Meltdown!

Regular readers will notice that I have made significant changes to my blog theme. It wasn't intentional. In fact, I just got done telling my photo/media students that they should pick a theme and stick with it because potential customers don't want to spend time trying to re-learn how to navigate a web site.So I apologize. But last night I experienced a "major malfunction" with the Modularity theme I was using. Rather than take my blog offline until I figured out how to fix things, I picked a new theme. Frankly, I like it, largely because it allows for larger photos. It also has other cool features, which I don't have a clue on how to use. But learning is a good thing isn't it?In the October, 2012, issue of Shutterbug Joe Farace posts a screen shot of my blog and a description of the features of my homepage. If you came here expecting to see what he describes, sorry. Bad timing. :-( But a new, cool look. :-)Painting: "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali, Museum of Modern Art

07-25-12 Black Eyed Susans

06-22-12 New Moon At Sunset

I've photographed this shoreline before but in different light. Here are two other variations on this scene:"I'm No Claude Monet""Sunset, July 4, 2010"

6-19-12 Cane Garden Bay, BVI

6-18-12 Jost Van Dyke

6-17-12 The Journalist

6-16-12 Petals In the Pool

6-15-12 What's In It For Me?

05-22-12 Geometry

From Another Time

While going through my Aunt Betty's photo collection, we came across this portrait of her sister (my aunt) Phyllis. I was struck by the beautiful, Rembrandt lighting. I also like the sepia tone of the print. I remember reading that toning was more about preservation than it was about creating an effect. Of course, it would be decades before color film would be introduced when this photo was taken - the early 1920s.Three other things strike me about this photo. First, the aspect ratio is very odd by today's standards. I have cropped this photo a bit and the original was narrow and tall. Why? I don't know. The second thing that I noticed was that Phyllis' right hand is blurred, no doubt because the photographer had to use a slow shutter speed. Old films were slow and required several second exposures. Finally, I am impressed with the perfect condition of this photo. It was properly processed and then properly preserved.Who will be looking at our photos 90 years from now and writing commentary?In my continuing effort to get more people to see my students' photos, here's another great portrait, done by Kendra Gortmaker. Her subjects are her daughter and husband and she used availably light to make this photo. Here's Kendra's web site.

Someone's Watching Me

This is yet another photo that found me. I was walking back to the Photo/Media studio at Lake Area Technical Institute, where I work, and I was almost past the Cosmetology Department when I walked by this partially opened locker.I was all the way by the locker when I realized that there was a photo opportunity here. I took my iPhone out and took a few photos but this is the one I liked.No, we don't keep the heads of former students in lockers. But the cosmetology department does store rather good looking "dummy" heads in lockers. I'm sure there is a name for these model heads and I vow to learn it when I am back to teaching tomorrow.

The Bagpiper - Dempsey's Pub

This is a small detail from what I'm guessing may be one of the largest murals in Watertown. It resides at Dempsey's Brewery Pub and Restaurant in Watertown, SD. The primary artist is Larry Nygaard and the pub is worth visiting.Speaking of worth visiting, how about clicking here to see a photo posted by one of my second year photo students? I'm sure Ashley would appreciate it.