SnowMoon, LLC

Posts Tagged ‘Janet White Photography’

Our pace on this trip has been a bit slower – in part due to rain and cold weather and in part due to just deciding to relax and not push much at all.  So, the number of photos taken is considerably down from last year, but the processing of photos is up.  I also made the decision to hold off and register all of my photos as unpublished rather than doing two sets of registration.  This is ASMP’s best practice suggestion and really, they are right.  It keeps everything cleaner.  This means I need to wait to share a lot of the photos I’ve taken, but it should help in the long run.  So, I thank you for your patience with this.

However, I have registered all the photos taken and worth keeping for one reason or another from last month, so can share a layout I did and belatedly post The Story Behind the Click(s) in this layout.

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The Story Behind the Clicks

There was a brisk wind blowing in off the lake when I was driving back from West Thumb Geyser Basin.  I had gone into Yellowstone, and specifically, to West Thumb becasue the weather forecast said this was the best day of the week, even though snow showers were likely.  And they were.  I was tired from walking around a few times, making sure I had captured all the pools I follow and track changes on, and from the long drive I had taken just a couple days prior from home to Cody.  My plan was to simply drive back – only stopping if I saw a grizzly.  But as I drove along the shore of the lake, the ice starting to break, I was enchanted by the piles of ice that had washed up on shore.  Then the sun came out and shone on Mt. Sheridan in the distance – OK, I knew I could process the difference to make for the photos I saw in my mind.  So, I started to look for a good batch to photograph, and soon found them at Pumice Point. 

An oriental couple had pulled off  before me and were busy taking photos of each other shivering at the end of the parking lot with the ice covered lake behind them.  I bundled up and headed down the shore to the ice I saw before the pullout and started to work the scene.  I knew photos were in there, but the only way I really find them is to keep shooting, keep looking, keep walking up and down until I saw the scene that I knew would work.  I could have stayed another half hour easily, but my fingers had started to stiffen and my fairly fresh camera battery had already lost a bar.  It was time to keep moving. 

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Upon processing, I realized the things that had captured me.  Many photographers talk about deliberately paying attention to the rules of composition and deliberately breaking them.  I’ve tried that, but then my photos don’t capture what I ‘see’ in a scene.  So, I keep adjusting until I see something in the view finder that just ‘looks right’ or catches my breath.  Later I can analyze why it works or why I missed it. Overall, though, I had plenty of photos to work with for this double page layout.

And one thrown in from Steamboat Point which I may swap out with a Pumice Point one for consistency. The journaling went from a long explanation to a few simple sentences – condensing it to the essence of all the writing, but I see now I didn’t change the photo out…

 

CREDITS:

• Suzanne Walker’s BeYOUtiful Page Kit & BeYOUtiful 2 Page Kit
• Cathy Zielske’s Layered Page Template – part of her Design Your Life class

Happy Friday, dear readers!  Time for the story behind a few clicks. And since I mentioned I would do a West Thumb Report, here it is:

On May 30, 2010, I visited West Thumb Geyser Basin with my collection of comparison photos taken over the last five years.  I’ve tried notes and working on memory, but I’m a photographer, so photos work.  This type of documentation could work for any place you visit repeatedly.  Documenting changes over the years is a delight.

For the past few weeks I’ve sifted through photo files in my collection and pulled ones to print as photo references. I remember a few more, so there are some hiding in some folder somewhere. Getting them together simply got me itching to get into the Park and see what had changed over the winter at West Thumb Geyser Basin.

I drove through numerous snow showers and pulled in with another not far off. Bundling up and adding the final decoration of camera and lenses, I headed toward the building with the Yellowstone Association Store that sits at the edge of the parking lot (and has a toasty warm wood stove inside). One guy looking like he lost his way to the beach he intended to find (that left turn in Albuquerque, I guess)  stood there in shorts, t-shirt and flip flops with a puzzled look on his face as he studied – not looked at or noticed, but s.t.u.d.i.e.d. the sign posted:

As I passed by, bundled in four layers (turtleneck, fleece vest, sweatshirt and coat) and wearing boots (with wool socks, of course), he stared – unabashedly. Maybe he was just in shock from seeing snow when it was almost June. I didn’t see him on the boardwalks – at least not dressed as he was, so maybe it finally sunk in for him – spring in Yellowstone or in the mountains has a much different meaning than spring in other areas of the country. Showers = snow showers, or maybe sleet or freezing rain. It’s normal. Summer just sort of arrives one day…pretending to have been there all along and hoping nobody noticed her late arrival to the party.  And, of course, due to the sudden and welcome warmth, we always forgive the tardiness. Summer’s not here yet, but I imagine she’s just delayed for another week (or two).

