• Hudson Valley
• Hudson Valley Photographer
• D700
• Photography
• 85mm
• fine art
• fine art photography
• abstract art
• rain
• reflections

I have no idea why I’ve been digging on these more abstract shots lately, but man they really seem to be keeping me entertained.  I’m not sure if it’s been my salty mood.  Or a certain throwback nature to my photography.  All the sudden though I’m drawn to these dark and moody photographs that have more character and less content.  This shot for instance has almost zero subject.  Power Lines? Honestly not the greatest subject Dave.  But for some reason here I am posting this on my blog.

Pushing the boundaries of your photography can never be a bad thing.  I’m always trying new stuff, looking in new directions, walking over the same locations looking for a new angle or a shot that I missed 3 months ago.  In that same vein, I decided to start trying to look for more reflect

ions.  I recently read a walk through in photoshop that was all about using reflections after a nice heavy rain.  Using reflections can be an interesting compositional element.  I almost never use it.  Something I’m looking to change.  And let me be the first to say that stuff like this doesn’t change overnight.  To really push yourself you have to really conscientiously say “ok I’m gonna get some reflection shots.” And not just hope that they happen because you logged it in the back of your brain.

Going out with a purpose is usually a good thing.  I say “usually” because there have been plenty of times where I have tried to go out with a purpose and come back with 2 things. 1. Not one single good shot of the thing that I wanted to get a good shot of. and 2. A new found frustration for not getting the shot I really wanted.  While I am professional, and should be able to get whatever shot I want, sometimes once I see the shot in 2d, it just doesn’t have the same appeal to me.

For this particular shot I did see some purpose.  At least to a certain degree.  It had been raining all day, and while I was at work I kept thinking.  I need to get some reflection shots.  That’s all I could think about.  Right when I got home the sun had just come out for a bit, with some great barely muted, nice orange toned light.  I love that kind of light.  And as soon as I got my camera out, the sun promptly retreated behind the clouds.  It works like that around me a lot.  After a few failed attempts to get some long reflection pool kind of shots to work, I turned around and saw this deep pool.  I just wish I could have had  a more interesting subject in the reflection.  Still even if I had I’m not sure that my eye would have liked it, just because I’ve been enjoying these abstract shots so much lately.  It’s nice to have the time to work on more personal projects like this every once in a while.

Photograph Stats: 1/500, f/4.5, ISO 400, Taken with my 85mm.  The 85mm is probably why the bokeh all looks so freaking awesome.  Like little pebbles of light.

Hope ya like it.

-Dave