CategoryJim’s Daily

October 31, 2016 – I take my iPhone with me when I play a round of golf – or – I take my golf clubs with me when I photo-shoot in the “Pasture of 18 Sticks”.

Better get out of here. I do not fear death, I just do not want to be around when it happens.

Better get out of here. I do not fear death, I just do not want to be around when it happens.

Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up. Or, I was such a picky eater before the storm, Now I have finally started to expand!

Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up. Or, I was such a picky eater before the storm, Now I have finally started to expand!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

October 23, 2016 – Featuring Owls – That is a way of telling you of one project I have been on.

It is getting near to Halloween and Owl often a used as a spooky symbol of the dark and scary – so a am working to produce a brief slide show for our Nature Center and creating a brochure with some Owl facts:

Click below to see my first draft of the Brochure!

the-first-bro

 

October 14, 2016 – Featuring water & my “environment time” – With the hurricane passing near us in Florida, my thoughts turn to the beauty of water!!!

My morning coffee, my mid-day break, or my end of day "environment time" have always been most beautiful by the water.

My morning coffee, my mid-day break, or my end of day “environment time” have always been most beautiful by the water.

Environment time - My morning coffee by our lake in Florida.

Environment time – My morning coffee by our lake in Florida.

With my Daughters "Macy" on the lake.

Environment time – With my Daughter’s “Macy” on the lake.

Add a "Caroline" - to my mid-day break on the lake.

Environment time – Add “Caroline” – to my mid-day break on the lake.

An end of day "Element of Excitement" - I love a some - even a Hurricane when we are prepared - which we have bee so far in the few that we have sat through over the years by the water!!!

Environment time – At the end of the day – an “Element of Excitement” – I love a storm – even a Hurricane when we are prepared – which we have been, so far,  in the few Hurricanes that we have sat through over the years – We sat through them by the water – lake, sea, and ocean!!!

At the end of the storm - by the water - there is serenity. That is why I will forever seek to have a home by the sea or lake!

Environment time, with a drink, at the end of the storm – by the water – Now, that is serenity.  Now you know why:  “I will forever seek to keep a home by the sea!” by Jim Brubaker

h2o-300tree-by

 

October 3, 2016 – We are back in Florida – It is fun to wake up in this environment after almost 6 months on beautiful Drummond!

I been thinking about things our TGO Photo Club Members will want to learn in our meetings this winter – I sent you all an e-mail asking for ideas back a way – Do not hesitate to send me more ideas!

Some ask for ideas on post processing – Elements, PhotoSop, etc:

Bryan Peterson has wrote a book – Third Edition 2015 –  titled “Learning to See Creatively – Design, Color, and Composition in Photography”

We have used it in our learning session last winter and I hope we will use it again this year. The bulk of the book is focused on three chapters: Elements of Design, Composition, and the Magic of Light.  The third edition has a small new chapter titled “PhotoShop.”

His theory in this new chapter is that using PhotoShop to create a photo is not BAD!  It helps us be better photographers by bring out the creativity in us – Letting us study and practice creativity in design, composition, and light in the studio (our computer), so that in the field, we naturally use this creativity to be better photographers.

At first thought we may react to this PhotoShop suggestion by thinking “I do not want to do that because that is not pure photography”

However, I believe, every time you choose a lens to control depth of field, use a fisheye lens, select a telephoto lens to get the eagle’s nest or crop a scene, change the exposure, select an aperture, lay on your tummy to get a toads eye view, or climb a ladder to get a birds view, you are are not “pure” as the human eye sees it – your creative mind is changing what the human eye sees in order to get a better photograph.  By practicing with PhotoShop you better know what you are trying to achieve when selecting the lens, setting the aperture, etc. in the field on your next photo trip.

Or maybe you are like me – the PhotoShopped output is the end product it’s self and not just practice – you choose your own reason why – but I say – do not be afraid to improve you photo skills by using the digital tools available to us in 2016/2017 and beyond!

Here are a few clouds I practiced on this morning:

10 02 2016 - PhotoShop to practice "See Creatively" The Runner

10 02 2016 – PhotoShop to practice “See Creatively” The Runner

10 02 2016 - PhotoShop to practice "See Creatively" Home at last - face in the clouds east of the arch

10 02 2016 – PhotoShop to practice “See Creatively” Home at last – face in the clouds east of the arch

10 02 2016 - PhotoShop to practice "See Creatively" Drummond bird

10 02 2016 – PhotoShop to practice “See Creatively” Drummond bird

OR --- This view--10 02 2016 - PhotoShop to practice "See Creatively" Drummond bird

OR — This view–10 02 2016 – PhotoShop to practice “See Creatively” Drummond bird

Sept 27, 2016 – The Secret Lives of Things – Interesting – but the hidden lives of things in nature is just as interesting

