Falls

The past three days have included hikes at Fiery Gizzard Trail and the Sewanee Perimeter Trail. After a dry fall, we've finally had several days of rain. The streams are flowing again, and I decided to try some long exposure pictures. Most of these are 2-5 second exposures. It's a rather simple effect, but at times the results are spectacular. I will return to these locations in the future in order to perfect my technique. At this point I'm simply satisfied to have found some of these spots.















All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

More Fall Leaves

I did a some more editing and found these leaves interesting. There's not a lot of commentary I can add since the leaves really speak for themselves. I only wish I had started this project earlier in the fall in order to include more samples. I guess I'll have to wait until next year.





















All Images © 2008 Greg Petropoulos

Abstractions

These pictures were taken several weeks ago from a bridge overlooking an almost stagnant creek. I thought there was something to these pictures, but when I loaded them onto my computer they just didn't "pop." Today I went back to them and did some cropping and adjusted the levels in Photoshop. I applied no special effects or color distortions. I won't attempt to comment on the resulting images since they have Rorschach-like qualities. I'm sure viewers will bring unique perspectives and, likewise, draw unique connections.























All Images © 2008 Greg Petropoulos

Random Stuff

I'm too tired to think of a clever theme for this post, so I'm just putting together three random photos. I'm drawn to each for different reasons. Two actually surprised me. Shooting digitally allows me to take chances that I normally wouldn't when using film. Often I'll click off a few shots without knowing if I'll be pleased with the outcome. Not that there's no method to the madness, but sometimes I'm a little more experimental. Two of these shots were experiments. With the third I was fairly confident that the subject matter was good. All that was required of me was the technical skill necessary to create a good photograph. I won't say which is which, because in the end I like them all.























All Images © 2008 Greg Petropoulos

Nothing special today. I just went out in the yard and gathered a few leaves. These are two that turned out well. Many failures. Not just today, but in my many past attempts as well. But I still think the simple subjects are the most difficult, yet most rewarding. Maybe I've been spending too much time reading up on Edward Weston. Recreating the beauty that nature presents is not an easy task, photographically speaking. Color and composition present unimagined challenges. While the leaves are beautiful on the trees or scattered on the ground, once isolated in front of the camera they cease to be part of a larger pallet of colors and textures.























All Images © 2008 Greg Petropoulos

Outside

It's been a while since my last post. I've been reacquainting myself with the scenic wonders around Sewanee. The panoramic views from the numerous bluffs can be overwhelming. Instead I've focused my attention on the vegetation. My eye has been drawn to very simple images of flowers and grasses, leaves and pine cones. I'm still trying to figure out how to photograph the acorns and hickory nuts that I've picked up on my walks. It will take me several more weeks to sort through the pictures I've taken to determine what's worth keeping.




















All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

Color

Lately I've taken several pictures that have color components that are somewhat striking. I wish I could analyze this in a rational manner (or perhaps I'm really glad that I can't). What I can say is that the colors in these particular photos have had a purely visceral effect on me. I am surprised and delighted by this experience. These colors came out of nowhere are dazzled me. In one case (the red barn) I was impressed by the subtlety of the color. I removed all other colors from the picture, and even now when I see the red barn, I'm not quite sure if it's really there. The mallard is a riot of bright, contrasting colors. It was as if a child got to pick the yellow beak, the green head, and the blue feather under the wing, for no sane adult would throw those colors together. Finally, the blue sky with the white clouds. We've seen them often enough, but the purity of the colors seem to bypass the eyes altogether and go directly for the central nervous system. My spine melts into a state of complete relaxation every time I see this sky. Colors are amazing.


All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

Duck

This past week I encountered the best models I have worked with to date. I wasn't even looking for a model. Maybe it was the camera I had around my neck that sparked their interest. Maybe it was the possibility of a hand-out. Whatever the motivation, once these two found me I couldn't shake them. What was I to do? I walked, I clicked. When I finally left I had over a hundred pictures of this couple. And while I don't like to ascribe too much intelligence to our animal friends, I swear that this pair of ducks was actually mugging for the camera.















All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

A Day At The Beach

What better way to follow up a day at the farm than by a day at the beach. Hammonasset State park is the location. It was a very sunny day and I found it necessary to punch up the color by adding a filter layer in Photoshop. This provides much the same result that utilizing a lens filter would provide. Being early Spring the vegitation wasn't in bloom so the color schemes were rather limited. As a result, I focused more on composition. I'm still working on converting some of my shots to black & white. As I walked along the changing landscape I found myself wondering how I would place people within the scenery. The variety of textures & contrasts, scenic beauty, and panoramic scope provided a wide range of options. Yet somehow I felt it would be too easy to cross over into kitsch and sentimentality. Art is never as easy as the accomplished artists make it seem.

All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

A Day At The Farm

I feel like an elementary school kid who just got back from a field trip to the farm I saw sheep, and cows, and chickens, and two farm dogs... You get the idea. The farm is good for the soul. The animals seem to remind you that the pace you should be living at is much slower than the one you're currently running. Slow down, notice the sky above and the grass below. Look at the trees beginning to bud, and feel the gentle breeze as it blows across your sun-drenched face. Just knowing that I'll be eating fresh eggs for breakfast this week fills me with certain sense of satisfaction. Life is good, thanks to a trip to the farm. Thanks Pat!















