Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

Palouse Afternoon Tracks

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-300, F/8, 1/200, iso 160

Hot and dry August afternoon in the Palouse.

Fun Friday - Laurel & Hardy

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-300mm, f/5.6, 1/400, iso 160

When you visit the palouse, you are struck by how few trees there are. This is farmland afterall, I suppose the trees don't contribute much. And they have to have found their own water source, since this is dry farming.

There was a famous tree, referred to as the "lone tree" by photographers. Very photogenic, I have seen the pictures! I guess it was so popular that the farmer got annoyed with all the people parking on the road nearby. He cut it down. Bad farmer!

I saw these two trees, quite an unusual pair, wouldn't you say. I took this image thinking it might be nice, but at first it just did not do anything for me. I looked at it several times. It wasn't until I converted to B&W that it began to appeal to me.

They are just the most unlikely pair. With this treatment, the image quite appeals to me. So I'm naming them. Laurel and Hardy. Of the Palouse.

Alpenglow Rainier

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-300mm, f/8, 1/100, iso 320

Usually this time of year the mountain is clouded over in the afternoon. This was a very clear day and the conditions were just right for Alpenglow. So beautiful!

PODOTD - Day Nine - Last Day

PODOTD = People of Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende.

This image shows some interesting contrasts to others in the series. On day four, I showedd a man and wife at a very simple gravesite. Just a lump of dirt, really. But there are all varieties of monuments here. I picked this one to tend the series, mainly because I like the girl within such a forbidding amount of religious imagery. The face (Mary I presume?), and the girl's back. She'll no doubt come to this Cemetario many more times in her life.

And I hope to visit again soon. The Mexican people in San Miguel are just wonderful. Hope you enjoyed this series.

PODOTD - Day Eight

PODOTD = People of Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende.

Even just watching the people on their way into the Cemetario was inspiring. Some people just looked like bunches of flowers with legs! I have included this one because I liked the colors, and it's an example of a proud and handsome Mexican man.

PODOTD - Day Seven

PODOTD = People of Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende.

I think this was the only person I actually followed around for a bit. This beautiful Senora was really a sight. I really wanted a nice shot of her, but didn't want to be obvious. I kept getting the back of her. Finally she turned to look at a grave, and I was lucky to have just about the right distance set for a sharp shot.

PODOTD - Day Six

PODOTD = People of Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende.

This is one of those images where I just had the camera at the end of my extended arm. Walking. Having guessed the distance, since the M9 has no autofocus. The only way to capture these types of images, where the person is not reacting to the camera, is from far away with a telephoto. I feel a bit less like a stalker with my method.

While I don't have any problem capturing images of these people, this wouldn't be the time to walk up and stuff the camera in their face. I enjoy being able to tell their story a little bit.

PODOTD - Day Five

PODOTD = People of Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende.

So far I have shown mainly older folks, but there are lots of kids there too. Learning the tradition. By the way, marigolds are the predominant flower used. I'm told marigolds represent death in this culture.

PODOTD - Day Four

PODOTD = People of Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende.

Most of the images in this series are "portrait' in nature. I'm including this one to give you a bit more context about the celebration. The graves are decorated with flowers. In some cases, altars are built with various offerings.

With this tiny grave, we are probably looking at a man and wife that lost a child. There was a lot of that there. In the background, another family. It was very moving. Like I said, not sad, but not joyous.

PODOTD - Day Three

PODOTD = People of Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende.

I don't know if it comes across on the screen the way it does in person. When you look at these older Mexicans, you just feel that they have done a lot of living.