Landscape & Nature Assignment

This is my Landscape & Nature Project! I went to La Quinta near Palms Springs for Thanksgiving break and went out to two locations to shoot. They were both parts of a hiking trail. One was called Cove Oasis and the other Morrow Trail near Lake Cahuilla.

November 24, 2012
Morrow Trail, La Quinta, California
ISO 400
f / 6.3
1/80 sec
One of the challenges of this was making sure it wasn't to over exposed. I had to make the shutter speed very slow which makes it easy to be blurry.

November 24, 2012

Morrow Trail, La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 5.0

1/2000 sec

This one was fun to take. Right along the trail there's a golf course and I laid down on my stomach to get this shot. I brought the aperture way down to get the blurred background effect. I also made the shutter speed really fast to keep it properly exposed.

November 24, 2012

Morrow Trail, La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 22

1/400 sec

At this point in my photographic journey, my camera told me it was over heating. I was quite alarmed! It was very hot out but I assumed it was because I was because I had been adjusting settings really fast and at a high frequency. So I turned it off and kept it under my shirt for shade.

November 24, 2012

Morrow Trail, La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 3.5

1/4000 sec

I made the aperture very low and got on my knees to give these twigs a very grand a majestic appearance. To me it symbolizes the subtle thriving of dessert life.

November 21, 2012

Cove Oasis, La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 3.5

1/4000 sec

I like the colors and exposure of this picture. I think the composition is very natural and complimentary to the flower. This my choice 

November 21, 2012

Cove Oasis, La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 4.5

1/500 sec

I think this picture personifies the desert well. I like the colorlessness and composition.

November 24, 2012

Morrow Trail (Lake Cahuilla), La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 5.0

1/4000 sec

I still am in awe about how this optical illusion took place. It looks like a small island but really there is thousand of miles of desert and mountains beyond that shore. I think it's very surreal and makes me ponder infinity and the borders if reality.

November 24, 2012

Morrow Trail, La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 22

1/160 sec

This photo represented juxtaposition from my perspective as the photographer that day. My hike to this valley had been very deserted and brown. The emergence of the fertile gulf course was a refreshing contrast.

November 21, 2012

Cove Oasis, La Quinta, California

ISO 400

f / 6.3

1/80 sec

This is one of my favorites that I shot for my project. It was on a big rocky crest i had to climb (which wasn't easy). This was just after sunset and behind a lager mountain so it was difficult to keep those photos exposed. I like how it gives the desert an ethereal or alien feel. I set the stick there but I really think nature is to applaud here. The back drop of rocks against moon and sedated skies really called me to model the twig (that my dad had given me earlier). It reminds me of Georgia O'Keeffe's work. I am very proud of this one.

The Weekend

This weekend was good, I think. On Friday Tali and I led vespers which was kinda stressful to plan but it turned out great in the end!

Saturday I went to my church which i rarely ever do. I only heard part of the sermon because I was a deacon but what I heard was very good. After church I went to the PAA Christmas program to preform with the Gospel Choir, Choir, and Band. I thought that all went very well.

Sunday I really didn't do anything until banquet. Me and my Mom picked up Sara, Libby, and Krystian at Sara's house and the rest of the night went very well. Everyone looked stunning and I loved seeing all the couples. PAA Banquets are super small and insignificant compared to Proms and Homecomings but for us it's a pretty big deal. The asks are a big deal, the groups are a big deal, the friend couples are a big deal, the romance is a big deal, and sometimes it's all a little much. But it was a great night.

A Photographer's Responsibility

Today in class we discussed this photo. It was taken this week by freelance photographer, UMar Abbasi. He said in an interview that he'd rather not be apart of the story but rather the story teller. I get this to an extent. This would be a brilliant painting. But as a photograph this is nothing but the reverse of a different image. The image of the man behind the camera. Who didn't even try.

Assignment Update #1

This is the status of my landscape/nature project due December 13. I went to two locations in Palms Springs over break and got some satisfactory results. I think it was very good practice working with exposure, especially because I had never shot shot on manual with my personal camera before. I got some great desert landscape photos as well as plant and rock close ups. I haven't started editing yet but hope to start soon.
I might be able to finish my project with the photos I've already taken but after I look through and edit my Palms Springs I'll decide wether I want to go out and shoot again.

Inspirational Blogs

http://www.itsnicethat.com/ has a very broad spectrum of art, photography and design. you can always find something unique and conceptual.

http://www.photographyblogger.net/ is an amazing collection of series' by various photographers and articles on various photographic topics and advice. definitely a must for anyone casually or professionally interested in photography.

http://www.chromasia.com/iblog/ is a gallery full of photos that are rich in quality and has a fresh perspective of the world we live in.

http://www.deceptivemedia.co.uk/ is an impressive and compelling site. it demonstrates many beautiful examples of abstract patterns.

http://www.fgautron.com/weblog/ captures the massive and beautiful of Tokyo in an incredible variety of ways. the was close ups, macro shots, abstract edits, and simplistic edits. culture, art, and a city intersect.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving break I went to Palms Springs! My grandparents live there during the summer we stayed at there house. My aunts, uncles, and two cousins also were there and it's fun to see them. I got to take some photos in the desert which was really fun. I also got to ride in my grandpa's Ferrari which was crazy! I saw the movie Life of Pi which was incredible.

It was very hot in Palm Springs which i don't always like but it was a nice change. I'm very blessed to have been able to go and even more blessed to have a family like mine that gets along so well. We had lot's of laughs over many meals and I'm glad i got to spend time with them.