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Sunday, January 27, 2013

vision

The first assignment for Kim Klassen's Beyond Beyond year-long class, and I'm actually on time.

A simple assignment such as this - one subject + several shots/settings/views - made it irresistible to me: I just had to get out my camera and shoot something. No time for over thinking..."Think YOU," she said...so I grabbed the first thing I thought of.

Kim's thoughts about being in the moment also resonated with me. It seems I am always trying to squeeze in a swim workout or a bike ride. So I pondered this part of the assignment as I swam my laps Thursday morning before work. It's pretty hard not to be in the moment when you are swimming, especially just as you get into the water (my least favorite part of the whole routine). Once I am warmed up and gliding through the water it becomes a soothing, insular, other-worldly experience. Oh, I stop now and again to catch my breath, wipe the fog from my goggles and adjust my earplugs, sometimes chatting briefly with the swimmer in the lane next to me. But it's mostly just me and the water. And the breathing. And my thoughts.

Swimming is for me a meditative, contemplative, often visionary experience - and a great way to start my day. I often climb out of the water with a great idea or some sense of clarity on some subject in my life.

Or at the very least, peace in my soul.

***

Pretty simple post-processing here: I imported about 30 shots into Lightroom, where I culled it down to three, which I fine-tuned a bit and cropped into squares in the Develop module and arranged into a custom Print Module layout. Then I applied a couple RadLab filters: Contrast and Highlight Separator at about 50%. Then I edited in Photoshop, applying two layers of Kim's kk_chill texture - at 60%Soft Light and 20% Multiply blend modes.

xoxo
Cindy




12 comments:

  1. I really love the water drops - nice job!

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    1. It really helped to have that as my focus - literally and figuratively - when honing the shots, and doing the post-processing for that matter.

      xoxo

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  2. I enjoyed reading your post...LOVE your photos...beautiful goggles!

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    1. Thank you! It is nice to get to know folks like you this way.

      xoxo

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  3. Cindy, your post has a great theme and back story. I had to chuckle at your explanation of post processing, which you described as "pretty simple." What's funny is that there used to be a time when none of that would have many any sense to me, but I actually followed and understood every step you took. My, how much we learn and grow in the realm of photography!

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    1. There was also a time when "virtual" art held no appeal for me because I couldn't reach out an touch it with my own hands. Now I am enjoying making art without wondering where am I going to put this?

      xoxo

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  4. I have the same time to think when I walk in the mornings. I am not much a swimmer. The getting in the water part always holds me back, not because I can't swim, but because it is chilly. I am a whimp :)

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    1. Dawn is my favorite time of the day...there is a sense of peace everywhere, not to mention the wonderful sunrises I get to see.

      xoxo

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  5. Lovely post I go into meditative mode when I photograph it's just being in the moment isn't it... love your collage..

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    1. I am finding that too! Time stands still when I have my camera up to my eye.

      xoxo

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  6. I love your collage! Nice details with the water drops & the close-up of the brand name.

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