These two were part of a crew of "panhandling jackasses" working the crowd in Custer State Park. Donkeys are not regal animals but how can you not think that this couple isn't photogenic? I like the white hooves of the little one. In a few short years he'll be sticking his hairy muzzle through open car windows and eating Fritos out of tourists' hands. What a life!
Canon 5D 1/200s f/6.3 ISO320 130mm
Yesterday was the first day of school and in about two weeks it will be time to celebrate our annual Homecoming week. Students - especially seniors - look forward to the week and many teachers and administrators dread it, largely because events occasionally take precedence over the important task of teaching and learning.
Our town's homecoming is rich in history, with a Legend enacted by students, a powderpuff football game for the junior and senior girls and a "Burning of the W" that would make ancient pagan harvest celebrants proud. I've always seen our homecoming week as one of the first steps in the graduating classes' rite of passage.
This photo, incidentally, is one of my trademark KiYi photos and it is always arranged well before it is taken. I tell the students what to do and, as much as possible, where to stand. When the photo is actually taken, we have about 30 seconds to get the right shot before the crush of people fill the space we are in.
Canon 5D 1/160s f/5.6 ISO1000 23mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
By Scott Shephard
. . . but in eastern European countries, such as Hungary, they had giant Communists. Marx, Engels, Lenin, happy workers - you name it, and they probably had a giant statue for it.
Many of you may remember that when Sadam fell from power, one of the first things that happened is that the giant statues and pictures of Sadam were toppled and destroyed. That also happened in eastern Europe when communism fell. But in Budapest, someone had the foresight to save the statues and many are now housed in a park on the outskirts of Budapest called "Statue Park." In all of my European travels, our visit to this park is one of the more memorable experiences.
The title of this blog entry is a reference to the fact that in our community, the most monumental art we have are two identical statues of cowboys, intended to draw attention to the convenience stores they stand next to. I was trying to imagine why anyone might topple them. A revolt against capitalism? Or overpriced necessities like bread or milk? Or maybe bad art? Who knows. . . ?
Canon 5D 1/320s f/13.0 ISO250 40mm Some rights reserved under Creative Commons Copyright
My wife tells me the purple flowers are called umbrella flowers, though when I do a search, I find that there are many types of flowers called the "umbrella flower." I would never challenge the authority of my wife. Nor would I challenge the authority of Nature - who provides such photo opportunities as this one.
Yes, there is a slight blur applied to this photo. Before digital, I could get the softening effect by putting cellophane over the lens or by just using a really dirty lens. Now I have photoshop. Yes, it's a manipulation of reality. But, if you ask me, all perception involves some kind of manipulation of reality. And photography is highly manipulative. The photographer picks what you see and how you see it. Can you get your eyes to blur the background like my 70-200mm lens does in this photo?
By Scott Shephard
Amsterdam is known for many things, including coffee bars that sell marijuana brownies, and young ladies that sell . . . well, I'd just as soon not mention it.
These ladies were selling lingerie and leather goods. I and my friend Billy didn't succumb to any of the temptations of Amsterdam, other than the great art museums.
By Scott Shephard
Is it ironic that I post of picture of words? This is supposed to be a "blog for the right brain." Ironic or not, this is a photo I took on a rainy night in Tokyo. I was struck with the civility of the warning, though in Japan civility is abundant - even in a bustling city like Tokyo. In the US we would say "Keep Off!" In Japan they say, "Since it is easy to slip, stepping on a stone should withhold." Who can disagree with that?
By Scott Shephard
Toledo Spain, not Ohio. El Greco provides a much more interesting version than mine. I have no more words today.
By Scott Shephard
There are many places that claim to be the "Center of the World." As you might expect, the claims are generally ethnocentric. The ancient Greeks, for example, who thought very highly of themselves, erected a monument in Greece called the omphalos. It is Greek for navel (or belly button).
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul doesn't claim to be the belly button of the world but it many ways it is. Because Istanbul has long been located on the major trade route between Asia and Europe, it became a melting pot of cultures. The Hagia Sophia is an amazing testament to the clash and then mixing of these cultures. Built on the site of a pagan temple, this basilica was first a Christian temple, then converted to an Islamic mosque. Because Islam prohibits representational art in its mosques, all of the mosaics in the dome were whitewashed. But in 1935 Mustafa Kemal ("Ataturk") decreed that the Hagia Sophia become a museum and evidence of both religions are clearly evident, including the Arabic writing and the beautiful mosaic decorations on the domes.
Photographically, this is a very difficult subject - in part because of how dark the interior is and in part due to the expanse of the interior, which my lens couldn't do justice to. You'll have to go there to experience this place in person.
By Scott Shephard
I don't know where you live, but around here there are clear signs that the seasons are changing. Shorter days and school supply sections at stores like Target and Walmart suggest that fall is just around the corner.
This photo was taken in Olympia, Washington, at a nursery. My wife was looking around and I was bored. So, as usual, I took a few photos.
It must be the English teacher in me that makes me use words like this. Sorry. "Ephemeral" means "lasting for a short time." To humans, flowers are ephemeral, to South Dakotans summer is ephemeral and to my cat, Mac, his morning meal is ephemeral. But the Spring Creek Marina???!!!
In this photo, the subjects are here to stay for a while. But the light wasn't. I had arrived just after rain had passed through and as I was getting ready to unload my sailing gear, the sun poked out from behind a heavy cloud and lit up the marina. I reached for my camera, got out of the car and literally had 20 seconds before the sun went back under a cloud. I should have taken a photo when the area was bathed in shadow because then you could see what a difference a few seconds make.
By Scott Shephard
The student tour group I was with had almost a whole afternoon free in Florence and this is one of the unexpected photo opportunities we encountered. I think that doing chalk reproductions of Italian masterpieces on sidewalks would be a tough way to make a living. But you do get plenty of attention from people like me.
I can't help noticing her foot in this photo. Aren't these shoes for tight rope walkers?
By Scott Shephard
Dugi Otok means "Long Island" and I guess that's a pretty good description. It is 5km at its widest and about 50 km long. Deb and I spent 3 days at Sali, which is the largest village on the island. This shot is on the west side of the island, where we happened to be when the sun was setting. And, as I think you can see from the photo, it is a pretty spectacular spot.
