I don’t know why this tree was trimmed like this:
Not an optical illusion Leave a comment
3 Views of Aspens 1 comment
Captured while skiing in Beaver Creek.
Winter has arrived in VA Leave a comment
View out our window this morning:
Light and Shadow Leave a comment
Captured at the National Gallery of Art, DC:
What Apple doesn’t want you to know about films shot with an iPhone. Leave a comment
You’ve seen the ads: gorgeously filmed imagery that’s sharp, beautifully lit, and expertly composed. And somewhere along the way they proudly proclaim ‘Shot with iPhone.’
What they don’t show is that to get that type of shots, you need a whole lot more than just a phone, as this picture demonstrates.
So if you’re an aspiring photographer frustrated by the fact that your shots don’t quite turn out like those used in TV ads, don’t despair – in this case it really IS a matter of having better equipment.
High Wiring Act Leave a comment
Caught on one of my neighborhood walks:
Benches in Switzerland Leave a comment
Have some of the best views in the world:
Some things never change Leave a comment
Today we traveled to Strasbourg, where I had been over 40 years ago as part of a ninth-grade class trip when I was going to school in Brussels. I remember little except that I had bought some cherries at the market near the cathedral and offered them to the girl I had a crush on but who had heretofore ignored me. But that day I got not only a ‘thank you’ from her but also a smile. I was in heaven.
I took the first picture on that trip and the second one today. It’s nice to know that in a world of constant change, some things remain the same:
Colmar, Alsace Leave a comment
October is the perfect time to visit this Alsatian gem, as the crowds have thinned, the weather is gorgeous, and the city’s balconies are still filled with geraniums.
Fairytale Alsace Leave a comment
First time visit to Alsace left me impressed: Germany doesn’t have a monopoly on cute little towns filled with half-timbered houses! In fact, the towns in Alsace are prettier because they are more colorful, especially these 3 along the Alsatian Wine Road.
Colmar at Night Leave a comment
This quaint little town is quite crowded during the day, but at night it is peaceful yet equally beautiful.
What is photography, really? Leave a comment
A few years ago I experimented with photographing flowers in the style of Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989). I wanted to capture something like this (Calla Lily, 1984).
I spent hours finding the right flower and setting up the lighting to get a black&white image I was happy with. Then I’d spend more time in Adobe Lightroom to adjust the image and bring out more detail and create a dramatic image. The best I could do was this:
Yesterday I tried to replicate that process using Midjourney and playing with various prompts. What took me hours previously now took about 10 minutes. Here are some of the images I created:
To me these are indistinguishable from Mapplethorpe’s pictures, and better than what I tried to create manually. I could probably show these to people and get a ‘wow, those are great pictures’ reaction. So if it’s indistinguishable from ‘manual photography’, is it still photography?
I’m sure a similar question was asked when photography first started: “If it didn’t take hours of painting with a brush to create an image, is it still art?” Photography has now been considered an art form for a long time and nobody disputes that just because it speeds up the creation of images. Is AI-powered image generation at the same stage now? Will it also turn into an accepted form of art that commands high prices at auctions? I’m curious to see where this is going.
Monster at Sunrise Leave a comment
This tree, like a many-tendriled creature, seemed to be screaming for help as the sun rose behind it.
Captured in Rattlesnake Canyon, Colorado.
Ancient Tree 2 comments
Captured in Rattlesnake Canyon, CO:
Arches Leave a comment
Did you know that Rattlesnake Canyon in Colorado has the most natural arches in the world after Arches National Park in Utah? here are the 3 biggest ones:
Coming & Going Leave a comment
Captured at Denver Int’l airport (which is the world’s 3rd busiest airport, after ATL and DFW).
Colorado Summer Leave a comment
Nothing beats it. Weather was perfect last weekend when I visited my son and did some hiking near Grand Junction.
Sunrise over Rattlesnake Canyon Leave a comment
Went on an early morning hike near Grand Junction, CO, to avoid the heat.
Summer Thundercloud Leave a comment
Captured over Loudon United stadium in Leesburg, VA.
Virginia Winery Leave a comment
RDV Winery can definitely compete with Napa:
Suburban hoops Leave a comment
Stormy Shenandoahs Leave a comment
Captured near Shenandoah National Park:
Visit to Cincy Leave a comment
A biz trip to Cincinnati gave me a chance to see a bit of the city:
Night Tree Leave a comment
Captured in our front yard:
Stratosphere Rush Leave a comment
Captured from my hotel window during a business trip to Las Vegas.
Neon Museum Leave a comment
Visited the neon sign graveyard in Las Vegas:
Evening train Leave a comment
Captured during a business trip to Chicago:
Speedway, Indiana Leave a comment
A quick business trip to Indiana allowed for lunch at Speedway, home of the Indy 500. Half a mile away from the glitzy track is a land that time forgot.
Sunrise over Wintergreen, VA Leave a comment
Leaving on a jet airplane Leave a comment
Wonder where this one is going. While enjoying sunset in my neighborhood.
Fourth of July Mushrooms Leave a comment
I found tiny fireworks in my yard….
Pines of Sedona Leave a comment
Wasp Nest Leave a comment
VA Wine Country Leave a comment
A visit to 868 Estate Vineyards in Virginia.
Frog’s belly Leave a comment
Captured on my kitchen window:
Winter in Reston, VA Leave a comment
Pool season over Leave a comment
Looking forward to this being a more inviting scene. Our local pool has been closed since the summer of 2019.
Four views of a Japanese Maple Leave a comment
From afar:
From below:
From behind:
Captured this fall. It was the last tree to lose its leaves.
Maryland Mountain Getaway Leave a comment
Pics of a lovely visit to Swallows Falls State Park in Maryland.
Bold fox Leave a comment
This fox has been all over our neighborhood, and doesn’t seem fazed by nearby humans:
Shrooms! Leave a comment
Look behind trees while walking through the forest and you’ll find remarkable colonies of mushrooms:
Morning commute 2 comments
My commute nowadays is a short walk through the woods behind our house. The light is hopeful and other creatures have created more beautiful structures than I ever could. 10 minutes of serenity and I’m ready for whatever the day holds in store for me.
Vermont Woods 1 comment
I looked for bears in vain. The forest was beautiful nevertheless. All you could hear was the summer heat making all creatures lazy, while pine needles cushioned my feet and a caterpillar crossed my path.
Sunset over Virginia swamp Leave a comment
Out the window Leave a comment
Not many photo opportunities when you’re quarantined, except the view out the window. But what a nice view it is:
Springtime in Virginia Leave a comment
Markets of Bengaluru Leave a comment
Captured on my last trip to India:
Faces of Bengaluru Leave a comment
Captured on my current trip to India:
Shot on iPhone 11, edited with Snapseed
Philly visit Leave a comment
Captured during a one-day business trip to Philadelphia. Not much time for photography except while waiting for my train at beautiful 30th Street Station:
The last leaf… Leave a comment
…of fall is hanging on for dear life:
iPhone, edited with Hipstamatic
Snapshots For Sore Eyes 