exploring with the camera: windows

I love architecture - the lines, the texture of walls, the shapes of shadows and light.  However, I find it very difficult to photograph a whole building so I've discovered it's much more interesting to focus on the details.....what, in particular, made me look twice at that particular building.  Usually it's a window or door.  I find them endlessly fascinating.

Kat over at KatEye Studio is focusing on how windows can be used in photography and her tutorial will help you visualize how a window can be used effectively in composing an interesting photo.  As I searched my archives (I actually have a window 'tag' because I take so many), I found many old favorites that I'd forgotten about.

Most recently, I took this out my window during an ice storm here in Seattle.

I love old weathered buildings and the windows that punctuate them.

Both photos Shelburne Museum, Vermont

As Kat explains, windows can capture, reflect, or show the light - here the interplay of shadows makes the architecture that much more interesting.

Albany, NY airport

Capturing interesting reflections in a window is a great technique to show a different perspective on the surroundings.

Bellagio reflected in a nearby window, Las Vegas

Windows can serve as a design element, a way to anchor a subject like a textured wall or flower garden (above).

San Juan Capistrano

Texture and reflection in San Juan Capistrano

Tenerife, Canary Islands

Sorento, Italy

Repetition is always a good tool for creating an interesting composition.  When windows are the repeating element, magic!

Burano, Italy

Las Vegas

If you haven't fallen in love with using windows in your photos yet, make that a goal this year.....feature a window or a piece of a window in your compositions and see if you don't start a love affair that will last.  Thanks Kat for the walk down memory lane as I enjoyed my window photos all over again.
Also sharing with Creative Every Day.

exploring with the camera: holiday lights

The most recent prompt and tutorial from Kat is "holiday lights".  This one has so many possibilities it got my little head a spinnin'.  I have a few to share here but after seeing all the great bokeh and light pictures in the Sunday Scavenger Hunt and in Kat's flickr pool, I think I'll try refining my technique a little this week.

Kat has one of my favorite photo blogs, so when you have a few minutes, be sure to stop in and see what she's got going on....

One of my fave Santas with some texture added (used for PAF).

 Lights reflected - I've seen other versions of this shot and I'm not quite sure how to improve this though it definitely seems to be lacking ..... something.

A couple of shots of my deck lights - again....okay, but not what I hoped for.

Here I was doing a little "light writing" with my tree lights.  I love doing this and seeing what happens - the second one looks like some kind of computer code or something...  

If you want some tips on how to shoot holiday lights and create that bokeh (blurry background) effect, visit Kat's site for one of her excellent tutorials.

opposing lines

Kat is still Exploring with the Camera and is encouraging us to look for opposing lines and how they lead the viewer's eye into and around the photo. Her excellent, informative post is here.  So I wandered through my archives (I love doing that when I have the time!) and found a few examples of what I think represent opposing lines.

I think this is a subtle example:  the lines of the chair point (lead) back into the photo but are stopped by the contrasting horizontal lines of the fence and branches. (Vermont vacation)

This barn door has opposing lines - both vertical and horizontal with the addition of a dynamic angle.  (Vermont door)

Architecture is a great place to notice opposing lines - this pic of a glass roof has it all - angled, straight and intersecting to lead your eye through and back through the photo.

Another ceiling (in Las Vegas) filled with curving lines - I'm less sure if these would be considered opposing lines, but I like the shot, so.....it's in.  (Kat, let me know if it's not quite what you meant.)

The new City Center development in Las Vegas fits the theme I think with the strong vertical format but all the horizontal window lines.....

As Kat explains, reflections are a great way to capture opposing lines - here I have the slight waves of the water reflecting a vertical building (in CA).

I always find it so interesting to take Kat's premise or discussion of photographic vision, deconstruct it and explain it so clearly, then wander through my archives to see if I've ever used that principle - usually unknowingly.  But, as shown here, even though I might not have been aware of the principle, it is one that attracts my attention occasionally.

Please take a moment to peruse Kat's site (KatEyeStudio) and absorb all the great info she shares.  Better yet, join in, the folks are great!