Head of the Path, Another Take, July 24, 2010
Copyright © 2010 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved
Showing posts with label scene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scene. Show all posts
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
You may not find this post much different from the previous, but for me there's a world of difference. I don't mean to say that I'm partial to one or the other--just that as similar as they may seem, they're completely different.
The Manhole, July 24, 2010
Copyright © 2010 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved
Monday, August 16, 2010
The "javelin" intersecting the street light is a common effect in night photos. I don't always want it, but it's certainly dynamic. The ball of light above the street light and slightly to the right, however, is something I can't currently account for. Just a reflection on the lense, I imagine.
Looking Back, July 24, 2010
Copyright © 2010 Paul D. Natkin, All Rights Reserved
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Skateboarders and Picnickers
The weather is perfect today, and at the Viewpoint, things couldn't have been better. I could have stayed there all afternoon and evening, if I hadn't had other things to get to. The beautiful weather brought the people out. There were enough that I'm quickly forgetting how many I saw, especially since I didn't count them, and I'm losing many of the other details I tried to commit to memory. When I arrived, there were just two people, I think: two boys, both wearing white T-shirts, on skateboards. I felt a little bad setting up my tripod, because I felt that in their minds, once an adult was there, doing something that involves holding still, the atmosphere probably changed. But they kept on doing their skateboard stunts, and then a third boy joined them. He was wearing a black shirt. The other two were in jeans, it seems to me, but the one in the black shirt had on plaid pants. Around the same time he showed up, a couple came walking in from the south end of the park. They sat down at the bench directly across from the point where I've taken at least thirty percent of my Viewpoint photos over the years, as well as painted a large percentage of my Viewpoint paintings. The young woman told the guy, "No! These aren't the Olympics!" and laughed. I guess he was from out of town. I took a few shots and then moved my tripod closer to the edge, and in the direction of the laurel tree enclosure, which I think of as a sort of perch. Then another couple came along--a man and a woman whom I've seen many, many times over the years. I had a very interesting conversation with them. The woman said that she's often thought that if they put prisons in places with wonderful views, the outcome would be much better than it is. I have to agree. I told the couple how often I've seen people at the Viewpoint who are obviously in grief--coping with the loss of a loved one or some other tragic circumstances. I think they go there to be soothed by the beauty of the scene and also for the perspective the place gives. When you see such a huge expanse of reality, you're reminded that you're just a small piece of something so very much larger.
There were many other people who came through the park while I was there, and I only remember a fraction of them. For some reason I remember very vividly the shirt one woman was wearing it was brown with orange rims around the short sleeves, the waist and neck. And I remember that as I left, there was another family on a picnic blanket, again with a baby. In my experience, sitting on a picnic blanket isn't the most comfortable way to eat a meal, but there's something so romantic about it. And it's no wonder Manet and Cezanne were interested in portraying picnickers. A group of people spread out in a small area while eating makes for a scenario that's potentially very interesting from the standpoint of both composition and human social interaction.
There were many other people who came through the park while I was there, and I only remember a fraction of them. For some reason I remember very vividly the shirt one woman was wearing it was brown with orange rims around the short sleeves, the waist and neck. And I remember that as I left, there was another family on a picnic blanket, again with a baby. In my experience, sitting on a picnic blanket isn't the most comfortable way to eat a meal, but there's something so romantic about it. And it's no wonder Manet and Cezanne were interested in portraying picnickers. A group of people spread out in a small area while eating makes for a scenario that's potentially very interesting from the standpoint of both composition and human social interaction.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Waning Moon
The moon has waned a bit since the other night, but with the clouds this evening, the scene at the Viewpoint was nevertheless spectacular. I took a couple pictures with my phone, but I don't know how much of an image I'll get on either of them, once I upload them. And to try to put in words such a complex and unfamiliar arrangement of light and dark and various subtle colors would be almost pointless. Let me just say that it was an image worthy of the most vivid dream.
There was no one else at the Viewpoint except for some teenagers in an SUV on the neighboring street, and they disappeared soon after I arrived.
The smell of sage was in the damp air. As I walked, I encountered a snail. How easily I could have accidentally crushed it under my foot! The word "hapless" crossed my mind.
There was no one else at the Viewpoint except for some teenagers in an SUV on the neighboring street, and they disappeared soon after I arrived.
The smell of sage was in the damp air. As I walked, I encountered a snail. How easily I could have accidentally crushed it under my foot! The word "hapless" crossed my mind.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Overcast Day
It's basically an overcast day. At the Viewpoint earlier this afternoon, looking into the distance, I had a greater-than-usual sense of depth. This always happens when there are lots of clouds in the sky. They help mark points in space. Laurelhurst and the area to the left of it--whatever that would be--were a dark blue in color. In the foreground, there was a hint of sunlight on the verdant foliage. And in the middle, around Union Bay, there was a lot of light bluish gray. The water looked a little choppy. There was a certain reserve to the entire scene--an atmospheric quality that I love.
There were two groups of picknickers at the Viewpoint. There were three women sitting on a blanket spread out on the west side of the path that runs through the park. And a man and woman were sitting on a blanket on the east side, near the edge. They had a red and white cooler--just a small one--and they were eating. As I left, I noticed a tiny flower growing somewhere along the adjacent street. It was white and was the kind of flower that will dry out and not fade if you pick it and don't put it in water. I've heard them called strawflowers, but I'm not sure this is correct.
There were no photographers today, but if I'd had my camera with me, I would have taken quite a number of photos for my archive. And if I'd had my paints and paper, I would have sat for a few hours and painted. Instead, I did my best to commit the scene to memory.
There were two groups of picknickers at the Viewpoint. There were three women sitting on a blanket spread out on the west side of the path that runs through the park. And a man and woman were sitting on a blanket on the east side, near the edge. They had a red and white cooler--just a small one--and they were eating. As I left, I noticed a tiny flower growing somewhere along the adjacent street. It was white and was the kind of flower that will dry out and not fade if you pick it and don't put it in water. I've heard them called strawflowers, but I'm not sure this is correct.
There were no photographers today, but if I'd had my camera with me, I would have taken quite a number of photos for my archive. And if I'd had my paints and paper, I would have sat for a few hours and painted. Instead, I did my best to commit the scene to memory.
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