Monday, December 3, 2007

Bark in the Park


No reference in this post to barking dogs intended, although yes, I've encountered many vocal pets in local parks. It's about "barkscapes." I love to enjoy the natural beauty of both the macrocosm and the microcosm. I think I've learned to take in both simultaneously, through the lens of my camera. And having a "real" microscope that I received for my 12th birthday, also opened my eyes to the amazing and often gorgeous detail below the threshold of our everyday vision.

I think that texture is the most universal underpinning of form--it's everywhere and part of every object, either natural or man made. (Now, f only I could hold my SONY D-SLR more steady! I'm looking for a lightweight monopod that will do the job, so if anyone has recommendations, I'm open to them. My tripod is just too heavy to tote around.)

Here are two photos of the same tree. A sycamore, perhaps? One is at "regular" focal distance and the other is a close up, though not quite a macro shot. In the second shot, I tweaked the colors just slightly and adjusted the brightness and contrast, to bring out the beautiful pattern. I think it makes a good abstract, don't' you?

One of Robert Genn's newsletters at his Painter's Keys site http://www.painterskeys.com/ was about Miksang, the art of seeing detail in everyday things. I tried to find the link to the article to post it here, but my computer started opening multiple windows and I had to close down, because my task manager wouldn't cooperate. You can search for it at his site if you want to read it.

After I read it, I realized I'd been practicing Miksang practically all my life!

My photographs and paintings are available for purchase at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/ and some of my other sites, which are linked there. Images and text c 2007 Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

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25 comments:

  1. lynda, wow this is the first time I visit your blog and I am stunned. Your blog is awesome and I really enjoy your photos/stories.

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  2. Your right, texture brings things to life, makes stuff way more interesting, I just didn't know it had a name.

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  3. Very interesting. The close-up of the bark is beautiful. I had missed out on that particular email. Had a look just now and will certainly try and look closer in future. I have the link for you just in case....
    http://clicks.robertgenn.com/miksang.php

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  4. beautiful captures, wonderful colors

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  5. Wow! what a combo of the micro and macro -- yin and yang! afterall its a wonderful cosmic union, Lynda.

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  6. Thanks Ujwala! I appreciate the link! (I'm still troubleshooting my new PC!)

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  7. digitalshuttermania,

    thanks for visiting!

    i have visited your blog several times, as you probably know...

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  8. Bob,

    I didn't know that either, until I read Robert Genn's article. The only term I had used or heard used was "close-up" or "macro," and I previously referred to textural close-ups as just "topographies."

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  9. Hi Merging Point,

    Thanks for commenting--you have a great way of putting things! :-)

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  10. First time here and I would like to say you have some very good photos. I'm a bit of an amateur photographer myself. Honestly my images are nothing compared to yours.

    On a side note your computer issue sounds like a virus I experienced a few months back. It attacked my system 32 file within the Windows folder. I ran my virus scanner and it still didn't go away. I finally had to reformat my computer.

    I hope this isn't the issue you're experiencing because it was a pain.

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  11. The bark on this tree is really amazing. :)

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  12. Lovely! It looks like a Sycamore tree- one of my favorites because of the bark patterns.

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  13. Lovely photos. I'm glad to have found your blog.

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  14. the colours in the close up are amazing Lynda....
    I look forward to the Robert Genn Letters....they are great aren't they !!!

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  15. Oi, achei seu blog pelo google está bem interessante gostei desse post. Gostaria de falar sobre o CresceNet. O CresceNet é um provedor de internet discada que remunera seus usuários pelo tempo conectado. Exatamente isso que você leu, estão pagando para você conectar. O provedor paga 20 centavos por hora de conexão discada com ligação local para mais de 2100 cidades do Brasil. O CresceNet tem um acelerador de conexão, que deixa sua conexão até 10 vezes mais rápida. Quem utiliza banda larga pode lucrar também, basta se cadastrar no CresceNet e quando for dormir conectar por discada, é possível pagar a ADSL só com o dinheiro da discada. Nos horários de minuto único o gasto com telefone é mínimo e a remuneração do CresceNet generosa. Se você quiser linkar o Cresce.Net(www.provedorcrescenet.com) no seu blog eu ficaria agradecido, até mais e sucesso. If is possible add the CresceNet(www.provedorcrescenet.com) in your blogroll, I thank. Good bye friend.

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  16. I have just spent the last hour reading/viewing your work. Great stuff keep it up…

    Peace ~ John

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  17. Hi Bryan,

    Thanks for visiting and for your kind words!

    Thankfully, it wasn't a virus. All seems to be well at the moment. It had more to do with Vista and tabbed browsing.... :-(

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  18. hi beth ellen and daniel,

    thanks for stopping by!

    yes, i thought it was a sycamore, daniel, but i'm at that CRS stage of life!!!

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  19. John, thanks so much! Now, to come check out your blog...

    Peace to you.

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  20. Kim, hi! I'm going to post some Italy shots for you soon. Have to convince you to go there by boat...
    since you are averse to flying!

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  21. thank you, lana! i have fun posting and reading other blogs, and as you can tell, i love nature.

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  22. I am definitely a "bark" girl!! Love these shots!

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  23. Lynda very nice as always. And you have microscope, wow, something I have been hunting for a while. I love exploring other dimensions. I heard somewhere, that there is more dimensions going micro scale than towards universe. Where I work we have SEM (scanning electron microscope), and we are looking at small gold wires, and it is unbelievable the things were found on the surface of the wire under that microscope, and yet we don't know what it is. I guess I will stick with my goal for micro lens for now. Great post and great textures again, Anna :)

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  24. Anna, I haven't used my microscope in many years, and compared to what they have today, it's a toy. You're lucky to be able to look through an electron microscope where you work! Yes, the "small side" of things is fascinating! I always wanted to do photomicroscopy, where you attach a microscope to your camera, or vice versa. But I have not looked into it yet...

    At least I can do macro photography--though I don't understand why it's called "macro" instead of "micro," as you are looking at things close up.

    Thanks for all your wonderful comments. I hope some day you do get to investigate the "micro" realm with your camera, too!

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  25. Miksang?!! I did not know they had a name for it. I too have been practicing it ALL my life. I thrive in it. I have photos of bark like this as well. I have dozens of photos that I place on my site of close-up textures, shapes and colors from nature. They are some of my best photography. After having some pics stolen and claimed by others I stopped using any of my good photos. But have been thinking about doing it again. Some I hope to have in a local gallery showing.

    I LOVE close-up and nature photography. I lose myself in it. Thank you for sharing this. I saw your leaf and water photo on that other website. SOOOOOO lovely. You are extremely gifted in your feeling and ability to see the world around you. It touches me time and time again. Love, Robin

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