mosaic muse : signs of summer

As I unpack from vacation I'm having a hard time resisting the urge to edit photos over laundry.  I decided a compromise was in order, in between loads of towels and mildewing swimsuits I cruised the Mortal Muse pool for signs of summer.  I found and overwhelming number of images that embodied how summer feels to me. The soft afternoon haze, burst of bright colors, deliciously ripe fruit, fleeting rainbows, squealing kids and cooling off in the pool. So much color and warmth it makes me wish that I could have a summer do over. I'm just not ready to let go of the season. Are you?

Lindsey, aka modchik

1. August 12, 2012-, 2. Halo, 3. golden, 4. 105/365, 5. Untitled, 6. magic, 7. 20: the-last-of-the-strawberries?, 8. Summer swim, 9. walkin' the hemisphere

milestones mean change

Our home has been going through some changes recently. Big changes. Both of my kids are hitting milestones and its joyous and frightening all at the same time. The youngest just celebrated her six birthday and with that right of passage comes losing her baby teeth. The bottom two came out around the holidays well before her birthday, I know this because Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy were both involved in leaving goodies under pillows. You can see the baby teeth have been quickly replaced.

A few days ago one of her front "toofers" was becoming unbearable wiggly. Can you recall that feeling? My daughter could simply not stand one more wobble out of her loose tooth.  She wasn't able to eat without it bothering her so she begged me to pull it out. How hard could that be I thought. Well let me tell you it was not an easy extraction. The tooth was clearly not ready when I yanked it I could see that it wasn't exactly a pain free experience for her. She immediately touched the gap with her tongue, cue the  tears. She absolutely lost it. She stared at the bloody tooth in her hand, "momma that doesn't look like a normal tooth", she cried. I told her that we probably pulled it too soon but assured her that by the time the tooth fairy came the tooth and the gaping hole it left behind would be all better. Her face began to soften but she didn't smile. 

She alternated between a forensic examination of the tooth and looking at her new smile in the mirror. I don't think she was prepared to see those changes. I myself had a hard time looking at her and not seeing that the face of a young girl had now replaced my little girl.

This little one doesn't do change very well. You can see it in her wrinkled brow. I know change is not always easy but it's usually necessary to make room for new things to come, including permanent teeth.

I say embrace change.


Lindsey (aka modchik)

If only my six year old would embrace change like Kristen-mainemomma's daughter. She too recently lost a tooth but as you can see from her photo below, toothless, she had a much different take on the situation. I love how she embraces her new look and seems to embody the words Kristen uses to describe her daughter "fierce, spunky, funny, wild, hilarious, smart and beautiful." 

where land meets sea

I am most at peace where land meets the sea. The colors strike me as the perfect compliment of blue and green. My family has access to a summer cottage on the shores of Cape Ann in Massachusetts so I packed them up a few summers ago so that they could have the "east coast experience". You should have seem their faces when they hiked through thorny brambles only to find that the beach was full of rocks not sand. A completely different kind of beach to my California beach babes. I couldn't get enough of the old tree lined streets lighthouses. If you look hard you can see one below.

At home Southern California has a more dramatic approach when it comes to the coast. Rolling hills abruptly end and give way to jagged cliffs anchored by palms and chaparral. Our beaches are carved out of little and big coves making it almost impossible to walk on the sand from one beach to another.  That's why we all have cars so we can drive to our favorite "secret"  or not so secret beach, we all have them.

It doesn't matter what shore I am standing on they all have the same effect on me. Calm.

Calm is exactly how I feel when I saw this photo from skiingrn1 called Lone Sailboat. What a stunning capture of a part of Alaska that's not all ice! Perfectly sharp I can almost hear the boat as it cuts through still waters.

void of color

I have to admit this was probably one of the hardest themes for me, I am inspired by color first and foremost. In its absence I'm a little lost. I know that I am not drawn to an object solely based on color. Palm tress aren't especially colorful but the are no wall flower either. When I looked up at the giant I was struck by the glistening palm fronds and its perfect symmetry. The light shining through lent itself for some good contrast so I decided this was a good candidate to concert to black and white.

