THE PETALUMA SPECTATOR PHOTO BLOG

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Sun Star…8 Minutes 19 Seconds From Earth

At the speed of light, it takes 8 minutes and 19 seconds for light (energy, if you are thinking solar power) to reach the earth from our sun. In photography, the general rule or thumb is to keep the sun at your back and to avoid or minimize taking photos in full sunlight.

But rules are meant to be broken, even if by accident.

Recently, I was on the Bodega Head Trail and a jet contrail caught my attention. I decided to take a quick shot, hoping that the distortion created by shooting into the sun could be minimized by keeping the sun off to the side.

The resulting image? Colored “sunbeams” (distortions or artifacts created by the direct light passing through the elements of the lens) streaking down to earth…

PHOTO SPECIFICATIONS

Location: Bodega Head
Camera: Fuji HS20EXR
F-Stop f/8
Exposure: 1/800 sec
ISO–100
Focal Length: 5 mm
Time of Day: 3:11 pm
Post Production: Adjustments in saturation and contrast only. All other “distortions” retained

Graffiti Trail…a.k.a. Lynch Creek

09 Feb

The newly paved portion of the Lynch Creek Trail between Maria and Sonoma Mountain has acquired quite a collection of gang tags. I used to follow the graffiti trails around Petaluma but gave it up out of boredom. Too much of the same o’ same o.’ The scene on the trail this morning was hard to ignore–even for a reformed Graffiti Paparazzi.

So I pulled out my little pocket camera to capture the scenes as I rode along.

For readers outside of Petaluma, don’t be misled by the word trail. In reality, it is a newly paved path running next to a residential area.

SLIDESHOW

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Photos from the street…

01 Feb

“Street Photography” is a style or type of documentary photography ”…that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls.”–Wikipedia Also see What is Street Photography for another view on the subject.

Frequently, street photographers are not “discovered” until well after their demise. See Vivian Maier

Whatever Street Photography may be, I offer five new “street” photos for your amusement.

Note: Individual photos may be enlarged by clicking on them…

"Nope--Not Open" And when they are open, they simply move the "n" below the "e." Point Reyes Station, CA © Frank Simpson

"The Hitchhiker" Perhaps the glove owner was on a coffee break? Kentucky Street, Petaluma © Frank Simpson

"Vacancy" Is it descriptive or prescriptive? Would it have another meaning if it were a mortuary? Point Reyes Station, CA © Frank Simpson

"Flight of the Phoenix" Western Avenue, Petaluma. The illusion of the crow emerging from the graffiti tag is created by my luck in capturing the crow in flight at just the right moment. © Frank Simpson

"Secret Message" No I am not taking up the task of once again photographing graffiti tags. However,I did like this overall scene. © Frank Simpson

1 Comment

Posted by Frank Simpson on February 1, 2012 in Perspectives

Tags: Petaluma California, Photography, Street photography

Colors…to Black and to White

01 Jan

The photos in this post are not examples of photo journalism. They are arranged.

The first photo is a macro taken through a vase of cut flowers. What you are seeing are the leaves and stems in the water. The orange background was created by placing a freshly picked pumpkin directly behind the vase…and waiting for the sun.

The second photo is based on a photo taken along 101 near the Sonoma-Marin County Line. In this instance, I ran the photo through post processing reducing the colors to two. It dramatically changed the impression created by the image–from a dead tree on the horizon to a possible movie poster for a B movie horror film. Perhaps something like The Creature From the Hills?