OREGON TAYLOR FIELDS

  Ever since the TV series Portlandia, the Rose City has gained an image of being different, even strange. There is a feeling of artsy in the young people and the many small businesses catering to the Portland way. In recent times, the nature of the place has led to problems, drugs and homelessness. Still it remains a wonderful place to explore. The city has a wealth of low profile buildings especially in the Northwest and East Side portions. Colors and contrasts abound. There is nothing here that say “the same.” No ditto buildings piled against other ditto ones.  They say that good photography is born out of finding stillness and studying all aspects of a scene. The contrasts of people, buildings and vides in Portland teach a different dance for your camera. Some of the contrasts are just meant to be together, others stretch the mind to blend and understand. It all works out though, as you walk this wonderful city and find yourself dancing its side streets.

  The sun and a soft chair bathed me with the warmth of the day. I always have a camera with me, inspiration was running short though. Then I remembered how good it felt to just work the camera. To pick a subject, any subject and enjoy the experience. The light far from perfect, a shadow cut the scene it two, the backdrop only a simple white car. Maybe it was the sun magic or just the corner I found myself in. I began to see patterns to it all. People of all shapes and sizes walking by. The car not moving. A rare calm, I thought. They say the best of street photography is being able to do it without notice. To take the photo and not move the camera from the scene so people won't think they are the subjects. So now I had a project. Happy for that, the shutter worked over and over again until the car owner came back and drove off. Ending my photo day, but still remembering the study of a white car...

I’m not sure what entirely it is, but I feel uneasy in Columbia SC. My camera struggles to make sense of it all and find good images. The city has gems here and there, the art museum, the capital building, a pleasant downtown, the university with it’s iconic stadium, the history museum and repurposed buildings. Still the place has a rough un-sewed feeling about it. Maybe it’s the free ways running north and south and slice and dice it. Not straight lines ones, instead sharp curved ones designed it seems by politicians, certainly not an engineer. Fast cars setting the pace for all the streets and byways that spring off it. You always want to bring home a trophy, a great photo, worthy of the outing. Fate does not always say yes. My full frame Canon RP was not focusing well. When good, this camera takes detail colorful shots. I had to pull off to the side of the road and reset the camera. A lesson for sure. You have to use fine equipment regularly or it will let you know. You could not re...