Autumn Gold – Donnelly, Alberta
An autumn memory, a gift to view as we move into snow and extreme sub-zero temperature – nature’s architecture providing visual articulation of golds on black at harvest.
Quote to Inspire – “Photographs are a way of imprisoning reality …. One can’t possess reality, one can possess images – one can’t possess the present but one can possess the past.” – Susan Sontag, ‘On Photography’
Listening to – U2’s ‘In a Little While,’ Linkin Park’s ‘Roads Untraveled,’ Jessica Sanchez’ ‘Lead Me Home’ and Bob Dylan’s ‘Shelter from the Storm.’
In My Back Pocket - Photography 
This without a doubt quite a stunning picture, calm and detailed, with a great balance in the colours, light and dark.
Jim
Good schtuff! Thanks Jim.
Hey there, Jim:
I’m wondering if the resonance in this image comes through by way of approach, something similar to what I’ve encountered recently in terms of pedagogy surrounding photography.
If you get the chance, maybe check out the following – http://www.miksang.com ; the interviews with Michael Wood and Julie DuBose reflect upon something that others would call being in the zone. For you and me, within the Autumn Gold shot it may be about unaltered perception, simply capture of what is seen.
Hoping your Saturday finds you out on trails (and perhaps with your camera).
Take care … :0
Hi There,
Just had a look at the Miksang website, it’s an interesting idea. The core of an idea or picture being somehow pure, I do think there are images, poems, writing that achieve this. I have reservations though that you lose half of the spectrum of possibility. We were talking about the ideas behind some different work on Thursday night, the narrative poem, where there is a journey from A to B, like your crossroads or railtrack images, where you are led into the picture. The possibility of space and room to move. Or the imagist concept of boring down to the single crux of an idea or moment. Where the idea is (should be) evident within the words. But there should be a simplicity about the image, something that defines it yet may not be obvious until it is mentioned. Your picture above has that quality, light and dark, simple colour and a strong centre. There is no outside space yet more inside than we can see. I always find it odd that people argue for one true path like this, we may have personal preferences, and these will always colour our work yet working with the full spectrum (even in black and white) is always better than limiting our options.
The build up to Christmas this year has been late for us due to family and work so time is limited this week. But I will be trying to get out, I now have a tripod, of a friend that needed repairing, so I want to try and get some night time shots, the skies are so clear here at the moment due to an unusual stable period in the weather.
Happy hunting for you as well,
Jim
Hello Jim:
It’s good to read about the cross pollination of ideas between poem and photograph and how they achieve what they achieve. Neither can be meditation alone. There likely is consideration of possibility, purpose and endpoint at the front of these endeavors. We used to have a term for thinking about thinking that governed ideas about choice of approach – metacognition. An interesting phrase came forward this morning – ‘the path between reality and the soul.’ Words and rhythms are part of that path, images/imageries are too.
Good to read about the tripod – and, perhaps you’ll have that opportunity for Northern Lights this winter.
Take care … 😉
Oh, I love this photo with its mysterious yet warm golden tones!
Hey there, again …
This photo has me considering something called Miksang … contemplative photography … and simplicity of perception.
It’s also had me look around for other photos in the same set for possibilities.
Thanks for having a look around.
Take care … 🙂
This is quite possibly my favorite yet of yours (I’ve probably said that alot …). Simply … stunning!
Hey there, LB:
This image is one that’s provoked me to look back at others in the series … I’ll post another.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Take care … hope you’re mending well. 😉