Daniel Ruf

Close up

"There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea,

and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more." Lord Byron

When I saw this iPhone close up of leaves on the floor of a forest I was astonished about the eye popping color that existed as well as the details and textures that came with the capture.

All to often I believe that we lose sight of the loveliness of small parts of our world as we spend more time looking forward than looking down at the delicate space beneath our feet.

Take the time...take a walk!

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

Revisit

"Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art." Don Miguel Ruiz

There is a state park near my home which I continually return to looking for subjects to photography. When my time is up I go home vowing never to come back as it seems like such a boring effort with little to no results.

This past week I returned...against my weak vow and after hiking through the area finally sat on a culvert that has a stream running through. As continual thoughts like "why am I wasting time here" flow through my tiny brain, I was entertained by a muskrat, the cicadas and some flowers bloom from arrow plants. With all that going on the reasoning for my attendance was not resolved.

I was gathering up my camera and tripod when I happened to bend over and look to the left and found this amazing "light show" that was going on beyond my sight when I was sitting down on hard concrete. I couldn't believe the glow that was caused by a small shaft of light from the sun...a shaft of light that was slipping through an opening in a tree behind me.

The darkness around it emphasized the light as well as providing the reminder that in darkness there will be light. Very fitting considering todays nonstop news of violence, harshness and unconscionable activities. I needed this moment and the reminder, once again, to always return to sites of success and failure, a lesson I learned long ago from photographer artist, Tony Sweet (tonysweet.com).

Thanks for joining me here at my blog and enjoy the waining summer

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

Posing

"Trees go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far!"  John Muir

Trees have had my attention for many, many years. From my work with the U.S. Forest Service during my summer vacations away from college, to traveling the the country and hiking miles of trails. I see them as ballet dancers, comedians, and statues. The first blog image reminded me of "high five"! And glad I was since I didn't really want to work on removing the leafless branch touching the clouds.

I've spent more time than I can remember walking among miles and miles of trees during my life and only to become even more amused by their color, stature, grace and strength.

This colony above, joining limbs in togetherness and laying patterns of color at their base created by the pattern of their limbs and clusters of leaves. How can one not be drawn to this spot of light, shelter and warmth? They are inviting, inclusive, and dancing. How can one not be drawn to this meeting of limbs?

And then there is the ballerina; graceful, inviting, and welcoming. In front of a backdrop of color and softness surrounded by fog. A tree that is leaning forward asking to dance. Almost bowing a graceful thank you and at the same time pointing to the dance floor that is perfectly lit for this occasion.

Being alone in the forests of the Northwest obviously did a number on my cranial functions, but, in reality, trees are quite beautiful to me as well as entertaining. Yet everyday we lose them, sometimes one by one and sometimes acres at a time. We are losing an element that not only holds this good earth together, but shades us from the miserable heat of the sun, from a flash drenching of rain and shelters the musicians of the forest...birds.

Thank you for dropping by...go plant another tree

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

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

  

 

 

Calm Places

May God give you -For every storm - a rainbow,For every tear - a smile,For every care - a promise,
And an answer to every prayer.-Unknown

Since my last blog post a couple of weeks ago things have changed in our world. I spent my evening thinking about how I was going to disinfect A large wooden box, of large prints that is due to be delivered by USP in a couple of days. I spent some time on the internet trying to find out what UPS was doing to minimize the spread of corona virus on its packaging. I found nothing addressing that question. Three weeks ago this wasn't even a thought to contend with. Add to that the new thought processes going on to keep ourself and others safe from the virus factor.

This morning I opened an email from a very talented artist that I follow...Denice Peters, denicepeters.com, and found the simple words posted above along with her latest pastel painting. Her post was refreshing and brought me back to places of comfort like the blog image. 

While our attention is "distracted" by many questions there are places of solace where space is not confined or measured. The natural landscapes are full of interests, color, sounds, and calm that can attach to our busy minds as well as carry us through the days ahead.

I also remember how our parents were thrown into World War II and learning to subsist on ration cards for food as well as the "Victory Gardens"popping up in neighborhoods. The large companies that switched over from making refrigerators to tanks and artillery shells. We are starting to see this amazing cooperation in our country today...a sign that the USA is still strong and caring.

Remember your neighbors, the elderly, making space and giving space, washing hands and all the rest. We will learn something from this challenge.

My love goes out to all of you.

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

Another Icon Gone!

"My father kept me busy from dawn to dusk when I was a kid. When I wasn't pitching hay, hauling corn or running a tractor, I was heaving a baseball into his mitt behind the barn...It all the parents in the country followed his rule, juvenile delinquency would be cut in half in a year's time." Bob Feller

One by one those great icons of the rural landscape are disappearing one after another. The old barns, corn cribs, hog houses and sheds are sliding off into the sunset. Before long Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio will be some of the only states where a person can still be able to see those treasured icons still in use. Here in Iowa they're being replaces by large steel buildings. To me metal buildings have little aesthetic value when it comes to photography. Most barns are different as a structure. There use determines the structural makeup, be it a dairy barn, hog barn, or cattle barn.

