Um. Don’t ask, but I think this photo will give you an clue.
Elephant Seals, 5.5.21
How much did I get done around here today?
Tag: sand
An Explanation
I guess my post of yesterday left many (especially on Facebook) concerned for my well being. I’m grateful for friends who care and look out for me, but I believe I owe you all an explanation:
I was merely suffering what I will, from now on, call a “photo hangover”.
I’m used to the “music hangover”: after preparing for a large solo and then playing that solo at concerts, the day after is a toughie. I feel this sort of emptiness. I feel rather let down. It’s all over … NOW WHAT?!
Well, as it turns out, the same thing happened with the photography show. It arrived a few days later than the music hangover, but it did arrive, and I just felt kind of crummy. As Dan was also pointing out, with music we at least get applause, but with a photo show there isn’t any. Sure, we get a few compliments here and there, but mostly we don’t get a lot. (I did sell two prints, so I think I should count that as applause, though!)
So I was whining (something which I am so very good at), and wearing my whine on my sleeve for all to see. And that caused some to worry, some to attempt to cheer me up, and, perhaps, some to roll their eyes as they are so darn used to my whining.
But this is all to say I am just fine!
So thank you for your concern. But really, I just muddle through and I do get through the desert just fine. Besides, deserts can be pretty lovely, albeit often quite barren and/or solitary, places.
Dune Ripples, 3.29.22
Finding Time for the Desert Images
I’ve been pretty busy putting together everything for the Stellar Gallery show that opens next Satury, June 11, so I’ve barely had time to revisit the photos I made while Dan and I were in Death Valley. Finally, though, I think I’ve gotten most everything prepared for next week, so I’m now looking again at the desert images.
I learned more, in reviewing the images: I set the ISO too high and I should have adjusted the exposure compensation. But I don’t mind learning, and it just means I have to go back there and work some more on this sort of photography, right?
Still, I will share what I have, because I still enjoy the images, and I may as well post them. Here’s a set of four I’ll have that were all from the same day and same somewhat remote area.
Dune Studies (I), 3.30.22
Dune Studies (II), 3.30.22
Dune Studies (III), 3.30.22
Dune Studies (IV), 3.30.22
Learning
Photography is a constant learning experience for me. Attempting landscape photography is not something I’m entirely comfortable with, and desert photography is rather challenging. A lesson I learned from this last trip (one among many lessons, mind you) is that I would be wise to bring a card reader so I can peruse what I shot when we get back to home base and see what I can do better.
I’ll still post some of the photos I made, but I must say it makes me want to go right back and do things differently!
On this particular trek to the dunes I neglected to bring the adapter for the long lens so I was stuck using other lenses. Rats! (Another lesson learned, I hope!)
Desert Dunes, 3.29.22
Dust Storm
While we were on our little Death Valley trip we did have one dust storm. It was nothing like one we had in the past, where we hunkered down in our motel room and had to block the door with towels, but it did mean we sat in our car to do a bit of shooting.
One photographer decided, instead, to go out on the dunes. I took in a mouthful of sand at one point, just sitting in the car. I can’t imagine what he was dealing with!
I wasn’t really thinking photographically when I shot this. I was thinking more about how crazy that guy was. (If I’d been thinking about the image I would have centered it a wee bit differently, I’m guessing.)
Photographer in a Dust Storm on the Dunes, 4.2.19
Trip to Carrizo Plain and Death Valley
Dan and I took a little trip this week to both the Carrizo Plain and Death Valley. I really needed this get-away, and he just finished teaching a post-retirement quarter at DeAnza so I suspect he needed it as well!
The flowers in the Carrizo area are just unreal. Truly. Even while there, it’s difficult to really comprehend. My first shot, though, was merely with the iPhone. This is before we reached the actual plain, if I understand where we were. (Dan knows for sure since he knows the area better and is the driver for most of our trip.) I loved seeing the baby blue eyes there. Just stunning!
First Shot: Wildflowers, 4.1.19 (iPhone)
Nemophila menziesii, 4.1.19
Castilleja excerta (I), 4.1.19
(Owl’s Clover)
Layia platyglossa (I), 4.1.19
(Tidy Tips)
I wasn’t the only one getting down low …
Dan in the Flower Field, 4.1.19
It’s not easy to describe the colors. It’s not easy to believe them, either. But the Phacelia were amazing and the variety of yellows unbelievable. Here are just a couple more shots. I have many more to look through, some close-ups and some not. I hope to share more soon, but I also have to start focussing again on music-making.
Wildflower Colors at Carrizo, 4.1.19
Purple, Yellow, Green, 4.1.19
Death Valley images will mostly wait for another day, but I suppose it would be wrong not to post just one. This particular morning we spotted some photographers out on the dunes. I love to shoot photographers. Peacefully, mind you. (I even wondered if perhaps this was a workshop run by a friend of ours, but I’ve not asked him yet.)
Photographers at Sunrise on the Dunes, 4.3.19
Desert Memory
Blowing Sand, 3.26.18
Revisiting The Desert
There are so many images in our March desert trip that have yet to get really looked at. After getting home and posting a few I ran out of time. Now that my performance season is over I’ll get back to those, as well as the numerous flower shots I’ve made.
Evening Dunes (I), 3.28.18 
Desert Scene
Sand, Wood, Mountains, 3.26.18
Desert Shot
Something in black and white this time.
Monochrome Dune Design, 3.30.18