View allAll Photos Tagged questioning
extending the structural daring with minimal elaboration?
questioning the principle of balance and symmetry which guides the growth of forms along the lines of the greatest efficiency?
thank god it's friday?
- from the streamlined, 'less is more' archive
Being in your head is so easy, being mental, no dreaming, just being realistic.
Questioning everything.
Wanting answers.
Feeling secure because you will have some answers.
Not necessarily the correct answers, but you are content even tho.
But
Quite often there are no answers.
Being in your heart is so difficult, opening up for pure love, just suck it in, believe in your intuition.
We have beliefs that we aren't good enough.
You don't need to be perfect, you know.
And
What is perfect.
We are so hard towards ourselves, demanding that we need to do stuff we really don't want to do.
Others need us to do, to act, to behave, and we just stumble on our path, back and forth, and don't do what is really correct for ourselves.
My heart has become a meltingpot of love.
All old patterns can now be transformed, I don't want them anymore, I don't need them.
Let the future be mine to behold, then I know everything will be all right.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for
tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop
questioning - Albert Einstein.
~
Technical info
RAW file
Overcast light
White boards
F/4.5. 1/125
ISO100
50 mm
Software
(64 bit)
PS CS6
Lightroom 5.7
Post
Selective B&W conversion
(Polaroid film profile with green filter)
LR - Blended dodge - 30%
PS - Curve adjustment
PS - Twin contrast layers
PS - Global contrast
-
As I sat on the pier at Bodega Harbor watching several Common Loons fishing I was struck by their elegant & serene beauty & how very 'wise' they appeared to me!
This one swam up very close to us as if questioning our reason for being there aiming cameras at it!
Please view large!
Lately I've been questioning things. I have been so happy this year, and yet there are times when I don't feel fully alive. As if life has been put on hold.
What causes this?
I don't know for sure, but perhaps there might be something inside all of us that gives us feedback about whether we're moving in the right direction in life or not. An internal voice that we have access to at all times, and yet sometimes it feels like this voice speaks in another language. You can hear the basic emotion behind it, but can't understand the words.
I think we've been so conditioned to shush this voice since we were babies, because, well, you just can't do whatever you want. You have to conform to society and rules if you want to survive here. Then as we grew, this voice was so often replaced with programmed messages coming from someone's agenda. Ads, TV shows, articles, news, parents, friends, lovers... So many external voices teaching us what to believe and to want. So how do you know which desires are actually yours?
I guess this is it. When something makes you feel alive, it's good. When something makes you feel dead inside, it's wrong. It might not always make sense. The voice of reason might be advising you otherwise... But maybe the voice of reason is someone else's voice.
"Nobody is immune to a nationwide evil unless he is unshakably convinced of the danger of his own character being tainted by the same evil."
[Jung]
The bent grabiron above the conductor's side window almost appears as if the coal-stained locomotive is raising an eyebrow, questioning why I'm out here at 7 in the morning photographing it. The answer is the 1960s-era cantilever standing tall right above the engine, unbeknownst entirely to me at the time that it was living out it's last year of service. After the discovery of some new intermediate LED signals erected pre-service at mile 2.2, my efforts on shooting the North Toronto narrowed to mostly Mount Pleasant & Howland in the latter half of 2023, seeing as they were at mile 1.6 & 3.5 respectively and would almost certainly be obsolete once the new signals were cut in. A timeline wasn't known at this point and up until as recently as a month ago, I was holding out hope that they'd survive at least into the late spring/early summer. As I am now writing in early May 2024 with every last North Toronto searchlight & signal structure destroyed, I am saddened but overall grateful for moments like these where I made it my goal to document these structures while they were still around.
CP 118, Mile 3.5 North Toronto Subdivision (Howland)
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
~ Albert Einstein
A pesky shadow from a cloud dances across the landscape threatening the prospect of a sunlit shot, but happily just failed in its bold attempt! A lone dog walker on Coulderton beach waves to the footplate crew of 46115 'Scots Guardsman' as it snakes around the stunning Cumbrian Coastline approaching Nethertown station heading the 1Z87 Carlisle to London Euston 'Winter Cumbrian Coast Express; on Saturday 28th January 2017. I drove through driving rain from Tebay to Cockermouth, questioning my sanity, but the final opportunity on the coast reassured me that I am not quite going mad yet.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
I've never used focus bracketing. It feels too much like a crutch, a computer-based workaround to compensate for not mastering and deploying depth of field as a tool in support of a strong subject in a favorable composition.
Recently it has come to light that using AI for as little as 10 minutes damages our intellect. Almost immediately. Can the use of some computational crutches to reduce complexity (deliberate thought) in pursuit of photography damage our creativity in a similar way?
