Winter’s White - The Muse

August 03, 2018 in August 2018, Other

Can one both abhor and love the same thing simultaneously? The fear of another frigid winter is tempered by the excitement that these seasonal conditions create. Candy for the eyes, winter’s crisp and clean light emphasizes form and minimizes distractions, yet it is these same conditions that amplify physiological pain and stress. As the winds of winter penetrate layers upon layers of clothes, the atmospherics unique to these short days suggest a visual drama unique to the season. Winter embodies the essence of the Yin and the Yang. The dichotomy of blacks and whites, subject and shadow, complexity from simplicity, makes this season the perfect photographic muse.

Behind the Camera - Behind the Computer

June 12, 2016 in June 2016

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
Photographed within minutes of the prior picture, I decided to convert the original to a monochrome. The bold posture of the swan and dark water cried for a dramatic interpretation of this serene moment. I used OnOne software to do the black and white conversion and add a vignette to draw the viewer into the contrasting tones between the plumage, bill and water.

Harbor Seal *(Phoca vitulina)*
Much like my treatment of the swan, I felt that this seal's characteristics would be enhanced by monochrome processing. Photographed minutes before the yawning seal pictured above, this sleeping giant contrasted beautifully with its background and the water. Once again, I applied a modified OnOne pre-set to the original color image.

Late Winter, No Snow, Warm WeatherNikon D800E + Nikon 16-35mm VR — Late Winter, No Snow, Warm Weather
Nikon D800E + Nikon 16-35mm VR

A Sign of the Times or Just More Random Fluctuation?

March 13, 2016 in March 2016

Chaos (noun) : 1 complete disorder and confusion. 2behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes and conditions.

Paired Flight (Cygnus buccinator)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR — Paired Flight (*Cygnus buccinator*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR

So describes the world we now live.

The political uncertainty of the upcoming presidential election seems to be a fitting metaphor for the climatic fluctuations of my once predictable temperate home. Political leadership, chosen by the masses, typically represents a best effort to compromise between the extremes. Nearly as assured as sunrise and sunset, our leadership is rarely too hot or too cold, but somewhere in between. Yet today, the predictions of who is in and who is out seems to be as accurate as the daily climatic highs listed in a “Farmer’s Almanac.” Like the chaotic choking cloud that emerges from mix of bleach and ammonia, the rise of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump suggest a potentially dangerous unpredictability that may otherwise be benign and of no consequence (see chaos definition #2).

And what do we make of the weather in Minnesota? On March 12, the city of Minneapolis typically averages a low of 22℉ and high 39℉. Yesterday, March 12, 2016, the temperature peaked at 70℉, just 6 degrees below the average temperature in Tampa, Florida from which we had left on that very day.

Pair Bonding (Cygnus buccinator)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR — Pair Bonding (*Cygnus buccinator*)
Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm VR

During a three mile walk with the dogs, I could hear migrating sandhill cranes, prenuptial Eastern bluebirds and a cacophony of migrating songbirds overhead. The Vernal Equinox is still 7 days from today, yet trees are beginning to flower and buds are swelling and preparing to burst. As a global citizen, committed environmentalist and humanist, I am challenged by the patterns I am seeing. I am bothered by the political rancor that makes citizens of the United States appear to be xenophobic self-absorbed children, and I am fearful that our political ignorance mirrors an environmental indifference that will only serve to diminish predictability and reinforce the chaos we now experience. Are the politics and climate of today benign and of no consequence, or do they foretell something a bit more ominous? …We have no choice but to play things out and rely on hindsight to make sense of our future’s patterns.

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR — Trumpeter Swan (*Cygnus buccinator*)
*Nikon D4 + Nikon 200-400mm f4.0 VR*

The Coldest Day

January 10, 2016 in January 2016

The digital output on my dashboard underscored the precipitous fall, as the numbers fell from -9 to -13, during the twenty minute drive to a rare winter oasis. Knowing what I might endure in quick time the heat emanating from the Cooper felt more like a mercy compliment than the real thing. Nonetheless, I parked the car and carefully walked towards the water. Mist from the "warm" oasis filled the dry air as the swans paddled about, bathed and buried their heads. Today is January 10, 2016 and it is the coldest day of the year.

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