by tmoffett | Aug 11, 2010 | Color, Photographic Philosophy, Ramblings
Lake Lowell
Why do I photograph? Because I need to! I got my first camera when I was about 8 or 9 years old, and have been documenting life and the world we live in since then. My reasons to shoot and my photographic philosophies have changed over the years, but I still have a need to create images. I must share my vision with the world.
I love photographing locations that I regularly visit. I love the ordinary. I like to show it in extraordinary ways. It is my vision. We walk past subject matter daily that could make great images if we only took the time and effort to recognize it. I think we tend to ignore more great photographs than we see. We must force ourselves to slow down and learn to see as though we were looking at things for the first time. We must look with new eyes. We must look with new light. When the light is right, everything looks good. Recognizing the light and seeing the composition is what really makes a great photographer. These skills must constantly be honed in order to create meaningful photographs. It is a challenge.
That is why I photograph.
by tmoffett | Aug 9, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Ramblings
Sunset, Lower Dam, Lake Lowell
What is it about sunsets that we all enjoy? Each one is so different, not one the same or even similar. I have my own ideas why we all enjoy them so much. Maybe your ideas are different. I would love to hear others views.
All day long we view the world in cold, blue light. Our eyes adjust to the color and we see it as “normal.” Then for a few brief minutes at the end of the day everything changes. On the evening of a great sunset, the whole color palette of the world shifts to the warm spectrum. Psychologically warm is inviting, it draws us in, it is captivating. If nothing else it is different. I could be very happy sitting next to my sweetheart every evening watching the sun set, just watching and soaking in the warm feelings. Life couldn’t get much better.
by tmoffett | Aug 1, 2010 | Color, Ramblings
Wintery Morning
With the high temperatures that we have been having, I thought it would be nice to cool down with winter image today. Christeena and I were on a weekend getaway and decided to brave the sub-freezing temperatures to make some images of a beautiful winter morning on the lake. We try to get away occasionally to recharge our batteries. With 5 children at home and work and other responsibilities, it is easy to get in a rut. These little getaways help to plan and proceed and remember to live life, not just complete life. We each have jobs to fulfill, but marriage and families are more than just jobs. If we don’t take time to relax and reflect together with those that we are close to, then life will just pass us by.
Today, take some time for yourself, tell someone you love them, do something that is a diversion from your everyday routine. It will make you a better person!
by tmoffett | Jul 30, 2010 | Color, Ramblings, Random images
McGowan Peak, Stanley Lake
I pulled this one out of the archives just to take another look. Awhile back I was experimenting with some watercolor effects on my images. This is the only one that I thought was even close to successful. Would love to hear some comments. I live for feedback. What is good? What don’t you like? How would you improve the image? Everyone can give input. I have never met a person that I could not learn something from.
After experimenting for a while, I decided it best to leave the painting to the painters and for me to stick to photography.
by tmoffett | Jul 25, 2010 | Color, Landscape, Ramblings
Blue Sky and Raindrops
Weather. It is so unpredictable. I was out photographing one late afternoon with the most perfect weather, then almost out of nowhere came the rain. I retreated to the car as the rain was really coming down. Just a few minutes later, it cleared off again and I was able to resume shooting. That is the kind of weather we have in Idayo. If you don’t like it, wait 10 minutes.
While I was sitting in the car, I watched as the rain came down on the windshield. Each drop would hit and then bead up on the glass. It was quite interesting to watch. Just as it stopped, the sky began to clear and this scene opened up to view. I grabbed my camera and made a couple of exposures before resuming to shoot outdoors. As I focused on the drops from inside the car, I could see the sky, soft on blurry, in the background.
I guess my point today is to always be on the lookout for images. Be observant. Learn to see. There are opportunities wherever we are to be creative. It really isn’t about where you are, but how and what you see.
by tmoffett | Jul 23, 2010 | Black and White, Composition, Ramblings
Iced Over
In an effort to wish cooler temperatures here, I am going to the archives and posing a winter picture today. This comes from a long time back when I was in Watertown, New York. One winter day I was out driving and came upon this old pier at a lake that I am not even sure what its name is. Anyway, it was cold. The pier was icy. I remember slipping and nearly falling on its icy surface while setting up this image. I love the angle on the pier as well as the texture, contrasting nicely with the icy snow covered lake.
This brings back memories of the days of film. I shot this with my Pentax 6×7 on Kodak TMAX 100 film. Occasionally I long for those days. The smell of fixer in the darkroom. Watching the image appear in the tray. Those little things that really hooked me on photography. Everything is so different now, yet in some ways it is the same. The tools have changed, but the concepts remain. The computer has become my darkroom. Many of my students today have never shot with film. They only know digital. I sometimes think that they are missing so much by not having played in the darkroom. The darkroom teaches a person to slow down and think about what they are doing. Nothing was instantaneous like it is now. So different.
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