September Misalignment Kills The Calendar

Editorial / Nature / PotD

September Misalignment Kills The Calendar

September 1, 2016

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer. —Helen Hunt Jackson

charles i. letbetter- september misalignment kills the calendar

How we act in September is totally out of alignment with the actual weather. Just throw the rest of the calendar out now.

Just go ahead and throw the calendar out now. The whole thing is totally screwed.

I was having a discussion with our seven-year-old, the one who adamantly insists that he already knows everything, and mentioned that he has a four-day weekend coming up (lucky brat). He looked up at me with some surprise. “Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That’s only three days. Learn to count.”

“You have Monday off, too,” I said. “It’s Labor Day.”

“What’s Labor Day?” He asked, destroying that notion that he knows everything.

“The first Monday after the first Sunday in September,” I said. “It’s the end of summer vacation.”

This confused the child who has been in school a month already. “No, it’s not,” he immediately insisted. “This is already Autumn. Summer was a long time ago.”

There you have it; forget what the calendar says. September is completely out of alignment. Fall started when school did, which means September’s insistence that the Autumnal season doesn’t begin until the 22nd is totally out of step. Kids, and stores, are talking about Halloween. And Christmas. Hell, if you’re not looking at a 2017 calendar you’re already behind. Never mind those silly things like the earth’s rotation and tilt in its track around the sun. Seasons are totally flexible and fall wherever we want, don’t they? Apparently, that’s what we’re supposed to think.

Things That Happen In September

I don’t like this misalignment. Sure, it’s been happening for years. Little by little, retailers have been putting out decorations months in advance of the actual event. September has always been a bit of a pivotal moment in the calendar, though. Our last turn toward the end of the year. We didn’t rush that changing of seasons when I was a kid. We wanted to squeeze every last bit of summer in that we possibly could. With schools starting increasingly early, however, it has totally thrown September out of balance. Our sense of timing is off. If kids are in school, it must be later in the year than we think. Mix that with the already aggressive out-of-season marketing and no one is quite sure what we’re supposed to experience in September. Here, let me help. These are some of the things that should happen in September.

The return of football. I know not everyone’s a fan. This season it’s rather like visiting a Catholic church when you’re not Catholic: no one is quite sure when you’re supposed to sit and when you’re supposed to stand. Still, this Saturday, college teams around the country kick off another round of bone-crushing, concussion-inducing sport that stirs the primal instinct of head butting. Football is an acceptable level of violence. So it tailgating. We’re ready.
Fashion week. This season, it begins in New York on the 8th. There’s going to be a lot of confusion even here, though. Normally, we would see designs for next spring/summer. But with the increased move to direct-to-consumer sales, an increasing number of labels are showing current season designs. Several totally skipped last February’s shows, which is when fall/winter is normally shown, and are showing those cooler weather clothes now. But not everyone’s doing that. So, we’re going to see everything from bikini’s to parkas on the runway.
9/11. This year is the 15th anniversary of this tragic event. Given that we’re in the midst of one of the ugliest and most ridiculous presidential campaigns ever, I fully expect the day to be dominated not by remembrance but political appropriation of the day. My prediction is for a lot of hot air that is totally and completely meaningless. Respectful people will take a moment to reflect on all we lost on that day.
Autumn. For real. The dictates of the planet say that the autumnal equinox occurs on the 22nd of the month. Not before. Not after. Put up your damn overcoats, 65° isn’t that cold. In fact, most of the US won’t have seen a hint of frost prior to this date. We’re experiencing global warming, remember? Fall starts here. Build a bonfire and enjoy.

Things That Don’t Happen In September

While too many people seem willing to ignore the things that are supposed to happen in September, they’re more than willing to insert things into the month that just don’t belong here. Stop it. Stop trying to make your pitiful life pass any faster than it already is. You’ll regret this rushed attitude later when you begin to actually value the number of days you have left. Not everything belongs in this month. Let these things stay put.

Halloween. I love playing dress up and assuming alternate identities as much as the next person (okay, not really), but Halloween belongs in October. The end of October. Feel free to pull the skeletons out of your closet on October 1, not before.
Pumpkin Harvests. No. Stop. The pumpkins aren’t ready yet, damn it. Get your big, lumbering feet out of the fields, you’re trampling all over the vines. You’re not being all connected with nature. You’re being pretentious and ridiculous and you just need to fucking stop. Pumpkin Harvest comes mid- to late-October. Put your spice on hold until then.
Christmas. Sure, go ahead and start shopping if you can really be that frugal and patient and actually know what people are going to want/need in four months. Decorating, though? Don’t you dare. Holiday sweaters? Put those damn things up; they’re ugly anyway. And if I hear a single note of “Jingle Bells” before December 1 I’m slapping someone.
End-Of-Year Lists. I actually saw a “Best of 2016” article last week. What the fuck? There are still four months left to the year! How can anyone possibly begin compiling a “best of … ” or “worst of …” list when there’s still so much that could happen. With the way this year has gone, we’re probably going to lose another dozen major celebrities/musicians/people of note. Just put the pen down and wait until after Christmas like the rest of us.

Showing Some Respect For The Calendar

You know, the ancients weren’t totally stupid. Even without their knowledge of how planets revolve and spin they knew that seasons fall in a certain order. They divided the year into specific periods because they understood that nature has a schedule. Nature doesn’t care about marketing two or three holidays ahead. Nature doesn’t care about what is more convenient for you. The natural order of things dictates that events are going to happen when they’re ready to happen. If you don’t like that, you can just sit over in a corner and pout.

September is an important month for even more reasons that we’ve listed. Don’t rush things. Life happens fast enough as it is. Snow will fall. Temperatures will get cold. We’ll be complaining about Winter soon enough. None of that is here yet, though. Take your time. Enjoy September.

And maybe we keep that calendar on the wall at least a couple more months.

Celebrating World Photo Day 2016

August 19, 2016

charles i. letbetter - world photo day 2016

There is nothing more miserable in the world than to arrive in paradise and look like your passport photo. —Erma Bombeck

Today we celebrate the joy of taking a photo, of preserving a memory, of telling a story

Welcome to World Photo Day 2016! This is a day in which we’re going to play along nicely and pretend that the organization behind this day isn’t just trying to sell their book. We like this day because it celebrates something we feel rather passionate about: photography! I mean, who doesn’t like it when someone captures a good photo of you? Granted, for some people that is excessively more difficult than for others. I will also admit that there are times, even when the photography is good, we don’t especially like how we look. I mean, that whole passport photo quote above is way too accurate.

Still, we like to celebrate World Photo Day. Mind you, we don’t celebrate because this was the day photography was invented. The date was determined based on the Daguerreotype, which showed up in 1837. Even that wasn’t really the first photo process. The first fixed-image process was the Heliotype in 1826. What this date actually celebrates, though, is your access to photography. The French government purchased the rights to the Daguerreotype on this date in 1839 and made them open to the public. This allowed for further development of the camera so that you can take selfies with your phone.

