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.

<

<