I saw the same symmetry in this dandelion photo in the Mortal Muses Flickr group by Design by Nicola. I love dandelions in black and white, her composition and shallow depth of field make it float across the page.

The desert-scape void of all color has plenty of texture to play up. The noon day sun give the jumping cholla are misleadingly soft look. Don't be fooled these plants have the ability to eject needles (with force) if you brush up against it.

Lacey branches, rolling mounds of grass and a setting sun were all competing for attention in the color version. I quieted everything down by removing the color so the eye could float around and just enjoy the shapes for a little while.

Sometimes all you need to do to make a stronger visual impact is simplify your photo. You can achieve this without cropping by making it void of color. Try it on your next landscape on a photo with strong shapes or texture. See if converting it to black and white reveals something completely different and new.

Lindsey aka modchik

sunshine therapy

When our family wants to get away for the weekend we jump in our car and and head due east. Even in sunny Southern California we sometimes go for long periods of gray and gloom (I know Portlanders are thinking to themselves I have no clue about gray days, its true I probably don't.) But even when's its raining head 200 miles east of Los Angeles and I can almost guarantee you'll find sunshine. Thanks to a the San Jacinto Mountains it's always sunny in Palm Springs. The micro range acts like a dam preventing the weather systems from dampening your day, wind is another story.

A few weeks ago on our first day of spring break we awoke to clouds and drizzle, I announced to the kids that they had thirty minutes to throw some clothes into a suitcase that the 'train' was leaving in thiry minutes and wasn't stopping until we reached sunshine.

We arrived just as the sun was setting and before my daughter could take her suitcase out of the trunk  she was out the door running full speed across the empty golf course. I chased her until I felt dizzy and then I asked her if I could have just a moment. I stood there trying to catch my breath. I enhaled deeply as I faced the sun and felt its warmth, I had forgotten how therapeutic feeling the sun on your face can be. And not to mention what it does for your photographs, but YOU already knew that.

Go outside turn towards the sun and let it wash over you.

Lindsey, aka the modchik

ia&a gives me that exact same warm fuzzy feeling with her sunset shot in the grass. I love the shallow dof and glowing light.

 

i am recovering

Addictions take on all forms from money, pills, booze, relationships, social media, shopping even something so seemingly benign as reading. Whatever your vice you choose it over living your life. You blame everything else but it when things go wrong. And sometimes there are multiple addictions and sometimes the addiction is just a symptom of a bigger problem. One day you will have had enough and you'll surrender because come hell or high water you are ready for change.

It wasn't until I admitted my powerlessness that I began to feel control again. I know I like to lose myself in work and my photos. When I find myself sitting at my desk to the point I can't feel my feet anymore, hours will have passed and I ask myself what is it that I am avoiding.

Slowly I am beginning to sort and weed things out of my life. As I sit down with a pile of photos I glean the ones that are significant and the rest get tossed out. I could do this on so many levels, paperwork, projects even people. I only want to give my time and energy to the people and things that bring me peace and happiness. I have no more room in my life for clutter, photos or otherwise. Its a small step that eventually over time will open up more room in my life to explore my passions in a balanced healthy way, a life where creativity can flourish.

I immediately identified with maansee's self portrait I love how she is enveloped by the pattern. I see the patterns as an extension of her, she is a part of the art. The fiery colors and rough edge are the icing on this cake. I too sometimes feel turbulent.

Lindsey, aka the modchik

I am turbulent by maansee

rockstars and press passes

I never thought about what would happen if I combined two of the things I loved most in my life photography and music. Growing up its the only thing I ever wanted to do, capture moments and listen to really good music preferably at the same time. It wasn't as if I thought that one was mutually exclusive from the other I just could never envision trying to interpret music with my camera. When I go to a concert I am all about hands over my head closing my eyes and jumping up and down until I can not feel my feet underneath me. Some people like handbags I'd rather buy good concert seats. Some people like booze I find a a good riff to be equally intoxicating. That's what I love so much about music it changes how you feel. I could not imagine trying to harness that feeling within the confines of a box with a mirror and a lens.

