Nat Geo Photography links

I ran across some great photos this morning-published on National Geographic's site featuring the daily dozen from readers.  I mentioned to my class yesterday that if they don't like making pictures and looking at pictures, they should take a different class.  This site is a good start.
Nat Geo-your-shot/daily-dozen

(from the daily-dozen site)

Of course, one link leads to another and I did some surfing on other pages in the NatGeo photography pages.

NAT Geo Photogtaphy

(from the Adventure and Exploration page)

2010 Favs

In Laura Schmitt's latest blog post (http://lschmittphoto.blogspot.com/) I was reminded that maybe I should go back over the past year and take a second look at photographs I've made.  Some "get better" while others just.....don't....with age.  While scrolling though thousands of images I was struck not only by what I was seeing visually, but also what I was feeling as the past year scrolled by with a turn and click of the mouse.   I'd select this picture and that one and ......well, the another one just won't make the cut, even though I really like it.  There is always something in the back of my head that says "people are going to see these...and know they are supposed to be your best work!"  I found some are, and some are....for me.

I'll start with this image of Queen Annes Lace and Ruger.  When I wrote earlier of this photograph, I think I mentioned Ruger always getting involved with all the pictures I was trying to make-this one, of course, included.  It ended up being one of my favorites.  The old tracks, the new tracks, the quietness of the picture.  It does have some noise, but who cares.  I know in time, this image will be even more important, as we live through Ruger's illness, but this will always remind me of the happiness he has given us.

 

The first day of school-Not sure why this morning I had my camera in hand wandering the halls, but the excitement of the day was there and I just had to shoot a few images.  Of course, I know all these kids and their little personalities and wonder how much they will change as I watch them move through the grades.

The Snak Shak. Tucked away on a remote corner of Washington Island, this tiny snack stand just said so much of what it's like to live with simple pleasures.  The color, the gulls, hand painted signs and the friendliness of the woman here were things I just connected to.

Gnome fest Night Ride.  Our trail system has been lucky enough to host Gnomefest for the past couple years-a gathering of mountain bikers for a weekend of fun and festivities.  A great time and wonderful people.  While making the rounds visiting campsites on the first night, I noticed some riders returning from a night ride on singletrack-I swung my camera and was lucky enough to get this image-one I really liked a lot and says something about why I like to ride.

Ruger makes another cut and returns in this photo.  To be honest, it's one of the few photographs with Ruger in it, where it wasn't about him.  I just loved the light color and texture of the wheat field and how he just fit perfectly in the scene.

Shooting weddings is not my calling, but I've done a few and for people I know, they can be fun and entertaining...and pressure packed.  Some photographers live for that, I really don't.  I selected these two just because I think they really capture the personalities of all four people,and they were not a "say cheese" moment, but rather much more relaxed (the wedding ceremony is over-whew!) and candid.