Archive for September, 2007

I have entered the county fair the last few years. I have a lot of fun doing it. I never expect to get a ribbon but it is fun to get one, to have my work recognized. Because I have entered so many times, I will have to enter as “experienced” next year and will no longer be considered “amateur,” even though I don’t make money on my photography (well, I haven’t yet — but you never know).

freedom, the image at the right, took first place in the amateur black & white category for people. I was quite pleased with that because I love this photo. It speaks volumes without saying a word.

I shot that photograph while walking the Freedom Trail in Boston. The woman was sitting there and didn’t even seem to notice me (even when I walked by). It was the perfect moment.

The shot that won a second place ribbon in the amateur black and white animal category is in the rain, a photograph of my boy, Dakota. We were in the White Mountain area of northern Arizona (between Alpine and Springerville), speeding down the two-lane, deserted highway in the rain. No one else was on the roads that day. It was so quiet. I saw him against the window and picked up my camera, not really looking but clicking away. I knew that if I slowed down, he would shift and I didn’t want him to do that. It was the perfect shot and oh-so-Dakota.

Every time I look at this shot of Dakota, I’m overwhelmed with my love for him. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen him looking out of the house windows like this as I drive off or sitting at the driver’s side window, just like this, while I run inside somewhere. It is really indicative of his patience in waiting.

one for the road, honorable mention, was shot as an assignment piece for a literacy course. We had to photograph metaphors and this is my interpretation of “one for the road.” It was fun to photograph. I took a bottle of red wine (yes, that is real wine) and bought some cheap glasses at the dollar store, and went to a back road where there is little traffic to photograph this. My sister said I should sell it to the MADD program for their advertising campaigns.

What I like about this shot is the glow from the sun on the glass. It makes some wonderful shadows on the road. I also really like the different textures: the roughness of the road and the fluidity of the wine. Nice contrasts, I think.

splendor did not win any ribbons. I know people love this one and have asked for prints of it, but considering that we are in Arizona and people are probably tired of Grand Canyon shots here (although I don’t know how that can be), I can understand not even placing at all. It is a favorite of people who visit my sites, though, and I always get comments on it (and requests for prints).

I will always love the depth of this shot. It is very “Grand Canyon” to me.

advance-guard is the one that surprised me — it didn’t win a ribbon. This is one of my recent favorites. I love this shot. There is something so peaceful, so serene about it for me. I smile when I look at it. But I also recognize that not all shots will appeal to all people. I got it out there. That’s the important thing.

It was fun. And better than that, Willow and I had a good time doing it (she also won a first and second place ribbon and I’m very proud of her!).

Willow took a photograph of a manta ray at Atlantis while on vacation this summer that blew me away. It is gorgeous. Really. She should be proud of it.

Her black & white shot, that won a first place ribbon, is of a leaf (similar to my color shot of the same leaf). It was nicely done. One of the fun things about this shot is that it chronicles our photography together. We are going to make a book with similar pictures, one from her, one from me, on opposing pages — just to show how we view the same thing in different, or similar, ways.