I pulled up the hood of my coat and tucked in my camera to get ready for the brief snow shower that hit when I reached Paint Pots. I smiled, though, as I saw things had indeed changed here. While the main pool remained milky white, a few mud cones were forming this year close to the center (overlook areas). The photos in my last post shows the changes – the one now orange boiled continuously – never shooting up water, but stayed at a steady, rolling boil.

Near it, though, a new feature seems to have broken out. Another boiling pool also appeared closer to the lower overlook. Both boil water up at least a few inches if not a full foot on occasion. Two boys with their parents excitedly noticed these and the colors. I had to agree with them, this was “so cool!”

Next was Surging Spring – The water level had risen enough to now overflow and the color had changed from a brilliant opaque green to a clear blue. Heavy boiling from the center did seem to increase intermittently. And that pool there to the left in the photo, near the boardwalk. Was THAT there last fall? None of the photos I have with me here show the answer to that conclusively.

The water level in Collapsing Pool is back down again, but still clear and blue.

A few steps down the boardwalk later, I had to hold my camera up above my head and aim it at the vent in Percolating Spring to verify we could still even see any water (the photo didn’t come out well, so I’m including the photo below that did). Still a bit there but a far cry from how it looked a few years ago. Change is the only constant here.

Approaching Blue Funnel I realized I’d finally have a different photo of it.  The water is opaque this spring.

Turning to look the other way, I noticed the pool across the boardwalk from Blue Funnel has started to slough off sections of the microbial mat that lined it for years. Related to the change in Blue Funnel? Possibly – or possibly not. Just something to continue to watch. Just because thermal features are neighbors doesn’t automatically mean they interact with each other, but then again they might.

Twin Geyser – Last fall the water level sat high enough to let the water from both vents join. Only the ‘left’ vent boiled. This spring, however, the water level is quite low in both vents – and both are now boiling quite vigorously. Does it indicate anything more might occur? Probably not. But I wouldn’t mind being wrong in saying that!

Abyss was next to show a change and bring a smile to my face – large areas where the microbes lining the sides have sloughed off. In 2005, my photos showed it an amazing deep teal blue color with a touch of satin elegance to it. Then it cooled off  enough for microbes to thrive, turning it an amazing deep green.  Only time will tell if Abyss is tired of wearing that shade of deep green.

There were other changes as well, but these were some of the most interesting ones to me.  I hope you’ve enjoyed joining me on my stroll around West Thumb.

I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to post trip reports like this, but I  know I have journaling and photos all prepped now for this scrapbook page as well as an entry in my ongoing photo nature journal record of Yellowstone.  Grab a photo – one from a trip or from childhood or one you took today and jot down a few words about the story behind that click.  Take others into that world.  Give yourself the gift of heading back to visit a place in time when someone clicked the camera.

I may not get to this every Friday, but today I want to start telling a bit more of the story behind the photos.  My inspiration comes from watching videos at LensFlare35.  I listened to Brenda Tharp’s a couple of times – having taken a class from her at Better Photo a couple of years ago, I watched the video immediately, and then had to watch it again.  It’s really another way to document life with words and photos – which, of course, I love.  Hearing her tell the story behind the photo helps me to better see her vision behind the click.

As I’ve worked on the organization of my files rather heavily this week, the videos sat in the back of my mind prompting me to better define what captured me enough to make or simply take the image.  And in helping me to better define my vision, writing out the stories like this should help.

Last August I headed to Yellowstone for three days.  West Thumb holds a special place in my heart and I stopped there a few times on this trip.  Between Fishing Cone (just the rim is sticking out of the water over there on the right) and Big Cone (far out of view to the left) I noticed these boards.  Maybe a dozen or more of them.  I honestly don’t recall seeing them before and checking other photos taken, I’m still not sure if I just missed them.  If I hadn’t had the time on this trip to make it to West Thumb for sunrise and sunset shots, I wouldn’t have worried about trying to get something more stunning.   However, I did have time, so arriving back at West Thumb a little before sunset  and using a polarizing filter to cut through the glare on the surface of the water, I took a few shots.  I have one where Fishing Cone is the focus, but this one intrigues me more simply because of the unanswered question: What are they from?  The old dock?  Were they dislodged from a resting place by the underwater thermal activity?  I’m not sure if anyone has an answer, but I’ll start digging and see if anyone knows.

