Daniel Ruf

They're Back!

"I paint objects as I imagine them, not as I see them."  Pablo Picasso

The "summer people" are back...those people that come from near and far to recreate in and around the lake area of our town.  Many see this added population as an inconvenience, but it's wise to remember the influx of dollars that come with them.  The life and welfare of all is benefited by their presence no matter how long the lines at the stores are.

It hasn't always been easy for me to accept this, especially since I've spent much of my adult life living in a rural area, but this year I have made it a purpose to try to make more images of life in our "summer" town...including its "ornaments".  Funny thing is that I'm having some fun in the process.

The blog image, taken with a Nikon 300s, is of one of the iconic places of our area, the walking bridge between East and West Lake, also know as the Spine Trail Bridge.  The hour was late and the sun was fading, but the two people on the bridge seemed fascinated with the view.  I wanted a capture that would reveal the pleasantness of the two individuals along with the chaos of a fleet of boats going under the span.

The image was processed in Photoshop CS5 with further work being done in Topaz software.  Finally, I used an oil painting effect found in Alien Skin Snap Art, but adjusted the opacity to allow a bit of the original image to come through.

It's summer at the Iowa Lakes!

Thank you all for visiting and please feel free to comment.

Sic 'em Bears!

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

At Last!

"Look and think before opening the shutter.  The heart and the mind are the true lens of the camera."

Yousuf Karsh

Finally...a landscape.  It's been a while since I've posted a landscape...a new landscape, and while I enjoy capturing flowers and still life's, I was really  needing open space devoid of 30 mph winds and pouring rain.  On this particular evening I was actually working with some wildflowers, but noticed the signs of what could be a beautiful sunset.  I made hast to find a rural road and a subject. 

It was a beautiful evening and while waiting for the "fireworks" to start I had time to soak it all in...the greening of rural America and one of Iowa's enchanting skies.  Oh, how I love the light!  This is an HDR processed in Photomatix software.  It's a nice start for the summer season, which is fast approaching

Thank you for taking the time to visit and I hope you are all enjoying the trailing edge of Spring.

Sic 'em Bears!

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

The Pledge

"Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction.  We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

                                   Ronald Reagan

Late in August Mike Houge and myself are going to put together a joint showing of our work for the Dickinson County Nature Center as a fund raising effort for the center and it's activities.  It will be a body of work that will celebrate the area landscape as well as local sites and recreation activities.

Back in 1996 a number of people and organizations of the area put forth an effort to fund the moving and restoration of a one room school house from another part of the county to a site near the center.  Our work for this show has given us unlimited access to the interior of this school and it has been a thrill to spend time inside.

The blog image was a reminder to me of how my classroom days began when I was a youngster when every morning my class would stand and recite the Pledge Of Allegiance.  It's a distant memory now, but was brought back to me as I prepared for this capture.

I'm glad that my advancing years have not wiped away all of my memory, yet.  While the flag is a beautiful symbol, it is so much more than that to me and, I hope, go all of us.  God bless America...this great land and its people.

Thanks for showing up at my site and take your family out to enjoy the Spring sites.

Sic 'em Bears!

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

Another Look

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would  hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'."    Erma Bombeck

Last fall I came upon this scene during a different time of day and season. (see the Oct. 2, 2011 blog post).  I was quite happy with the dramatic lighting as well as the new find which led to the final image in the aforementioned post. 

A few weeks ago I was back at the same location absorbed in shooting still life arrangements in an old barn and the farm house (last weeks post) and had pretty much spent a morning of quality time and sunlight.  As I was gathering my gear to leave I looked over to this outbuilding with the idea of investigating the lighting inside (which has to be view through a small hole near the floor since the building is locked), but decided that it probably wasn't much different than the past and wouldn't have the directional lighting from the window on the left.  My "guilty" conscience got the better of me and I finally walked over to peek into the front windows.  I couldn't believe the light falling on the milk cans and began rushing around to set up camera, lens and tripod. 

As I stated earlier, the only possible shot is through a "cat" hole near the floor and lens choice is limited due to the size of the hole.  But, with stiff bones I was able to lay on the ground to get everything in position and......click!

The lesson?  NOTHING is EVER the same with ANYTHING!  A lesson I am reminded of on many occasions.

