibit # 1 - I would call this "What are you looking at?"
In profile
Another feature is the topknot, flared nicely here.
Two of ten in the yet-to-leaf New Mexico privet
I will be watching for other signs of spring and hope that you are able to do so as well, with cameras in hand.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>For photographers, one of the less expensive and less obvious forms of advertising is the humble photo contest. I have mixed feelings about them, and sometimes go for years without entering one. Other times, I see one or two that hold appeal. Most of the time (although I try to second guess judges, which I should not do) I treat it as an exercise in evaluating and considering my work, not in anticipation of winning. So I was a bit surprised when I received an email from the Santa Fe Reporter saying I was a finalist in their photo contest. Not knowing which photograph has been selected, I thought I would include all my entries here. Which do you think it will be? My choices roughly coincided with their categories, the main point being that the photograph was shot in New Mexico. I made an effort to include both color and black and white images. But I look back on the selections I made and wonder why I didn't use others. As always, my choices were as capricious as the spring winds blowing today.
The show of winners will be on April 25 from 6-8 p.m. at the Violet Crown Cinema, with a silent auction of the work for the benefit of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.
From left to right and top to bottom:
1)Adobe wall and snow 2)Williams Lake Reflection 3)purple asters against adobe 4)Wagon wheel, Fort Union 5)Native American corn 6)Twirl 7)Aspen 8)San Francisco de Asis Church, Ranchos de Taos 9)Rufous hummingbird on pine 10)young raven 11)Abiquiu geology 12)coyote puppy
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Because of the identifying information and thanks to the EdinPhoto website I found while searching the photographers, I have dates that most of the studios operated in a given location. Looking at the carte de visite above, I found that James Davidson operated at 79 George Street in Edinburgh, Scotland between 1885 and 1900, and thus, the photograph was made during those years, probably before Isabel Low McKenzie arrived in America.
Cabinet cards are 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Both are marked or stamped with the photographer's or studio's name on the front, usually an illustration or "chop" of sorts on the reverse of the card with the photographer's or studio name and address, and a line on which the photograph's identifying number was given. Even in the early days of this burgeoning media, photographers knew that their clients might want more than one copy of the image. Negatives were retained but additional copies could always be had. The first cabinet card included here was made by photographer E. R. Yerbury, Studio 3, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. EdinPhoto indicated that the studio was at that address from 1864-1868, and at 3 South Hanover Street from 1869-1898. The date spread muddies the identification a bit. Given the couples' dress, however, a wild guess would be just after the American Civil War, but since this is one of the "mystery photographs", more investigation needs to be done. Any thoughts, Lawrence Jones or Donna Coates?
Another cabinet card by photographer Charles W. Sinclair, was made between 1897 and 1901. With a much smaller time frame, it would seem we could confirm identification. Alas, this is also in the stack of mysteries.
The cabinet card shown below is in particularly good shape, probably because it is the most recent one we have. The American Studios operated at 39 South Bridge in Edinburgh from 1908 to an unspecified date. Note the side table with flowers and chair in addition to the backdrop.
The final cabinet card and mystery is by E. Gossler, Wolmaranstad, Transvaal (South African Republic) during either the First Anglo-Boer War or the Second Boer War from 1899-1902. I can imagine Gossler arranging the men, two of whom are soldiers, and the others who may have been photographers or journalists. Somehow, because of the time frame of the Second Boer War, we assume the photograph was made then, but I was unable to locate the photographer or studio. Another guess on my part, and a great story, no doubt. One of these days, we'll solve that one as well.
A lesson repeats itself and bangs me on the head with a big stick every time I go through family photographs or any photographic collection. If you want anyone other than yourself to know who, what, where, when, and why a photograph was taken, you must print it and label it. Because in a relatively short period of time, these things might be forgotten. The carte de visite and cabinet cards represented a revolution probably greater in scope than the smart phone as far as still photography is concerned. But labeling applies to digital media as well. Although not all of you will remember vinyl going to 8 track tapes going to cassette going to CDs and DVDs, technology does and will continue to change. Smart phones, unfortunately, can also be lost or stolen. Having a print or a book in your hand will assure that you don't lose your photographs and memories. I've got to get cracking on my photo inventory!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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When water draining into the stock tank hits the ice, it moves, and bubbles form along the ice edges. The physical properties of the bubbles in the water that rim the thin ice are a study in themselves.
By adding more black to the color mix in the image below, it resembles an aerial photograph of the earth's topography, including lines created by skim ice beneath the ribbon of bubbles.
To see closer views of any of the images shown in my blog, go to the header of the website, click on My Photographs, drag down to All My Photos, then click on the Blog Site Images photograph. That brings up all the blog site images. Scroll down to the photograph you would like to see. It may take a bit because there are hundreds of images, but you will get a photographic history of my blogs, and perhaps see some images you don't remember. Thanks for your patience during the process.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Many of you know that my husband, Fred, and I have been chipping ice from our road for several weeks now. The excitement begins when snow falls. On a typical year, Fred is able to hand shovel the quarter mile of road to the highway in about twelve hours. Because of the necessity of other people driving on the road this year, he was unable to shovel and the road became compacted. In this state, day after day, the snow changes in form, melting just a little during the day, and freezing at night, creating layers of ice. Those layers can be five or six inches thick, and are frequently attached to banks of snow that have not been compacted, forming small glaciers. When this happens, it is very difficult to remove. But a wonderful, manual invention called the crow bar, will do the trick, given the right temperature and water melting beneath the ice. Over the weeks, Fred and I have each developed techniques using the crow bar, a metal shovel, and snow shovels for ice removal.
In this photograph, Fred gently but firmly inserts the shovel under the ice where it meets the ground, finessing the ice, and lifting some mammoth sheets from the ground.
Using the shovel as a lever, he lifts the sheet up. It is much too heavy (ice is roughly 57.2 pounds per cubic foot) to lift at this point, so he positions the plate in order to maneuver and get it off the road.
The sides of the road begin to look like a miniature Stonehenge.
Since Fred is 5' 10" tall, this particular plate was nearly five feet in height and three inches thick in the middle. We figure it weighed over 100 pounds.
Despite what we have learned about ice this winter, we have yet to know precisely what conditions enable us to get under the ice and render big plates rather than small chips. The plates are rewarding and the process of prying them up becomes almost meditative. On the other hand, chipping ice with a crow bar is extremely labor intensive and messy (as I discovered trying to get under the edges of the ice), spreading bits of ice all over, that you then have to remove with a snow shovel. We do know that water running under the ice helps in its removal, so temperature is definitely one element. However, about the time those conditions are right, you are slopping around in the mud, because, at this time of year, the ground is still frozen several feet thick with the top couple of inches of mud sliding on top of the frozen ground. As anyone knows who lives on a dirt road, the combination makes for very interesting driving. But with most of the ice off the road, and temperatures rising, the surface is beginning to dry. In the mean time, our upper bodies are pumped, as we wait for the charm of the dirt road to present itself again.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The work wheels in the Antonito train yard of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad have some years on them as well as stories of hauling goods and passengers before it became a historic tourist train.
The 1955 Chevy Bel Air shown below carries members of a wedding party in the Los Angeles area to the reception. No doubt the truck wheel reflected in the Bel Air's highly polished paint is from a Chevrolet as well.
I suspect that in times past as well as today, wheels were a huge part of individual freedom, giving people the ability to move around the world and explore. It wasn't as easy for the American pioneers crossing this vast land as it is now, but it meant heading to a new world, and what many thought would be a different and better life, filled with opportunities. We are along for the ride, so let those wheels turn!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>In accordance with a week that has, shall we say, been very disturbing around the world, I thought some levity might be in order. And since it is The Year of the Fire Rooster, what better way to blog than with rooster images, featuring both constructed and live images.
First, the setups. What would make a hand-made rooster look as if it is in a native environment or a cage? A little feed (popcorn), some wire for coop atmosphere, and an herb or two? Natural light coming from three different directions, courtesy of a greenhouse, provides a variety of options, just as the big lightrooms did in the early days of film. That will do.
hand-blown in Seattle...
carved and painted in Oaxaca...
shaped and painted in Portugal....
metal worked and painted in Seattle...
...and this wooden rooster from southeast Asia
Last but not least, Big Daddy III - the real thing - at Casa Gallina, An Artisan Inn, Taos
Two lovely girls in Beijing will surely tell me one way or another if this is correct but I wanted to wish you Gong Xi Fa Cai or Happy New Year in Mandarin.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Wind, snow, frost, and footsteps also contribute to the shaping of materials. Although snow is more transient and different in its crystal structure than sand, the two always seem similar to me in the way they are shaped by objects on which they fall, and the way the wind moves them. Peaks and valleys and humps rise in snow, just as they do in sand.
The softness and curves of snow, shaped by the wind and the tree on which it fell, produced this "winter bud". As I have said before, there is no substitute for a great photograph, and my goal is always to shoot the best and strongest images I can. The photograph below features the most alteration I do to an image. It was turned clockwise to be vertical, revealing not only the "bud" at the top, but the "stem", formed by a snow drift.
With a slight breeze, snow shapes and surrounds existing bumps.
As is the case with the surprisingly resilient adobe, which itself has been shaped by years of snow, rain, frost, and wind, the snow coats the wall, waiting for the sun's heat to alter its shape. The late afternoon sun, emerging briefly from the clouds, gives the effect of fill light on the wall, while much of the rest of the landscape is thinly lit under the broken overcast.
All seasons on our wonderful Planet Earth offer opportunities for discovery.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The way snow lands on elements of the existing environment provides endless photographic opportunities. Here are a few of the latest studies, shot under mostly overcast skies, and/or fog. The bunch of grass below has just enough color to set it off from the snow.
Nothing like the twisted branches of a wisteria vine to hold snow in the most lovely way
Evidence that despite the cold temperatures and snow, lichen are still quite active.
Finally, a couple of shots of a sawhorse, the equivalent of lawn furniture in the rural west
As the snow continues to nourish the land, I also cherish the nighttime hours, reading the book Hellhound on His Trail by Hampton Sides, about the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. We honor him and his legacy today.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>But a huge part of me loves black and white photography. My darkroom course work was just as exciting, if not more so, than that Instamtic camera. To smell the chemicals, pull the greys, blacks, and whites and achieve the boldness or subtleties of them in a particular image was magic. The other day, I had changed inks from matte black to glossy on my trusty printer to experiment with a couple of new papers, and realized, once again, how incredible a bold black and white image can be. One black and white shot of the bottle of Zolo wine was featured in this blog two weeks ago. But there was another that was angular and bold and screamed black and white. I printed it and am looking at the print right now.
There is nothing like black and white subject matter to make a great black and white photograph, given the lighting it needs, such as the white shirt and black vest shown below.
Then there are the more subtle subjects that reveal multiple depths and shades of grey, such as the iconic San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. The partly cloudy day rendered the solid edifice softer, with less profound blacks and whites.
The next two interior shots of Melk Abbey in Austria carried much less light (and flash lighting was not allowed for preservation purposes), thus giving this staircase reflection and the gallery shot a huge span of greys.
While snow continues to blanket the landscape, the huge variations and possibilities in black and white photography continue to be on my mind.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Thanks to "Big Al" in the Palm Desert area of southern California and his daughter, Cristina, we were the recipients of a major crop of citrus fruit. You don't get much fresher than the grapefruit and lemons grown right in the backyard under the baking sun of the Mojave Desert. With six inches of snow still clinging to the earth in our neck of the woods, the treat of receiving newly picked fresh fruit cannot be overstated. I am always astounded that nature produces edibles of this size, and naturally, before eating them, I have to photograph the beauties for posterity.
Botanical drawings, sketches, etchings, and paintings have always fascinated me. The use by artists of either black or light colored backgrounds accentuates the subject. I used black for the grapefruit to emphasize both the inside juice and exterior flesh.
Variations on a theme of grapefruit
While looking at the lemons, I felt that a light background, or a combination of light and black would make them pop.
Lemonade
May 2017 be full of juice, and fresh creativity for you!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Some of the best commercial art being produced in our time ends up as book and magazine covers, in advertisements, on websites, and on labels. The label featured in today's blog is not my personal advertisement for the wine. As you can see in the photographs, the bottle has yet to be opened. But the label is simple in its lines, straightforward, and compelling in its story telling. I thought I would use it in different settings, including in the snow, to see how the dark bottle and its label would photograph. When snow covers the landscape, it also becomes part of life. Just as it is fun to have snowball fights, it is also fun to photograph it in addition to shoveling. First, here is an image that showcases the label. White background, black, red, and silver lettering, and a man in a suit whose hat is floating in the air.
Now to snow as the backdrop. The spent blooms from some snakeweed, as well as a drift and mouse prints, provides a nest for the bottle, drawing the eye to the bottle's label.
Under a juniper tree, with mountains in the distance.
And finally, a black and white shot with the graupel-covered snow and shadow.
May 2017 bring renewed creativity and the energy to highlight and share your art with people of all ages.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
In this image, you can see the snow-ice attached to the window, in various stages of solidity.
These segments of ice seem to be floating in thin air. Modern art, once again, courtesy of nature.
As the sun started to appear and the clouds scatter, the blue sky gave the ice more depth and context.
The winter solstice arrives on Wednesday. I hope you will have a chance to celebrate the change, as we move forward into ever-so-slightly longer days and more light.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>We began the week by attending an interment at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe on Monday. It was a sad, sobering, and thought-provoking occasion for a young father of two, husband, and a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan whose life ended far too soon. He was well-loved, and his family, friends, and co-workers came from far and wide to give him a dignified and beautiful salute. It would have been totally inappropriate to photograph the event, but my father is also buried at the National Cemetery, so Fred and I found his grave and headstone. I was delighted to see this sacred space so well kept and cared for, and the measurements between the graves and rows done with such preciseness. Here is an image showing that.
Later in the week, I received an email concerning the upcoming Taos Wedding Guide. It is always fun for me to go through the wedding photographs I have shot in any given year or in years past and choose several that might be effective additions to the guide. Here is one from the wedding I shot in October.
I spent a morning "staging" our house for some advertising shots. Not being a home photographer per se, I worked with what my equipment would allow such as using lights to fill dark spaces, adding accessories including rugs, flowers, and food, shooting from different angles, moving furniture, etc. It made me appreciate some of the excellent interiors that other professional photographers shoot.
When Fred got the weaving bug and first started to weave Navajo-Churro rugs, I knew he would be doing this for the rest of his life and would need a portfolio of his work. Every piece he has woven has been photographed, with dimensions, colors used, date the piece was made, and the owner's name and location. Not until recently did I have anywhere near the type of equipment necessary to achieve the proper light and color balance, but I am getting there. His latest rug, #292, is below.
The week begins as I adventure forth with camera in hand. I hope you have time and opportunity to do the same.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>As a photographer, my work could be divided into thirds. One third fantasy, one third reality, and another third a combination of both. Many images, particularly in nature, fit the latter category. The images here are ones I can view endlessly and see different things. Not necessarily because they are world-changing images, but because they hold many elements that appear new and different, or that can reveal themselves anew. Here is a selection of some of my favorites.
