The Black Dog’s PhotoBlog

Do you ever wonder what photographers do in their spare time? I like to photograph simple ordinary tasks and objects. Like cleaning house or canning vegetables. Why do I do this? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s the experience or a way to play with and practice a new technique or accessory I just learned or bought. All the while, I accomplish a daily chore while exercising my vision.

I believe we all see things differently. In fact, I believe we see with our mind and not really our eyes. How else would you explain a person being blind and yet producing excellent, beautiful photographs? (Example: Flickr: Blind Photographers Group)

This also explains why one person looks at a photograph and finds much beauty while another person finds the same photograph dull and drab.

Using Ansel Adams as an example, I believe he seen many things in sharp focus. Take a look at some of his pictures. He visualized them this way in his mind and transferred that visualization to his photographs. While I see things with a very limited focus. My brother even commented when I was younger that I had “tunnel vision”. I think this shows in many of my photographs.

Bottom line I guess is that ordinary things can make beautiful photographs. It all depends who’s looking and what their mind is seeing.

As I reflect on the past 10-years, I’m also looking forward to the coming 10-years.

Every day there seems to be new inventions, new technology and many improvements to existing things. I’m looking forward to what the next ten years will bring in photography inventions and improvements. There really has been big changes in the photography world in the last 10 years with the invention of digital and it does have me curious what surprises the future of photography holds.

I’ve recently picked up a new lens. It’s called a Lensbaby 3G. For all of you who have never heard of this lens, it’s a really unusual looking thing and in a world of automation, this lens is all manual. One of the coolest things about this lens is it’s flexibility and it’s demand for creativity on the photographer’s part. It has a very limited focal point that you can move to any point in the photo by bending the lens (yes, the lens bends.) Once you figure this lens out you are rewarded with some amazing photos and there is a endless amount of possibilities that open up to you. I’m really looking forward to using this lens more in my portrait and nature photography.

10 Beautiful Roses taken with my new Lensbaby 3G lens.

Yesterday my husband and I had the pleasure of watching Chris Cox at the MN Horse Expo. I just love to see a trainer who is so in tune with their horse. There were many other things we enjoyed too from the trick riders, stunt riders, the rodeo, the parade of breeds and all the vendors selling so many different things. Of course, I had to buy a thing or two.

Horses are such intelligent and majestic animals. I love to photograph them. Some are very fascinated by cameras, they almost seem to pose just for you and they love having their picture taken. Others are more shy and reluctant. Because each one is unique, I doubt I could ever grow tired of the challenge each different one brings to a photo session. If you’re a horse owner, think about having your portrait taken together with your horse. It will give you a lasting memory to keep and look back on.