God/Nature/The Cosmos has Created all of the Beauty … I Just Take Pictures.
Sometimes it's a temptation for a photographer to include everything in the camera's viewfinder; not always a good idea since distracting elements that actually subtract from an image's power, will do just that.
I always emphasize to beginning photographers (and to some not-so-beginning photographers), "look from corner-to-corner in the viewfinder before releasing the shutter and crop out the cluttery stuff by zooming in or, moving the position of the camera."
Of course, in the digital age of photography, some distracting elements can be cropped out using image-editing applications such as Photoshop. Still, it's a good strategy to start with the best possible original.
Every now and then, a composition just seems to jump in front of the lens and everything in the viewfinder works as a whole. Nature, being both functional and aesthetic is sometimes, simultaneously both . When the artist comes across such amalgamations, in my opinion, it's that artist's highest objective to both recognize it, isolate it in a "frozen-moment-in-time" and capture it in whichever medium he or she prefers.
The way I see it, God/Nature/The Cosmos has created all of the beauty I just take pictures and it's my humble honor and blessing to do so.
All Rights Reserved/A. Macarthur
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Leonardo in his writings indicated, that if a flower had five petals and he painted it as having only four, it wouldn't
Work right!
I think most of us would initially say, the flower wouldn't "look" right.
Intellectually I suppose we can separate "form" and "function." But as a matter of order in the Cosmos I wonder.
I just take pictures and it's my humble honor and blessing to do so.
And I am twice blessed that you choose to share this talent with me. Thank you!
Tsula,
I have seen in your photographs that you are blessed with a great talent and a perfect eye/sense of vision.
Thank you for your kind words.
Mac, saying ''I just take pictures'', is akin to Monet saying I just paint.
Thank you for all the wonderful photos that you share with us.
I just have to get back in here and, while agreeing with Kavika, let me now add that, being no longer capable of trudging into the woods, I look forward to your pictures with great anticipation for you are capable of bringing back all of those memories for me. When I look at your pictures it is almost as if I were out there once more. Thank you!!
I didn't do too badly for a one eyed old coot did I?
Ohhh, that's nice.
Beautiful photo A Mac.
The other day I saw a Tiger Butterfly and decided to video it. Well I held my phone the wrong way and it came out just a little video instead of the whole screen. I'll know next time. I don't stop long enough to smell the roses until I get home and spend too much time wasting it.
That is a perfect shot! Just lovely. You inspire!
Good choice!
I want to add one here if no one minds. One of the things that has always fascinated meis FOG. During one of our early morning rides we came upon this on a really old back road where the proverbial fork in the road took you to two different locations. One way wound up in a city about 10 miles away, and the other surprisingly went up and over a mountain to end in New York State! Real spooky but I needed to take the shot. I sure hope this comes out!
WOW, great photo tsula. I expect to see Manitou's (spirits) moving about in the fog.
Does kind of give you pause doesn't it? We had great fun finding simple things and painting bizarre ideas to them!
I'll bet you did tsula. I can dream up many stories to go with the photos, 'cept I'd scare myself.
Now you know why my hair is white.
Long day; checking in and seeing nice pics of a Monarch Butterfly! They are showy creatures for sure and the Monarch actually mimics a similar species, the Viceroy which is poisonous; that's the Monarch's way of discouraging predators.
Makes one wonder about the greatness of Who/What thinks all this stuff up and gets it to work!
My three favorite scenic subjects are fog, snow and autumn. Thanks for sharing one of your always superb images, Tsula.
Spooky fog shots -- I got 'em.
My hair'd be white too
If'n I had any.
Astounding!! The ways of Mother Earth never cease to amaze me! Thank you!
Hahaha... that's funny! I hadn't thought of that, but your last photo with the head turned and looking at you, seems to be saying that.
Okay, AMac, the lesson you are teaching...
...is one that I try to follow. And in fact, with the risk of insulting you, and I hope you do not consider it an insult, would it not be an improvement to delete the distracting elements from the right side of the photo in order to concentrate all focus on the main subject, which you will see is still well positioned, not being dead centre of the photo?
Buzz,
Not insulted at all; both your composition and mine work but in different ways. Your composition indeed does what you intended and is something of an "animal portrait." My composition is more a documentary ... contextual so-to-speak, less intense and more broadly representative.
I noted in the article
As you indicated, Buzz, I seem to have violated the very lesson I was teaching; but my photo is tapestry-like -- less intimate and intense than yours but still balanced in that the color of the butterfly and its compelling nature as a living creature -- hold an "equal weight" with the other pictorial elements
The bottom line is that both create their own sense of moment -- of time, space, function and form.
NOTE: I do love to analyze images and have other people analyze mine -- particularly when someone of your photographic ability does it!
Chacun a son gout.
Buzz,
Indeed to each his own taste.
Also, I added to my comment and hope you'll go back and re-read it.
I did. Thanks for the compliment.
Buzz,
I'll meet ya' half way how's this one?
I gotta' get back to work; will check in tonight.
Very good - I wouldn't change it.
Mac,
Setting up the camera is a technical skill that anyone can learn. Spotting and choosing subjects like this is artistry of the highest order. Very few have that talent. The fact that you do makes the rest of our worlds a bit more beautiful.
Indeed, TTGA. Well said. I would describe Mac as the Michelangelo of photography! His photos are pure artistry to my old eyes!
Yep, fantastic stuff.