A "hole" in the sand at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado
"Twirl" - false helibore
Sandstone hoodoos at El Malpais National Monument, New Mexico
Aspen are always evocative
I never get tired of this frog from the Köln Botanical Gardens!
With luck, you will have some time to fantasize this holiday season!
until next Monday
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Not more than half an hour later, the scene had changed enough to warrant more shooting. The hole is now fully surrounded by bubbles.
The form of the top bubbles looks like something under an electron microscope.
Incoming drop!
Enjoy the new season of photographic possibilities!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Sage Dressing
(enough to stuff a 12-20 pound turkey)
12 cups dried cubed bread, such as sourdough or ciabatta
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 heaping tablespoons fresh culinary sage, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
two sticks of butter, melted
3/4 cup of water or chicken stock
1/3 cup of fruit juice (orange works well)
1 finely chopped onion
Mix bread, spices, and onion. Add melted butter, fruit juice, water or stock and blend thoroughly. If the mix looks too dry, add more water or stock. Stuff the turkey with the dressing. Leftover can be placed in a greased dutch oven or baking dish covered with lid or aluminum foil. When the turkey is cooked, garnish with fresh sage and/or rosemary.
While picking up dyed wool from Connie Taylor is Taos the other day, I gave her a card with pears on it. She mentioned she liked pears as photographic subjects. So here are two photographs of pears. The first is a group of pears placed in a bowl with natural light sources highlighting only some parts of the pears. Isolating the light in this way gives the image more of a still-life painting with the background in black.
The baked pears below are on a black surface with light from three different angles, all natural. Shooting from just above and to the side of the pears, shows more of the fruit than a straight-on shot would.
I will savor every morsel while thinking about the people I love and how lucky I am to be able to eat such wonderful food.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
For instance, when would I ever see northern saw-whet owl? This jewel ran into one of our sliding glass doors just after sunset.
The black-headed grosbeak below struck during the day. A massive amount of sunlight allowed me to get a couple of clear shots while the bird was still dazed. The great thing is that you can see every individual feather and how they come together to create the distinctive markings.
Only during a year when moisture is so scarce, and when the previous season offered abundant piñon, do these sweet birds venture out of the trees into open areas. We are seeing many red-breasted nuthatches this year, such as the one below.
Last but not least, the original dazed and confused mammal that carries the label "deer in the headlights". They are diligent in watching prey, which yields that constant look of surprise.
Like the birds and mammals in these photographs, we humans generally arise again, dust ourselves off, and pursue our dreams.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Blue flax arrive early and stay late, bless their hearts, turning their faces to sun.
I always love the challenge of creating black and white photographs from blue. A single flax face is a perfect subject.
The high country provided a lot of photographic material this year as far as flowers are concerned.
Fawn lily close-up
Wild iris choreographed quite a show this year, and working with images of them could provide work for a life-time.
A trip to Seattle in April enabled me to photograph flowers I rarely see here, such as this camellia, with its big, in-your-face petals.
Good shooting to you, as we enter a new season of photographic possibilities!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Wandering inside and outside for more intimate shots of the wedding party with family and friends, I always am lucky enough to get some additional, more spontaneous images, such as the one below of Gene and his brother on one of the porches at the Taos Territorial House.
Gene's sister and I had fun with the camera in moments after the wedding.
Finally, Gene's father cut a dashing, Southwestern look on the grounds during the reception.
However you dress tonight for Halloween, have a great time and keep safe.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>As a photographer, a responsibility to the wedding party is to shoot specific images - traditional things such as the kiss, the toast, the rings, the families - but also to find those spontaneous, fun moments that make memories. The first set of photographs of the bride and groom would be considered more traditional.
Here is one of my favorite spontaneous moments of the wedding - a group hug shared by the mother of the bride, and the bride and groom.
Another task of the photographer is to capture the flavor of a wedding. By this, I don't mean the cake, but the feel of it demonstrated among the participants. Instead of a guest book, Ashely and Gene chose to use chalkboards and have me photograph each person at the wedding holding the person's wishes to the couple. Here is Gene's younger brother, seated on a bench draped with spider web cloth, and the spare skeletal hand. My husband, Fred, served as chief coordinator and eraser of chalkboards for this pre-ceremony event.
The ladies' turn to mug for the camera...
Showing ink...
Thanks to Steve, Cristina, Catherine, and others who so faithfully comment on my blog, and to Mary K. who wondered where my blog was this morning. All your thoughts are appreciated. I would be remiss if I did not thank Ashley and Gene, and their wonderful families and friends who were so fun and very willing to pose before the camera. Next week, I will include some of the environmental portraits I was able to make.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Since this was an October wedding, what could be better than using the color of the season, combined with just a tad of Halloween/Dia del Muerto decorations? Below is a skull, brimming with flowers.
One of the many details that made the event alluring was the bride's dress. It was handmade by her great grandmother, worn by her grandmother and her mother, and now Ashley wears it. She certainly did it justice. The buttons and lace on the back represent generations of life and memories.
In next week's blog, I hope to present more wedding images. There is still rendering to do with the six hundred or so photographs waiting in the wings.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
With the Taos Wool Festival still fresh in our minds, I cannot help but see the aspen trunks as warp on a loom.
The incline of the trunk on this lone specimen says something about the prevailing winds.
Humans tend to leave their mark everywhere. I do wonder if the love remained after 1996...
I hope you are able to drink in the rarified mountain air this week and feel the leaves crunch beneath your feet.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>In seasons like this, I lean toward the impressionistic or abstract image. There is a lovely pond on roughly the north hand side of Highway 64 when you are driving from Tres Piedras to Tierra Amarilla. It is fairly hidden and one can drive by it unless you are seriously looking for it. This year, there was a slight breeze on the water, rendering an interesting reflection of spruce and aspen. I shoot full photographs, and then crop to the most texturally rich part. I do not use Photoshop at all for this type of image, but only make adjustments, such as contrast and tone, that a photographer would make in a darkroom.
I have always marveled at aspen, not only because of the leaves but because of the branches that carry those leaves and the trunks that are so visceral in nature.
Even in a muted phase, aspen leaves are lovely, especially when one tree carries reds and yellows and is directly in front of another with green leaves.
I hope to get out and do more shooting this week, as the aspen and the scrub oak continue their autumnal evolution.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Here is a sampling of possible Wool Festival sights.
Navajo-Churro sheep
Tom Barr demonstrating his amazing sheering skill
Alpacas and llamas
Luminous fiber...
...and lots of wool, apparel, rugs and fiber art
Fred and I will be in Booth # 6 (Big Sage Artisans) with his Navajo-Churro rugs (and me with my camera). It would be great to see you.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>This old-timer, whether a lumberjack or prospector, has his own sunflower patch at Olguin's just west of Taos on highway 64.
sunflower in black and white
Everywhere you turn this year, the purple asters appear at your feet, or on an adobe wall.
And the variability of the weather provides a clue that nature is in flux, but nonetheless still offering photographic subjects. Almost a double rainbow...
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
The first is a reflection of reeds in water. Nature's own tapestry definitely qualifies as an eye dazzler.
I particularly loved discovering the way water seems dense and heavy as it reflects the lily pad and the tapestry of elements.
The surface tension of the water surrounds the lily pads, and those pads, along with the frog's body, gives a syrupy, lush texture to the scene.
For me, it is the play of sun and shadow on the water in the shot below that dazzles.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>It is this time of year when I wax sentimental about a place known as Dixon's Apple Farm, previously located in the Jemez Mountains near Peña Blanca. There are several places on earth that I consider the most beautiful, and this certainly ranked as one. My husband and I made a pilgrimage there every year to buy 40 pound bags of their signature ¨Champagne¨and "Sparkling Burgundy¨apples. Oh, my. Were they good! Here is a photograph of a Sparkling Burgundy tree at Dixon's, way back when (1992), made on Kodachrome 25 transparency film and scanned. It was shot with either a Minolta 200 or 201. I owned both and they were my "go to" cameras for many years.
A bin of "Champagne" apples just harvested in the orchard.
There is a long story of struggle and renewal, land swaps and politics, fire (the Los Conchas Fire in 2011), and flood at Dixon's. In the end, Becky and Jim Mullane moved with their children to Wisconsin and began again, taking with them clippings of the patented "Champagne" apple. Becky's grandfather, Fred Dixon, found a wild apple tree in a canyon near Dixon's, grafted it to other stock and created the new variety "Champagne" that became a legend in New Mexico. It would be interesting to know how the apple takes to the Wisconsin soil and how the flavor changes.
The lineage of many apples in New Mexico is unknown because of changes in land ownership or information not being passed on to members of other generations. These are apples that came from our friend Victoria's place in Lamy. Sweet, beautiful things they are. All I know is that they are apples. To me, there is nothing like a black background for photographing almost anything, including fruit. The image below was made with a Nikon D80.
Here is a setup I shot for greeting cards (with recipes) with my first digital camera, a Minolta DiMage A2. Nothing dramatic as far as pixels are concerned, and it was far from today's DSLRs, but for a bit, it did the trick.
As the temperatures cool and we welcome autumn, I will always think about and appreciate apples in New Mexico, and their smell drifting through the cool air. And I think of the Dixons, now in Cadott, Wisconsin, in the Chippewa Valley, wishing them much success. http://dixonsapples.com/
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>One of those delights is chocolate. Deborah Vincent and Javier Abad are the team behind Casa Chokola in Taos. Beans from Venezuela, Peru, Guatemala, and Madagascar (all single source) are harvested, removed from the pod, fermented and dried before arriving in Taos where they are roasted, ground, tempered, and molded into bars and truffles, and made into sauce, among other things.
They produce "bean to bar" chocolate in small handcrafted batches. Each type of bean carries its own terroir - the total environmental conditions in which it is grown. For instance, Canoabo from Venezuela, which is 70% cacao has "buttery nut, caramel, and soft fruit" notes, while those of the Chuao, also from Venezuela, are dried fruit, dates, and fig. The Lamas from Peru, also 70% cacao, has a profile of apricots and honey, and the Ambanjan from Madagascar carries tones of raspberries, citrus, and wine.
Deborah working with the "nibs", which you can sample at the shop, and Javier tempering the chocolate.
Javier pouring chocolate into the molds for bars.
The tasting room
Just as all of us have different palates and varying tastes in food (including green and red chile), coffee, tea, and wine, many people have specific likes and dislikes in chocolate. You can visit CasaChokola in Taos just north of the Plaza at 106 B Juan Largo Lane from 11-7 Tuesday through Sunday, and smell the nibs, taste the chocolate or even get a chocolate mousse. Here is a link to their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Chokola-bean-to-bar-1665900283682356/?fref=ts
Thanks to Debi and Javier for allowing me to interrupt their afternoon and take a few shots. Theirs is, indeed, a very special addition to the Taos foodscape.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
From babies to adults - mammals (including humans), birds, fish, insects - seem to love bubbles. Above ice (as shown here), in the air, in the water, in a container. Bubbles are the most beautiful distractions, taking our attention from the present into a micro-world contained therein in all its perfect glory. Because of past blogs, you know I have been watching and photographing hummingbirds. They react with a inquisitiveness or even joy when, by drinking the sugar water, they form a bubble that rises to the top of the container. That, I have yet to photograph.
However this week, while celebrating our respective anniversaries with friends, the cava was poured. Perhaps due to the speed with which it touched the glass, the temperature of the glass itself, or the liquid, its effervescence completely coated the glass. Our friend, documentary filmmaker Cristina McCandless, got very excited, indicating that we needed to photograph it. My tendency is to leave the camera out of social occasions. I know that people who are not interested in photography tend to become really bored when you are shooting. But when a fellow photographer talks, I listen.
Below is a full length shot of the glass, coated with cava in blotches above the liquid line and bubbles within the liquid.
Here is an image shot from slightly above the glass, showing the bubbles from the top and below.
And here are two details of the bubbles, reflecting their world, hanging in space like ball bearings.
To end, a quote from Frederick Buechner, which seems to be applicable. "This is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." I might add, look for the beautiful distractions, like the simple and incredibly complex bubble.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Back light, courtesy of the sun, reveals the lines and folds that each flower carries.
This lone sunflower seems to be serving as a highway flagman. "Drive this way, slowly, and look at me."
Many of you will be on the road or in the air this week. Keep safe and enjoy the ride.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>They arrive roughly around the middle of April, American tax return filing time, and we can usually hear them before we see them. The broad-tailed hummingbird scouts fly in first, doing aerial reconnaissance, with their wings making a "shrill trilling" (Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds). Next, the black-chinned arrive. For the first couple of months, these two types are the predominate hummingbirds in our area, but soon the calliope join the group, followed in early to mid-July by the most territorial - the rufous - who really shake things up.
Since there seems to be a greater population of rufous this year, there are also more juveniles who haven't quite honed their flying skills. One recently hit one of our house sliding glass doors. Dazed, confused, but alive, she provided me with the perfect opportunity to capture the details of this flying marvel.
Shaking it off, she was soon back in the fray, feeding and communicating with forty to fifty birds gathered at the feeders at any one time. It doesn't take long to realize that hummingbird social structure is extremely complex! Whether they are constantly saying "Mine" or "get out of my way", we don't know, but it is quite the scene. Here is a rufous waiting and keeping a watchful eye on the action (although they don't sit still for long, as shown below).
A black-chinned coming in for a landing
We are lucky to have these creatures in our neighborhood!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Proust certainly had it right as far as artists of all stripes are concerned. Painters, including Peggy Immel, were on the streets of Taos last Friday doing the "Sunrise to Sunset" challenge. Exercises like these not only put the artist in the public eye, but force the artist to complete specific tasks during a short time period. I was never very good at the typical challenge in creative writing classes of having to write on a given subject for two minutes and then stop. Typically, one sentence stood alone starkly on the otherwise blank page. This week, I presented myself with the challenge of seeing things with new eyes, things that I have seen hundreds of times, by forcing myself to seek and photograph them in a different way.
By using the early morning, brilliant sunlight from the east, I was able to capture some interesting shadows of architectural details. The first is of a column and adjoining balustrade.
Pieces of lawn furniture or the shadows they produce can make interesting subjects if shot in a slightly different way.
Porch uprights are, in their core, rhythm, and continually create shadows of different positions and lengths throughout a sunny day.
Taking Proust along with me, I discovered the possibilities in an old window being used as the top of a cold frame.
August is a bustling time of year. Photographic possibilities are endless and sometimes are hidden in the most unusual places.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>I am almost always in peripatetic mode and most certainly was during this shoot of wildflowers. My process is not complete unless I circle subjects many times, frequently staying out long enough for the light to change which makes it necessary to do yet more shooting. Quite frankly, I am not always certain what I will be shooting during this exercise or exactly what the results will be, but it is always instructive.
