It’s pretty awesome how quickly and timely (for the Apple Blossom Festival) all the flowers and trees just pop around here.
Stained
In worship an increased power steals its way into the heart sanctuary, an increased compassion grows in the soul. To worship is to change.
– Richard J Foster
I took this one on Easter morning, but never had the time to process it.
Family Time
Nothing like getting together with cousins and playing until you just drop ‘cuz you’re dog-tired.
Waldo and Russell – 1st cousins.
Bucket List
So my wife told me that she wants to put a visit to Holland (when all the tulips bloom) on her bucket list. I could do that.
I think this time it’s gonna stick (referring to Spring, of course).
Last Supper
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
Mark 14:22-24
Attended my church’s Maundy Thursday service tonight where they performed a “Living Last Supper.” Certainly an interesting way to present the story.
The Living Last Supper as presented by First Presbyterian Church in Winchester
Spring
“In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”
– Mark Twain
It’s A Small World
Just having some fun with my extreme wide-angle fisheye lens. Actually a lot of my interior architecture images these days are shot with this lens. The end results have some pretty severe angles of view, but I try to not create them with the extreme, stereotypical, fisheye bulge that most people associate with this type of lens. The trick begins when shooting the images and making sure that the horizon looks real. I’m always looking for scenes where there is a natural built-in curve to the image – the fisheye lens can then enhance the scene. My favorite example is the image from the staircase in our local library – Handley Regional Library.
I usually try to avoid this look, but was just having fun here with this one.
God Rays
One last look at the Florida beaches before I left. My kids used to call this sunlight pattern “God Rays.” Whatever you call it, there’s no denying the fact that it’s an incredible sight.
The wonderful thing about the sun rising or setting is that it’s really never the same.
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Palm Sunday
This one is in an effort to be more timely with my photos. It is, after all, Palm Sunday.
How timely is this? Another great sunset captured. Order a print of this image.
Cruise-In
When you’re traveling you just can’t say no to a quick stop to check out a potential photo opportunity. I actually stopped because a building caught my eye, but then I stumbled onto this old-timey car show. The trick was to take a tack-sharp image and “dirty” it up in an effort to match the Cruise-In theme of yesteryear. What do you think, too much?
This scene just felt retro when I saw it.
Sunny Side Up
I think my circadian rhythms automatically sync to the sunrise whenever I travel. It doesn’t matter when I go to bed the night before, I’m always up before the sunrise the next day.
A few short hours and I caught up with the sun on the other side of yesterday.
Just Beachy
Proper sunsets are simply awesome. I shot close to 300 photos before it was all said and done, but this one stood out from the rest. All the “contrasty” things going on were screaming for some post-processing. Hopefully gonna turn the other way in several hours and the catch up with the sun.
Could you see yourself retiring here? Order a print of this image.
Composition
“How do they know what they want when they haven’t even seen it?”
– Steve Jobs
Frame your next photograph with this thought in mind – only show them what you want them to see. It always amazes me to see what goes on behind the scenes of any video shoot. Any that I’ve done. Any that I’ve seen. I can’t watch any video anymore without the production gears in my head spinning out of control. It’s just fascinating. The lights, the flags, the reflectors, the people, the gadgets and doodads – all just out of the frame. But all there to make what is in the frame that much better. Just fascinating. And that’s just it – only show them what you want them to see. So grab a camera and start shooting those extraordinary scenes that may just be smack dab in the middle of a bunch of chaos. But once you frame all that junk out, you’re left with insanely great images!
This doorknob just stood out to me as unique, but I had to look past all the distractions to really see it.
Work The Scene
I’ve mentioned before that I try to shoot various angles of any scene I’m photographing (unique angles). But I keep thinking that for every individual image that I post here, I’ve got close to 5-10 other decent images that may get pushed aside and forgotten about. This also helps me out on those days where I haven’t shot at all. I shot today, but am having a tough time nailing down the part of the image I want to feature. So while I figure out how to proceed with that one I thought I’d post another one from the day I shot in my church’s sanctuary.
I’ve always found it difficult to shoot in this sanctuary due to the hot spot at the altar. The HDR post-processing technique certainly helps.
Detour
It’s a good thing I take my camera everywhere nowadays. After day 1 of 2 at a freelance job in Fishersville, the interstate was completely backed up so as any good photographer would do, I took an immediate detour into the nearby town – Staunton. It had been nasty, wet weather all day so I looked for interesting places to shoot inside (and I’m into churches right now apparently – namely the sanctuaries and stairwells). I really wanted to get to the top of this one, but couldn’t quite figure it out…
Detours can take you to some great places. I really wanted to shoot from that landing up there (looks like remnants from what the church used to be). The rope was for the church bell.
Happy Accidents
There’s a lot of value in the various “accidents” that are made while editing. Whether it’s photos or videos, it happens all the time. The trick to editing, after all, is the feel or the rhythm that you get into while it’s happening. And as you’re in the zone, you can easily make creative choices on the fly that you didn’t really intend to pursue, but then you sit back and think “Wow, that could really work.” This happened to me as I was editing today’s image so I figured I’d post both the intended version and the “Happy Accident.” So play around with your edits and make all those mistakes. Some of the best products happened from crazy, unintended creative choices.
The main sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Order a print of this image.
The “Happy Accident.” Order a print of this image.
The Eyes Have It
I revisited this one from a couple of years ago and processed it very differently because there was just something about it that was so intense. As I got into it I realized that it was the eyes. Doesn’t it feel like he’s staring into your soul?
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“Smell The Roses”
It’s refreshing to have the opportunity to slow down and take notice of the very mundane stuff ‘cuz the mundane stuff can be cool. This is the stuff you drive past going to work everyday. It’s the stuff you miss while you’re frantically running your errands for the week. You may even run right past it on your daily jog. Slow down, or even stop, and just take it in. There’s so much fascinating stuff out there. How can I ever get “blocked” as a photographer when stuff like this exists around every corner. It may not be interesting to anybody else, but it is to me. So there. You see me with my camera pointed at something, anything, and you wonder “what the heck?” Well, now you know.
I’ve been walking by these trees for about 3 months now every morning while I walk my dog and have been fascinated with them every time.
Looks like the desert camo that the military wears these days, doesn’t it?
Wishing & Hoping
Betcha he’s wishing for better weather on the east coast.
Cedarmeade Studios 