Earth Color Magic

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Hikers on a California Hillside

A Synergy of Symmetry

The subject of this image is symmetry.

There's a curving, grassy hillside in the image, but we don't care about the hill, the grass, or the light.

We notice the lone tree at the top of the hill. If we look more closely, we'll see the two hikers making their way along the trail in the lower left of the frame. But we don't care about the tree or the hikers, either.

What we notice instinctively, however, is symmetry.

If we turn the photo upside down, the green hillside would occupy almost exactly the same space that the blue area occupies now. The blue and green areas are almost mirror images of each other.

Hikers on a California Hillside

Further, when we invert the photo, the tree would be where the hikers were initially, and vice versa. The tree and the hikers effectively switch places if you turn the photo upside down.

The arrangement of the components is more interesting than the components themselves. In other words, the symmetry creates synergy. The whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.

The composition is balanced and, because it's fundamentally simple, easy for the eye to interpret. The green and blue areas create an interlocking pattern not unlike that of the famous Yin and Yang symbols. The view senses their relationship intuitively.

Some viewers have commented on the shape of the tree. What does it look like to you?

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Lens: Canon 24-105 f/4L IS

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

www.dansouthphoto.com

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Dilapidated House - Eastern Sierra

Our Compelling Fascination With Decay

An old house crumbles in a cruel and irreversible battle with time. From disrepair to rot to ruin, it decomposes before our eyes, its elements returning to the Earth, inch by inch, splinter by splinter.

How did you end up this way, Old House? Who lived in you, and why did they leave? Why did they stop repairing you? Do they still drive by? Do they remember living comfortably, protected from the elements by your once-viable roof and walls?

a photo of a dilapidated old house in the eastern sierra region of california

Dilapidated House - Eastern Sierras

We are compelled to look and to wonder. Perhaps this old house, disintegrating into the elements of a remote and unforgiving wilderness, serves as a metaphor for our own inevitable decline.

Of course I wanted to take a photo as I drove by, but I told myself to keep going. I didn't have much time. The drive to San Francisco would take most of the day. I had to keep on schedule.

But a mile down the road, I made the decision to turn the car around. I couldn't leave this old house forgotten. I needed to make the photograph, to capture the dignity of this lonely, crumbling house while it still stood.

Thank you, Old House, for sheltering a family, for being someone's home, and for capturing our imagination.

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S

(Shot handheld while leaning over a fence)

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

www.dansouthphoto.com

Monday, July 21, 2014

Point Sur Under Textured Skies

Reshooting a Favorite Location

This is one of my favorite photographs.

The Big Sur coast is magnificent beyond description. There are scores of impressive viewpoints along the roadway. I have always enjoyed this quiet spot where one can watch the waves roll onto the beach in the morning light.

I have taken a number of photographs from this point over the years. The silhouetted cliffs provide an interesting foreground framing element. A lot of folks take photos from here, however, so I try to look for unique compositions.

Point Sur Under Textured Skies

On this particular morning, a series of high, wispy clouds passed above the rock. For a moment, two separate sets of lines led toward the lighthouse - the beach and the waves below, and the clouds above.

I had to work quickly; the clouds were fast moving and stayed in the frame for less than a minute. I tried to time my shot as they passed over the center of the frame.

Several elements came together to make this shot, the lines and silhouettes, the clear, haze-free air, the color and angle of the morning sun, the glow in the distant sky - and of course, a uniquely beautiful location. I'm glad that I thought to stop and shoot once again from a favorite location. Persistence met with good fortune, and the results were magical.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Lens: Canon 24-105 f/4L IS

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

www.dansouthphoto.com

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Red and White Chapel - Mykonos

A View from the Countryside

The Greek island of Mykonos has hundreds of chapels spread along its shores, hills, and roadways. Many chapels were built by sailors in hopes of safe passage on rough seas.

I had time to photograph only a handful of these lovely chapels, many of which are reserved for use only one day a year. This rustic beauty was one of my favorites.

a photo of a red chapel on mikonos island greece

Red and White Chapel - Mykonos, Greece

The chapel is located on a small, winding road in the countryside, far from the crowded shops and restaurants of Mykonos Town. The altitude here afforded a clear view of the sea. I liked the contrast of the blue of the sky and water against the red roof and dome.

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VRII

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

www.dansouthphoto.com

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Exploring Santorini

Blue Dome in Soft Light

Santorini is a stunningly beautiful island in the Aegean Sea. It's also relatively easy to visit. A handful of comfortably walkable towns are draped along the edges of dramatic ocean cliffs.

Santorini, or Thira as it's known in Greece, is a fragment of an ancient volcano. Sea views from steep "caldera" side of the island are breathtaking. The architecture in each of these towns is uniformly elegant.

The cliffside topology adds a vertical dimension to the touring experience. Turn to one side, and you'll be looking upward at structures; in the other direction, you'll be looking out over rooftops. Many of the famous view of Santorini incorporate the ability to look out over the roofs of churches and chapels.

a photo of a chapel with a blue dome santorini

Blue Dome in Soft Light - Santorini

The chapel pictured above is a well-known landmark in the lovely town of Oia. The chapel isn't large, but it would be challenging to shoot from this vantage point without being able to stand above it on the cliffside.

The main pedestrian route through Oia runs right past the chapel. I stood on that pathway when I snapped this photo. Everyone with a camera or smart phone or a tablet stops here - just about in this very spot - and takes a photo.

So, why did I bother to take yet another photo of something that's photographed thousands of times a day? Why not? I was there. And I felt that I had my own interpretation to add to the heap.

This shot was taken on a cloudy morning and benefits from the softness of the light. On other days, direct sunlight yielded a higher-contrast look. I appreciate them equally.

I took great care to maximize sharpness, detail, color fidelity, and dynamic range with every shot. After all, I need to keep up with those ubiquitous tablets and smart phones! ;-)

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

www.dansouthphoto.com

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Bourtzi Fortress at Dusk - Nafplio

Castle On The Water

My brief stop in Nafplio coincided with uncharacteristically rainy weather. The showers ended about an hour before sunset, but thick cloud cover remained.

I wanted this shot dearly. The enchanting island fortress of Bourtzi hovers so elegantly just above the calm waters. But the light from the gloomy sky was far from flattering.

My only hope was that the town would have the good sense to illuminate their lovely little Venetian-style castle. I set up my tripod, focused the camera and waited for dusk to fall.

a photo of the bourtzi fortress in nafplio greece

Bourtzi Fortress at Dusk, Nafplio

I was extremely fortunate. Floodlights emerged as the evening sky began to darken. Fog draped distant mountains and added to the atmosphere.

I love the mix of cool, blue dusk punctuated with highlights from warm, artificial sources. Daylight white balance captured the blue cast of the evening sky simultaneously with the orange glow of the mercury vapor lamps.

The image required almost no post-processing, only sharpening and a dash of contrast. The atmospheric conditions and the magnificent mix of light sources are what make the photo stand out.

This is one of my very favorite photos of Greece. Thank you, Nafplio, for turning on the lights!

Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VRII

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!