100 Photos Project--image #4

When photographing landscapes, conventional wisdom says the best results come while working when the light is most dramatic; dramatic light produces dramatic photographs. The most dramatic light of the day occurs early in the morning and in the evening when the sun's rays pass through more of the atmosphere, drawing out richer colors. This effect of light is further enhanced during bad weather. This means that opportunities for truly dramatic photographs are relatively rare. Thus, the scenes we would most like to hang on the wall don't happen very often.

On the other hand, the conditions we most frequently encounter occur during the rest of the day when the light is most direct and the weather is bright and sunny. Generally, such conditions don't make for very interesting photographs. Relative to lighting, what we want most happens least, and what we want least happens most. That's just the way it is.

This shot was made from the shore of the lower of the two Green River Lakes nestled in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. The first time I visited this area I was totally unprepared for the scene that came into view after I parked the car and walked to the shore of the lake. Boom! There sat Square Top Mountain in the distance. This photo isn't the most dramatic I've seen; but it captures what hits you in the face the first time you see it, which is typically on a bright, sunny summer day. To my eye, coming upon Square Top Mountain for the first time affected me in the same way as coming up to the Grand Canyon does. In the presence of such natural majesty, one loses all sense of space and distance. It's like looking at a huge painting. It is truly magical.

Click here to see the other photos from my 100 Photos project.

(Nikon FA manual focus body with a Nikkor 28.8mm f 2.8 lens; Fuji Velvia 50 film. I'm guessing this was taken around 1:00 p.m.)

100 Photos Project--image #2 and #3

Nearly thirty years ago my in-laws lived in this apartment building close to downtown Salt Lake City, UT. Back then, their balcony overlooked a dreadful parking lot. Now, as parking lots go, it was fine. It's just that it was a parking lot--black, hot in the summer, flat and snowy in the winter. It wasn't much to look at.

Then, around ten years ago, or so, the Mormon Church converted that parking lot into a beautiful park, City Creek Park. I don't remember if they donated the property to Salt Lake City or if they held on to it. Either way, the results are spectacular. One evening my wife, son, and I spent an evening in the area. I found the new park very appealing. It is a very welcome change of pace from the bustle of a busy downtown area.

You can link to my Smugmug account here or click on the title above.

100 Photos Project--image #1

In 1970, when I was a senior in high school, I loved music and bought a used 1969 Martin D-18 guitar for a whopping $375. It was a very good guitar. In fact, I was a little embarrassed owning a guitar like that because it implied I could play as well as the Martin name indicated. Only a good guitar player would have a Martin, right? In truth I wasn't very good at all. The sad thing was, besides selling it in a fit of madness, I never took the time to really develop my playing to correspond with the inherent capabilities of a Martin. I never developed my technical skills, nor did I find my musical voice.

I'm in a somewhat similar situation now. I love photography, and, over time, I've purchased a bunch of world-class photography equipment. The difference between music and photography, however, is at least now I get some positive feedback from my pictures. That never happened with my guitar playing (let alone my singing). To avoid making the same mistake twice of not developing both my technique and artistic voice, I'm taking on a project:

Over the coming months, I'm going to FINISH 100 photographs. Finished means an image is printed on good paper, matted and ready for show or sale, and it is posted on my blog, along with a short writeup of some kind. So look forward to what's on the way. I do because I have no idea where this will lead.

Click HERE to see another site where you'll find my work for this 100 Photos Project all in one place.

Now for the description of this photo: The two girls were sitting on top of KSOP's remote trailer at Liberty Park during the Pioneer Day celebration in Salt Lake City. The young man hopped up to join them. I got the idea he didn't know the girls very well if at all, which is reflected in the body language of the girl in shorts sitting next to him. This is a visual image of a young buck on the move.You should be able to click on the photo to enlarge it.

Die Verwandlung *

On the left is my son Tommy at four years of age. On the right is Tom, USMC. Yes, it's the same guy. On the left is a bright, bubbly, fun-loving little boy. On the right is NOT a hard-edged jarhead, although the photo seems to reveal such. Actually, Tom Krause, Jr., USMC is a very level, clear-headed man. If anything, this recent photo reveals a man who is very refined, with more refinement to come. As his older brother James says here, we are, indeed, very proud of Tom.

* The Metamorphosis