A meek and humble "ode" to Ansel..

superduckz

I've had the classic Ansel Adams 1966 "Birds on a Beach" poster in my hallway since I moved into my home. Until I'd really started taking deliberate photographs with a goal in mind (as opposed to simple family point and shoot snapshots) I never truly appreciated what a staggering masterpiece that $10 yard sale print that I've dismissively walked past twice a day for 5 1/2 years really was. I imagine that the original print must be jaw dropping.

Anyway what gave me this new found appreciation came about a year and a half back with my moronically ignorant and my gut-wrenchingingly bad attempt at recreating something similar on our North Florida beaches. Oh the day did have promise. I actually found a nice curved washout! It was a similar sunrise too! And my frame and perspective were sort of similar! Sure I was a bit lucky but this stuff is pretty easy! I mean... Ansel who? Heck I even managed not scare away the few gulls that were lingering in the frame. Home run!

The rest is probably typical to a lot of new photographers who think their new fancy camera is all smart and will "know" how to just magically give you what you are visualizing in your mind. How hard can it be! By the time I was done with all my head scratching at the strange results and "trial and error" experimentation the scene was just gone and my best attempt looked like my 4 year old just dragged slides all over the place in Photoshop. (And No that's not it below. I did the future of mankind a favor a destroyed all evidence).

So anyway... Today I stare at that print and marvel in meek humility. Not to start a "Film vs digital" battle here but if you gave me the choice of any equipment I could take back in a time machine and stood me exactly in that spot at that exact moment (and I shoved him out of the way! :DL) I don't know that I yet have the skill to even approximate it. The dynamic range is just jaw dropping. The man could dodge and burn like Mozart! There is detail in the sun streak. There is detail in the shadows. The balance, the framing... Damm... There is genius in every square inch of it.... and I'm... just... wow... I mean holy epiphany mind altering freaking WOW!

Anyway, this is simply a nice mildly tweaked shot (to my simple eye anyway) that I grabbed on stroll at mid day a while back. As soon as I saw it on the screen I just laughed out loud thinking my earlier effort and my blend of ignorance and arrogance. I like the progress I've made but ohh lord there is so much yet to learn.


<a href="http://steveducharme.zenfolio.com/p800761118/e4d0de368&quot; title="Homage to Ansel"><img src="http://steveducharme.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v62/p1292755816-4.jpg&quot; width="800" height="533" alt="Steve Ducharme (aka:superduckz): Featured Slideshow &emdash; Homage to Ansel" /></a>

Update: One more I'd forgotten about.
<a href="http://steveducharme.zenfolio.com/p313224338/e4d23a5ca&quot; title="The Swirl"><img src="http://steveducharme.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v69/p1294181834-4.jpg&quot; width="419" height="630" alt="Steve Ducharme (aka:superduckz): Seascape &emdash; The Swirl" /></a>

redleash

Good story--thanks for sharing your efforts. What a daunting task to shoot like Adams--but you had a vision and worked at it. It's something I still need to learn.

superduckz

Thanks. I started playing around with some ND filters just this week. I'm really starting to see the potential there in terms of working in the bright Florida sun. As time permits and when I have something that doesn't make me cringe I'll post it up for some critical feedback and advice.