Photography has come a long way since 1839. Photography will go a lot farther. This has never been a static industry. Change is constant as someone is continually trying to find a way to take a better, more real photo. Every time someone snaps a shutter, they capture both a moment in time and a moment in photographic history.

The Joy Of A Photo

I’ve taken hundreds of thousands of photographs over the years. From the first time until today, I still get excited when I look at the finished product and find that I have captured something special. Of course, there are times when I’m the only one who thinks a particular image is special, but many of them hold a lot of meaning.

Your pictures are the same way. Sometimes the pictures we hold most dear are those that are not technically stellar. It’s that picture of someone special, or that moment that gave you an incredible feeling, or the last time you saw the person who gave you life. Photographs tell our life’s story. They mark the moments of highs and lows. They remind us that we’re human.

So, we’ve chosen a group of photos for today that spans a range of events and emotions worth remembering for different reasons. Some pictures were chosen not because of the photo itself but because of the people involved behind the scenes. Danelle French did make up for some really great make-up on several. Some are special because of where they were taken. And several are of Kat. That’s a good excuse on its own.

We’ll take more pictures. It’s not always convenient or easy, but we keep going. Some we share. Many we don’t. What follows is a mix of both. And if you want us to take your photos, just ask!

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Nature / Personal / Status

Weathering Persistent Weather

August 16, 2016

Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy – your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself. —Annie Leibovitz

charles i. letbetter - weathering persistent weather

weather is taking its toll and the forecast is looking grim.

Holding the dog’s leash in my hand, I check the current weather conditions one more time before we walk out the door. “High chances for tornadoes and severe storms,” the app says. I look at the dog as I put on my hat. We’ve made these early morning walks in the rain the past two days. He doesn’t seem to mind all that much.

I open the back door and we step out. The dog instantly puts his nose to the air and takes a big sniff. A cat has taken shelter under the carport during the night and he looks to see if the poor creature is still there. It’s not. We step away from the house and are met be a stronger-than-usual wind. He stops and sniffs the air again then turns and looks at me as if to say, “One of us is fucking crazy.”

“Let’s get this over with,” I tell him. He turns around and heads for the sidewalk. He knows the routine. I hardly need to hold the leash. There’s nothing falling on us this morning, but that wind is eery and brings the fragrance of storms from across the horizon. I’d like to say this weather sucks, but that would just be stating the obvious. Besides, it’s going to get worse.

Weather Has A Hold On Me

The Old Farmer’s Almanac released its winter forecast last week. That forecast is a climatological event that makes the folks at NOAA jealous. According to the Almanac, which claims an 80% accuracy rate, we’re in for a colder and wetter winter than we’ve seen in quite a while. Buy an extra snowplow if you live in the Northeast. Here in the Midwest, ya’ might want to buy an extra shovel and a lot of salt. This one could get nasty.

Of course, the Almanac’s forecast is exactly the opposite from what NOAA is saying. According to the so-called professionals, we’re looking at drier and warmer conditions than normal. Whether that weather news is positive or negative depends on what one considers normal. If the baseline is 45°F, then a degree or two warmer isn’t bad at all. Rather nice. However, if the baseline is -10°F then a couple of degrees warmer doesn’t make a lick of difference.

Yeah, I pay an inordinate amount of attention to the weather. I always have. When yesterday’s storms hit, I sent the kids and animals into the bathroom for protection. Then, I went outside and watched. I’m told that’s an Okie thing. I learned it from my father. You can’t trust the sirens. You need to see the funnel for yourself, then you take cover. I didn’t see the funnel. The weather system stayed to our West and North. We barely got a sprinkle.

With Weather Comes Pain

With this morning’s rain, we have now had precipitation for the past seven days straight. Fortunately, we’re not flooding like Louisiana has. Our rains have been light for the most part. While walking across the lawn feels like stepping on a wet sponge, we’re not in danger of needing to be rescued. The situation could be a lot worse.

Yet, for me, we’re nearing a breaking point. Such weather is hard on my arthritis any time it occurs. Having endured it for seven days straight now, I’m ready to scream. There’s no way to describe the amount of pain that has built up across my body. Neither is there any amount of pain killer that addresses that problem without making me lethargic and unproductive. I can either stay awake and deal with a limited range of motion, or go to bed and get absolutely nothing done. I can tell you now, no editing is getting done today.

So, I look at the two competing long-range forecasts and wonder: do I bother trying to put together a photography project for the winter? I don’t want to get people excited about a concept and then not be able to follow through. If NOAA is correct, then there’s no problem. We can probably shoot all winter long. If the Old Farmer’s Almanac is correct, though, then I’ll hardly leave the house all winter. I know who has the better track record. This isn’t looking good.

Weather-Driven Planning

What I need is a creative art director who can grab hold of a concept and find ways to make sure we pull it off no matter what the weather. There’s no way I’m going to be successful on my own. I need help, but it has to be that kind of creative help that knows how to guard against Murphy’s Law. When the weather is in charge of the planning, there’s no doubt that things will go wrong. I need someone who can recruit models, find locations, handle styling, and create backups so that once we set a date we know something creative is going to happen.

I don’t have that person, though. Kat’s school schedule is too demanding for such activities. I’d offer to take applications but I’m not sure anyone’s actually interested in the position. After all, we’ve already determined I have anger issues. Bad weather doesn’t tend to put me in a good mood. Does anyone want to expose themselves to such a situation? Not likely.

What I do know is that I’ll likely have the spend much of today in bed. I’ll take what meds I can, but they won’t do much good. I’ll try to keep complaints to a minimum, but I reserve the right to curse like a sailor every time I fall or drop something.

Tomorrow’s another day. Maybe by Thursday we will be able to mow the lawn. Life goes on, right?

Stop looking at me like I’m crazy, dog. You’re the one who keeps eating cat poop.

Oh look, it’s raining again. Damn weather.

Music / Nature

Music For Today’s Storms

June 22, 2016

The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board. —Grover Cleveland

Storms are coming today, especially if you live in Indiana. A little music should help ease the stress

This morning’s weather forecast made it clear: we’re in for storms. Not just a small line of them this time, but a whole mass that hits once during the day and then again this evening into tomorrow morning. For my friends in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, this is nothing new. Up here, though, storms this heavy don’t come along quite as regularly. I heard one meteorologist even mention the threat of tornadoes. I don’t like tornadoes up here because I can’t stand outside and see them coming. I don’t like any storms I can’t watch roll in.

I find it interesting how the weather is used as metaphor for many things. The storms of life. Stormy relationships. Situations get stormy, too, and I’ve even known a few people whose personality could best be described as stormy. The tumultuous, often violent weather is a destructive force over which we have no control. While we may see them coming, we’ve no idea how much damage they’ll wreak until they actually arrive.