The flowers were full of assorted pollinators. They were everywhere, temporarily exploding from the blossoms when I approached and then returning to their work, settling back onto the blooms, as shown on the Echinacea flower below.
I passed by this evening primrose a number of times because it was small enough that I feared I would not be able to do it photographic justice, but the stamen shadows finally forced me onto the ground to capture it.
My guess would be that many people consider the prairie coneflower a weed. It is quite prolific, but the velvety, deep red petals of this variety of Ratibida make it glow in the sun.
And just as the petals shine, the Ratibida seed pod and flower-in-waiting, make fascinating botanical studies for photographers.
Yours, peripatetic as ever,
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>First the males. They sport iridescent orange on their throats and have primarily orange bodies with green backs. They are the studs of the hummingbird world in every sense of the word. I definitely worked upper body isometrics into my routine, holding my Nikon D800 camera with 70-200 mm lens, moving from position to position, attempting to focus and capture the motion of these speed demons.
The females are equally beautiful, in a different way, showing less orange and more green, along with white tips on their tail feathers. Their different positions in flight and landing approaches are amazing.
For years, I was unaware of the fact that hummingbirds exist only in the New World. Early explorers thought hummers were insects of some sort. We are lucky to have them as seasonal reminders of nature's wonders.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Any way you slice it, this week in America has been profound and distressing on almost every level. The sure sign of malaise is when comedians have trouble talking about the news. Certainly, George Carlin would have been able to do it. In fact, he may be whispering in our ears from another world. We fear for not only the outcomes of the political conventions, but for the people of Cleveland and Philadelphia. When you have screamed at whatever screen you are watching, and your guts have been in washing machine mode because of the news, beauty is a persistent and calming force. Whether it is nature's perfection - the egg, a butterfly, or a coyote puppy exploring the flowers, discovering the simple and complex beauty in the world around us is like a sip of fresh water for the soul.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
"The Rock Seam"
"What is she up to?"
"She Who Knows"
"with bouquet of woodland flowers"
"In Days of Yore"
until next Monday
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Naturally, this was a juicy challenge for me, requiring substantial pondering beforehand, and scoping possible shooting sites. Thinking in terms of the forest primeval as well as rocks or monoliths, I chose a couple of locations off of Highway 64. Fred and I looked at the possibilities two weeks before when I was shooting wild iris. We had to find areas that were on Forest Service land and without intruding fences or cattle. One of the location choices was jettisoned when I saw the outfits Jessica had brought with her. But with the help of her mother, who knew the area, we found a lovely substitute, and the day's high overcast worked perfectly in eliminating hatchet lighting. Jessica did a lot more rock scrambling and walking in long dresses and costumes than I could have expected, and she was the consummate professional despite the flies and nipping cedar gnats that were pestering us. It was a good morning, and here are some of the results.
A full tinaja or stone basin, played perfectly into the "witching" scenario.
This says "enchantress" to me.
In the deep aspen
A change of outfits and the maiden becomes a forest nymph with a look that says it all.
Additional images will be included periodically on Facebook (Daryl A. Black). Find that inner nymph...
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>Here is a reflection of the sun in the form of a yellow fawn lily, found in moist, cooler mountain areas.
In early summer, flowers are full of bees, and it seems that baby birds are everywhere. Some, like raven chicks, don't look young at all. By the time they have fledged, they are as big as full-grown adults. You have to pay attention to differentiate the babies from the adults. The tops of their heads look like they've been given a buzz cut, and the sides of their beaks reveal a rosy glow as shown in the image below.
But the real distinction is their voices. At this point, all they know how to do is squawk and they do that a lot, especially when the parents fly in, bringing snacks. The subtleties of raven-speak have yet to be learned and that process takes a back seat to taking flight and landing, and of course, play. After feeding, they proceed to play with whatever they can find - rocks, feathers, desiccated mouse heads, sticks - and in the water. Here is one of those darlings now, who, being a good teenager, is not yet aware of the mysticism and symbolism associated with their ancestors over the millenia.
Like the raven, the movement of the earth around the sun with the changing seasons that action provides, gives us pause, and an opportunity to think about nature and new life emerging all around us.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I never know when we drive west on Highway 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla at this time of year whether the wild iris will be in bloom. Yes, the bloom happens sometime in June but precisely when depends on temperature, winter moisture, and spring rainfall. It is a guessing game. You just go in June and hope for the best.
As we drove west, there were green meadows full of yellow peas and false hellebore (corn lily), but wild iris seemed few and far between. I was a little disappointed as we drove over the highway passes, scoping out the bloom. There was a smattering here and there, and I made a few shots but it wasn't until we headed back east that a nice community appeared near a small rivulet. I walked over with my camera and realized I had discovered a real mother lode, more valuable than gold to a photographer. Each step I took, whether on soggy or dry ground, more and more patches appeared. The mother lode was all around me. I kept walking and shooting and walking. I wanted to take a portrait of every iris but would get lost in the group.
Although they are all similar, wild iris display a wide variety of colors from fuchsia to blue and multiple shades in between. Some are rich and dense with color while others are subdued. Here is a sampling of those that caught my eye before the summer witching hour of noon nipped at my heels.
Now that you have been forced to overdose on wild iris, I will promise that next week's blog will be something completely different. Maybe...
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Blue is one of those elusive or intense colors that is sometimes difficult to capture on film or as bits of digital information. The wild iris shown below has at least ten different shades of purple and blue, and adjusting those in a black and white image is both fascinating and challenging.
The same is true for the very open petals and center of the blue flax flower.
Flowers that are predominantly yellow seem to offer a bit more contrast between the darks and lights, as demonstrated in this shot of a sunflower along the highway.
Another member of the sunflower (Asteraceae) family - the goatsbeard -produces an eminently photographable (and frequently photographed) fluffy seed head. Before that happens, it produces a lovely yellow flower with sharply pointed petals.
The hold of black and white photography remains very tight on me, and occasionally, it will appear in this blog. Black and white, in all their forms, are incredibly beautiful.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Many of you, like me, may have familial connections to the Civil War of these United States. As a photographer, I have great admiration and respect for pioneer photographers, including Mathew Brady (and his team), Alexander Gardner, and Timothy O'Sullivan, who documented the war in detail. They could be called the first photo journalists, and their work brought the war home. But so did the work of many lesser or unknown photographers who made hundreds upon thousands of tintypes of soldiers in uniform with their arms at hand. Matted in metal, and tucked into hinged bakelite cases, these were a remembrance that fit neatly in the hand of a lover, mother, or father. Bakelite was one of the first plastics and its official name is worthy of the spelling bee - polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride. That hard as rock substance is probably one of the reasons so many of these images still exist today.
I have one of these jewels, shown below. Our friend, Lawrence T. Jones III, author of Lens on the Texas Frontier, is considered the premier private collector of historic Texas photographs. I showed Larry the photograph and case when he was in northern New Mexico several years ago. He indicated the soldier was in the Union Army, and probably in the infantry. He is wearing a forage cap. That is all I knew because there was no reference or identification with the photograph or the case. The print media, however, saved me. I have looked at the obituary newspaper clipping saved with the family photographs before, but somehow did not look seriously at the names and details printed therein. Relatives were listed along with the cemetery, from which I found the gravestone, and the fact that he was an "old soldier." Now I know that this man was my father's mother's father or one of four great grandfathers. John W. Scott, shown here, was photographed as a corporal in the 31st Iowa Infantry, Company A in August 1862, and was mustered out as a sergeant in Louisville in 1865.
I spent some hours pouring over the digitized images in the Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs housed at the Library of Congress. There are 924 photographs of Union soldiers (and others) as well as 378 of Confederate soldiers, and I began looking at them, hoping to come up with an identified duplicate but was unable to find one. Then I began looking at the metal mattes used as well as the Bakelite cases. I suspect someone knows which mattes and cases were used by which photographers, because they are all slightly different and perhaps served as "chops" or copyrights, but I have not gotten that far in my research.
My take away from this is an admonition to myself and others, particularly in an era of Instagram and digital photography. If you keep images only in digital format, add information about the photograph to supplement the metadata that goes with it. For instance, in Lightroom, you can add a title, caption, and sublocation, so that you will have more than the all-important capture date and time, and camera facts. Otherwise, those who follow and look at the work, might never know about the person, place, or thing you have photographed. It is, after all, Memorial Day, a day a remembrance.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
But first, some of the results of the shoot. I was using a Nikon D80 at the time, and Steve's soft box and strobe set up in his garage. Since I have learned just a few things about developing or adjusting digital images since then, I occasionally like to revisit them to try to figure out what the heck I was thinking when I rendered them the first time!
Of course, at the time we did our shoot, I had no idea that Steve was a guitarist of some renown. He said he wanted to be photographed with his guitar, but most of us of the folk and rock ages played or played around with guitars. However, at that point, Steve failed to mention that he had opened for the likes of John Denver and Hoyt Axton. So here are a few shots of him with his guitar. The first was made in the garage/studio, and the last three were made in or outside his house.
"Eye of the Photographer" opens on Saturday, 28 May, with a benefit reception from 4:00 to 5:30 ($20/person) and a free public reception following from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>For instance, trees are producing leaves in what I call "spring green." In the Crayola brand spectrum, an aspen leaf can be anywhere from a yellow green to asparagus, maximum green, or standard green. Frequently in each aspen tree stand, a range of all those greens are represented. The colors change with the longer daylight hours, becoming a deep green in the summer, and then autumn arrives, bringing an entirely new stage show.
The diminutive leaves of young aspen have a clean and clear color of yellow green, as shown in the photograph below.
In this photograph, a stand of aspen along Highway 64 between Tres Piedras and Tierra Amarilla is lush with spring leaves playing with the morning sunlight. Because the leaves haven't reached their full summer size or color at this time of year, a photographer can also gain the essence of the trunks under dappled light.
Gambel oaks, also called scrub oaks, have yet a different color of spring green. If you are from any other part of Planet Earth that has huge hardwoods and conifers, scrub oaks would be considered shrubs rather than trees. But in the Southwest, where the moisture is often spare, these trees are compact and squat, with gnarly branches tied up in knots. They have an incredibly short growing season, some times as little as four months, but their spring green leaves are the surest sign that summer is about to arrive.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Built by and under the supervision of Franciscan fathers in the late 1700s and early 1800s, the church is one of the most artistically celebrated in the United States and possibly in the world. Artists and photographers including Georgia O'Keefe, Ansel Adams, Paul Strand and thousands of others have rendered it from top to bottom in their work. The buttresses on the rear and sides of the structure are of great visual interest, and the texture of the mud plaster over adobe bricks lends it a strikingly rich character. New mud is regularly and lovingly hand-applied by volunteers, leaving a surface that prompts the viewer to touch its grain.
In any beginning photography class, teachers frequently discuss the "rule of thirds" - a technique for achieving solid and interesting composition. But occasionally, strict interpretation of the rule can and sometimes must be adjusted. The Ranchos church is an example of how the rule can be tweaked to demonstrate different aspects of the structural elements.
The photograph below shows how one of the buttresses helps support the point where two of the building walls come together.
Moving to the opposite side, the large rear buttress is revealed, as are vigas or wood beams that protrude through the adobe wall at the top.
A similar shot of the famous back elevation
And a full elevation of San Francisco de Asis in the snow on a cold January night.
If you are interested in seeing the church, drive to Ranchos de Taos from the north or south on State Road 68, look for the Ranchos post office on one side of the highway, and Old Martina's Hall on the opposite side. You will see this elevation. Information about the Wildling Museum can be found at: http://www.wildlingmuseum.org/
All photographs published in my blog can be viewed in a larger size, and can be purchased in a number of different sizes on archival paper by going to my website under the photographs category. Many thanks for reading!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Peonies were also in bloom. Their shape and color have been subjects of scientists, artists, and photographers for centuries.
One tree I have loved for years is the Japanese maple. Its many varieties thrive in damp, moderate climates, which makes the Pacific Northwest a nearly perfect environment for it. This is an abstract of the leaves as I photographed from below the leaf canopy.
My photographer friend Steve Immel mentioned he would like to see the Japanese fern photograph in black and white. I had several different shots and rendered this one as a black and white.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Whether or not running water native to the area is channeled, it still creates halcyon settings.
Ferns are indicators of plentiful water, and the Japanese painted fern below is beautiful and ghostly in its character.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Among the many flowering plants for which the Northwest is known, many rhododendron and azaleas are in bloom now. The one below is named "Unique".
The tri-colored Cordyline terminalis is a beauty in pattern, color, and form.
Ferns are everywhere in wet climates, and the rhythm of their fronds make good photographic studies. This is a western sword ferm, filled with unfolding fiddleheads.
Apple trees have lovely branching and flower structure. The branch below is from a Bramley apple tree.
And finally, a tool of the well-intentioned gardener.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>However, I did have one initial mission - to investigate the Taos Territorial Compound. On the National Register of Historic Places, the compound includes the Territorial House, the Chicken Coop, and Wagner Casitas A and B. It is the site of a wedding I am photographing later in the year, and I never photograph a wedding without first becoming familiar with the location. Fortunately, on this particular day, the father of the bride-to-be was doing some work in the Chicken Coop, so I had a tour of the coop, and the Territorial House.
Leslie Fay, Taos designer, restored the buildings in 1998. Bright colors were used inside and out, such as the turquoise porch uprights and trim of the Territorial House, and purple doors of the Chicken Coop, including the one shown below.
I was also able to see an extremely photogenic part of the Territorial House, which is the stairway. Hidden behind massive wooden doors, it is not exposed until you open the doors, and there it is, waiting. The bride will come down that stairway on the day of the wedding.
I wandered around the compound grounds for some time, finding possibilities and trying to imagine the light as it will be on the date and at the time of the event. Always an interesting exercise.
After that, I walked around the Bent Street area, and found this wonderful reflection of Coffee Cats.
It would hardly be a blog without a flower photograph of some sort. I was completely surprised to witness the "outside the box" thinking of some gardener when I encountered a bleeding heart amongst the daffodils.
You can really see the "This and That" (all over the map) theme in my final photograph. A Harley Davidson motorcycle caught my eye in the Taos County complex parking lot.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Hardly any birds love the water as much a robins. If there is a handful of water anywhere, a robin will find a way to drink and bathe in it. Even if the water is frozen, as is the case in the photographs below, robins will find a way to drink.
The detail of nature is endless fascinating. I love the chin and whiskers evident in the next two robin images.
Bath time will come later, no doubt!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Today's blog is a collection of photographs that were originally made on Fujichrome Velvia slide film, and scanned. The first three were made during several different photo shoots near McClure Beach, Pt. Reyes National Seashore in northern California.
This door has seen some years of mist and fog.
The final image was taken at Ft. Ross State Historical Park north of Jenner, California.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>"Chaos theory is the science of surprises, of the nonlinear and the unpredictable."
it seems particularly applicable to not only the political situation in the United States, but to the income tax system. Many people have expressed their frustration and hatred of this time of year specifically due to having to file their income taxes. So here is my photographic nod to the chaos of income taxes.
