Actually, it came from a lake. A nice lake too. I was just drawn to the finger-lilke lines of the tree branch as it reached out of the lake and dipped its fingers back into the water.
It Came From The Swamp
Starburst
Sandhill Cranes
Not too long ago I noticed a swoop of Sandhill cranes flying high above my house. There were about 100 of them and they were circling, diving and changing direction all over the place.
I quickly got the camera to document this craziness and got a few interesting photos. I love changing seasons because we often get to see migrations, awakenings, and other changes. It keeps things interesting.
Abstract Image
Something I’ve been doing more and more lately is abstract photography using intentional camera movement (ICM) and multiple
Cold Color
Abandoned By Winter
Left by the Rain
I’m Finally Using Instagram
I’ve had an Instagram account for a couple of years now but have only posted two pictures. That’s kind of how I am with Facebook too. I kind of like the idea but then whenever I start posting it feels fake and pointless.
I don’t think my followers (mostly family and a few friends) really care to see all the boring stuff I do every day or pictures of my kids when they win an award or something. And I hate the idea of bombarding them with a bunch of photos that might not have much context for them. I could be totally wrong about this.
Maybe I would change my mind if my parents and sister were the only ones that could see my wall. Also, on Instagram, I didn’t really know what I should be posting. Should it be just personal family pictures? Artsy pictures that I take daily? A mix of everything? I just didn’t know what I was doing.
I still have no idea what I’m doing. But I do want to put interesting photos and information out for other people to see. This blog is one of the channels I use to do this but there are so many people using Instagram these days that I thought I should at least make another attempt at using it before it becomes obsolete and users abandon it.
So I started a fresh new Instagram account called Ryan Davison Photography and started posting the photos I thought people (yes, including my family and friends) might like to see. I post things that I plan out and take with my DSLR but I’ve also been posting things from my daily walks that I capture using my smartphone. Those smartphone photos usually turn out surprisingly well.
My latest photos have been a series taken of things I find in the gutter. That might sound boring or uninspiring but you would be amazed at the beauty hiding along the side of the road. Like the
For Facebook users who aren’t on Instagram, I also started a Facebook page to showcase the IG photos, photography posts from this blog and anything else I feel like putting there. Hopefully all of this is for a good cause and will be enjoyed. As with most things, time will tell.
A Crack In The Road
The Wonder in the Mundane
I’ve continued my investigations into the gutters of my neighborhood and beyond and found more wonders that usually go unnoticed. I’m not sure how long this will last though. I like looking down to the small things around me but sometimes you have to look up and notice the larger world around you.
The trick is to see it all and not neglect any one part. Of course, I’m much more comfortable droning through life not noticing anything around me. But comfort is boring and doesn’t help you grow. I have to constantly fight the tendency to shut off the thinking part of my brain.
That’s one of the benefits of conciously looking for the minutae around you; finding the wonder in the mundane; enriching your life with the world that’s actually around you that your brain often filters out as unnecessary. So for now I’ll keep looking to the gutter as a way of lifting myself above complacency.
