Sung to the tune of “Three Drunken Maidens” a traditional British ballad
© Grit Laskin – published with permission)
Early Saturday morning, while strolling in the wood
I chanced upon a lady who by the wayside stood
And what, pray tell, would such a lass as you be doing here?
I’ve come to take some photographs, she said as she drew near Continue reading
© Paul Mozell
The first snowfall in Massachusetts is exciting for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the return of great outdoor photography opportunities after stark and wet November weather. Combining my photography with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing makes this a wonderful season. But, the challenge for many photographers is how to uncover, and expose great compositions in the snow. This will be the first of a series of articles that will address shooting techniques, carrying and caring for your equipment in cold weather, and how to dress yourself for a long and comfortable day outdoors.
Winter forces me to return to my roots as a black & white photographer the crutch of bright colors is usually not available. I welcome the simplicity and the challenge of finding compositions that rely on strong graphic elements, shadow, and subtlety. On cloudy days like the one in this shot, taken in Massachusetts in mid-December, the flat light allows the detail of the scene to come alive. You might ask: “Why not convert this file to monochrome?” and my answer is, that I like the idea that the viewer must search for the minimal color in the image. It’s a subtle trick that makes you spend more time viewing the photography. But, then again, this doesn’t rule out the black & white conversion.
Harold Parker State Forest, Andover, Massachusetts
© Paul Mozell
Let’s say that you work in the marketing communications department of a technology, financial services, or bio-tech company. The VP of marketing has just assigned you to a team developing a new corporate identity. This includes new marketing brochures, sell sheets, web content, and a schedule of press releases. The VP says she wants the new materials to have strong graphics and make liberal use of photographs.
I’ve been photographing the sunset over Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, Massachusetts for many years. On this evening I decided to move away from the glowing-clouds-over-the-horizon shot, looking for something else. As soon as I saw the silhouette of the delicate leaves and branches of this (cherry?) tree against the reflection of the orange sky, I thought I’d found a scene that suggested a Japanese water-color painting.
Harold Parker State Forest, Andover, Massachusetts