Daniel Ruf

Missing And Finding

 

"If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of better stuff." Jim Richardson

If there is one thing that has been the result of the virus is that we all have missed something, whether it be time, place or friends each of us have made sacrifices that we'll never get back. My "something" was making the regular trip to Arizona in the winter and also a planned trip to Italy, land of my ancestors even though my DNA says my genes are more comfortable with British and French connections. IT HAS TO BE WRONG! 

The blog post above is from Sabino Canyon, a place I've spoken about more than once on this blog site. Not only do I get to photograph some incredible light in the canyon I also get to take walks with my daughter and her crazy dog Murphy. It's a time to switch gears from the lakes region of Iowa to the comfortable landscapes of Arizona.

That being said...the time of lock downs and masks has also resulted in other photographic adventures and opportunities.

Our town has an amusement park that decided to light it up through the night as a big thank you to the nurses and first responders that have given so much of themselves to keep us safe and healthy.  On this particular morning I found splashes of color that I didn't know existed as the park is usually dark through the deep of night. I can remember scrambling up and down the docks looking for different angle options. Social distancing wasn't a problem here...just me and the lights.

Even during the day I was occupied with other options of social distancing by sitting in my truck and waiting for the possible.  Being retired makes this a normal day, but I made a bigger effort to find warm blooded options for my camera and in many of the situations I wasn't looking at their butt as they scampered away into the dense forest.

It's impossible to "candy coat" this event that we are all facing on our planet. The solutions involve staying safe, wearing a mask (that might be the reason for the perky ears), and finding something to thrill your heart and soul.

Thanks for stopping by

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

Color Addiction

"Lost-yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes.

No reward is offered, for they are gone forever.   Horace Mann

When the sky is right in Arizona the colors are blazing finishes on a day of hiking and photography. On this particular trip clouds were at a minimum, which means that the options for color in the morning and evening were few and far between. But this infrequency of dazzling color is also typical in Iowa. Not every day can be a rose, but one can only hope for a bouquet once in awhile.

But the eloquence of light is not limited to morning and evening. It can surprise a person throughout the day if conditions are right or the geology plays a part to cause the bending of light beams.

Just turning around and looking into the blinding light make the difference. And, as tourist and hikers pass questions are asked about what one is doing, seeing, or what? But I see a portrait....one tree, glistening light, and a tapestry background. It's a gift! They are all GIFTS! One just has to be prepared to open ones arms and embrace i

Thanks for visiting and Spring is getting even closer. Make sure your lenses are clean!

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

Canyons And Cactus

    

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome,dangerous,leading to the most amazing view.  May your mountains rise into and above the clouds."

Edward Abbey

Recently my wife and I took a trip the the Southwest where I got to reconnect with Sabino Canyon, which is located near Tucson, AZ. While we were driving to Tucson the day before there was a snow storm in the area mountains which left enough snow in the high country for my morning hike the day after our arrival. It wasn't much, but just enough to give the blog image an added feature and remind me that things in Iowa were not as lovely.

The sunrise had just cleared the mountains to the right of this location and livened up the cactus that made a visual track to the Catalina Mountains in the background. I was thrilled that some snow was still clinging to the high country and thrilled to be back in the Southwest. Unfortunately this was one of the few days of our stay when clouds were out contesting the obnoxious plain blue sky.

When I'm hiking the areas around Tucson it seems the prose of Edward Abbey always come to mind. Ironically I became familiar with Abbey when I attended a photograph/writing seminar back in the late 70's given by Abbey and the famous photographer Philip Hyde. On arriving back in Iowa after the seminar I proceeded to read most of Abbey's books as well as enjoying more of Hyde's work. The seminar has always made the Southwest a little more important in my life.

Thanks for visiting

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

"May your trails be crooked,winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading t the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds."  Edward Abbey

A couple of weeks ago I went to Arizona to help my son move two vehicles to his new job in California.  Despite the 700 mile in one day trip, following the behind of a Volkswagen RV, and traveling some of the hottest and most boring desert scenery I think I've ever seen, we did make it in about the 10 hours that we had planned.

Not wanting to waste the opportunity of being in California with a camera I decided to cap off my remaining 3 days (more or less) in Yosemite National Park.  It was my first reunion with the park since 1977 when I attended an Ansel Adams workshop, an experience I will never forget.  Ten days of working with photographic artists along with the master himself and learning as much as I possible.

Despite the road construction, heavy crowds and disappointing cloudless skies (except for this morning shot), the reunion was worth the trip, but I was disappointed that my son couldn't be with me as we had planned since he was preparing for a face to face interview for a second possible job.

Yosemite is another one of those must see parks that my wife has yet to see and hopefully will soon. It's expansive with many views and ample pullouts for those special pictures.  In the above shot there is El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Falls on the right, and Half Dome deep in the background center.

Thanks for visiting and have a great Spring.

