Sunday, March 26, 2017

Flatiron Building at Sunset

Casting New Light on a Landmark

I love to photograph well-known landmarks. I like the challenge of looking for a way to bring my personal touch to a place that has been photographed countless times.

Here's a recent shot of the Flatiron Building in New York captured in the warm glow of sunset with one of my favorite lenses.



a photo of the flatiron building in new york at sunset
Flatiron Building At Sunset



Camera:    Nikon D810
Lens:        PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5 ED Tilt/Shift

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved



Saturday, March 18, 2017

McWay Waterfall - Big Sur California

Sea of Tranquility

Add the McWay Waterfall in Big Sur California to your list of places to visit. It's heavenly - so tranquil, so inspiring, so breathtakingly beautiful. See it once, and you'll never be the same.


a photo of the mcway waterfall in big sur california by daniel south
McWay Waterfall - Big Sur Coast


Camera:    Nikon D810
Lens:        Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved



Monday, February 20, 2017

The Church of St Catherine of Siena

In additional to serving local parishioners, The Church of St. Catherine of Siena on the Upper East Side of Manhattan serves the staff and visitors of two neighboring hospitals - The Hospital for Special Surgery and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

St. Catherine of Siena, a Fourteenth-Century Dominican philosopher and theologian, is one of the two patron saints of Italy (the other being St. Francis of Assisi) and one of six patron saints of Europe.


a photo of st catherine of siena church in new york
The Church of St. Catherine of Siena - New York


The church seems modest as one walks past, but it is beautifully kept by the Dominicans. If you are in the neighborhood, please consider stopping by for a few moments of reflection. Visitors are always welcome.


Camera:    Nikon D810

Lens:        PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5 ED Tilt/Shift

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved



Springtime on the California Coast

Season of Renewal

I have spent a lot of time photographing the California Coast over the years. I have countless happy memories from those adventures, everything from the sights that I have seen and the images that I captured, to the restaurants where I stopped for lunch. Every detail mattered. Every experience was meaningful. 

Each year about this time, I feel a longing to return, not just to take more pictures, but to experience the beauty of California first hand, to renew mind, body, and spirit in this magical, incomparable part of the world.



Springtime on the California Coast



The photograph above was taken at sunrise. It might appear to be a sunset, since the color in the western sky. But that's the amazing thing about the Pacific Coast. The skies are unpredictable and dynamic. The color of a sunrise or a sunset can appear in any direction. It keeps you on your toes. If you're not in tune with what's happening in the moment, you'll miss an opportunity like this one. Be in tune with the moment is critical not only to getting the shot, but to making the most of or your California adventures.


Camera:    Nikon D810

Lens:        PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5 ED Tilt/Shift

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved



Tuesday, January 10, 2017

A Basket Of Flowers

Riding In Style

I spotted this beautifully decorated bicycle on a walk one day and couldn't resist snapping a quick photo.


a photo of a bicycle with a basket full of flowers new york city street
A Basket Of Flowers - New York City


Camera:    Nikon D810
Lens:        Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G ED

Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2017 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved


Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Love

Composing An Emotion

I came across this lovely sculpture while walking through the town of Evora in Portugal. I believe that it was located in a small park near a church, but I would be hard pressed to find it again. 

I took this photo several years ago when digital photography was in its infancy and film offered the best resolution. This particular film (I believe that it was Velvia 100) rendered the colors of the darkening sky wonderfully.


a photo of a sculpture from evora portugal of two abstract figures in love
Love - Evora, Portugal


The figures in the sculpture are abstract. Are we looking at a man and a woman? A parent and a child? We're not certain. They could be two playful bears or penguins for all we know. 

What's clear is the quality of the interaction between the two figures. It's an intimate interaction. It's caring, comfortable, tender. To me, the sculpture represents love, love in its purest form, two beings adoring each other in a perfect moment of oneness.

The photograph required some creative decision making. The first decision was to backlight the figures and present them as silhouettes against the colorful sunset. The stones are actually white. - This is really quite an impressive piece of art, and I would encourage you to visit it if you can (and if it's still there)!

The second decision involved the placement of the figures. I decided to place the larger figure at the edge of the frame. It looks as though the smaller figure is approaching the larger figure willingly and joyfully. If I had put the smaller figure against the left edge of the photo, it would have looked as though the larger one was dominating.

I could have put everything smack dab in the middle, but pushing one of the figures toward the edge added more drama, in my opinion. He's up against the wall, and she's moving toward him lovingly.

It took a lot of photos back in my films years. This is one of my favorites.


Camera:    Pentax 67 II (Medium Format Film Camera)

Lens:        Pentax 75mm Shift Lens


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved


Sunday, November 20, 2016

The Power Of Nature - Gulf Of Corinth

Along The Road

We all face challenges and disappointments in life. 

Never underestimate the power of nature to soothe the soul. Sometimes, all you have to do is pull over to the side of the road, and there it will be waiting for you.



a photo of the gulf of corinth greece at sunset




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


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved


Thursday, October 6, 2016

Door With Graffiti - New York

Making The Best Of A Bad Situation

Graffiti has made a rampant comeback in New York over the past few years. Bare wall space attracts the attention of aggressive taggers. Even pristine brick buildings get tagged; it's almost impossible to remove paint from brick.

Graffiti tagging doesn't cause bodily harm, but it's more than a petty nuisance. Graffiti tags are unsightly, destructive, expensive to repair, and blatantly corrosive to the ideals of society. Communities thrive on a sense of mutual respect and shared purpose. Graffiti signals the erosion of these values.



a photo of colorful graffiti in new york
Door With Graffiti - New York



Leave it to photographers to find the bright side of a bad situation. Urban blight is visually intriguing. Walk through a run down neighborhood, and you may walk away with some interesting photos. Exercise caution, of course. And be aware that copyright infringement could be an issue in some circumstances. (The graffiti could be considered a protected work of the visual arts.) But as long as you're not shooting an ad campaign, graffiti can provide ready-to-shoot backgrounds for your urban images. 

You might even consider making the graffiti your subject. The decaying plywood wall in the photo above has been bombarded by layer after layer of paint. The layers blend into a dadaist explosion of color and texture. (The fish is my favorite bit.)

When I walked past this wall, I felt compelled to do something with it. Initially, I envisioned a wider shot to capture more of the wall. But when I returned to the scene with my tripod, I had to work around some trash and the make-shift bed of a homeless person. I wanted to use a tripod, because this spot is under some scaffolding, and there isn't much light available. Eventually, I chose a portrait-oriented composition of only the door section. 

I'm pleased with the image. I think that it turned out well. Photographers know how to make something good in a bad situation. From chaos, composition!



Camera:    Nikon D810
Lens:        AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED


Wishing you great light and meaningful moments!

Copyright 2016 Daniel R. South
All Rights Reserved