Helldorado Cowboys and Meredith

My wife, daughter, and I went to Tombstone, AZ on Sunday to visit with some friends. We stopped by and visited the Helldorado gunfight show. This is a group photo of my daughter (Meredith)) and a few of the cowboys that appeared in the show.

Healthy Lifestyle Challenge - 2010

Here are the brave few who participated in the Healthy Lifestyle - Challenge. The challenge consisted of a 500 yard swim, 6 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run/walk. This is an event for people who want to get out and exercise without having to train for a major event like a triathlon. If you are interested in participating in the 2011 Healthy Lifestyle - Challenge, visit the church website: www.sierravistachurch.com

Half Moon at night

Here's a late night shot of a half moon. Not a lot of detail, but I like the pink hue coming off the moon.

Fire Clouds over Arizona

My daughter and I were driving along and it looked like these clouds where on fire. I thought it was interesting, so I took a picture. Not bad for a quick shot on the go!

Selection 3 - Architecture Photo

I adjusted this photo to compensate for the contrast and brightness. The stones in the riverbed aren't as washed out by the light now.

This is a photograph of the Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni Japan. About 200 meters long (220 yards), the bridge spans the Nishiki River. The wooden structure consists of five arches, each 5 meters (5.5 yards) wide, 6.6 meters (73 yards) high, and spanning 40 meters (44 yards). The elegance of the form inspired the name Kintai (which means gold brocade sash, because of a similarity to the traditional Nishiki obi for kimono). Along with Nihonbashi bridge in Tokyo and Meganebashi bridge in Nagasaki, it is on e of the three most famous bridges in Japan.

When you travel in your city, country or around the world, the photographer needs to stop and capture the uniqueness of his/her surroundings. I have travelled in Asia and Europe and the architectural wonders are amazing. Cathedrals in Europe, floating temples in Asia; what will the next trip present. I'll be ready with my camera. Will you?

Richard

Selection 2 - Animal Photo

During my visit to Japan, we had the opportunity to explore different areas of Iwakuni. At the park, there was a carnival visiting. We decided to stop and see the sites. This primate was part of the show. The show consisted of bike tricks, jumps, and "attitude" from the animal to its trainer. I think the attitude was part of the show. The interesting part of the show was that it was in Japanese. The language barrier didn't make it any less entertaining.

As a tourist, you never now what you are going to see. As a photographer, you need to be ready at a moments notice to capture the shot. Be ready all the time to capture the unique and special moments in life.

Richard

Selecton 1 - Humorous Photo

This photograph was taken during my trip to mainland Japan. One night we decided to go and eat at a place called the "Chicken Shack". Outside of the restaurant, my friend and I noticed these cut-out figures and decided "Why Not". As you can see, we were meant to be "Samurai" in the market place. It was fun and we thought it would be funny to send this photo back home to friends and family. Here's the really funny part, my friend is really tall in person (taller than me; I'm 5' 11''). However, in the photo, she is the short samurai.

This assignment gave me the opportunity to look at who, what and why I am taking a picture. Taking a picture to capture the moment is great, but a picture that tells a story should be the goal.

Richard

One Person Photograph - Feet in the Grass

I modified this picture by cropping most of myself out of the picture. Now my grandson "Anderw" is the focus.

This is a shot of my grandson at the car show here in Sierra Vista. This was the first time he was able to put his feet in the grass. He would wiggle his toes and laugh. Then he would do it again. Grandpa is great isn't he! This shot captures the self discovery we all experience throughout our lives. This one just happens to be Andrew's first with grass.

Determining what "something of interest" is was a little difficult. Often portraits aren't about things of interest, but about getting your picture taken. I was going through some photos and remembered this shot. I thought to myself "What's not interesting about self discovery." It makes me thing why do I take pictures. I thought to myself when I asked my wife to take this shot "I want to capture this moment for later. Little did I know, I'd be using it for a homework assignment.

Richard

Low Light - Update

Here's the updated version of the lightning that was captured in Baltimore, MD.

Action Photograph - Swim Training

I modified this entry to adjust for the brightness. I lowered the brightness and contrast just a little. If gives the water and the subject a better look.

