Power Line Abstract

I have been spending more time of late photographing in my immediate neighborhood because I have not been able to go out shooting, and I have a personal goal of taking at least 1 picture each day. One thing that I have found that really interests me is the power line pole that is near my house. This time of year the setting sun turns it orange, and it has all these interesting details that I had not noticed previously. I have lots of shots of it from the past month or so. But I really liked this one for a few reasons. 1) I like the perspective on it. Most of my other images are looking at it from the side, which is fine but conventional. 2) I like the abstract nature of it. 3) The splash of orange makes for an interesting shape and color contrast to the rest of the linear gray elements. In fact the curve of the orange pipe is reflected in the curve of the power line near the connector, and the curve of the gray sheathing.

It has been very busy at work and the kids have been sick, so please excuse my lack of posts.

For those who are interested, I have managed to keep my New Years Resolution going so far. I have taken at least 1 picture every day since January 1st.

Thanks for stopping by.

Canvas Abstract

I like the lines and shadows of this image. Lots of nice diagonals, triangles, etc. To me this image is full of motion and direction. Moving forward and up but not to the emptyness of the shadow.

Quarter Horses

Nothing to say about this one. I'll let it stand on it's own.

Mountain Dew

This is another abstract that I just stumbled upon while getting the car loaded to go shooting one spring morning. This is the black diamond plate on the toolbox in my neighbor's pick up truck. I like the shallow depth of field with the streaks of light from the dawn.

Shadow Rings

More shadows... I guess I just love the abstract and ephemeral nature of shadows. They look like their object and yet not. They are always present and yet never the same.

(Where was this taken?)

Teeter Tooter Shadow

I took the kids back to Clemyjontri Park this weekend and ended up taking a lot of shadow shots. The sun was in a good position and with the colors and all, I was really happy with a number of them. Today's image is of my son sitting on a teeter tooter. I think it is interesting how the shadow area is has a heavy yellow tint since the surface was so yellow. I also like how the image seems to be upside down since there is not frame of reference of what is casting the shadow. I tried looking at it "upside right" but it looked even more odd since the umbra dropoff was in the wrong direction, and his head became very alien.


(Where was this taken?)

Barbed Shadow

Since yesterday's image had a shadow as a large element in it, I thought I would extend that theme a bit today. Of course this image is of barbed wire. The wire is wrapped around the crane at the National Japanese American Memorial, which I had an image of previously. I like the image for its abstract nature, even though you know it is barbed wire, there is a sense of mystery. "Why is it there?" "Why does the background look all scratched and worn?"

(Where was this taken?)

Oriental Ice

Ok, ok. Another abstract. I hope I am not boring you with these. But they can be such fun to do. This image has a very long backstory, bu the short version is: don't shoot in Reston Town Center without written permission from management, it is all private property (bet you did not know that). You too might be banned for a year of taking pictures and have to appeal management in order to get the ban lifted. Ugh. I will give what this is a shot of tomorrow.

As for yesterday's abstract image, this is the end post of a front porch railing at the house in Green Spring Garden Park in Alexandria, VA. The post had a large globe (knob) on top with lots of coats of peeling paint. Fun with the ol' macro lens.

(Where was this taken?)

Blue World

I am going to stay with abstracts for another day. To me this shot is a lesson in getting beyond the literal in my images. When I took this shot, I was focused on the details of the cracks and layers of paint. In other words, I knew what this was an image of and that is what I saw it as. However, when I presented it for critique in a class I was taking, the first thing the instructor said was "looks like a world." Of course it does. Separated from my own literal expectations when I took it, the image stands as something else or even many "something-elses" to others. This episode taught me that I need to look beyond the literal and let go of my own expectations. Even in abstracts I was getting caught up in "what is it."

So as for yesterday's abstract image. If you are interested, it is the wing of a bronze crane statue at the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington D.C. I love how the feathers flow like golden waves.

(Where was this taken?)

Golden Waves

Staying with the abstract theme from yesterday, here is one from the DC area. It has taken me some time to get my head around abstract images. But I have come to enjoy them and have started to find them all over the place. For an abstract image, you don't really need to know "what it is." Abstracts are more about the response, the questioning, form, color or texture.

To that end, I will not reveal anything about what this image is but will provide details in tomorrow's blog entry. In the mean time, you can get some information from the link below.

(Where was this taken?)

Asis Abstract

This is an abstract from the same church as yesterday's post. I am drawn to the fact that there are really only 3 colors in the image (with some tonal changes in the browns) and the fact that there seem to be these odd shapes.

(Where was this taken?)