Daniel Ruf

Winters Last Breath ?

"To photograph is to hold one's breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It's at that precise moment that mastering an image

becomes a great physical and intellectual job."  Henri Cartier-Bresson

Almost a week ago we had one of the most vicious blizzards I've ever experienced followed by several days of below freezing temperatures overnight. It became another several days of covering and uncovering the the tulip beds with plastic. From here on out it looks like things are going to switch gears to Spring.

Yesterday morning was my first outdoor adventure in many days. At 5:30 in the morning "social separation" is not difficult especially in a state park that is still covered in snow. The blog image was about the only interesting item to photograph, but at least I had a number of selection options when it came to ice formations sculptured by the lake water during the aforementioned storm.

The blog image was taken with my trusty Canon 5D Mark IV. I was looking for a simple composition with morning color and reflection on the water. I got most of that plus the reflection of the sunrise color in the icy fingers. The image was first processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic CC, then finishing touches in Adobe Photoshop CC, with some final touches in NIK Viveza.

Because of the quarantine I've been spending a lot of time watching photography videos on my computer. All decked out in my earbuds I enjoyed seeing different ideas, results, processes, and links to other treasures.

I happend to find a photographer, Nigel Danson, through some online search. He's a photographer of the United Kingdom and found his video tutorials quite helpful and informative. They're short, mostly 18 minutes or so, and full on info and options and includes a lot of images of England rural ares, which made it all the more fascinating, since I have a real interest in the countryside of England Mr. Danson's photography is softer in results as is English landscape. I would recommend his videos as a great way to learn simple facts and processes as well as waking up one's brain and slipping away from "cabin fever".

As the U.S. slowly starts back to the norm that we have all have been separated from over the past month, I hope to be able to get reacquainted with my camera on a more regular basis.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to stay safe, enjoy the leisure and wash your hands often.

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

  

 

 

Far Away Lands

A couple of years ago my wife and I made a trip to England...Our second together, although my wife had been there several times before with her mother.  Our first time it only took me a few minutes to fall in love with the English countryside as it was like dipping back into the 40's with  buildings built of stone, quaint country towns and delicious food.  I couldn't put my camera down as there was so much to photograph and little time to see everything.

The second trip my wife knew that photography was going to be my  agenda and she obliged me the time to get it done.  While most of my work with the camera was done early in the morning as we traveled the country we stopped and I was able to do "snapshots" of the more intimate areas of England that caught my attention. My approach there was not much different than here in the states as I looked for soothing beautiful scenes that drew me in.

The above scene is one of many that I came across and, as anywhere else, timing is everything along with some luck thrown in for good measure.  It was early autumn with some color, but that typical dewy touch that is so England. Sheep in a green pasture and dots of color and a simple fence line adding to the rustic quality.

Sometimes I think that I am attracted to such scenes, even in our lake area, so that in the near future when I've forgotten the places I've been and things I've seen I will at least be warmed and comforted by the subtle atmosphere that I enjoy in the present. At times I even feel like the stage has been set for someone to show up with a camera and I was the lucky one that got in the way just in time. 

Thanks for visiting again and try to remember to treasure your scenes.

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center  lakesart.com 

500px.com

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