SILVER CREEK

These two images were taken on a cold January 18, 2013 in Coolidge-McLean Park in Silverton. To me, they cannot help but recall some of the photographs of June Drake that I have been exposed to. Mr. Drake was a local commercial photographer in the early 20th century. He took portraits, photographs of events in town and what I imagine were his personal images, of Silver Creek and, most importantly, the area that was to become Silver Falls State Park. It was his photography that singularly helped sell the idea of the park to the state. With myriad trails and ten dramatically different waterfalls, it is the largest state park in Oregon. Silver Creek is fed by those falls...

A Mild Winter

We had a very mild winter here in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Not much more than a dusting of snow and a week or so of really bad cold. We did experience something I never did before, which is a phenomenon called "frozen fog." The two black and white images of Silver Creek show the effect on the trees...

First Frost–11.26.2012

First Frost–11.26.2012

Silver Creek, Silverton–1.19.13

Silver Creek, Silverton–1.21.2013

Frozen Fog–1.19.2013

Below: 1.21.2013

BLACK SANDS BEACH, HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Theses three images were taken at Black Sands Beach, Humboldt County, California, on November 3, 2012.

Dead Pelican

(homage to E.W.)

Equus Reclining

Found Composition

ARCATA, CALIFORNIA

 The images below were taken the same day as the previous post, in Eureka, California. It was a few days after Halloween and some of the window displays were holiday-themed. Others were surreal. With the exception of the veiled doll photo, all the photos were taken in black & white. In one instance, I preferred the color RAW file and processed it. In the last image, I  chose to show both versions. In that case, I think neither of them is better than the other, just different.

As to the titles: sometimes I get the urge to channel Manuel Alvarez Bravo and offer up obscure referential titles. Some make sense, others are private jokes. Part of the process of informing the photographs...

Cherub with Infantry, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Woman with Red Purse, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Homage to DeChirico, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Chemistry, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Veiled Doll, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Brain offering, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Sirens, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Skull and Crossbones, Arcata, California – 11.2012

Woman in Tile, Arcata, California – 11.2012
(monotone/color)

EUREKA, CALIFORNIA

The previous post was called "reflections." In it I mentioned that the subject is one I keep going back to. I found some interesting subjects in the windows of Eureka, and later, in Arcata, California. This one appealed to me because my wife and I have three pet ducks (among myriad other creatures). None, however have two heads. I shot it as a monotone, but when I reviewed the files, I also liked the RAW color version. It isn't as somber. 

Zoltar, Eureka, California- 11.12

The two images above are also, like the reflections, representative of unconscious themes; boarded up windows and doors. The door was taken in a picturesque sounding locale: Snug Alley.

REFLECTIONS

Within the very general category of locations I like to photograph, there are the sub-texts. For example, I like to take photos in the woods and I like to shoot in the city. One of the sub-text categories in the latter is store window reflections. What's interesting to me is that I don't primarily seek out the store windows, as much as come upon them within the general, bigger location. As with a lot of what I photograph, and have posted here, the trends and directions of my photography only become clear to me after taking the photographs. Having a body of work that spans some 40 years, I do have the luxury of looking back and assessing images that although taken years apart bear strong connections. In a sense, it is not too far removed from what Minor White described as "found photographs."

Below are three photos of store windows. The first one was taken a little over 39 years ago, on Kodak Ektachrome. The last one, 2 months ago, digitally, with a Canon Rebel Xsi and Tamron 17-270mm zoom lens.

Retail District, Boston–8.1973

Out of the Closet, Atwater Village, Los Angeles–4.2007

Dreamless, Salem, Oregon–8.2012

On previous posts, I've mentioned that I try always to limit post work to what can be done in a traditional darkroom. Usually, I'll reveal anything I have done otherwise. And, if I photograph something in monotone (black & white), I almost always process and display it that way. This is one of the exceptions. I shot this as a monotone jpg. with a color RAW file. When I clicked on the RAW file I realized I liked it better. But, as I say, minimal Photoshop work was done. except dodging and burning, and some exposure control. I've entitled it Dreamless as a bit of a private joke having to do with my sleep habits. 

Oregon State Fair

I took a bunch of snaps the night my wife and I went to the Oregon State Fair. I don't go on the rides and the fair food is deemed unsafe by cardiologists. We go every couple years. It's a great place to people-watch, see a lot of animals and experiment with light.

Hooded Sheep, 8.30.12

Along the midway, 8.30.12

Cotton candy. Cold drinks. The tilt-a-whirl... the inferred influence of Ferlinghetti, Robert Frank and Bruce Springsteen are all over this one. From the Coney Island of your mind to the boardwalk in Asbury Park. Strangely, this, to me, is a timeless, American image.

The Zipper, 8.30.12

Ferris Wheel, 8.30.12

Kilowatt Smile, 8.30.12

So much of photography is simply a matter of timing and luck. This is the second of two exposures I got of this couple about to be spun. The first is dark. She's not looking at the camera. When she saw me, she beamed. Amazingly, I got it.

Are You Going to Heaven? 8.30.12