On a different front, I had a portfolio review from two photographers that I respect and admire. The results were mixed with my take-away that I am not ready to join their group. However, some of the analysis bothered me. The comment was that “Infrared has been done.” This comment has been like a splinter working in and festering. Done… Hmmm…

How can infrared be done? Maybe, my images are cliche or badly composed or too much like someone else’s work or not too your taste but done? After mulling this over night, I do not think any form of image has been done. Even if I plant my tripod feet in someone else amazing photo, it is still NOT done by me. Surely, color is not done even though there are thousands of photographers shooting color images. Same reasoning says that B&W is not done. Therefore, infrared cannot be done.

If I get enjoyment making an image, then it is worth making for me. If someone finds enjoyment looking at the image than that adds greatly to my pleasure. Yes, I am chasing beauty and maybe pictorials. Hopefully, the future will bring better images, a unique viewpoint, a more distinctive style and most importantly, more people who enjoy the work.

My new goal is no cliches. I heard a good description of a cliche image. An image that may be well executed but can be looked at and be understood in a few seconds. I do not care how many folks have already made the image. Once I can consistently make strong individual images, I can start to master this nebulous concept of “a body of work”. Check back and you can see my progress.

One more from my quck trip out to Don Edwards. The colors are somewhat false because this was well after sundown so the scene was fairly dark to my eyes.

I have not been feeling well for a couple of weeks. Today, I spent in bed and got up about 45 minutes before sundown. I looked out and saw the dramatic sky with our winter storms rolling in. I rushed out to Don Edwards and went down to the fishing pier, which is under the bridge. The light was fading and I only had 15 minutes to catch a shot. This is the best of the bunch but I am going to return.

Note: the blues have shifted in posting to the web to a little more teal. Hmmm….

Last nite, we had record cold temperatures and we have snow on our mountains. Just in for my Mother’s visit. The last few weeks, we had record warm temperatures. On a different note, I managed to get black grease on my new camera’s sensor. I am unclear where it came from but I have been swabbing away. Yikes!

Last nite up in San Francisco, the flower stalls were packed with folks buying flowers. This is a quick grab shot that was heavily rotated and cropped.

Last nite, I went to the local ASMP meeting for becoming a fine art photographer. The room was packed to overflowing maybe 100 folks showed up. The panel was very nice but not enouraging based on the panelists information. I walked down from the BART station and saw these staircases with the colors. Later, I reviewed the image and realized that it was a face. As I walked in front of the building, I saw that this is the side of San Francisco MoMA.