A little fun with Picasa

Why not? (WHW, NYC, 2007)

Function follows form

At first I thought I wanted a picture of the steeple, then I saw its shadow, along with the abstract shapes the adjacent building and sky created (WHW, NYC, 2007)

Timing

A picture is worth a thousand words. (NYC, 2007)

Rule of threes

Similar to the rule of thirds - background, hand and face: three objects. (WHW, Crete, 1973)

Background

Everything about the background in this picture is placed exactly where I wanted it to be; attention to detail throughout the entire frame is important. (WHW, Crete, 2003)

Rule of thirds

Works every time. (WHW, France, 1970)

Moment in time

This would have not been the same photograph if this man were not looking directly at the camera, with his hand out; and notice the hand with the glass in it to the right. (WHW, Greece, 1973)

Contrast

The Cathedral at Metz on Christmas Eve was dark, lighted only by the white robes of the priests and acolytes and the light of the city streaming in through the Chagall stained glass windows. (WHW, France, 1971)

Architectural Photos

Photos of monuments are hard - and boring. Look for the angles and the framing. (WHW, Soisson, France, 1971)

Diagonal

This portrait of a Sumo Indian woman and her daughter reveals the power of getting close and working on the diagonal. (WHW, Nicaragua, 2000)

Dorothea Lange

Clearly I have studied the history of photography - we can't know where we are going unless we know where we have been. This is taken with a 24mm lens, by the way.(WHW, Nicaragua, 2000)

Depth of Field

Notice that this youngster is in the bottom left corner and everything else is out of focus. (WHW, Nicaragua, 2000)

Focal Plane

Notice how clearly this woman is filling the focal plane - everything else is out of focus. And, of course, look at the diagonal. (WHW, Nicargua, 2000)

Getting Close

Being as close as possible automatically means the background will be soft. Notice the rule of thirds at play, and the diagonal. (WHW, Nicaragua, 2000)

Depth of Field

This is a deliberate effort to have just one part of the picture in focus. Notice the tight cropping, accomplished with a telephoto lens. (WHW, Miskito Coast, 2000)

Rainy Days

Rainy days, with the help of Picasa, are really quite good for color. (WHW, Nicaragua, 2000)

Location, Location

Some shots are just plan lucky. This is a very rare sight, in a remote area of Nicaragua, in the driving rain. (WHW, Miskito Coast, 2000)

Available Light

I have rarely, if ever, used a flash for my serious photography. With the new digital cameras, however, fill flash can be useful. This is taken with a 24mm wide-angle lens with no flash; note the diagonal. (WHW, Paris, 1971)

Getting close

This is an example of getting very close, with a 24mm wide-angle lens. Note the rule of three at work. (WHW, French gypsies, 1970)

Lighting

This is not the same picture if the light is "flat." This light comes from the side, through a door. Notice the focus too: this is taken with a medium portrait lens, to deliberately flatten the depth of field. (WHW, Chiapas, 1996)

Timing Is Everything

I have at least six frames of this man, but only one with the hand in it. (WHW, San Cristobal de las Casas, 1997 

Henri Cartier Bresson Moment

Taken with a 24mm wide angle lens in the Mexican silver mining town, San Luis Potosi, this photograph represents my best effort to learn from the historic photographers. It has won its share of prizes. (WHW 1997)

An extreme example

See below. (WHW, Duke, 1969) 

More Darkroom Fun

This is called "solarization" - before Photoshop, one would briefly turn on the lights in the darkroom while the paper was still in the developer: a "60's thing." I used Picasa to crop this and lighten it up a bit. (WHW, Duke, 1967) 

Be Bold

Don't be afraid to shoot directly into the light. Sometimes the effects can be startling. This is Janis Jopln's band, Big Brother and the Holding Company. (WHW, Duke University, 1969)