If having everything in focus becomes the default, do we ever truly learn depth of field? Does it cease to occur to us, is it something that largely disappears from a photographer's arsenal (except perhaps in really obvious cases)?
Does the use of focus bracketing compete with other photographic techniques, like exposure bracketing? Does the photographer's overall success rate go down as more situations are encountered where the dynamic range of the scene exceeds what can be captured in a single exposure?
Does the use of some computational shortcuts actually create extra work in many cases? The fad of always focusing twice for night photography (failing to use depth of field, when applicable) comes to mind.
Do some photographers fail to recognize and consider, elt alone question, their assumptions? Does everything in a photo need to be sharp? Does sharpness everywhere support the subject? Or distract from it? In night photography, are sharp stars the goal? Or are tiny, sharp stars more likely to be removed by noise reduction algorithms and by the printing process itself? In printing, ink must overspray every theoretical pixel, so what happens to a single white dot in an image, as ink is sprayed on paper? On canvas? If you achieved tiny white dots in the sky, what happens when a large print appears on a wall? Can you see tiny stars in the print over your mantle from a normal viewing distance? What happens if stars are slightly unsharp (and/or drag a bit)?
I'm not avoiding focus bracketing out of a dogmatic nostalgia for film. Many digital processes can help overcome the limitations of film, improve quality, improve productivity and success rate. If you fail to account for the entire process, and fail to understand (let alone master) basic concepts like depth of field, there can be a cascade of undesirable effects. It's every photographer's own choice of course. Ideally it's always an informed choice. it can be very useful to question one's own assumptions and practices, and test them regularly.
Few "rules" apply in every situation, so this isn't an argument for or against any one technique, it's an argument for questioning everything and having the knowledge, experience/skill, and decision-making practice to identify an optimal approach for each situation and challenge that you're faced with. Isn't solving each diverse challenge that photography presents us with one of the great things about practicing photography?
You have experienced intense harm and evil so devastating that you find yourself questioning reality. It’s so easy for you to question yourself, to believe this means you are weak and it comes more naturally to turn this inward and severely criticize yourself. And you’re doing the hard work of looking for beauty and goodness wherever you can discover it and finding ways to try to express and validate your very real experience when you can’t find words for it. Maybe that is strength.
[image created on 3-1-2024]
Recently I became very fascinated by digital pinhole photography. This image was created with a modified pinhole body cap. I think I’m drawn to this type of photography because I feel it relates to my life and it seems to teach me far beyond photography. There are strict limitations that can drastically alter how images are captured and the final outcome of the photos, there is a lack of clarity compared to how I normally capture images with a lens, it’s difficult to predict exactly how the image will look and beauty and meaning can be found in the process and the final photo. It gives me a chance to practice embracing the unfamiliar, change, finding beauty in imperfection and growing in new ways.
____________________________
As a way to cope with circumstances beyond my control, survive and work to keep fighting for life I decided to try to take at least one photo (or more) each day. I call this “a photo (or more) a day.” Practicing this form of therapeutic photography helps me work to focus on the present moment, gives me something familiar and enjoyable to focus on as I use photography skills that have become like second-nature to me and being able to view the images I capture helps me recall what I was thinking, feeling and noticing at the moment when I created the photos. More of the photos from this series can be seen on my Instagram account
I may not always have the energy, time or capacity to share photos from this series—especially with the very challenging circumstances my family and I are experiencing—and will do my best to continue taking a photo (or more) a day even if I’m not able to share.
If you would like to support my work and my family, one way you can do so is by ordering my zines:
Many thanks for your support.
A questioning Basset
Copyright © 2022 John McKeen. All Rights Reserved.
This image is an original work and may not be reproduced without the permission of the photographer/artist. It is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without explicit written permission and may not be downloaded or altered in any way
Zenza Bronica S2A
Nikkor P 75mm f2.8
Kodak Portra 160
Analog graphical study questioning human being and his environment
Perigord, France -
On of the locals questioning my need to stop and photograph them.
Seen in North Morro Bay, ca.
while out walking.
But in this word and this time I must
reach out to you in words.
J. M. Coetzee
-------
Bet šiame pasaulyje, šiame laike
galiu pasiekti tave tik žodžiais.
J. M. Coetzee
Back Garden, Finglas West, Dublin Ireland 2023
Thistle Finch, Gold Linnet, Gold Spink, Foolscoat
[order] Passeriformes | [family] Fringillidae | [latin] Carduelis carduelis | [UK] Goldfinch | [FR] Chardonneret élégant | [DE] Stieglitz | [ES] Jilguero Europeo | [IT] Cardellino eurasiatico | [NL] Putter
spanwidth min.: 22 cm
spanwidth max.: 25 cm
size min.: 13 cm
size max.: 15 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 11 days
incubation max.: 14 days
fledging min.: 13 days
fledging max.: 18 days
broods 2
eggs min.: 3
eggs max.: 6
One of Ireland's top-20 most widespread garden birds.
