Tag: black and white photo

Waking Up to Antarctica

This part of New Mexico really got hit hard with this storm (Feb ’23). It was wetter snow than is usual for this place, weighing the trees down to the snapping point. Normal snow is so light that you can literally blow it away….makes for some nice skiing. There is more on the way combined with some high winds. It not only looks like Antarctica, it feels like it, and sounds like it!

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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5 responses to “Waking Up to Antarctica”

  1. Pepper Avatar
    Pepper

    Oh, that doesn’t sound good at all. Be careful.

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  2. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats Avatar
    Ronit Penso Tasty Eats

    At least you got these beautiful photos! 🙂

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  3. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Absolutely beautiful! I have a bit of a technical question for you, and I hope you don’t mind me asking.

    Your monochromes are always so incredible. Do you shoot in black and white or convert the image in processing? Ok, two questions. In your final finish, are you applying any filters, like a warming or cooling filter? Very curious. Thanks!

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    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Hi, At times I apply a light warming filter only because that’s what this place feels like. Sepia-like is the tonality of the place. I do shoot in full color. I don’t want the camera’s algorithm deciding that for me. Then I use Photoshop for the B+W. I also use dodging and burning at times. And I try NOT to crop any image and usually don’t. The modern cameras do allow me to change the aspect ratios and I like having that choice. But that’s about all I do. If I have to spend too much time with a photo, I get rid of it. Any “tweaks” I need to make have to be minor and fast or else I lose patience with it and consider it an inferior image, not worthy of any more effort to “rescue” it. IMAGE>DELETE.

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      1. Tim Harlow Avatar
        Tim Harlow

        Thanks! I appreciate the insight. Glad to know you shoot in color as I do the same, then use the Photoshop as well. I do love your photos.

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The Drama is Too Much

Some of these photographic experiences can be quite “arresting” for me, even as I am just looking through the viewfinder. The skies here are so grand and imposing at times that it will make anyone feel microscopic in importance. Maybe that’s a good thing….once in a while.

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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4 responses to “The Drama is Too Much”

  1. Pepper Avatar
    Pepper

    These are wonderful. 😊👏🏽

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  2. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    You always have such beautiful photos. I especially love the one with the house and stop sign.

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    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Thanks. I think that’s my favorite too. It’s so quiet here and that image seemed to convey that.

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      1. Tim Harlow Avatar
        Tim Harlow

        🙂

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Dawn Patrol, First Light

Ski photography Santa Fe New Mexico

When you get up to the mountains early in the morning and early in the season, you’ll find the most dramatic lighting and shadows. Those peaks you see here are over 12,000 feet high. I like taking shots from the different chairlifts just for the vantage point. But that does create technical issues (aside from freezing hands that is). Naturally, there’s a lot of movement in all directions. Of course that can be countered, somewhat, with a high shutter speed. And it’s so intensely bright up there that I can leave the ISO at 100 for this camera….the Sony A5100. Yeah, it’s one of those “older” cameras, but it’s great for up here. It’s basically an APS-C sensor with a lens attached. Keep it warm and safe between shots and it just keeps on going. I can’t lug large kit up the mountain and this little gem is perfect. Brrrr, it’s cold up there, dress warmly.

Rating: 5 out of 3.

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4 responses to “Dawn Patrol, First Light”

  1. Pepper Avatar
    Pepper

    Lovely contrasts of light and shadows. 😊

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  2. harrienijland Avatar
    harrienijland

    Fine set!

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  3. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Beautiful!

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  4. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    WOW!!! Spectacular! I ♥️ these! 👏👏👏👏👏

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Vanishing Points

What is it about “vanishing points” that draws us in? I’m talking more about the emotional level of it. Of course the eye will follow a line like that out to the horizon, but there’s more to it than that. I know there’s more to it when I’m photographing it. Maybe it’s that we all disappear into eternity? So I’ll just leave it there.

Rating: 4 out of 3.