Stuff follows a day in the life of a fictional, typical North American middle-class resident of Seattle. Nothing terribly unusual or dramatic happens. Unless you count average consumption–which Stuff does. Stuff is a fact-packed look at the people and places that are affected every time you sip your coffee, tie your shoes, click your mouse, step on the gas, or read a book.
Hidden Lives and Hidden Languages kind of go together:
I worked many years internationally dealing with the interactions of language and culture as the related to Corporate Planning. Sometimes it seemed some international subsidiaries thought hidden messages were a game to keep Corporate in the the dark – But, I loved to play the game too – just to find out what Corporate may have been missing – maybe that was my real job?
But now on to photography: What happened after finding Stuff, Google showed me books on the Hidden Lives (&languages) of Horses, Trees, Mushrooms, & Deer  – So, out I went with my cell phone camera looking for photos that related to the hidden lives written about in the books.
Here goes:

Did you know – I did not – and I do not want the experience – but, I found that there is a hidden life in each one of some selected little mushroom morsels:

Like other types of hallucinogenic drugs, psilocybin can produce a wide range of euphoric and psychedelic effects. Psilocybin can produce euphoria, hallucinations and a distorted sense of time for the user. It is very common for those under the influence of magic mushrooms to act erratically and irrationally.

Like other types of hallucinogenic drugs, psilocybin can produce a wide range of euphoric and psychedelic effects. Psilocybin can produce euphoria, hallucinations and a distorted sense of time for the user. It is very common for those under the influence of magic mushrooms to act erratically and irrationally.

 I found in scanning the book Stuff a story of the fungi turning the dead log into dust, mixed with soil, catching a fallen seed - growing a new tree, with coffee beans for our offsprings of future generations

I found in scanning the book “Stuff” a story of the fungi turning the dead log into dust, mixed with soil, catching a fallen seed – growing a new tree from the seed – producing coffee beans for our offsprings of future generations – or was it the book “Hidden life of a tree”?

What is Goldy saying to Perla? Hint: Perla is not with 5' of the personal space of Goldy - Goldy's ears are saying that - It is one word in the hidden language of horses!

What is Goldy saying to Perla? Hint: Perla is not within 5′ of the personal space of Goldy – Goldy’s ears are saying that – The ears are one word in the Hidden Language(Lives)  of horses! – In this case – “Don’t come any closer”

Stare word - from the Momma to the young Buck. What is being said? Hint see next photo

The stare word – from the Momma to the young Buck. What is being said?What is the deer’s language saying? Hint see next photo

Momma said - Do you not understand - I said do not step foot on my grass on the inner circle of this drive way. Answer - Now the young Buck understands!!!

Momma said – “Do you not understand – I said do not step foot on my grass on the inner circle of this drive way.” By looking at the Buck’s stretched out front legs that produced a quick getaway we know the Answer – Now the young Buck understands Moma’s hidden stare language.

I did not get to study the Hidden Lives of Trees - but friends insisted I put this tree in this Blog - The tree is at what we call Four Corners here on Drummond - in front of the hardware Store - They chop the tree back to the top of the stump each year - but each fall it is back - I think that old tree (Stump) has a hidden life - it has a purpose - to produce beauty, shade, through an offspring nurtured each year

I did not get to study the “Hidden Lives of Trees” – but friends insisted I put this tree in my Blog – The tree is at what we call Four Corners here on Drummond – in front of the hardware Store – They chop the tree back to the top of the stump each year – but each fall it is back – I think that old tree (Stump) has a hidden life – it has a purpose – to produce beauty & shade, through it’s own offspring it nurtures each year.

The hidden life of nature is everywhere - Hope you find it and enjoy it> - Always bring your Cell phone camera

The cell phone camera lets you capture the “Hidden” – You become a sleuth –  – The hidden life of nature is every where – Hope you find it and photo it, and enjoy it – Always bring your Cell phone camera

 

Sept. 21, 2016 – Where is the line between photography and art – My conclusion is there is no line! Read on:

WHAT SOME HAVE SAID:  As you know, I like to play with PhotoShop. Some have implied to me that photographic art created in PhotoShop is not photography – and maybe should not be part of our photo galleries. This Friday I will post on our PHOTO HAPPENINGS (photohappenings.com) a piece of Photo Art created by Jim Hennigar.

OOPS Thursday 9/22 update – I shifted my schedule a little – Keep checking  photohappenings.com – It will be a couple of days beyond Friday before I get Jim Hennigar’s created photo posted there.

MY HOPE FOR THE CLUB: I hope Jim’s work will peak the interest of some members in our Photo Club to think about creating by using their Camera and PhotoShop as integrated tools.

I will pass on some of my own pondering and conclusion.

