Among the firsts
and from the journal
There were several firsts last week. Finding a new Monday view of Westerville, shed antlers, frogs, and the farmers market. Each with its own story and photo.
I’m not sure if the old gazebo at the Sharp Farm on Africa Road is a good substitute for the Braun Farm barn but it’s what I’ve got.
From my Journal
Beginning to make my Monday farm visits shift to the Sharp Farm. Wanted to see what might be possible at sunrise but it was cloudy this morning. Chose to go with the 50mm tilt-shift set to center focus. Underexposed to make the shadows darker and to hold the highlights, mainly the sky.
Spring and summer silhouette photos of the gazebo are more difficult as the lower section of the gazebo is lost against the dark outline of the trees on the horizon. Fortunately, the familiar gazebo shape is retained. Not sure if this would ever look the same after the city removes dead and dying trees some of which are hidden by the trees in the foreground.
Also played, that is the correct term, with the iPhone and its abundance of apps for something more interpretive than representative. The gazebo, again, might be a good Monday subject. As long as it remains.
The Falling
Kevin Scott, the farmer who works the old Braun farm property and Otterbein’s fields, motioned me over to the edge of a field where he pointed out this three-point antler shed by one of the many deer that have their way across the farm eating corn and soybeans.
From my Journal
A departure from my normal daily routine of looking for photos that feature people doing things. Kevin Scott found this while plowing at the edge of the main field. I stuck it aside so I could make photos of him plowing, one of which became My Final Photo for the day.
The trouble making this photo is the tree stump is not parallel to the ground or even at a flat enough angle to hold the rack. I shoved a stick in a crack in the stump to hold it in place but even then it was difficult to find a spot that presented the rack in a good composition against the tree.
I was also lucky that the first setup looked good as that was the only time the light broke through the trees and fell on the stump giving it tone and depth. All the later photos were in shadow. None looked as good.
My First Frogs
It was my First Frog Friday for the year. There were others but I didn’t make it.
From my journal
First, for me, Frog Friday of the year. I try to make photos here a couple of times a year. I almost always come away with a visually interesting photo and usually storytelling involving kids getting muddy and excited.
Almost missed it. Went to a lecture at the library about “The War of 1812 and Native Americans.” It was very interesting but not a very good photo op and I didn’t want to miss another Frog Friday. Left early. Sorry.
Had a great time but muddied my shoes and pants, just like the kids, trying to get the proper angle and action. Tried to shoot this photo with another kid from the other side of the pond. The darker sky facing east made a better reflection and color in the water. And, it matched the tones of his shirt.
From my journal
Another day of firsts. First farmers market of the year. Always a good photo but they never come as easy for color and cuteness as this.
I saw them sharing the cup but couldn’t get into position before their immediate thirst requirements were met and they walked away. I followed them for a while finally getting the photo I first saw.
This is one of those moments that if they’d been aware of me making the photo their demeanor would have changed. Usually, that means posing with smiles and looking at the camera. The spontaneity would have disappeared as with the joy of getting a cold drink on a warm day.
Cop Shop Difficulties
When Westerville showed off its new Justice Center I’d hope to be able to make a photo of citizens, ordinary citizens who’d never seen the inside of a police station before, getting a look at what they never wanted to see again.
Perhaps, the locker room, the gun range, fitness center, the training simulator, the 911 operation center.
Denied. No photos inside the facility beyond the security checkpoint scanner. I didn’t complain as I understood concern about security. Security inside a police station. I just didn’t make any more photos.
Until I was leaving the building and noticed a video on a television screen in the lobby. It was a highlight reel of the interior of the police station showing all the places from where I wanted a photo. Actually, more photos than what I would have made.
If you’re a paid subscriber you’ll be able to see them below. If not, please subscribe. Or, go the the Justice Center and look at the monitor at far right of the lobby.