Last fall I was granted a press pass to photograph two bands I would gladly eat mac and cheese for a month to see play live, Duran Duran and Foo Fighters.

Equally unnerving I had to completely remove myself as a spectator and think along the lines of a photo journalist. It was one of the most challenging jobs I have done and absolutely one of the most fulfilling. When you shoot a concert you typically get the first three songs, that's it. You get in get your shots off and get out. The bands don't pose. If you are lucky they will give you your "Kodak Moment" but don't hold your breath they are there for the thousands of fans where you have just placed yourself squarely in between. You work fast there is no time to think or play around with settings, do that during the opening act.  Did I mention its dark? There is little or no available light. You are lucky if you catch a good strobe.

Low light and fast moving musicians was my biggest challenge. Opening band Cage the Elephant was especially tricky. The lead singer reminiscent of the late Kurt Cobain would run full speed stopping short of jumping right off the stage. He thrashed back and forth whipping himself into a frenzy keeping a step ahead of the chasing strobes. All I wanted was to capture that quintessential rock star maneuver, the head bang. My neck hurts just thinking about it.

rock on!
Lindsey aka modchik

When I came across  and was drawn to the softness of the light and how it shone through the girls ringlets and reflected off her long fingers. I imagined her playing a controlled classical piece in perfect tempo. A completely different performance photograph with equally stunning results.

auld lang syne by mapleeye

storytelling without words

Trying to tell a story when the words don't come is like pulling teeth, it's hard. As photographers we can bypass the keyboard pick up a camera and let the story unfold in the frame. We don't need to explain and sometimes the words just get in the way of the photo. If we just leave well enough alone the photo will talk for itself. Maybe the photo paints an entirely different story than the one that was intended, its completely up to the viewer and their experience.

Take time to look around at how your photos play the role of storyteller.

When I saw this photo in the Mortal Muse Flickr pool I immediately conjured up the history in my mind behind the rusting red Dodge.  I can't make out the license plate but I believe that's a peeling RedSox bumper sticker, I can almost smell the salt air. I'm wondering how many miles and how many stories has this truck seen. I want to see more.

Lindsey aka Modchik

Still runs by Dorian Susan

muse university - My Top Ten Food Photography Tips

Have you had breakfast yet? No? Let me warn you then, you are about to become very hungry if you aren't already are. I'm talking about food photography on this month's Muse University post. If you gave me a choice to shoot anything I wanted I would choose food. Most people love to eat it but I find few people actually ENJOY photographing it. In the past couple of years I have really tried hard to shoot food in all kinds of conditions including restaurants, kitchens, farmers markets and my own table. I cook often so it was a natural marriage of cameras and mixing bowls. Have you ever created something you wanted to photograph every angle of it until you could document it no further? Me too but my creations were always edible. Hundreds of bad shots later I slowly began to take note of what was working. Here are my top 10 tips that have helped me create some delicious looking food shots.

1. Always go with Natural Lighting for the shot. If you can, get right up to a window that faces the same direction as the sun. If the light is too strong use paper towels taped to the glass or hang a translucent piece of white fabric. I use a light weight shower curtain that I hang on the existing rod to filter out direct sunlight.

If its too dark I will add simulated outdoor light and white boards or a gold reflector to help fill in dark areas.

2. Make sure you are using the correct White Balance. This is huge. White balance is essential in not only making your food look appetizing, but it affects contrast and detail. You can use your in camera WB settings or a simple gray card. If you are really particular about getting it right like I am, there are gadgets like the ExpoDisc ($99) for use with your camera's custom white balance setting. You can read more about the disc and how to use it on my blog the modchik.

The expodisc comes in various sizes, this is the 77mm. I used it to correct the color below.