Best of luck!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>If you enjoy flower photography or photograph florals professionally, you know that each flower, like people, photographs differently. In addition to considering the elements of composition, background, and lighting, I have to constantly remind myself to do something different with the subject. Turn the bloom one direction, move closer, photograph one part of it, center it or don't center it. For this blog featuring lilies, I shot about seventy images and retained seven. I used an off-white fill disc as the backdrop with natural, multi-directional light.
This tight shot reveals the stamens' incredible, day glow, burnished orange color. It makes me wonder how many times flower pollen has been used as a natural dye.
Because the lily is a large flower, even the buds are full of texture. This flower bud will open in a couple of days.
Despite the riot of color in the lilies I photographed, processing an image in toned black and white brings a completely different feel to the flower bud. This one was poised to open.
Thanks to Imogen Cunningham, who so elegantly photographed botanicals and flowers, and Cristina and Ben for the gift of flowers.
until next week,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Writing and photography are a perfect pair. Both provide a way of describing the world. I have threatened many times to begin a book on photography and my favorite quotations. Looking through the material I have, part of me said "You had better get started. There is amazing work to be matched, just like the proper dish and wine."
So I begin here with a stanza from one of my favorite poems, "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" written by Robert Frost.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."
Narrowleaf cottonwood trees, northern New Mexico
shot using a Mamiya 1 3/4 by 2 1/4 camera, using Ilford 400 film, printed on Ilford fiber paper and scanned
May your walks in the woods be lovely!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Basics first. Most historic buildings and bridges predating steel are under compression. The weight of one stone or adobe brick on top of another makes the unit stronger. With the exception of elements such as window and door lintels made of wood or stone, the buildings are under compression. This is true of all the buildings at Chaco Culture National Historic Park in New Mexico, including the wall below with a T-shaped doorway.
The lintels are apparent in the Temple of the Dolls Mayan ruin at Dzibilchaltun, Mexico, but the remainder of the building is in compression.
One of the entrances in the Bamberg Cathedral in Germany, shown below, is also a good example of compression. Very simply put - without rope or steel (or lintels) there is no tension. Everything is in compression, a building method the Romans began to utilize thousands of years ago.
One of the most famous bridges in the United States is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. It is a suspension bridge, with the towers under compression, and the cables in tension. The bridge, although extremely strong, is also designed to be flexible, which is achieved through tension.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia River in Oregon, is a truss bridge, with different elements of the trusses providing compression or tension, acting in unison to transfer the load of the highway on the bridge to the concrete piers in the river bed. Both this bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge also have design elements which enable each to sustain earthquake and wind forces.
Finally, the photograph below of one of the public areas in the downtown Seattle Public Library, is a wonderful example of a light truss structure, supported by heavy steel beams. The top of the beam is in compression, and the bottom is in tension. The grid work, although aesthetically interesting and compelling, it is actually a truss with individual members in either compression or tension. (Fred says that moment and shear come into play here, but I'm not EVEN going there!)
My head is spinning!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>And underpinning us are our surroundings - nature and its cycles - that flow regardless of the tidy messes into which we place ourselves. Nature keeps going in one form or another and we are part of it.
Writer and editor Barbara Feller-Roth recently asked about weather and temperatures, and I said that frequently there is a February thaw in New Mexico. Even though it can lull us into a feeling that spring has arrived, it is usually followed by wild March weather. Regardless, the animals and birds are absolutely certain that the transition to spring is happening. A time when the coats of the coyotes change to match the landscape, as shown in the pair of photographs below.
Then, the puppies arrive in all of their glory.
Both the Rocky Mountain and western bluebirds are having lively discussions about the bird boxes and who will settle where. Bluebirds are relatively quiet compared to some of the other birds, and their liquid and melodic whispers let us know when they start the nesting process. The Cassin's finches have begun to arrive, and in the next month or two the ruckus in the grove will fill the air.
The scrub and Mexican jays have begun collecting seed and other tidbits for the future broods that will soon populate the pinon-juniper life zone.
In transitions, as is the case in wildlife photography, patience is one of the keys.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
Using a white sheet on a laundry rack (truly high tech) as a reflection device, I set up seven wine glasses and shot from a variety of angles.
In this tighter image, the glass appears to be molten, one glass pouring into the other.
Cropping an image can also achieve a certain rhythm and feel.
As I crop and center another photograph, the reflections on the glass create a world of their own.
Through the process of zooming and cropping, the reflections become totally abstract, revealing yet another world.
Getting lost is just another road to discovery...
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Perhaps because of the snow and my interest in environmental portraits, I have been thinking a lot lately about backdrops - how the background of a photograph accentuates or detracts from the image. Black as well as white backdrops have been used in art for centuries because they set off the object or person without clutter. Rock and adobe walls are very nearly perfect for portraits of almost everything from people and animals to human or nature-made objects. But what exactly makes a good and exciting backdrop depends on the photograph's primary subject, the light, and theme. For example, there are some killer photographs of wedding dresses on Etsy, of all places, and most of them are from eastern European countries. Foggy woods, stone bridges, ancient trees, grassy fields, and cobblestone streets seem to render the most stunning images.
I am including some shots that could make good backdrops. The first is a little bright and focused for my taste, but the texture and color provide possibilities for shooting objects.
The banana leaf below is soft in focus, and the subtle shades take me into the depths of what could be.
I can see a hand or foot or part of a face in this, but one would need to be careful of placement because the depth of field is so varied.
The image below of the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado is very "painterly", literally screaming for an environmental portrait, but when doesn't a sand dune do that?
Finally, the scene I stumbled onto years ago, when the snow and rain had plastered aspen bark with moisture, is something I call "Aspen Rain Shadows". It is the stuff of fantasy illustration. If I were to do an environmental portrait here, I would mute the color a bit.
I will talk about backdrops more in future blogs as I keep them in mind while I photograph late winter, early spring scenes.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>However, nature has been creating a study in ice on branches of a wisteria vine and it has the look of a fantasy illustration or work of art nouveau - a vase in ice.
I found myself cruising around the details of the ice and becoming totally transported by them.
It is a treat to be able to photograph nature's own simple and small ice sculptures, and peek into their secrets.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Ashley and Gene knew what they wanted to do and came prepared. They had locations chosen, and props and costumes on hand. Ashley's mother, Julie, who is an incredible weaver, artist, and co-owner of Taos Fiber Arts with her daughter, helped stage the scenes. Luckily, it was much warmer than it is today. But we began shooting in the house, which not only offered warmth but a couple of different options as far as settings are concerned. The skull was a constant thread, but the couple also wanted to feature their relatively new Zia symbol ink on their wrists.
In the image below, Ashley looks like a 1940's movie star in a typical western, especially with the blanket/cape and mirror in the background.
Later in the morning, we moved outside. This photograph more closely approaches Taos Goth or Taos Gothic, with a Games of Thrones twist to it.
American Gothic by Grant Wood, with several nods to Taos?
High Taos gothic drama
My sincere thanks to Ashley and Gene for their creativity, efficiency, and approach to the entire shoot.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>The first event here on the piñon/juniper mesa rendered blocky ice, looking a little like the flocking sprayed onto artificial Christmas trees. Because of the colder temperatures, it lasted well into the day. I suspect many a photographer who had a good pair of gloves and outer wear was making the most of the landscape. The juniper portrait below gives you an idea of the density of the ice that settled in the tree's top.
The detail here of the inner part of the tree shows the character of the ice crystals gathered together.
And one final shot, again showing the small ice blocks on the end of a branch.
Making the most of any season and environmental condition is my mission in photography. Sometimes, it is not the most comfortable situation, but I try to shoot and experiment every day, or at least work with photographs I have taken to find their true essence. For instance, what I did right, what could be improved upon, and how exactly to do that.
I wondered about the weather yesterday heading to Taos for an engagement shoot. I knew part of the shoot would be outside, but the weather was perfect, and the couple couldn't have been lovelier, creative, and prepared, and it made the shoot a joy. I will talk about that in next week's blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The cycling of the calendar year is a time of change for human beings who measure such things. For me, the winter season is for organization and pondering new projects. Thanks to my photography buddy Steve Immel and fellow great Taoseño photographer Terry Thompson, I became involved in a photography challenge on Facebook this week. Not being a huge social media fan, I swore (I am certain at one point) I would never be on Facebook. Guess what? Kicking and screaming and swearing at having to reinvent yet another wheel of technology, I now have a Facebook page for friends. So if you are on Facebook and want to friend me or if I need to friend you, let me know. Here is the link. Mind you, I am still unsure as to whether it is set up properly, but as Hercule Poirot says the process stimulates "the little grey cells."
www.facebook.com/daryl.a.black.photographer
Thanks to Steve, Terry, and Catherine Sobredo for their patience and answers to my inquiries.
The year is certainly going to be interesting, as all years seem to be in their own way. I hope you have heartfelt celebrations, and that humankind as a whole can somehow find a way to be more respectful and civil.
Be safe and warm, and enjoy it all with the eyes of a child!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>"It was a time to lie snug in the hole of snow and wait for a curtain of cloud to be drawn across the face of outer space whence this cold came."
There is little wonder why the ancients, who knew the forces of nature all too well, erected monuments and celebrated the return of longer days. Tuesday, 22 December, is winter solstice this year, when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky at noon, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Even at the more southerly latitudes of New Mexico, we find ourselves itching for more sunshine as the winter settles into our bones. The two photographs included here demonstrate the difference six months can make. These photographs were taken in basically the same direction - the first close to winter solstice and the second eight days beyond the summer solstice.
However you celebrate the holidays that this time of year brings, I hope there is plenty of joy, companionship, and good health involved.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
The first two are pretty darned "in your face" red.
The New Mexico state question: red or green?
Just a bit more on the subtle side
Any thoughts?
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>We literally walked by and then did a double take look at this kitchen on the island Santorini, attracted by the touch of red on the edge.
A door in the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California
Member of the wedding, waiting
Tango leg
I appreciate your input on this, and always enjoy your comments. The weather and angle of the sun are perfect for early winter shooting, so as friend and fellow photographer Diane DiRoberto used to say "Get out there!"
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
In the next two photographs, rime ice clings to the hardware cloth that covers the raised beds. Although the ice on grasses and trees was interesting, it seemed to be more profound on metal.
A cross-member bearing and strap on the solar tracker
Rime ice on a garden screen seems to be in motion.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>But, first and foremost, Thanksgiving was established as a day to give thanks for life and what we have. Family and friends, art, music, and dance, an incredible amount and variety of food to which we have access, the ability to function physically and mentally, and to work, play and dream. Even in the deepest, darkest hours, may we remember and give thanks, inhale deeply and smile. Here are some amazing smiles from familiar faces. The first belongs to William "Buf" Bufkin.
Writer and activist Lucia Ortiz y Garcia
Smiles come in all shapes and sizes, and perhaps, just a bit wistful or thoughtful, as in this shot of weaver Joe Bacon.
You can hardly beat Patricia Quintana's broad smile when she is working with sheep
or that of Richard Spera at his Casa Gallina guest houses
or that of painter and teacher Paule Marx
And sometimes, smiles are not as evident in the laugh lines as they are in the mischievous eyes, demonstrated in the photograph here of actor, dancer and teacher extraordinaire, Travis Webb.
Happy Thanksgiving and keep those smiles coming. We need them now more than ever!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>When the sky is overcast, it is more difficult to photograph the essence of water droplets because there is relatively little contrast and color in the backdrop if you are shooting against the sky. But that sometimes leaves purity in form. Seen magnified, some of the droplets almost appear to be concave.
There is nothing like a country road in the fog to conjure stories in your brain.
Trees are always the stars on a foggy day, as is this lone piñon.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
The act of Congress adds the following:
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."
Although the beginning of World War I was over one hundred years ago, and may seem like ancient history to some born after the turn of the 21st century, it is good to know our history and remember. This blog honors veterans of all ages, and those who have gone before. I just wish I had more photographs of many of you who have served in war and in peaceful times. Below is a photograph of William "Willie" Low (center) with two fellow U. S. Navy sailors after World War I. Low was Fred's great uncle, born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The next two photographs are of World War II veterans. Fred's father, Forest E. Black, was an air traffic controller at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California.
Alan Dale Douglas, my father, was also an air traffic controller at the Army Air Corps base in Deming, New Mexico. He was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and received his citizenship while in the service.
Finally, a photograph of a mere child (Fred Black) in the door of an H-2 helicopter aboard ship somewhere in the South China Sea. Although the previous three photographs could have been taken during any era of modern warfare, the informality of this shot is probably typical of the Vietnam conflict.
My thanks to the vets among you, and to those of you who chose formal peacemaking as your vocation or otherwise made it a part of your lives.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
A photograph of select tango luminaries who watched over the dance
Paloma, a native of Taos, New Mexico, was asked to make the Day of the Dead altar as a backdrop for the traditional milonga or tango dance held on Saturday evening. Paloma is an artist at heart, in addition to being a tango dancer. Her sugar skulls are little jewels.
Being the daughter of two artists and gallery owners in Taos who loved Picasso, Paloma was named for his daughter. Her father, Steve Villalobos, did a sketch for the altar on black tissue paper.
And here is lovely Paloma, dancing at a milonga in Taos with one of this year's festival's instructors, E. M. Malixi.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>When I saw a man hidden in this building alcove in Vienna, Austria, it was a photographic no brainer. I had to take the shot.
Brie reflections at the Farmers' Market in Vienna
Edifice of residential building in Passau, Germany
Gallery at Melk Abbey in Austria
Step ladder fountain at the botanical gardens in Köln (Cologne) Germany
This is the week of All Hallows Eve, Halloween, and El Dia del Muerto (Dia de los Muertos). Let the celebrations begin.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
A funny story accompanies the work. When we went to opening night, it took a long time to find it. That is because, despite the label stating photography as the category, it was hung on a wall with four paintings - yes, paintings. I did not know whether to be flattered or disturbed because so many of you never saw it due to what was either an error or a thematic choice by the show's curator. I leave it for you to decide. The photograph is titled Ghost Ranch Geology, and it was not altered in any way other than cropping, enlarging, and adding contrast along with some black.
Since this variation on a theme of the mariposa or sego lily was a slightly different image than the one I used in this blog, I also entered it, but it was not accepted. So I included it in the miniature category which was not juried.
At both the opening and for some time thereafter, numerous comments have been made about winners in any given category. And opinions are as varied as the artists and attendees. This quote from The Wild Braid by Stanley Kunitz, says it all.
"When you look back on a lifetime and think of what has been given to the world by your presence, your fugitive presence, inevitably you think of your art, whatever it may be, as the gift you have made to the world in acknowledgment of the gift you have been given, which is life itself. And I think the world tends to forget that this is the ultimate significance of the body of work each artist produces. That work is not an expression of the desire for praise or recognition, or prizes, but the deepest manifestation of your gratitude for the gift of life."