Splash Of Color

"I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also."  John McCain

Arizona has a wealth of incredible landscapes, whether it be the Grand Canyon, Saguaro N.P., Granite Dells, etc.  With all that being said I think Arizona has some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets I have seen.  Since my first look at a Arizona Highways Magazine years ago until my more recent visits I am always in awe of the color, gradations, and expanse of the golden hours of the morning and evening.

This shot is from Tucson with my iPhone and was one of the longest sunset events that I can remember. At least a half hour of changing color and intensity.

I hope you all have a great 2018.

Thanks for following my blog.

Other sites where you can find my work:

http://500px.com

Summerwind Gallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa http://www.summerwindgallery.com

2016 Dribbles Away

"A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into."  Ansel Adams

Winter has finally made it to NW Iowa and it came with a bang.  First was the super freeze with temps in the minus 20's....that coming after we wondered if the lakes would ever freeze.  They did!  But before that I was blessed with seeing a dozen trumpeter swans spend a day on our lake, which is the first time I've seen them "wild".  Then the snow and cold came and they vanished.

This year has been filled with experiences with trips to Zion NP, Bryce NP and a short visit to Arches NP, all in the great state of Utah.  I spent a good deal of time in Sabino Canyon near Tucson and more time among the crags of the Granite Dells near Prescott, AZ.  The summer was full with photography around the lakes in NW Iowa and my keeping my space at Summerwind Gallery filled for the summer.  Met a lot of fantastic people, started spending Friday afternoons with my good friend, Mike Houge (mikehouge.typepad.com)  having coffee and cookies at the local McD's and talking a lot of photography.  I never had the time for regularly scheduled coffee outings when I farmed as there was always livestock to entertain me and fill my days.  Retirement is great and I recommend it highly.  I think Mike is tiring of my asking when he's going to retire, but I can wait.

This blog image was taken during a snow flurry at the Lakeside Laboratory facility near where I live. "Lakeside Lab is owned by the state of Iowa and operated through the Board of Regents. Its mission is twofold: 1) to provide science classes and research opportunities for university students, and 2) to offer Outreach Programs and provide services through the state universities."   It's a place for special times...snowfall,sunsets, clouds backgrounds, etc.  The stone structures were constructed in the '30's by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and it's a shame that the CCC isn't alive today as it was such a source of income for a lot of men and families during the depression.  Many of stone structures in state and national parks are the results of the CCC, as well as roads, trails, reforestation, etc.  If you get a chance you should Google and find out what a success it was for our country.

It is my wish that you all have a happy and prosperous new year, that our country thrives and flourishes, that wishes are met and prayers are answered, that our men and women of the armed services are protected and come home, that our veterans needs are finally met, and, most importantly, that we love one another.  God bless you all.

Other sites where you can find my work:

Twitter

Instagram

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http://500px.com

Summer Wind Gallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa http://www.summerwindgallery.com

Other Parts

"Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression."  Isaac Bashevis Singer

Just returned from a trip to the Southwest including stops in Sabino Canyon near Tucson, Zion National Park and Bryce National Park.  Along the way my wife and I took every opportunity to visit as many galleries and museums as possible, which put us in contact with several incredible gallery people and artists.  I especially like seeing other work, including the traditional arts of painting, pottery, etc. as it is an opportunity for instruction, reflection and insight into other visual concepts.  On this trip I found, but not surprised, that much of the work that we liked best were those that did the most with light.  In the Vail, Colorado we came across the "Claggett/Rey Gallery" which had a great deal of beautiful western art which was absolutely luminous.  In another collection of western art at the American Museum Of Western Art in Denver the work that had been painted during the Hudson River School during the mid 19th century was stunning and largely due to the use of light in the work.

Since photography is the capture of light, the use of light in a composition is nothing new to most photographers.  The blog image, taken at the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area near Tucson, was taken early in the morning when the light hadn't yet reached the canyon floor, but was being reflected from the walls around the subject. As I rounded a corner the subject seemed to jump out at me largely due to the radiance of the light off the rock formations along the creek. This is an iPhone shot that has been edited in Photoshop. The three large rocks along with the three clumps of grass and reflections were the focal points of the composition, in my opinion, with the rocks in the center background being the "trailer" to the composition.

While it's not rocket science, standing around in enough galleries as well as looking through online sites has led me to believe that a lot of photography/art is lacking the use of light as a "subject", and to be totally honest, it does slip my mind on occasions.  This is why the tromping through numerous galleries is so important to me as it reaffirmed the importance of light in art, whether it be artificial  or natural.  Light is what defines shapes, textures, depth and volume and to me is a building block towards composition.

Thank you all for stopping by and I'd like to remind you that I will be part of a new "reconstructed" gallery in Arnolds Park, Iowa called Summerwind Gallery (summerwindgallery.com), owned and operated by Roberta Williams, an outstanding artist as well.  She has managed to put together a group of artists that will be displaying some beautiful work of many differing subjects and mediums.  The gallery will have a "soft" opening on May 1 and the grand opening on June 4. This gallery is going to be a great edition to the arts in our area of Northwest Iowa.

For more views of my work visit;

http://500px.com

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

Summer Wind Gallery, Arnolds Park, Iowa http://www.summerwindgallery.com