Daniel Ruf

Spring Ain't Sprung!

Spring weather is still taking it's sweet time about settling in and right now the photo op's are particularly distressing.  Early Spring plants are refusing to come forward to let their colors shout down grim weather pattern that has us in its grip.  A recent trip to Nebraska for Sandhill Crane photography and then Texas for flower photography in the hill country was equally disappointing.  Cold, cloudy and snowy weather in Nebraska had the cranes huddling in the Platte River with little sunlight to brighten the landscape, while Texas was in the grip of one of the driest March's on record with minimal Bluebonnets on display.

During these times I have been resorting to working on digital composites to not only pass the time, but to also gain some enjoyment of learning more about Photoshop CS5.  The blog image is a gathering of a Red Winged Blackbird image from some years ago and a recent capture of a weathered concrete bridge wall that worked well together.  The textures on the background became a nice supporting cast to brilliantly colored bird and its steel post platform.  The rendering of a shadow was an enjoyable learning experience using the "Transform" options in Photoshop.  The whole excersize proved once again that a capture is never final now that we have digital editing options to enhance our artistic options.  I would strongly suggest the book "Layers" by Matt Kloskowski as a unique supplement for learning the digital darkroom processes.

Thanks to all that continue to support this site by visiting.

    My new book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" 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=V1

Winter Color

"My apple tree will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'."

from "Mending Wall" by
Robert Frost

Finding winter color can be a challenge up here in Northwest Iowa and I had been looking for quite some time for a Bittersweet vine to work with when I stumbled on this one, clinging to an old fence line that has escaped removal by the land owner. I was most fortunate that the day started with a nice heavy fog which gave way to a heavy layer of hoar frost on everything in the open, including this stunning blast of colorful Bittersweet berries.

The demise of Bittersweet and other fence "decor" is the result of the push/rush by many farmers to add a couple of acres and/or reduce the need to keep planting machinary, etc. clear of snagging these "tempermental" land dividers.  My minimal experience in the field had taught me to allow a couple of feet of clearance to avoid such problems, but I'll admit, watching with a craned neck and steering a tractor were not my strong suit at certain times. 

The biggest problem in removal of a fence line is about more than just the loss of some Bittersweet vines or grape vines.  Since a margin for error was required for working along a fence line with farm equipment, it meant that most fence lines "protected" about 3 - 4 feet, counting both sides of the fence.  This "acreage" was, and still is, vitally important as wildlife cover, especially with such birds as pheasants and animals like rabbits, etc.  Today, it's not uncommon to see whole sections of land (640 acres) that are devoid of fence lines, meaning a large loss of wildlife habitat and food sources, especially during the winter months.  Add to that the fact that fence lines make acceptable snow fences during the winter and one can clearly see that fence removal is a harsh solution to gaining an acre of ground, maybe a row of corn or beans, and faster completion of farming chores. 

While I do understand the farmer "side of the fence" I'm not sure that a row of corn makes up for loss of habitat and snow fence with the removal of these aged lines of demarcation.  And, yes, as I found out personally, good fences do make good neighbors as some farmers tend to farm a little farther out of their fence line when a sturdy fence is absent.

The blog image is a simple production using Photoshop CS5 and a mild use of both Topaz Adjust and Nik Viveza plug in to enhance sharpness and color presentation.

Thanks for visiting my blog site.

    My new book "Places I've Been, Things I've Seen" 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=V1

Redefine

"We are,each one of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another."    Luciano de Crescenzo

 

The exciting thing about digital photography is the idea that no image becomes old as long as the photographer is engaged in the learning process and upgrading his creative skills.  With winter settled in here in our corner of the world we've been hunkered down with our share of ice, snow and gloom and, with my being close to the grips of "cabin fever" I have finally begun to deal with Photoshop CS5 and some of its tools.  I've avoided learning this editing software because Adobe Photoshop Elements has been just fine, but just like young boys learning to coexist with young girls, I decided to move on in the creative process...on a first date basis.

The challenge is really no different than learning new tools in the wet darkroom except for the fact that the digital world is never standing still.  The one thing that I've had to come to grips with is that no matter what I learn today, tomorrow is a whole new lesson.  While this may seem to be a never ending challenge, in truth it means that not only is ones creativity always on the move, but the persons work may always have new meaning day, months or years later.  Add to that the fact that when a photographer is lined up in front of a subject they have more skills to use for the "previsualization" of the final outcome of an image.

