Imagist Blog

What do i “see,” or fail to see, within my frame of reference?
What do i include or exclude from consideration?
What may be revealed to me
if i choose to add or remove a filter,
or to step back a hundred feet or forward a few,
or turn this way or that way,
as i encounter life minute to minute?
What I contribute to the encounter
determines my level of creative engagement.

(click photograph for larger view)

As I walked the Pewaukee Riverbed the sunlit remains of a grand old tree stopped me;
and demanded my consideration and respect.
I reached beyond my “visible” spectrum, into the Infrared light,
to express the drama that I felt in that moment.
Then thought, “I must include the entire tree.”

So I walked back and back some more; and thought, “okay. there it is.”
Though I was wrong. The first framing, up close and personal, was the one that demanded my attention.

Milwaukee River. Thiensville, WI. Below the falls.

Leica M8, 40 mm Summicron with B+W 93 Infrared Filter

With my friend, David, near by.

iPhone 6S

So I phonally acquired one a dem dare “smart” phones. I could say a whole lot about the damn thing; how the $5 Runtastic Cycling App synchs with my $30 heart rate monitor and maps and charts my cycling runs; or how I’m re-enjoying “my music” while cycling. or… oh hell you long-time-users already know all this. So let’s just talk about the damn “camera.” It’s one thing to snap some pics and look at them on that little (I don’t have a “plus”) screen; and play around with the little instant transformation apps that turn your snaps into “art” in a split second. It’s something else entirely when you import the images into Lightroom or Photoshop and actually have a look; and a go at them. Here’s a few made over the first few weeks with the device. The New York Times ran a nice bit on this subject.

(click photograph for larger view)

iPhone 6S

just outside our back door
standing in the rain

Leica M, 100 mm Macro Apo Elmarit – R