Blooming Beauty
A Belated Spring Newsletter
I woke at 2am the other night and it dawned on me that I didn’t send the March newsletter out. I love this part of getting older, waking for no reason in the middle of the night and remembering things left unfinished. If you experience this, do you have a trick to get back to sleep? Now the April newsletter is due and I am getting this one in just under the wire.
First things first, I am happy to announce that while not perfect, my back is pretty close to normal, functional anyway. While the physical therapy continues, I have gotten to the point that normal activities are back on track. The first big test was photographing and participating in the Valerie A. Backwell-Truit Community Dance and Performance Arts Concert and Art Exhibition.
I have mentioned this event in previous newsletters, if you are keeping track this was my 3rd time photographing this event. This year I decided to participate in the Art Exhibit as well, hanging three of my photographs shown below. (you didn’t think I was going to dance did you?)
The event is two days, lasting about two hours each night, with a variety of performances of spoken word, singing and dancing. The challenge was that the Foundry Theater stage is not elevated so this requires your tall photographer to get low. An elevated stages makes life easier and allows me to move around without being in view of the audience. I was anxious about this event, concerned that my back might not be up to it but I am happy to report I am fully intact.
Beyond having a love of this event for the performances, it allows me to try new things. Since there are two nights of performances the availability to redo is handy. I use two camera bodies when I shoot live events since there isn’t always time for changing lenses, it is much easier to be able to just grab the other camera that is already dialed in.
The first night I used a 15-35mm f/2.8 and and 85mm f/1.2. I don’t get to use the 85mm enough, it is such a great piece of glass. The second night I opted for the 50mm f/1.2 and the 70-200mm f/2.8. It is probably not a surprise that the 70-200mm f/2.8 was used the most, the range is just too good. Of the primes, I clocked in slightly more photos with the 85mm compared to the 50mm.
So enough gear talk, let me share some of the photographs from that night:
Also, being that it is April means it is time for an art affair in Tipp City. This year I also participated in the event leading up to the art affair called a fine art exhibit. A week long art exhibit of paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media and 3-Dimensional work. It was amazing to see all the work from the amateur and professional artists. If you are ever in the area when the event is happening I suggest stopping by. Thanks to all who came by and said hi at the art affair, it was great seeing the old and new faces!
The eclipse was also in April incase you hadn’t heard 😃, it seems that is all anyone talked about for the month leading up to the event. I had a prime spot for viewing but I didn’t bother to setup my camera. Instead I went out to the patio and had the experience. I used my phone to grab a single shot and then went back to enjoying the event. The trees framed the eclipse nicely and while not the best photograph, it is a snapshot I am happy with.
I will close out this double edition with few spring images. Spring is one of my favorite times of year next to fall. After a cold winter which seems to stretch on endlessly the arrival of warmer air and some color is a welcome change.
The first image is in Glen Helen, the right conditions and a bit of warmth as the forest starts to thaw. In the middle, a dandelion is masquerading as the sun in a see of moss phlox. Lastly, the evening sun shinning just right on a group of sycamore trees.
Hope you are having a fantastic spring and I am looking forward to sharing some exciting news next month.
Thanks for reading!
-Karl
Good read and great, great shots. I think the eclips photo is stunning. And yes the 85 and 50 f1.2 are beasts. Heavy, but excellent iq 😎