Photo of the Day: Baja Joshua Tree

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Dark clouds appear ominous, but hold the promise of much needed moisture in the arid environment of Baja California

Photo of the Day: Not What You Think

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Not what you think...this Lady lives in Las Vegas. I took a stroll down the 'Strip' one morning and found Lady Liberty perfectly paired with Old Glory in front of New York, New York casino. She's not the real thing and I know the scene is ironic on several levels, but one thing you can't deny is that Las Vegas Blvd is a target rich environment for photographers.

Photo of the Day: The Fabric of History

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Varanasi is the center of the silk weaving industry in India and much of the work is still done by hand in the surrounding villages. Most weavers are members of cooperatives that furnish the equipment and raw materials and guarantee a fixed price for the finished products. The looms are usually set up inside the weavers' homes and use a mid-nineteenth century punch card technology known as a Jacquard machine to reproduce complex designs.

Photo of the Day: Reservoir Raindance

It's been some time since Lake Cachuma in the Santa Ynez valley has looked this full and lush. The reservoir, one of the principal sources of drinking water for residents of Santa Barbara, has reached a critically low level  due to the ongoing drought in California. This late winter aerial view of Cachuma was made at sunrise  during the last year that the area received above average rainfall.

New Meetup Event: Seeing 101

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We all instantly recognize good pictures when we see them. Then why is it so hard to capture one with our cameras? Come find out the answer in Ken Lee’s presentation, Seeing 101, at the Santa Monica Public Library, Oct 15 at 1:30 pm. Admission is free, but space is limited, so please sign up if you’re coming and try to show up a little early. 

You’ve heard of the photographer's eye. It’s the thing that lets some people find amazing photographs in scenes where others see nothing. And as much as technology can dress up mundane pictures, it’s creative vision that’s ultimately at the core of making images with impact. The question is whether you have to be born with this special talent or is it something you can acquire? Ken Lee knows from experience that the ability to fluently speak the visual language that we all innately understand is one that anyone can learn, practice, and develop. Ken calls it the Art of Seeing and he has dedicated himself to helping others learn to see artfully. Ken will share his own ‘aha moment’ story when he suddenly understood the key to making good photographs, the principles behind his Whole Brain approach to learning photography, and plenty of practical tips to help you expand your creative vision. The presentation will run about 45 - 60 mins and there will be a Q&A session afterward. We look forward to seeing you there.

Photo of the Day: Pilgrim Prostrations

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Devout pilgrims inch their way across incredible distances towards Lhasa. Pilgrimages to holy sites are essential expressions of faith in Tibetan Buddhism with the emphasis placed on the journey rather than the destination. Some choose to make these journeys, often lasting months and covering hundreds of miles, in an infinite series of prostrations interspersed by only three steps.

Photo of the Day: Caste Together

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Young Hindu priests in training of the Brahmin caste gather after a sunrise yoga session on  the banks of the sacred Ganges river in Varanasi, India. 

Photo of the Day: Freedom Cry

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The majestic bald eagle is once again thriving in the nation it symbolizes. When I lived in Colorado, just outside of Steamboat Springs, I had the most wonderful nature-filled commute. In the space of 10 miles or so, I saw an incredible variety of slam-on-the-brakes scenes with the passing of the seasons. Herds of elk in the hundreds in fall, Sandhill cranes with their chicks in spring and Redtail hawks hunting in fields of fresh cut summer hay. One winter morning, I noticed some activity in the branches of a dead tree that large birds often perched in. As I got closer, I saw that this time it was a pair of bald eagles. The fully fledged adult, which I assumed to be the mom, was standing on the topmost tree limb and seemed to be scolding her mostly brown offspring. I made up the content of the conversation in my head as I scrambled to set up my camera and tripod. "Time to move out and make your own way in this world, son," it seemed she was saying. I fired off dozens of frames as the lecture continued. This one is the best of the bunch. I opened the gallery a little late that day, but it was well worth it.

Photo of the Day: Light My Fire

A Hindu priest holds up an offering of fire to Mother Ganga, goddess of the holy Ganges, as part of a ritual known as Aarti. In Varanasi, Aarti is performed every night, rain or shine. As sunset approaches, pilgrims and toursits gather along the river bank in large numbers. Many send their own offerings in the form of diyas, small cups containing a flower and candle. floating down the river.

Photo of the Day: Inspiration Station

Part of the beautiful glass ceiling at the LA Metro's Union Station stop. Los Angeles is definitely not known for its public transportation system but it's come a long way in the last few years and it's a great way to explore LA for tourists and locals alike.

New Website, New Work, New Workshops!