The above blog image is something that happened on a trip to Florida several years ago that started out in frustration.  This Osprey had been combing the beaches nearby and while I had a 100 - 400mm zoom loaded on my camera, I was really having a hard time trying to get some "pass" shots of this marvelous creature.  As I've said many times before, "as luck would have it" the Osprey found a stream of air overhead and for several seconds we stared at each other.  "What can it be like to have the use of wings?", I thought right before making this capture.

Once at home I was delighted with the image, but disappointed with the blank blue sky overhead.  It seemed to suck the life out of the living creature, but recently I've had the opportunity to revisit this image with a new tool called Fly Paper textures at http://flypapertextures.blogspot.com/ .  These textured overlays are exciting to work with and offer a bundle of choices for creative use.  The result put a whole new life in the capture and also a whole new impetus in my learning experience.  Also, one other great resource for learning is a new book "Layers" by Matt Kloskowski, which was suggested to me by my good friend Anthony Vodraska of "X-Alt Art Studio", and has provided a great starting point for learning about the use of layers in editing.

Of course this simple lesson for creativity is applicable in our daily lives giving new purpose to what may seem to be mundane occurrences or tasks that surround us.  We are all born with a creative Spirit and, like learning to walk, if we don't get up on our feet once in awhile, we forget how to move forward.

Christmas is just around the corner, a time to embrace one another, and new years is next, a time to reinvent ourselves and our purpose!  Wishing you all the very best for the season and a prosperous new year.

 

Buried Treasures

Recently I was watching a television program concerning various fossil finds around the country and the thought came to me that the narration treated these bones of unfortunate animals as treasures, hidden in the earth, from a time long ago.  As I reflected on the rendered scenes of the environment of that time I couldn't help wondering what civilizations in the distant future might think of the remains our civilization leaves behind as our historic ledger.

I've noticed a lot of discussion lately about the environmental movement as it relates to endangered species and become really disappointed by those that would take issue with the preservation of some near extinct species which they feel is insignificant, especially when the plant or animal is standing in the way of some huge construction project of human design.  Advocates from both sides of the debate hurl platitudes back and forth in an effort to sell their position to a public that, in most cases, is ill equipped to even render a fair opinion on the subject or even cares about BOTH sides of the argument.

The question that I have for those that see no real reason to yield to an endangered species is when is the time right to grant consideration to the last of a species.  Would it be when just one elephant is left standing?  Or perhaps it would be when clean water is no longer available and lines have begun to form in the streets behind some tanker truck that shows up on the odd dates of the month.  I know to many this might sound like a huge stretch, but I'm not sure it's as far off as people believe.  In fact, I'm not sure many people, other than environmentalists, give a moments thought about any of this as long as such things as lumber and eggs are still readily available at any price.

As a retired farmer I've been involved in many discussions, around a table in the local grain elevator, concerning commodity prices, falling markets, cost of production, etc.  One flag that is always raised in these discussions is that the American public will never understand the value of food and it's production until the shelves at the local super market are bare, such as we saw years ago in film clips from Russia.  Just as today's public is more removed from the farm sector than it was 50 years ago, so are those same individuals more distant from the wilderness experiences of families of the past.

Ansel Adams once discussed the value of the American wilderness as a re-creation experience over recreational experience and I think that's a pretty profound statement for our time.  Until we see the value of the environment as a place to recharge, reflect and contemplate many of us will fail to see or value the wildness that still exists on this planet.  More importantly, until we see the value of open space over office space, many will never stand on the side of endangered ecosystems.

Nature Photographers Unite!

For more views of my work visit;

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

"Art On 16th"  http://www.hankhallarton16th.com

Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com  

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

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1

My Early Christmas Present

"To put the world right in order,

  we must first put the nation in order;

to put the nation in order,

  we must first put the family in order;

to put the family in order,

  we must first cultivate our personal life;

  we must first set our hearts right."   Confusius 

My good friend Mike and I have a standing joke between us that anytime we get within a mile of a Great Blue Heron (or any form of wildlife for that matter) we usually get the backside view of the bird when it's flying away.  It doesn't matter if we drive up, sneak up or crawl up we definitely get the confirmation of their departure by the sound of flapping wings.

A couple of weekends ago I took a few days for a trip north, camping at Amnicon Falls State Park in Northwestern Wisconsin.  While working the area I headed to the port of Superior where there are a good number of wetlands along the shore of Lake Superior and began walking the banks looking for possible subjects for later in the day.  The light was harsh, but it was getting towards late afternoon and if I twiddled my thumbs long enough the light would be right.

