Catching up

It has been quite some time since my last post. As you can see, my blog is now integrated with my web site, which has a completely new look and new galleries. Despite using a template, it still took time to create the new galleries and tweak everything. Here is a quick overview of what I have been up to and some new images.

In April, I visited family. Naturally, I had to try my rotational technique on the local subjects. Houses or villages in the landscape as seen from a high point will take some more experimentation. Sunsets, though, worked out well a few times.

Then beginning May, I went to Moab to attend the Moab Photography Symposium. The old masters like Edward Weston and Ansel Adams were the subject of several presentations. Seeing the untouched original and the way Ansel Adams edited them was an incredible learning experience. I gave myself some extra days to photograph in the bigger area. Despite my enjoyment in creating the photographic mandalas, I still delight in ‘straight’ photography. Here are a few images of that trip:

I just returned from a trip to California where I visited my children and some friends. One of them invited me to visit the Monterey Aquarium. I could not help myself and had to try some fish mandalas. Here are 3 images that I feel worked. It was not easy to pull off. The fish tend to moven, even if just a bit. And then, have you ever tried to take a photo with your camera upside down!

During my times at home, we had some incredible sunsets. With all the mandalas I have created, it is getting more difficult to have a new and better one. Here are two that I kept:

Last, but not in the least, I would like to hear from you what you think about the new look of the web site. Also, I would like to get back into writing about items, which are useful for you, the reader. So please let me know of your interests and questions. I have posted 2 articles, one about the technique and one about my creative journey under About and I plan on writing some more. This creation of the photographic mandalas and getting them out for others to see has been and will continue to be an interesting journey for me. I have begun to work with Mary Virginia Swanson, a consultant. Her comments and feedback led to the new design of the web site and the joining of organizations I would not have known about. I am curious to see where it all will lead me.