There are stories in those barns that you may pass by everyday if you live in rural America. Children grew up in those tall broad structures. My kids all had chores before and after school. Whether it was my young daughter bottle feeding calves, or my sons feeding livestock or mending fences. A lot of times they even hired out to other farmers to bale hay during their summer vacation.

All barns have stories to tell a Photographer or any other artist. The structure, the landscape all play into the final results of this cold winter day with an aging barn in the background and a painted morning sky.

I love 'em, and I miss 'em.

Thanks for visiting

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center - lakesart.org 

Arts On Grand - artsongrand.org

 

The Power Of Silence

"Feelings aroused by the touch of someone's hand, the sound of music, the smell of a flower, a beautiful sunset, a work of art, love, laughter, hope and faith - all work on both the unconscious and the conscious aspects of the self, and they have physiological consequences as well."  Bernie Siegel

Scenes like the blog image validate the positive reasons to live near a lake as well as having access to the many moments, shades of color, and moods that are ever changing with the liquid we call water. We had spent a late evening cruising in our Boston Whaler and were welcomed back to the dock with this scene, which we would have missed had we hurried home any sooner. No boats tied to the dock, a surface almost like glass, a mirror reflection of natures colorful pastel tones and tints and a camera at the ready.

Out of any given year there are not many of these still moments on most lakes, but especially the lakes located in the lake region of Northwest Iowa. The summer months will find the lake rocking and rolling with boat traffic with only the early mornings or late evenings getting a possible reprieve from chaos.  These are thinking moments, absorbing moments, touching moments that can only be shared via the invention of cameras. And even with the attention turned to the activities surrounding the use of a camera these moments of stillness are palatable to the busy mind and hands. A peacefulness so simple yet so powerful as to get one to absorb ones attention from beginning to end; from the soft whisper of first color to the dayglo, drumroll of the main event.

No matter what clatter is going on around the scene, the attraction is Divine.

Thanks for visiting. A reminder...My exhibit at the Pearson Lakes Art Center is due to come down October 1. If you are near pay the gallery a visit. Also, I have once again discontinued my "adventure" with Facebook. A large waste of time in my world.

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center  lakesart.org 

500px.com

 

Remains

"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 joy."    Henri Cartier-Bresson   

Enjoy the winter!

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center  lakesart.com 

500px.com

Facebook - Daniel Ruf Photography  

 

Winter Ice Reflections

You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved. Ansel Adams

Spent some time shooting off of  Eagle Point  in the Wahpeton area this past week and came upon some ice slabs that I enjoy shooting, but in the last couple of years that haven't been too impressive. It was a nice morning with partly cloudy skies which helps to break up sky area and give the sunlight something to reflect from. It was a nice morning and I got to try out my pull over ice cleats on my boots which made it a lot easier to walk around on the ice.

The above is a better example of what i normally manage to find but this was back in 2017. It's a real treat to find and work around this size and then positioning for sunrises or sunsets which helps to illuminate the interior of the slabs. These were probably 4 - 5 feet tall and I haven't been able to find an explanation so I can understand the cause.  Whatever it is we haven't seen any in the last two years.

Thanks for visiting and feel free to comment or even tell me the secret of this event.

Happy New Year, if I don't see you first.

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center  lakesart.com 

500px.com

Facebook - Daniel Ruf Photography  

Past....Forward

"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death."   Robert Fulghum

This mornings walk brought me to the above scene with splashes of color in the morning sky. I started to pass but as I did I saw the ladder leaning against the tree as well as a sturdy platform erected among the sturdy branches.  I couldn't help but wish that I had such an "imagination tree" back in my childhood, but even though it was missing, the imagination part was not. Cowboys, pirates and spaceflights were some of the imaginary characters of my childhood. I even recall drawing dials and clocks and windows on the inside of larges boxes to help create the imaginary flights to the moon and back long before it was achieved.

With all of those mental images floating in my head it wasn't a leap to think of what dreams and creative drama took place on the platform.  Was it seeing the new land while sailing in a large schooner, or was it covered with dolls or colored papers. No matter the activity, I'm sure that children were involved and creativity was the color being used to pass the time.

Here again I used my trusty iPhone and did much of the post editing in Photoshop CC.

Thanks for visiting.  Walking is indeed not only important for health, but the imagination and creative muscles as well.  You're never too old!

Places to see more of Daniel's work:

Pearson Lakes Art Center  lakesart.com 

500px.com

Facebook - Daniel Ruf Photography  (I can't believe I'm on Facebook again???)