While I was walking along the edge of a wetland/pond area, not paying much attention to where I was headed, I looked up to find this heron right in front of me.  He/she/it looked at me, I blinked several times in amazement and then that internal/external dialogue started.  I jokingly said to self and heron..."you know that if I move to get a better angle for a shot you're going to take off, right?"  The heron casually strolled in front of me with a kind of "whose this dope" look in its eyes and I shuffled a couple of steps to see if I couldn't get a little ahead of him/her/it.  It was then that I caught myself saying..."O.k. I'm going to raise this big Canon bad-boy to my face so you better get your wings set for blast off!"  No response from the now inquiring "what the hell" face of the heron. 

It was about this time that I was really starting to believe that the good wildlife fairy was sitting on my shoulder and I'd better get serious about the surprise portrait sitting that was just a few feet away.  I had a mild tremor to do the Irish jig, but thought that was an unlikely part of the routine of preparation...but it has slipped out in past instances of photographic jubilation.

As the blog image shows, Harvey/Mable/Spot did remain long enough for some serious meditations with the camera, but soon wandered off farther into the marsh and I'm sure he/she/it was checking to see if I had my hip waders on, which I did not.  One side lesson to this capture is when confronted by an opportunity to photograph a stationary heron it's usually a good idea to not center the subject like a rank amateur might do.   And yes, I do believe I heard a departing comment from the heron concerning my inappropriate composition and background adjustment, but I'll still take this as a prize from the trip north.

For more views of my work visit;

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

"Art On 16th"  http://www.hankhallarton16th.com

Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com  

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

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1

 

Trippin'

"A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art."  Paul Cezanne

When the outer world doesn't cooperate with photographic opportunities then I always go grab a batch of flowers from some local florist and start shooting.  It's a method I've used many times to keep the brain cells oiled and even sparkle a little bit.  It doesn't have to be flowers, it can be hub caps, bottle tops or dripping water, but whatever one chooses after a few minutes it will become the new challenge.

While I've been in my cranky mood of late I have also received a few junk mail advertisements about photo excursions or voyages with different photo workshop groups.  I look at the catalogs, like looking at a Christmas wish book, but the prices are so out of sight that I would have to get a couple of day jobs to get a low rent cabin on one of these junkets.  I never really could figure out why the big expense until I really looked at one of the "come on" photo ops...a well set table of fine silver with people dressed to the "nines" while clinking champaign glasses.  Then it hit me...this is not my idea of a workshop or photo op.  I think the price would slide downward a bit if someone rented an old Russian (no offense intended) fishing boat, loaded it with sleeping bags and canned spam and headed to the prime location intended.  And the workshop would entail being up before dawn with tripod and camera in tow in search of opportunities.  After about 10am it would be editing time, group discussions and chasing the learning curve before heading out at 4pm for some great evening shots.  The bed roll would see us crawl in at about 10pm, but only if we could withstand not looking at the evening shoot results.

I'm headed to the Rowe Sanctuary to photograph sandhill cranes this weekend and this will be my second opportunity in as many years to do this shoot.  I'm excited, probably just like I was last year, and I'm nervous, just like I was last year.  You know...the anticipation thing, but the thing I'm looking forward to the most is falling to sleep at night while listening to the chatter of cranes outside my photo blind.  Nothing better, except for maybe the times I've heard wolves howling in the north country.

The informal table in my 6 x 10 foot blind will be set with the finest cuisine...some cheese sticks, a few canned vienna sausages, bananas, water, crackers, etc.  All high on the food triangle!  The point is I'm not interested in food, mattress size or room service, but the moments that will make this experience one of the bookmarks of life...and of course a few good shots wouldn't hurt either!  There were some good images from last year, but I'll not soon forget watching my first "crane dance" or the sunrise on a Platte River that was covered in cranes.  Those mental images are as sharp now as they were last year and I'm so glad that I checked off one of those bucket list items by heading to Nebraska.

My advice when you get done playing with the flowers?  Dream a little and then get your map!

Thank you all for taking the time to visit my site and for any comments you might offer.

For more views of my work visit:

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

Art Of The Vine Gallery http://www.artofthevinegallery.com

Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com  

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1

Why Is There Still Snow In My Yard?

We got back from Tucson a couple of days ago and were greeted by the same scene we left behind a week before...plenty of white stuff.  Tuscon was a great place to visit and I thoroughly enjoyed roaming through the canyon areas and seeing a whole new ecosystem that I'd been away from for 30 years.  I forgot just how much the areas of the Southwest, the canyons, cactus, and climate, although we were there at probably the right time, but still a little early for the flowers.  It actually snowed in the higher elevations, while the Tucson area got a much needed drenching of rain.

