Big Green Leaf on the iPhone

One of the problems with the iPhone is that you need to touch a spot on the back screen to take a photo. Thus, you can only really use one hand to hold the camera. In the case of the "Big Green Leaf," found in the Como Park Conservatory, the camera used a pretty slow shutter speed, and it was hard not to have a shaky camera. I'll figure this out, I'm sure.The lines on the leaf are what begged me to take this photo. Do I really hear things talk to me when I'm out taking photos? Yes. In fact some times they shout.iPhone 4 1/15s f/2.8 ISO160 3.85mm

Mac On the iPhone

I continue to be impressed with the photographic capabilities of my iPhone 4. It shoots pretty clean photos in marginal light. It also lets me do macro photography. AND I can selectively focus, which means I can do things with this camera that most point and shoot cameras can't do.This photo of Mac isn't exactly the best way to showcase the camera's capabilities, but I'm using it to start a shorts series of iPhone photos. Frankly, I was looking for something to do a macro photo with and I searched for some living thing that didn't move much. So it was either the plants or Mac. And I chose Mac.

Mysterious Lights

Deb and I were at the end of a short trip to visit my aunt in California. In a restaurant in the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport I pointed my camera up into an unusual lighting fixture, and this is what I got.

The Orb of Power

"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" hit the theaters in 1975. The sophomores in my world history class were born 20 years later. And yet, when I show a photo of this symbol of power of the Holy Roman Emperor in my history class, someone inevitably says, "That's the Holy Hand Grenade," which is what it was called in the Monty Python movie.This "Holy Hand Grenade" isn't unique - many royals had one in their possession. But this golden treasure can be seen with other spectucular crown jewels of a long-dead empire in Vienna, Austria.

Neither Holy, Nor Roman, Nor An Empire

The title of this post is from a statement made by Voltaire about the Holy Roman Empire, which was founded by Charlemagne in 800 AD. Even though the HRE may have had dubious value, the Emperors had great clothes and nice crowns. This is one of several in Vienna, Austria.Tomorrow, I'll show you the "Holy Hand Grenade."

A Summer Morning

I wasn't really looking for a photo like this to post but when I came across it, I was so powerfully reminded of what it feels like to stand in this place on a promising summer morning that I had to publish it. I can feel the humid breeze, I can sense the growing warmth of the sun and I can smell the wild prairie grasses. I also know that as I took this photo I was thinking about the kind of day of sailing I would have.This is all a sort of rapture for me and it is risky, given that summer is still 3 months away. But I can dream.

Hidden Blessing

As much as I dislike winter, I must say that there are some things I like about it. In this case I stepped out our front door with my camera to look for something photogenic in the aftermath of our last major snow storm (14" and wind). And I found a plant left over from last summer which had been dusted with fine snow.But I'd still rather be photographing green things. . .

Let It Snow?

I waded out to the mailbox in snow that is now about 10" deep to take this photo. Since then I would say we've had a few more inches. Plus wind. Let it snow? Really!

Old But New

I'm not a "car guy" and the only brand name I'm a little irrational about is Apple. So what's with the "Ford" logo? I was playing with my new iPhone (made by Apple, of course) and I decided to take a photo of the Ford logo on the front grill of our new truck - a Ford F150.I like the somewhat archaic style of the Ford logo contrasted with the design of the truck grill. And I like the truck, too. Not only does it haul stuff and let me get through snow drifts, but it also talks to me and lets me play music (from my iPhone) over Bluetooth. What would Henry say?

Another Frank Photo

This isn't the first time I've posted Frank, by the artist Chuck Close. Frank resides in the Minneapolis Institute of Art and I've observed that he seems to get around since this is at least the 4th different gallery I remember seeing him in. Frank, incidentally, is a photo-realistic painting done from a photo of someone named Frank.If you follow this blog and click on the "art museum" tag, you'll see that I like to take shots of galleries in art museums. I especially like quiet moments like the one pictured here. It is rare to get a whole gallery (or two) to myself. Though I guess Frank is here with me, isn't he?

Sara

My Photo/Media class and I were "on location" in what some of us call the "Old Post Office." Our mission was "looking for light." I had said that the best light for portraiture is the soft light that spills through windows that aren't facing direct sun light.I told one of my students to step next to the edge of the window and I pointed out that if you arrange the subject just right, you can easily get Rembrandt lighting. Sara is a great subject so it's not too hard to get a decent portrait.

Holy Name

This is a view of the altar and huge wood carving that graces the front wall of Holy Name Catholic Church in Watertown, SD.