Dogwood

This picture was really the inspiration for the Old Well image that I posted a few days ago. I was just playing around taking shots of the dogwoods around the Old Well, and when I got this shot, it occurred to me that the depth of field that I'd selected for the shot could work well if I reoriented myself to shoot with the well in the background.

Mostly, I just post it for narrative value. The shot isn't anything special, but it led me to a shot that I do like quite a bit.

A matter of focus

Over the past few years, I've taken literally more than a thousand shots of UNC's Old Well. It's my favorite photography subject in the world. The well is always a popular spot for photographers, but in mid-April each year, the blossoms around it peak, and on any given afternoon, you'll find five or six folks hanging around trying to take shots of campus landmark.

Today, class started at 9:00, and I decided to take the 7:00 bus to campus so that I could spend 90 minutes or so photographing before the crowds arrived. My goal lately has been to find new shots that I haven't thought of before. Today, I focused on this one. I must have taken 75 versions of this shot between my morning visit and then when I returned again after class in the afternoon. I could tell that it was a good idea, because many of the other photographers (even the ones with high end cameras and lenses) started coming over to my spot to take the same shot. All of us found it more difficult than we'd expected, and I left feeling like I hadn't quite captured the picture I had in my mind. However, when I got home and uploaded photos, I was very pleased with this one.

As it turns out, I took it in my morning session, during which I only tried this shot about 5 times. When I returned in the afternoon to take about 70 more, I didn't get anything nearly this nice!

Sometimes okay is good enough

This shot isn't fantastic, but I do like the lighting, and I think the structure is interesting. More importantly, right now, I'm not getting out to take anything better, so it's the best I've got.

I took the shot when we were in Nashville, visiting our friends Natalie and Bernardo.

In the next few days, I may post my last few shots from break- all portrait-style shots of Boer goats. With Spring in full force here in central North Carolina, I'll also do my best to get out for a few shots over the next few weeks, at a minimum taking my annual Spring Old Well pictures.

Mini

Here's another shot from our day at the vet school. This miniature horse loved posing for the camera.

Two of a kind

On one of the last days of our break, Steph took me over to the vet school, and I spent a little time taking pictures of the newborn Boer goats. I really struggle with photographing live subjects, but I found these charming little creatures remarkably photogenic.

As I get back to class, I'll probably enter another lull in photography, so my plan is to post some of my favorite shots from that afternoon over the coming weeks. However, this one is probably the best shot from that day.

Bamboo

I like bamboo. There's a lot to like about it, frankly. It's pretty (when kept under control), and it's probably the most environmentally friendly wood product out there.

But photographing it isn't easy. I took this shot when we were visiting our friends Natalie and Bernardo in Nashville. We stopped to visit a botanical garden on the former estate of the founder of Folger's coffee, and there was a Japanese garden on the premises.

Better shot?

Cast your vote. Which do version of this shot do you prefer? This one, or the one posted last week?

Mossy log at Radnor Lake

I took this picture on a Sunday hike at Radnor Lake in Nashville. We were visiting our good friends Natalie and Bernardo, who were nice enough to let me snap a few shots during our walk. I like moss, but I think it's tough to get the lighting right. It takes some flash work that I haven't mastered yet. Even so, I like this log.