Quotes
“You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” -— Octavia E. Butler
“Imagination is a force that can actually manifest a reality. Don’t put limitations on yourself. Others will do that for you.” — James Cameron
“Creativity is an energy. It’s a precious energy, and it’s something to be protected. A lot of people take for granted that they’re a creative person, but I know from experience, feeling it in myself, it is a magic; it is an energy. And it can’t be taken for granted.” -— Ava DuVernay
Links
Photoessays/Bodies of Work
— Architecture of North Korea
— Robert Cumming: Playfully pushing the boundaries of image and narrative
Post-Processing
— Better hair selection
— Sean Tucker: Natural skin editing for portraits
Field and Studio
— Lindsay Adler: Creative white balance and tint to enhance your images
— Macro subjects for winter
Miscellaneous
— Changes in lens design will follow use of mirrorless cameras
— Duane Michals and his father Very interesting. Actually written by Duane Michals, with photographs and Michals’ captions.
— Convergence of writing and photography A topic currently of particular interest to me.
— Blake Rudis: Artistic vision The first 7:30 has some good discussion. Then he talks about an upcoming free, three-part seminar on the topic. I almost didn’t include this link because of the ad, but Blake is pretty good and the seminar is free.
Our feathered friends are having a difficult time. This past summer there was disease going around that caused many bird deaths with eye infections and other problems. People have their yards sprayed with insecticide if they even think they saw a mosquito, damaging not only the insect populatons, but decreasing food sources for birds as well. Continuing loss of habitat and climate change also are a burden on bird populations. When snow covers the ground and makes seeds harder to find, we should do what we can, like stocking bird feeders, to help maintain bird populations.
Nuthatch
Female goldfinch, winter plumage.
Red-bellied woodpecker