3. Add Visual Interest. Add tablecloths, place mats, linens, place settings or glasses to give the photo a more realistic and balanced look. Flowers or part of the ingredients in their natural state surrounding the dish look nice. Remember no one likes a lonely bowl of soup. In the photo below I used a circular patterned napkin from Crate and Barrel because they not only look sharp they reemphasize the round shape of the bowl.

Be careful of your backgrounds, I had a bright window in the background, could have diffused the light to avoid the blue spot.

4. Use a clean background you want the focus to remain on the food. If you need to cover the table top try black muslin, you can create some nice curves and shadows with the fabric. Check for remnants at the fabric store avoid shiny or reflective fabrics.

5. Get in CLOSE. From far away this muffin looks like your average baked good. Zoom in on this mouth watering zucchini muffin and you reveal it's been rolled in crispy toasted coconut.

Zoom in close enough and you also blur out the fact that this muffin sits a top a fancy paper plate.

6. Slice it and dig in. You want the viewer to look at that photo, mouth open, ready for a mouthful. Food looks lifeless when it just sits there untouched. Leave some crumbs around evidence of its irresistible deliciousness.

7. Use f/16 as a starting point. I will admit this is a new tip for me. I recently attended a workshop from the husband/wife team House of Brinson (take a moment to go over and feast your eyes on some of their food photography, amazing, go ahead I'll wait). One of the first things they suggested, was to shoot at f/16. This way everything will be in focus from crust edge to crust edge. Of course when you are shooting at this small of an opening, the only way you are going to get a crisp shot is with a tripod. Another trick to help still your camera, turn on Mirror Lock. Most cameras will let you do this through the control panel. When you turn on this feature, the mirror will flip up upon the first depressing of the shutter release, then you press the shutter release a second time to actually take the photograph. Doing this gives the camera time to settle after the mirror flips open. Its takes a little while to get used to pressing the shutter twice, but I find it helps me get quiet and settled when shooting. The mirror lock disables in Auto mode on my camera (Canon).

8. Get out the tripod. If you read #7 this needs no further explanation, but here is another tip from the Brinsons, if you need to get an angle with the tripod where the camera is leaning more to one side, you can fill a water bottle full and slip it into a sock and attach to be used as a counter weight. Look for tripods that have hooks already attached for weights. Even in the darkest of light you'll be able to get your shot.

9. Rack em and stack em. Instead of plating one cookie, give it some visual pizazz by turning your Toll House cookies into the leaning tower of Pisa! Als, add height to the back of the plate, bowl or in this case the rack, this way you are able to see more depth. With such a shallow DOF on the holiday cookies, it is harder to tell. So, if you wanted all the cookies sharp, tilt the back end higher, close down your f-stop to f/16 and get your tripod out (basically tips 7 through 9).

10. Stay away from fried food. Trust me, it's really hard unless you have some good supporting actors next to it like this rack of ribs. In most cases fried anything by itself ends up looking like a greasy mess, so just make sure its in good company.

I want to leave you with one more thing: these were all very technical tips when it comes to shooting plated food. Next time you find yourself photographing food, think about who is eating that food. How is the food prepared? What is the circumstances surrounding the meal? Is there a special occasion? Try capturing the feeling behind the food, culture or sounds of the meal. There is something magical about being able to create a photo that not only highlights the food, but also tells a story. See if you can find it at your next table.

Lindsey | the modchik

and the next theme is...gratitude

It can be a state of being, taking some time out to find your own, secret place...perhaps your favorite spot to shoot your favorite scene with no one else around, where you're simply grateful to just be.

Dream of Paradise by Pixelmama

Or maybe you just want to be alone, with no plans, no hurries or worries, to savor the moment in your own special retreat.

calm by lindsey (modchik)

It could be something that makes the days go smoother, where everyone is getting along.

8/30 My Dog by Holly {Soupatraveler}

Or it could be something big that can change everything for your family.

relief by Superdewa

Or something small, but can make your day. 

Sea Urchins by ~Roxanne~

Whatever it is you are grateful for, help us finish up this month by flooding the flickr pool with images that make your heart sing with gratitude.

Lindsey (modchik)