I would like to thank Chromatics in Nashville, TN for selecting one of my images for showcasing their new Wall Covering options for photographic prints. In this version the print has been enlarged to a 9′ x 12′ final size!
Wall Covering
The Barn at Leiper's Fork
It was one of those chilly January days where the comfort of the indoors is as stagnating as it is inviting. And despite the allure and “importance” of comfort, it doesn’t quite lend itself to creative endeavors . On this particular day especially, the mind numbing boredom far outweighed the inviting warmth of the office. I needed to mix things up a bit. But what could I do? Where could I go? How could I turn this day into a day of possibilities?
Finally, it dawned on me. I wanted to visit my friend David Arms (an incredibly gifted painter) to see his new gallery in a converted barn in the wonderful community of Leiper’s Fork, in Franklin, TN. I jumped in the car and drove the scenic route along the Natchez Trace Parkway. I was happy to take in the view as I coasted along at an easy 40 miles per hour. I let the slower speed, the gently curving road and the rural scenery prepare my mind, and maybe more importantly, my heart for a good old fashioned visit.
I slowed down as I entered the Leiper’s Fork community, spotted the studio, and pulled in an open slot in the small parking area. I went inside thinking I would see David, but instead saw a tall, kind-looking woman who introduced herself as Michelle, David’s wife. Even though I had never met her, we struck up an easy conversation. As Michelle, began to greet other customers in her warm and wonderful way, my attention wandered to David’s beautiful paintings which are always filled with symbolism. The rustic nature of the Barn, mixed with the fragrances of an open air fireplace and hints of Sandalwood, seemed to compliment David’s art perfectly. I let the character of the place seep in to my being for an extended amount of time. My eyes began to focus on the rustic details of the building, the way the art and gifts were so lovingly displayed, the light coming through the windows, and drank it all in. I knew I wanted to photograph, to see if I could capture (even in the smallest way) a sense of this place. If for no reason other than to help me remember this day. When Michelle had a break between visitors I ask her if I could take a few photographs to which she replied, “That would be great!”. I grabbed my camera from the car, which is my smallish backup camera that I keep in the car at all times. As I photographed, I continued my conversation with Michelle, pausing only when someone would come in to the gallery. As I began to pack up my gear, it suddenly occurred to me that I had been there almost four hours! I thanked Michelle for letting me photograph and apologized for staying so long. I promised to share the photography when I had a chance to go through them and make the selections.
As I got into my car and made the drive home, I left feeling full. Not an uncomfortable full, but rather a full satisfied by photography, sights, smells and more importantly, good old fashioned conversation. My day of possibilities turned into a day of beautiful realities, far beyond what I had expected on a cold January day.
If you would like to see the photographs that I made during my visit please visit David Arms website http://davidarms.com/coffee-break/2012/01/see/
Just when I thought my photography assignments had come to close for December 2011, I receive a call from a client and long time friend, to photograph her home (exterior) with all the Christmas decorations. After meeting with the client the decision was made to do an evening shoot with the Christmas lights on.
I made a close inspection of the area to be photographed to see what needed to be done to make the photo shoot go off without a hitch (or at least minimize any problems). I seem to have developed a special radar for finding things that do not belong or that will detract from a scene. The weathered mat by the front door had to be removed. There was discoloring where the mat had been, so the homeowner made arrangements to have the area swept and washed. New Lights had to be added to two miniature spruce trees closest to the front door and an extension cord had to go across, and in front of, the main doors. This was a major concern but there was simply no other solution. For any close-up photographs I would have to meticulously clone out the cord which can mean much more time at the computer.
When I arrived in the late afternoon to set up, the conditions were good for photography. I set up my camera and made all the adjustments to level the camera and get the framing just right. When the daylight began to fade, I would have a very narrow window to get the image I was looking for. I was looking for the sky to have some of the deep-dark blue in it to contrast with the golden warm colors of the Christmas lights and the lights from the house. As the light levels of the sky and house were at just the right stage I began making the photographs. I soon realized that some of the lights in the home were not turned on and so I asked the homeowner turn on various lights to light up each of the windows that I was seeing. Just in the nick of time all the lights in the home were turned on and for a brief moment, the beautiful golden light of the home and Christmas lights were perfectly balanced with the deep-dark blue sky. Transfixed by the scene before me, I clicked a few more frames until the night sky turned ink black.
