December 2012

Roof Line Chicago, Illinois 2011

I took this photo without really thinking about it; I just liked the water trickles and the glow of the equipment and especially the roof line. A very graphic image. Later I realized I may have subconsciously been thinking of the image of Paul Strand’s shown below that I’ve admired for a number of years. I like Strand’s composition better.

Paul Strand The Court New York City, New York 1924

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The Mother Ship Little Rock, Arkansas 2011

From the men’s room in the William J. Clinton Presidential Library.

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The Secret to Success Budapest, Hungary 2011

Back in the day, “put her on a pedestal” was a common bit of advice on how to insure a happy marriage. Is this what they had in mind?]]>

The Beckoning Silence Bozeman, Montana 2012

Is there anything quieter than the sound of snow falling on a calm winter evening?

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Night Light Bozeman, Montana 2012

A view of our normally dark neighborhood golf course during a snowy evening two nights ago. The dramatic lighting was the result of all the city lights reflecting off of the low overcast sky (with a bit of enhancement via Photoshop).]]>

Photograph by Pentti Sammallahti

Every once in a while I stumble on some photographic gems by a photographer I am not familiar with. When these images entertain, inform, or inspire me sufficiently I thought it might be a good idea to recommend their work to readers of my blog. Just this week I discovered the work of Finnish photographer Pentti Sammallahti and really enjoyed it. His style is quite varied; many of his images are emotionally evocative but my favorites are the ones where he takes advantages of subtle or not so subtle compositional oddities or quirks in an imaginative way. His photos involving animals are particularly pleasing. You can see his work here. Look especially at the three galleries labeled simply “Photographs.”]]>

Poiseful Pose Budapest, Hungary 2011

I don’t know how her photo came out but that’s about the most elegant way to hold a camera I think I’ve ever seen.

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Within, Without Budapest, Hungary 2011

Show me almost any photo I’ve taken in the last 40 years out of context and I think about 99 percent of the time I could still tell you when and where it was taken, who I was with etc. But there are the occasional exceptions and this photo from a year ago that I just came across is one of them. I know where it was taken because of the collection of photos it was in, but I sure don’t remember taking it or what kind of store that was. I wouldn’t even be sure I took the photo, except there I am pointing the camera at myself. And what are those shiny things anyway? In that same vein, my cousin Carol and I were recently talking about another  photo– one of our mothers that I took, well, let’s just say a “few” years ago when we were both teenagers. Neither one of us could remember much about that rare gathering of our distant families and she speculated that she wouldn’t really have “remembered” it at all if it weren’t for the photo.   I guess sometimes photos don’t preserve memories as much as they create them.]]>

Tuned In, Tuned Out Budapest, Hungary 2012

I was at a movie matinee yesterday. There were only eight people in the theater (just the way I like it). So wouldn’t you know it, the woman who was sitting closest to me (aside from the Fashion Queen) got bored I guess and decided to do some texting on her cell phone. Is there an app that allows you to text a virtual dope slap to a complete stranger?]]>

Life As We Know It Budapest, Hungary 2011

Reality meets fantasy for commuters on a Budapest tram.

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