by tmoffett | May 14, 2010 | Black and White, Landscape, Photographic Philosophy
Against The Shadows
If you were to take 100 photographers to the same location at the same time, they would come up with 100 different images. We all have our own unique way of seeing and creating photographs. That is also what keeps us improving and evolving. At least for me that is true. I admire photographers who work in different styles than I do. I can understand and enjoy their images but no matter how hard I try, I cannot create photographs like they do. The same is true, I believe, for each of us.
This particular image is a perfect example of what I am trying to say. I was out one fall morning in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with a group of photographers. Steve Winslow was leading the excursion and had been to this very location many times before. After a wonderful morning of photographing, we went to breakfast then went our separate ways. Several months later I met up with Steve at a convention where I had entered this image in competition. He asked me where I had taken the photo. He seemed surprised when I told him that it was that morning in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and he was there. He had not seen this image before, I believe, because we have different visions. Not better or worse, just different. If we truly put our hearts into our work then we will create meaningful images that are uniquely our own.
by tmoffett | May 3, 2010 | Black and White, Critique, Family, Photo tips, Portraits
Logan
In today’s post, I want to discuss a little bit about my philosophy of portrait photography. While in a fine art piece, I want everything perfect, both in the visual and in the technical aspects. In portraiture, I can give up a little perfection in order to capture a meaningful, emotional portrait, especially when it comes to children. It is all about the feeling, the memory, the inner workings of a child. This image, Logan, is a portrait of my own son, created a couple years ago, so I can discuss it both as a photographer and as a parent.
There are a few technical problems with this image that I know judges would get me for in competition, but frankly, when working with a client I really don’t care what the judges will say. I am concerned about the client. What do they want? What do they see? How can I make an image that will mean something to them? For instance, in this image, the expression is wonderful. This particular son loves to put on his “camera smile” anytime I get him in front of the camera. It is very artificial. I have many photographs of it. This time I was able to put him at ease, let him sit up on the stool and get comfortable. Before he knew it, I had the image. No time to put on the “camera face.” Just a genuine, pleasant, happy expression. I can see in his eyes the pleasant, happy child that he is. In working this way to get the perfect expression, I had neglected something else…his feet. Or had I? Yes, many a competition judge may say, “I don”t like the foot position, it is drawing too much attention.” However, what I see, is a child whose feet have outgrown the body, and now the body needs to catch up. It happens with every child. Also, the first thing to come off when my children enter the house is their shoes. They love to be barefoot. This portrait reminds me of that. Could I have covered the foot with a dark sock or shoe and pleased an audience that knows nothing about this child? Yes. But why, when it would remove some of the meaning for whom it belongs?
No matter what any critic may say, this is still one of my favorite images that I have of Logan in my collection of our family portraits. It shows me who he really is, what he is all about. The peace and joy that he brings to our home. I never tire of looking at images like this. They have meaning to me. I only hope that the portraits I create for my clients bring as much joy to them as this one does to me.
by tmoffett | Apr 30, 2010 | Black and White, Landscape, Photo tips
Storm Clouds, Rexburg, Idaho
I love clouds! They are fascinating to me. Always changing, never the same. Sometimes I photograph them as abstracts, reminiscent of Alfred Stieglitz “Equivalents” series from the 20’s and 30’s. Most often, though, I include foreground elements that can help create a feeling, such as uneasiness or fear from a powerful approaching storm or the calm feeling that results from soft puffy clouds on a warm summer day.
After attending an education conference at ISU in Pocatello, I decided to head up to Rexburg and look up some friends there. I threw my camera in the truck took off. I began making phone calls, but found no one home. Arriving in Rexburg with no plans now, I decided to find something to photograph. I drove up the hill to the LDS Temple and started there. The light was getting low and sweet and the grounds were quiet and peaceful. I soaked up the feeling and went to work. After about a half hour to forty-five minutes of shooting, I turned around and….WOW! This storm was rolling in and I hadn’t even noticed! I ran across the street to this field, set up and enjoyed the show. It lasted about 15 minutes and then the light was gone.
I have always been taught to be prepared. Keep a camera with you at all times! In this case it paid off. This is also one time I was glad that no friend answered their phone!
by tmoffett | Apr 28, 2010 | Black and White, Composition, Critique, Landscape
Lumbering Silence
This is one of my favorite images that I have ever created, shot near Tony Grove Lake in Cache County, Utah, a place where I spent a lot of time while attending Utah State University. I love the outdoors. The peace and quiet that the forest affords is refreshing amid the stress of daily life. When viewing this image I can almost feel the warmth of the sun on my face and hear the rustle of leaves as the cool mountain breeze blows through the trees. I can feel the protection from the elements that the tall, strong trees provide. It amazes me what a photograph can do to bring peace to the soul.
As I was walking around the lake I saw the late afternoon light pouring through these tall trees, illuminating a path wandering through the forest. The crosslight created by the low angle of the sun brings out the texture through the entire image as well as strengthens the power of the vertical lines of the trees. The light, line and texture all work together to create an image showing the strength and power, yet calming influence of nature.
Lumbering Silence, shot on film, is available as a handprinted gelatin silver print in sizes up to 8.5″x18″ inches, and larger prints as archival injet prints.
by tmoffett | Apr 26, 2010 | Black and White, Composition, Landscape, Photo tips
Entwined, Lake Lowell
This image is part of an ongoing series of images that I have been creating around our local reservoir, Lake Lowell. The lakes primary function is to provide water for agriculture, however it is also the home of the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge as well as much summertime recreation. Ample opportunity abounds to create beautiful images around the lake. It has become one of my favorite local places to photograph.
Last Spring, Christeena and I arrived about an hour before sunset to explore this area where we had not been before. I explored and made photographs through the sunset. I was really excited about what I had made, then on the way back to the car I spotted these vines. Earlier, with the sun up, I had walked right past this scene, but now, illuminated by nothing but the the blue sky, I was totally taken aback. The dark shadows opened up while the light leaves jumped out at me. I quickly set up the tripod and camera, looked for the most interesting composition, calculated exposure to capture what I felt and then enjoyed the results!
Lesson to be learned: just because the sun has set does not mean it is time to stop photographing. Often the best light happens after sunset. This was more than 15 minutes after the sun had dropped below the horizon. With a tripod long exposures are easily doable. In order to maintain sharpness throughout the image, I shot at f/22 with a 5 second exposure.
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.
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