All Images ©2008 Greg Petropoulos

Eat At Kristen's

I've been in a rut lately, which accounts for the gap in my postings. When I take pictures I'm looking for the one shot that is like a kick in the gut. Good pictures have that effect on me. If I'm not challenged, I don't feel like I contributed anything to the quality of the picture. The work I've done lately has been somewhat mundane, and as a result, lacking that "kick in the gut" feeling. So yesterday I took a ride to Kristen's in Deep River. I wanted to do some pictures of her milk bottles and some of the other interesting design elements in her restaurant. I always feel better after a visit to Kristen's, and this time was no different. Afterwards I visited Tia Smith at her gallery in Essex. Tia has a wonderful sense of style and her pictures are direct and without pretense. I received a few pointers and managed to get some pictures on the waterfront before leaving. Dinner was spent with a few of my favorite models, accompanied by wine and a lot of laughter. While none of the pictures I captured on my journey were especially challenging, I enjoyed taking them and can appreciate them for what they are; records of a day well spent.

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Animals

Animals are a very popular subject for photographs for a variety of reasons. For wild animals the appeal resides in our sense of wonder for all that is wild an natural. I admire nature photographers who, sometimes at great risk to themselves, show us animals that we would normally never see in our lifetime. In the case of domesticated animals, the appeal is somewhat different. While the wild element may be detected beneath the surface of a household pet, it is instead our perception of a distinct personality that captivates us. The responses that I have received on each of the pictures I have posted here all revolved around the animal's personality as perceived by the viewer. For the most part, everyone viewing these animals agreed on the personality traits being communicated through the images. In some cases, however, the viewer's observations revealed more about the viewer than the animal.

All Images ©2007 Greg Petropoulos

Texture

Sometimes an image presents itself because of the textures inherent in the scene. This can occur in closeups and in shots employing a wider angle. In both cases the the image has a more direct visual impact because there is only one predominant element that the viewer must process. Social constructions are absent, and thoughts of artistic intent are are mostly irrelevant. The textures may be appealing, or not, depending on the personal references the viewer brings to the experience. In either case, such images are often compelling and deeply moving.




















All Images ©2007 Greg Petropoulos

Pregnant

Pregnancy offers an incredible opportunity to create inspiring images. It is a time of transformation, both emotionally and physically. The physical changes are apparent, the emotional ones are more difficult to capture. Social attitudes have also changed over the past few decades. Remember when seeing a pregnant Lucille Ball on TV was controversial? Now many women want photographs of this special time in their lives. As a photographer, a pregnant woman is one of my favorite subjects. I enjoy working with someone who is both excited about this new life within her, as well as her sense that she has become even more beautiful. And from a photographic perspective that's true. The curve of the belly adds a dynamic that enhances the form, rather than detracting. One of my favorite pictures is limited to the torso. The form carries the picture. If the form can be combined with the emotion, you have a great composition.




All Images ©2007 Greg Petropoulos

Cemeteries

The day was overcast and threatening rain, but I really wanted to do some pictures. A local cemetery popped into my mind, and I knew I was on the right track. I didn't know what I would find there, but I had to give it a try. The cemetery was bordered by an on-ramp to a major highway (big signs and all), a strip mall, and a Wendy's. While I couldn't do much in the way of panoramic shots, there were a number of interesting subjects to photograph. Since then I have sought out cemeteries for their stonework, often involving religious themes, and natural elements. Old trees and weathered headstones are perfect ingredients for dark, moody photographs.

Night

There's something about the night that I find fascinating. I'm not sure exactly what it is the draws me to the darkness, but I think the dark simplifies things in a rather dramatic manner. The range of subjects for the photographer is greatly diminished, while at the same time certain images become highlighted by the stark contrasts between light and dark. I haven't explored this avenue as much as I would like. My images remain rather obvious given the bold quality of artificial lighting that makes it's subject stand out against the black of night. I aspire to a greater degree of subtlety in both my choice of subjects, as well as my execution.
























All Photographs ©2007 Greg Petropoulos

Things

Things are interesting in that they challenge the photographer to see the mundane and commonplace in a fresh and unique manner. The best test for the success of this type of photograph is whether or not the viewer experiences an "aha" moment. The photographs I appreciate the most have this visceral effect on me. That does not preclude the intellectual stimulation from a clever or well constructed picture. But if the subject does not grab you and pull you in, are you willing to spend the time thinking about it? Oddly enough, the same process occurs when I'm taking the photograph. I am first attracted to the subject on an emotional level. The intellectual work begins when I'm figuring out the best way to create the picture. These pictures followed that process.

All Photos © 2007 Greg Petropoulos

Nature

Like flowers, I feel a certain level of guilt when I photograph nature. Again, nature brings a great deal of beauty to the table before the photographer pushes the shutter button. There is, however, a significant challenge in nature photography that diminishes my guilty feelings. Nature is big, and it takes a trained eye to focus on what is interesting and beautiful. Not everyone with a camera can do what Ansel Adams did, nor does every scenic vista translate well to the photographic medium. In the end, I have mixed feelings toward nature photography. The reality is almost always better than the picture. But there is a high level of skill and expertise (and in many cases, physical hardship), that goes into a good nature photograph. At this point I can only take credit for being in the right place at the right time, and having the insight to see the picture as it presented itself.