Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

Channeling Michael

Canon 5D Mark II, 400mm F/5.6, f/5.6, 1/400, iso 400

Long time readers will recall that I have done several posts that I call "Channeling" where I display an image that reminds me of other photographers' work. I have featured the marvelous work of Diane Varner several times.

As I began working on today's image, it came to me that this one reminded me of Michael Reichmann's work. Michael is the man behind the Luminous Landscape website. His site has been a source of knowledge and inspiration since I began taking photography seriously in 2001. I continue to read it and learn from it weekly.

In my opinion, Michael's work is exemplary no matter what the subject matter. But some of my favorites of his have been all about form and color.  No doubt why this shot reminded me of his work.

I made this image in The Palouse three weekends ago. My wife and I were driving back from our sunset in Endicott when I noticed this combine plying the hills. I pulled over and mounted the 400mm on my tripod. I was hoping for one of those classic Palouse tractor shots with dust and grain flying, but alas it was not to be. In amazing last light of day, he was headed back to the barn.

The next week I noticed that the lead image on Luminous Landscape was a shot from The Palouse. After a bit of checking I discovered Michael was there to lead a workshop. I missed being there with him by just a few days. Michael has been gracious enough to email with me occasionally over the years. Back when he was doing photo reviews on his site he reviewed one of mine. One of these days we will meet in person! In the meantime, I will enjoy his site and photography, and once in a while "channel" a shot he might make. (Here is a page with several images from his recent Palouse trip.)

Channeling Diane

Panasonic GH2, 140140mm, f/22, 1/10, iso 160

Long time readers of my blog know that every so often I'll have an image that I feel is similar to the kind of work of one of my blog-buddies. If you are a newer reader, you are in for a treat because I'm going to introduce you to a wonderful photographer.

I have been following Diane Varner's work for several years. She has a unique style, both in her photography and her post processing. I love nearly every post she does, and I covet the often 30, 40, or 50 comments she gets. I have also been to the area where she lives and photographs, and it does not appear that photogenic at first glance. To me, that makes her discovery and composition skills that much more impressive. When you are looking at a DV image, you sense how much it is crafted.

With today's image, I was trying out a new panning/slow shutter technique. I wasn't planning on shooting any birds, but when this flock flew overhead I naturally aimed at them and fired off a few shots. Back on my computer, the look of this one, and particularly the empty spaces, reminded me of Diane's work. That's my tribute to a master! Let me know what you think of this one. It's different for me...

Faces of Mexico - One, plus blogoversary!

Panasonic GH2, 14-140mm, f/7.1, 1/250, iso 160

Lots of interesting things going on with the blog today.

New series! When I first started blogging I never thought of doing series of images. Somewhere along the way the thought occurred to me, no doubt because I had gone on a trip and wanted to show the image as a body of work rather than post them every so often. As you know I went to Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo in early January for a week.

This was to be my first experience with my lightweight travel camera system - the Panasonic GH2 and just a couple of lenses.  The plan didn't really work out when I got a respiratory virus courtesy all the sick people on the plane ride down there (another in our party got it too). I spent several days pretty much in bed. Was able to get out and go shooting only twice, but I came back with some images I'm pretty happy with.

The series will be called Faces of Mexico, and will run through next Sunday. I hope you enjoy it. I wonder what I would have come up with had I been healthier and able to really put the time and energy into the effort.  I'll talk more about the camera kit in the ensuing days as many of you have expressed interest.

Second Blogoversary! Bloggers tend to call their anniversaries blogoversaries. Today begins my third year of daily photographic blogging. While some days this is a labor of love rather than a joy, I cannot deny that the goals I set for myself with the blog have largely been exceeded. It has truly helped me grow as a photographer, and more than anything else has been the vehicle for meeting a lot of great new people in my life. I"m very appreciative of your comments and recognition.  As to all my new friends, you know who you are and how much I appreciate the friendship.  730 posts down! 130,000 visits, as of today. It's been quite a ride.

Back to today's image. This one was captured on my second time out. My first time out, walking, I only lasted 45 minutes and had to head home. So for the second outing, the day before we left, I hired a taxi driver to take me around. This shot was actually from the car window. This muchacho is manning the family's tire business.  Lunch break, obviously. This scene sums up much of what I saw in the area. It's precious.

Pacific Inspiration

Canon 5D Mark II, 14mm F/2.8, f/22, .8/sec, iso 100

Today's image was inspired by one of my blog buddies, known as Amber Swirly. This week she had a post with a terrific Pacific Ocean shot, that really struck my fancy. When I lived in the Bay Area decades ago I used to visit Pacifica a couple of times a year, and it was always memorable.  In her post she discussed how Pacifica is just miles away from San Francisco, but feels so distant. I connected with that thought, and decided today I would really like to post one of my own Pacific Ocean shots.

I selected this image, from our late December/early January trip down the coast.  I worked it in Lightroom to give it more punch and drama - a winter sunset on the Pacific Coast.  Just where I belong.

Since I did more editing in Lightroom than I usually do on my blog post images, I'll show you the original, on the continue link below.

Oh, before that, something I just noticed looking at the image... It's kind of... swirly.. isn't it Amber?

Of Photographic Workshops & Tours

Palouse Sunset - from Steptoe Butte - my THIRD frame of the tour!

Before I begin a series on my Palouse shots, I thought I'd spend one day's post describing what it was like to join a Photo Tour led by a couple of pro's. 

This was the fourth workshop I have signed up for. Two were one day affairs, and two others multi-day, like this one (four full days, plus an evening and morning).  Two of my previous ones were complete busts, a waste of time and money.  So I was a bit jaded.  But having developed an on-line friendship with fellow blogger John Barclay, I had high hopes for this one.

