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2009 > June
by RR Jr on June 27, 2009
Mt Beacon Firetower
My wife Brenda and I hiked up to the summit Mt Beacon and then proceeded to the historic 78 yr old South Mt Beacon firetower yesterday evening. The Scenic Hudson trailhead is a very short drive from our home, and once at the top, the views are fantastic from the Catskill mountains all the way to new York City. Reaching the tower half hour before sunset after a mile hike, the light was changing rapidly, and dramatically as well. It was one of those instances when I barely had any time to react to the changing conditions, and I just enjoyed the views and had fun with the camera. Though I often have preconceived ideas of how I’d like to approach a location, experimenting is always the best way to learn, regardless of the outcome.
It really helps to know your gear well, as a few seconds making adjustments can make all the difference between capturing or missing something special. Most cameras have presets that you can program to give you one click access to common settings, and I have one as a starting point for landscapes: Manual Mode, f16, ISO 100, mirror lock-up, and 2 second timer. All I need to adjust afterwards is shutter speed, and aperture depending on the composition. Of course, this is a very basic explanation, but the concept is to eliminate the technical, and focus on composition and emotion.
Cloud Patterns
Improvising visually felt very much like my younger days playing bass in a jazz band as the leader looked in my direction and nodded for a solo. When the rest of the band stopped playing except for the drummer and all eyes rested on me, I said “oh $@%@” in my mind, and attempted to make believe I knew what I was doing.
I learned much from those valuable experiences, as well as countless mistakes, and in the process gained the confidence to follow my instincts. Always follow your instincts, regardless of what you do, and more likely than not, you won’t be disappointed.
It felt good descending in the dark after enjoying a great evening in the outdoors. And the company couldn’t have been better. Map and More Info.
Hudson River View
“I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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2009 > June
by RR Jr on June 25, 2009
It’s been a busy 6 weeks, so I thought I would share some recent news and upcoming events.
On the art fair scene, I’ve exhibited in art and craft shows in New Paltz, White Plains (where I won the second place award), Beacon, and Rhinebeck. Though they are certainly a lot of work, I enjoy meeting new people as well as past customers and workshop students. The response to my new canvas prints has been very enthusiastic, and I continue to improve both the quality of the printing and framing as I experiment with different materials. I hope to get a new 44″ printer this summer which will allow me to create larger pieces for those with bigger spaces. I’m working on a future post about how I make my canvas prints, so stay tuned.
I’ve also been given the opportunity to display my prints and posters at a few retail locations in the area, including Mountain Tops in Beacon, and the EMS store in Poughkeepsie, NY. In addition to the publicity, it’s a great opportunity to expose shoppers to some great hikes and views in the Hudson Valley they may not be aware of.
EMS Poughkeepsie
I’ll be featured in a new show at the RiverWinds Gallery next month titled “A Salute to the Hudson River – Through a Photographer’s Eye” as well as a solo show at the Bannerman Gallery in August. I’m looking forward to both since they are in my hometown, and it’s always great to see the local community. The Riverwinds show will include other photographers, and I’m looking forward to seeing their perspectives of a familiar subject.
There will be more in the upcoming July issue of the “Beyond the Lens” Newsletter, so subscribe here, and read past issues here.
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2009 > June
by RR Jr on June 18, 2009
Castle Fog
I’m reading and thoroughly enjoying a new book by acclaimed landscape photographer David Ward called “Landscape Beyond: A Journey into Photography“. Very well written and full of amazing images, my copy is now full of my own notes and highlights. One in particular will become a part of my workshop lectures:
“One of the most useful things anyone has ever told me is that you need an opinion in order to make good images. Great artists are able to present complex things in a simple fashion because they have feeling for the essence of what they are trying to explain or portray. They strip away the clutter in order to reveal this essence. Cultivating this knack is vital…to a photographer.”
Castle Fog is an image that comes to mind when I read this quote, since it was my attempt at conveying simplicity of a complex subject. It could have been simpler, but at the time, it was what I saw and felt that influenced my composition. Fascination with this subject keeps me thinking of new ways to both photograph and share how I feel about its mystery and beauty.