Storms scare some and soothe others. There is a sense of cleansing that comes with storms, but there is also real danger with falling limbs and downed power lines. Those of us with arthritis would just as soon skip them.

A Relationship With Music

Storms have a sense of the poetic, which is why there is a link between the violent weather and music. Every genre I’ve encountered, including classical and polyethnic, has its storm music. The one that comes to mind most frequently is a gospel song by Alfred Tinley, Stand By Me:

When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou Who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me (stand by me).

The music slowly rising and falling infers the growing swells of the waves on an ocean with an emotional impact. When sung well in a baritone voice, One can almost feel the motion.

A Short Playlist

Violent weather seldom lasts long. They move through quickly and they’re gone. While today’s forecast calls for multiple rounds, we also know there will be periods of calm and peace. So, what I’ve assembled are five songs to get you through the loud, thundery parts of the day. They’re not going to out shout the storm, but hopefully, will give you something a bit distracting so perhaps you won’t feel quite so gloomy. Enjoy.

Nature / Photography / pop culture

Waterfalls And Sunshine

June 14, 2016

Many a calm river begins as a turbulent waterfalls, yet none hurtles and foams all the way to the sea. —Mikhail Lermontov

charles i. letbetter - waterfalls and sunshine

We returned last week to one of my favorite places in Indiana and found it glorious.

For eleven years these waterfalls have haunted my memories.

When I first moved to Indiana and was looking for places to shoot, McCormick’s Creek State Park was one of the first places recommended. I wasn’t expecting too much in the way of excitement because, after all, this is Indiana; the state’s not exactly well-known for its dramatic topographical variances. When I first experienced the waterfall, though, I was hooked. I bought an annual pass and made the trek down there two, sometimes three times a week. I would arrive at 7:00 AM, right as the gate opened, shoot through the early morning sunlight making its way down the canyon, and be eating breakfast in Bloomington before 10.

Some of the pictures we took here that summer are still among my favorites. Not only are the waterfalls beautiful, but the creek itself meanders softly through the canyon giving home to incredible amounts of wildlife, if one take a moment to explore. Small snails cling to the rocks. Minnows dart back and forth in the shallow waters. Uniquely colored birds fly through the trees. As a photographer, the choices of scenery and background are never-ending. One could shoot here for innumerable days without capturing the same scene twice.

Sadly, after that first summer, my circumstances took a severe change and I wasn’t able to go back. Even when I did have access to a vehicle and sufficient time, I knew I didn’t dare make the trip alone anymore. I’m not as sure-footed at clambering over the rocks as I once was. Excuses were easy enough to find.

Until this past week, that is, when I decided to put excuses aside and take the family on a day trip. We don’t get many chances to wander now that Kat’s in school full-time, but we had an opening and took advantage of it. Even as we packed the water and snacks we would need for the trip, though, I wondered if everything would still be the way I remembered it. Would the stairs down to the waterfalls still be steep? Would the waterfalls still be as broad or would natural erosion have taken a toll? Would the pool below the waterfalls be too deep or too crowded for the kids to enjoy? Would the creek itself be as I remember?

The drive to McCormick’s Creek is only about an hour South of Indianapolis. There are three different totally reasonable routes to take, but I suggest using state highway 67 South through Mooresville, Friendswood, and Paragon. The drive is much more quiet and serene, void of the traffic on Interstate 70 and without the maddening construction on state highway 37. Note: You’ll want to use Google Maps, not Bing, for directions. Bing won’t give you highway 67 as an option.

Since we were taking the kids, we didn’t arrive as early as I might have wanted for my own purposes. Putting kids in the car at 6:00 AM would have created challenges we didn’t need. So, we didn’t arrive until nearly 11:30. The sun was high, which normally makes for horrendous photographs, except that the canyon prevents much direct sunlight from getting through. As the light bounces off the bare limestone, the light is diffused so that there is almost always a good angle for taking pictures.

The kids, of course, loved the waterfalls and were thrilled that we actually let them get into the water (Kat tends to be a bit cautious). Little man tried climbing the falls while Tippy enjoyed sliding down the rocks. While there, we met an old hippy with dreadlocks in both his hair and his beard, a couple with a six-month-old great dane puppy, and plenty of other families out exploring. I have always been pleased that McCormick’s Creek is not one of those places where a constant presence of park rangers is necessary to prevent trouble. People who come here do so to relax, not act like assholes.

Of course, I have pictures and what we’re showing you today is just the first set. I made Kat take a swimsuit and do the model thing, but we’ll save those pictures for tomorrow. These focus more on the kids and the natural surroundings of the waterfalls. Peaceful. Quiet. I processed most in black and white because I feel the look is more dramatic, but I did keep a couple of images in color; one because Kat requested such, and the other because the bright orange of Little Man’s shirt against the dark rock of the waterfalls was too powerful to mute.

We’ll be returning to McCormick’s Creek a couple of times in the next few weeks. One will be with a friend I’ve not seen in a while, and the other will be to camp for the weekend with extended family. Both will give us ample opportunity to explore even more and capture additional pictures and different times of the day.

For now, we hope you enjoy these and that they’ll encourage you to get out, stop making excuses, and resuscitate your imagination with waterfalls and sunshine.

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Current Issues / Nature / PotD

Feeling The Heat

June 10, 2016

I don’t always wear underwear. When I’m in the heat, especially, I can’t wear it. Like, if I’m wearing a flower dress, why do I have to wear underwear? —Naomi Campbell

The heat is on. The argument for wearing clothes is strained. Caution is advised

My alarm went off, as always, at 4:00 AM this morning. I groaned quietly, kissed the back of Kat’s neck and got out of bed, dressing in the dark so as to not bother anyone.

The dog was waiting, as always. He hears the alarm, too, and is anxious for me to put on my shoes and snap the leash to his harness. He’s been here a month, but our morning walks are already a matter of ritual. He shakes himself and we’re ready to go.

I check the weather forecast, as always. 70 degrees. 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms after 7 this morning. Shit. I have 120 pounds of concrete mix sitting in the yard. I’ll have to move that when we get back.

We start our walk with Belvedere’s nose to the ground, as always. The neighbor’s security light pops on as we pass but the dog doesn’t flinch. He’s more interested in the scent of a feral cat that roams the area each night. The cat can’t be too big; we see its muddy paw prints on the car each morning. In the distant, lightening flashes. We probably won’t actually get any rain at our house. Most weather goes around us.

This is summer, and, as always, we’re beginning to feel the heat. 92 is the forecasted high today, and as someone who grew up in Oklahoma, my instinctive reaction is to think, “Aw, that ain’t nothing but good swimming weather.” But 92 when I was a kid wasn’t the same as 92 is now. The only air pollution we had to worry about then was the fragrance that came from the feedlot when the wind was out of the South. Heat and humidity were a thing, but rarely did they actually kill anyone.