This little guy posing is a Pyrrhuloxia that I managed to get a picture of in Sabino Canyon near Tuscon.  I've always wanted to see one of these since they are such a close mimic to our Eastern Cardinal.  The situation worked out just right with the Saguaro Cactus in the background and the colorful cactus beneath the bird. The lighting was a little soft, but I think everything came together after some needed cropping.

It's been tough to be back home...the empty house and all that goes with.  Both my wife and me have mentioned that when we come through the door we still expect to see Bailey trotting to us for a scratch and a treat and at least one time I almost called out to her.  A person never really knows how important a dog is to the lives it cares for until the space is empty of their spirit.  During the 13 or 14 years we had her in our home I was with her  practically everyday.  The scene was pretty much the same around the farm...Bailey riding in the passenger seat of the truck scoping out the scenery and feeling pretty proud of herself.

I've had plenty of dogs in my life from the time I was a squirt until now, but the two Golden's were my closest companions.  I don't know how long it will take for us to adjust to the empty house, but I'm glad there was little suffering on her part.  I was with her to the end and I'm glad, however hard it was, that I could be there for my good friend.  Thanks to all that have shared their condolences with us, it means a lot.

For more views of my work visit:

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

Art Of The Vine Gallery http://www.artofthevinegallery.com

Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com  

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1

Latest News

Last Saturday an email brought the news that I had two images find their way into the finals of The Nature Conservancy 2009 photography contest.  This is the second year that I have entered and I was pleasantly surprised by the news.  The Sandhill Crane shot at the left was one selection and was taken at the Rowe Sanctuary near Kearney, Nebraska this past spring.  It was my first opportunity to be up close and personal with these magnificent birds and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Due to some travel plans this spring I was afraid that I was going to have to miss the chance to go the Kearney again this year, but, due to some changes in dates, I am going to spend a weekend peeking out a porthole in a blind along the Platte River.  I can hardly wait to get there and renew some of the relationships I made during last years visit.

The picture on the right was the second finalist and is an old favorite from Ft. Defiance State Park in Northwest Iowa.  This park is kind of a hidden pearl for my friends Mike, Bob and myself, and we all get down to the creek bed on many occasions.  It is my hope that the contest would bring new impetus to some state funding for up keep and maintenance to our parks. 

The road to the grand prize is now up to a "peoples choice" selection which throws a whole new twist to the final selection process.  If you would like to vote for the finalists go to the following link

http://support.nature.org/site/PageServer?pagename=vote_xx&autologin=true .

Organizations like The Nature Conservancy spend a great deal of money and effort to save and preserve the wild areas of the world and I'm happy to be involved with such an outstanding group.  With the economic demands on the private sector I'm sure that non-profits are feeling the pinch in every area.

During an internet search the other day for works by Dewitt Jones I happened to come on a link on MySpace that I was unaware of and if you follow the link below I think you'll what you find.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=43381348

Every once in a while a little inspiration is a good thing, and while I found Jones through his photography prowess years ago, he is also well known for motivational lectures in the corporate world.  After listening to this talk I can see why.

Thanks to all of you that take the time to visit this site and your support is really appreciated.

For more views of my work visit:

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

Art Of The Vine Gallery http://www.artofthevinegallery.com

Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com  

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1

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

Daystar And Others

  "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."   Seneca

As I scanned through my photographic work of this past week I happened to look out the office window to a marvelous full moon rising over a frozen lake while at the same time clicking on this picture from an early morning shoot and realized how lucky we are to have these two orbs that make an appearance in the heavens to give us visual entertainment.  The image above was taken on a cold, foggy morning after a major snow storm had captured and captivated most of the U.S. this past week.  When I woke on this morning it was still quite dark, but I noticed that there seemed to be a fog laying along the surface of the ice and also a frosting of the trees outside our house.  The immediate question was where was the best place take advantage of the fog and the subsequent sunrise which I was pretty sure would peek through at some point giving a subdued gold orb rather than the normal intense light.  In a short time I found myself parked on a gravel road, looking out at a favorite grouping of trees, enjoying the silence while setting up shop for this particular shoot.  After a couple of shots at different locations before sunrise I settled in while the morning glimmer slowly gave way to the daystar.

So many mornings and evenings have been spent standing near a tripod and waiting for the artistry of sunlight as it either peaks over the horizon or slides slowly from view and most times the view is worth the wait.  Night brings on a similar show with the moon and, with a night like tonight, gives the snowy landscape a brilliance that is unlike other seasons of the year.  Either way, day or night, both of these masses make living here on earth a little more special and serve as something more than a marker of time.  Lovers have always known this and so have artists and as much as we all try to understand or capture the show in our midst, we usually fall short, but still enjoy the opportunity all the same.

