Jan 9thFull View
Well, this is my first attempt at anything like this. It is a Panorama from the Nation Museum of the USAF in Dayton Ohio. I went shooting with my friend and while there we were shooting a bunch of interesting things. We both were tired, spent about 3 hours in one little section but I wanted to go look at one thing before we left. So we packed up our gear and walked to very back and ended up on the observation deck where I said “man, a pano from here would look awesome”. HE agreed and said try it – where I was reluctant as I have never tried one – but with his encouraging words (and by that I mean we had a typical your a sissy man if you dont try it conversation) I decided to try it as did he. We both came up with almost the same image and it has become one of my favorites.
Jan 7thSilhouettes
This was the first time that I have been able to shoot silhouettes. And was quite fun and intriguing. I caught this interesting shot with a friend of mine . Him and I shoot together quite a bit and it always good to get out with him.
Jan 6thThe Path
This was a beautiful fall day when I decided to go out and shoot. Have you ever traveled a path in life that when you look up it just seems to never end? I remember looking up at this shot and thinking – I know that path goes somewhere, yet from here it looks as if it just stops. Some people choose in life to stop where there is an unforeseen and some people choose to press on. What type of person are you? Do you thrive when there is a mystery in front of you or do you like to know precisely what is ahead and waiting you? The music is in the prize…
Jan 5thStare Down
Here is one of the most recent that I shot at the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton Ohio. A friend and I went out to shoot and we had a little under 2 hours. It was the Friday before Christmas and cold so we decided to go inside where it was warm. It is always a great fun time to shoot with Jeremi as him and bust on each other all day and laugh at generally stupid stuff.
There is something to be said for stare downs. Intimidation is something that can be very powerful. This is the last start down that I had – I was not intimidated at all…
Jan 4thMotion
Motion is a funny thing when it comes to capturing it. At times you want to stop it, at times you want to blur it, sometimes you want to stop one thing and blur another – example – panning a race care – you stop the motion of the car but want the background to show motion. In the photo below, there is a lot going on. This is one of my favorite places to shoot – Waterfront Park Charleston South Carolina. I wanted to blur the motion of the water, not have the people in the shot but also capture the flag. It was a bit of a challenge however I did it done :). My wife and two boys wondered around aimlessly while giving me enough time to setup the tripod not be rushed and get the shot. Thanks to them all for tolerating my shooting…Also I plan on removing the watermarks from these – all images are Creative Commons non-commercial and the watermark just mucks up the viewing experience :)
Jan 3rdFun in the Lab
And by lab I mean garage. I wanted to try to shoot smoke as some of the shots that I have seen just fascinate me. There are a lot of variables that went in to this so I will try to describe the setup. Incense sticks, something to stick them in, a black backdrop, lamp on the right side, flash on the left side fired remotely and me and my camera in front shooting. This is one of the results. One thing that helps is to lightly create wind – waving your hand, blowing etc to get the smoke to create different shapes etc.
Jan 2ndBattle Ready
I just cant get enough time at the Air force Museum in Dayton Ohio. That place has so many wonderful scenes just waiting to be captured. I am already looking forward to going back again. I took the below on the first outing that I went on with my son. Him and I wondered about the place having a grand ole time. It was absolutely a blast. Both my son’s either love to shoot or just tolerate that I like to shoot where ever we are at. Either way we have fun :)
Jan 1stHappy New Year!!!
Hello everyone! I hope that you had a blast ringing in the the new year last night. I wish you all a blessed new year that finds you all happiness, good health and prosperous. Todays photo started as a picture and as I started touching it up in post I went on a wildly fabulous adventure that is now what you see below. This has become one of my favorites – it almost looks like what Angels are portrayed as on TV and movies. Anyways, I hope you enjoy.
Dec 31stVintage
Hello there :). I am all smiles for more than one reason – I have heard many say “Dont worry about what others think, create your art and be happy with it, chances are if you think that it is interesting and beautiful others might as well”. So I took a different approach on this one, not sure why it was just the way I was feeling when I processed it. Many things went through my mind however I paid them no attention because they were negative thoughts that I was portraying that I thought others might think (think that one 10 times fast ;-)). Anyways I liked how this one turned out and thought I would share it with you and though I agree with the statement above, I do still hope that others can enjoy the art that I enjoy and enjoy creating.
Dec 30thFlying Towards New Year
Well, this year is winding down and the New Year will be quickly upon us. I hope that everyone has a safe and happy New Year. I remember looking out to see the sun rising and was amazed at the colors and vibrance – it is so peaceful above unless you are like me and dont like to fly because of not having any control over the plane…
Dec 29thGoing down over the hill
I was in a bit of a rut and had the itch to shoot but nothing really to shoot. I looked up and saw the sunset and thought – how beautiful! I had my camera and tripod with me as I usually do so started looking frantically for a good spot to shoot it. I could not find high ground and was headed home and thought about the public golf course and thought – well, I’ll try it. This is one of the resulting shots.
Dec 28thAs the wind blows
While painfully hobbling along the sand – why you ask? I had a broken foot :) – while walking to the Morris Island lighthouse at Folly Beach I stopped to look at all the lovely scenes that were there. I remember looking out to the ocean, feeling the wind and just enjoying being there. My focus turned to something that was closer and blowing in the wind – I can almost feel it while typing.
Dec 27thCluttered Mess
Well, if you are like us the house is a cluttered mess after Christmas. Having two kids it looks as if a toy store somewhat exploded. What used to be the toy room was already packed, so now the other rooms have become sanctuaries for the new members of the toy family. In honor of that, this root system was spied while in Charleston South Carolina. We headed out to see the Light House at the end of Folly Beach – Morris Island Light House. The cluttered mess of roots was sitting there like an entangled fish net. I found it interesting and this is what I came up with.
Dec 26thThe Day After
The hustle and bustle is now over as quickly as it came, for some their lives will never be the same. Toys scattered about, some kids pout. The day after Christmas is both a relief and a sad time. People start to go about their normal lives forgetting the joy that was over them just days ago, and for some it is a time to reflect on different aspects of life as the end of the year draws near. When thinking of what to post for todays blog I kept going back to a photo that I took of a cross that my grandmother and grandfather gave me many years ago. Not only does this cross let me remember with fondness the times we shared but also it is a time for the cross to be remembered as it is the Lords birthday. This photo speaks to me on many different levels and I hope that does to you also –
Dec 25thAnd unto them a son was born
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. I absolutely love Christmas it has been tough with the loss of a few loved ones over the past year. Let’s not forget the reason for the season and never take the CHRIST out of Christmas. While in a creative rut I started playing around and thought, why does everything have to be crisply focused? Why not crisply un-focused? This is what I came up with :). The story of Christmas follows -
Luke 2:1-20
New Living Translation (NLT)
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
by Chris Lehman