Things are different now. Heat is the enemy. Now, the National Weather Service issues air quality warnings. I saw the orange band across the top of the forecast early and knew what it had to be. Here’s this morning’s statement (the caps are normal for NWS statements; they’re not actually shouting at you):

INZ047-110000-
MARION-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...INDIANAPOLIS
256 PM EDT THU JUN 9 2016

...A KNOZONE ACTION DAY HAS BEEN DECLARED...

THE OFFICIALS AT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE CITY OF
INDIANAPOLIS HAVE CALLED FOR A KNOZONE ACTION DAY ON FRIDAY...JUNE
10...FOR THE FOLLOWING INDIANA COUNTIES...

MARION.

A KNOZONE ACTION DAY MEANS THAT A COMBINATION OF THE HIGH
TEMPERATURES...LIGHT WINDS AND OTHER FACTORS ARE EXPECTED TO
PRODUCE CONDITIONS WHERE HIGH LEVELS OF OZONE EMISSIONS MAY
EXCEED FEDERALLY MANDATED STANDARDS.

HERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDED ACTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN TAKE TO REDUCE
OZONE FORMING EMISSIONS.

RIDE THE BUS INSTEAD OF TAKING YOUR CAR.
CAR-POOL WITH A FRIEND OR CO-WORKER.
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN DRIVE THRU LANES.
POSTPONE FILLING OR TOPPING OFF YOUR GAS TANK UNTIL AFTER DARK.
PUT OFF MOWING YOUR LAWN UNTIL AFTER 600 PM.

All this because of a little heat. What wasn’t a big deal 40 or 50 years ago is monumental now. When we were kids, we could go out and play all day, every day, and the only time our parents worried about the weather affecting us adversely was when there were tornadoes in the area. Today, however, we’ll be taking specific action to protect the kids from harm: we’re leaving the county and heading for a quiet state park. They’ll be able to play outside without having to worry about breathing bad air.

Tomorrow is a different story, though. The anticipated high temperature for tomorrow is 96°F which means NWS will almost certainly release another air quality warning, but tomorrow is the annual Pride parade. We can’t miss that, for a number of reasons. That means we’ll have to make some adjustments to make sure the experience is safe and enjoyable for the kids. Come to think of it, you would probably do well to follow some of the same suggestions for yourself.

When feeling the heat, here are some do’s and don’ts for staying alive:

DO drink plenty of water. We’ll be carrying 8 oz bottles of the stuff to keep everyone hydrated. Hydration is always an issue in the heat, but under these conditions it is critical.
DON’T drink only soda, coffee or alcohol, all of which dehydrate the body. Sure, they’re tasty, but they’ll leave you panting along the side of the road.
DO wear clothing that is light textured if you’re in a place where clothing is required. This is a great time to show off your swimsuit.
DON’T forget the sunscreen. Please. Always. Skin cancer is no joke and incidents have risen dramatically in the past 20 years. The shine makes your body look good, anyway.
DO eat a lot of fresh fruit. Strawberries, peaches, apples, and bananas are what we’re having for breakfast.
DON’T eat a lot of processed sugars. That stuff is bad for you any day, but in the heat, they zap your strength and can make you violently ill. Stay away.
DO plan activities at either end of the day. Before 10 AM and after 6 PM are best.
DON’T expose you or anyone else (including pets) to extreme heat conditions any longer than absolutely necessary.
DO take your pets out for short, limited walks.
DON’T leave your pets tethered outside, even if they have shelter and water. The heat affects them even more than it does us.

I’m not one to jump on an alarmist bandwagon, but this heat is serious business. Already, the Best Protected Great Barrier Reef Corals Are Now Dead, and there’s a ’99 Percent Chance’ 2016 Will Be Hottest Year on record. The easy-going summers of the past, where we could just sit in the shade and drink lemonade without a care in the world are, unfortunately, non-existent for anyone who lives in a city of any size. I’m not sure those out in the country are as safe as they once were.

Summer is here. We’re going to feel some heat and, like it or not, we can’t just run around naked all over the place. Take some precautions. Use some common sense. There’s still plenty of fun to be had, we just have to be careful about when and how we do it.

Nature

Gardening Naked

May 7, 2016

What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back, with a hinge in it. —Charles Dudley Warner

Sure, gardening in the buff sounds like a lot of fun, but we have a feeling that it’s not all its made out to be

World Naked Gardening Day has been trending on Facebook for the past three weeks. While, from what I can tell, most of the participants appear to be British, or at least European, the event seems to be a wildly popular idea. They even have their own website. With such popularity, one might get the idea that everyone around the world is shucking their bloomers and heading out to their gardens.

The movement, now in its twelveth year, is something encouraged by naturists who have a tendency to run around naked rather often anyway. The appeal is understanding. Feeling the cool, loose soil between your toes, the warm sunlight on your back, and a gentle breeze blowing on your nipples sounds almost erotic in its own way. For people who enjoy gardening and enjoy getting back to nature in the most literal way possible, the day sounds perfect.

But, as I sit here in my nice, warm house, drinking my nice, hot coffee, I’m thinking that World Naked Gardening Day probably isn’t something in which I’m likely to participate. Not today. Probably not next year, either. There are some aspects of gardening nude that just don’t appeal to me. At all. Consider these issues:

As I’m writing, the temperature here in Indianapolis is 62 degrees. Now, if one is reasonably clothed, that’s not a bad temperature at all. In fact, for all those strange people out running the mini-marathon through town this morning, that temperature is damn-near perfect. However, if one is gardening, an activity that, generally speaking, is slightly more sedate and doesn’t quite count for getting in one’s cardio exercise, 63 degrees is a bit on the chilly side. Things are going to shrink and peak and the whole thing is going to be uncomfortable.
Unless you have a tall, solid fence, you’ll likely get arrested. For the larger portion of the United States, being out in your yard naked, where the neighbors and all those impressionable young children can see you, is illegal. We are some of the biggest prudes in the world. Tall fences eliminate the public indecency charges, but they also cast long shadows which isn’t necessarily good for gardening. Even worse, if one is arrested for being naked, which is bad enough, one if going to be tossed in jail naked until they can find you one of those pretty orange jumpsuits. Ick.
One word: bugs. Most people who are connected enough to the earth and really enjoy gardening are more likely to use natural methods of pest control, which means there are some species of bugs that manage to survive and are crawling around in the garden right now. If they’re crawling around in the garden, that means they’ll be crawling all over you, too. The very thought of having bugs crawling into one’s more private crevices is not the least bit enticing, and probably isn’t all the healthy, either.
Gardening typically involves a lot of bending over. Stop and think of that visual for a moment. We’ve all seen the lawn decoration that is supposed to resemble a woman in a red and white polka dotted dress bending over her garden. Imagine that woman naked. Worse yet, imagine her husband out there with her. Got that visual in your head? Good luck getting rid of it.
The primary reason we don’t want children seeing adults naked is because we don’t want to answer those questions. We know they’re not interested in intercourse at an early age, and we know that a healthy attitude about their own bodies is a good thing. However, when they do happen to see an adult, especially a parent, naked, their curiosity is sparked and they start answering questions; questions we’re not in any hurry to answer. Questions that start with phrases such as, “Why does mommy have …” and “What is that thing?” There is a time and place for answering those questions, but the garden is neither that time nor that place.

