Macro: Ashley Ecklund

Fall Fashion Details

Fall is all about comfort, style, and beautiful sights. The color palates of fall with the golds, reds, oranges, and browns in both nature and fashion are comforting and warm to the viewer. The details can sometimes tell the whole story, in so few words. Details like switching from those worn-out leather sandals, to the sturdy pair of suede high tops you love so much. Fall is the season when it is okay to wear a chunky sweater, and a scarf. You can have your cake and eat it too. No more discomfort. No more limitations. Much more happy. 

Shalia Boggs: Distortion

Distortion is something that we as residents of a civilized society deal with on a daily basis.  Women, more than men, often face this issue more when we pick up the latest copy of a fashion magazine.  "I need to look like her," is something a lot of girls say and in turn, causes them to expect that their bodies should resemble the models in print.  This is what results in people to have such distorted self-images.

Animals in nature are also faced with distortion.  The mallard duck above is a female and doesn't display the vibrant colors of that of her male counterpart.  It makes me wonder if these creatures have the same thoughts we do about why her feathers aren't as bright and bold as her mate.  Does she look at her reflection in the water and wonder why her feathers are the colors they are?  What does she think when she sees herself in the water?

The reality is that they don't.  Nature is gender neutral and therefore, doesn't allow for animals to care what color their feathers or fur is, just as long as it's functional and differentiates them from the next species of bird.

Movement: Scott Kotelnicki

I believe it is the trail that leads to the shot that gives life and movement.      

That is my philosophical thought for the day.

Now how did I get the shot? When I found this spot I did some test shots for composition but know the sun was to high by this time and I would have to return early the next day to get that wonderful morning glow. For the composition shots I moved around and even got in the water to see different points of view. That ended day one.

Day two I was on site by 5:45 with a sunrise due at 6:00.

Once on site I cleans some of the scene from dead branches. I also thought the scene was lacking color so I added the green branches down on the lower left for foreground.

Some will disagree with any altering of the scene. 

Sorry but I took my chances at offending you folk.

I used a tripod and viewed my shot through "Live View" on the back of my camera.  I used a wide angle lens, 10-17 with a polarizer filter. The filter allowed me to shoot into the pool to reveal the texture of the sandy bottom.

My Len was on manual focus and my camera on manual so I could control the look of the water.

I shoot at f/22 @ 30 sec. with an ISO of 160.  In post production I did the usual dodge and burn, saturation and here I have added a white vignette  to keep your eyes from falling off the page which I felt was happening.

There is it folks my blog on movement.

www.kotelnickiphoto.com

Abstract: Angus Hooper III

The leaves and sticks in this image resemble a dead animal lying in the road.  The contrast between the dead of the leaves and the animal form made, make me wonder if someone was puting this image together intentionally.

Abstract: Brandon Chapin

To a human being the most abstract thing in existence, in my opinion, is that which mankind did not create.  This means Mother Nature created abstract, is abstract, and remains abstract.  It is something that we don’t always understand and will always be dumbfounded by.  During my travels across the deserts of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada I stopped in Moab, Utah to see the rock formations that have been sitting there, the same, for ages.  They are beautiful, natural occurrence that creates awe and amazement in humans when seen in person. 

© Brandon Chapin Photography

Cynthia Repasy: Beauty

Beauty in the eye of the beholder?  That's a bunch of crap.  From the day we are born, we are taught what beauty is.  Whether it be by our parents, our friends, or through televison.  So what is beauty?  And how do we know that it is truly beautiful?  For me, beauty is the inner peace I feel when I've accomplished a difficult goal, when I finished a quarter of school...without failing, and when I see my children accomplish their goals.  Beauty is something that will be different for each and every person.  It's your job to figure out what it means to you and how to achieve it.

Vintage - Sean Alexander

Vintage to me is something timeless, something classic that regardless of it's era can represent an entire generation and remind you of what something used to be. Luke Miller was born and raised in Colorado and it's his memories of the tall grass, lakeside parties as the summer gets closer, and the time spent just enjoying nature when he was younger that really remind him of those nostalgic memories. We spent the afternoon until sunset at a fishing lake in Lory State Park, just enjoying the weather, hiking, and talking about those more classic memories and also all the inappropriate and wild things we did when we were younger. Our conversation might have been filled with casually used curse words and offensive to the beer drinking college kids fishing (definitely offended them), but it was easily the most nostalgic and possibly stress relieving thing I've done in awhile.

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Sean.A.Photo@gmail.com

Devan Dennis - Green

A forest maiden dwells hidden among the trees

A glint of her hair, a flash of her eyes among the leaves,

This is all many can say they have seen.

Nature’s spirit has chosen her,

Shielding her in shadows and glade screens of green.

She is a serene woodland nymph,

A wild masterpiece of the Earth’s creating,

Her surreal nature and song on the wind doth lure many,

Wishing for only a moment to glimpse this elusive beauty.

Spring-Caitlin McBride

Whenever I think of spring I think of happiness because winter is over!