Welcome to my new site! I'm very happy to announce the launch of www.artofseeing.com, the new home of my blog, contests, events and workshops. It took a while longer than I planned and there's still a bit of cleanup going on in the corners but I think it turned out nicely. There's a lot going on around here and more to come so I hope you will have a look around. If you want to skip to the good stuff, here are a few highlights: 

• My newest workshops: Immersive India, Wild Mustangs of the Adobe Valley, and High Sierra on Horseback. More workshop announcements coming soon so check back often or sign up for advance notification
• Name This Image contests. Who doesn't like free stuff? Well, if you can come up with the perfect title for one of my images, I'll send you a beautiful signed print! Nothing come to mind this time around? Don't worry, there will be many more contests and opportunities to win
• We just launched a new  MeetUp group in Los Angeles, Art of Seeing Adventures. We're all about learning more about photography and expanding our creative vision. Our first event, in conjunction with Worldwide Photowalk Day  is the Venice Beach Photowalk on Oct 1. We're planning lot's more photowalks, presentations, gallery tours and even some weekend excursions. So if you're in the LA area and passionate about photography, join us or sign up for my newsletter to be kept in the loop.

 Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you out there!

New Workshop! The Art of Seeing: India 2017

Looking for an immersive photography adventure? Join me on our India photography tour as we capture the colors of the Holi Festival. Learn more today.

Win This Print!

It's baaack! Calling all creative minds...I'm holding another Name This Image Contest!  It's easy and you could win a signed print and have your entry immortalized as this photograph's official title! Enter as many times as you want before the deadline, September 30. And be sure to share with your friends.

Join Us!

The Art of Seeing Photography Adventures is the latest (and greatest, we think) photography MeetUp Group in Los Angeles! We're all about becoming better image makers by practicing and learning more about our common passion. Join us as we explore the greater LA area and beyond through photowalks, gallery tours, group photoshoots, guest speakers and more.   

It's an amazing time to be a photographer with technology both facilitating and driving artistic vision. Some of our events will be centered specific equipment or techniques but we will also devote much of our time to understanding the creative process and developing the photographer's eye, or as we like to call it, The Art of Seeing. So whether your focus is nature, street life, fashion, travel,  architecture, fine art or something else, we think you'll have a great time sharing your interests and learning new things with others that have been bitten by the photo bug!

What our members have to say!

My 'Aha' Moment

drawing-right-side

line-drawing

"To look at a thing is very different from seeing it" - Oscar Wilde

Maybe the best way to start off this discussion is to relate how I came to see the light, so to speak. I was in my last year of photography school and a bit annoyed that the instructor of this particular class (Advanced Illustration Photography as I recall) had included "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards in the syllabus. After all, we were there to learn photography, not how to draw. Up to that point, I had harbored some doubts about whether I really had ‘it' as a photographer. I mean I loved photography, no question. So much so I wouldn't hesitate to call it a burning passion. And I knew the difference between good images and not so good ones. But my own work felt lacking. I had learned well all of the lessons about lighting patterns and contrast ratios and color temperature. I mastered maintaining detail in the shadows and highlights. In general, my photographs were technically sound, but totally uninspiring and I knew it. I did have a few photographs I was proud of, but maybe I just got lucky those times. So there I was, trying to learn how to translate my passion for photography into images with passion, and this instructor wanted me to waste my precious time on a book about drawing. I had no talent in this area and even less inclination to learn. But I couldn't help being totally floored when one of the first exercises I attempted yielded the best drawing I had ever made in my life. The exercise involved copying a picture out of the book with the twist that the picture was presented upside down. Probably the only reason I completed the exercise was that the instructor was literally walking around looking over our shoulders. But when I finished and turned my copy right side up, I couldn't stop staring at the piece of paper in front of me. What I saw was a very reasonable copy of the original drawing and certainly the best drawing I had ever made in my life!  Why would drawing a picture upside down make such a difference in my drawing abilities? The answer, it turns out, was that when the drawing was upside down, I couldn't use the stored concepts in my head of what a nose, eyes, mouth, lips, etc. look like. Instead, I was forced to really see what was there.

Betty Edwards is a professor of art that taught drawing for many years and came to the conclusion that everyone has the ability to draw reasonably well, they just need to be taught how to see correctly.  Through a series of exercises, she teaches us that there are really two ways of seeing and that looking at things the 'right' (right brain) way is the key to drawing well. I believe it is the key to photography as well. I have also come to believe that what we call art and creativity is just the language of the right brain mode of seeing/thinking. It is a language without words; a language that we all innately understand but sometimes need help speaking.  That day in class was a turning point in my approach to photography.  I realized then that technique and equipment had very little to do with making good images.  Since then, it's been an ongoing journey to better understand the whole creative process and apply the knowledge to my photography. I have come across some great teachers and gained some of my own insights as well. I plan to use this space to discuss this journey. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences as well.

The Art of Seeing India - Workshop PreAnnouncement

Taj Mahal at Sunrise

“This is India; the land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendor and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genii and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of a thousand nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of tradition..." —Mark Twain, Following the Equator, 1897

India is beautiful. And complicated. And beautiful. Oh, I said that.