I love the idea of gardning naked, in theory. I encourage everyone to spend as much time naked as possible, especially in front of my camera. I rather like naked people. But naked gardening? Uhm, I think I’ll take a pass on this one, thank you.

Art / Nature / Photography / PotD

Merging With Nature

April 8, 2016

Words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within. —Alfred Lord Tennyson

charles i. letbetter - merging with nature

Outdoor pictures can be wonderful, but nature isn’t always as obliging as it might appear

[Ed. note: charles is busy dealing with little people this morning so we thought it best to just rerun an entry from last year when it wasn’t so freakin’ cold out. We’ll hope the boss is back tomorrow.]

I was able to step outside this morning without needing any kind of a jacket. That simple act made me very happy because it means we’re getting to the time of year when we can return to outdoor and natural light photography, a genre I genuinely love. There is something thrilling about being up at the crack of dawn, catching those first rays of sunlight, and having the first shoot of the day in the can before most people have finished their first cup of coffee.

On the best of days, we are able to schedule about ten days out, as far in advance as most meteorologists are willing to forecast, the weather holds, and we get that perfect blend of morning light with enticing shadows. If necessary, I’ll even settle for a moderately filtered shot as long as I’m getting good sun rays in the background. We have to be extremely well prepared and able to work quickly as the sun rises in the sky, but the results are almost always worth the early wake-up and any other minor inconvenience.

As I was going back through and re-processing this shot (we re-process anything over two years old), I was reminded, however, that nature doesn’t always want to cooperate. Dealing with the moving sunlight is one thing; at least, that’s predictable and something for which we can easily plan. What’s not as predictable is how vicious elements such as insects, rodents, and plant life might be on any given day at any given time. In this case, it was mosquitoes the model didn’t even feel whose bites left a number of unsightly little bumps on her skin. Sure, she felt them later, but their silent attack was beyond any on-camera solution by the time their presence was noticed.

I can’t help but feel bad when a model tells me two or three days later that she’s developed a rash, or found some strange bites on an intimate body part, or apparently came into contact with some plant to which she’s allergic. Nature can be a very dangerous place to take pictures!

When we’re out scouting for possible outdoor locations, we try to anticipate whether any little vermin might interfere with our plans. After all, a lot of people have issues with setting on a piece of rotting wood teaming with creepy, crawling things with more legs than can be counted at a single glance, which is all the creature is going to get before it’s brushed away, if not smashed. Yet, just because a location looks good one morning doesn’t mean it will be in the same condition two weeks later.

Mosquitoes are probably the most bothersome culprits, especially as we get deeper into the summer and their numbers seem greater than the entire population of whatever state we’re in. Ants are another common culprit and there is often absolutely no sign that they’re going to be a problem until the very moment we’re ready to sit a model on a stump, look down, and find the place crawling with them as though they’d received an invitation.

Most the time, such encounters are merely a momentary frustration. We try dealing with insects and such in the most humane manner possible. After all, everything is part of something else’s food chain and poison we put into the environment anywhere eventually comes back to our own dinner plates. Yet, there have been times when the aggressiveness of nature simply forced us to leave. One of the worst was probably the evening we were shooting in a small, natural pool that forms in the bend of a creek. We had shot there before with no problem, but on this particular evening, crawdads came out and began nipping at the models toes. Despite all our attempts to dissuade them, they were unrelenting and we finally had no choice but to retreat.

So,please keep in mind that there are things hiding in that picture that can sometimes make paradise a living nightmare. Nature doesn’t always want us merging with it; sometimes it wants us for lunch!

Nature / Photography / PotD / Social Commentary

Cool Water

August 3, 2015

Cool Water

All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time’s relentless melt. ― Susan Sontag

[one_half padding=”4px 10px 0 4px”]Water. For a lot of people across the Midwest United States, it’s something we’ve had a bit much of this summer. There’s been no short amount of rain and with it has come a significant amount of flooding, sometimes in areas that had never seen such a problem before. For all those people who are still cleaning up from the devastating effects of those floods, there doesn’t seem to be any shortage of cool water.

Wet conditions don’t prevail everywhere, though, and Western states have continued a drought that started in 2012 and is well beyond critical levels. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) reports that for the month of June approximately 14 percent of the US was plagued with severe to extreme drought, an increase of five percent over May. July numbers aren’t ready yet, but don’t expect them to be any better. Good luck finding cool water around here.

If you want cool water that is actually clean and drinkable, there aren’t that many sources. The entire planet is experiencing a shortage of the stuff and the situation is getting worse. Numbers from aid organizations and charities vary a little bit, but the United Nations reports that 783 million people, that’s over one-tenth of the world’s population, does not have access to clean water. 2.5 billion people do not have adequate sanitation. What’s the resulting impact? 6 to 8 million people die annually from the consequences of disasters and water-related diseases. And if you think throwing money at the problem is the answer, you’re wrong. The UN estimates it would take 3.5 planets Earth to provide enough water to sustain the existing population at the current lifestyles common to Western Europe and the US. The UN also reports that, “By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could live under water stress conditions.”

We’re not exactly doing well with this cool water thing, are we? I’m pretty sure the majority of people in the US take for granted how fortunate we are to have the easy access to clean, cool water that we do. We don’t have to walk for miles. We simply turn on a tap and it’s there. We don’t even have to worry too often about it being clean.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 10px”]Aid organizations have been trying for years to draw our attention to the global water issue without too much luck. In California early this year, Governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order requiring, among other things, a 25% reduction in water usage across the board, no exceptions. Just this past week, the Internet nearly choked as pictures of Melinda Gates, wife of world’s richest man Bill Gates, was photographed carrying drinking water on her head in solidarity with women in Malawi. Still, at the end of the day, most Americans and Western Europeans ignore the looming disaster.

Today’s picture is a tempting one as we’ve created a double exposure by merging an image of a babbling brook with that of a young woman bathing in a stream. The cool water looks comfortable, refreshing, and alluring. This is a fairly complicated image that not only blends two separate photographs but changes from color to black and white as one moves from left to right across the picture. The result is a blend of emotions as our perspective of the image changes.

