Manitoulin Island-Radio.Net: Cricket Hill - The Digital Darkroom, Page 2

Manitoulin Island-Radio.Net

Cricket Hill
~The Digital Darkroom ~

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Nature As Artist ^TM

We had planted a new dahlia and her huge bud was just starting to swell. I would go
outside (a few footsteps from the doorway) every single day and photograph this flower for
her whole lifespan. I would not expect to either enjoy the learning process or to capture
photographs with which I would be satisfied. The sole purpose of this was to explore my
curiosity about digital photography and try to embrace this learning curve and see what
the view would be like from the "hilltop".

A Youthful Lady Dahlia, Manitoulin Island

The long and the short of this story is that my study of this learning curve became some-
what graceful; I glimpsed some of Joseph's vision, and then applied my absolute
determination to getting to the top of the hill. I made a new friend, named "Lady Dahlia".
I am very serious about this friendship. It was an amazing spiritual experience, this
intellectual exercise to visit, spend time with, and watch the many little changes in the life-
span of this flower. I thought a lot about our human ideas of beauty and aging and all
that there is "right there" for us to learn and discover if we take the time and attention to
look and to see. A book will be forthcoming out of this "exercise"; it will be a photobook with
some of my reflections and thoughts.

             Web On Wire , Manitoulin Island
             © 2002-6 by SLaF, Cricket Hill ~The Digital Darkroom,
                   Original Digital Photography, All Rights Reserved

This "exercise" occurred in the Summer of 2002. I have oodles of photos of Lady Dahlia.
I think that enough time has passed that I can start to go back to those photos and
start working on this book..

Joseph has bought me two additional digital cameras [and a Digital MiniDV Recorder]
since that initial one, and I admit that I am almost completely "happily converted".
When we go out on a shoot I often shoot several hundred images in two or three three
hours. Even if finances allowed, I would not do anything comparable with my Contax.
I certainly did take multiple shots of very similar images with my Contax, and knew the
value of taking time to look and be very careful. The cost to the environment seems too
heavy to indulge my passion in such a manner.

                  Mergansers ~ Late Spring, Manitoulin Island
                              © 2002-6 by SLaF, Cricket Hill ~The Digital Darkroom,
                           Original Digital Photography, All Rights Reserved

I very much love the immediate feedback that digital photography allows. We often take
a thermos of coffee and some treats with us when out on a shoot. I love to be outdoors in
all kinds of weather, temperatures, light and often get wet or chilled. Once I got 'up close
and personal' (!) with poison ivy (trouble is that I did not know - there is no poison ivy,
and there are no cars coming, or possible dangers of any kind when "zen-ing with the
camera").

                                                Mergansers {Details} ~ Late Spring, Manitoulin Island
                                © 2002-6 by SLaF, Cricket Hill ~The Digital Darkroom,
                                                                     Original Digital Photography, All Rights Reserved

Until recently when we greatly expanded our memory capacity, we did not turn around
and head home until I had filled the memory card/stick. Then, we'd set about getting
warmed-up, sometimes including allowing the camera to warm up (and change the
battery) and "presto" we would sit down together at the computer and watch the picture
show. We would pour over each and every image, often zooming in, sharing our critiques
and appreciations with each other.

         Island Vista ~ Early Spring, Manitoulin Island
          © 2002-6 by SLaF, Cricket Hill ~The Digital Darkroom,
               Original Digital Photography, All Rights Reserved

I am very grateful to Joseph for his gift of digital photography, and for his quiet persis-
tence in allowing me to move through my own (predictable) resistance and frustration.
His contributions to my work continue to be plentiful and varied -as you can easily see!
He accompanies me on outings almost all of the time. He knows that I neither see nor hear
anything else starting from the time I get out of the car with my camera and tripod. He
acts as my guard-dog, and my eyes and ears. He also is a joyful scout, exploring around
and then persistently working to get my attention when he finds something that he knows
I just must see! We enjoy the time that we spend together and for that we are grateful

and blessed.

Windows On A World, Manitoulin Island

Joseph also is totally responsible for the ongoing learning curve of various inks, papers,
computer software and printers in order to produce photographs which meet our satisfaction.
I admit that I am particular about my expectations of the "finished product". It is very
seldom that any of my images are cropped for reasons of improving composition; however,
it is simply amazing to be able to take a photograph of a beautiful scene and have telephone
lines unavoidably cutting across the top corner of the sky, and know that Joe can edit these
out! ,Very cool! I pride myself on consciously shooting to 'fill the frame of the camera'.

I wonder what would happen if
All of Us had a Consuming Passion
that would bring us an Overwhelming Sense of "Peace and Oneness,"
and we All did "It" Simultaneously!
Maybe every thing, or, at least, some things might change?!
I wish!!

Old(-er) Barn ~ Filmstrip, Manitoulin Island
© 2002-6 by SLaF & JVP, Cricket Hill ~The Digital Darkroom,
Original Digital Photography, All Rights Reserved

               If would like to comment on anything I have said here,
or would like to give me feedback on my photography, please do not hesitate!
             You may send a letter to our Sheguiandah Address, or
                  Email me at chill1@manitoulinisland-radio.net

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You don't pay me for the time it took me to push the shutter or the cost of the printing and framing.
You pay for my ability and the years of hard work that made it possible for me to see and capture such an image!