Daniel Ruf

Country Roads

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals".    Henry David Thoreau

No matter how often I travel and re-travel the familiar back roads of Northwest Iowa I'm always surprised by things that I find that were missed on a previous trip.  Often times I've got a loosely set plan in my head (which I rarely seem to follow) that sets a "course" for my steering of the truck, but like a  young child, it doesn't take long for my plan to change due to a patch of clouds in one direction or the need to check out a state park in the other direction.

All that being considered it's still nice to come home, sit down in front of my computer, download the days collection of images and get to say..."Holy cow!"  In this case a late winter afternoon sunset with a number of players coming together.  First off, the light of the setting sun is throwing a nice warm glow across the landscape (clouds would be nice, but I'm not greedy).  Second, nice compositional lines from the left and right bringing the eye to the farm setting.  Third, cattle gathering on a side hill also lit with "afterglow" and adding more interest to the scene.  Finally, but it will be hard to see in this small rendition, a grouping of deer a little right of center in the frame.

As I continue to say, one just never knows what's around the corner and there are so many corners to choose from, but don't forget to peek over that hill....just in case.

Thank you all for coming to my blog site and I hope you all have a tremendous weekend.  Spring is just around the corner!

"Sic 'em Bears".

For more views of my work visit;

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

Side Street Gallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa  www.okobojiimages.com

http://500px.com/pigs4u

Up Tempo

"Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts."  Minor White

The above quote has been a reality many times in my life with the camera and it's true that fleeting colors of a sunset or sunrise can still be enjoyed as special moments and will long endure in our memory bank.  But along with that I would remind all working photographers to remember to turn around for the reverse view as often there will be a "residue" of what you thought you missed.

In the case of the blog image such was not the case as I was out particularly for the full moon and had provided time enough to find the location that I thought would work.  As is usually the case I never know until I get to a place what the offering might be as I just have a mental sketch of what I think it will be.  In this case I feared that I was going to be left with a blank sky devoid of clouds with the moon too far to the right of the scene.  As I drove down this dirt road I was relieved that the "actors were in their places", but the pool of water was a bonus and used to my advantage along with the random tire tracks, electric lines and curves.

Despite all the mechanics of driving, hunting, setup and capture the moments are not only collected in camera, but, as the quote says "our hearts" as well.  It's one of the things I enjoy most about landscape photography; the act of seeing as well as the act of capture.  And in this world today the beauty of nature offers premiums for those that search.

Thank you all for visiting this site.  As a postscript...A Piece Of Work gallery will be closing its doors at the end of October and will no longer be an art gallery.  I've enjoyed the gallery space I've had and the many people I've met through the gallery connection.  For those of you wanting to continue viewing or purchasing my work check the links below or contact me.  Also, this weekend is the Artisans Road Trip weekend...a chance to get out into the fall weather to see local artists and their work.

Sic 'em Bears...Baylor football vs. TCU Saturday afternoon.

For more views of my work visit;

A Piece Of Work, Spirit Lake, Iowa  http://www.apieceofworkinc.com/

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

Side Street Gallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa  www.okobojiimages.com

http://500px.com/pigs4u

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19338959@N06/

Soon To Be Forgotten

On a recent trip to Lanesboro, Minnesota I found this aging farm scene that speaks of shapes and lifestyles that I have worked among for most of my life before retiring.  To this day there is still a deep respect for the the life and living that centers around these shapes of the past.

As noted in other posts there is a great deal of education that occured within or around these structures including work ethic, respect and a certain bit of honor.  The long days bringing crops or nights tending to the "milking line" were the timelines for many families that multiplied in the rural sectors of this great nation of ours.

Most of our farm raised children started the morning early with a certain amount of chores, started their school day with the Pledge Of Allegence, were involved in after school activities and then came back to their roots to help with evening chores.

The work ethic learned amongst these forms left with many of our children only to find its way into larger towns and cities and put to good use at different occupations and adventures which benefited not only the places they worked, but the nation as a whole.

It won't be long before these "pillars" of rural life are gone and replaced by the clean new structures of the modern age, but hopefully the rural community will continue for mold and develop the same strong individuals that worked and played among these sentinals of farm life.

Sic “Em Bears. Go Baylor!

For more views of my work visit;

A Piece Of Work, Spirit Lake, Iowa  http://www.apieceofworkinc.com/

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

Side Street Gallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa  www.okobojiimages.com

http://500px.com/pigs4u

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19338959@N06/

 

 

 

 

Those Magnificent Billowing Clouds

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit."   Edward Abby

When clouds beckon I come running and on this spring evening I found myself at a familiar stop with an overlook of a common Iowa site...farms and clouds.  How much better can it get?  Even though our area has really begun to green up, the site of billowing masses is a great start.

In reference to the quote of Edward Abby above I'm reminded that while I thoroughly enjoy walking the trails of the woodlands of the north country I also realize that scenes like the above are also my wilderness when it comes to our local scenics, along with the lakes areas and marshlands. As I'm sure I've commented before, having been a farmer I can stand on this roadside and surmise in my mind what can be taking place around the farm.  Evening chores, feeding of calves or perhaps prepping a planter for use in the coming days of field work.