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  1. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    YES!!! Vanishing points can affect us emotionally! That’s so true! It’s almost like we can follow the path to infinity but within the relatively safe boundaries of an image – no need to worry about getting lost, etc. Those photographs are marvelous!!! For pure movement, my fav is the very long sidewalk. It takes me on a journey, footfall by footfall, and I don’t have to leave my chair! 👏👏♥️👏👏

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      I’m glad I’m not the only one to experience that. Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Graham Stephen Avatar
    Graham Stephen

    think you have hit the nail squarely on the head there – pointers, at a pre-cognitive level, to the ineffability of eternity/infinity ♾

    ▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪
    ▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫▪◾◼◾▪▫◽◻◽▫

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Yup. That’s another way of saying it. Thanks for that.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Graham Stephen Avatar
        Graham Stephen

        😌🙏✨

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  3. Pepper Avatar
    Pepper

    Fantastic images. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Thanks so much.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Pepper Avatar
        Pepper

        My pleasure. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

Thoughts on Photography

It’s Dark Out There

Night photography is something I haven’t done very much with, but I’m thinking that’s been a bit of an oversight. I shot these with the Tamron 20mm f2.8, wide open, of course, with the Sony A7r3. I think a 1.4 lens would have made short work of this. That also means: $$$$. Right? Maybe Santa will bring me one.

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Ooo…beautiful!

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  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Whoa…I’m Anonymous!?
    Not really! But for some reason WP isn’t using my login info on your site. Will follow you, see if that makes a difference. 🤗

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Cloud Parade #3648!

monochrome dramatic clouds in Santa Fe, NM
Road disappears into the horizon, photography.
Huge billowing clouds, photography, Santa Fe, NM.
Light and dark cloud photo Santa Fe NM
Ominous clouds Santa Fe New Mexico

Monsoon Season is supposed to be finished, but somehow they haven’t gotten that message. We’re delighted. The rain is always welcome here and so are these theatrical cloud formations. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that motorists will literally pull off to the side of the road to watch the show. I should know!

Rating: 5 out of 3.
  1. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Spectacular photos!

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Thanks Tim.

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      1. Tim Harlow Avatar
        Tim Harlow

        You are welcome. I so enjoy your work. New Mexico is a wonderful place.

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  2. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    Oh, 👏👏👏👏👏

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Yup., that’s the Santa Fe clouds for you. We’re at just the right altitude or something. Or maybe it’s the right attitude!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    And, YAY! My comment went thru! “Anonymous” no more! Your photography is wonderful – happy to be following. 🤗

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  4. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
    Santa Fe and Me

    Thanks so much for that. Maybe you can tell that I have a total ball doing this!

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Black and White Photography.
Santa Fe clouds. Monsoons.

Oh Dogs

Dogs are one of my favorite subjects. My association with them has been a life-long love affair starting with the first one, a big fawn-colored boxer named Laird. He did not live long. It saddens me to write of it all these years later. He developed bone cancer shortly after he was 2 years old! My father was a physician and was absolutely devoted to this animal. He took him to every human oncologist in the city in a vain attempt to save him. After Laird came Cindy, a big, beautiful standard poodle. That kicked off the love affair with poodles, which has lasted a lifetime.

The photograph of the white poodle is “Lucky”…the latest permanent residence in my home. That’s a long story. And we all have long stories regarding our best-friend-pooches. Right? Lucky is now 18 months old and full of spunk and vinegar. He is the best friend and rough-house-buddy of Flicka, the German Shepherd mix rescue-dog that you see here from time to time. Both of them are smarter, and definitely more sensitive, than many human beings I know and have known. And that’s a fact.

That “dog” way out there, isolated in the vastness of this place is definitely NOT a dog, but rather a close relative. We have many coyotes here and they walk around and visit the yard from time to time. You can’t imagine how much I want to feed them, but I know that’s a bad idea. And I don’t. How they survive out there is a mystery to me.

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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One response to “Oh Dogs”

  1. Timothy Price Avatar
    Timothy Price

    Poor Laird. We lost one of our kitties to cancer in 2020. Nice dog portraits.

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‘Tis the Season For Sky

Skies like this leave me in awe and feeling very small.

On a technical note, adding a tint to some of these, does NOT translate well into the compressed version needed for the web. It bugs me, but as I have said before, a) I think I’ll live, and b) Life goes on!

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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2 responses to “‘Tis the Season For Sky”

  1. mic Avatar
    mic

    👌👌👌📷

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  2. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Absolutely beautiful! 🙂

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Not Quite Ansel Adams

Can’t Get Enough of…

Well, I hope I’m not boring everyone who visits “santafeandme” these days. But we are in our Monsoon Season and that means epically amazing cloud formations and lots of storms.

