Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Crab Apples Through Glass

3 December 2009 #39
I'm a bit embarrassed to post this because of my use of the "glass" filter in Photoshop. I was just messing around with an image that wasn't quite working for me. It brings me closer to that painterly feel that I wish I had more often.

Comments are appreciated.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Crab Apples - December

3 December 2009 #10-1

Monday, December 28, 2009

Natural Abstraction - Crab Apples in Winter

3 December 2009 #14

Winter Crab Apples

2 December 2009 #10

Saturday, December 26, 2009

More Snowfall and Crab Apples

2 December 2009 #32
2 December 2009 #42

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas - Crab Apple and Snowfall

2 December 2009 #14
Christmas Eve
There is at least 10 inches of snow in Mpls today and a bunch of slush being created as I type.

One thing that is interesting about this batch of winter photos is that I can see that some of the fruit is only just recently eaten. You can almost see juice dripping from the apple stems.

Good luck, squirrels and birds!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Black and White Crab Apple Tree in Winter

1 December 2009 #32

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

What Choices Do You Make?


2 May 2009 #13 (again)

2 June 2009 #169 and 3 May 2009 #103

Or, more accurately, what decisions do you make? I have been trying to make a bit more sense out of my photography and the process I have for making pictures. One prominent aspect of the process is that it is about choices and also about choices. Choices when photographing to represent the choices of life.

Decisions I make when photographing:
  • Subject matter--typically trees. Very life-like things.
  • Location--typically the busy street by my house. This is where my life is.
  • Time of day--though I try to minimize the effects of sunset lighting and such so that the photo is more about the subject than the light. Life isn't always the golden hour.
  • Lens--usually my Canon 70-200mm f4.0L. Sort of like putting one's best foot forward.
  • Proximity to my subject--usually less than 5 feet away from the tree trunk. Life surrounds you. You're in the middle of it.
  • Focus--mainly sticking my lens in the branches and adjusting the focus on the various branches. It's all about choices.
What am I trying to communicate?

All life has beauty, and no beauty is without flaw. The choices we make create harmony and balance, or dissonance and discord. Usually a mix both. The choices before us are unlimited, and there is no right path. Enjoy the beauty you see and appreciate its complexity. Everything is the way it should be.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Are These Crab Apples Staring at Me?

4 November 2009 #18 b/w

Seriously. I'm beginning to feel like as I am staring at the crab apple trees that they are staring back at me. They don't smile, I don't smile. They don't pose in any given way, and neither do I.

I'll see if I feel this way after a nap.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Bright Red Crab Apple Fruit #1

4 November 2009 #3

Thursday, December 10, 2009

A Bit of Nature

4 November 2009 #20

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

B/W Crab Apple

4 November 2009 #19b1

Fall Crab Apple Diptych - Chicago

4 November 2009 #4 - #12

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Bundle of Thorns - Chicago Crab Apples

3 November 2009 #44

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Chicago Crab Apple with Thorns

3 November 2009 #77

Friday, December 4, 2009

Chicago Crab Apple Trees -- Green Blobs

3 November 2009 #55

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About Me

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Michael McGraw
Minneapolis, MN, United States
Photographer/Artist based in Mpls, MN. I have a studio in the NE Arts District--Studio #274 at the Northrup King Bldg, 1500 Jackson St NE. I photograph elements of nature to explore color, shape, and composition. I am currently pairing images as diptychs to invite a closer examination of urban nature. The photographs of trees that you see here are all taken in Minneapolis or Chicago along the side of highways and well-traveled city streets where the beauty of these trees is often overlooked. (All images Copyrighted. Use permitted with permission).
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