Never Just a Rose

Posted on October 23, 2012 by backyardsisters

In the words of Shakespeare, “. . . a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…” and I say it would look as beautiful too. Roses, and other flowers as well, make wonderful photographic subjects. That’s just another reason, beside the usual, I enjoy the gift of fresh flowers.

Using a window as a sidelight, creates an interesting play of shadows and highlights. In Photoshop, by adjusting the brightness/contrast levels the shadows and highlights become enhanced. I took the brightness down and added more contrast. Just for fun – my idea of fun anyway, I decided to try processing differently. This time a deep blue photo filter at 25% luminosity was added and the brightness turned up and contrast brought down, creating a softer effect.One of the great characteristics of flowers is the translucency of the petals and leaves. which makes using back lighting rewarding.

Position yourself so that the flower is between you and your light source; in this instance the sun. This brings out the details in the petals and leaves. The tiny thorns on the stem became highlighted also. If you like, you can let a bit of the light source shine through for a different feel.

Sunflowers with their large showy flowers are another one of my favorites. Here, I wanted to see how a soft, out of focus background can be achieved with a zoom lens. The first photo was taken with a zoom lens set at 80mm with an f-stop of 4.0.

The background, especially those flowers closer to the sunflower, are fairly in focus. When zoomed out to 105mm and stepping in a little closer (the only changes).

Everything in the background becomes velvety and out of focus, also known as a bokeh effect. This makes the subject stand out. Having the aperture open as wide as you can is another factor that helps create the bokeh effect. If you have a kit zoom lens and your aperture will only open as far as 4, or 5.6, zooming in will help achieve that bokeh effect.

According to Gertrude Stein, “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose

Loveliness extreme. . . ”

I will keep trying to capture the beauty here in the backyard.

~ Sue

reflections

Posted on October 16, 2012 by backyardsisters

This week while reflecting on some past photos, the idea to explore reflections struck.
Reflections can be created by many different shiny surfaces. Water, is a natural.

Buildings can be reflective as well. In this instance, in Chicago, the reflection of the older intricate architecture in the sleek more modern building is a nice study in contrasts.

The building at 333 W. Wacker in Chicago’s riverside facade is curved to mirror the shape of the bend in the river. The surface is highly reflective which showcases the river, surrounding buildings and sky.

Glass, of course, is another reflective surface which can be used very creatively because you get a picture within a picture effect.

The children here are reflected in the glass of the gorilla’s enclosure.

A shiny counter top serves as an interesting reflective subject also.

One of the funnest places I have found for reflective pictures is the Cloud Gate sculpture, aka the bean, in Chicago.

The skyline and sky are reflected as are the many people enjoying their reflections and the city’s too.

The shape of the bean can distort the images creating a fun house mirror effect. Go inside the structure and you will be treated to an abstract reflective delight.

This week I encourage you to look to the reflections presenting themselves in your daily life and maybe snap a photo of a few.

~Sue

A Rearranging of the Resources

Posted on October 9, 2012 by backyardsisters

What to do when a beach is losing its sand? Move sand from one area in the ocean to another of course! After many years of shrinking, the beach between the Topaz jetty and Ruby St. in Redondo Beach, CA is growing. This is no easy feat. There has been a barge and much activity just offshore for the past month. A sign on the shore explains that this is part of a beach replenishment project.

It is an intriguing sight that has initiated much speculation and musings from onlookers. Also, it piqued my curiosity. When that happens, I will often turn to Google and this time I learned the sand is being moved from the harbor entrance of Marina del Rey where it had settled thus making the entrance too shallow at times of low tide. Seeing the barge for the past few weeks and desiring a closer look, I grabbed my camera with my most powerful zoom lens attached and went to the shore.

It was early morning a little past the golden hour, the hour immediately following sunrise or preceding sunset, but the light was still soft with a warm hue. The early morning and late evening hours provide diffused softer lighting due to the sun’s position in the sky and are often favored by photographer’s because of this.

The interaction of the boats with the barge kept my attention for quite awhile.

I was glad to be able to zoom to 300mm making it possible to make out the names of the boats and the barge.

Also, allowing for a peek at the activity I couldn’t have gotten with another lens or my naked eye.

Part of the enjoyment I get from photography is the ability to get closer to things and activities and then being able to capture them. It helps to have a lens, such as a 300mm, with the capability of bringing a subject closer when it isn’t physically possible to get closer. Some may, OK do, call it my inner paparazzi.

May you unleash your inner paparazzi.

~Sue

jumpin’ jazz, levitation and light, oh my

Posted on October 2, 2012 by backyardsisters

Kamasi Washington and the Next Step were the featured act at the Jazz at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) series a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky to have wandered over that way and stumbled upon such a lively and talent filled performance; with my camera too.

Kamasi Washington is a Los Angeles native jazz saxophonist that I was not familiar with yet. It turned out the show was great entertainment. Dynamic music accompanied by powerful vocals and interspersed with solos by the accomplished band members kept the evening flowing.