Great Smoky Mountains
Photographing a forest scene is a lot more difficult than you might think. I was looking for a quiet forest scene to photograph (as I always am in spring) when I found this composition in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. What makes it work (for me anyway) is the bright yellow-green new growth on the trees, the darkened hillside behind the trees, the delicate lighting of early morning, and the almost perfectly still leaves.
While waiting for a friend at a coffee shop I noticed this Shadow Rail detail. I converted the original color image into a black and white to emphasize the abstract nature of the shapes and shadows. I am convinced that having a camera with me at all times creates some wonderful opportunities and keeps the creative juices going.
Shadow Rail
A daily walk through my garden is one of my favorite rituals. In addition to simply enjoying the beauty of the garden – I can check for general plant health and look for those fleeting photo opportunities. On a recent walk through the garden, I thought I saw where a small branch had landed on a plant and I was about to brush it off when it moved! To my surprise it was a small Praying Mantis. Without hesitation I went for my camera knowing this would make a great addition to my beneficial insects photo library collection. After a concerted effort juggling tripods, reflectors and less than favorable light and wind conditions…and a reluctant subject, I got the image I was looking for when the Praying Mantis looked at me as if to say “Go ahead and make your picture so I can get back to my life”.
Praying Mantis
Southwestern style home with tranquil water feature by front entrance.
Whether I am photographing a scene in nature or or an architectural subject, I try to simplify the composition and pare it down to the essential elements. In this image of a beautiful Southwestern Style home I was drawn to the elements of the cool water spilling from a bowl into a larger pool contrasting with the warm colors of the stone and woodwork around the doors and windows.
Green-headed Coneflower
A great way to beat the summer heat if you live in middle Tennessee (like I do) is to plan a trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. Even at lower elevations there are plenty of places to hike, fish, photograph or enjoy a good book.
After I have my fill of the scenery at lower elevations it is always a treat to drive (or hike) to higher elevations to experience even cooler weather and to see some dramatically different plants and geology. One of my favorite drives is the road to Clingmans Dome. The wildflowers alongside the road in the summer can be quite dramatic. There are scenic pullouts so you can stretch your legs and get a closer look at the wildflowers and the scenic views – if they are not enshrouded in mist, as they can often be. One of my favorite flowers blooming in August is the Green-headed Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). On the day that I made this photograph I drove up and down the road until I found this particularly nice clump of Green-headed Coneflower. The beautiful granite patterns (emphasized by the wet surfaces) served as a backdrop to the Green-headed Coneflower and transformed the scene from ordinary to extraordinary.
When I am photographing gardens – the grand views are what I am drawn to initially. The larger (more encompassing) scenes give a sense of the size of the garden and how it relates to the home. After completing all of the grand view images I home in to both the plant and architectural details. In this case the bright chartreuse yellow color of this form of Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata ‘Fenway Park’) contrasts beautifully with the warm colored stucco wall.
'Fenway Park' Boston Ivy climbing a wall.
Rustic rocking chair in front of a log cabin built by Braxton Dixon
On a recent photo shoot I had an opportunity to photograph a rustic log cabin built by Braxton Dixon. With wonderful light to work with and no rush to get to another project, I methodically photographed both the broad views of the interior and exterior as well as many of the architectural details (of which there were many). After having photographed both the interior and exterior of the structure my eyes kept coming back to the weathered rocker at the front of the building with blooming lavender plants sprawling on the ground beneath. The rocker was slowly and beautifully starting to decay and blend in to the rustic background of the log home. As I made the final photographs of the day of this rocker I kept thinking over and over in my head of this Beautiful Decay.
