Peter J. Crowley

Fine Art Photographer

Sunday July 26, 2020 Morning Light

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Yesterday I was out for a stroll at 8 am people time. But 7 am sun time. There is a magic in this light crisp cool even in the heat of summer. I am up most days to see the light but the science project that is my body coupled with morning haze restricts my strolls.  

Delicate light on a neighbors Poppy. Joe came out of his house coffee in hand to tell me I can walk into the yard to get the best angle of the light. The flower bed is his wife’s project he told me not wanting to take credit for her work that he loves. I love when folks greet me. I am more at home here now since the days of being the “creepy old guy with a camera.” LOL nearly six years now in Olympia. 

There are mornings I stroll where the light, birds singing a cool breeze are enough. A few shots but just the light and the walk feed my soul.This was not one of those days. The grass at another friends house drenched in stark back light provided wonder to shoot. 

Not over saturated in PS no in fact saturation and contrast was dialed down for these four images. Just my seeing, the perfect light provided for these exposures.

A gentle breeze the colors danced seeking a solo of focus with each shutter release. 

But this short depth of field highlights the importance of negative space. Here as important as the focused subject.

In the center a white spec? A dust spot? No part of a spider web so strong holding between the shafts of color. A deep breath another image seen I stroll along.

peace pjc

 

March, April and May Quarantine Walks in Carlyon North

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Spent seventy three days in the neighborhood could not even ride with my caregiver to the market and wait in the car.

Here is a sample of what I saw.

March

March 23rd Safeway in the rain. Last trip to the market.

There is this tree on Carlyon on the right in this image on March 25th. That tree that I see an image there but I have yet to bring it out. My friend Arnold Prince a Sculptor used to say the figure is there in the stone you just have to bring it out. 

April

April Third my basil was a subject to study and eat. 

April 10th another tree this one more operative. This from the first time I saw this tree. I had not been here at this early hour as the sun crept around my image.  The image jumped out no pondering.

Tulips April’s delight this from the 13th in Tumwater. 

Shadows dance in the breeze. April 15th as I learn my new camera. I have been a B+W artist for most of my creative life. In 2017 my eyes started to not work as well manual focus didn’t work. Since then I have been trying to get the emotional feel in a digital image there is an edge to film. I’ll get it soon enough.

The beginning of new growth spring new life. April 25th 

May

Shot as an image to convert to B+W why? The green background has plenty of tonal range getting these subtle variations to hold in B+W. May first that was what I endeavored to learn. Every day the strolls are a self taught class.

May 8th I walked over to do the dishes, plan canceled. The twins next door were playing in great light! A half dozen images  download to computer post process. Smiling I start something else but three hours later I get up to make dinner and oh those lunch dishes.

Poppies back light May eighth. These also a neighbors her flowers are often my first stop out the door. 

The Fence is another subject with maybe 200 images made. Stretching around the corner always with a tale to tell. Will the restored or replaced fence speak to me time will tell. There are many unspoken  stories to hear. May 17th 

My Columbine May 16th on a dark misty morning. A great time to try my 70-300 very heavy slow lens. So it’s just a test I will learn a bit more about this tool. A shutter speed that by rule of thumb says will show my shake. Okay rule broken, a younger self I broke this rule often but at 70 bending down I was thinking the rule will win. It did six times but I made seven exposures. For this 1 out of 7 works for me.

White flowers hover over a Blue Plane saturation contrast creating the flight. May 22nd  an alternate reality.

So I have been released so June for now will have to wait. It is almost seven and there are lunch dishes to to before dinner peace 

 

 

 

 

The Winter Side of March 2020

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March 2nd Mexican Art at Traditions Cafe. These eyes of mine continue to improve steadier opens up my lens selection. Here Nikon 85 mm 1/100 F1.8 ISO 100. 

March 3rd outside my door 1/250 Nikon Micro at F-8 ISO 100 from about 5 inches away. A much lighter prime lens yet shake is still a big problem. The camera to subject distance  magnifies the visual shake.

Simon March 3rd Safeway parking lot. I saw him in the market we nodded to each other knowingly. I caught him outside introduced myself, he laughed when i asked to shoot him. “You have character, history and are the kind of person I am drawn to photograph.” We both laughed two images and a few minutes of talking, laughing a highlight to my day.

March 4th  around the block Spring peaks at me.

March 8th again the 85 mm a dark and cold morning my kitchen window my world view for to much of the time in recent years. But now my health better walking more, seeing better. Now spring!!

Spring!!! a view from March 11th around the block.

A Ray of light March 12th. Nikon AF [not on my D-3100] 28 mm to 105 mm  a much shorter turning radius on the focus ring. ISO 400 1/40 F4.5. No vibration control I am very pleased with the image Tech. and emotion. Is she not quite sharp? Of course she is 8 and never not in motion. 

peace pjc