Since it started at six, the lighting for the first half was fairly easy. I started with my ISO at 500 and my aperture as wide as it would go; which with the lens I was using was 5.6f, and a shutter speed of 125. As the sun began to set, I slowly raised my ISO to 800 and then 1250 in order to be able to use a faster shutter speed.
During the intermission, we went to explore the new installation titled Levitated Mass by artist Michael Heizer.

It made headlines around town when the giant boulder was transported from the inland empire to the museum via a huge transporter constructed just for that purpose. The crowds it drew as it slowly made its’ way through the city over the course of several nights made it a legitimate and literal “rock star”! Now, in its’ new home at the museum it is a fun exhibit to experience. The sun was setting making a beautiful back drop and many people were playing nearby and venturing under it.

The second half lighting was a little trickier because the sun had set; making it a great deal darker. With my ISO at 3200 and my location closer to the band, I attempted some more shots.

I changed locations and was able to capture the pianist back lit.

It is a distinct venue with the stage in front of the Urban Light installation and I wanted to express the sense of place the art provides.

Also, the palm trees create a unique scene I was able to capture from up close and down low, looking up at the stage.

On the way out, I couldn’t resist setting my ISO lower again to 400 and using the Urban Light installation by the artist Chris Burden as my subject.

I’m glad I am now familiar with Kamasi Washington and the Next Step. I enjoyed a delightful evening of jazz, art and photography. For this backyard sister, it doesn’t get much better than that. If you would like to discover what it’s all about, the Jazz at LACMA series will be occurring this Thursday and every Friday through Thanksgiving weekend.

Happy wanderings~

Sue

creepy, crawly and beautiful

Posted on September 25, 2012 by backyardsisters

Around here, nothing quite signals the beginning of fall like the increase in the number of orb-weaving spiders. It begins with one or two building their wheel shaped webs spanning great expanses between branches or leaves.

The next thing you know there are 5, 6 or more getting to work nightly building massive and incredibly sturdy webs. They start popping up all over the neighborhood.

There is nothing like accidentally walking through the remnants of one of these spider’s strong, sticky webs to turn me into a giant whirligig, madly brushing at my clothes. These spiders are persistent. Every night they construct and in the morning can be found seemingly floating in mid-air in the center of their web.

Yet, they are skittish too. Often, as I approach one it will scurry away from the center and hide.

Upon the occasion of an unsuspecting bug becoming trapped in the web, the spiders will spring into action to immobilize their prey.

As much as the sight of spiders makes my skin crawl, I can’t help but find these creatures fascinating and admire the beautiful webs they create; using a telephoto lens at 300mm from a bit of a distance, of course.

And, I am thankful I have never found one inside. I like to think of them as nature’s Halloween decorations.

If you are in the Los Angeles area and would like to see all types of amazing spiders and their webs, the Natural History Museum has recently opened the spider pavilion. It’s a creepy, crawly good time!

We welcome fall and all the season brings!

~Sue

A New Perspective

Posted on September 18, 2012 by backyardsisters

With the voice of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character from Kindergarten Cop urging, “get down!” in my head, I ventured out this week, my mission: to concentrate on photographing from a different angle. The Redondo Beach pier as my muse I began and caught this couple as I approached. I crouched down and click. . .

let the fun begin. Simple things can take on a new perspective when addressed from a different angle. Items look larger and have more presence when photographed from down low.

Looking up,

and making a point to step to the side as opposed to approaching from straight on

can add interest to a photo.

I slowly became aware of many pelicans out and about.

Suddenly, there is a commotion of flapping wings and pelicans running to one area.

A fisherman’s catch is fair game to the pelicans.

There were pelicans trying to steal the fish from each other as well as getting tangled and caught up in the fishing line and lures. All the while, I was sitting on my heels clicking away.

After suffering a couple of bites trying to retrieve his catch and even though disappointed at his loss, the fisherman worried about the pelicans welfare and freed the snagged birds. After the commotion died down, it became apparent there were two more stuck together by a hook.

Luckily, with the help of a bystander, they were freed.

When one looks at something from a different angle it can change one’s perception and add interest.

I urge you to use Arnold’s “get down” line as your mantra this week, and you can experience a new perspective yourself.

Have fun with it.

~ Sue

Ebb and Flow

Posted on September 11, 2012 by backyardsisters

There is a rhythm to the shore. This rhythm is the result of the constant ebb and flow of the tide as well as the waves. This morning I took a stroll paying particular attention to the tempo of the waves and how it effects the people, birds and items at the point where the water meets the sand.
I wandered over to explore the tide pools, a wave came in. . .

And the wave went out leaving seaweed draped over many of the rocks.

I decided to zoom and bring the seaweed closer; then another wave came in.

And went out. . .

Turning to the shoreline, a wave was retreating leaving relative calm.

