There was that moment late in the afternoon when the clouds parted and I discovered College Avenue in Uptown Westerville bathed in spectacular contrasty warm light.
The photos are lacking in compositional and subject elements such as people walking on the sidewalks, bicyclists in the road, or skateboarders.
But there is always that light and the large shadow cast across College to aid in tonal composition..
Java Central in Uptown Westerville without cars blocking the view
Business First has a nice set of articles about Uptown Westerville in its Friday edition. You can read about it on the Shop Uptown Westerville blog or stop by A Gal Named Cinda Lou in Uptown to read its copy. I had not yet seen the article as I stood across the street from Java Central with a rather unusual view.
It was a little after 3 p.m. and a brief lull in traffic and shopping cleared just two parking spots in front of the coffee shop. These two spots are usually filled with coffee fanatics or people running to Schneider’s Donuts for a sugar fix. Adding to my pleasure were two customer in an animated discussions sitting at one of the sidewalk tables.
I knew it wouldn’t be long before one of the open spaces would be filled and the unusual view would be obstructed. I’m always looking for better photos of Uptown, especially when newspapers and magazines are writing stories about Westerville. This was a good chance to have photos that were different. Different because they were shot with a telephoto lens from across the street.
In a perfect world I would have had more time. I would have wished for more people along the brick walk to the right. I would have added fill lights along the walkway. The trees would have leaves.
If this were a formal advertising shot all of those things would have been planned. But it would have taken more than the five minutes I got before a car pulled into one of the parking spots.
Still, I was pleased.
The Business First article’s lead photo is of Debbie Bennati, owner of A gal named Cinda Lou. It was taken by the paper’s staff photographer Janet Adams who I’m sorry to say I missed both her trips to Uptown to shoot the story.
Pair of kayakers enjoy early spring trip at Hoover
Taking an afternoon trip across Hoover Reservoir wasn’t a fool’s chore for this pair of young kayakers who braved chill winds and choppy waters for their first outdoor adventure of the spring.
Despite temperatures barely above freezing and a brisk wind from the west, the pair completed one crossing with a round-about return near the bridge where they encountered headwinds that buffeted their single person kayaks just enough to make the return difficult.
Despite the hazards and cold breezes they discussed their next trip to the lake although both hoped it would be a little warmer next time.
Pair of kayakers enjoy early spring trip on Hoover Reservoir
And, the day wouldn’t be complete without an iPhone Hiopstamatic Tintype of the duo.
Pair of kayakers enjoy early spring trip at Hoover
Taking an afternoon trip across Hoover Reservoir wasn’t a fool’s chore for this pair of young kayakers who braved chill winds and choppy waters for their first outdoor adventure of the spring.
Despite temperatures barely above freezing and a brisk wind from the west, the pair completed one crossing with a round-about return near the bridge where they encountered headwinds that buffeted their single person kayaks just enough to make the return difficult.
Despite the hazards and cold breezes they discussed their next trip to the lake although both hoped it would be a little warmer next time.
Pair of kayakers enjoy early spring trip on Hoover Reservoir
And, the day wouldn’t be complete without an iPhone Hiopstamatic Tintype of the duo.
Farm house on a hiil in Ohio farm country
There’s a lot of farm country near my daughter’s home north of Johnstown.
About two miles away on the crest of a small ridge sits an old farm house recently refurbished from a condition that showed years of abandonment and disrepair. It now has new siding, roof, a mowed front yard, cars in the garage, and is filled with the sounds of family.
What hasn’t changed is the wonderful perspective I get from the bottom end of the eastern rise of that small hill. The house, garage, and trees make near perfect stencil cut silhouettes against the setting sun and sky almost every time I visit.
The exact shape and color of the sky is always different. Sometimes, depending on the season, the sun sets directly behind the house, its bright orange orb dominating the frame.
Other days, like Easter Sunday, it’s the clouds that make the statement allowing the sun to splash its rays through the cloud edges casting inspirational rays across the land.
And, I’ve been there during rain, snow, corn too tall to see over, and drought so hot that the ground cracked and crops shriveled.
What is common about these moments, about the times I pulled a camera to my face, is the house on a hill. A house that is now a home and much more than a silhouette cutout.
