Bob's Blog
3-7-10
We all need computers to do photography these days. In case you missed the most uplifting story in the March 7 Sunday Morning Asheville Citizen - Times,
click here for Jen's Incredible Journey: Charlotte Street Computers' by Susan Reinhardt. It begins, “In the back of her Mercedes, Jennifer Mayer keeps a bag packed.”
This is a must read and I don't want to hear anymore whining about having to get up early or enduring the harsh weather to get that GREAT shot…
2/4/10
GOT Roots?!!!
Mine come from Buffalo… home of
Wings, Ted's and Beef on Weck!! Thanks, Sharon
-- my skiing buddy from the days at UB (University of Buffalo) and the
Ski Team (and practice on the Library steps with Brian, Faker and
Beater!!!!)
Memories…
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Correction: Freeze Frame - The Basics of Making a Good Image as seen in the Guide (Mountaineer supplement ) Feb 3-9 2010 issue -- Change Canadian Goose to Canada Goose..
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In the News…the Guide (Mountaineer supplement ) Feb 3-9 2010 issue -
Freeze Frame - The Basics of Making a Good Image by Bob Grytten
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2/2/10
Congratulations to Lens Lugger Dennis Oakley … This
striking Image, while
on one of our Field Photography Programs last year, nets
him photo credit in the coveted Outdoor Photographer Magazine. See Lens Lugger News for the rest of the story!
Okonoluftee Running
©Photo by Lens Lugger Dennis Oakley
Published in Outdoor Photographer Mag
2/1/10
Winter Photography
Lens Lugger Sandy Martin writes…
Hi Bob,
Have
you been getting snow pictures during these last two storms? All I've
been able to get have been around my own house. Spring cannot come soon
enough!
Sandy
Grytten responds …
HI Sandy:
Good to hear from you. Thanks for sending your work. Winter has been
challenging for me to photograph also. It's like always shooting in B &
W. -- I usually look for some extreme contrast situations - bright
light - sun coming through branches, back lit things, a splash of
color, long shadows. I went out yesterday to downtown Waynesville and
was reminded about the camera condensation and how it fogs up the lens,
not to mention - where does all that moisture go (inside the camera?).
I have yet to download what I did get…
I'll send as soon as I download. but I think one must keep shooting in
this stuff as well and Isolate -- frost is a good choice in the morning
-- icicles -- macro of frost on car windshields, snow flakes etc.
Challenge ourselves. Gloves and hot chocolate afterwords. Birds on
isolated branches. “More later, Alligator.” Oh yes, Alligators in
Florida -- would be good now.
Bob Grytten
Here are the photos -- some straight on, others messed with a bit in CaptureNX and Photoshop.
Winter in Waynesville
Photo by Bob Grytten
Ice on Shadows
Photo by Bob Grytten
Comments:
Image was made out the front windshield. What attracted me? -- not sure
except I liked the curve in the road and Ice on hanging limbs in the
left foreground and the Ice on the bushes on the right - seems to
provide some balance.
After the storm.
Photo by Bob Grytten
Comments:
The bright light was shining through the top branches, and I wasn't
sure how it would look but I was compelled to take it, even though I
knew the back lighting would make a silhouette. Once I got it into
photoshop, I thought it might have a better chance “inverted”. So
that's what I did. It made the dark branches turn white and the blue
sky the complimentary color you see here.
Let us know which image you like the best! Thanks - E-mail Bob
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1/30/10 Cold weather and our second snow -12 inches here in Clyde,…but there may be other situations worse…
And then of course we hear from "ole Jack “1” --- Friend and fellow Viking Jack Swenningson in St. Petersburg, FL.
“
THE STORY:
You think it doesn't get cold here in sunny Florida in winter? 34
degrees here in St.Petersburg this morning...minus 34 in Park Rapids,
Minn. and we freeze to death here just as well! That's because living
here for 60 years thins the blood.In 1962, it hit 18 degrees in ole
Jack's backyard, and damn near killed everything.Wooden houses, like
ours groaned and creaked and
outside, NOTHING MOVED, and oranges fell off the trees by the millions.
So we hardy Florida natives wait ALL YEAR for this meteorological
event knowing full well what follows is seven months of wonderful cool
85-95
degree weather for the summer.So what better way to celebrate than
to have a roaring fire and marshmallow roast in backyard? And wear moth
eaten ole winter clothes again with good neighbors, making out like we
really are enjoying this with ole Jack pointing his finger at you
saying "y'all come!"
PS> So pull up a cigar and have a chair...next time...and warm your
fingers over those nice hot ashes, bring a hot "toddy" sez ole Jack.”
But didja know…
that 'ole Jack does some pretty nifty picture taking -- and provided
for his family doing it. Now, at 93 years young he just mans a Bird
Skating Rink.
“THE STORY:
In the dire news lately, this amazing story might evoke a
smile. it's deja vu again,
some thing came back to ole Jack.In 1952, young Jack,enterprising 36 year old
advertising photographer shooting pictures advertising
Florida as a Mecca for
retirement,etc.,got a call to shoot a cover photo for
"Scenic South" magazine for
4th of July. Enter the three young neighborhood sisters
which jack bought three white
swim suits and dyed them red and blue (white stayed
white!) for patriotism, took
them to the "Gulf" and took the shot, the small one, about
4-5 years old looking
back at Jack. You have heard of "The Three Sisters"
mountain range in the"Tetons",
the "Three Bears",momma, pappy, and baby bear, the "Three
Andrews Sisters of big
"Band" fame,etc., SO HERE ARE THE THREE KINDLE
SISTERS! AT 57 YEARS
LATER, they buy "sun-dresses", for some reason, didn't
want swim suits and took
the second picture at the "Atlantic!". Notice the lady at
right still looking back!Ole Jack (93) hopes this brings a smile to our weary eyes
for happy ‘Newscasts’.”
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2/1/10 This in from f/8er…,
Read your piece on home exchanges.
I found this recently.....
Couch Surfing..... Interesting concept!
Maybe someday I'll have the nerve to try it!
OAT Group at Kalampaka, Greece -
…at the foot of the Meteora.
Meteora rock spires at sunrise - Kalampaka, Greece
Meteora is an area in Thessaly (Central Greece)
and Kalampaka is the city under the rock tower.
Monasteries are built on rock pinnacles
of deltaic origin, called 'Meteora', rising
over 400m (1200 ft) above the Thessalian
plain. Chemical analysis and work by the
German geologist Philipson, supported
by
the Greek geologist Papadakis, suggests
that the pinnacles were created
some 60
million years ago in the Tertiary period,
emerging from the cone
of a river and
further transformed by earthquakes.
The pillars are of
brown sandstone.
The area remains of importance for birds
of prey, with breeding species
of honey
buzzard Pernis apivorus, black kite Milvus
migrans (ten pairs),
Egyptian vulture (with
50 pairs the largest population in Greece,
but
declining), short-toed eagle (five pairs)
, Levant sparrowhawk Accipiter
brevipes,
lesser-spotted eagle Aquila pomarina (one
pair), booted eagle
(three to five pairs),
Bonelli's eagle (one pair) and peregrine
falcon.
In addition, black stork Ciconia
nigra breed (two pairs) and roller Coracius
garrulus (ten pairs) are found (Grimmet
and Jones, 1989).
Monks settled in this inaccessible region
of sandstone peaks from the 11th century.
The 16th century frescoes found
in this
group of 24 monasteries, are a
fundamental stage in the development
of
post-Byzantine painting.
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©Bob Grytten Photo
More later…
