James Brubaker

I have talked with those who judge photographs for the Professional Photographers of America’s International Photographic Competitions. They gave me a document explaining the “The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image” that they all are required to use: 1. Impact, 2. Technical Excellence  3. Creativity  4. Style  5 Composition 6.Presentation  7. Color Balance  8. Center of Interest  9. Lighting  10. Subject Matter  11. Technique  12. Story Telling.

Now that we have cell phone cameras, we are all professional photographers. Most of us are not professionals at photography but we are professionals at our life. We use our cameral to bring fun to what ever we do in our profession of living and not to win an International Photograph Contest.

The Happenings says the Photo Club will be meeting on the first Friday in December. There is no better place to share, learn, and meet photographer birds-of-a-feather who help each other.  So, the purpose of my rambling here is to say:” I want you to be at that meeting.”

But, for right now,  think about why you grab that camera or cell phone while doing your own personal (professional) living.    For sure, I want you to have the confidence to use your photos regardless of how they stack up to the 12 elements of merit.

Believe me, I want to make better photos but really their “contestant” merit quality is not what matters to me. I just want to make you stop and look at what I saw – maybe ponder the same story & emotion (element 12) that I did when I took the photo – or cause you to see the event I saw and make up your own story.  So now you know why I grabbed the camera.  I would love to get together with others that grab theirs for the same reason (photographer birds-of-my-feather) and I  hope to see you at the Photo Club meeting.

Here are two photos I grabbed from my thousands of photos:

On the streets of NJ, this man caught my attention – I assumed he was was rushing to the Synagogue – maybe overslept – anyway he showed an image of importance and of being late – I watched and snapped a shot.

Again, NJ, I spent an afternoon at a youth horse show. Love horses and horse people – the audience.  I snapped this shot  to show how many were on cell phones (Back row) – but I caught another story – “Is that golden hair the man’s pony tail or is the a youthful girl between me and the man??” -I am still not sure.

As you swing through life, use your photos, share with all and talk about them with  birds-of-a-feather.  Come to the Photo Club meetings.

About the bird flock I posted yesterday, Dave Cesari e-mailed me this information last night:

“Jim, Those birds you posted are Tree Swallows. They gather like this every year in Florida. Sometimes these flocks hold several thousand birds. At night they roost in cattail marshes. We have seen them in the cattails in the Blue Heron  wetlands early in the morning. Dave”

Lets lighten up that sky and take a telescope look at it – Oh my, the storm brought us many birds – did they blow in from up north? I stood and watched them turn back and forth – I wonder which bird told them it was time to turn back and weave across the sky?

This one of those photos that tell a story … Your story. Is it a friendly encounter between the driver and the walkers?

The sign on this porto-potty made me laugh. Before you can use it “Call Ahead”

As you swing through life call ahead …….. Thanks!

“Thanks to all Veterans for their service on this Nov. 11, 2022 Veterans Day”

Biking yesterday after the storm – why the dark cloud?

Lets lighten up that sky and take a telescope look at it – Oh my, the storm brought us many birds – did they blow in from up north? I stood and watched them turn back and forth – I wonder which bird told them it was time to turn back and weave across the sky?

By now you know I see faces, birds, alligators, sailing ships and much more in the clouds every day – but what monster walked under this camping trailer and left his wet foot prints on the pavement? It made me have goose bumps!

P.S.      ——      If you clicked to Dave Cesari’s page with the Trumpeter Swans – You noticed I spell “Trumpeter” wrong – I fixed it last night.

As you swing through life – Find fun things to see – then snap a photo of them and share what you saw.

‘Tis been a fun 12 hours.  I slept as normal – waking up every couple of hours – My Apple watch says I slept 6 hours and 59 minutes. Even had some deep sleep and plenty of REM sleep – 1 hour and 30 minutes I think.  It is crazy how life is so saturated with technical  stuff these days.

On way to airport during last hurricane – but I was safe in NYC heading for Drummond. But, Look at all the technical stuff on UBER dash board. You would think we were on final landing at the airport!

But airplanes do not like to fly into modern airports when the wind is 60-90 miles per hour – Orlando has been shut down and cruise ships went out to sea I understand.

At the airport – maybe it was the time for prayers – maybe they were praying for safe flight – anyway I stood by hoping some would rub off on me (I changed all faces for their privacy – actually the face is from a statue in Spring Lake New Jersey)

I woke up at 3:00 am and tried to open the front door – it faces north and winds were, I think, around hurricane strength – straight out of the north.  Well I got it open – almost got blown into the house – made me laugh – you know I love all kinds of weather – maybe that is why I have selected the ranch in Texas, the homes on the shores of Islands and Florida – Lots of fun weather in each of those places.

But you can not beat NYC for street photography:

They know how to park so much better then I every could.

Candid shots like this always get me to wondering what is on the mind of folks I love to study as I wonder Manhatten.

But here in Florida – Yesterday I counted 16 of these guys heading north along a fence – heading for higher ground just before the many of inches of rain hit the St. Johns river where they live.

This guy was hiding under some wall hangings I removed befor the high winds hit – I saw him head for cover under a flower pot – hope he is safe.

Optical illusions happen in hurricanes I have been told – anyway our back lake looked like it had ocean waves when I awoke this morning.

As you swing through life Be safe but get out and enjoy God’s weather. It is lots of fun.

On a rainy day, I enjoy reviewing my old photos looking for those that best allow you, the viewer, room to let your mind tell you the story behind the photo. You know what I mean – you decide what is going on in the minds of the subject – animal or human.

As you swing through life find something each day that causes you to stop and ponder “What are they thinking?”  Then take a photograph of them.

I am testing a format change – I have a number of ideas in mind for future changes – but for now click in the left column to see Dave’s new posting on Trumpet Swans.

Before you click to Dave’s Trumpet Swans, see below, my view from the Nature Trail Bridge a few days ago.

Liked this little gator swimming over cloud’s reflection and notice fuzz from trees looks like a Drummond Island early snow squall. The reflected rainbow helps direct your eyes to the center of interest – the gator.

As you swing through life Try something new each day.