A year or so ago I was camped along a river in Minnesota near a wolf preserve primarily because I wanted a chance to be awakened during the night by the howling that I thought would occur.  While waiting for sleep to catch up with me I argued with myself about whether it would really happen or if I was just kidding myself.  At some point in the night, under a full moon, I woke to what I thought was a strange sound, but soon realized that indeed, the wolves were at play and making music.  It was a sound of the ages that few of us will ever get the chance to hear on the natural stage it's meant to be and movies will never do it justice.  But let there be no mistake, it does raise a tingle on the back of your neck, and I suspect that it's an ancient hominid gene pushing through the subconsciousness...a warning from our past that we are the hunted.

Tonight, somewhere within driving distance from most of us, there are those same voices raising a joyful noise to the moonrise, as is recounted by numerous people that have spent long hours in close contact with these "beasts".  I'm glad I've been fortunate enough to be near the caller without having to resort to an electronic devise.

For more views of my work visit:

 "A Piece Of Work", Spirit Lake, Iowa

Art Of The Vine Gallery http://www.artofthevinegallery.com

Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1

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

 

Thanks To All

"When a person buys a camera, they are a photographer, but when a person buys a piano, they just own a piano"  Charles W. Gildner

 This past week I was given the opportunity to exhibit work at an art gala at the DeWaay Capital Management offices in Des Moines along with several other Iowa artists.  I'm always nervous at this type of event because I'm not a good self promoter and I tend to get a little tongue tied when in a position to have to initiate a discussion with people I don't know.  I've been that way all my life and I imagine that I will continue the struggle during the life that I have left.  Before the evening started I managed a trip around the facility to view the other artists work and enjoyed seeing artists I knew and meeting ones that I didn't know.

The evening was a real success and the people were kind and generous with comments and observations and questions.  As the night rolled along, string quartet music in the background, wine glasses clinking and the normal chatter of such an event lingering in the background, I began to realize that the people that drifted longingly around my little corner of the art world, chatted about my work, where some of the images were located, and questioned about my technique, were drawn to my landscapes because of the comfort that they received from looking at the work...the very same reason that I was moved to capture the scene in the first place.  These were very kind hearted, generous people with an inquisitive nature about who I was and why I was doing what I was doing.  It didn't take long before they extracted the fact that I was a retired farmer and then their surprise moved the discussion of my art farther along.

Yesterday, I was at a book signing for the new book "Knee High By The Fourth Of July" which is an collection of essays on rural life by a number of local writers, including myself, and I met several people that had purchased my art in the past and was again reminded of the fact that these people also were very kind and generous with their comments and very much wanted a piece of my work hanging in their home or office.  I'm beginning to sense that people are drawn to the kind of images that I capture for their quiet, peaceful presence and realize that it's the same reason that I stop, set up the tripod, latch the camera in position, have the internal discussion about the scene and click the shutter release.  The art work I have in my house and the galleries and artist work I enjoy the most are those that I walk away from feeling better for having taken the time to visually enjoy.  It also is the kind of work that I never grow tired of revisiting to refresh my sense of place in this world and the beauty that surrounds all of us.

I owe a great deal of gratitude to those that have encouraged me along the way and have made this journey so enjoyable.  One never knows where the next light of inspiration will come from or which of our friends might strike the match to start the fire, but all of them are a part of my creative process.  All of my life experiences become a part of the method that manages to somehow put an idea on paper that glows from a wall in someones home.  With each new piece of work my biggest hope and desire is that viewer is drawn into the two dimensional space to the three dimensional space I stood and the warmth and joy I experienced in the discovery.

Bless you all during this holiday season, enjoy your families, friends and the joy of being together.  Find some good art, a good book or just a quiet spot to reminisce about your journey and those that have touched your life along the way.  Support your local artists, shop at your local shops as your contribution to your communities survival.

For more views of my work visit:

 "A Piece Of Work", Spirit Lake, Iowa

Art Of The Vine Gallery http://www.artofthevinegallery.com

"Art On 16th, Spirit Lake, Iowa

Artisans Road Trip www.artisansroadtrip.com

"CR Gallery", Milford, Iowa

http://www.betterphoto.com/Premium/Default.aspx?id=251674&mp=V1

The Cornucopia Art Center, Lanesboro, Minnesota

www.lanesboroarts.org