Smith Rock State Park is an amazing volcanic rock formation rising above the high desert plateau in central Oregon. In addition to its gorgeous scenery and abundant hiking trails, it is also considered one of the best rock climbing destinations in the western United States.
Morning Glory Wall Composition 1
We arrived in mid-morning and was able to hike a couple of miles before it got too hot. As usual, I was constantly lagged behind my family, sister and brother-in-law, stopping to take photos. So many amazing photo opportunities!
The Dihedrals Composition 1
Climbing The Dihedrals 1
Smith Rock Tuff Monochrome Composition 1
Smith Rock Tuff Composition 1
Phoenix Buttress Vignette
Asterisk Pass Composition 1
There are more pictures from Smith Rock State Park to curate for a future follow-up post. For the best viewing experience, click on an image to view a high-resolution version from my portfolio site.
Last week the family spent a week in Oregon, 4 days with my sister and brother-in-law in Bend, and then on to the Pacific Coast and finally Portland. I almost filled up two 64GB SD cards! Guess I’ll be curating, editing and posting these photos for the next several months.
Yaquina Head Marine Garden Composition 1
This first post features Yaquina Head Marine Garden and Lighthouse, just north of Newport, Oregon. We were rewarded with beautiful scenery including multiple bird species, tide pool creatures and sea lions basking on the rocks.
Yaquina Head Marine Garden Composition 2
Yaquina Head Marine Garden Composition 3
Yaquina Head Marine Garden Composition 4
Yaquina Head Sea Lion Composition
Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Thank you for taking time to visit my photo blog. For the best viewing experience, click on an image to see a high resolution version.
Part four of my Uptown Charlotte cityscape compositions. Even after numerous visits, there’s still plenty to “see” Uptown!
Charlotte Transportation Center Night CompositionSky bridge crossing E Fifth St next to the Spectrum Center Arena in Uptown Charlotte, North CarolinaHearst Tower Entrance Street Scene 1
S Tryon St Pedestrian Crossing
Uptown Street FatigueParking Deck Sky Bridge Composition
For the best viewing experience, click on an image to view a high resolution, or visit my Uptown Charlotte street photography gallery on my portfolio site.
While scouting a camping location in the Nolichucky Gorge, near Erwin Tennessee, I spotted this abandoned house and ask my friend to stop so I could capture this series. This house takes me back to one of my original, and still favorite, photography genres — abandoned places, and the beauty found in decay.
Abandoned Red Tin Roof House – Rear View.
Abandoned Red Tin Roof House – Broken Window Detail
Abandoned Red Tin Roof House – Rear View 2
Abandoned Red Tin Roof House – Side View
Abandoned Red Tin Roof House – Side View 2
These images are best viewed in high resolution, click on an image to view a high res version from my portfolio site. These compositions were added to my This Ole House gallery.
From my trip to Charlotte last month, this post switches from architectural abstracts to street photography. Trekking around Uptown, before and after work, afforded me several great composition opportunities.
Street Greet on Trade and Tryon
Epicentre Alleyway 2
North Tryon Street Vignette 1
Hostage on Trade and Tryon
Epicentre Escalator Fascination
Thanks for stopping by! For the best viewing experience, click on an image to see the high resolution version. If you like this post, check out these other Uptown Charlotte street photo posts:
I am thankful to have three street photography compositions selected for the nationally juried MEED3: When Photography Ruled the Street exhibition at Gallery 19 in Chicago. Juror Ahmed Ozsever is an interdisciplinary artist based in Chicago. The show opened July 12th and runs through August 2nd.
Last Saturday my friend and Troop Scoutmaster, Sid Adams and I, traveled to the Nolichucky River Gorge area of east Tennessee to scout an upcoming fall camping trip. The destination was Worley’s Cave in Bluff City, just south of Bristol in the Appalachian Mountains. Located on private property, the cave area and entrance are not well marked. The intent is for visitors to access the cave only through guided tours.
Cat’s Eye 1 – Worley’s Cave Dry Mouth 6
There are two entrances to the cave, both sit at the base of a 120 foot (36.5 m) cliff. The dry mouth entrance sits just about 25 ft (7.6 m) above the far right bottom of the cliff. This is the main entrance, a sign notes the cave is 4.4 miles (7 km) long! With a keen eye for snakes and bats, I took my camera and tripod in and shot the dry mouth images with my Nikkor 28mm – 300mm lens.
Cats Eye 2 – Worley’s Cave Dry Mouth 7
Worley’s Cave – Dry Mouth Entrance Exterior
We then carefully made a way down to the bottom of the cliff where a stream exits the lower cave underneath a wall of rock. To the right was a large opening – the wet entrance. Fog exited the entrance as the moist 55 degree (13 c) interior air collided with the hot exterior air. Walking into the wet entrance was like walking in to a refrigerator! It was a quite refreshing . The wet mouth images were shot with my Tamron 15mm – 30mm lens. In the lower right-hand corner, you can barely make out the interior stream exiting the cave.
Worley’s Cave Wet Mouth 24
Worley’s Cave Wet Mouth 46
Worley’s Cave-Wet Mouth Entrance Exterior
Sid and I booked a guided tour for our Troop with USA Raft outfitters in Erwin, TN, for this September. The cave was featured a while back in Boy’s Life magazine. We know our Scouts will be excited about their forthcoming adventure. For the best viewing experience, click on the monochrome images to view a high resolution version from my portfolio site.
While exploring urban environments with my camera, I’m usually looking for composition opportunities, which include architectural abstracts, expansive urban landscapes (cityscapes) or people interacting with or navigating through the city. Particularly, the latter falls into the genre of Street Photography.
Arena Station Night Train 1
In the last few years, have I become more deliberate about seeking out opportunities to create street photography fine art compositions. In fact, much of my appreciation of the genre comes from following street photographers here on WordPress.
Epicentre Westbound Pedestrian Flyby
Even within the genre, there are many different approaches, techniques, styles and sub-genres. I seem to be gravitating towards “seeing” compositions where both urban architecture and people not necessarily single “subjects” of the composition, but instead are both elements within the broader cityscape composition.
4th and College Street Composition
Sometimes a composition develops quite quickly and I must be prepared to react. To catch these, I try to first find a ISO, aperture and shutter speed combo that best suits the existing light and environment. More often though, have to wait for the composition to develop or evolve. Have you been shooting during the golden hour and heard a voice in your head say “be patient, wait for the shot to development”? Then, hear the counterpoint perspective in your head, “if you say here much longer, you’re going to miss out on other shots”?
Epicentre Alleyway Vignette 1
When traveling to Charlotte to work Uptown, I like to stay in a hotel that’s at least 5 or 6 blocks from my work location. That affords me the opportunity to shoot on my way to the office and afterwards on the way back to the hotel. Both usually involve a detour, or two. Compared to shots above, the last two compositions are similar in terms of the subject and point of view. However, different styling approaches introduce some uniqueness to the composition.
Arena Station Night Train 2
Epicentre Eastbound Pedestrian
Thank you for visiting today. For the best viewing experience, click on an image to view a high resolution version from my portfolio site. Over the last year or so, I’ve developed a nice collection of street photos from Uptown Charlotte, click here to see my Uptown Charlotte Gallery. Have a great weekend!