An American Idiom: If you have to sing for your supper, you have to work to get the item you want to purchase. "Sing for Your Supper" is an American popular song by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The song was debuted in their 1938 Broadway musical The Boys from Syracuse, The lyrics describe a singer performing to earn his meals. The song has been recorded by Rudy Vallée, Count Basie, Mel Tormé, Helen Humes, the Mamas & the Papas and Cher. One verses Lyrics: Sing for your supper And you'll get breakfast Songbirds always eat If their song is sweet to hear

One of my own creations – using my own photographs – I call it “Singing for your supper”  This may have gone too far. But why?

 

MY PONDERING:   As I enjoy my lazy days on Drummond  with too much time on my hands, I ponder my photo club hobby while I am doing my non photo hobbies – horses, gardens, property maintenance, canoeing , etc. — This week, I pondered the complex question “How does one define the line between photography and art?” or even better yet “Is there a line between photography and art – other then the media and equipment used to produce it?”

If photography is the act of recording reality, then, that would be creating a photograph which recorded the view as seen by a 20-20 human eye. – right?

When we, the photographer, selects an aperture to control depth of field to blur the background, did we leave 20-20 photography and step into the realm of art.

If we shoot in black and white, is it photography because it is possibly the way a 20-20 color blind person may see reality?

How about doing still photography and setting flowers on the table – arranging them in a pleasing way – did we just photograph a setting of art?

If we crop out of a photo a distracting tree branch is that art – or suppose we use Photoshop to erase the branch?

Suppose I used a technique called “burning” in PhotoShop to darken the background to create depth and focus on a foreground subject – did I leave  Photography and step in to art?

If I copied a rose bud to fill in void in a photo of a bouquet of roses at the wedding  – or used PhotoShop to remove the blemish on the cheek of the bride – did I leave  Photography and step in to art?

If I added to my photo of the fountain at the entrance to Hidden Lakes a mourning dove stopping for a drink of water, did I leave  Photography and step in to art?

Jim Hennigar did more then add one bird. Did he go too far?

WHEN IS IT TOO MUCH?– One, two, maybe three, …… is OK before it is too much?

MY CONCLUSION:  My conclusion, after much pondering – It is all art – The camera and our knowledge of what makes an outstanding photo are the tools and skills that we use to create photo art using our camera adjustments and our post processing computer. – Each photographer must decide for themselves how much is too much. What ever your answer, it is the right answer — for yourself!!!  For me, my conclusion is: “It is never too much.”

Check photoappenings.com on Friday and see what Jim Hennigar created.

OOPS Thursday 9/22 update – I shifted my schedule a little – Keep checking  photohappenings.com – It will be a couple of days beyond Friday before I get Jim Hennigar’s created photo posted.

What is art – check it out on Google –  one definition is: “Art is the expression of creative skills and imagination, in a visual image, producing works to be appreciated for their beauty, or their emotional power.” It gives a reason and does not limit the tools.

What is a photograph – check it out on Google –  one definition is: “A visual image produced with a camera”  It gives the tool and does not limit the reason.

Link back to http://photohappenings.com

Sept 19, 2016 – Number 42, 43, and 44 on the list of “54 reasons you should become a photographer”

Why am I writing this?:   Because, the next update to the TGO PHOTO CLUB’s website will contain the work of one member (Jim Hennigar) who took the art of sorting, cropping, and editing to the limit of surrealism – yes, even surrealism at the entrance to Hidden Lakes.

Before I posted it, I wanted to get the creative cogs in your brain turning – even if you never have any interest in turning your photography into the art of “Bent Reality” – I believe you will better appreciate the work of other members by getting just a little background into the Art of Photography  – photography that does bend reality.

More on this subject to come – so, check back daily.

First, From “54 reasons……………………” :

#42. BEND REALITY

Along those lines, photography can give you a different look at the world. Photography is just as good at bending reality as it is at capturing it.

#43. ENJOY INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

There are literally infinite possible photographic subjects and an endless road of post processes that can bridge the space between the dream and the reality

#44. ENJOY THE PROCESS

The total process of photography can honestly be super enjoyable,f rom shooting to sorting to editing your images. That is the total process.  Editing is like spending personal time with your photos!!

———————————————————————–

I love Jim Hennigar’s surreal entrance to Hidden Lakes – You will see it in a couple of days on http://photohappenings.com  But, for now, to explain what surrealism is, I posted three works of photo art that I did in the past using images from my cell phone (some were cell phone photos of magazine images):

See, I used the one above to turn it into this digital-photo - Should I take up cooking instead? What you think?

Running before the storm

While having my morning coffee I ask the question: Did we humans evolve, revolve, or just turn our brain upside down?

Satire – Did we evolve or revolve?

The Brubaker "Dog and Pony Show" A little less exposure then the following one.

 “Dog and Pony Show” 

Sept 16, 2016 – A little of my morning, evening, and after dark with my iPhone

MY MORNING STORY Every morning my friend and I go to the barn and pasture to clean up the poop from the night before.  After all poop is scooped and wheelbarrowed to the pile, we get to enjoy the horses.