I keep threatening that one of these days, I will put together a book of quotations accompanied by my photographs. I started categorizing a four inch thick folder of pithy text and quotes today. One has to begin a project like this at some point, rather than endlessly ruminating over it.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>
You can see the droplets on every portion of the web, including the long structural elements that give the appearance of a suspension bridge.
A detail of the web of life
Of course, a blog including photographs of webs at this time of year would be incomplete without a photograph of the largest spider on the move in our area, the tarantula. This one was definitely on a mission!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for image
]]>
The clouds were playing tag with the sun during this shoot, making it necessary to stand in one place for a bit until the light was right. The young aspen below, under a canopy of other trees, was in just enough shade to mute the colors slightly.
The leaves in this grove of aspen were outrageous and reminded me of artificially-colored gumdrops.
Below is a many-colored aspen abstraction. You can almost smell the forest.
Enjoy the transition!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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On Friday evening, the Taos Fall Arts Festival opened in downtown Taos, with the Taos Open section at the Stables Gallery and Coronado Hall at UNM Taos, and the juried Taos Selects at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church gymnasium. At the same time under a nearly full moon, The Paseo, a multi-media event, offered a broad spectrum of innovative presentations throughout the downtown area. Without a doubt, "TaranTula" by Christina Sporrong, garnered the most attention. It was an appropriate installation, since tarantulas are on the move at this time of year.
If you are in northern New Mexico this week or during the coming weekend, I would encourage you to find all the jewels that were entered in this year's event. Taos Selects and Taos Open are open daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. through Sunday, 4 October. You can get a map with locations at either the Stables Gallery or Our Lady of Guadalupe Church gymnasium. In conjunction with Taos Fall Arts, the Wool Festival will be held 3 and 4 October in Kit Carson Park from 9 a.m - 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday. Three of the vendors will be Betty and George Sullivan (left and right), and Fred Black (middle), whose work can also be seen at Taos Selects. Here are this year's entrants.
You may wonder why I titled today's blog Artists' Moon. As if to officially welcome the art events in Taos this weekend, a "blood moon" followed by a full lunar eclipse was clearly visible in New Mexico last night. It was the fourth in a series of blood moon and eclipses that some feel predicts doom and/or change. I like to think of it as a good sign for art, education, and wisdom in the world. The photographs below are not worthy of Sky and Telescope or any other magazine, but with my 70-200 mm lens, camera set at 2500 ASA, and windowsill serving as tripod, these are a few shots from last night. You begin to see the color as the eclipse begins.
The second shot is just as the eclipse becomes more apparent, and before a rogue cloud temporarily obscured the moon.
The color enabled me to see some of the moon's surface patterns.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Because of the variation in colors, I worked with a number of different backdrops, including grass, stone, and adobe, as well as different fabrics. My goal in the image below was to complement the pastel kernels. I used both off-white and tan fabrics in addition to the worn blue jeans show here. The end result wasn't precisely what I thought it would be, but I don't work with pastels often so it was a good experiment.
The next shots were made outside, on an adobe wall, on flagstone, and in dried grass. The late afternoon and lower autumnal light accentuated the vibrant colors. Thanks to Donna Coates of Austin, Texas, for creating the beautiful basket in which in the corn sits.
The final shot was made on a flat cotton fabric with a small amount of fill light provided by a Flashpoint on-camera light panel. The reds of the corn are like rubies.
​
If you are in the Taos area this weekend, stop by for the Taos Fall Arts Festival and The Paseo street art events. The festivities begin on Friday evening at 5:00 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church gymnasium, the Stables Gallery, and along the main street - Paseo del Pueblo Norte.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I began to blog as a way to require myself to work at the art of photography and writing every day and every week. There really are very few moments when an element of my brain is not thinking about photography and photographic subjects. They are everywhere so the thoughts frequently pop in and say "hello". As I think about the subjects, I also put together a mental narrative which develops and morphs before I get it on paper or in the computer. So thinking about the photographic process and writing process frequently happens simultaneously. Other times, I photograph first and the narrative follows. Only on occasion do I write and then match photographs to the writing.
If I do a "set up" photo session (the results of one such session are in today's blog), I consider the subject, light, positions of the subject in relationship to the surroundings, altering the surroundings, introducing other elements to accompany the subject, and the subject's longevity. The last element is particularly relevant in the case of food, floral, and wedding photography. Today's subject - fresh corn - contained all of the above. When I photograph something as pedestrian as a vegetable, I try to give it a fresh, non-traditional look, in the same way I would photographing an animal or a human.
In the image below, I used a small steel container to support the ear of corn, and placed the tin in the grass, since corn is a true grass. This also had the effect of giving the corn more of a blue/green value to it that needed adjusting.
Using bright sunlight and the adobe wall as a backdrop produces a completely different look, as well as a nice shadow at the base of the ear.
Finally, a black and white image that is particularly dramatic, shot in isolated light from the south, north, and east.
I will be talking about process more in future blogs. By the way, the corn is from our raised beds, is watered daily, and these first cobs were delicious!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Steve and Peggy Immel, photographer and painter, both with formidable talents in the art world, joined us for breakfast this morning. It was a joy to have the opportunity to talk and enjoy the world from the porch. ​I hope you were able to spend at least today enjoying the fruits of your labor.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Because of schedules and the graph of life, plans to meet came and went, but our photo session last Friday was well worth the wait. Since I had recently been documentary filmmaker and friend Cristina McCandless' subject during our lighting workshops, I had a new taste of how uncomfortable I am being photographed. Lucia does not like being photographed either but she was very patient with me and was quite willing to move around and be in different settings. Here she is with her much beloved and recently refurbished Underwood typewriter that she uses to write her stories (in addition to her computer).
Although her work and schooling to be a nun in the Mercedarian Order took her to Spain and Saipan, she is a a country girl at heart who takes the contemplative life with her wherever she goes.
Her eyes reveal a young girl brimming with excitement and laughter, and a passion to work for what is right and just.
One of her cats, Francisco Berger, joined us during the photo shoot.
Lucia had prepared a wonderful gazpacho from a Spanish recipe and chicken salad for lunch, and departing, I felt I was with a kindred spirit. The world needs more people like her.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Bright and early this Saturday past, we parked and walked to the Plaza with friends. In addition to an amazing variety of stunning Native American art, there is the people watching. Here is an example of Indian Market fashion.
However, it was the faces of the many incredible artists at this year's market that raised my camera and lens into place, including Hopi kachina doll artist Arthur Holmes, Jr.
Mona Laughing has a presence that reflects the intricacies and beauty of her weaving.
Santiago Romero uses the "golden ratio" together with ancestral traditions to create his masks.
If you have never attended the Santa Fe Indian Market, write 20-21 August 2016 on your calendar now.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I have scanned two photographs and included them here. Neither of these had identifying marks, except one was written in what could be an old German script, with 1916 in the writing and Timis, Romania at the bottom. Do you think the couple with the two children are in the larger family portrait? Guesses on the uniform the man is wearing in the photograph below? This is going to take time, but what an interesting challenge it is.
I suspect the couple on the left side are my maternal grandparents. Check out Granddad's head of hair!
For some time, my fervent request to people using a camera is to make prints (if possible on archival paper), and label the print. Even if you are using a smart phone or tablet to shoot photographs, printing is one of the best ways to back up the digital information. Otherwise, it will be a series of pixels held captive in an electronic device, the format of which will most likely change.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Humans have always made art and it is all around us. It is proof of life as we know it, in any given time and space. It gives anyone who creates a voice. Everyone creates, and if ever we needed art, it is now, when many times life seems to be reaching several arcs of insanity. But suddenly, something happens that makes us realize how much more we can do. For example, swimmer Katie Ledecky would not necessarily be considered an artist, but during the past week, she has broken every world record for the distance freestyle races. She is an artist in the water. And without fame or fortune, teachers, parents, factory workers, street artists work every day at their art, stopping people in their tracks, asking them to divert their attention to something beautiful. Traditional or an element of daily life, designed purely as function or design, such Hebron glass, or the way fruit and vegetables are stacked at a farmers' market, art is there.
William Bufkin, master woodworker, Talpa
Hebron glass detail
Why art? Because we must have it and express it. Art is part of our DNA.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Leaf lettuce is a perfect design subject offered by nature, as shown in the image below.
Here is a shot made during a particularly productive year for bell peppers in our garden.
But the real surprise of the summer is that the corn, gifted to us at Christmas by friends, is thriving and producing silk. Actually having fresh corn was something I never anticipated or planned but we may have some in a month or so. Who would have thought the silks would be so photogenic?
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The festival, which runs from Friday, September 25 through Sunday, October 4 at various locations in Taos, offers artists opportunities to showcase recent work. Thus, any work submitted must be made within the current calendar year. Only three submissions are allowed. I always save (since previous publication is not allowed) photographs that I might like to enter in the "Taos Select". Now that I have determined which photographs to enter, I wanted to show you what I call the "also rans". I like each of these for many reasons but made the decision not to enter them. They did not quite fit my capricious criteria.
This is a reflection of one of the Melk Abbey staircases in Melk, Austria. A mirror is fit into the stone floor, showing all its intricacies and beauty.
Viewing the exterior of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Passau, Germany, one sees a variety of architectural styles and elements. Although the building is technically Gothic, the pilaster and cornice below carry both Ionic and Corinthian details. The drama is unmistakable.
Another photograph that did not make the cut was taken near Echo Amphitheater in the Abiquiu area. The geology is stunning but the light seems flat.
Finally, wet river rocks are always of interest to me. Although friendly and soothing, the image is not quite dynamic enough.
Every photographer has favorite images but deciding what judges or others might like is another challenge entirely. The object always is to enjoy the work and learn from the process.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Probably because our trips across "the pass" are frequently in spring and fall, we saw more wildflowers on this summer trip than ever before. I had never seen it so alive. There were a number I had not seen before and was absolutely unable to identify. That is my lame disclaimer.
Given the range of colors between bright gold and almost day-glo orange, a flower which I believe to be sneezeweed (it is related to ragweed and a member of the composite family) was everywhere. I shot many images of the flower in groups and singles but then realized how lovely it was in a wider or broader view.
Then there was the Rocky Mountain penstemon which I have never seen in such abundance. They are probably considered a pest by ranchers but their presence paints the landscape.
In a more rainy than normal summer, even plants on the high mesas shine. Here is a broad shot featuring another composite family flower I am unable to identify. (The snakeweed is not blooming yet so that isn't it.) When I am unable to find a flower in the reference books I have, I turn to Wikipedia. I laughed when I saw the first listing titled "Damned Yellow Composites", the phrase used lovingly by students and researchers alike to describe a rather large and tricky family.
You can see larger versions of all the photographs by going to the photo section of my website, clicking on "blog site images", and again on the image itself.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Occasionally, the insides of the petals take on a deep burgundy color, as does the center. It is the same flower but a stunning variation.
If a flower is newly opened and has not been preyed upon by any number of insects, the colors are crisp, bright, and spectacular.
The world around you awaits your perusal!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>Because of the Taos Fall Arts Festival rules concerning "pre-publication" of artwork, I cannot show certain rugs that were photographed, but I will start with a straight forward photograph of Rug 257, using my Nikon D5200 camera, with only natural light. Because of the intensity of the natural light on the bottom half of the rug, the in-camera flash did not fire. Without computer adjustment, the color is far too cool and off.
In the photograph below, the two soft boxes were angled up at about 45 degrees, which obviously did not achieve the desired effect. The top of the rug is too warm and the bottom too cool.
Here is one of the final photographs I shot using a tripod and a self-timer. Natural light from two windows was blocked. The litePanel LED lights were on full intensity, 1/2 cool and 1/2 warm light sequence, and one of my softboxes filled the natural light we had removed because of shadows. The colors are rich, and each different panel of the "cereza negra" red is, as in reality, different.
Thanks to Cristina for sharing some of her skills with me. With luck, we'll be doing another session soon, and I will get to serve as an assistant on a shoot in the not-to-distant future. And thanks to Fred for allowing us to utilize his weaving.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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I did four sessions. One was basically prop driven, using different pieces of fabric against white fabric. The results gave me the information I needed to work on that in the future. The other three sessions were using Fred as model, and two cameras. After my last blog, I received a phone call from photographer extraordinaire, Terry Thompson (terrythompsonphoto.com) about the ins and outs of the lights, why I chose them, and challenges caused by shadows. Terry's panoramas are incredible examples of light and shadow. Friendly nudges about light and shadow come every single time I go out with a camera, one of the constants of photography. The sessions with the new lights were no exception.
The success of the first session was limited, but as always, yielded valuable information. Limitations of the kit lens that came with the D5200 showed themselves immediately in the form of "noise". Speckles in the image or heavy grain can be the result of low light or the sensor quality, among other things. The noise is not immediately visible in the images below, unless you zoom in on different parts of the photos. I used the 100 watt back light on these two shots. The photographs were made on a white balance setting that retained the warm light colors.
The next series was taken with the Nikon D800 and a 70-200 mm lens. Because of the camera's bigger sensor and higher ASA (American Standards Association)/ISO (International Standard Organization) relative film speed capability, the images have much less noise and are much cleaner. White balance was on normal auto. I positioned the tripods fairly close together, about eight feet from Fred, and angled the soft boxes toward each other at about 45 degrees. In the first shot, both soft boxes were used. Rather than pointing them at the ceiling to bounce light, I lowered each by roughly 45 degrees.
For these two shots, I used only the soft box on my right, at 45 degrees. Although some shadow can be seen here, it is negligible.
More on lighting next week after working with documentary filmmaker Cristina McCandless (From Zimbabwe to Santa Fe) tomorrow.
NOTE: No animals were harmed during this shoot. I think Fred survived as well.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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For your viewing pleasure, Exhibit A.
Soft box with 500 watt bulb on tripod.
Thus far, I have learned that I have a lot to learn. After making numerous experimental shots with different camera settings, using one light or two lights in respective positions, and using the back spot light, I also know (to take a chapter from Saturday Night Live) I am not quite ready for prime time. But I now have a greater appreciation for the strength and impact of natural light, and realize that it takes a massive amount of artificial light to take the place of natural light, especially when that light is diffused by soft boxes. Balancing light and white is an interesting task. So in future blogs, you will see the results of my learning curve, as I start to feel more comfortable with the equipment, and am not looking at it like a hog looking at a watch.
In the meantime, the light between 7:30 and 8 p.m. last Monday at Casa Gallina in Taos was of the quality we live for and dream of during long winter nights. Rich, long shadows, softened by passing storm clouds. This sculpture, in its own way, is a slice of Stonehenge, bending and altering the solstice light.
Next week - adventures in fill light!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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This grouping seems to be quite content amidst the native grasses.
detail of the "flames"
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>With no iris on the horizon, I had to be flexible and alert my brain to the fact that the hail and rain had given a good cleaning to the air and land, leaving potentially perfect scenics.
With the rain and air settled, water in one of the ponds I frequently photograph was still, and reflecting the dramatic cloud uplift in the east.