Back in 1963, on his album Cattle Call, which produced his signature song, singer/actor Eddie Arnold also included the song Cool Water, about a cowboy crossing the desert with his horse, Dan.

All day I’ve faced a barren waste
Without the taste of water, cool water
Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry
And souls that cry for water, cool clear water.

Dan’s feet are sore he’s yearning for
Just one thing more than water, cool water
Like me I guess he’d like to rest
Where there’s no quest for water, cool clear water

If something doesn’t change, and quickly, those are sentiments we may all soon share.[/one_half_last]

Nature / PotD

Urban Greenspace

April 18, 2015

Concert in the Park (2014). Model: Laura (L Modelz) Makeup: Danelle French Hair: Anthony Perez Styling: Nativa Photography assistance: James Thorpe

City planners have long understood the benefit of having large expanses of urban greenspace scattered throughout an urban population. While how that greenspace is used has changed somewhat over the years, a city’s largest parks and outdoor recreation areas are consistently the places where people gather for fun, relaxation, and sometimes meaning.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]I still remember the first time I set foot in New York’s famed Central Park. I was there for hours and still barely covered a third of the space the park occupies. Coming from rural Oklahoma, I had braced myself for all the concrete and steel of the metropolis, and it wasn’t like I didn’t know Central Park existed. What caught me by surprise was the reality of just how large it is and all the varied ways New Yorkers take advantage of the greenspace, both for good and, sometimes, not.

Central Park was the first such landscaped space in the United States, having reached its current size by 1863. While acquiring that much land in an already immense and densely populated city wasn’t easy, and fraught with political tension, there was little argument that the park was something the city wanted. The greater argument was over who would control it, the city or the state. By 1870, the city won that fight and from there it has possibly become the most famous park in the world, a shining example followed by other burgeoning cities all across the country.

Environmentally, urban greenspace is like gold to a city. The more people that are gathered putting off carbon dioxide, the more we need trees and vegetation to absorb what we produce and provide us with the necessary oxygen to sustain life. While no park totally makes up for the accumulation of millions of people, even small space with a handful of trees has a huge impact. Parks help with flood control, pollution control, stop soil erosion, and help keep down urban temperatures in addition to providing a balanced home for urban wildlife.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Beyond the ecological benefits, though, urban greenspace provides people with a place to be, a place to relax, to sit under a shade tree and read, to have a picnic with family or friends, to fly a kite, walk a dog, chase a ball, learn to ride a bike, go for a jog, or just enjoy a bit of fresh (more or less) air. While urban living can be exciting and fun, the fact is we miss nature and long deeply to have it around us and to be part of the natural earth. We don’t like being cooped up all day, surrounded by four walls, looking longingly out elevated windows. We need space to get out and roam and explore and stretch.

Many cities have experimented with variations on the greenspace over the years. Some have put in large ponds, streams, or other water attractions. Others have put in playgrounds for children, though most were later removed due to rising insurance costs. Still others provide tennis courts, basketball courts, and little league and softball fields for organized recreation. As soccer has become increasingly popular we’ve seen space reserved for youth and adult league games. Portions of large parks have been converted to major music venues, offering concerts of all varieties in an atmosphere where one doesn’t necessarily need a ticket to listen and enjoy the music.

Benefits of urban greenspace are endless and for photographers especially they provide countless opportunities to capture seasonal natural beauty while also providing a dynamic backdrop for portraits. So, we end this week’s look at the urban outdoors celebrating the great parks around the country. Let’s go now and enjoy![/one_half_last]

Nature / PotD

Covered In Nature

April 11, 2015

Covered In Nature (2009). Models: Rose & Emily. MUA & Styling: Kelly Oswalt

Celebrating Spring and Nature go hand in hand. Spring is when nature is at its most glorious so it only stands to reason that now is when we are most anxious to get out and immerse ourselves in its glory and grandeur, taking as many pictures as we can along the way.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Kelly Oswalt gets the lion’s share of credit for today’s photo; the concept was hers and she did all the makeup and styling. We even shot in her backyard. Kelly’s concepts often involve nature and she makes those natural elements her subject when she is behind the camera herself. Not everyone understands or appreciates how to work with, in, and around nature, but Kelly does it well.

Bonding with nature is one of those concepts with seasonal appeal. This time of year, I’m drawn to Thoreau’s descriptions of living as close to nature as possible. While there have been many others who have perhaps studied nature more deeply or lived more simply for longer, Thoreau’s gift was relating the connection between nature and life.

“The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour. Then there is least somnolence in us; and for an hour, at least, some part of us awakes which slumbers all the rest of the day and night… All memorable events, I should say, transpire in morning time and in a morning atmosphere. The Vedas say, “All intelligences awake with the morning.”

and then later he muses:

“A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it; and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities, which we call doing our duty. We loiter in winter while it is already spring.”

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[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]While few can afford to do as Thoreau did, building a cabin by a pond and then taking two years to live there and write, Spring ignites in most all of us that urge to “get back to nature,” to be outside, explore, and experience. Our desire to be part of the world, to kick off our shoes, dress down next to nothing, to feel nature as though we were born into it, is instinctive. Human evolution has not lost the primal need to connect with that source from which we originate.

As we’ve seen this week, taking pictures outdoors comes with a host of dangers and challenges. When people are involved, especially, one does not just pick up a camera, shoot leisurely, and expect images of any quality or to not endure some difficulty. Yet, for all the issues that might present themselves, for everything that one might need to consider before going out, just the experience of shooting outdoors in nature is worth whatever trouble might be involved. Even if the pictures don’t turn out as planned, one has spent the time surrounded by and hopefully enjoying all that nature has to give.

Again, from Thoreau:

“If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal- that is your success. All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself. The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forget them. They are the highest reality. Perhaps the facts most astounding and most real are never communicated by man to man. The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched.”

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Nature / Photography / PotD

Not All Outdoors Is Equal

April 10, 2015

On The Rocks (2012)

Finding that perfect place to shoot outdoors can be difficult and when we do find a place that works we tend to want to keep it to ourselves. Great outdoor locations are almost as valuable, and rare, as gold. Non-photographers think we’re crazy, but experienced photographers know that not all of nature is created equal.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Mud. Muck. Gnats. Hills. Rocks. Rough terrain. If one is going to shoot with me outdoors, those are some of the conditions that one is likely to encounter. I’m not one of those people who just hop out of the car and say, “Hey, this would make a good place to shoot!” Instead, I study a location for a while, watch it in different conditions, walk it multiple times if I can, and consider exactly what I can and cannot do there photographically.

Even with all the planning I’m sometimes surprised. More water. Less water. A visiting herd of cows. For all the challenges to shooting outdoors, finding the best location may be the most challenging. Certainly, it requires the most energy.

