95. Denizen - April 5-11, 2015
Kevin-
Ed LaCroix would claim that I have become as addicted to photographing in the Cholla Garden in Joshua Tree National Park as he has become at photographing in the Whitewater Preserve.
But I do think that for some time now I have been a Denizen of photographing in the park. Is Joshua Tree the greatest National Park to photograph in? Hardly. For example in terms of wildlife there are no grizzly bears, no moose, no alligators, no bison. Just a few rabbits, small lizards and snakes. There are mountains, but not massive ones. Ansel Adams did visit the park, perhaps once, but none of his iconic images were captured there. But Joshua Tree is a very short drive from Palm Springs I have have made trip after trip up there to photograph the Joshua Trees, the rock formations and the Cholla Garden which is where I headed again this week.
Now there is a safe walking path through a tiny part of the Cholla Garden which is where all the people go. All the people except for me. I preferred to go to the other side of the road where one can roam freely among the Cholla, far away from others.
Cholla are sometimes known as Teddy Bear Cholla and they look like a plant you simply want to reach out and hug. But for some unknown reason this is discouraged. Pity. You’ll notice that the ground is littered with adorable little Cholla balls. There’s a really fun game to do with visitors. Grasp a Cholla ball and ask someone to play catch with you. Then wind up to toss the Cholla ball toward them. The person will panic about having a cactus ball flying toward them, but in reality no matter how hard you try to throw it, the ball will remain in your hand!
The image below was captured about 45 minutes before sunset. Nikon D3s, tripod mounted. 14-24mm f/2.8 Nikkor set to 14mm. 1/125th of a second at f/11, ISO 200.
Ed LaCroix would claim that I have become as addicted to photographing in the Cholla Garden in Joshua Tree National Park as he has become at photographing in the Whitewater Preserve.
But I do think that for some time now I have been a Denizen of photographing in the park. Is Joshua Tree the greatest National Park to photograph in? Hardly. For example in terms of wildlife there are no grizzly bears, no moose, no alligators, no bison. Just a few rabbits, small lizards and snakes. There are mountains, but not massive ones. Ansel Adams did visit the park, perhaps once, but none of his iconic images were captured there. But Joshua Tree is a very short drive from Palm Springs I have have made trip after trip up there to photograph the Joshua Trees, the rock formations and the Cholla Garden which is where I headed again this week.
Now there is a safe walking path through a tiny part of the Cholla Garden which is where all the people go. All the people except for me. I preferred to go to the other side of the road where one can roam freely among the Cholla, far away from others.
Cholla are sometimes known as Teddy Bear Cholla and they look like a plant you simply want to reach out and hug. But for some unknown reason this is discouraged. Pity. You’ll notice that the ground is littered with adorable little Cholla balls. There’s a really fun game to do with visitors. Grasp a Cholla ball and ask someone to play catch with you. Then wind up to toss the Cholla ball toward them. The person will panic about having a cactus ball flying toward them, but in reality no matter how hard you try to throw it, the ball will remain in your hand!
The image below was captured about 45 minutes before sunset. Nikon D3s, tripod mounted. 14-24mm f/2.8 Nikkor set to 14mm. 1/125th of a second at f/11, ISO 200.
Paul-
Down in the “Haymarket” area of Lincoln—the oldest part of a fairly old town—there’s a fellow who frequents the area’s cobblestone streets. It seems every time I am down there, so is he. He has a favorite bench upon which he takes the measure of the passersby, and seems undisturbed by weather or opinion. It was cold and wet when I was in the Haymarket a couple of days ago but still, there as usual was the portly man—vigilant while at his ease, focused on something I wasn’t meant to see. I’ve never seen him away from this section of town. Something akin to a neighborhood territoriality must be at work here. I say hello to him from time to time. He nods back slightly. But very slightly. You have to be looking for it.
Our story so far: 1/500 sec.; f/5; ISO 400; -2/3EV; 18-55mm lens focused in at 34mm. I’ll say this for him, he didn’t twitch a muscle while I took his picture…though seemed a bit indifferent to my presence today. He’s like that sometimes.
Down in the “Haymarket” area of Lincoln—the oldest part of a fairly old town—there’s a fellow who frequents the area’s cobblestone streets. It seems every time I am down there, so is he. He has a favorite bench upon which he takes the measure of the passersby, and seems undisturbed by weather or opinion. It was cold and wet when I was in the Haymarket a couple of days ago but still, there as usual was the portly man—vigilant while at his ease, focused on something I wasn’t meant to see. I’ve never seen him away from this section of town. Something akin to a neighborhood territoriality must be at work here. I say hello to him from time to time. He nods back slightly. But very slightly. You have to be looking for it.
Our story so far: 1/500 sec.; f/5; ISO 400; -2/3EV; 18-55mm lens focused in at 34mm. I’ll say this for him, he didn’t twitch a muscle while I took his picture…though seemed a bit indifferent to my presence today. He’s like that sometimes.
Jerry-
Denizen, hmmm. Denizens of the Deep, Denizens of the Forest, Denizens of the Trailer Park. How about Denizens of the Air? Or in this case, Denizen of the Bird Bath. I'm kind of straying into wildlife photography and started with the local robins. I'm amazed how close you have to get for a decent photo (even with a 400mm) and am thinking of getting some sort of camo setup, will have to see what Cabela's has on clearance. My bird feeder seems to attract the robins and once in a while a cardinal.
D750 with 80-400 at 400mm. 1/2500 at f 11, iso 800. Cropped to about 1/3 of the full image.
Denizen, hmmm. Denizens of the Deep, Denizens of the Forest, Denizens of the Trailer Park. How about Denizens of the Air? Or in this case, Denizen of the Bird Bath. I'm kind of straying into wildlife photography and started with the local robins. I'm amazed how close you have to get for a decent photo (even with a 400mm) and am thinking of getting some sort of camo setup, will have to see what Cabela's has on clearance. My bird feeder seems to attract the robins and once in a while a cardinal.
D750 with 80-400 at 400mm. 1/2500 at f 11, iso 800. Cropped to about 1/3 of the full image.
Byron-
My Denizen subject is named Dave. Dave has not had an easy life. During the last few years Dave has found comfort in the Brooklyn Center Alliance Church. In fact, when we went to that Church to take this picture he proudly proclaimed that he had the master key. He spends much of his time at that Church doing whatever needs to be done. This is not a Church that has an abundant budget. They appreciate any help they can get.
I used my softbox off to the side to show the "experience lines" in his face. The light behind the cross was turned on to make it visible. ISO 100, 55mm, f5.6, 1/8 sec.
My Denizen subject is named Dave. Dave has not had an easy life. During the last few years Dave has found comfort in the Brooklyn Center Alliance Church. In fact, when we went to that Church to take this picture he proudly proclaimed that he had the master key. He spends much of his time at that Church doing whatever needs to be done. This is not a Church that has an abundant budget. They appreciate any help they can get.
I used my softbox off to the side to show the "experience lines" in his face. The light behind the cross was turned on to make it visible. ISO 100, 55mm, f5.6, 1/8 sec.
Deron-
THE DENIZENS OF SPEED
At the Redlands Bicycle Classic, if you're not fast, you're nowhere.
THE DENIZENS OF SPEED
At the Redlands Bicycle Classic, if you're not fast, you're nowhere.