It would be impossible for me to separate my connection to these events even though they're long past activities in my life.  Modern age citizens have become more and more distant from the farming sector as they've also become more distant from the rural geography.

All that being said, this average scene of silo's, barns and fields can take on a glow once the addition of clouds and late evening light bring their brush strokes to this rural canvas.  I'm touched by every highlight and dark shadow as much as I'm touched by the fact that these scenes are fleeting in our lives.

Thank you all for visiting and may you all have glorious spring days ahead.  My return to A Piece Of Work gallery will be May 1...so glad to be back.

Sic “Em Bears. Go Baylor!

For more views of my work visit;

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

http://500px.com/pigs4u

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19338959@N06/

 

 

 

Arrived

“Spring won’t let me stay in this house any longer!  I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.”

Gustav Mahler

Spring has found its way to Northwest Iowa and with it the joys of being out among the living again.  The cows are calving, the wild flowers blooming and birds are building nests for the next brood.  The sky seems a little bluer and the air pungent with the odor of a warming soil.  Every road has new photographic adventure around the corner, as is the case with the blog image…a wrong turn developed into the right turn.

Calving time, back roads and country farms are what this shot is all about.  The few clouds in the sky allow for some crossing shadows to give added depth the the scene and “character” to the skyline.  Shot with my Canon 5D Mark II and multiple images processed as an HDR in Photomatix.  Further editing was done in NIK Viveza using their fabulous Upoint technology and that was about it.  The selective editing that Upoint allows one to do is one of the high points of NIK products (I’m not making any money saying this).  The fact that Google has taken over NIK…not so fabulous IMO (I might not make any friends saying that).

My 2014 round of classes in beginning photography started last night at the Pearson Lakes Art Center and in a couple of weeks I will re-install my work in A Piece Of Work (APOW) in downtown Spirit Lake.  It will be nice to have work back in the gallery in time for the May First Friday.  I have classes scheduled for Saturday's in May at APOW as well.

Enjoy your Friday and the possibilities the weekend has to offer.  Breathe that fresh air!

Sic “Em Bears. Go Baylor!

For more views of my work visit;

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

http://500px.com/pigs4u

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19338959@N06/

Slipping Away

“Be a yardstick of quality.  Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

A couple of days ago I stood by a roadside watching, waiting, hoping and praying that magic would happen.  At the same time I got a sense that winter was struggling for its last moments of the year.  Today, it’s snowing outside and I sense that winter is laughing at me, snickering that there just might be a pulse…yet.  No matter…as I see this opportunity as a blanket of fresh snow waiting for my return.

The subject of the blog image, the sunset, began when I was about 20 miles away from where I needed to be.  As many photographers know, once you see the color of a sunset the end is usually just minutes away.  In this case I was a little lucky as the sunset was like an aging wine…getting better with each passing minute, but I knew there still had to be an end and feared that I wouldn’t find the necessary foreground player.

It seems that the rural landscape continues to play a part in my work even considering that I’ve been away from the life style and work habits for over 6 years.  Fence lines and silo’s continue to interest me and I realize with every passing year there are fewer of them.  As I work behind the camera my mind reflects on what goes on inside the barn, the time it takes to set a fence, and that chores are almost done and suppers on the table.  The rural timeline is ingrained in many a farm family as well as the strength of spirit required to operate in the field of agriculture.

This is a long exposure three shot HDR processed in Photomatix software.  Final adjustment were made with the help of NIK Viveza and Color Efex software.

The last day for my exhibit at the Pearson Lakes Art Center is tomorrow, Saturday, March 1.  I’ve received many kind comments and have enjoyed being able to discuss my work with many people.  Thank you all for your support.  In about one month I will again have work on display at A Piece Of Work in downtown Spirit Lake, Iowa and look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.

Sic “Em Bears.

For more views of my work visit;

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

http://500px.com/pigs4u

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19338959@N06/

Winter’s Grip

“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas.  It is a creative art.”  Ansel Adams

Northwest Iowa finds itself in winter’s grip and due to yesterdays blizzard like conditions the reception for my photography exhibit at the Pearson Lakes Art Center was pushed to tonight, Friday, January 17.  Having lived in Iowa since 1982 winter postponements have become less unusual and more a fact of winter’s fickle tendencies. 

The blog image is a good look at the present Iowa landscape…little snow, cold temps and cloud laced sky.  While this scene portrays a sense of winter’s beauty it does also give me pause for two reasons.  One, that the Iowa landscape is very short on precipitation for this year and for agricultural success in 2014, there needs to be a “wet trend” to fill the water table.  That’s the farmer speaking.

The other relates to the barn deep in the background of this image.  As of a couple of months ago, this barn is now flat.  It is disheartening to me as this is a place I often come for landscapes of an eastern view.  Many dawns and cloud laden skies have been shot of this location and the barn scene provided a nice background anchor point for the eyes.  What’s worse is that to the left, out of view in this capture, is another often photographed location that has changed with the recent razing of some farm buildings and large silo’s.

