Category: Still Life

Wabi-sabi Wednesday

Wabi-sabi

witness weather’s work.
solid, water wed with wreckage,
a withered wind whipped leaf
within a well-worn wrapper.
winter will not wait.

WHAM!
a wizard will work this into a range hood
wrought worthy of a warm wok.

(click photograph for larger view)

Leica M8, 50 mm Summilux Asph

Fireplace Surround by Nathaniel Reinartz

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to photograph the beautiufl fireplace surround, hand forged by Nathaniel Reinartz; and installed in an equally gorgeous arts and crafts style home located on Milwaukee’s East side. Nathaniel brought many of the formal details of the original woodwork, as well as the masonry, into his metal work. Additional details of this piece (as well as some of Nathaniel’s railings).

Leica R8/DMR, 21 mm Super Angulon

Leica R8/DMR, 35 mm Summilux

Friday: flower — still life?

The flowering plants have fallen over, wilted, dried, gone to seed. Very little green remains “outside” — only the pines and some grasses. The days have become short and the light, more often than not, overcast, dull and gray. If I continue to produce a flower photograph each Friday it will require more planning; no longer simply a stroll within so-called nature. From now until spring I’ll need to travel to a shop and make both economic and aesthetic choices.

This morning it was 32 degrees F outside so I decided to shift into this new way of thinking about Friday flowers by bringing one of the last blooms from a porch plant inside for visual exploration. As soon as I dropped the bloom into water the photograph appeared.

(click photograph for larger view)

Leica R8/DMR, 100 mm Apo-Macro Elmarit

A conversation with forms of disintegration

Billions of leaves now lie on my little parcel of the planet. Each whispers a different message about color, form, texture, pattern, volume, shape, and line. Each changes by the hour as they disintegrate; no longer able to fulfill their role in photosynthesis. How do I choose just one leaf to visually converse with? Does it matter which one? Probably not.

Sunday: I pick up three leaves. As I tilt and twist each one and observe the light shifting through the Visoflex (with the 65 mm  Elmar at full extension, plus two tubes) it becomes clear that one leaf has much more to say than the other two. So it does matter. I set up a minimal, miniature studio at “my place” on the kitchen table (just the little SD24 flash on a Nikon off-camera cable, and a white reflector). For the next couple hours that leaf and I enjoy a lovely visual conversation. Two thirds into this conversation Ann asks, “all that!? for one leaf?” I chuckle — and think to myself, “oh yes. This one seems to have a lot to say.” How do I explain these fascinating visual conversations to someone who has not experienced this process? Perhaps by quoting visual excerpts from our dialogue. Before continuing its journey toward becoming fertile dirt the leaf had this to say…

(click images for larger view)

Leica M8, Visoflex with 65 mm Elmar at full extension, plus two extension tubes

Dancing through time — Friday — flower appears.

ever fewer

ever smaller blooms,
now surrounded by fallen
leaves, dancing in the breeze

(click images for larger view)

As I look through the view finder I slowly fall in love with this tiny blossom, resting on the weathered cedar, in the shade of the porch; even though the light lacks quality. The afternoon sun requires redirecting. The closest useful tool sits six feet away; in the kitchen drawer. A sheet of aluminum foil allows me to bring the sunlight back into the scene. As I search for the composition the slight fall breeze continually moves the near weightless leaves around the subject — a delicate dance. New leaves appear on this dance floor. Others depart. The breeze on the foil also causes the light to dance about in endless variations. So too does the camera move; closer; further; lower; higher; searching for the rhythms. So which of these best captured my affection for the subject and the light? I still can’t decide.

Leica R8/DMR, 100 mm Apo-Macro-Elmarit

Weird Wednesday

Some many years ago Sonny Carter began the Friday Flowers tradition over on the LUG (Leica User Group) email list. Yesterday Lawrence Zeitlin began what may become a new new tradition: Weird Wednesday with this deer triptych. This past Sunday Ann wanted to drive out into the country to see the fall color. We decided to drive West and a bit North toward Holy Hill. We could expect to find, hills, winding 2 lane roads through forested land and, ultimately, a fine view from the highest point near us. Along the way we found these fellows, who apparently had the same idea, on the road to holy hill:

(click images for larger view)

Leica M8, 28 mm Summicron