The grass and reeds that become part of the pond's makeup also produce abstracts of other-worldly proportions.
Both the San Juan and nearby Tusas Mountains are actually part of the southern end of the Rocky Mountains. Rising nearly vertically 2,000 feet from the base, the Brazos Cliffs are part of that chain and represent some of the oldest geology in the state. Known to rock climbers, and those who fish and hunt in their shadow, the Brazos are also a common photographic subject. The challenge is to be there at the right time, when particulates in the air don't reduce clarity. Following a good rain, the cliff faces are scrubbed and ready.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I spent Saturday afternoon with Paule Marx at her home in Taos. Paule and the magical land on which she lives are a pair. They are both exceptional. It is indeed stunning that her place could be possible in the relatively dry, high elevation mesa country that comprises much of Taos County, but, as they say, all it takes is water. And as the high mountain snow melts in spring, that water flows into the bottom land that lays below the mesas surrounding the city. The resulting look of efforts to reclaim land and establish a series of ponds for the cultivation of native species such as otters and beavers, numerous birds, frogs, and plant life is what I would describe as halcyon. It is definitely easy on the eyes. Paule Marx, as owner and caregiver for this patch of paradise, matches it perfectly. If ever there was a person who sheds light or illuminates every space she enters, it is Paule. It is difficult for me to describe, but she glows, and I have wanted to photograph her for quite some time. I feel lucky that I was able to do that.
She wanted to be photographed during a time when the yellow water iris were in bloom, so she took her canoe onto the first pond.
A tighter shot with Paule and the iris
The afternoon light and the reflective power of the water surrounding her made for perfect fill light for the close-up below.
Paule is a Renaissance woman. She is an artist, social activist, and teacher. The next two shots were made in her studio.
It was truly hard to make decisions about which photographs to include here because she loves life and her face adores the camera lens.
Thanks, Paule!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The first thing I discovered is that this task was much easier said than done. 100 steps happened in a real hurry and I was trying to be honest to the task at hand. Taking only one photograph when you arrived at each destination was another challenge, particularly on Memorial Day weekend in Taos. The main drag, Paseo del Pueblo Norte, was jammed with cars and motorcycles. My husband and I walked the route both to and from the gallery which offered different light and traffic flow, in addition to a different perspective.
Hot muscle cars were in ample supply. An "arrest me red" Dodge Challenger drove by at the end of one of the 100 step sequences.
Here is a shot of the chaos at the corner of Kit Carson Road and Paseo.
"Such is the essence of lilac" with two motorcycles reflected in the flowers
Another reflection of the main drag with weavings in the foreground at Starr Interiors
You know you have landed in Taos when an acupuncture/Chinese medicine practice and a tattoo parlor are in such close proximity.
I loved seeing these two bikers from Tulsa, Oklahoma, walking hand in hand.
Although none of these shots are what I would deem "prize winners", the BBC 12 x 12 photo challenge accomplished its purpose and much more. I hope those of you who are reading and are interested in photography will take up the challenge and let me know how it altered your point of view.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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So I frequently look at flowers from the inside out. Here is a "big picture" of a Golden Wings rose, with its lush, flat white to yellow petals.
The inside out view is equally compelling.
This showy rose is like a dramatic dance costume.
Finally, the stamens and pistil of a datura flower, found throughout the high and low Southwest deserts.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico, is under constant construction, courtesy of wind. Details of hoodoos there make other-worldly backdrops suitable for science fiction/fantasy book cover art and movie posters.
Overgrazing, combined with wind and water, tends to carve the land, creating arroyos that frequently are vertical rather than horizontal, such as in the O'Keefe country landscape near Abiquiu.
Erosion works on human construction as well. There is a reason adobe bricks need to be stuccoed or plastered. Water develops adobe character in a real hurry, leaving hoodoos in its wake.
Perhaps the human character is also shaped by erosion. Topic for another time...
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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But I need to begin at the beginning. On Friday afternoon, my husband, Fred, and I attended the grand re-opening of the Sacramento Mountain Weavers Art Gallery and Weaving Studio in its new Albuquerque location at 2231 Wyoming in Hoffmantown Square. Owners Kenny Nix and Kelly Stewart (each with art in their veins) have filled the gallery with beautiful work, including their own painting and woven pieces from scarves and shawls and rugs, as well table runners, rugs, felted work and pottery made by a number of other talented artists. You can also find them online at their open Facebook page. www.facebook.com/pages/Sacramento-Mountain-Weavers/321501402671.
The color within the space is eye popping as shown below in this shot of Kenny and Fred.
Here is Kelly and more of the fiber pieces as well as sketches hanging at the shop.
Fred's rugs
When you are finished at the gallery, take a brief walk west and follow your nose. The Albuquerque Rose Garden is a hidden jewel in the city. It is on the grounds of the Tony Hillerman branch of the Albuquerque Public Library (my sister and I both worked there during our high school years) and includes 1,200 roses of 400 varieties and 30 different classes. The smell is divine. Here are a few examples of the roses growing there. The nearly opened bud below is called "Oranges 'n' lemons".
This lovely is "Windrush""
"Flutterby" is a most appropriate name for an open-petaled rose with these colors!
I assume the rose below was named for glass artist Dale Chihuly since it is simply titled "Chihuly".
Everyone from New Mexico ends up in Albuquerque at one point or another. On your next trip, check out the gallery and then drift into the peaceful rose garden.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Nature has given most of the vegetation and animals the genetic ability to wait until the time is right to leaf or bloom or flower or nest. Below is a scenic along Highway 64. Besides the sky, the only bright color is the grass and a few stray dandelions. You really have to squint and have the light falling perfectly to see a scant yellow/green starting to appear in the tree tops.
But the snow is melting, rapidly, working its way on one side to the Rio Ojo Caliente and on to the Rio Grande, and on the other side to the Rio Chama, also emptying eventually in the Rio Grande, leaving the most interesting abstractions.
At this point, I will fast forward a week or two, to the spring green that is poised to appear in the aspen trees.
Another two weeks or so after that - in late May and early June high on the pass when frogs are in full voice in the mountain ponds - these jewels can be found. Marsh marigolds hug the ground and are scattered in the grass, which is saturated to bog status. Wet butt photography at its finest.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>We were walking into the vegetable section of Whole Foods the other day, and a gentleman (a complete stranger) threw his hands up in the air and said "Serenity now", smiling as he walked by. Obviously, he made an instant judgement call that I or someone else would understand his reference to the oft repeated line from the Seinfeld television series. It was hilarious and my husband and I both exploded in laughter. Perhaps he was sensing the temporary insanity the wind was producing. It made me think about what images either produce a calming effect or capture interest enough to make one serene.
I have always loved this photograph of columbines along a mountain stream carrying a recent rain. You can almost feel the gentle coolness and moisture.
Every time I enlarge this image, I find different details. You can view the subtleties in it by either zooming on the blog page or by going into the photograph section of my website and clicking on "blog site." A slide show presents each image as full-screen.
For me, the image below of lotus leaves and pods is serenity.
Finally, a visual mind bender, something to let the mind explore and wander.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Our day lilies have emerged from the ground but have at least a month to go before blooming. This image is from last year's crop.
They carry the name Peruvian lilies or lilies of the Incas, but these flowers are members of the Alstroemeria family, not the lily or Liliaceae family, and are frequently used in commercial flower arrangements. Their white blossoms spotted with yellow pop against the bergamot-colored wall.
Then there are the Oriental poppies. They come in many different colors and all seem to dance for joy during New Mexico's late spring. The orange-red ones scream for attention and it doesn't take long to get it from this photographer.
Just to complete the splash of color, a rose petal on weathered wood
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Hollywood stylists would have trouble duplicating this magnificent coiffure.
What horns you have!
Here are a few shots of the humans involved in the sheep shearing process. This is ranch owner Colin Henderson.
Patricia Quintana owns a flock of churro sheep in northern New Mexico and helped with the shearing, skirting, and bagging process at Collin's ranch.
Raymond is the mover and shaker in the process of moving the sheep from the corrals to the pens, into the shearing barn, and finally (safely) into the hands of the shearer.
I hope to give more photographic time to all of the people here as well as Connie Taylor and Tom Barr when they aren't up to the necks in wool.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
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I had the extraordinary opportunity this weekend to join Connie Taylor and Patricia Quintana at Colin Henderson's ranch in La Jara, Colorado, and watch master sheep shearer Tom Barr do his lightning swift magic, removing fleece from pregnant ewes and huge rams alike. I truly cannot say what an exceptional group of people this is, and my knowledge of them is limited at best.
Tom Barr is a fixture at the Taos Wool Festival every year at Kit Carson Park in Taos. His knowledge of the Navajo-Churro sheep body structure is apparent the minute his turns on the shears and begins to clip the wiggins and other unwanted bits of wool before getting to the meat and potatoes - the fleece. The fleece is sheared from the sheep in one piece, and some of them must weigh ten pounds or more. Although there is much protest from the sheep when they are being sheared, don't think for a minute that they are being mistreated. The minute they leave Tom's hands, they are out the gate, prancing and feeling free of the extra weight. I wonder if Tom is sore after bending over and holding his body in very difficult positions in order to keep the sheep still while he shears. A tough job indeed.
Check out the position of the ram's horns here. Tom's awareness of where those horns and hoofs are at all times is crucial to his well being.
A fleece almost completely removed
Being married to a weaver, I had heard the word "skirting" for many years, not really knowing what the process is or entails. Below is a photograph of Connie Taylor (on the right) explaining the skirting process and how the non-useable wool is removed from the fleece and discarded. Connie is the registrar of the National Navajo-Churro Sheep Association and knows more about the breed than anyone in the United States. She has helped build the breed in numbers from an endangered farm species to healthy and increasing numbers.
Here is a "portrait" of Marcos.
Call this shot "The Professionals".
And last but not least, since it is spring, lamb # 1213
I already knew how little knowledge I had about Navajo-churro sheep, but participating in the very organized shearing, accentuated by the chaos of sheep behavior, several things became clear. Sheep move. A lot, and together, subtle but like a breeze. And like many humans, they don't necessarily enjoy having a strange piece of equipment like a camera near them. On the other hand, they are curious and some were not in the least bit shy.
My thanks to Connie, Colin, Patricia, Tom and Raymond (not to mention the sheep) for allowing me to get in the way as they were working. More sheep and people portraits next week.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
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There are several images that have become iconic and representational of the area. The first is a sandstone fin. It is one of those "I just needed to photograph this" shots.
In the same category is the broad vista including Chimney Rock. The sheer depth and richness of the colors has tempted many a photographer and painter to venture out and capture it, regardless of day, time, and weather.
I also like the possibilities that increased contrast and filtration provide in a black and white shot.
Pure design
Still life by nature
Time to explore!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>But as early as February, nature starts to reflect the changes. Sandhill cranes begin their migration north, at least in this area, sometimes in the second week of February, continuing well into March. Last Thursday, in the darkness of night, we heard a group of cranes that seemed to be right outside our window, either landing or startled by a predator. Just at the next morning's light, we scanned everywhere for them to no avail.
All the birds have been extremely active this week. The mountain and western bluebirds have yet to sort out who gets the two luxury suites - the first a birdhouse our friend Robert made that is hanging in a piñon tree, and the other Fred made for housing bluebirds but also to cover the satellite communications box.
We talk with our feathered friends frequently, and yesterday Fred answered a bird before both of us said nearly simultaneously and with great excitement "phoebe". The Say's phoebe, a type of flycatcher (Sayornis saya), has arrived two different years on 16 March, and two other different years on 18 March, but none that we have recorded on the 14th. They winter in the southern parts of Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Texas, as well as in Mexico, but spread all over the western United States to breed, which is why we see them from March until September. After that, their main food supply - flying insects - becomes sparse and they follow the food.
One sure sign of spring is the arrival of the Cassin's finches. Although, technically (according to the Peterson Field Guide of Western Birds), Cassin's finches are year-round residents in northern and northwestern New Mexico. But they do not arrive on the mesa until early March. During their stay, they eat massive amounts of seed, breed, raise chicks and then depart in June or July. Bright red, punk feathers on top of the male's head distinguish it from the heavily striped basic brown and white female. With that flaming top knot and a relatively short time in residence here, these dudes are ready to rock and roll.
Happy Equinox!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Despite the fact that the "selfie" has become a pop culture phenomenon, I do my very best not to include myself in a shot intended to include reflection. Just by shifting my position in relation to the subject, I can accomplish that. Sometimes, however, the interest or excitement of a particular subject overrides logic and, lo and behold, this photographer ends up somewhere in the image. Here are two examples of that.
The first is a shot I took at the Santa Fe Farmers' Market/Railyard area of a garage door reflecting buildings on the other side of the rail tracks.
The shot below is of a bakery door in Bamberg, Germany.
May all your reflections be good.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>I had photographed a wedding in 2009 at El Monte Sagrado, and the woman who had done the wedding cake for that wedding happened to be in the booth next to me. Jocelyn Lucero (http://taosweddingcakes.com) is a master with cakes and baking. The image below is one of her demonstration cakes.
Scattered between the booth pipe and draping were old wooden screens which added an interesting and rustic touch.
Because of my booth location, it was the first people encountered when they entered the Sagebrush Inn Convention Center. A young couple had come to talk with me about photography. They moved among the other booths and at one point, the mother of that bride-to-be walked in front of me again with tears in her eyes, clutching a dress that her daughter had just tried on. In keeping with the sometimes-used tradition of the groom not seeing the dress before the wedding, she was hiding it as she darted by. The mother said "She looks so beautiful in it." I photographed the bride and mother, and sent two photographs to them via email, but those will remain private. The wedding dress vendor had done an amazing job with her booth, and it paid off. ReNeux Consignment in Taos and on Facebook.
All wedding shows feature florists and one of Taos' best is Enchanted Florist. They featured red roses for the participants and a friend of ours who visited us brought one to me. There is hardly a better combination than snow and red roses. So I wind the weekend and the blog back to the snow.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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During their migration around the planet, humans have used everything from animal skins, and later wool and cotton to keep themselves warm. In the 21st century, we are lucky enough to have light, high-tech incredible articles of clothing to prevent hypothermia in conditions of extreme cold.
But watching creatures in the wild, I always wonder how they survive in these types of conditions. Certainly, some do not. Migration, although a grueling and dangerous process, keeps many species of birds alive while following food supplies. I suspect hummingbirds, with their incredible metabolic rate, could not last more than five minutes in this kind of weather. Even larger birds, such as the larger flycatchers, occasionally are caught off guard by warmer than normal weather in southern climates and head north, only to be killed by a late frost. We found a beautiful (possibly) brown crested flycatcher dead on our porch last spring following a night with a low of 15 degrees, the same temperature it is right now.
So, on this snowy morning, I give a photographic tip of the hat to our winter companions - Junco hyemalis. Juncos are creatures of colder areas. They fly down from the high country during the winter months and, in summer, they retreat to the mountains for the coolness higher elevations provide. They flit in and out of bushes and trees, using an extremely broad and complicated language. They are a constant joy of winter. Last week, their sounds included those of spring, if you know what I mean. With luck, their instincts will keep them from mating just yet.