Then zooming once again as another wave rolls in. Leaving the bird seemingly unfazed but the fisherman in hip deep water suddenly.

Some seaweed and shells were left on the sand from a ride on a wave.

I zoomed again.

The evidence of another stroller. . .

is quickly erased.

Surfers and swimmers will often pause at the shore waiting for the waves to recede to make their entrance into the water.

Birds also take advantage of the ebb of the waves to hunt for sand crabs.

The rhythm of the sea is predictable in its occurrence but the effects on the surroundings can vary from day to day. Sometimes an abundance of seaweed comes ashore and sometimes a large number of seashells. There is always something to discover at the shore.

Many happy discoveries to you.

~Sue

I lost my fear of heights on the Eiffel Tower

Posted on September 4, 2012 by backyardsisters

A commercial I saw recently featuring a little girl who dreams of flying prompted a memory of my own dreams of flying as a little girl. Since I haven’t yet acquired either the skills or ability to fly, I have found, in my opinion, the next best thing – aside from flying in an airplane – searching out the tallest structures or mountains and ascending them to take in the world from up high.

Paris is especially fun to experience from a vantage point far above the city. One obvious choice for this is the Eiffel Tower.

This required my putting aside my feeling of skittishness when looking down from great heights. I share a kindred spirit with a young girl I overheard as I was descending the Eiffel Tower. She declared, “I lost my fear of heights on the Eiffel Tower!”

It is hard to be nervous while gazing at such a captivating view. Cars and people are so tiny, almost toy-like.

When one travels a few hundred feet up, an orderliness to a city becomes apparent.

Often, the tall structures are evident from great distances and invite, almost taunt, me to visit.

Toronto Skyline

The views can be magnificent, even at night.

View from CN Tower, Toronto

The CN Tower in Toronto has an outside observation deck which is lit up at night with changing colored lights creating an interesting hue to photos taken through the lights.The view from above also allows one to see things which can’t be seen from ground level, like the maple leaf on the rooftop.

View from CN Tower, Toronto

A funicular ride to the top of Monte Igueldo in San Sebastian, Spain made this view possible.

Here’s to seeing things from a different perspective and the joy of beauty trumping any fears holding you back.

May we all, “lose our fear of heights on the Eiffel Tower!”

And maybe I will learn to fly someday, baby steps.

~ Sue

“pond”ering

Posted on August 28, 2012 by backyardsisters

One of the fascinating things about photography is the ability to capture a split second occurrence that the eye would normally not be able to catch. This power has its pluses and minuses. Sometimes, the camera is able to catch us with facial expressions we didn’t even know we could make, or want to make for that matter. On the positive side,freezing the action of the flight of a bird, an animal running and a drop of water hitting a surface can create some beautiful images. This week, I focused on capturing a drop of water.
Water is precious and necessary for sustenance. It can also be beautiful when frozen in time.

It creates such interesting shapes.

Both above and below the surface.

To capture the drop in motion can be difficult. First, you must guess where the drop will land and focus on something in that area. I used a pencil point. Then, the shutter speed must be high enough to be able to freeze the action.

I used from 640 to 2500. You may need to adjust your ISO and aperture to achieve the correct exposure. If you want to take the aperture out of the equation you can shoot in shutter priority mode.

I like the variety of the results – no two shots are alike. Sometimes we take water for granted, but, especially during this time of drought, it can be beneficial to contemplate every little drop.

~ Sue

The Dog Days are Upon Us

Posted on August 21, 2012 by backyardsisters

With summer winding down but heating up here in California, one’s thoughts may turn to cooling off. Around here, the place to beat the heat is at the shore. Manhattan Beach was the destination this day, for me and a few others.

My wide angle lens will often create a vignette effect when at its widest and sometimes I choose to just go with it. I like the feeling of being the observer through a telescope it imparts.

At the end of the Manhattan Beach pier is a small aquarium and cafe, which are worth the trip out; if the prospect of the view isn’t enough to entice you on its own. This day, there was an interview being filmed alongside the usual sunbathers and swimmers.

The view looking back at the beach from the pier.

The evening at the beach is a lovely time to enjoy the cool breezes and sunsets.

The Hermosa Beach pier is often frequented by fishermen.

Piers are intriguing subjects in my opinion. The symmetry of the pilings and the silhouettes of the figures capture my imagination. Whether viewed from close up or further away I am drawn to these structures suspended over water.

The perfect ending to a summer day. . .

Enjoy these last few days of summer and try to keep cool out there.

~ Sue

backyard sisters

Saving ordinary moments from the brink of oblivion

Category Archives: Weekly Wanderings

Never Just a Rose

A Rearranging of the Resources

jumpin’ jazz, levitation and light, oh my

creepy, crawly and beautiful

A New Perspective

Ebb and Flow

I lost my fear of heights on the Eiffel Tower

“pond”ering

The Dog Days are Upon Us

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