yosemite chapter 1

splitting this into several chapters because there are many photos with many different moods in them. Going out to Yosemite was the last trip out from the old house, although I didn’t thing of it as such at the time. It was sort of a headlong rush home and then down to the south bay to meet out ride/companions for the trip, D and C. we made it on the road at about five, and hit traffic both going south and north. That, along with separate stops at starbucks, gander mountain, and a little mexican place just before the pass into the valley, for dinner. Come to think of it, it may have been bass pro shops where we stopped for socks, they’re effectively the same, just REI with guns instead of bikes and boats in addition. I was on the lookout for a spare battery for the rented camera, a Nikon D610, but found none. It’s a fast camera, that does all the things my D700 did, but for less money and maybe a bit better in low light. Half a stop better. But I digress. After the mexican food, there was a long, winding road into the valley. This is a place that is impressive even in half-glimpses in the dark. Those photos are in the next post, though. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/yosemite_chapter_1/447/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/yosemite_chapter_1/447/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/yosemite_chapter_1/447/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/yosemite_chapter_1/447/0004.jpg’ /> </div>

Posted by matt on 2014-04-10T04:57:38Z GMT

and now for something completely different

And by completely different, I mean black and white, night photos. Pretty much my raison d’etre for a long time. Now, I’m looking more at the day time. I’m not sure if that’s an accident of when I’m awake, or something I’m doing on a subconcious level. Probably a little bit of both. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/and_now_for_something_completely_different/448/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/and_now_for_something_completely_different/448/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/and_now_for_something_completely_different/448/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/and_now_for_something_completely_different/448/0004.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/and_now_for_something_completely_different/448/0005.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/and_now_for_something_completely_different/448/0006.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/and_now_for_something_completely_different/448/0007.jpg’ /> </div>

Posted by matt on 2014-04-07T21:02:07Z GMT

I have a camera again!

I’m happy to report that my new camera arrived today, so I can keep boring you indefinitely with more photos… of course, that’s not the point. I’m not myself without it; not just without the camera, but without the act of taking pictures. I get depressed, moody. Easily tired. Someone asked me recently why I’m always taking photos, and I sort of drew a blank, like I always do. Then, they rescued me. “Do you do it just for the Art of it?” they said. Yes, that’s exactly why I do it. That, and I can’t not do it. I need to be taking pictures, in some fundamental way. Everything goes kind of flat and shitty when I’m not taking pictures regularly; it’s as if the act of photographing turns the world up a notch. Making photographs, making art, brings me joy, but not the kind sunshine and puppies and laughter kind. It’s more like water. It’s just not possible to go on without it. One is ephemeral, experiential. The other is hard and certain, something you make with your own hands. It is a sword that will cut god, a path to buddha-nature. Enough already. Have some photos. Goodnight. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/i_have_a_camera_again!/449/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/i_have_a_camera_again!/449/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/i_have_a_camera_again!/449/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/i_have_a_camera_again!/449/0004.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/i_have_a_camera_again!/449/0005.jpg’ /> </div>

Posted by matt on 2014-04-04T06:37:28Z GMT

on the way to work

I don’t know if it’s me, or what, but I always seem to find myself in these beautiful places. Everything sort of falls together, and then I take a picture. What is my subject? Is it the everyday? Is it me, being a crazy person? Is it the world, not making any sense? If there were a feeling I was trying to convey, maybe it would be that moment of realizing how lost you are, and looking around to get your bearings. It’s probably none of that. I have been drinking. There was wine, and then there was whiskey… well, at least tomorrow is Thursday. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/on_the_way_to_work/450/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/on_the_way_to_work/450/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/on_the_way_to_work/450/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/on_the_way_to_work/450/0004.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/on_the_way_to_work/450/0005.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/on_the_way_to_work/450/0006.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/on_the_way_to_work/450/0007.jpg’ /> </div>

Posted by matt on 2014-04-03T05:25:35Z GMT

earthshine

The phenomenon when the earth’s light is reflected on the crescent or new moon. It’s also pretty spectacular. This was the night of Chris’s birthday party, down in Santa Cruz. When looking it up to make sure it was one word instead of two, I found “this cool article”:http://http://science1.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/12apr_earthshine/ from nasa. Totally worth reading for the description of what earthshine would look like from the dark side of the moon. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/earthshine/451/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/earthshine/451/0002.jpg’ /> </div>

Posted by matt on 2014-04-01T05:10:29Z GMT