September 2013: A Photographic Month In Review

     For this my second post of this sort,I'm going to do something a little bit different. The month of September began with some damp and unseasonably chilly temperatures so,what some once called "Indian Summer" was somewhat literally a wash out in my area. Almost as soon as Autumn arrived,so did an enormous improvement in weather. So the day this happened I was back out taking pictures. So this month in review is primarily going to focus on the final days of the month. Which were very prolific photographically for me.
                                                        
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       *We begin with Langley's Strawberry And Vegetable Farm. During this time of year,they have a bountiful Pumpkin patch and a wide variety of decorative gourds and edible squash to choose from. My family and I also selected our own four pumpkins,which you'll see in the back trunk of the car here as well.The friendly staff their encouraged me to photograph their grounds and post it on their Facebook site. Which I will do along with this presentation. Since they were so kind as to allow me to photograph their richly colored farm,why not share the results right? 

      *Immediately after Langley's the family headed over to Sprague's Nursery to view their own  harvest time wares. I actually had a chance to quietly observe their craftsmanship in painting Halloween pumpkins. I've seen this hand painted Jack-O-Lanterns around for over a decade now. However these images were painted with the techniques of expert and imaginative crafts-people than I'd ever seen before. Some of these particular images will show up among a few other things that presented themselves here.

    

         *I was told that the Bangor Boardwalk was alive with foliage already,even though the season hadn't yet reached its peak. Upon my visit the following Saturday after the visit to Langley's and Spragues, there were few moments of my hike through the area where I wasn't taking a photograph. What your about to see are a select group of photographis taken that day that actually reflect almost 200 pictures that I took on that day.                             


  

   

            *Last but not least there's my visit yesterday to the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge,near the same lake where I once summered with in my youth with family. In all the years in doing so,this represents my very first visit here. And although its off season its more than a welcome visitation to one aspect of an area that I knew fairly well but never thoroughly explored.

           Well there you have it: at least the conclusion of how I spent my September 2013 photographically. It was by now means a three day blitz. In the two decades since I've been doing photography I've never found it very productive or enlightening to rush through taking photos on some type of clock. That may be why I drive some people crazy when I find myself stopping so often to take pictures on these outings. On the other hand during this time period everything worked out so well that everything in front of the camera came together with the intended clarity. Overall with what photographs I've taken this month-from Portland,Fipps Pond and onto foliage season here its been a resounding success.

  

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The Camera Lens Playing With Light And Reality

                        One of the very first things one used to learn about photography is that the more emphasis one can put onto composition as opposed to technicality,the more vibrant ones photograph is going to be. This one for example. Taken shortly after the grass was mowed at the local Vet clinic,it was one of those photographs that revealed itself and I didn't need to go looking for it. So it was given every chance it could have in front of the camera and this was the best of the bunch. Almost created an alternate landscape.

                     There are some conservative elements of the photographic community who will loudly maintain that presenting high contrast shadows as having any creative depth to them is "typical and pretentious" or the like.  On the right the sun and nature created a contrast that added to a feel of bigness. The photograph on the left expresses my interest in mild optical illusions. It may be obvious to those viewing what it is. But on the comments threat on this post,I encourage and welcome you to post your conversation and guesses about that particular photograph.

                       Accidental blur can make for an un-viable photograph. Purposeful blur can actually transform a static picture into something very artful. During this past year I have become interested in utilizing such intentional blurring in order to expand the level of composition in the photographs I take.  This is far from the most adventurous example of this type of photograph I've taken. But again,if you wish to discuss and make guesses about this,your encouraged to do so in the comment area here.

                      In the 35mm days inferred photography was more of an inaccessible fantasy for those who couldn't afford dark room equipment or custom developing at a professional photo lab. Recently I learned that using the contrast settings on the photo editing software in my computer that the effect could be easily achieved. Inferred has always been a dream of mine. And it's absolutely thrilling to be able to now have the means to bring that dream into reality. Sometimes in cases like this,technology really can liberate an artists ability to create.

Fipps Pond On September 11'th-A Photographic Record

                                Fipps Pond in Eddington Maine,summer home to the Boy Scouts Camp Roosevelt is during off season a favorite place to walk for many people. My family and I included. Today's visit was about the tenth time that I've been there in many entire life and it remains something of a favorite spot to relax and contemplate existence itself. And I've taken a number of photos here over the years.Often times that sense of tranquility is mainly the proverbial icing on the cake. On today's visit I actually needed that tranquility. And that put everything into a whole other perspective. And as it turned out had a profound effect on the nature of the photographs I took while there today.

          *One of the primary personal missions of this visit to Fipps Pond was an attempt to bring chaos to order. Sitting on the wharf joking around helped some. However the images that popped into my eyes and camera lens seemed to seek a deeper meaning. First,perfectly ordered canoe paddles in bright primary colors. Than a reflection in the water-as if a person's soul was carried away by the tide.