The photographs below are of a male dark-eyed, Oregon junco.
Layers of feathers surround their core and their feet, enabling them to stay warm as the snow falls.
To everything, there is a season....
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>While in Taos last September for the Taos Fall Arts Festival opening, I shot several photographs of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with a dramatic, near-sunset sky. But what I did not notice, initially, was how sharp the shadows of the church bells were against the stucco tower.
Even within the limitations of the "no, absolutely not" hours for shooting (between 10 and 2 in high summer), a photographer can get some interesting results by isolating light falling on stucco, as in this image of the church at Los Ojos, New Mexico.
Fort Union National Monument, with its many restored adobe and brick (and brick-capped) walls, makes everything and everyone ready for a close-up. The shadows from the wagon wheel against the stucco seem perfectly clear and precisely etched.
Finally, an environmental portrait of actor Stewart Herd against a stucco wall that, just by being there, seems to add to his persona
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Thus, today's blog features love at weddings, within people other than the bride and groom. One of my favorite wedding shots is of a groom's man at a wedding I photographed in 2010, involved in his own thoughts. This is an environmental portrait, the likes of which sometimes present themselves at weddings.
Fathers and daughters share special connections which almost always turn into lovely moments.
And the moments are not exclusive to fathers and daughters. Many mothers and daughters share the love as well.
I will have a booth on 28 February at the first Taos Wedding Expo, being held at the Sagebrush Inn in Taos. An image I shot of a rose with my grandparents' wedding rings will be part of the table setting.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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On the south side of the house, the snow was very different and more crystalline in nature, as is demonstrated in the image below showing lacework melting into icicles.
Water dripping onto solid ice in a stock tank, does some really wild and strange things. The white streaks in the photograph is water dripping and splashing onto the ice. I took the photograph in color mode and did not make adjustments to render it black and white.
The same is true of the close-up here. A thin layer of dripping water with air bubbles sits atop a block of solid ice, the consistency of which looks like a giant kelp forest.
By going to the photograph area of my website, you can enlarge all the images to see more magical detail.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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When the temperature warms above freezing and the sun is shining, the trees begin to warm, sending out wonderful smells and teasing us about spring. Occasionally, if it is both warm and windy, we are the recipients of smells from the direction of the wind. Sometimes, we get the smell of big city pollution, but other times, we get the most incredible smells from the Sonoran desert. Whether it is creosote bush or greasewood, or a combination, it is a smell of life where the earth is warming. One of those warm climate species and my favorite tree of the desert is the Palo Verde tree - in Latin - Parkinsonia florida. It sports green bark ranging from an olive drab to bright lime. The photograph below is the actual color of a Palo Verde near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona during a particularly wet spring.
The Palo Verde is Arizona's state tree.
As has been demonstrated over the years in my blogs, tree bark fascinates me. Particularly interesting is the palm tree, which has several different consistencies of bark on the same tree.
Here is another layer of palm bark.
In this time of nature's tease, let the smells work their way into you and the goodness that lies therein.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Despite the fact that I had arrived in Budapest via Paris two days before, the first morning we were underway had me out of bed at dawn and on deck, watching the Danube and the banks flow by. It almost felt as if we were floating on a jungle river, with steam and fog rising around us.
The man who drove the Viking Longship with his crew was Jurij Tokacev. We only saw him once face to face, and that was during a tour of the bridge. I loved the fact that part of his personal belongings on the bridge was a carpenter's level.
From my sister's experience on a river cruise through Holland, it was easy for her to tell the difference between an individually or family-owned barge, and one owned by a corporation. A barge owned by an individual generally had an automobile, bicycles, and other forms of transportation on deck because the owner (and family) were living on the barge. Wherever and whenever they came ashore, their personal, non-river transport was with them. Curtains in the windows were also a dead giveaway. Here are two shots of the Babbette Lamer, showing the bow and the stern (with car).
The grape vines that have become ubiquitous along the river system and associated structures provide even more photographic eye candy. The first image is near Clingenburg on the Main. The second is between Wertheim and Koblenz on the Rhine.
Finally, a river remnant. So many stories.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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There was a natural kindred spirit with the windmills at Kinderdijk. In New Mexico, we used the mill because there was too little water. In Holland, there is too much and in the wrong places. Different, yes, but the concept is the same - using wind to move water. Below is a working drawing.
One of the Kinderdijk windmills is open to the public, which allows visitors to climb the interior stairs to the top. On the return trip down, we were required not to back down, but face away from the stairs.
As the sun came out, you can see that the Kinderdijk mills are much taller than our Aeromotor.
A walking path between the windmills
One last reflection of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kinderdijk or children dike
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
]]>During the windmill walking tour, we went into the maintenance building, where a presentation had just ended. Men with the road wear of life on their faces and in their bodies, with canes, walkers, and in wheel chairs were leaving as we were entering. Our tour guide then said something that sent chills up my spine. These were some of the last survivors of the Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden in World War II that began on 17 September and ended on 26 September 1944. We had arrived in Kinderdijk on 19 September on the 70th anniversary of the battle and these were veterans of the battle. The purpose was to capture bridges and thereby open an entry into Germany on the lower Rhine. 19 September 1944 was day 3, and it did not go well nor entirely as planned, as happens in war and life. Now we were very nearly rubbing elbows with men who had fought and lived to remember. Although Kinderdijk is closer to Rotterdam than Arnhem, I suspect the land looks similar and much as it did in 1944. This canal reflection could be almost anywhere in Holland.
The windmills at Kinderdijk-Eishout are working windmills and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Each has a miller who goes through training and an apprenticeship. There is a waiting list for the positions. The mills were originally used to control the level of water. Although diesel pumping stations now do the work a majority of the time, the mills are still used during extenuating circumstances, and thus, the millers must be prepared.
We took a small motor launch around the windmills first. They were in the mist, as one would guess they frequently are. Here is a long shot of a few of the 40+ mills.
And some of the stunning reflections, effects, and rhythm they present simply by being there.
More on the mills next week. Additional information on the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden can be found in the book by Louis Hagen titled Arnhem Lift, the film Theirs is the Glory, the Cornelius Ryan book A Bridge Too Far, and the Richard Attenborough 1978 film of the same name.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Köln was another city worthy of a week or so. Thus, after the walking tour (and believe it or not, skipping a tour of the Chocolate Museum), we opted to investigate the Botanical Gardens and later, the Sculpture Park. The layout of the city was complicated enough (at least to neophytes) for us to get lost in a multi-story parking garage, trying to find the zoo and botanical gardens. A kind gentleman under the hood of his car, working on the engine, walked us to the zoo entrance. We eventually found the gardens beyond and spent nearly three hours there. The huge variety of plant material was not the only thing that surprised us. For instance, these bathing beauties. At a distance, they appear quite real.
The pond and surrounding landscaping are stunning in themselves, but the marble statue of Zeus completes the halcyon setting.
Little things lurked everywhere, including amphibians in the small tropical house amidst the lotus, water lilies, and taro plants.
Although there was more to see, we were burning daylight, and we began the walk back to the ship. Along the way, we stopped at the Skulpturen Park Köln (the sculpture park), which has presented an international overview of contemporary sculpture since its opening in 1997. Among my favorites were what appeared to be sparring bronze hares, a work by Welsh sculptor Barry Flanagan titled "Large Mirror Nijinski".
Below is a very unintentional "selfie", courtesy of a parabolic mirror art piece, untitled, by London artist Anish Kapoor.
2014 is exiting stage left and 2015 is waiting in the wings to challenge, stimulate, and excite us all. Happy New Year!
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Sitting in the middle of the Rhine, Pfalzgrafenstein was built as a toll castle. Appearing to be a ship floating on the river, it is actually situated on the Falkenau or Pfalz Island. Portions of it were built in the 1300s by King Ludwig, others were added centuries later. According to Wikipedia, "Unlike the vast majority of Rhine castles, "the Pfalz" was never conquered or destroyed, withstanding not only wars, but also the natural onslaughts of ice and floods by the river. Its Spartan quarters held about twenty men."
Leaving the wake of Pfalzgrafenstein, we headed through the Lorelei narrows of ballad, myth, and legend, and past Katz (Cat) Castle. The vertical layers of what is probably slate, are clear in the foreground.
As the ship followed the curves of the Rhine, we arrived in early afternoon at Koblenz for a tour of Marksburg Castle. This is a view of the river from the castle.
As with most castles, Marksburg (a castle museum) holds rooms dedicated to armament and torture, including the rack, but we'll skip those for now. Being the holidays, I thought it was more appropriate to include the kitchen area as well as the beer cellar. What is not to like?
May you relish every meal and experience during the season, and notice every second of increased daylight following the Solstice.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Glassblower Karl Ittig came aboard ship the night before we docked in Wertheim to give a demonstration of his craft. He uses Corning glass, and has worked with Dale Chihuly. Thanks to shipmate Carol Mathews, I offer you a photograph she took of Karl. (My equipment was m.i.a. that night). By the time our horde made it through Karl's shop the next morning, snapping up his gorgeous work as gifts and for ourselves, the shelves were nearly empty.
Back to the rivers. I include the rather untidy photograph below as demonstration of how people deal with water when a city is surrounded by it. The Tauber River (in the lower left-hand side of the image) is separated from the houses above, (and importantly, the railroad tracks) not only by the raised river bank and tow path, but a stone and concrete wall. If the river floods, as it frequently does, supplies can still be brought in by rail.
The houses on the opposite side of the Tauber also are protected somehwat from floods by a stone wall. However, it seems that garages are usually below the living areas so that they can be abandoned for higher ground in case of high water.
A view from one of the bridges across the Tauber of the gatehouse with Wertheim Castle in the background.
Another look at the castle from the medieval part of town and the Stadtpalais gourmet restaurant
We spent a mere three hours in Wertheim, one of our shorter stops, and I had already decided I could live there. It was gentle, lovely, and inviting.
Next week, we head up the Rhine to Marksburg Castle and Koblenz. Thanks again, Carol, for the photograph.
until next Moonday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>One example is the Würzburg Residence. Commissioned in 1720 and completed in 1744, the residence was designed in the German baroque style by architect Balthasar Neumann. Here is a shot of one of the front wings of the residence.
The fountain itself has many stories, but I was particularly fond of this element.
Many of the roofs and interiors burned as a result of an air raid near the end of World War II, but because of the existence of architectural drawings and photographs, restoration was made possible. It took more than forty years.
Again, the exterior in all its grandeur, does not hold a candle to the interior. Unfortunately, in an effort to protect the interior paint, stucco, and gilt, no photography was allowed. On one level, I understood, but then, to photograph the interior room of mirrors with gold borders would have been to dream. It almost takes your breath away. However, I settled for this detail of the Haus Zum Falken. There is definitely drama here.
The Alte Mainbrücke or Old Main Bridge, is also called the Saints Bridge, where statues of saints stand on each side of the bridge above the piers. This part of Germany was a Celtic territory, held at one point by the Franks, but in the late 7th century, three Irish missionaries - Killian, Totnan, and Kolomat - brought Christianity with them to Franconia. As martyrs and saints, the three are included on the bridge.
As seems to be a trend these days, lovers have taken to locking engraved padlocks (never to removed) around the metal rods of the bridge handrails, symbolizing never-ending love for each other. Apparently, there are so many on some of the bridges over the Seine in Paris that the weight is beginning to destabilize structural compoments. Lovers have just started in Würzburg.
Nothing could have been better following a day of photography and searching for a good Franconian wine in its bulbous bottle than hearing a jazz trio playing under the watchful eye of St. Totnan on the Alte Mainbrücke. People were standing on the bridge, sipping wine and eating as the trio played, with the Marienberg Fortress in the background.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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The cathedral, known at Dom St. Peter und St. Georg (and also as Dom Imperial), has four towers and is mostly Romanesque in style, as demonstrated in the two photographs below of arches over entrances.
Stone carvings of Heinrich II and his wife, Cunigunde, grace one of the entrance porches.
The intricacies of the stone carvings over all the cathedral entrances are works of art in themselves.
Heinrich II also founded St. Michael's Abbey, atop one of Bamberg's seven hills. A closer look at the abbey demonstrates that Gothic architecture is peeking from behind the curtain.
Below the hill and near the Neue Residenz is a beautiful rose garden.
However, nothing says "medieval" like this building on the courtyard of the Alte Hofhaltung. In fact, settings like this encouraged the production crew of the 2011 version (with Orlando Bloom) of The Three Musketeers to film a majority of the movie in Bamberg. Don't be fooled by the opening aerial shots of Venice in the beginning. Bamberg was the real deal.
Also featured in the film was the 14th century Rathaus (town hall), the more recent parts of which feature sgraffito (Italian for scratch), a technique of applying layers of colored plaster to walls and other objects. The Rathaus has some of the most beautiful examples of the art form I saw on the trip.
The plaster cherub and foot sticking out of the wall (made visible courtesy of my 200 mm lens) definitely grabbed my attention.
Thank you for indulging me the length of this particular post, but Bamberg was definitely one of those cities that required much more time and exploration.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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We had a relatively short period of time in the city to tour and I have no excuses. I missed many photographic opportunities by being just a little too fussy about the light, human obstructions and the modern omnipresent selfie process. A photographer's dilemma. My images of Kaiserburg - the Imperial Castle - are lackluster, and my lack of geographic acuity kept me from finding and returning to the park that holds Nuremberg's native son artist Albrecht Durer's famous rabbit sculpture. It is gorgeous but there were people young and old crawling all over it and I thought I could return to photograph it when fewer tour groups were in the area. I tried to retrace my steps, but alas, was unable to do so, and photography took a back seat for a bit.
One of our missions was to find and purchase some of the flourless gingerbread for which Nuremberg is famous. That was accomplished at the Farmers' Market. Tidily packed, all of it made the trip home in one piece. No photographs there, just gingerbread. However, the Farmers' Market added splashes of color and shapes, including these berries from Sweden.
As we wandered the streets of Nuremberg in the late afternoon light, these signs caught me eye.
Following "Charlemagne's dream" - the connection of the Danube and Main Rivers - the good ship Skadi sailed that evening and the next morning through a number of the 67 locks that allowed us to see so much of Germany via inland waterways.
Next week - Bamberg. Here is a morsel.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>After the morning walking tour, we stopped at the much anticipated AlteWurstkuche, Germany's oldest restaurant, for a Bratwurst on a crusty roll with sauerkraut and a variety of mustards. It was grilled and delicious, but as we sat down outside at a picnic table, under cover from the rain, we were promptly drummed out. It took several different staff members to explain to us that we did not order from the menu and the covered space was for people who ordered from the menu. Who knew we were getting take away? So we hastily departed and ate our sausage in the rain. That is what it does in Regensburg. It rains.