And as you will find out below, and in upcoming posts, my expectations were exceeded by quite a wide margin. 

We had a designated hotel in Colfax, WA, the center of the Palouse area (Wheatland Inn, which I highly recommend, here's a link to it on Trip Advisor.)  The first thing we did was gather in their comfy conference room for introductions, a preview of the week, the do's and don'ts, and a couple of slide shows (yes, John brings a nice digital projector). One show were pictures he and his Tour partner Dan Sniffin had taken in the Palouse, to get is revved up.

The other show was 10 images that each participant had brought, so we could see the kind of work we all had been doing. I was really blown away, there was not a bad image in the bunch. This is a very talented group of people. And it emerged that I was the only newbie. Everyone else had participated with these tour leaders before.  When I introduced myself several people commented that they were readers of this blog, which was encouraging.

After this promising meeting, we were off to our evening shoot. Which was quite productive, including the above image which no joke is the third frame I took. Upon arriving John admonished those of us shooting telephotos to use mirror lockup and cable releases. I had to admit I had never used mirror lockup.  Well, I will in the future as I believe you really can see the difference.  First thing I learned on this tour!

So click on the continue link for a bunch more images and a "tour of the tour!"

Channelling Sherri

Canon 5D Mark II, 14mm F/2.8L, f/8.0, 1/320, iso 100

Frequent visitors to my blog know that from time to time I like to "channel" other photographer/bloggers I admire. One I haven't channeled until now is Sherri from www.pearweed.net.   I think the first time I commented on an image of hers I said something like "really nice image, but the power lines are a bit distracting?"  I learned that power lines are "her thing" and she incorporates them, and telephone poles, wherever she can. 

She does an amazing job of documenting the often decaying landscape where she lives.  When I saw this seen outside of Hood River, Oregon, she immediately came to mind.  This is orchard country, and this looks to be an old fruit distribution shed. There are tall doors and loading docs for trucks to back up to.

The dramatic sky added to the sense of emptiness I felt about the building.

I really wanted to go inside, but there was no one around to ask, and locked doors. I wouldn't just enter a building like this without permission. But I bet it would be quite fun.

50K Friday

Sol Duc Stream

Canon 1D Mark III, 70-200mm F/4.0, f/18, 1/5th, iso 200

Two days ago the blog passed another milestone: 50,000 lifetime page views.  I don't really have a page view goal, I'm just trying to post a worthy image each day. I'm very grateful for each of you visitors, and especially when you find an image that moves you and you take the time to comment.  Everyone likes some feedback on whether they are reaching people.

For today's image, I thought it would be appropriate to reach back and reflect my very first blog post, by showing another image from that same shoot. Which was the Sol Duc stream in Washington's wonderful Olympic National Park.  What a place! The colors are reflected from the sky and foliage, with a bit of saturation provided by Mr Lightroom. The movement is provided by Mr Slow Shutter. 

But back to reaching people. Several times people have remarked that they were at a friends home, and wanted to show them my blog, but couldn't remember how to get there.  http://bobtowery.typepad.com doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it?

So first, if you can remember my name, you can use Google to get here in a  hurry.  Just Google "bob towery blog" and the blog will be the first link.

Second, since I have taken to calling this place the "Dream Tomorrow blog," I thought why not turn this into a domain, making it easy for people to remember?  So you can go to "www.DreamTomorrowBlog.com" to get here now as well.  (Of course the caps aren't necessary, they just make it easier to pick out the words.)

With those two suggestions, we'll zoom our way to 100k page views!  Thanks again everyone, the blog really has helped my photography and I have met some great people because of it.

The Photo Project - Second Five

Image Six

Canon 5D Mark II, 180mm Macro F/3.5, f/7.1, 1/30, iso 640

Picking up where we left off yesterday.... today we have the second group of five shots, completing the ten shots required for the project.  Yesterday in Image Five we had put the tea leaves into the strainer.

Click on the continue link for "the rest of the story...."

 

The Photo Project - first five

Image One

Canon 5D Mark II, 180mm Macro F/3.5, f/6.3, 1/10, iso 100

As I alluded to recently, this past weekend I participated in a project with a group of photographers. These are several notable artists from the Sonoma county area.  I first got to know Bob Cornelis. He conferred with other members and I was invited to attend the meeting and give this month's project a go.

The project rules were simple:

1. Ten images.
2. One or two objects that can be handheld.

So lots of room for interpretation! Coincidentally I had received a very cool gift for Christmas from a long time friend. A teacup. It's hiding in that nice box you see above. When I first unwrapped it I thought it was so beautifully presented that I ought to wait until I could photograph it before I completed unwrapping.  Then this project came along.

Click on the continue link to see what I came up with.

Inspired

Canon 5D Mark II, 35mm F/1.4, f/9.0, 1/200, iso 100

Today we go back to the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. I have posted images of this amazing place a few times since going there in early January.

A couple of days ago, I'm visiting my blog buddy John Barclay's blog and in this post he says:

This image was inspired by my blogging buddy Bob Towery who also shot this building recently. He included some of the nearby skyline of Los Angeles which I thought was a cool idea. Here is my take on that theme.

Inspired? By little ol me? Wow! That's a real compliment, coming from a guy with JB's skills! 

And then in his Feb 20 post, he totally knocked it out of the park with 3 killer images. Just gorgeous. It's an interesting post, you should go read it.

So I thought I'd revisit my images from that magical morning. I chose this one because the forms are, well, amazing!   And I did a little playing around in Lightroom with the colors and tones, inspired by John Barclay, of course.

I wish Frank Gehry, the architect, visited our blogs. I bet he would be pleased.