While processing the image, I worked to bring it to what I remembered the scene to be.  While the sunset wasn’t one to stun you, there were a few moments where the spectrum of soft colors nearly took my breath away.  I was pleased to take the ordinary shot in extraordinary light and having just the rim of Fishing Cone exposed was icing on the cake for me.    I hope you enjoy it, too.

We do live in a beautiful spot. I love having my coffee in the morning and looking out on the Sangre de Christo mountains and watch the birds and other wildlife in the area. One of the gifts we received this Christmas was a web cam – we’ve wanted to share our view with others. Now it’s up there on the top bar – the link to The View From Here. We may eventually get this as a streaming video, but for now, just reload your page for an updated view.

Unfortunately this camera doesn’t zoom, and you miss the atmosphere acting as a magnifying glass on the mountains in the distance. However, I often take photos of them and am working to add them in as fine art prints listed below the image. Right now I just have this one added in (this one is sized at 30×10 – pricing to come), but keep checking back for more.

Time to bid 2009 a fond farewell and turn around to greet 2010. Already I find myself feeling refreshed and renewed by that fresh start created by the pause following the flurry of Christmas.

Lots of changes for me – most of them small shifts.  Yesterday I created the above layout for the last page in the 2009 notebook.  It jogged some thoughts I had while reading a book received for Christmas.  That page got me thinking – how DO I classify myself?  Photographer?  Scrapbooker? Artist practicing sketches?  Writer?

I’m drawn to non-fiction books (especially memoirs or really good biographies).  I received Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera for Christmas and have been savoring it.  I’ve always loved his work – he was a master at documenting everyday life – but seeing the ‘how he did it’ and more glimpses into his thoughts resonates deeply with me at this point in my life.

Seems Norman Rockwell doubted using photography in his work – thinking it didn’t fit the definition of artist.  Yet the photography gave him details he could never sketch and capture.  So – he came to terms with it and expanded the pigeon hole he put himself in.

This past year, when trying to pigeon hole what all I do, I began to look for threads that link things together.  Most of us have a thread that seems to keep showing up in our lives.  After bouncing this off of a few folks, I realized my thread is Documenting Life.

When I was seven, I wanted to record what words I knew how to read without sounding them out – that list was quickly abandoned when I realized I started it too late – I knew many words and couldn’t pinpoint when they became ‘automatic.’  When I was in my tweens, I wanted to take photos of familiar ‘scenes’ on our route to the cabin that we took each weekend.  I used to fall asleep running these scenes through my mind.  In eighth grade, I wrote two and three hundred page long letters to a friend who moved overseas – those recorded most every moment of the day.  I loved writing those.  I now write in my journal usually daily – often a couple times a day.

So, even though at times I feel scattered in my work, I take comfort in knowing my pigeon hole is woven with a loosely knit, stretchy and comfortable thread of Documenting Life – through words, photos, scrapbook creations, sketches, and any other way that works.

I’m curious to know if you have a common thread that runs through your life.  I’ve asked a few people this, and the answers always astound and fascinate me. Sure, there are the negative threads in all of our lives – but what defines your strength?  Where you find inspiration and direction?  What pulls you up and keeps you moving forward?

I’m excited about 2010 – though I can’t quite put my finger on why.  I guess we’ll all just have to stay tuned.

Credits for artwork used in the photo layout:
Elizabeth Weaver’s Z’s Birthday Kit
Elizabeth Weaver’s Z’s Birthday Add On Pack

Photo #091231J9815 © SnowMoon, LLC

I really love this combination of Nature Journal sketch combined with digital scrapbooking.  I’m down with some crud going around and so spent a bit of time sketching and then scanned it in and scrapbooked it digitally. Viola!

