Birds. Galore.

I’d like to start a new dialogue on my website – I hope that you will participate. I post quite a few images on this journal. It’s been a way for me to share my latest work, my writing trials, and my odd sense of humor (don’t worry, I’m back on my meds). Many of you have taken the time to comment on the images displayed here, and I thank you for that. I enjoy the very kind words that I’ve received, but my friends have questioned the effects on my ego:) I learn best through criticism though. So here it is, if you see something that you don’t like in an image – post a comment explaining why. Does the composition strike you the wrong way? Is there a stick lodged in someones head that I missed, or a feather angles in a way that disturbs you? Is the black and white conversion overdone? Do you simply NOT LIKE THE IMAGE? Please, tell me. Don’t worry about being “rude” or “blunt”, I can take it. One caveat. Simply saying “I don’t like it” doesn’t help, give me specifics.

Often times, photographers (myself included) get attached to an image. This is usually directly associated with our experience of being there when the image was created. Not only what was in front of the camera when the shutter was pressed, but the lengths we went to get to that point. The sounds & smells of our surroundings, a cool ocean breeze brushing against exposed skin or a 60 mph gust smashing into us as we anchor our tripods in -50 degree temperatures in the middle of a dark winter night while watching northern lights dance overhead. A good landscape photograph can project more than just awe of a beautiful scene. The viewer may be able to imagine what it would be like to stand in that location. The photographer has the added benefit of actually knowing what it felt like to be there – and this can sway our critical eye into making compromises that can hurt the overall image quality. More importantly, it can stall our growth as a photographer. With that in mind, please feel free to speak your peace. I can’t promise that I will completely alter my methods, but I do want to hear what you have to say & promise to keep an open mind, and attentive ears. “Unleash the hounds!”. Don’t hold back, I appreciate your candidness.

Here are some more images from this weekend. No silhouettes here, just “normal” shots. Unleash the hounds!

Mass Exodus. Click to Enlarge.

I.D. please? I think it's a Sandpiper of some kind. Click to Enlarge.

Down the Hatch. Click to Enlarge.

Stay tuned!

Posted on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 9:48 pm. Filed under: Adventure, Alaska, Alaska Photo Tour, Birds, Kachemak Bay State Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Peninsula, Shorebird Migration, Spring, Wildlife, Workshops, musings RSS 2.0 feed.