Wish I'd Said It

Weeds are flowers too - once you get to know them.

- A. A. Milne

Monday, August 21, 2006

Cottage Night

I used to be a photography buff and in the early 80s was a partner in a photographic restoration business. Our primary source of income was retouching old or damaged photos and doing black and white developing. We also did custom developing for artists who didn't want the push-button, cookie-cutter developing being offered by most photo shops. So I spent a lot of time in a darkroom inhaling and playing with chemicals.

Oh stop with the knowing nods already!

The business went kaput after a year or two. A couple of years later, my beloved Konica and nearly-beloved Canon developed problems I was too poor to get fixed. My interest in photography ebbed.

When I was shooting a lot, I focused on nightime photography. I loved the ambience provided by streetlights and car headlights. Add gently falling snow, people walking and kids skating, and you end up with some nifty pics reflecting my preferred reality: blurred around the edges.

Like most of you, I bought a digital camera a couple of years ago but never used it for more than snapshots. I disliked the lag when the shutter was depressed. I wasn't thrilled that the flash came on whenever it felt like and I missed not having that B- setting which left the lens open as long as I wished.

A couple of weeks ago while at the cottage I decided to try some night shots with the digital. I didn't expect much good to come of it, given the limitations I expressed above.

When I got home and uploaded the images I was thrilled! Somehow, that wonky flash and hesitating shutter combined to produce some interesting pics - pics with an impressionistic quality, adding colours and dots that my eyes missed.

Reality, blurred around the edges.

Although the photos lose much of their pixelated charm when downsized I invite you to take a peek anyway.

Come. Visit my cottage with me:



Here's the entrance to the driveway.



Here's the view from the left as you go down the driveway. Or is it the right? Yeah, the view is the same pretty much wherever you look. We're back in the bush.



Getting dark. Might be a nice night for a fire.



Brother-in-law Ches selects a worthy hunk of wood.



Nephew Zach avoids chopping off his left hand while cleverly making his right disappear.



Meanwhile, two Samurai spar in the gathering gloom.



It'll soon be hot dog and marshmallow-worthy.



An overturned aluminum boat and nose-planted wheelbarrow frame a poplar.



Nephew Eli cuts down on the glare while toasting his mallow.



An iron goose points permanently north and watches a night fisherman.




Sister Lisa bidding adieu to the day from the dock. The red nose is not a result of chugging that wine. It's a vagary of the light and the camera. Probably.

She's also relieved that I didn't post the picture of her butt.



Oh, what the heck.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great photos! Thanks for sharing... but I'll bet that Lisa is going to be.. umm.. bummed..

Anonymous said...

But Dances-with-Fish, dear, where is one of YOU?

Frank Baron said...

Hilary, she'll never see it.

I hope. ;)

Lisa (who is NOT my sister), you know what I look like. :)

(But maybe I'll post some Summer Part Deux pics in a couple of weeks.)

Bhaswati said...

Lovely pictures, Frank. Thanks for taking us on a trip.

Frank Baron said...

Glad you enjoyed bhaswati. :)

Othmar Vohringer said...

Ah to be outdoors in a camp with good friends. What could be better and more refreshing for the mind, heart and soul. Fishing! Where's the fishing pictures Frank?

Nice thanks for sharing that.

Esther Avila said...

Lovely - wish I could go to that cabin. Very nice.
If you're still alive, that means that your sis has not seen that one pic. LOL

Frank Baron said...

Othmar, I've mostly been fishing solo this summer. I need a fishing partner to take some of the pics. C'mon over!

I'm still alive Esther! (She hasn't seen it yet.)

Othmar Vohringer said...

I might just take you up on this offer one of these days Frank. :)

Frank Baron said...

Othmar - sounds like a plan. :)

Patricia, I'm sorry to hear about your husband. But glad you re-found me. :)