This photograph was taken during swim training at MCAS Cherry Point in 1988. I was the one taking the picture. This individual had a severe fear of height. The task was for him to jump from a tower 15 feet in the air and then swim to the side of the pool. He could swim fine, but it was getting him to jump that was the hard part. When he finally jumped I was able to catch the fear in his face.

I am an action oriented kinda of guy. The interesting part of this assignment was to find a photograph that would show the desired action affect. I was really lucky in getting this shot. Right time and right place. The photograph made the local paper at the time.

Photo with Patterns

I must admit; I was wondering how I would approach this assignment. I saw a commercial that used patterns to blend the person into their background. I thought to myself "I could do something with this." As I was sitting in my hotel room I noticed this pattern. Let's see who will be the first one to guess the source of this pattern.

This assignment forced me to look at the world in a different perspective. As I looked around for patterns to shoot, it made me aware of the patterns all around us each and everyday.

Night Time Photo

I knew at the beginning of this assignment that I wanted to shoot lightning. However, I had too problems. One, I needed to wait for a lightning storm. Two, I found myself in Baltimore this week. Luckily, the sky lighted up for me on the way home. I ran in and grabbed my camera. I set the camera to shoot in the "fireworks" mode. I set the camera up on a steady base and began to take pictures of the night sky. I took twenty-one shots before I reviewed the pictures. I actually got the shot on the fourth try, but you never know when taking "lightning" pictures. I knew I needed a low shutter and high apeture setting to get the shot. I figured the "fireworks" mode was the best option.

I really liked this assignment. I have always liked night shooting and lightning. Lightning in Sierra Vista is spectacular, but lightning in general is pretty awesome. I really liked this assignment.

Change of Preception

Our Professor said to have fun with this project. I couldn't help myself with this photograph. I really liked how the eye draws you in. I like how the colors create the illusion of drawing you to the center point.

Again, the object of this project was to present something in a perspective that draws you from the reality of the object.

With all that said, This eye belongs to one of the stuffed animals that my wife places on the bed each night.

Suggestions or comments?

Transforming an Object

To look at this photograph, you could imagine yourself on an island in the pacific. You could see yourself in a botanical garden.

The joy of this photograph is that it can transport you to a lot of different places. However, you probably would even imagine that it could transport you to a flower pot on my back porch in Sierra Vista, AZ.

This photograph was shot using an extreme close-up setting letting me block out everything in the background except the flowers and leaves.

Comments are welcome.

Atmospheric Space

My daughter and I were driving along and noticed this cloud formation. I'm sure you have heard the term "The Big Sky of Montana" before. This photograph depicts the big sky of Arizona as well.

As you look at this photo you can see the photo depicts the space occupied by the buildings at ground level, the trees towering above the house, the mountains towering above the trees, and finally the clouds towering over the mountains. It is amazing how all of this fits into a little photograph.

I really enjoyed looking up in the clouds with my daughter. It's nice to stop and look at the things around you every now and then.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Depth of Field

I shot this picture in Dec 2008 during a hike in Ramsey Canyon. This was a view looking out into the valley towards Sierra Vista.

Since depth of field is the amount of area in the picture that is in focus. I think this picture fits that definition fine. I think that because I was focused on the near hill and not the mountains in the distance that my camera was able to keep the focus of the foreground and keep clear focus on the hill. The mountains in the background give added depth to the pictures perspective.

This assignment made me think about photos that I had taken in the past and how I was shooting pictures before this class using principles I had forgotten without even knowing it. It is like riding a bike "You never forget."

Comments and suggestions are encouraged.

Light and Shadow - Southwest sunset

This photo was taken out my front door around sunset. I was thinking "light and shadows" when I went to take the picture. I used normal shutter speed with a larger aperture setting for low light photographs.

Richard

Here's the new photo with the feet included. Thanks for the feedback!

Richard

Thor and Iron Man confront The Hulk

Placing points of interest at the intersection of grid lines in a photograph is a demonstration of the "Rule of Thirds".

This photograph was taken in my kitchen using action figures (they are not dolls) to demonstrate how a photographer can capture images using this technique.

Don't judge me. It worked. I hope?

Introduction

I plan on using this blog to post my photos developed during this class. Comments and suggestions are welcome.