Sun Rise through The Market House

This event only happens twice a year, On Nov 11 and Jan 29. You can get the shots the day either side of those days. But the optimum days are the 11th and 29th. The famous shot, of the sun rising through the arches of the Market House here in Fayetteville, was taken by Johnny Horne of the Fayetteville Observer. Since that shot appeared people have come in the early hours of the morning to make their own iconic photo. This morning was no different, as the sun began to rise the excitement in the little crowd of photographers rose, and shutters whirled. Yes, I was down there also in the mix, well at least at the fringes. I had decided that while this is a great photo, that I would concentrate more on the people who came to capture it. So here are my images from this morning.



Sharon even got caught up in the excitement.



I also did some in color:



Thought this was a cool shot of Sharon's phone with the Market House in focus.



Johnny Horne was in attendance, perhaps watching a student from his Fundamentals of Digital Photography class.



Well, of course I didn't go all the way down there this morning and not get a shot of the show.



Sharon and I got down there this morning about 0645 or so, and I had time to get a couple of shots of the Market House and this one light pole's shadow that Sharon pointed out to me.



This was a great time and I am glad that I made it downtown for it. I plan to be there again at the Nov. and Jan. next year events.

Pretty Cool Cloudy Day

Driving about today I noticed that the sky was really pretty awesome. Then I happened past a water tower and old smoke stack, and well just got inspired.



After a few there I went to HopeMills and found another water tower and another wonderful sky.



Then I happened along this Streetlamp and the clouds and sun came together just right.


I got a few more developed from today.

Playing With Yesterday's Photos

I got to playing around with some of the other photos that I took yesterday. These were the ones that weren't really bad they just didn't make me happy. So I played around with removing all color but one, then over saturating and illuminating that one color. So here is what I ended up. I am still experimenting with it so maybe more to come later.

Rain Day at the Coffee Shop

It is rainy and cold here today. Perfect weather to hang out in the coffee shop. After I dropped Sharon off at work ( work on a Saturday.... I Know!!!! ) I headed downtown. Thought I would try the Haymont Grill out for breakfast, well been there done that. Wasn't bad just nothing to write home about.

So went down the street to Rude Awakenings coffee shop to have a Spice Chai Latte ( I Love Those now). Sat in the front window so I could get some street shots of the passer-bys. well as I mentioned before it was wet, cold and miserable so not very many people out this morning. But I did get some blur shots of cars going up and down Hay Street.


I wanted to get a change of venue so I went down the street to the Marquis Market, to do basically the same thing. Had some coffee made a few pictures, you know just hung out.




Well, of course it would not be right to go downtown and not get a shot of the Market House.

Ansel Adams - PREVISUALIZATION!!!!!!!

Ansel Adams had two rules of photography, ( even after making the statement at the 1932 exhibit in San Francisco " There are no rules for good photographs there are only good photographs."):

1. The complete image must directly reflect how the subject appeared in the camera.
2. He had to see the finished photograph in his mind before the shutter was released.

Previsualization is one of the most important lessons to be learned from this photography Great. We must see the image in our head before we release the shutter. We must get away from the point and shoot mentality if we are every going to progress in our field. Too many times the photo is just snapped without the thought to composition, background, and even subject. ( I speak of my own photography here but I am sure there are many others that are also guilty of this.) We need to slow down, check our background, and place our subject in the frame where you determine it has the effect that you are trying to achieve. I think that digital photography had made us lazy, in that it cost nothing to take hundreds of pictures in hopes that some or one will come out they way we wanted, The Spray and Pray method.
" I have often thought that if photography were difficult in the truest sense of the term- meaning that the creation of a simple photograph would entail as much time and effort as the production of a good watercolor or etching- there would be a vast improvement in total output. The sheer ease with which we can produce a superficial image often leads to creative disaster"
Ansel Adams
He was talking of film photography here , but this is eve truer with the digital age. We have to build the image in our mind, add all the layers, get the right angle or perspective. Adjust for the correct light, the right time, all this before we release the shutter. I have a lot to learn, and I am studying the great photographers of the past and present, to help me along the way.

"I trust that the next step will be electronic image, and I hope I shall live to see it. I trust that the creative eye will continue to function, whatever technological innovations may develop."
Ansel Adams

More From Charlotte

I have developed a few more of the images from Charlotte.



I really enjoyed the market area. I have to go back there it had some very interesting booths.



Here is the Studio where Sharon attended the WorkShop Wingmaker Arts Collaborative