Status: Resident. Some additional birds may arrive from Continent in winter.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population has been evaluated as Secure.
Identification: Smaller than a Chaffinch, this brightly-coloured finch has become a familiar sight at garden nut feeders in recent years. Striking black and yellow wings usually catch the eye first, but the scarlet red "face" and black and white head markings are equally striking, set off against a rather plain brown back and whitish underside. The tail is black with white spots and the rump white. Very active, has a bounding flight and can occur in large flocks.
Similar Species: Greenfinch, Chaffinch
Call: Song a liquidy, rather quiet string of twitters, not unlike a Swallow. Anxiety note a questioning "queue", rising towards end.
Diet: Mostly seeds - especially fine seeds of grasses and thistles. Will readily use peanut feeders.
Breeding: Breeds throughout Ireland - in hedgerows, orchards, parks and gardens. Delicate nest of moss, hairs and feathers in fork, quite high in hedge or tree.
Wintering: Widespread.
Where to See: Common and widespread in Ireland.
Physical characteristics
Small, delicate, beautifully marked finch, with noticeably pointed bill and light dancing flight. At all ages, displays diagnostic shining, golden-yellow panel along center of black wing. Adult has unique head pattern of seemingly vertical bands of red-white-black and has tawny-brown back contrasting with wings, bold whitish rump, and black tail. Voice distinctive. Sexes closely similar, little seasonal variation.
Habitat
Breeds over west Palearctic north to isotherms of 17'C in boreal, temperate, Mediterranean, and steppe zones, both Atlantic and continental. Predominantly in lowlands, but in Switzerland breeds generally up to 1000 m, and occurs in late summer and autumn up to 2400 m, resorting to alpine meadows and areas near chalets. In breeding season, shows preference for orchards, parks, gardens, avenues, and tree nurseries, often in or near human settlements, and especially where patches of tall weeds and other concentrated food sources are present. Also favours streamside of fen woodlands, open or fringe woodlands and heath lands, and commons with well-grown hawthorn, gorse, and other scrub or thicket species.
Other details
Carduelis carduelis is a widespread resident across most of Europe, which accounts for less than half of its global range. Its European breeding population is extremely large (>12,000,000 pairs), and was stable between 1970-1990. Although there were declines in a few countries-notably Turkey-during 1990-2000, populations were stable or increased across the vast majority of Europe, and the species underwent a slight increase overall.
Things don't always have to be crystal clear to be understood. A certain amount of mystery encourages questioning and wondering. Always question things, because sometimes those questions can lead you to answers and on paths that you never thought possible.
I am learning to expect the unexpected. And I love it.
Only a few more days left until the big move. I've never been more scared of anything before in my life. But I also know that the independence will do me the world of good.
Me and Mark have got some exciting plans too. But knowing us, it'll take us forever to get round to it. hehe. And he's thinking of replacing his car. Go and tell him that he shouldn't. Ha. :)
This is the start of a new series. I think it'll be a long one. But I'm certainly excited for it.
"What do you want for your birthday?" Ali looked at me questioningly. It's never an easy one to answer, because I don't really need anything - nothing within the birthday present type of budget anyway. A mark 2 100-400 lens would be nice, but I'd have been pushing my luck a bit with that request. "Can't think of anything in particular I replied." She sighed and we moved on.
A few days later I thought of something I did need. A good pair of warm photography gloves - one that would also make me feel I'd made a contribution to cover the costs of all the free entertainment Henry Turner has been providing during lockdown. The deed was done and on my first adventure with the tripod in ten weeks I donned a very cosy pair of gloves to accompany the three thermal layers under two coats, the balaclava, the fleece lined boots and the winter trousers. The great thing about wearing all of this winter gear is that you can stand on the Weather Watching Cliff for three hours in the face of a vicious northerly wind and not feel cold. Ok so there are times when it's not so easy to stay on your feet, and it's a shame all of these preparations didn't prevent me from losing the rainproof cover that fits onto my pack to the elements, but I was comfortably warm throughout the visit. Given the strength of the wind it's likely that the cover also traveled the few miles home towards Redruth in the dusk, albeit separately from the rest of us.
As I arrived in the car park the world outside was subjected to an urgent volley of hailstones. I decided to stay put for a while. As the squall abated, the lady in the nearest car decided to chance it and set off towards the cliff path with two small jacketed dogs. Five minutes later she was back, chased by another blast of hailstones, shrugging at me through my windscreen with a resigned grin on her face. The small dogs looked relieved to be back in their owner's car. It was the sort of afternoon that promised much if you were brave enough to step outside into it. The thing is you can see the squalls heading straight towards you from here as they so often do. It's why I call it the Weather Watching Cliff.
