Finding Your Eye ~ Lesson 4 ~ Inspiration File Review

After reviewing the photos in my inspiration file, I had a difficult time narrowing down the elements my favorite photos have.  I noticed that some of them have more than one element. I am definitely drawn towards beautiful light, color and no color - and I noticed that many photos I am drawn to have people in them, doing just ordinary things.  I also love photos of places. I am drawn towards windows and reflections in them. Here are a few examples:

(1) Light,  Movement and Emotion - I just love this photo, this boy is about to do "flips" (somersaults) down Beale Street in Memphis, I love the light on him, the tip bucket, his concentration and grace, to me he looks like a ballet dancer.

Beale Street Flipper

Boys at the Shore

(2) Portrait and Color

El Hombre ~

(3) Imagining a Story to go along with the photo

Rainy Day Stroll to School

Elevator Man

(4) Colorless

Paris Morning

Window at Mont San Michel

(5) Reflections

Chocolate Shoppe

Lemons in the Window

Finding Your Eye ~ Lesson 3 ~ Part Two

     I returned home from my wonderful walk in the cornfield, happy to have spent a little time in such a serene place that I feel I should visit more often.   My "Find Your Eye" assignment completed and ready to post.

     I went about my day ~ starting to get our spare room ready for some guests who will be visiting soon.  Then I saw how the light hit the antique Morris Chair that has been in this room forever.  All of a sudden I saw how many different and interesting angles I could photograph this simple chair.  I grabbed my camera and started shooting!  Kat, I think this is more what you had in mind :)

Back Rack Concerto

Spindles Patina

Stage Lights

Shadow Pattern

Ancestor Tapestry 

Finding Your Eye ~ Lesson 3 ~ Part One

     Today is a cold day in New England.  I went for a brisk walk this morning, watching the sunlight as the sun slowly climbed higher into the stark blue sky.  I was thinking about what subject I would choose for my "Find Your Eye" lesson today - the assignment was to take 50 photos of the same subject, a familiar subject, taking each photo from a new and creative angle and end up with two or three good ones.
     I put on my snow gear, boots and warm coat, and headed to a nearby cornfield with a trusty companion, my dog Turbo.
     I visit this field often when my son comes home.  He is a birder and there is always plenty of wildlife to see and hear while walking in this forgotten, last slice of farmland, remarkably untouched ~ it is like going back to a simpler time.
     My thought was to photograph the familiar bluebird houses, however, my "eye" saw many other beautiful things in this quiet slice of heaven ~

Row Houses

Empty Nester

Warmth of the Sun

Corn Husk in Winter

Cornfield at Sleep

Why Photography?

I like to take photos of places, things and people that move me.  Simple things, it may be the light I an drawn to, or color. The challenge is to have my viewer be moved, too.  That's the hard part, but something I am looking forward to being able to convey more and more to my viewer.  I love the moments that are captured forever.  I love surprises in photography, too, sometimes you can capture something that was not intentional but wonderful!

I was pleased to see the flag reflections in the window of this photo:

Another example of something unintentional in a photo - I took this photo of the two Santas and only noticed the face on the left later.  I call this "Double Vision" because of the curious expression on the face looking at the two Santas.

In this photo I was concentrating on photographing the sailboat and didn't see all the vibrant colors of the umbrellas and people on the beach in the background until I went to edit the photo.  I love surprises like that!  How colorful!