I couldn’t get to the location where today’s photo was taken if I wanted. With all the rain we’ve had this week I rather doubt there’s a natural tributary in the state that isn’t at or overflowing its capacity. That’s the one draw-back to an otherwise almost idyllic shooting location; one I’ve used several times over the years and almost always with impressive results. Even though the location is public property, it is secluded enough I tend to consider it mine and would probably be a bit jealous if I saw pictures from another photographer taken there.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to shooting outdoors is finding just the right location that works for the time at which you want to shoot. To the uninitiated, it seems that any bright, sunny location ought to work for taking pictures. After all, if we have plenty of light and maybe some flowers and trees in the background, what more do we need? Experienced photographers understand, though, that finding just the right location, one that can be used repeatedly while still generating unique looks, is almost as difficult as mining for gold in the Midwest. There aren’t as many locations running around as one might expect.

Finding a good location is not unlike going on a treasure hunt. One can drive, and hike, for hours, through all manner of conditions, before finding that perfect spot. We don’t want it to be recognizable, because then everyone else will want to use it. We want our pictures to be unique and that means having locations different from where everyone else shoots.

Understand, there are thousands of locations where one can take a good photograph. The challenge is that for most of those locations one good, usable image is all one is going to get. No one needs a portfolio where all the photos look the same. Things such as notable landmarks, unique trees, and recognizable gardens are fantastic for that one shot, but don’t provide the long-term use for which we ultimately look.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Everyone has their own opinions, of course, but here is what I look for in a good outdoor location:

Flexibility. Can I get more than one look out of a location? If I shoot from different directions and different times of day does it look like a different place? Does it work both morning and evening? How does it look during different seasons? The more I can get out of a location the more valuable it is.
Lighting. Sure, most any outdoor location gets light, but is it the right kind at the right time? Are there barriers between me and the sun? If so, do they make good filters? Is direct light the only option or is reflective light available as well?
Background pollution. Look toward the horizon and what do you see? If it is anything other than trees, clouds, and maybe a mountain, we have a problem. Power lines are the most frequent offenders, but randomly visible rooftops, or hints of urbanization in an otherwise forested setting reduce the visual impact.
Access. Is the location public property that can be accessed legally at any time or is it private property for which one has to obtain permission? Used to I would fudge this one, but as private property laws have changed in many states I no longer consider it worth the risk. I prefer public property whenever possible and will ask before shooting on private property.
Traffic. If I can get to a place, other people can as well. How well trafficked is the location? Do we need to watch for people in the background? Might people stand around gawking? I don’t exactly enjoy an audience.
Remoteness. How difficult is it to get to the location? The image above required a little over a mile’s hike, which is fine for a location where I don’t need additional equipment. Being remote means better privacy, but also means more difficulty getting help if something goes wrong.
Peacefulness. Very much a personal preference, is this a location I would enjoy even if not taking pictures? Would I just sit and read a book here? Is the place one I can enjoy just being? Such qualities inevitably transfer to the photos.

Every picture tells a story and we want every story to be different but having to find a new location for every outdoor concept is time-consuming and often frustrating. Finding one that offers multiple options all year long is like finding treasure.

And no, I’m not telling where mine are.[/one_half_last]

Nature / PotD

Stormy Weather

April 9, 2015

Color of Spring (2012)

Nothing adds drama to a photograph quite like dark, brooding, rolling clouds in the background. Capturing those clouds, without resorting post-processing trickery, is rather challenging. By the time clouds get as dark and ominous as we might want, chances are the weather is getting feisty and that’s not a good time to be taking pictures.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Rain was still about an hour off the afternoon we took this picture. The model only had a short window of time available but was anxious to get pictures of the dress she had created for a competition. She wanted the pictures outdoors and the weather was perfect for getting the level of drama she desired. We weren’t out long, maybe thirty minutes max, but that was enough to set my weather anxieties on edge.

Growing up in Kansas and Oklahoma, one learns a lot about weather; it’s a necessity of survival. Weather forecasting back then was still in the relative stone age compared to the computer-driven real-time analysis available to meteorologists now. No matter how much one knew about the weather, usually the best tool in forecasting was having a large window through which one could look out. We were taught to respect, not fear, bad weather. Tornadoes could be avoided with some precaution, we were told. What we had to watch out for was lightening.

Stories abounded of people getting hit by tree limbs or knocked out of fishing boats because of lightening, but the incident that really drove the danger home was Johnny Bill. I met Johnny Bill (yes, that was his real name) through his grandparents my final year of college in 1983. He was the type of kid grandparents took pride in introducing to everyone. He was tall, athletic, an unruly shock of ginger hair on his head, and the kind of kid that attracted a following of little girls no matter where he went. He was intelligent, polite, and extremely kind.

Football season was still young. After school practice was critical, but Oklahoma high school coaches had strict policies about weather. Playing or practicing in the rain was acceptable, but at the first sign of lightening everyone was to be off the field. So it was this Thursday afternoon. Storms were still several miles away it seemed, but at the first rumble of thunder the coach called practice and sent his team toward the locker room. Johnny Bill was crossing the endzone, his helmet in his hand, when lightening hit. He and two other players fell to the grass. The other two slowly got up. Johnny Bill didn’t.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Two weeks passed and then stretched into a month. His family, the school, and the entire community prayed. Hard. Doctors did everything they could to relieve the pressure on his brain, but he had taken a direct hit, effectively burning out his entire nervous system. After several weeks, the decision was made to remove Johnny Bill from life support and he passed within minutes.

A lot has changed in meteorology over the past 30 years. I’m sitting here this morning knowing that storms are, once again, on their way. Where, when, and at what strength is hardly a mystery, though. I can watch my phone and see exactly the same information meteorologists see. I know upper level wind speeds, I can see barometric pressure readings, and radar has real-time accuracy. I don’t have to wonder whether it is safe to go out. I’ve known all week, in fact, that today’s weather was going to be rough, so we didn’t schedule anything outdoors.

Would it be tempting to take advantage of the dark clouds I know will be rolling in this morning? Sure, tempting, but stupid. By the time the dark clouds are most photographable lightening is likely at its most ferocious. Just because it sounds like it is still miles away doesn’t mean the next strike won’t be right on top of you.

For that reason, I’m not bothered too much by photographers enhancing skies in post-processing, provided it is done well. I would much rather see a carefully used photoshop brush than an obituary notice. Little of what photographers encounter has the ability to be lethal, but lightening is one element of nature that’s never worth the risk. Please use some common sense before going out into stormy weather.

And perhaps consider learning how to photoshop clouds really well.[/one_half_last]

Nature / Photography / PotD

Spring, No Filter

March 12, 2015

[one_half padding=”2px 4px 0 2px”]Photography continues to morph as a medium. Since its inception, definition of what is or is not a photograph, how pictures should be taken, and what qualifies as “good” has been a subject of constant debate. There are those who live and die by the rule of thirds. Others consider clarity the defining element. Some accept almost anything as long as it is creative.