FIRST Before I take a 1 hour ride through the woods trail, I spend 15 minutes helping Perla learn new things – like close your eyes and walk onto the horse trailer – why close her eyes? ’cause the trailer has two equal stalls in it – one on the left and one on the right – they are exactly the same – I have always ask Perla to use the one on the left –

A NEW FIRST Today, I ask her to use the one on the right – you would have thought I ask her to jump off a cliff into a valley of hungry wolves – Wolves, who always eat horses!!! – after much begging, pulling, shoving, sweet talking, explaining that the wolves are all gone – she said NO – I opened the exact same looking door on the left – she almost ran over me getting in there!

Then, we went for our ride into the woods where there are real bears, coyotes, and a plastic bag the blew off of a truck that was hauling logs out of the woods – looked like a wolf to me – Peral says -NO PROBLEM!!! I do not understand horses – or women – Now why did I say that?  ‘Cause Perla is a mare – you know!!!!

That was a long story just to tell you how I find the horses in the morning – when they are not in the front pasture:

09 16 2016 horse tracks in dew to back pasture!

09 16 2016 horse tracks in dew leading to the back pasture!  That is how I find the horses!

09 16 2016 - I sat down for a drink before my evening meal - This little buck looked in the window at me as if to say - "Why am I not invited in for dinner?"

09 16 2016 -Then,  I sat down for a drink before my evening meal – This little buck looked in the window at me as if to say – “I could not hear what you said, speak louder?”

Then, my walk down the road before bedtime – Awesome night sky! Almost day light, then the clouds cover the moon, pitch black, then in-between – I pulled out my iPhone!

09 16 2016 - Is it a bat - almost full moon

09 16 2016 – Is it a bat – almost full moon

09 16 2016 - Love that full moon - spooky

09 16 2016 – Love that full moon – spooky

09 16 2016 - One more moon shot

09 16 2016 – One more moon shot

Link to TGO Photo Club’s Web-site:    http://photohappenings.com

September 12, 2016 – Featuring Jim Brubaker – iphone and sensing hints of fall.

Someone said: Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

I said:  But fall is much more then colored leaves – As an outdoor person there are many ways to tell autumn is sneaking up. So, with iPhone, I went to find subtle changes that I noticed – well, I did not notice them but, rather, I only sensed them – The iPhone and the desire to tell you the story forced me to notice some of some of them – some of hints of autumn.

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed - when the cedar bows almost touch the ground from the weight of the seeds

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed – when the cedar bows almost touch the ground from the weight of the seeds

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed - The boats are stored, the water is a deeper color - it just looks different standing here - must be early fall!

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed – The boats are gone – stored for the winter, the water is a deeper color – it just looks different standing here – must be early fall!

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed - The wind is out of the south west at 15, cool, gulls have taken over the sea-wall - just sitting facing into the wind.

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed – The wind is out of the south west at 15 mph – see flag and “NO-WAKE marker in the channel”, and the  gulls have taken over the sea-wall – just sitting facing into the wind.

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed - On Drummond the mushrooms wait until fall - one even looks like a heart representing it's love of fall.

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed – On Drummond the mushrooms wait until fall – one even looks like a heart representing their love of fall.

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed - You may not notice - But, Perla is starting to but on her winter coat - see extra hair blowing in the wind on her left leg, extra hair on her chest and shoulder.

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed – You may not notice – But, Perla is starting to put on her winter coat – see extra hair blowing in the wind on her left leg, and extra hair on her chest and shoulder.

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed - at 11:00 am the temp just into 60's and the bright sunshine.

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed – at 11:00 am the temp just into 60’s and on bright sunshine day – autumn is coming – soon I will be homesick for TGO! Thanks, Jim Hennigar, for reminding me. So all you friends and TGO Photo Club members – hurry back to TGO – Our first meeting is October 28.

09 12 2016 Jim B - Just a hint that I sensed - well the Gold of autumn is noticed all little more then sensed

09 12 2016 Jim B – Just a hint that I sensed – well the Gold of autumn is noticed all little more then sensed

Soon Halloween will really indicate the autumn has arrived - See you all in TGO

Soon Halloween will really indicate that autumn has arrived – See you all in TGO

 

 

 

 

September 8, 2016 – Philip Gettler sent 13 photos from a walk he took without a camera

Well,  not exactly without a camera – he took the walk with his phone in his pocket – Look at these photos – you will feel you are walking with him – He told his story that well!

Phil wrote: Jim, Hope all is well with you! There are times when I just like to take fast walks with only my iPhone for a camera. So here are some photos taken with that phone for posting on jimsdaily. Many thanks,  Phil

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

09 08 2016 Phil Phone walk

 

Return to TGO Photo Club’s web-site http://photohappenings.com

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