          *Patterns in rushing water,both of the salt and fresh variety,has fascinated me since my very earliest days as a photography. Every time I see water in nature,there are certain givens in terms of the patters. Just to think: from snow run off and other natural conditions the water being photographed here may have been recirculated in and out of Fipps Pond many times over since my first visit. And even so,with all the unique properties of all that lives in the natural world I find that the more the patterns change,the more they stay the same.

           *Contrasts of any sort seemed to be the theme of the day,both mentally and in that natural world in which I walked. For the first time I was able to successfully photograph that golden lace of light that falls across the water when the sun is in just the right position. Of course the next contrast created a pure optical illusion: that of a ladder whose shadow manifested itself to make it resemble a storage self. One wonders how many unexplained things in life are merely our limited field of vision acting for us in an non revealing way.

                          So I end this particular journey to Fipps pond with this. Even though I knew what I saw as I took this photograph,it transformed into something somewhat different on the actual photo. If you don't know what it is,your imagination should always give itself permission to fly free. The assumption of freedom to appreciate art always bares more fruits than the struggle for that freedom. Enjoy what is hear. And if your a photographer with no particular place to go,take a look at the world right around you and allow your imagination to rule the day!

Portland Maine On Labor Day Weekend-A Photographic Record

        Portland is the largest city in the state of Maine. I have visited there with a degree of regularity with my family and on a single occasion with my ex-boyfriend for at least the past twenty-five years. Much as is true of any major urban area,the atmosphere of Portland is constantly changing. The faces are as different as the storefronts often times. Yet as illustrated in this photograph,there are scenes that I can clearly remember changing very little in that two decade span of time. What your about to see is this city on the first day of September,2013. Eight images from half that many hours-scenes old,remembered,new and often surprising.

 *This was the first photo I took upon arriving in the city. Somehow I was struck by the contrast of the old concrete building and the freshly painted appearance of the staircase-especially it's white hue. As with many photographers the contrasts between old and new as well as Earthy and primary colors is greatly interesting to me. Never saw any spectral crime in "photographic painting". I view a photograph similar to how I'd view a canvas. The difference is how you paint the picture.

  

                   *This image was particularly interesting to me because of it's contrasts. In the 19th century the practice of phrenology was still accepted as part of then contemporary societies incomplete psychiatric understanding. Of course our psychiatric understanding is even less complete today so many people turn to the metaphysical for that sort of guidance. Couldn't resist the symbols for both standing side by side.

        

*One of the truly unique aspects of photography is it's ability to reinterpret characterizations realistically. I don't know this man,nor did I show his face. But something about his manner of attire and general attitude-even seeing him for a few short seconds, bought to mind LL Cool J in my eyes. He was actually sleeping. And I didn't know his situation. But that is one of the wonderful things about candid photography: one person,place or thing can evoke another.

        *Considering the inner bravery that I have to bring up from within for candid portraiture-considering modern societies obsession with creative litigation,there are many occasions where the back of a person,when looking forward with the camera lens as a strange third eye in back of them,reveals a very different emotional state in the subject that wouldn't be present looking straight on into their face.

                     *Although the beginning of September is nowhere near the end of summer seasonally,the corporate end of the season begins after Labor Day Weekend. Children begin returning to public school if they go. Older students return to universities. And vacationers who come to summer in Maine return to their respective homes. This rack of T-Shirts of many colors,likely being liquidated for the holiday weekend,are to me the perfect symbol of coastal New England capitalism as they can generally only be worn for less than half of the year in this particular area.

*Onto human contrasts,this park downtown is usually reserved for buskers and jugglers. In short,artistic oriented people. So just as I was getting ready to leave Portland that day,for the first time in my life I noticed that this Sunday had bought out a very different presence into this park: a neo con preacher who was testifying fire and brimstone fundamentalist Christianity for an audience of exactly two people. n is usually reserved for buskers and jugglers. In short,artistic oriented people. So just as I was getting ready to leave Portland that day,for the first time in my life I noticed that this Sunday had bought out a very different presence into this park: a neo con preacher who was testifying fire and brimstone fundamentalist Christianity for an audience of exactly two people. While representing a stereotypically parochial and closed minded outlook...

        

....there was this female couple assume complete equality of person,strolling along the streets of downtown Portland hand in hand. It was a wonderful sight to see in person a right once denied (and not so long ago mind you) exercised with complete confidence before the world. And made me feel all the happier that this state at least has broadened it's perception of love to include same sex nuptials and relationships.

        *So there you have it. One persons experience in one not so out of the ordinary city. Yet seeing occasionally extraordinary things unfolding around him. Some are mundane and everyday, others might even be history making. Many Labor Day Weekend's have come and gone. And honestly this year represented a personally trying time in my own personal life. But for most others around, it represented a good deal of positive change.