Sic 'em Bears!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy this beautiful Spring.

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

Foggy Days

"The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work."     Emile Zola

The temperate weather in our area has brought a number of foggy days and fortunate opportunities to find the usual, unusual.  The blog image occurred at  the end of a morning shoot when the fog was actually beginning to drift upward to dissipate, but one last call occurred as I passed over this creek on the way home.

The capture was processed in Nik HDR Efex Pro and then further in Photoshop CS5 with touches using Nik Color Efex Pro 4 with its U Point technology as well as the brush tool to help strengthen the barns presence.

In the past year I think I've seen my approach softening a bit by being a little less heavy handed with different software approaches.  At the same time I've enjoyed the increased use of the creative choices available with not only Nik software, but also Topaz, Alien Skin Snap Art and Totally Rad textures.  My approach has been to use any of the aforementioned elements to enhance rather than cover up as I feel an image in need of a "band aid" is more worthy of the digital waste basket.

Of course this developing process (no pun intended) has occured over many years and has been influenced by reading, internet access and workshops and making a monumental amount of learning mistakes...bless everyone of them!

Thanks to all that frequent this site and please take the time to visit the links on the right to see the work of some real masters and friends.

My hopes are with the Baylor women's basketball team as they take up the challenge of the NCAA Final Four.  Sic 'em Bears!

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

Offerings

"I think if you shake the tree, you ought to be around when the fruit falls to pick it up."

Mary Cassatt

The last few days our part of the world has been fortunate enough to experience a few days of fog and, to paraphrase Dorcas Lane of "Larkrise To Candleford"..."Fog is my only weakness", I've been out exploring a lot of different nooks and crannies.  On the day of the blog image I found an area of ground fog, while on the road, and was pretty excited since it was a perfect background to a farmstead that I've wanted to capture for a long time.  The perfect sunrise colors made it all the better so I made a hard right turn to find a set up location to wait for the "announcement" of the colors.

The image was processed through Nik HDR Efex Pro, then Photoshop CS5 and finally some touches in Nik Color Efex Pro 4.  Color Efex provided the Tonal Contrast correction and also the use of the Split Neutral Density Grad Filter which are two favorites and with the brush tool in the software filter allows the opportunity to paint the effects on the image.  The Nik brush tools and the U-point technology are great to use for those subtle touches throughout an image.

While working on this piece it wasn't too difficult to remember past mornings on the farm...out early to start chores, then in for a hardy breakfast at about 9 a.m. and then back out 'til noon.  While the days were long and full there was always a sense of pride in the American Heartland that went with the work no matter how compelling the day.

Thanks for visiting the site and don't forget to stop to take a deep breath...Spring is here, my friend.

A big shout for the Baylor men's and women's basketball team for having won their way to the final eight of the NCAA tournaments.  We're so proud.

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

You Can't Take The Farm Out Of The Boy!

"Family, work, familiarity.  Listen, if I had a magic wand and could make myself really be happy, I'd zap myself onto a farm.  And I know nothing about a farm."  Scott Baio

The city is where I grew up, but through some magic I spent my adult life as a farm owner.  There were times when it wasn't pretty, but it was fulfilling.  For that reason I can't seem to avoid an attraction to hay mows and other barn interiors.  To me they hold the history of our growing country and it's hard not to be impressed by the visions that reside in these vanishing places.

The blog image is one of several that I came away with from a heritage farm nearby.  There story is always the same...I start by shooting a bigger picture, but get caught up in the intricacies of the place.  While I have a few props that find their way into the scene there are always items of the previous owner, and then, of course, the textures of the barn itself.  Telltale markings of work and play, aging and strength, family and solitude.  I'm comfortable in these places and I'd like to think it shows in the offering.

As with much of my work nothing is a "one click wonder" (as if there really is such a thing) and this image spent a few days developing...a touch here, a touch there, but isn't available lighting beautiful?  And, as was the case then and now, there is that farm cap, that signature of many a farmer/teacher that I've known, each with a handsome faded stained "finger print" that defined the person and occupation.  I still wear mine with some pride as my lifetime membership card of a fraternity of living on the land, with the land.

To all of you that make this a stop during your crowded day I say, thank you.  The tail of winter is passing and I can see Spring.

Sic 'em Bears.