The second squall having passed, I readied myself for my own expedition. The lady with the dogs headed off again, although moments later yet another drift of filthy weather raced towards us. I was already back in my car as my neighbour returned to hers and headed off, evidently having given up for the day. But now at last it was dry and apart from the endless spray that carries over the cliffs here it remained dry for the rest of the afternoon. I'd decided on a manual focus stack to try and get some sharpness throughout the image but despite having the tripod low to the ground and doing my best to shelter it by crouching at its windward side, it wasn't easy in the harsh conditions. My daughter came to join me after a while and despite setting up close to me neither of us could hear what the other one said, as each word was lost to the ever strengthening wind. It felt fantastic to be here again though. I've missed these adventures.
Despite a number of visits towards the end of last year I still haven't quite got the shot I've envisaged from here and I think the opportunity has probably passed until the middle of next winter. But there are still plenty of shots to be had and I will be back here quite often throughout the seasons before I try again. As for the Vallaret gloves - they were exceptionally warm and comfortable. Perfect for a brutal winter's day. It's a shame my short and stubby index fingers don't poke quite as far out of them as they ought to when the tips are opened, even though my fourth fingers would struggle for space in the next size down. Sadly, it's probably me that needs some re-engineering rather than the gloves.
In fact the first of those future visits will probably be this afternoon - just in case that waterproof cover managed to get snagged on a bit of heather somewhere. I may as well take the camera i suppose.
#AbFav_FEBRUARY
for February and the Romantic season.
Love me without fear
Trust me without questioning
Need me without demanding
Want me without restrictions
Accept me without change
Desire me without inhibitions
For a love so free....
Will never fly away.
By Dick Sutphen
Keep your heart pure, don't clutter it with a book-keeping of lies.
Keep your love, as tender and sweet as these petals...
Thank you, M, (*_*)
For more: www.indigo2photography.com
IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN (BY LAW!!!) TO USE ANY OF MY images or TEXT on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. If you do, without accreditation, it is STEALING © All rights reserved
A lone dog walker on Coulderton beach waves to the footplate crew of 46115 'Scots Guardsman' as it snakes around the stunning Cumbrian Coastline approaching Nethertown station heading the 1Z87 Carlisle to London Euston 'Winter Cumbrian Coast Express; on Saturday 28th January 2017. I drove through driving rain from Tebay to Cockermouth, questioning my sanity, but the final opportunity on the coast reassured me that I am not quite going mad yet.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
“Life has been some combination of fairy-tale coincidence and joie de vivre and shocks of beauty together with some hurtful self-questioning.”
― Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath
Questioning look in this portrait shot and as previously stated I could not move any further away due to the dry moat behind me. Once the stag was ashore I almost got some beautiful photos in dappled sunlight when it moved further away but some stupid girl saw me taking photos and got up from where she was sitting on a bench and stood in front of the Stag, no more than than a metre maximum from it...We witness this behaviour every year. Last year a man posed with his dog directly next to this stag whilst his wife/ girlfriend took lots of photos using a smart
phone..
Red deer have red-brown fur with a cream rump. The UK’s largest land mammal, a mature male (stag) may stand four feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 200kg.
Stags develop a large set of antlers that grow with age. Starting with just two points, the antlers steadily develop more branches, reaching up to 16 in most cases. These antlers are shed and regrown every year. Females (hinds) lack antlers and are more lightly built than males.
The Real Work
It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings.
✁✁ ✵* Wendell Berry
Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
⚝ Mary Oliver
You see, I want a lot.
Perhaps I want everything:
The darkness that comes with every infinite fall
And the shivering blaze of every step up.
So many live on and want nothing
And are raised to the rank of prince
By the slippery ease of their light judgments
But what you love to see are faces
That do work and feel thirst…
You have not grown old,
And it is not too late to dive
Into your increasing depths where life
Calmly gives out its own secret.
_. Rainer Maria Rilke / The Book of the Hours
'The Struggle Of The Magicians' (Excerpt No. 1)
.. to go back and forth between exercised confinement and transcendence, between cause and effect - to doom or redemption; between nothing and everything, between wander and wonder; between the need to be tempered and about the freedom to be just be; to see beginnings vanishing into distant music without a trace, only to return as a noise from fragile consciousness - activated through the paradox of human reality meeting the stronghold in self - on the playground of dynamic transformation - a portal into another iteration of reality and into the composition of the wholehearted relationship.
... to even out beyond the creases of the wrinkled time and ownership of habitual bones - to eternally belong to that timeless grandeur - that plane of calm that houses wondrous clarity and tap in creativity, joy, wisdom from that which naturally breathes peace and love - to reverberate with eterna song - of virtues belonging enmasse to humility'... a song not far for the sound to fade away but whose life is connected to every hugbeat of 'Eterna' Heart