David’s Blog
What am I Bringing to Africa?
This is what I am bringing to Africa on the trip to photograph for the non-profit I-KODI: Remember, this isn't a typical African safari trip- I will not be going to any parks and probably won't be seeing any of the iconic Africa animals. A few birds here and there but that's about it. I will be spending all my time in the town of Pap Onditi photographing...
Perception
The house is quiet now, only the slow sleepy breathing of three black dogs stirs the air. Abe, my old lab, lies beside me on this dog hair-covered couch, his breathing uneven now but on pace with the dream-twitching of his back legs. We had a big walk in the snow today and his recovery takes ever longer as his endurance slowly wanes. He’ll be stiff in the...
End of Year Image
May all your trails be artistically curved, your shadows long and may the sun shine ever softly over your shoulder.
The Early Signs of Genius
Tis the season to look back and cringe and wince and groan at all the excesses and travails that we each have suffered this past year. Those added pounds, those accumulating images we haven't deleted, the pictures we didn't get, the horrible ones we did. So much for which to be thankful! For me, tis the season to look back really really far and admire the...
A Holiday Assignment
My sister is doing a self published engagement calendar combining some of her minister's prayers and some of my photos. I am glad to support her in this and she is free to plunder my pile of images for the few that match the imagery of her chosen prayers. There is very little I actually have to do, which, just in case you're interested, is my favorite kind...
The Not So Obvious Composition
Most of the time composition is a pretty simple thing- it is a matter one short question and a few more easy rules (firm suggestions). The question is "what specifically do I like about what I am seeing" and the rules are 1. Answer the question with a phrase (no using the word 'and'), keep your subject out of the center of the picture, try not to merge...
And While We Are At It
I had a nice surprise yesterday, one that many photographers get prickly over but that I find to be complimentary. A friend, Tracy, showed me a painting she had done of one of my pictures. Tracy is new to painting, been at it only for a few months and she was looking for some subjects for her canvas. She asked me this summer if I would mind her doing some...
Fast Track Light
When I was out in Death Valley National Park I spent some time before the workshop started out in the Mesquite Dunes at dawn. By the way, dawn is the best time to photograph dunes because you have the potential for wind to erase any footprints during the night before. Out in the dunes it is possible to photograph 20 minutes or so before direct sunlight...
Mother Nature’s Closet
This is why I love living in New England- there is an ever-changing palette of colors. Over the last 60 days here in Vermont the landscape has gone form intensely green to vividly yellow and orange to warmly brown and gray to now all white with the first snow of the year. I am not talking about parts of the landscape, I am talking about the entire...
(once again) A New Camera!
Yes, I have done it again, I have bought a new camera in my everlasting quest for the perfect little camera. this time I think I have found the best little Nikon camera for serious photographers- the p7800. The 7800 is a brand new camera that Nikon brought out about 6 weeks ago. I have had mine for about a month now and I couldn't be happier. What I like...
Composition by Abe
Abe is my 11 year old black lab and he is my best buddy. He has been around my photography from day one and he knows what is a good shot and what is a great shot. A couple of weeks ago I was photographing my little pond playing with the reflection and Abe decided that he could help me with the composition. He has done this in the past- wagging his tail...