When I’m driving, I have to remind myself to: “Keep your eyes on the road.” It’s really difficult and more often than not, I have to pull over and “click”. Some of these formations look positively nuclear or Biblical, or both! Others look like highways in the sky. I can’t stop myself, it’s worse than chocolate. So “clouds” may be the theme on this blog for a couple more weeks…

…Oh, that’s not true either. Clouds and Sky are just a major facet of the scenery in New Mexico’s high country all year.

Rating: 0 out of 3.

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One response to “Can’t Get Enough of…”

  1. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Oh my gosh! These are just incredible! You have so much talent. Thanks for posting. 🙂

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Award Winning Black and White Photography

Backyard Treasure Trove

Sometimes, not only is it a lazy day, it’s a “why bother to go anywhere else to shoot day.” That describes my backyard out here in the wilds of New Mexico. Sometimes an amazing scene appears out of nowhere and I’ll just grab the nearest camera. That may not be the best one, but light changes so fast around here that I can’t get particular. Since most of the focus is on sky and clouds, that creates a big problem when crunching these down as small JPEGs. Because there is so much subtlety and gradation in those clouds, they tend to become blotchy as they are compressed. So I have to compromise.

Life goes on.

Rating: 0 out of 3.

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3 responses to “Backyard Treasure Trove”

  1. mic Avatar
    mic

    👌👌👌📷

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  2. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Beautiful photos. I imagine the full size, non-compressed images must be amazing.

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  3. mic Avatar
    mic

    👌👌👌📷👏

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Best Photography in North America

Photo Class Gone Awry!

Several years ago I was in a photo class at our local college. There were some very talented people in there. We all got along great and had a total ball posting our photographs to FaceBook. In response, we were supposed to post serious, highly intellectual commentary for each photo. That was too heavy for me and I wanted to have fun. Some “Sprite” possessed me and I spontaneously started writing very short stories for each photo.

These are selections from just one of the students who had to endure this—although, he loved it. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. GK Chesterton once said (paraphrasing) “The reason that angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly”. This is an odd posting for me, but I thought it had some comedic, and photographic merit. Any maybe someone out there will get a chuckle or two out of it. We sure could use more of that! So here they are…my Great Literary Responses to the wonderful work of Henry Aragoncillo, fellow photo student at the Santa Fe Community College. These are ALL his photographs.

This was personal. My uncle who was 18 years old at the time, was in the first wave that landed on Omaha Beach in 1944.
Homunculus..A small human-like creature. Lower Left. Monk-like.

Theatre Santa Fe, NM

There is ALWAYS something artistic or theatrical going on in this town. We’re a quite small city with a very large art scene! I think there’s something for everyone. I happen to appreciate both modern dance and traditional. Our philharmonic is wonderful as are our choral groups which famously perform every Christmas Eve. Of course they perform throughout the year as well.

Shadowy and Alone

Shooting in low light is a challenge in itself. Modern cameras have become much better at this. In the “old” days we had to “push-process” the negatives to pull every bit of information from them. Now, we have cameras with ISOs (ASA in Old Speak) of 100,000. And we thought Tri-X was good with an ASA of 400. Those pictures with the really long shadows (which totally entranced me) were shot with a SONY NEX-5r. I guess that’s considered a dinosaur by today’s standards, but I still enjoy it for its good image quality and small-enough-to-fit-anywhere characteristics. Also, every image on this site, and all sites, have been crunched and crushed to the limit. So you are never seeing the full quality of the original. If it looks OK here, it looks a lot better “in person”. With the NEX, I was using the much maligned “kit” lens, that 16-50mm. All lenses have their limits, but the idea is to find the optimal combinations for each lens. I love that lens for its petite-ness.

Well, enough tech-talk for today!

Cowboys, Bikes, Walkers, New Mexico

I think, as I’ve mentioned before, that I don’t really start out with any particular intent regarding what it is I want to photograph. It comes to me, or it doesn’t. Sometimes, it’s just “no picture” and that’s all there is to it. Other times it’s like a flood. This is a very rural state, not many people and lots of wide open spaces. Even downtown Santa Fe isn’t really very big compared to other cities. I like that aspect of living here. No pollution. No crowds. But the light is often times, magical.