PhotoSchoolDropout.com
thoughts
technique
Closing the Site
29/01/12 21:43
Site Sunset Message
I've decided to discontinue maintenance of a photography Website, but you may see examples of my photography
here, or, if interested in professional and personal development, you may visit my consulting Website here. As I photograph new material, I may adjust my Web presence to match my focus, and if and when that happens, I'll update whatever photographic site I'm publishing on..Kind Regards,
Mark Petruzzi
Comments
Seeing the Image
D90, handheld, between bites of an apple cider donut at Bushy Hill Orchard in Granby, Connecticut. 1/4000 sec, f/6.3. Cropped and perspective corrected in Adobe Lightroom 3.5; pre-sharpened in Nik Sharpener Pro; Some value adjustments in Nik Viveza; B&W conversion done in Nik Silver Efex Pro
Part of the fun of photography is seeing images, and potential images, and what we can do with images… well… where others might miss them. The aim is to surprise, to delight, to move, and to simply create.
The contrast between what others see, and what we see, is fertile ground to create something that may surprise both others and ourselves. For me, it's about bringing out the feeling of the scene, and not just recording it.
When I framed the scene on this page, it looked nothing like what you see here except in my mind (you can scroll below to see the original). Read More...
Sanctuary
A scene looking over a section of the Mad River, Peterson Park, Mattatuck Trail. I used my Nikon D90, ISO 250, and processed for B&W in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, then sharpened with Nik Sharpener Pro 3. You can see an enlargement here.
What do you think of when you think: "sanctuary?"
One meaning of the word is religious in nature: the sacred space around a church's tabernacle or alter. Our modern meanings might include "a place of safety and protection," or "a shelter."
Personally, if I'm to imagine a sanctuary, it will always include trees. It will include trees as sentinels; trees as guardians, and windbreaks; trees for beauty; trees for privacy; trees for shade; trees for peaceful presence; trees for soothing sounds of wind through branches, leaves, needles; trees even as holders of a sacred space.
When I took the photograph above, I had no conscious idea that the finished product would remind me of a sanctuary, but I was attracted to the peaceful, pastoral nature of the scene, and not long after I finished it, I decided that, "Sanctuary" is an apt caption. The rest of the photographs pay further homage to one of my favorite photographic subjects... trees... Read More...
Farmington River Overflow
Nikon D90 mounted on a tripod. Because I wanted to compress the perspective, and "bring in" the tree line, I used the 105mm focal length (35mm Film equivalent=158mm telephoto). I wanted a shutter speed slow enough to show movement and speed, but fast enough to retain some detail (1/13 sec), and wanted moderate depth of field (f/8). The ISO is 200. The photograph was adjusted sharpened in Adobe Lightroom 3, contrast was adjusted separately for darks, mid-tones, and lights in Nik's Color Efex Pro.
In March, 11, 2011, My wife and I decided to visit the Farmington River. With two major rain storms in the last ten days, plus the season's snow melt, the Farmington was charging toward the Connecticut River with impressive volume and speed.
There's something about a rushing river that stirs the soul, especially when you know the river, and you know the river is extraordinary on this day.
If water is a metaphor for the emotions, then flooding river is emotion that's past the point of restraint, and must know freedom. A river in this mood can sweep away all but the most grounded: only well-rooted trees, and heavy rock can make a stand.
The air around refreshes, charged with ions from foaming breakers and mist from rocky collisions. We are minded of the power of nature; the power of purge and renewal; and the power of our own emotions. Read More...