Here’s Your Sign…
Context means everything. When I spotted this sign, my first thought was–what happened that made this sign necessary? The sign sits atop a structure where cars aren’t allowed, so I went quickly from bemused to baffled. Later, I was told that the sign was left over from theContinue Reading
Dekalb History Center (I Know That Now)
I’ve passed by the Dekalb History Center many times over the years on the way to the farmer’s market. However, I thought it was the Dekalb County Courthouse for many of them—after all, it says so right on the building. The building sits squarely in the center ofContinue Reading
Frame Works? White Flower at + 1.5 Exposure Compensation
Description: Gardenia in low sunlight Background: Using exposure compensation was one of the trickiest things for me to apply properly with film because of the lag between shooting and viewing the result. Accounting for backlighting was easy, and backlit frames usually turned out as hoped. But flowers proved to beContinue Reading
Season 12, Part 3: The Blessing of May Rains
Typically, rainy season in Atlanta lasts from September through April. During those months, it rains at least once per week, and those are good, drenching rains that last for hours. Many, if not most, of these rains originate in the Gulf and move north and east. From MayContinue Reading
Standing Out From the Crowd
The interplay of light and shadows gives context and meaning to an image. This table sits by a window that allows direct sunlight only for a few months, each spring and fall. I took this image last fall. Periodically, I look at it admiringly, then move on to somethingContinue Reading
Macro Photography Surprise: Minolta Super Rokkor 50mm 1.8 (LTM) and Olympus e300
Last week, after months of hoping and searching, I finally landed a Minolta Super Rokkor 50mm 1.8 LTM lens. This lens is rare (only about 3000 were made) and highly regarded for its image quality. The camera it was designed for, the Minolta-35 IIB, was sold for onlyContinue Reading
Season 12: This Year’s Garden Plans, Part 2
It’s been a month since I began working on the garden, and there is still a lot to do. After a cold winter, it warmed up much faster than expected, with 80-degree days early on. As a result, I’m fighting weeds much earlier than usual. VMLP photography projectsContinue Reading
Gilded Shadows?
Usually, I prefer to photograph images with significant shadows in black and white. Shadows seem to add a sense of gravitas or at least a specific mood to an image. Here, I chose to shoot in color because of the vibrancy of the plumage, the warmth of theContinue Reading
Decatur Art Stroll II—Boxes
The Decatur Box project is another art initiative born of a collaboration between artist Larry Holland and the Decatur Arts Alliance. The project turns traffic signal utility boxes into public art instead of dull green/grey metal eyesores. Last December, with a Minolta AF-C in hand loaded with Fuji 200, IContinue Reading
Photographer Code: One Camera = Tourist; Two Cameras = Pro
Since I have less time to devote to photography than I’d like, I often take up to three cameras with me. Trying new emulsions, shooting for the VMLP, or making images for “Around the City” posts becomes a more efficient use of time with multiple cameras. The Minolta AF-CContinue Reading