The city center was spared major damage during World War II, leaving the character of the Bavarian medieval town intact, and offering street views such as the one below.
The use of an earth tone color palate is not exclusively for residences. It is also used in the trompe l'oeil facade of the Goliathhaus.
Wandering the old section of the city in the afternoon, we came upon two different surprises, the first of which was a young man practicing a tightrope-walking routine for an upcoming weekend festival. It was still drizzling and the fact that he could stay upright on a wet rope was a testament to his skill.
What we did not expect to see in Bavaria, in Regensburg, was a Majestic Athletic (provider of licensed sports apparel for most American sports franchises) Road Show just off of the town square. Starbuck's and McDonald's we had seen almost everywhere, but not this.
Hidden in the left hand corner of Bodega is a piece of wall art right up my alley, similar to a New Yorker cartoon. Unfortunately, my German translation skills are not up to the task, but I will try to get it translated and include it in a future blog.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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His latest project and business - Accelerated Kinetic Arts - focuses on the make up of people who are true naturals, and techniques that might be used to teach the rest of us to learn like naturals. This is near and dear to my heart, since learning has always been a slog for me. I was happy to hear a quote from Carl Sagan on National Public Radio Sunday morning effectively saying he was able to teach the way he did because it was hard for him to learn. That was a revelation.
Travis started taking kendo when he was 15. The series of photographs below in the colors of autumn seem appropriate to the meditative aspect of the art.
I look forward to his research and how it enriches the ability to teach, and students' ability to learn. In the mean time, we will probably see him in both theatrical productions and in film.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>The sky was overcast. The clouds produced fits and starts of rain, giving us many reasons to pause and observe. Indoors was a good choice and the Glass Museum, which rambled from one room to another like an old adobe, was a perfect fit. It was literally packed with more than 30,000 pieces of glass and more examples of Art Deco work than I have ever seen. And I wanted it all!
A shop window in the town also gave pause. It was a beautiful window and a beautiful shop but what grabbed my attention was a wedding cake as a true work of art. I thought it was iced with marzipan but it appears to be massa ticino fondant, a sugar icing/filling. It was created by a journeywoman pastry chef, Bianca Eizenberger. Kudos!
But the main pause in Passau was Dom St. Stephan (St. Stephen's Cathedral), a stunning example of baroque architecture. Although the current cathedral is baroque (the previous cathedral burned in a devastating 1662 fire), the eastern side carries some of the gothic detailing that was spared the flames, including the window treatment below.
Here is a neo-classical pilaster from the rebuilt section of the cathedral. Staff architect, Fred Black, loved the black flashing at the top. You can tell he also assisted in all things architectural in this blog.
Upon entering the cathedral, its baroque nature becomes much more obvious.
Then there is the organ, which is the largest cathedral organ in the world, with 17,974 organ pipes, 233 stops, and four carillons.
We had the good fortune to attend the noon organ concert consisting of three different pieces, the first of which I think was Bach. After the first two measures, tears were rolling down my cheeks. The sound traveled up from the floor, into my feet, and directly to into my heart and soul. It was one of the most profound experiences of the trip, and something I never expected.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>Through trial and error, people in our very distant past created things out of necessity, such as beer and wine. Clean drinking water was unavailable in much of the world (and unfortunately still is in many countries on Planet Earth) until the 19th and 20th centuries. But one thing people determined quite some time ago was that alcohol seemed safe to drink. Thus, beer and wine both filled the basic hydration need. It is said that just outside the 15th century Kaiserburg, or Imperial Castle in Nuremberg, were underground spaces that held four football fields worth of beer. It, technically, was the "water supply." Grapes and therefore wine was in the mix as well. But with the introduction of wonderful New World plants brought by explorers, the stage was set for a major explosion in crop, food, and beverage production.
Thus, we find members of the Capsicum and Pimenta families, New World crops (as most of the peppers are except black pepper), in a Budapest market. The paprika pepper ranges in heat from sweet to quite hot, and I cannot begin to identify the types of peppers in this photograph. But I am grateful to Christopher Columbus.
Farmers' Markets generally expected shoppers to know the product. Many signs indicated the specific type, such as Sommer Rot or summer red rather than indicating apple. Perhaps a redundancy?
Think what you like about these members of the Fungi kingdom, but I looked askance and laughed almost immediately upon seeing them at the Nuremberg Farmers' Market.
Is there a fungi expert reading this? I don't know what these beauties are but I bet they are either extremely tasty or therapeutic or both.
The Bavarian city of Bamberg, among other things, is known for its Rauchbier or smokey beer. It can be sampled at the Historical Brewery Tavern Schlenkerla. A good thing to note: only 17 ounce steins are served here and for me, that was a lot of beer! In the image below, beer is expertly poured, with the exact head on each glass, from a wooden barrel. This gentleman really knew what he was doing, and still, in the afternoon between lunch and dinner, was filling glasses as quickly as the waitresses could carry them away.
On board ship, A Taste of Germany dinner was held two nights before we reached Amsterdam. It was an opportunity not only to reveal the secrets of the ship's kitchen, but to put German cuisine front and center. There had to be at least ten different varieties of sausage, as well as other roasts and meats, wonderful potatoes, sauerkraut, on and on. I can give the roast pork no better descriptor than perfect.
The evening would have been incomplete if I didn't have one of these pretzels, nor the table dressed without a glass of wine.
All made possible by Chef Robert Hudak who seems to take such joy in the food and beverages we know and love today, thanks to mistakes and experiments of our fellow humans past and present!.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Following the feast of green along the river, we arrived at the Austrian town of Melk in late morning. It was the shortest of our stops and included an extensive tour of the famous Melk Abbey. It is a working abbey run by Benedictine monks, and home to nearly 700 students. Just as a human being's looks may not reveal his or her personality, a building, castle, cathedral, or abbey's exterior sometimes gives the viewer very little information about the interior. The building's secrets are not given freely but have to be explored. Such is the case with the abbey.
Although the current building was constructed between 1702 and 1736, the community of Melk has been in existence since the 11th century. Both the exterior and interior of the existing abbey are considered baroque, but there are stunning differences. The softness of color and design features of the rooms are as breathtaking as the squash-colored, carnival-striped facade.
Architect Jakob Prandtauer was a brilliant visualizer, and knew precisely what he was doing as far as surface treatment and window placement were concerned. Every window seems to be placed precisely to shed light and shadow on an architectural element or to trumpet the plaster, marble, or faux marble embellishments.
I lagged behind the group on several occasions to investigate multiple staircases on which we were not allowed, for obvious reasons.
Every step lead to another head-jerking element, such as this extremely intricate ceiling. I was nearly on my back while shooting it.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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After the bus tour into the city centre, which seemed like a cultural blur, and following our walking tour, we had roughly an hour of free time. One goal was to find a shop with Swarovski Crystal, which we did. But then we did something dangerous. We walked into Julius Meinl (am Graben). It is a foodie's paradise. I could have spent a day and all my Euros in the multi-story shop. Wine and beer consumed half of the first floor, paired with meats, while the other half was devoted to chocolate, coffee, and general grocery items. Upstairs featured enormous pastry and cheese counters, along with liquors or "digestives". My recollection of the building's layout may be inaccurate, since I am not known for having exceptional spacial acuity, but does it matter? My nose and eyes led the way.
The food theme continued into the first part of the afternoon. Courtesy of the ship's chef and concierge, we rode the metro or U-bahn, and had a wonderful introduction to the permanent Farmers' Market. Cheese and meat appetizers accompanied by wine were the fare. But after Chef Hudak and the remainder of the group left, we chose to stay and explored more of the market. You know me. Food images will be featured in future blogs. But after that massive introduction (it is what the overload of Vienna does to you), we finally arrive at today's theme - art nouveau.
During the last decades of the 19th century, art and architectural styles were changing, almost spontaneously in many parts of the world. As the cultural center of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Vienna was evolving as well. Its musicians included Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Strauss. Sigmund Freud, architect Joseph Maria Olbrich and painter Gustav Klimt also called Vienna home. But when a city is intentionally enlarged to accommodate theatres, opera houses, museums, and educational institutions, a petri dish of creativity results. And what a time it must have been. A new art and architectural movement was emerging known as Secession, and the individuals involved who were rebelling or seceding from the traditional arts, created Viennese Art Nouveau. In 1898, the Secession Building, designed by architect Joseph Maria Olbrich with the assistance of Gustav Klimt and Koloman Moser, opened to the public. This is the entry side of the building.
The three gorgons situated above the entrance represent painting, architecture and sculpture.
The side elevation shows the attention to detail in every element of the builiding. This is art nouveau heaven.
The turtle-footed bowls can be found on either side of the entry.
The work of Gustav Klimt is featured prominently in the building and exhibits. Thanks to the kindness of a shipmate who found one, I am now a proud owner of the beautiful silk scarf with "The Kiss" on it.
more travels next week...
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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One of the regrets I have about the drive and tour of Bratislava Castle is that (probably because of security reasons, not to mention the narrow streets), we were unable to photograph the huge variety of houses belonging to ambassadors to Slovakia from around the world. They ranged in style from Mies van der Rohe modern to Mediterranean villas, and California ranch houses.
The old Slovak National Theatre was built in 1886 and is considered "neo-Renaissance" style.
Whimsical bronzes appear in the oddest places in Old Town Bratislava. This fellow is titled Cumil or "The Watcher".
The Smiling Gentleman welcomes and bids adieu to clients of Cafe Mayer, founded by Julius Mayer in 1913.
I love the street performers who change themselves into live statues and catch passersby off-guard. I did not think about it at the time, but this fellow is probably Roland, given his proximity to the Roland Fountain. He is considered the town protector.
until next Monday,
DB
a pasion for the image@
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Surprises in every day life and in travel are spices that accentuate a moment in time. While cruising the Danube, Main, and Rhine, real spices and flavors invited our senses, but even on the first day in Budapest, every turn seemed to reveal treasures.
To me, one of the real architectural surprises was the use of brilliant roof tiles on churches and civic buildings throughout the city. Amidst the intricacies of the neo-Gothic Matthias Church are terra cotta, turquoise, green, red, and white high-gloss tiles that completely alter the feel of the airy, monotone sandstone.
Walking the streets in the afternoon, we came upon a group of young police officers (looking more like a fine-tuned Olympic team) being approached by some Irish football fans. A match between Ireland and Hungary was scheduled for 5 o'clock that afternoon, and the fans were not about to let the photo opportunity with the officers go to waste.
The officers retained their professional demeanor, allowing several photographs. Ireland won the match.
Walking back to the Danube, people kept asking us if we had seen "the shoes". They referred to a memorial, the concept of which came from the mind of movie director Can Togay and created in iron by Gyula Pauer. It is dedicated to the Jews who were asked to remove their shoes, and were then shot at the river's edge during World War II. As we walked along the river, looking at each iron shoe, a group of people formed a circle and commemorated those killed, with prayer and song.
Finally, a night shot of the Chain Bridge, built by engineers from Scotland, connecting the Buda and Pest sides of the Danube in 1873. Time to let the river lull me to sleep.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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Stepping back. In February, my sister emailed about a possible river cruise with her alma matter. By the time we had communicated and made up our minds that we were going to do it, the cruise was booked. I suspect the portion that was destined for the Crimea was altered in the end, but we started looking at a number of different cruise lines, including Viking. We chose one that featured destinations from which our maternal grandparents' family came. A visit to the old homeland, as it were. In the end, we had no idea, despite research, what to expect. Surprises make great memories.
So here I sit, a bit jet lagged but excited about the photographs, wondering where to begin. I do know that the groove in my left shoulder from carrying both of my cameras, was well worth it, and made me fall in love with my 70-200 mm lens, beast that it is, all over again.
With numerous possibilities, I have chosen people as this blog's subject matter.
The violinist in downtown Budapest played with great intensity, even into the early evening hours. We left hoping that his violin case had enough change in it to make a difference.
A gentleman playing a very stylized harp in Bratislava, Slovakia.
This shopkeeper at Folk Folk, a shop in Bratislava, had the most stunning face. She was kind enough to let me photograph her.
One the treats of wandering in cities are the surprises one encounters. We literally stumbled across this Mardi Gras parade on the fringes of the historic section of Bratislava. In September? But despite the relative messiness of the photo (stray elbow, stunted depth of field), the sheer joy and fun they were having was quite evident.
Last but not least, Chef Robert of the Viking Cruise lines, treating us to a tour of the Farmers' Market in Vienna.
This is just the beginning, and some of these people will be featured in future blogs.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
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But this is not where I am. As you read, I am in Bratislava, Slovakia, one stop on a river trip my sister and I are taking. We have not had a long trip together since I was entering high school and she was entering college. That first trip was a sojourn in her 1960 Ford Falcon (originally painted baby blue but transformed into New Mexico state flag gold) to Southwestern archaeological sights. It rained the first couple of days and we fought over myriad things but ended the trip as good friends as we made our way to Chaco Canyon, Aztec Ruins, and Mesa Verde.
My intention is to write a blog next Monday but since practicality won, I do not have my computer for downloading images, and thus there will be none until my return. I will try not to overload you, but with luck, there will be good images along the Danube, Rhine, and Main Rivers from Budapest and Vienna, to Passau, Regenbsurg, Wurzburg, Koln, and Kinderdjik.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image@
]]>In conjunction with the holiday, I also mention the 1954 documentary film Salt of the Earth. Written by Michael Wilson, directed by Herbert J. Biberman, and produced by Paul Jarrico, it was panned and banned and blacklisted as subversive, and Communist propaganda. All three of the afore mentioned were on the Hollywood blacklist. The film centers on a strike at the Empire Zinc Company in Grant County, New Mexico near Silver City.
Despite the fact that I have inserted social and political commentary into my blog, it is even more appropriate for me to feature photographs of three very hard working people as well. The first is Antonio Lujan. He is a long-time social activist, state congressman, and early Vietnam-era veteran.
I don't know the name of the horse, but the farrier shown here is Kerry Dalen of Albuquerque. She is also an emergency room physician at the University of New Mexico Medical Center.
Last but not least, if my notes and description serve me well, this is Art Baca of the Las Cruces Fire Department, Station 2. I did a broad shoot of many of the firefighters for my book and when I went to deliver the photographs, a different shift of people were on duty. They said "Why didn't you photograph us?" So naturally, I said "Do you have time now?" and proceeded with the shoot. Thus, my notes are not as clear as they could have been.
My thanks to each of you for the work you do every day.
until next Monday,
DB
a passion for the image
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Just as the sun was setting Thursday night, the clouds were spectacular - back lit to the point of glowing. I ran to get my camera already equipped with the 70-200 mm lens and started shooting.
And then I turned left to look at the actual sunset. A real cascade of color.
Although on this particular blog site, you cannot click on the featured photograph to make it bigger, you can go to the banner at the top of the page "All Photographs", drop down to "Featured Photographs" to see the blog theme images. You can also view any of the photographs on the website in that area as well without having to go to another website. Cool.
until next Monday,
DB
"a passion for the image"@
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