Unlimited Variety

The Big Island of Hawaii is a remarkable place, with snow capped peaks, humid rain forests and barren terrain that looks like is could be from another universe. This photo was taken near the famous green sand beach near the southern tip of the island. Our son Jon took us there and I thought it was going to ruin the truck we we in. But I'm glad we went.

Frosty Hangers On

I was about ready to leave for work yesterday but I made the mistake of stepping into my back yard. What drew me was that I could see that we had gotten a good frost during the night. The other thing that drew me was the soft, filtered light coming from very thin cloud cover. This is an average bush, with average leaves. But it is very special light.The other thing that helps this photo is the selective focus. You may see this photo differently, but my eyes are drawn initially to the top right corner because that is the brightest part of the photo. But I linger there only briefly because I am looking for something more sharply focused. So I follow the line of the branch until I lock on to the well-focused orange backlit leaf. Did I think of all of this before I pushed the shutter release? As Sarah Palin (and many South Dakotans, as well) would say, "Youbetcha!"I ended up taking 50 photos yesterday morning but this is my favorite - at least right now.

The Beauty Is In the Details

Of course the saying is that the "devil" is in the details, but it's hard to believe that when you look closely as the amazing amount of careful work that went in to decorating the interior of the Codington County Courthouse in Watertown, SD. The other thing that amazes me is that there are thousands of courthouses like this throughout the US. These structures were built at a time when there was enough time, talent and money to do such public works.Incidentally, this photo, and other photos of the courthouse, were done for an assignment I gave my Lake Area Tech Photo/Media students. I figured that if I could assign the project, I could just as well do it. To see the product of this effort, go to my Flickr account here.

A Multitude of Curves and Lines

When I went down to the Codington County courthouse to vote a couple weeks ago, I was reminded of how beautiful a building it was. Thus, I went back last week to take a few photos and this is one of my favorites.Though I like it, I'm thinking that someone else might see it and wonder what this is. Among other things, you are looking at the stained glass dome that covers the central foyer. They don't make public buildings like this any more.

More Frosting

These are tiny, dime-sized leaves rimmed with beads of frost. To photograph things like this was my mission yesterday, though I like yesterday's post a lot more.

Fall Fire

I was in the garden early this morning looking for frosty leaves and as I was heading back into the house, I saw these leaves, which were illuminated by the strong sunlight just making its way into our yard. I took a few shots, not knowing what I'd get.This photo is evidence that what I conceive of capturing with my camera and what strikes my eye are often two different things. I guess that's serendipity and I can live with that.

Do Corks Grow On Trees?

This post is less about interesting photos than it is about my compulsion to educate the reader about cork. So, if you are still with me, note that you are looking at a cork tree in a cork grove in Portugal (one of the world's largest producers of cork.) Then note that there are no corks hanging on this tree. Why? Well, because the cork comes from the bark - it doesn't grow like an apple or a pear.In fact the cork comes from the bark of the tree and each tree is stripped every few years and then left to build up a new layer of cork. This tree doesn't show evidence of a recent harvest but this tree does (click here.)Fascinating, isn't it?

Vortex

As my photography has "matured," I would say that one of the biggest differences is that I spend considerably more time looking for lines, shapes and patterns when I look through the viewfinder. I guess I like symmetry and these fern leaves seem to have plenty of that. Plus, there are at least four layers of lines in this photo, each less distinct. Among other things, it gives the two dimensional digital file you are looking at the illusion of depth.Another thing I spend more time with is using the right lens, focus and aperture to manipulate what the viewer will see. In this case, I used a telephoto lens and a medium aperture to make the top right corner blurred and the bottom left quadrant fairly sharp. In the end, I like this blurry upper part of the photo because it looks a bit like a vortex from which the central leaf is rising.Do I really think this much when I take a photo? Not really. The kind of analysis you are reading today usually occurs much later - when I am "thinking" about what I was seeing when I took the photo.Canon 5DII 1/60s f/5.6 ISO400 102mmSubscribe to A Photo A Day by Email

Contrail & Crescent Moon At Dawn

I owe this shot to my son Brian - he looked up and saw it and I happened to have my camera. Is there some deep meaning in this photo? Maybe. Or is it that I have nothing better to post? Who knows. . .

Cheating the Minnesota Winter

This is one of the wings of the Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was a cool October day outside, but inside it was warm enough to grow flowers, ferns, palms and cactus, which makes this place a perfect escape.Subscribe to A Photo A Day by Email

What Kind of Coffee Do They Serve Here?

Some of my readers will know right away that this "coffee house" sells more than coffee and that's why there is an age restriction. I was looking at the photos I took in Amsterdam a few years ago and decided to post this.What do they serve here besides coffee? They serve pot in a variety of forms. Not only can you buy joints (so I'm told) but marijuana infused brownies and cookies, too. Only a desperate person would smoke the last two but you can eat them and get more than I sugar high.For the record, I didn't go in to one of these coffee shops. Neither did my wife. Or my Lutheran pastor friend Billy. Honest!

What Is Reality?

This is a real trout and a real fisherman. But is the fish really as big as it appears? I think you know the answer - this fish was only about 13" long. The trick is an old fisherman's trick. You simply hold the fish as far away from your body as you can, and, if you are lucky, the photographer has a wide angle lens. Does this fisherman need to exaggerate when it comes to fish size? I don't think so. He's an accomplished fisherman who already has one "real" big fish posted in this blog.