Author Archives: Mike

Find Me

Posted by Mike on

Floral, Midday, Macro
Squared – SQ163

The walks around the building during lunch work wonders for me (although, I’m OK with a good power nap too). I get out of the cubicle and away from everything work related. The feel of the sun on my face powers me up for the rest of the day. I could try and say I’m getting exercise but I’m not really walking much, I’m exploring the grass/weeds/overgrowth at the edges of the parking lot.

I watch a few other friends as they are doing laps. They have a different purpose for their walk. Definitely out there for the exercise, passing me almost on a timed schedule. Good for them though! Too many other people are still in the office working through lunch. I want to yell at them, “Take a break!”, but they have to learn the lesson on their own.

My walk is slow, generally only once around, because I am exploring, searching for that over-looked subject to focus my lens. I find the things other walkers don’t see. I walk and I am attuned to the colors, the play of light and shadow. When I see it, I capture its image. This one said, “Find me”…

Find Me
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/1000s, f/2.8, ISO 100

Future Yet Written

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

I am in double trouble.

Since I have been on this journey of photography I see the world around me differently. Images appear everywhere I look. Driving the car can be interesting as I am constantly seeing new opportunities for my camera. The way the light is falling on a tree or the color of the sky as the sun rushes toward the horizon.

Now words are coming out too. I have used the titles of my images to convey a little more about each image. It might have been a thought or feeling as I took the image, or they might come after as I’m processing. Lately, more words have been coming out and yesterday I needed to stop along the way to work to record a few that kept playing in my head…

Hidden beneath the surface
Never quite awake
A thought, a feeling
Waiting to escape
Held in reserve
For fear of rejection
This part of me
So long forgotten

Your words reached within
And untied the knots
The spirit set free
To soar now unbound
What heights will be reached
The limit is endless
My story unfolds
The future yet written.
Future Yet Written
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/125s, 40mm, f/11, ISO 200

Sentinel

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park
Haiku

As long as I have been going to Delta Lake to photograph the views I have been drawn to this tree. I have captured its image throughout the seasons. I never understood why this tree held my focus until I realized, the tree is me…

Sentinel

Stoic in the wind
Sentinel to the water
Lake dreams unfurled
Sentinel
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/40s, 13mm, f/11, ISO 200

Sun Kissed

Posted by Mike on

Floral, Macro
Haiku

You can capture an image of what you see…

the artist shares what they feel…

Sun Kissed

Reaching to the sky
Old dreams unrealized take flight
Wings kissed by the sun
Sun Kissed
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Dreams

Posted by Mike on

Monochrome, Floral, Macro

The rain Sunday afternoon ended late. Stormy skies threatened a return. Indifference to getting wet had me exploring the trails in the Sculpture Garden. I was not alone. All my dreams followed me…

Dreams
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 1/160s, f/2.8, ISO 200

Sea of Yellow

Posted by Mike on

Wagner Farms
Haiku Poetry

Late in the afternoon I headed out to explore with the camera. I didn’t have a particular destination in mind, it only needed to be different. Someplace I haven’t been in a while. I was letting my subconscious decide the turns along the way when I remembered Wagner Farms was open. They have sunflower fields!

The sky was looking fantastic. My excitement was palpable. Drive!

I parked the car and could not get the camera out of the bag quick enough. I took a step back. I slowed my breathing. The sunflowers were not going anywhere. I needed a moment to plan.

The macro lens was on the camera which is what I wanted to capture details. What to do for the long shots, the grand vistas, the sweeping landscapes… bring another camera! With one camera hanging off my hip from the capture clip and the other from the strap around my neck I walked into the fields.

It was a sea of yellow! Glorious!

Dang, I’m not alone. What are these other people doing in my fields? Breath…

I explored the main field switching between the two cameras every few feet. I had forgotten how people use the sunflower fields for photo shoots. Navigating around portrait photographers and their subjects was interesting but I was determined to not let it ruin my afternoon. I happily collected my images.

Off to the second field. Different varieties of sunflowers with the non-standard coloring were in the second field. There were also less people. My smile was growing.

I was almost done with the second field when noticed the sky. Whoa! The clouds had rolled in but the sun was streaking through them. I needed that image. I knew exactly where to get the one I wanted. Back to the first field…

To say I wanted to run would not be admitting too much, right? No, running not allowed. I settled on asking Mother Nature not to change the view. Please stay a few more minutes… please. Whew! I made it.

There are small platforms along the fields to give some elevation. Not high, maybe four feet but enough to allow you to look out across the entire field with the sun flowers poking through a blanket of green. This is the image I wanted. The words started trickling into my head as soon as I stepped off the platform…

Replenished

Hope.  Streaking earthward
Alighting on yellow seas
Spirit replenished
Sea of Yellow
Olympus PEN-F, M. Zuiko 17mm f/1.8, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 200

Sunset Window

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park
Haiku Poetry

Hopefully, you never stop growing, or exploring who you are. You are not who you started out to be, the journey changes you. The challenge is being open to that change. The fun is finding a kindred spirit to share in the journey…

Windows

Capturing pictures
Moments frozen out of time
Windows to the heart
Sunset Window
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/40s, 38mm, f/11, ISO 200