My goodness. My computer tells me that I took over 10,000 images in 2010, not including the zillions I trashed. Apparently I like photography. I decided to go through my year's photos to bring you a few that I, without justification or hesitation, loved.
Some fun facts!:
-- Only two of them were taken with a DSLR, most with a couple of Canon point-n-shoots, and one with an iPhone.
-- They were taken in 4 different states.
-- None of them used flash.
-- My two front teeth have been broken off in accidents two times, although not at Christmastime and not repaired by Santa.
OK, that last one had nothing at all to do with photography, but it's seasonal.
Of course, I limited the amount of photos for this post pretty severely, because you have better things to do other than spend all day scrolling. In looking broadly at themes I seem to choose, I picked 4 categories -- Nature, Family, Other People, and Rock Stars -- and then picked my 4 favorite in each visual topic. Again, I just sort of went with my gut; some have technical merit, some are flawed, but they all made me smile. Please to enjoy.
THE SPECTACULAR BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND US, OR, LOOK AT THAT DAMN BIRD, MILDRED:
We get some really big spiders here in Washington State. Fortunately, I don't have a spider phobia or anything. This elegant one was hanging from a massive web just outside my home office window, bustin' a move from tree to tree. When I processed the photo with an "expired film" look, he became epic.
Alexandria, Virginia is a very cool historic town just outside of Washington, D.C. This was taken at the end of a very hot day at the end of the main drag, close to the Potomac River. I like the shiny streetlamps and cars and tourist buses, the silhouetted big tree, the long perspective line, and the blue-to-orange progression of the sunset. It also was taken on my birthday. Happy birthday to me.
Doesn't Mr. Santa Monica Pier Pelican look just delighted to have his picture taken? I know he must be used to tourists and their annoying ways, but I also think he was thinking about taking my head off. Go to Malibu and chill with Goldie Hawn or something, man.
PEOPLE LIKE CHILDREN, OR HELL, I'M AROUND THESE GUYS ALL THE TIME, MIGHT AS WELL SHOOT THEM:
At this circus-themed deli in Madison, Wisconsin, MissEight (then Seven) was bored waiting for her food to arrive. I was, too, so I took her picture. The reflection makes it, and the post-processing with the expired film filter and then saturating the color improved it.
At the incredible Getty Center in Los Angeles, a complete visual feast inside and out. The wind lifting my daughter's hair as she goes outside to explore the grounds made for some unexpected movement in the picture.
The composition in setting the kids off to the right gives you a prettier view of Lake Washington and the city of Seattle behind them, but they still remain the focal point. Post-processing with the expired film filter plus pushing the highlights to the max gives it the unusual color and the glow effect around them.
One of the difficulties in taking family portraits is keeping your subjects relaxed and comfortable. People generally look artificial and stiff unless drunk or something. When CouchTeen spontaneously decided to pick up his sister after our Mother's Day brunch in Bellevue, WA., all the kids' real personalities came out for a split second. That's them, and that's the best you can hope to get.
THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO PHOTOGRAPH TOO, OR, STALKER PIX 2010:
These leggy studies both came from the same event, the canceled Vampire Weekend show at Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA. As I was just sitting there waiting for the other bands to come on, the hipsters kindly provided me with two nifty compositions, one a mirror effect from a young couple and the other a pop of color in a blue (jeans) sea.
At Sully's bar in Seattle, a CU Buff fan watches the game on TV with other ex-Coloradans. Beer, football, friends...good day.
I'm pretty sure this woman walks the beach like this every day in Venice, CA. The backstory to go with this would be really something, I think...oh wait, that's a pun.
THE GLORIOUS WORLD OF FABULOUS ROCK STARS:
Whenever I see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, I always end up taking pictures of Peter Hayes' hands. Catching him adjusting one of the pots on his guitar at their Seattle show was some excellent rock n' roll luck, unthinkably so with a point-n-shoot camera. Thanks, Pete! Stop biting your nails.
A Pop-Art process is perfect for a pic of Blondie's Debbie Harry, taken at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, WA.
I cannot think of a finer treat for any photographer than a Flaming Lips concert, and I am so not kidding. Their shows are filled with such fabulous imagery; you can shoot every second and get something cool. I had so many that I liked from this Seattle show at the Paramount. This one shows bit bit of the color and craziness, even from the balcony.
This photo of Brent DeBoer from the Dandy Warhols' Showbox at the Market gig is probably my favorite picture that I took from the entire year. Good camera, good access, and very good luck, as a strobe fired and momentarily side-lit an almost completely dark stage. The colors, action, and composition are just right.
So remember, folks: carry a camera with you in 2011! It doesn't matter so much what kind it is; you just want to be ready. Photography lets other people see through your eyes. Share that.
© Copyright 2008- Marianne Spellman