photography

Photography – Do What You Love to Do

Jeff


Chipmunk wants to be a photographer
Even this chipmunk was interested in photography

As a photography enthusiast, I follow a number of professional photographers via their blogs. One such photographer is Australian-based Gina Milicia. Not only is Gina a wonderful photographer and podcaster, she also appreciates quotes.


Anyone who follows JBRish will surely notice that I publish four STATUS QUOtes nearly every day. Gina recently published a quote that I really like. It is from Elizabeth Gilbert:

“I told the universe (and anyone who would listen) that I was committed to living a creative life not in order to save the world, not as an act of protest, not to become famous, not to gain entrance to the canon, not to challenge the system, not to show the bastards, not to prove to my family that I was worthy, not as a form of deep therapeutic emotional catharsis … but simply because I liked it.”– Elizabeth Gilbert

I am fairly certain this is from Giblert’s book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.

I heartily recommend Big Magic to anyone who has the least bit of creative inkling in their bones. It will change the way you think about creating and about life.

ALSO…if you haven’t visited Gina Milicia’s website and you are interested in photography, I can recommend that as well. I have listened to a good number of her podcasts and I admire her not only for her skill, but for her willingness to share her expertise with the wider photography community. Even if you are not a professional photographer, there is a lot to learn by subscribing to her newsletter and/or keeping up with her blog.

Photography – Find Inspiration and Motivation – Art Wolfe Video

Jeff

Creativity and inspiration are fickle muses. I have written as a hobby via blogs for a number of years and I wrote (with my wife) professionally for three years or so as weekly columnists for a major newspaper in central New Jersey. There were times, when I sat at the computer and magic happened; words, phrases and ideas flew from my mind to my finger tips and I could fashion a wonderful story in no time at all.

There were other times, when I would struggle to construct an enticing opening paragraph. I find the same scenario with my photography. It is only a hobby, but it is an important one. I follow many photographers via the Internet. I listen to podcasts and take part in various webinars. I am currently working on a personal project, A Year of Yosemite, where I am writing about 365 photographs I took during my week (+/-) of hiking there. It was wonderful, exciting and amazing! The spirits of Ansel Adams and John Muir were omnipresent.

So…where can we find inspiration as photographers? You know, those times when our cameras sit in their bags for days on end and we don’t feel inspired to pick it up and go out to shoot. In the video below, Art Wolfe talks about his avenues of inspiration and the different views he brings to his photographic craft. Although he is very modest, Art Wolfe is an acclaimed photographer. His training and education as an artist enables him to distill visual themes which help him create bodies of work that I found very stimulating.

I encourage anyone interested in art or photography to watch this YouTube video and perhaps watch it again. I thoroughly enjoyed it on several levels. It will certainly serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for my own photographic journey.

Where do you find photographic inspiration?


Art Wolfe: “The Art of the Image” -Talks at Google

Landscape Photography More or Less?

Jeff

Readers of JBRish know that I enjoy hiking and photography. If the truth be told, I enjoy photography more. Interestingly, however, when I put the two together, they have a beautiful synergy that gives me great satisfaction. Taking photographs also helps to keep the memories alive.

I found Thomas Heaton’s video (below) engaging. It contains worthy messages and photographs. On his blog, he uses this quote:

“We are not content with a nice view. We need the best view.”

This is very true. MOST landscape or scenery photographers do want the “best view.” I have come to realize that at my age, having captured a nice view or perhaps a very good view, might be good enough for me.

Most landscape photographers strive for the golden hours near sunrise and sunset and I agree that generally is the best light for landscapes, but can’t those vistas have a beauty of their own under different lighting conditions? I think they can.

After you watch the video, Wake Up. There’s More to Landscape Photography (below), I want to refer you to one of Heaton’s blog posts:

Yosemite Valley – I am People in which he decries the crush of the crowd at Yosemite, but then moves on to exclaim the wonder of it all.

When we visited Yosemite last June, which is the basis for my Year of Yosemite project, we found it extremely busy. It was so busy that even though we stayed in the Valley and paid for a nice room near the Lodge, we were NOT GUARANTEED a parking space.

It felt a bit like a Seinfeld episode. They can take the reservation for the room and you probably need a car to get there, but there may not be a parking spot. When I lived in NYC as a child, my parents would have to think really hard before we moved the car and relinquished our parking spot. I have come full circle more than fifty years later; but I digress…

If you liked any of my photographs of Yosemite, Thomas Heaton has captured much more of the majesty than I could manage and I think you will really like his work!

