Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Canon's posting regarding current status of importing products into U.S.
Canon U.S.A. Update on Import of Products from Japan
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., March 24, 2011 - We continue to monitor and analyze the recovery and rebuilding efforts in the areas impacted by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. We are carefully assessing the situation, and its impact on production and operations.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) has announced that it is carefully monitoring and assessing the potential for radiological contamination. It is using several types of radiation detection equipment in air and sea ports, mail facilities, and elsewhere to scan cargo. CPB notes that it uses radiation equipment and operational protocols to resolve any safety risks. More information is available at http://www.usa.gov/Japan2011.shtml.
We will post updates regarding safety, recovery and rebuilding efforts, as necessary.
We thank everyone for their continued concern and support.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
MAKING SENSE OUT OF VISUAL CHAOS
| MAKING SENSE OUT OF VISUAL CHAOS Art is about making order out of chaos. -Stephen Sondheim interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air. When I was teenager I'd always be looking at photographs in magazines and books. Even though I wasn't that serious about photography, I'd be taking photos of things, people and scenery. One of the first photography posters I had on my wall was an image by Eliot Porter taken in the Galápagos Islands. It was a picture of a lava field that looked like ripples of waves or molten chocolate in a mixing bowl. Because of it's abstraction, I wasn't certain that it was a lava field until much later. So, I came to know about Eliot Porter. He is considered by many to be the grandfather of color landscape photography. He spent a lifetime capturing the complexities of nature on film and made it look effortless. Porter once stated: "I believe that intricacy of detail and complexity of subject need not contradict harmony nor an inherent simplicity of the whole." Porter co wrote a wonderful book with James Gleick called "Nature's Chaos" Photo by Keith Skelton - Point Lobos, CA  Often nature and landscape photographers are looking for the perfect infinite composition of lines, textures, "S" curves, light, and the rule of thirds. When one comes upon a scene of jumbled rocks or scraggly brush, the picture possibilities are not as obvious. The center of interest is more difficult to discover. In the photo below I made visual sense of the random agaves by isolating three strong plants as main visual elements. I later processed the photo to black and white to simplify the subject matter even more.  The burned forest is an example where it might seem impossible to come up with a decent composition let alone a visual statement because of the chaos and mid day light. By changing my angle, backlighting the trees, and isolating three elements, I have created a personal statement that is more powerful than the scene as a whole. The tree's branches look like arms reaching out for help.   In the photo below I took advantage of the visual chaos by emphasizing the roots spreading over the fallen leaves as if they are reaching out for life. The contrasting colors of the blues and yellows help the composition. In the bottom photo taken at the Salton Sea I used the negative shape of the buildings and silhouetted the figure to make some visual sense out of a very chaotic place. Composition can be enhanced by placing light objects or shapes against dark areas and dark objects or shapes against light areas.   Visual balance in photography is an essential element of every good composition. It tends to be either formal or informal. Formal balance is associated with a central composition like architecture. Formal composition can project a feeling of rest, stability, or harmony. It’s very easy for the photographer to get caught up in this style, resulting in a collection of images that all begin to look the same. An informal or asymmetrical balance tends to have a more natural feel to it and is generally associated with nature photography. This can achieved in a landscape photography by effectively placing rocks, logs, or trees within a composition, using their irregularities to our advantage. Good composition skills takes years of practice. Look beyond the obvious and try to make visual sense out of what may seem chaotic at first glance. Two new and dynamic street photography classes this summer! June 25 -Santa Barbara's Summer Solstice. LINK HERE August 6th - Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days/Fiesta. LINK HERE A third street class will be in Los Angeles this fall: October 29 - Dia de los Muertos at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery. LINK HERE |
| SIGN UP FOR A PHOTO WORKSHOP! Santa Barbara County - May 21-22 The Alabama Hills - April 30 LA Nights - May 28 The Eastern Sierras - June 15-19 Slot Canyons and Monument Valley - August 10-14 Oregon Harvest Moon - September 8-12 |
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is one amazing place to practice landscape photography.
Photos by Keith Skelton
Photos by Keith Skelton
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Many Faces of Mono Lake
The quality of light in the Eastern Sierras is like no where else in the world. Add a volcanic lake of alkaline waters and a haven for birds....the photographic possibilities become limitless. Join me this June 15th for the full Strawberry Moon!
All photos by Keith Skelton
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Mobius Arch in the The Alabama Hills CA.
There are a million ways to photograph the popular Mobius Arch in the The Alabama Hills and they have been photographed a million times! These are just a few versions from my numerous trips to the area. Why not join me April 30th?
http://www.californiaphotographyworkshops.com/Alabama_Hills.html
http://www.californiaphotographyworkshops.com/Alabama_Hills.html
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Acclaimed photojournalist dies at 63 | The former R-G staff member is remembered for his images, his leadership and his vision
BRIAN LANKER: 1947-2011 - Brian Lanker was the first person I showed my portfolio to right out of photo school. He was a wonderful photographer.
http://www.brianlanker.com/
Monday, March 14, 2011
Los Angeles Night Photo Workshop
A night view of the Hollywood Freeway snaking into downtown Los Angeles.
I'm teaching an LA
Night photo workshop May 28th.I'm teaching an LA
http://www.californiaphotograp
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Lone PIne California - The Alabama HIlls
One never knows what they might find on an Alabama Hills Photo Workshop! http://www.californiaphotographyworkshops.com/Alabama_Hills.html
Highway 395, Lone Pine, CA.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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