It is with regret that both problems exist, but the latter is one that can’t be altered as small farms give way to larger operations with modern facilities for efficiency.  Life does go on.

The image was processed as a 3 shot HDR in NIK HDR Efex Pro, further processed in Photoshop CS 6 and followed with some minimal work in NIK Viveza and NIK Color Efex Pro using the fabulous “U Point” technology.

Thanks for joining me here and hope that winter is revealing amazing views to wander through.

Sic “Em Bears.

For more views of my work visit;

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

http://500px.com/pigs4u

www.facebook.com

Simple

                         “An artist is not paid for his work but for his vision.”  James Whistler

Have you ever noticed that in life some things can be so simple and at other times so hard?  Well, it’s the same in art and especially photography.  In the blog image the “simple” was that on an early morning this past Fall mother nature provided an absolutely beautiful morning sky with all the color nuances that come can come with sunrise.  The complicated part or parts was knowing, 1) that this light would be fleeting and 2) I needed a subject or foreground anchor point to “fill in the blanks” of the story.

After racing up and down a county blacktop and passing this scene several times I finally got out of the truck and began working on position and elevation.  The elevation part involved my standing on the tailgate and adding my tip toes to get high enough to show as much of the bin structures as possible.  Of course the clouds were moving, the sun was rising and I was hurrying.

One other small dilemma was that as much as I wanted this scene to fit into my “Butler Brothers” collection of work I would have preferred that the yellow signage not be staring me in the face.  I could clone them out, but decided they added to the overall image.

This was shot with a Canon 5D Mk II and, which might be a surprise to many, handled not as an HDR, but edited in the Photoshop’s CS6 RAW window and made it possible to bring the contrast in better range.

It’s a simple subject, simple composition and simply rural.

Thank you all for visiting my blog and feel free to post a comment.

Go Baylor...Sic 'Em Bears!  Next up, Oklahoma State.  Baylor Proud!

For more views of my work visit;

A Piece Of Work, Spirit Lake, Iowa  http://www.apieceofworkinc.com

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa  http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota  http://www.lanesboroarts.org/

http://500px.com/pigs4u

Rural Fall

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”  Albert Camus

Even after several years of being away from farming I still enjoy the seasonal episodes of planting and harvesting and all the commotion that goes with them.  While most of my farming skills centered around raising livestock, I was afforded an up close and personal look at field operations when it was time to have my fields planted and harvested.  I enjoyed the accelerated activity as well as being a small part of the activity.

With that in mind it’s not hard for me to steer my way to an elevator when the combines begin to roll and watch the semi’s as they come in from the fields.  The dryers in the elevator are humming as rail cars are lined up to receive grain that is being shipped to other places.  The local elevators are a hub of activity and a communications point for farmers during the pressing harvest time.

Even after the crop is in and the combines are put in the shed there is still a good deal of work to do in the fields prepping them for spring planting before the winter freeze sets in.  Add the that the other “little” details of washing and waxing the farm equipment before it’s stored for winter and the days just don’t seem to have enough hours.

Thanks to all the hard work by farmers and I hope this year was a banner year for their production.  For those viewing this blog, thank you as well and come back to visit often.

Go Baylor...Sic 'Em Bears! Congrats on the OU win and big kudo’s to the defense.  Baylor Proud!

For more views of my work visit;

A Piece Of Work, Spirit Lake, Iowa  http://www.apieceofworkinc.com

Arts On Grand, Spencer, Iowa  http://www.artsongrand.org/

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota  http://www.lanesboroarts.org/

BetterPhoto.com   http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V

http://500px.com/pigs4u

On The Road

I just returned from a week long visit to Michigan’s U.P. to reconnect to a place I discovered last Fall.  While the color was spotty compared to last years wash of vibrant colors, it was good to be back and challenged by new scenes and circumstances.

The start of my trip began with a visit to the Lanesboro Gallery ( www.lanesboroarts.org ) to drop off some new work in a gallery that I still enjoy visiting and being a part of.  I make this trip at least 2 times a year and on the trek I always look forward to passing the farm seen in the above.  Until this trip the scene was never complete to my liking…whether it be too cloudy, wrong time of year or any other issue…but this year it was perfect as a nice ground fog had begun to lift out of the area to form a crop of beautiful soft clouds overhead. With the sun peaking in and out a number of differing lighting situations were provided.

As the contrast was on the high side I chose to take the HDR road to deal with the scene.  I used both Photomatix and NIK HDR Efex Pro and settled on the results found with NIK.  A few minor tweaks in NIK Viveza completed the editing process.

I’ll have more from the trip in future posts and I thank you all for joining me and contributing to the comment section.

Go Baylor...Sic 'Em Bears!

For more views of my work visit;

"A Piece Of Work", Spirit Lake, Iowa  http://www.apieceofworkinc.com

Lanesboro Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota   www.lanesboroarts.org

BetterPhoto.com   http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V

http://500px.com/pigs4u