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous Photography posts HERE

STATUS QUOte Picture Quote – 20161026

Jeff

Today’s Picture Quote

John Muir quote

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir


Description:

Picture taken from the top of Lembert Dome looking out at Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, 2016 – Color photo converted to black and white in Lightroom. Photograph copyright by Jeffrey B. Ross – ALL Rights Reserved.

Photograph Meta Data

Exposure: 1/125 sec @ f/13
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300

 
See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

A quote picture quote from Instagram that is poignant and inspirational or thought provoking.

STATUS QUOte – Photography – 20161010

Jeff


Photography Quote

When your mouth drops open, click the shutter.

– Harold Feinstein

Sprague Lake, RMNP, CO - by J. Ross

** – Photograph Notes – **
Photograph Copyright by Jeff Ross – ALL Rights Reserved
Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO – Sept. 13, 2016 – 9:06 AM
Nikon D3300, 1/60 sec @ f18, ISO 140, Focal Length 27 mm

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous Photography STATUS QUOtes HERE

See Jeff’s other photographs on Instagram

Chipmunk wants to be a Photographer

Jeff

Chipmunk wants to be a photographer
Even this chipmunk was interested in photography gear!

On a recent hike, we sat down to have some lunch along the trail. It was apparent that the chipmunks were accustomed to people as this particular animal had no hesitation in “hanging around.” Just before we packed up to leave, he hopped on the boulder to examine my cameras.

NOTE – We do not feed the wildlife in any of the places we hike, but this chipmunk had hopes!

 
See Jeff’s photography on Instagram

STATUS QUOte – Photography – 20160920

Jeff

I read many blogs each day related to the field of photography. One of the posts a couple of weeks ago caught my eye because of a subtitle which I thought would make a good quote. The photograph below is one I particularly like which Mr. Gibson included with his writing (see link below).


Photography Quote

Luck favours those who go out exploring with their cameras.

– Andrew S Gibson


What I Learned About Landscape Photography in Northern Spain by Andrew S Gibson is a very interesting essay about capturing unique photographs with a personal vision. If you are interested in landscape photography, I think you will gain some insights into finding that special shot that others might have missed.

B&W Landscape Courtesy of Andrew S. Gibson - Copyright with All Rights Reserved

Photograph Courtesy of Andrew S. Gibson from the blog post linked above. See other beautiful photographs at that link.

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous Photography STATUS QUOtes HERE

See Jeff’s photographs on Instagram

STATUS QUOte – Photography – 20160830

Jeff


Photography Quote

Great work is always the result of great labor.

– Garry Winogrand

Big Pine Creek North Fork Trail, Big Pine (near Bishop, CA )by J. Ross

** – Photograph Notes – **
Photograph Copyright by Jeff Ross – ALL Rights Reserved
Start of the Big Pine Creek North Fork Trail, (near Bishop, CA)
Nikon D3300, 1/60 sec @ f 10, ISO 100, Focal Length 28mm

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

See previous Photography STATUS QUOtes HERE

See Jeff’s other photographs on Instagram

Photography – Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon (B&W)

Jeff


As most of JBRish readers know, I am an amateur photographer. I have explained my photography philosophy on my blog before, but let it suffice to say that I am an “opportunistic” photographer. I do not wait for a scene to unfold, but I capture those scenes before me that resonate in some way.

As an enthusiastic hobbyist, I am trying to learn to use Adboe’s Lightroom and some associated ad ons. I have only begun this journey so if you find that my submissions via this website are lacking, kindly understand that I am learning along the way.

Below is a picture of some of the mountains we encountered while hiking the Grand Teton National Park’s Cascade Trail. The day was overcast with very little color, but when converted to black and white, I think the picture has a special quality. What do you think? Leave any suggestions, remarks, etc. in the comment section below.


Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon Trail
“Black and white rendition of a portion the Grand Teton National Park’s Cascade Trail”

Meta Data – Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon (B&W)

File Name: 1297.CR2
Capture time: 11:10:13 AM
Capture date: August 24, 2014
Exposure: 1/400 sec @ f/7.1
Focal Length: 16mm
ISO 125

See more of Jeff’s photography on Instagram

Other photography posts can be found HERE as well!

Photography – Nested Pets (Dogs and Cats)

Jeff

We have an expression in our house – nested bests. What this means is that you are in the best place with the best people doing the best thing at the best time; nested bests. There aren’t many nested bests moments, but when they happen, they are worth savoring and recalling.

The photo below is a variation on the theme – nested pets!

Nested Pets - Two Dogs and a Cat

Via

See previous Photography posts HERE