Chicago Architecture :: Saints Volodymyr and Olha Church

SVOC Colors & Curves

There are three churches in my gallery now, and this one in Chicago is spectacular!

Saints Volodymyr and Olha Church is a beautiful church in Chicago’s Ukranian Village.  I was allowed to photograph from the choir loft.  I wanted to create a composition that would capture the dramatic curve of the choir loft railing and still include the beautiful view of the church windows, arches, and a huge radiant chandelier.

This image was developed using HDR software in order to balance the bright light of the stained glass windows and the darker church interior.

This is an example of the type of creative composition I will be teaching during a workshop on Composition in the Field at this church on March 3 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Read more about this workshop online at Digital Photo Academy.

You can view more photos of this impressive church in this gallery — Saints Volodymyr and Olha Church.

Chicago Botanic Garden :: Hosta Cuddle

“Hosta Cuddle”

I was running out of inspiration in my photography.  My last “photography trip” was way back in early March 2011, and the next one would not be for a year or more.  No one was buying my photos, and no one was enrolling in my workshops.  I was getting very few “Likes” on my posts.  I was thinking why do this at all.  Who cares about these images anyway?  There are trillions of them on the internet, and why bother?

Yesterday when I was walking up my driveway after a day at the office, I heard the singing of a Cardinal up in the sky somewhere.  I stopped and listened and looked until I saw him, sitting way up on my TV antenna.  Then I smiled and whistled back.  Was he singing for me?

Last Saturday I was at the Chicago Botanic Garden, to shoot some pictures of the flowers and plants there.  Initially, I was walking around in the grip of the mind’s chatter — “Find pretty flowers … in soft light  … with uncluttered backgrounds … and get their names  … and won’t everybody just love it  … and blah blah blah blah blah.”

But then, by walking around, by myself, just being still and letting the plants attract me (letting my heart attract them?), by just walking around and noticing my feelings, my mind’s focus was directed to a group of hostas perched quietly along a stairway under a canvas tent.  Their stillness and apparent contentment with their position, leaf curling against leaf, created in me a feeling of appreciation that these flowing, unspectacularly green ripply plants had accepted their destiny to put on a display –  today — now  — just for me, because everyone else had passed them by.

So what is the purpose of a plant growing or a bird singing or a Harry making a picture?  Is it to win awards, recognition, appreciation from other people? I think not.

I think, when we are still, we are all inspired to do what feels good to us, and I should not forget that for me it feels good to pour some of my life into creating a thing of beauty.  Like the Cardinal singing his song.  Like the hosta leaf growing and cuddling with her sisters.

I will remember to focus my mind on these things, before focusing my camera.

Juried Artist Exhibition :: Gallery 7 Open Lens II

“Water Color”

My image “Water Color” was selected for the Open Lens II exhibit at Gallery 7, Joliet, Illinois.

Open Lens II is Gallery 7′s 2nd Annual Juried Exhibit of Photographic Fine Art.  Over 535 images were submitted by more than 90 artists from across the country.  The exhibit features 68 images selected by 2 jurors with a Best of Show Award, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place Awards, 6 Honorable Mention Awards, and Purchase Awards honoring more than 10 Artists and images.  The exhibit features an Opening and Closing Reception and is open for  viewing by the public and invitees over the course of the exhibit.

The Exhibit Opening Reception is today, June 4, 2010 from 6:00 PM to 9:00PM.  The exhibit runs through the July 15, 2010 Artists Closing Reception.

About Gallery 7

Gallery 7 is a Fine Art Gallery in the Rialto Arts District in Historic Downtown Joliet.  Located just one door north of the historic Rialto Theater, Gallery 7 features Fine Art Photography, Fiber Art and other artworks.  It is a collaboration of nine member and associate member artists.  The gallery is open 11 AM to 2 PM,  Monday through Friday, for receptions and by appointment.  Call 815.726.1840 for appointment openings.  Address:  Gallery  7, 116 N Chicago St, Suite 102, Joilet, Illinois.

Canyonlands National Park :: Mesa Arch Starburst

I have just published the Mesa Arch Gallery, and one of my favorites from this location is this sunburst effect at sunrise.

Mesa Arch Starbust

Mesa Arch is such a popular location in Canyonlands National Park, I had to get up very early to get a spot to photograph the arch before all the other photographers and tourists arrived.  Ahhhh — Nature!

It was a beautiful sight.  This image is actually an HDR composite of 2 images.  The trick is to take one shot exposing for the close side of the arch before the sun comes up, and another when the sun comes up with the aperture closed down to about f3o, which makes the arch look pretty black.

My First Book

You can view my first photography book, “The Wonders of Oregon”  in full-screen mode to read the quotes from writers and poets such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Lao Tzu, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Albert Schweitzer.  I really like this way of juxtaposing these beautiful images with the quotes of these great writers.