My first trip to India yielded an amazing adventure, a handful of photographs I am proud of and some questions. A lot of questions. I'll be back next year, March 2017, with a small group of photographers looking for answers. Or maybe just asking more questions. I invite you to join us. The dates and itinerary are still being finalized but if you think you might be interested, please contact me and I will make sure to keep you updated.  In the meantime, you can see some of my favorite images from this incredible experience in my India gallery

Wild Horses of the Adobe Valley Photography Workshop

Track and photograph wild mustangs on foot and horseback!

I am very excited announce that I will be the photography instructor for a unique adventure offered by Rock Creek Pack Station (Bishop, CA). For four days this spring, we will hike and ride through the remote and seldom visited Adobe Valley area of the Inyo National Forest seeking opportunities to observe and photograph the wild mustangs that call this rugged territory home. RCPS' expert tracker/guides will educate us in the natural history and behavior of these icons of the American west. Photography instruction will be a combination of lecture/demonstrations, image critiques and in the field coaching. With any luck our cameras will capture galloping mustangs, battling stallions and mares with their newborn foals!

Nestled between two major mountain ranges, the Sierra Nevada and the White Mountains, the Adobe Valley is a unique haven for these magnificent creatures.  With such stunning backdrops it's hard to imagine a more picturesque locale for this exciting experience.

May 13-16, 2016

Cost $875 per person including meals, tent lodging, pack/riding stock, guides and photography instruction.

For more information or to register for this event, please visit the RCPS  Mustang Trips page or call 760-872-8331

Wild Stallions Fighting

A wild mare and her foal

Looks Fake, Looked Faker in Real Life

A truly photo worthy sunset over the Sierra Nevada

When watching sunrises and sunsets is part of your job description, it's easy to forget the fact you are witnessing a minor miracle that happens on schedule, twice a day.  Jaded might be too strong a word, but you tend to develop a connoisseur's disdain for the unexceptional. But Mother Nature has a way of reminding you who the real artist is. Case in point, I was walking along the Owens river one fall evening hoping for a 'decent’ sunset to photograph. It wasn't looking too promising as a rapidly thickening blanket of clouds threatened to cancel the event altogether.  In the race between the gathering clouds and the setting sun, it looked like the clouds were going to claim the prize. "Looks like it's going to be a bust," I thought but decided to stick it out anyways. As the sun sank to meet the peaks of the eastern Sierra, a golden glow illuminated the entire valley. There was an amazing quality to the light that I’ve only rarely experienced. It felt like the light wasn’t emanating from the setting sun as much as from the air all around me. Then, the sky exploded.

Although I was alone, I'm pretty sure I  said "this is unreal" out loud more than once. Then I bent down over the tripod and got to work.  I’ve been to this rodeo enough times to know that staying calm is part of the secret to success so I tried my best to adopt a zen attitude. Breathe. Focus. Breathe. Focus. I 'worked the scene' as best as I could, trying various compositions and camera settings, only pausing occasionally to let out a quiet “oh wow." I clicked off a few dozen frames before I knew that the moment had passed. As the light faded, I stopped shooting and watched the final act in reverent gratitude. This, I thought, is why I do this.

'Into the Mystic' is the Winner

Into the Mystic

It happened again. There must be some truth to the saying, "great minds think alike" because so often more than one person submits the best title (in my opinion) for one of my Name This Image contests. This time both Michael Hurley and Courtney Watkins chose "Into the Mystic" as their title for this photo of early morning rays breaking

through patchy fog in the Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area just east of Santa Ynez, CA. Aside from the fact that I have a particular fondness for the Van Morrison tune of the same  name, I think it's the perfect title for this image. It just works - don't you agree?

As I said, this  happens (multiple winning entries) often enough that I normally award the prize of a signed print only to the first winning entry. In this case, however, because of how this contest was conducted (paper entries vs web), I have no idea who submitted their entry first. So I think it's only fair that both winners receive the prize. So congratulations Michael and Courtney and thanks for a great title!

My thanks also go out to everyone else who entered - there were lots of great submissions. The next contest will be announced very soon so you will have more chances to win in the near future. If you want to be sure that you don't miss the announcement, subscribe to my Updates on the home page of this site

December 2011 Name This Image Contest

Spike, Midnight & Rocky

It's contest time again... with a twist this time. Click here for the entry form and all of the details.

I'm doing something a little different this month to wrap up the year. This image may be less 'serious' (whatever that means) than some of my other work but you can't deny that it's in keeping with the season! I hope it brings a little smile your face. As an added bonus, the winner of this month's contest will receive their choice of any one of my limited edition prints.

The 3 amigos from left to right are Spike, Rocky & Midnight. I took this a couple years back at our house in Steamboat Springs, CO. We got tired of tossing out a dead tree after every Christmas so we decided to decorate this spruce in our yard instead. I think it worked out quite nicely!