Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

Train Art Series - Day Three

Canon 5D II, 180mm F/3.5 Macro

Although this one is not as colorful as the rest of the series, I very much like the patterns created here. And I feel a strong "nature vs man" theme which I always enjoy. A lot going on in such a small space.

Train Art Series - Day Two

Canon 5D II, 180mm F/3.5 Macro

I was amazed by the patterns I saw. How layers of paint, combined with decay and destruction, could create art.

Train Art Series - Day One

Canon 5D II, 180mm F/3.5 Macro

Hey everyone, time for a new series. I struggled with a name for this series. In the end, I wanted something simple. This is "decay art" and it is courtesy old train cars. So I'm just going with "train art."

I want to give you a brief background. Have mentioned several times on the blog how inspired I have been by the images of John Barclay's friend Bill, unfortunately no longer with us. He was a master of composition, often of small areas he found.

When I went to the Palouse last summer, for my last morning I decided to shoot some old railcars. My intention was to capture some interesting looking graffiti.

And I shot the graffiti for a while. Then something happened. This does not occur often for me, but it is a thrill when it does. Sort of a "sixth sense." Something in these scenes was calling me. I just sort of leaned on my tripod mounted camera and slowly stared at the tired old railcars. And I started seeing these patterns. Tiny. But vibrant. 

All of a sudden it was like I was seeing in a completely new way. It was a "Bill Moment." It felt like I could just float through the air and effortlessly see interesting patterns that were made by man and nature. Paint and rust. Steel and decades of forces to break it down.

Well, hopefully the images in this series lead up to my somewhat breathless introduction. These were all shot with the 180mm macro, and most of the areas are just a few inches wide.

 

Ixtapa Morning

Leica M9, 90mm F/2.8

Unlike almost all of my recent trips, this one isn't a photo mission. I brought my camera, but there aren't a lot of photo opps here. However this is one of the lovely views we look down on each morning. Not quite as dramatic as the ocean, but I like the lines and colors. Oh, lovely to swim in as well. 

Live posting from Ixtapa, how about that?

Sign of Spring

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 F/2.8, f/2.8, 1/2000, iso 1600

You know Spring is afoot when you begin seeing tulips!

High Fliers

Leica M9, 50mm F/2, f/8, 1/750, iso 160

High fliers, many of them! (see the birdie?)  Taken on a brilliantly clear winter day, from the ferry. Wish I had my 90mm with me!

Sky Ablaze

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-300mm, F/5.6, 1/160, iso 320

A while back in a post I mentioned that I didn't want to get boring, with too many shots of Mt. Rainier from my backyard. The feedback was "keep em coming!" So here's another sunrise from earlier in the month.

Wordless Wednesday

On Wordless Wednesday, you tell the story.

Very Hot Rod

Canon 5D Mark II, 24-70 F/2.8, f/4.5, 1/800, iso 200

Sorry, no Topaz Tuesday today. Rushing to load the blog before heading to Mexico. But this is a fun Lightroom treatment. The actual image has the color flams you'd imagine, orange and red. I rather like this. How about you?

Sign of Life

Leica 35mm F/2, f/9.5, 1/180, iso 160

When I saw this wall in San Diego the first thought that came to my mind was the naturally occurring composition. Nature is amazing, no? And the early leaves: a sign of life. Nature will not be denied.