CREDITS:

Meryl Bartho’s Summer’s Last Song Page Kit

Meryl Bartho’s Any Old Iron Alpha

Sidenote: Those of you waiting for images from me, I’m reworking them all even though I was close to finished – the improvements with Lightroom 3 Beta is enough that I want to rework them so I can offer you better images soon.  Just need to finish importing everything first (should be finishing that up today) and I’ll crank ‘em out.

I skied a lot many moons ago, and I took the attitude that if I wasn’t falling, I wasn’t improving.  I was ok with falling.  I just picked myself up and set off down the next slope.  Eventually, I became a pretty good skier – yet I never compared myself to others and was always surprised at the people who had trouble keeping up with me.  But I’ve always done my best when I only see my past work as a gauge to judge things by.  I need to keep that attitude with me for my photography as well.

As I look through the Terabyte+ images as I import them into Lightroom 3 Beta, what strikes me most are the emotions attached to them at the moment of capture.  The falling in love with various images at the moment of capture, but for a surprising chunk of them, a lot of insecurity and wondering if they were good enough.  At that point in my photography, I really second guessed everything and was my own nightmarishly worst critic.

I still do that now, too, but recognize it and can ignore much of it.  I’m finding the confidence now to say, “This is good.”  And I even find a few ‘wow’ images.  And I still see lots of room for improvement, but if I ever lose that, then I’m not pushing myself enough.  I’m not ‘falling’ enough.

I recently licensed a photo to come out this month in a national magazine – a photo I took all the way back in 2005 that I didn’t process because I didn’t think it was anything special.  But when the request came out, that photo came to  mind and I dug it out and dusted it off.  And it’s a good photo.  Good for the purpose it was used for.  I had the skills then, just not the confidence.  In scanning through what I have, I see many that I need to revisit…some for scrapbooking and for stock.

I’ve  stopped taking a photo a day – my photo organization has pushed that – I’m out of space, and we don’t yet have the extra money for another Terabyte.  I’m down to a few gigs left here and there – so it’s time to consolidate, delete duplicates, and fall in love with ones I criticized myself too harshly for in the past.

Already I’m looking forward to 2010 – and I have set some pretty big goals for myself – refining them and setting a plan of action to reach them.  Growing a business from sheer creativity is overwhelming at times – I mean, who am I to think that big?  And then again, I ask myself, why not?  Yeah, the run is steep with huge bumps, but I won’t know if I can do it unless I point the skis downhill and dig in.

Here’s a photo from the archives that I don’t think I showed anywhere – not thinking it ‘good enough’ – of my Grandfather’s antique wooden skis.  It’s perfect for this post and a reminder to myself to not worry about falling every now and then.  That’s the only way to improve.

A week ago today we climbed out of bed at 3 AM to get ourselves on the road up to West Yellowstone for me to do some work for a client there.  Due to the need to keep moving we can’t stop for all the photos I see – if we did that, we’d probably never get anywhere!

Driving through North Park – one of my favorite stretches of trips heading north – the light took my breath away.  I knew I couldn’t get everything as sharp and tack as I would have liked for stock, but I snapped photos as we zipped along.  I hold a deep belief that capturing what inspires you as a photographer takes priority over any technical ‘correctness’ – finding what moves you is more important than anything.   If you can get yourself to the point where you take photos that come from a connection you have with something or someone, I think it comes through.  To me, that’s the hard part of photography – the technical aspects can always be improved on (stopping and setting up the tripod would have done wonders for this shot – but that wasn’t an option).

The farmhouse was out of focus – soft – the fence posts blurred slightly by the speed at which we traveled.  But that actually gave the watercolor effect in my digital processing arsenal the information to make it work.  Or at least it works for me.

Update – adding in a screenshot of the detail since the watercolor effect doesn’t translate well at 72 ppi.

I had so much fun yesterday with Nate & Alli who are expecting their first – their joy shows so easily.  Here’s  a sneak peak of a few that caught my eye as I started through the images captured.  Thanks SO much for allowing me to capture this amazing time in your life!

And, of course, a sneak peak photo of Sammy:

I really enjoyed getting this page together.  I took the photos back at the end of July with the intent of eventually sketching them.  After sketching, I scanned the image, adjusted levels and then blended it to the digital background page (from Erica Belton’s Page Kit – Time Goes By ) by selecting the multiply option.

The best thing about doing this sketch this way is that I could rearrange some of the text by using the lasso tool and then moving that section.  The best of both worlds!