by tmoffett | Apr 20, 2010 | Color, Composition, Critique, Family, Landscape
Pastel Sunrise, Cannon Beach, Oregon
This was my first morning ever on the Oregon Coast. We arose early to be on the beach at sunrise, and we were not disappointed! As the sun began rising in the east, the light haze over the ocean to the west created a soft pastel sky. It was beautiful. Christeena and I spent the morning walking the beach, photographing the ocean, watching the light change as it gradually fell on Haystack Rock, listening to the sounds of nature, talking, soaking it all in. After the sun rose and the quality of light diminished, we headed to Pig’N Pancake for some fresh blueberry pancakes. We spent the rest of the day hiking, exploring tidepools and relaxing. Great company, good food and a wonderful atmosphere. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
This image is quite unique for me. It has a very soft, almost painterly feel to it. It is very simple yet quite complex at the same time. There is just enough motion in the water to give it a soft feeling, yet still sharp enough to keep the shape of the waves intact. The closer you look, the more you see. The vertical motion of the foam in the foreground counters with the horizontal lines created by the waves in the midground to inject a bit of tension and excitement, yet the overall feel is still very calm. The image is almost monochromatic, yet there is just a hint of pastel color in the sky, created by the early morning light as it interacted with the haze hanging low over the ocean. The .6 second shutter speed was just slow enough to capture a sense of movement, yet just fast enough to maintain some detail. Any faster or slower and the image would not be nearly as effective at creating feeling and emotion.
by tmoffett | Apr 13, 2010 | Black and White, Family, Landscape
The best trip of my life! Christeena and I threw everything in the truck and told the kids we would call them each night and tell them where we were. Not a worry in the world. No schedule. Just the two of us. Next to getting married, it was the best decision we had made. After nearly 20 years of marriage and raising children, we needed some time, just us two, to remember what brought us together. We had such a great time that we have decided to do this much more frequently!
We drove to the Oregon Coast and arrived in Astoria just in time to photograph the sunset (a topic for a future post), then headed to Seaside for the night. We photographed Canon Beach the next morning, then during the afternoon did some hiking between Seaside and Canon Beach. I loved the lush green forests. I was used to the forests in Utah and Idaho, but had never seen forested areas with so much foliage and thick undergrowth like this. It was incredible. And to share the moment with my most cherished possession… Christeena.
Viewing this image brings back the memories. I can smell the fresh, moist air, the cool ocean breeze filtering through the trees. That is what I love most about photography. Being able to capture memories, not just documentation, but true memories of what I feel at any given time and then share those feelings through my images with others.
by tmoffett | Apr 6, 2010 | Family
Awestruck!
This image of my 4 boys reminds me of the need to capture images frequently throughout our lives. Not a masterpiece by any means, but definitely a “keeper” in my family album. I made this image several years ago while on a family trip. I remember as a boy myself being captivated by water fountains like this. When my four boys lined up on the steps of the fountain, I was happy to have had my camera with me to capture the moment. My oldest is now 18 and the youngest in this photo 11. I often wonder where time has slipped away to.
This photograph tells me to slow down and remember the important things in life… family! Take time to enjoy life. There is always something that needs to be done, but it can wait. Boys grow up too fast. Soon they will be independent young men with school, jobs, etc. Life will pass us by if we don’t take the time to notice.
by tmoffett | Apr 4, 2010 | Family, Portraits
I love this portrait of my son! Anytime I photograph a person I try to capture something more than what shows on the surface. This particular image, at least for me does that. I see the independence that is within. I see a bit of an inner struggle as he is learning to be an adult… who am I, who should I be, who do I really want to be…?
Christeena, my wife and his mother, prefers the smiling portrait that I made at the same time. I think it is the motherly side seeing what she really wants him to become. I see glimpses of that personality emerging at times, but now, this is what I see. So this is what I photograph.
In a portrait everything must come together. The clothing. The lighting. The pose. The print treatment. Everything. When it does, as it does here for me, then you have a timeless statement. A True Portrait.
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