One of the most significant changes in photography over the past five years has been the rise of image-based social media sites such as Instagram and Tumblr. They have changed the concept of what photography is, what it does and its place in society. Even the vocabulary has changed with terms such as “selfie” and “no filter” having entered the popular lexicon.

Our picture of the day qualifies as a “no filter” shot. Now, you’re going to look at the picture and think I’m lying. If ever an image had been run through a half-dozen Photoshop filters, this would be it, right?

No, not a single one. I didn’t even color correct. This is straight out of the camera, taken on a lovely spring day in 2011. So, how did we get this interestingly abstract look without post-processing manipulation? By knowing our camera and working a bit outside the bounds of “normal.”

I’m going to get a bit technical here, so those uninitiated might want to grab a dictionary.

Aperture and shutter speed made all the difference in the world with this shot. When working with nature, we often want the crispness that comes with a tight aperture, typically f10 or higher. For this image, we pushed all the way to f32, which was about as small as this particular lens would take us. At any lower setting, we would have lost all definition completely.

The challenge, of course, is that when one makes the hole allowing light into the camera so very small, an adjustment has to be made somewhere else to compensate, otherwise the image is too dark. Our choices are ISO, which affects the light sensitivity of the capturing media, or shutter speed, which determines the length of time the shutter is left open. In this case, we chose a significantly slower shutter speed of .3 seconds.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”2px 2px 0 4px”]In almost any other conversation, .3 seconds would be incredibly fast. Anything under a second is pretty quick, isn’t it? Not always. Depending on the lens and environmental factors, shutter speeds are normally faster than 1/100th of a second and if we’re attempting to capture a moving subject we’ll need to be significantly faster than that. If we’re at the Speedway, shutter speeds of 1/5000th are not uncommon. By comparison, .3 is crawling.

The final element is one that may seem counter-intuitive: motion. Typically, one would use a tripod with such a slow shutter speed and perhaps even take other precautions such as a timed or remote shutter release to prevent motion blur. Motion blur is what makes this image, though. By pre-determining the direction in which we would move the camera, its angle, and the distance of the motion, we were able to give the image the desired amount of abstraction while still leaving a subtle hint as to what the subject actually is.

No, we didn’t get it right the first time. Or the second. Or the third. This image is half-way through a set of 26 photographs. There are others that are equally interesting, but this is my favorite of the set.

As warmer temperatures finally begin to return to the Midwest this week, now is the time to reacquaint ourselves with the outdoors. We enjoy going for walks, hiking along trails, or perhaps even sitting under a tree and reading a good book. Now is also a good time to get reacquainted with one’s camera and some of its

Now is also a good time to get reacquainted with one’s camera and some of its unique capabilities. Go outdoors. Go off tripod. Experiment with settings that aren’t supposed to work and see what you can do to create truly original images.

While the social media definition of “no filter” means going without post processing manipulation, why not also use this opportunity to take any filters off your creativity? Let your mind wander. Turn your imagination loose with no limits as to what might be possible.

Spring is the perfect time to strip away the filters, both in terms of photography, as well as life. Get out there. Discard the restrictions. Play. Risk. Fail. Try again. You may find yourself taking some of the best photographs ever.[/one_half_last]

Nature / PotD

Johnny’s Apple Seeds

March 11, 2015

Love Those Apples (2013)

Apples have always been part of my life. Some of my earliest memories as a child involve Mother pouring me a glass of apple “juice” from a giant HiC™ can. There was also plenty of apple pie, apple sauce, apple dumplings, and apple fritters in my diet back then. Apples were significant.

A lot of people, some of whom have opinions worth trusting, tell us that apples today are not as nutritious as they were when I was a child. Others warn against shipping apples into the United States from countries whose health standards may not be as high as ours. I’m waiting for someone to warn that apples are not good for us at all. Yet, apples are still the second most popular fruit in the US, right behind bananas (according to the USDA). Nothing is considered more American (though the fruit did not originate here) and nothing is more iconic, even in the world of technology, as an apple.

Today is Johnny Appleseed day. I remember my father telling the story when I was maybe six or seven years old, how he traveled the country teaching horticulture, reading stories, and preaching. Of course, there’s much about John Chapman’s life that is as much fiction as not, and almost none of it can be verified without question. There are even debates as to exactly when he died (March 11, 1845 is considered the “official” date) and where in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, Indiana he is buried.

What’s not in question, though, is the impact he had on the Ohio Valley. To this day, there are still numerous apple orchards dotting the landscape across Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. There are even some who claim a connection to Chapman, though once again, those claims are difficult to substantiate. One has to question whether America’s fascination with this incredible fruit would be as strong as it is without the influence of one man who took the planting of apple trees seriously and took the time to make relationships along the way.

The picture above was taken a couple of years ago at what is considered an organic apple orchard in Indiana. The little guy had already heard about Johnny Appleseed in his preschool class and talked about him and planting apple trees the entire trip. He then saved the seeds from his apple so he could plant more apple trees in our yard. He couldn’t have been more excited. Apples do more than provide nutrition, they influence lives.

Finding positive stories about people in history is increasingly difficult. As we re-evaluate actions and statements of 200 years ago in light of contemporary society, people we once considered honorable don’t always fare well. Maybe there are negative stories out there about Johnny Appleseed, but I don’t care to hear them. I like the concept that one person made a positive difference in both the agricultural practices and nutritional attitudes of the whole country simply by planting trees and telling stories.

Now, who’s down for a warm mug of apple cider?

Page 2 of 2

Nature

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer. —Helen Hunt Jackson

Things That Happen In September

Things That Don’t Happen In September

Showing Some Respect For The Calendar

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There is nothing more miserable in the world than to arrive in paradise and look like your passport photo. —Erma Bombeck

The Joy Of A Photo

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Nature is so powerful, so strong. Capturing its essence is not easy – your work becomes a dance with light and the weather. It takes you to a place within yourself. —Annie Leibovitz

Weather Has A Hold On Me

With Weather Comes Pain

Weather-Driven Planning

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The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board. —Grover Cleveland

A Relationship With Music

A Short Playlist

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Many a calm river begins as a turbulent waterfalls, yet none hurtles and foams all the way to the sea. —Mikhail Lermontov

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I don’t always wear underwear. When I’m in the heat, especially, I can’t wear it. Like, if I’m wearing a flower dress, why do I have to wear underwear? —Naomi Campbell

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What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back, with a hinge in it. —Charles Dudley Warner

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Words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within. —Alfred Lord Tennyson

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All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time’s relentless melt. ― Susan Sontag

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Celebrating Spring and Nature go hand in hand. Spring is when nature is at its most glorious so it only stands to reason that now is when we are most anxious to get out and immerse ourselves in its glory and grandeur, taking as many pictures as we can along the way.

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