Delights of Summer

Here in San Francisco it sometimes seems like summer is a cruel joke played upon us by California's propaganda campaign. This is California, land of endless summer, where all the cows are happy and every blockbuster gets its funding. Right?

Well, the past week of rainy, cold, gray days says no. I don't know about you, but if I were a cow I don't think I would call this fun. I might even consider moving to Wisconsin, where I could get some respect and have seasons that behaved themselves. Fortunately, there are still some glimmers of summer here and there. Most obviously in the produce at the farmer's market.

I've always loved peaches. Apples are my winter fruit, peaches are my summer. Soft, sweet, juicy, delicate, perfumed. There's nothing like the smell of a ripe peach. And it seems that peaches are having their heyday; every stall has cardboard boxes full to the brim, swarmed by customers looking for the perfect peach.

Well sorry guys, I think I nabbed it.

Infrared

ISO 800, 17mm, f/2.8, 6 seconds. Mouseover to see what the infrared image looked like straight out of camera.

I've had a loaner infrared filter for a few months now, but what with having to pull out the tripod to use it, I hadn't played with it at all until this past week.

And I'm still a bit unsure as to how much I love it. Seems like I like infrared photography when other photographers do it, but my own efforts so far leave me feeling a little underwhelmed. The exposure times are just so darn LONG. 6 seconds at f/2.8 and ISO 800. Crazy, right? I know. If anyone has any tips for best image quality when shooting with an infrared filter, I'm all ears.

Still, it's always good to experiment, right?

Pussy Willow

Some Links

No picture for you today, but I have some links.

A delicious flatbread recipe.

An interview with David LaChapelle written by a friend of mine!

A wedding shot entirely with an iPhone 4. Not sure whether to be awed or shocked. Also, this is just a little ludicrous. (Both links via Tafari.)

An interesting article on the 99% about creating for yourself.

Hope you enjoy!

Streetscape

How to Get Out of a Photography Rut: 5 Things to Try

I think it was yesterday that I mentioned how I felt like I was spinning my wheels. Well, whenever I feel like that, photographically speaking, there are a few things I know to try that usually fix me right up.

1. Go somewhere new. For me, this is a big one. I'm stimulated by new sights, sounds, smells, people. Tastes! And you don't need to travel anywhere far away. Just choose a part of your area you haven't explored, or go to a festival near you. Photograph, but don't forget to participate too.

2. Give yourself an assignment. Doesn't matter what it is. Curves, lines, the color red, close-up, environmental portrait, black and white landscape, whatever. Just make yourself shoot something within given parameters. If you're at a loss, there are many photography challenges online either monthly or weekly. DPS, for one. Also, the Learn Photography Facebook group.

3. Try a new technique (or practice one you haven't used in a while). Panning, say. Or making the lights in your photos become stars. Practice shooting backlit. Take a walk and only shoot from the hip. Try to predict what your camera sees when you can't look through the viewfinder. That one's harder than it seems.

4. Find a photo buddy. I'm always happier when I have someone to talk photography with. People can give you feedback and new ideas. Both of which are obviously beneficial. Don't know anyone? I've had great success using meetup.com.

5. Create a series of images. Instead of thinking in single frames, try to come up with a concept that can be expressed in more than one image. Perhaps change over time? A photo essay about a person or subject can also really get the juices flowing. Or maybe you can document your day, from wake to slumber.

What about you? What can you add to this list? How do you stimulate the photographic juices when it feels like you've run dry?