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

Farming Memories

"You can't wait for inspiration.  You have to go after it with a club."  Jack London

The kind of things I find while traveling the country roads can be funny and the blog image is one of these.  When I saw this old tire leaning against a fence post my first thought was, since I'm a retired farmer, somebody had a really bad day.  I've been there and remember some occasions when the tractor is running fine, the field is smooth, and the weather is beautiful...and then a tire blows.  If this happens on a car it's a big deal, on a tractor in the middle of a field it's a day cruncher.  Not only is it a struggle between man and a "beast" the repair gobbles up time and time has a premium price during the summer.

Luckily, with camera in hand, there were some beautiful clouds to form a background to this knarly subject and positioning was the next subject at hand.  High, low, left or right...finally my right hand dominance played into the decision.

The image was captured for HDR processing in Nik software with some minor adjustments in Photoshop CS5 and Nik Color Efex Pro.  As with a lot of my work the "tweaking" continues, but I know that this shot will probably never hang in my gallery space at A Piece Of Work in Spirit Lake and it will probably never leave the confines of my computer, but sometimes a person has to take advantage of those interesting stories that present themselves.

Kind of like life, don't you think?

Thanks for joining me here...see you next week.

Sic 'em Baylor Bears!

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

Don't Miss The View

"Even if you fall on your face, you are still moving forward."   Victor Kiam

It's no secret to my wife that I have my share of bad habits or failings since I manage a repetitive use of any one of them on a daily basis.  My mistress, photography, also brings up the subject frequently, but in this case I usually am more mindful of the instruction.  One thing that consistently has control is this notion of being so focused on a destination that I miss the the entire journey and a good case in point is when traveling.  If I'm bound to get to Duluth, or any other place for that matter, the estimated time of arrival is carved into my brain and all attention is focused on this one achievement, except, of course, those necessary stops at the McDonald's drive thru.

I've found that this also takes hold when camera work is completed.  If it's been a successful shoot my brain will have a pretty good idea of the "highlight" shot or shots (if I'm so lucky to enjoy the plural form) and when I gather my excited self in front of the computer it is the chosen direction to find the particular capture, process/edit it and pronounce the yeah or neah of the scene.

As many of my posts have mentioned the winter weather here in Northwest Iowa....well, it just isn't.  The brown skeletal scenery is still missing the white blanket of winter and the beauty that it leaves for us to enjoy.  In order to curb the frustration my usual solution is to read about photographic processes, organize my file system or do still life photography. 

The blog image is an example of what's wrong with my "get there at all cost" approach as it applies to my editing process.  I found this in a file of work from about 2 years ago and I can actually remember the trip since I was in a mode of wanting some shots of the wind generators that have taken over our landscape.  How or why I passed this capture on the way to the editing process I will never know, but it is proof that one should at least view the journey, or in this case the body of work, that gets recorded.

Thank you all for your generous tolerance.

SIC 'EM BEARS!

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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

Look Up

"My best work is almost unconscious and occurs ahead of my ability to understand it."

Sam Abell

A snow system has finally reached Northwest Iowa and it is finally beginning to look a lot more like winter here.  With it being mid-January I can smile knowing that March and the sites of Spring are closer than if this storm was occurring in November, as is the case in many years past.  Finally the browns are covered and I now have a new palette to work with.

The blog image is from a couple of weeks ago when things looked and felt springlike and the cloud formations were absolutely incredible in the morning.  This is an HDR panorama that required 12 captures using Nik HDR Efex Pro to develop the 4 HDR images and then, using Photoshop CS5, a 4 image stitch to accomplish the final panorama image.

As I set up at the location I was captivated by the varied cloud formations that were moving across the sky.  It really reminded me of times when I've been traveling through the northern or western plains where the land, as well as the sky, has this immense breath taking feeling that overwhelm an individual.  In this case it's good old mid-western Iowa, where, even today, we can find such wide open vistas where clouds, not corn, can be king.

Looking up can reveal surprising tapestries...if we remember to raise our eyes from their normal human positioning by tilting our head back.  It is then that your mouth will fall open whereby both neck and facial muscles are exercised to a fuller extent.

Thank you for joining me today and please feel free to comment.

SIC 'EM BEARS!

My book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" and new book "Take What's Given" can be purchased online at-  http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1868649

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