The Barefoot PhotographerⓇ

Something New

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:53:00 +0000

Pots and Branches in Black and White, 2013

There's no limit to how complicated things can get, on account of one thing always leading to another.

E.B. White

Babydoll Goes for a Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:02:00 +0000

Last night I had a dream of a baby doll driving an old car. She climbed out of her car seat and guided the car down into the woods. Pine needles scraped along the windows and roof. Baby just waved as she rolled by.

Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:24:00 +0000

"land....because it is the only thing that lasts."

It is a sorrow-filled day for me. I find out that my grandmother's property has been sold. I am not given time to think about what could have happened if I had known there was an intent to sell. It was as if a rug was pulled out from under me.

I have very few photos from the land and not many at all that I really like. This photo above hangs on the wall in my living room.

This is the land of my childhood, the place I loved to be. I spent many days roaming the property with my grandfather. Memories abound -- those of pulling turnips in the garden or eating a tomato fresh from the plant. Days spent fishing along the creek or right on the point. There are many wild laurel bushes along that point. It will be beautiful soon. It is always beautiful.

It is sad.

The Staircase

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:33:00 +0000

Move; faster and don’t look back. Did you hear something? Just when you know something is about to grab your ankle – you make it to the top of the stairs and into the light. Quick, close the door and lock it. Never look back – you don’t want to see if it really is there. If you see it – you will never go into the basement again. It had to be close behind you – you could feel that something was right there.

What does it look like? Will it grab you? Where did it come from? As a child these were my thoughts when I would walk/run up the steps from the basement.

The creepier basement was at my grandmother’s. It was open, not finished, and full of things, shadows. There were wardrobes, light bulbs hanging from the rafters above, chairs, chests of drawers, and the old freezers.

At night, when it was dark – not much ambient light in the woods at my grandmother’s – and you wanted ice cream; you had to go into the basement. Turning on lights as you made your way across the basement from the bottom of the steps to the other side to the freezers.

Not all of the memories of that basement were scary. I remember times I sat down there with my granddaddy as he worked on fishing lures or something near the fireplace. I played in the wardrobes trying on old dresses and fur coats. At the other end of the basement were cupboards filled with jellies, preserves, and vegetables my grandmother had canned the previous summer. There were deer hides from years before; fur so soft and easily shedding into your hand if you petted one. Near the windows and the French doors were plants in the cold months that would take the places outdoors in the warm months; asparagus ferns and a gardenia that had belonged to prior generations. Sometimes there was a batch of dandelion wine curing on the dryer.

Like most basements – it was most scary in the dark; but became an adventure in the day time. I took these photos in the light of day – but they made me think back to steps in the dark.

Sandhill Cranes

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 22:47:00 +0000

Yesterday I was out running errands and I see hundreds of sandhill cranes flying overhead. Bummer for me that I only have my iPhone -- as you can tell since I took this yesterday.

While the iPhone camera is great for many things -- to be able to get a good shot of the cranes -- well -- it would have been a waste of time.

So today I am in the house, in the basement, printing a photo. And I hear it. I hear the cranes outside. They have a very distinctive call -- a chortle or kind of rolling trumpet. So up the stairs I go and of course the long zoom lens is not on my camera and it is still in my camera bag. I quickly changed lenses and stepped outside. Standing in the front yard I could hear them, but not see them. I waited and scanned the sky until I see a few compared to the number I saw yesterday. Maybe these are the last in a long line since it took a few minutes to gather my gear in the house.

Here is the one photo I sort of liked from this morning.

a dozen cranes

Saturdays Back

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 17:02:00 +0000

For a while I had commitments almost every Saturday. And not just the Saturdays -- but other times and evenings and well, when too much is going on I think you need to stop and ask why. Ask why are you doing it and be a little selfish and ask what is in it for you. I thought about my commitments and began to wonder where was the consideration for me in the equation. What was my incentive? When the questions pop up over and over and the incentive seems to not be there it is time for a change.

This morning was nice -- a little coffee, walking the dogs (twice), and head out to the Peachtree City Farmer's Market. I love this Farmer's Market -- and it is my home market which makes it nice -- plus it is two mornings a week! After picking up kale, goat cheese, and delicious chocolate croissants -- I headed home.

On the way to the market I noticed a place that I like to stop sometimes to take a photo. So on my way home this morning I stopped and whipped out the iPhone.

I love having my Saturdays back.

Rusty Cars

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:33:00 +0000

I wish I knew the statistic for how often a photographer takes a photo of a junk car, abandoned building or some graffiti. It must be several times a minute. A couple weeks ago I succumbed to the sirens' call of the auto junkyard.

Whenever I take photos of a subject that is done, done again, and again, I question myself of why I am doing it and contributing to the ever increasing pile of stuff out there. And a junkyard -- oh my gosh. Yes, I had someone ask if I went to Old Car City. Nope, don't need to. There are plenty of nice junkyard close to home. Why travel to north Georgia to shoot the exact place that hundreds, no; more like thousands have been shooting.

Still I did it.

A few days ago I put up a blog with a photo from that day that I liked. Then there was this one.

When I was taking this I knew I would like it. Not so much for the subject but for what else is there. The blues and greens mixed in with the earthiness of the rust color, pine needles, and brown leaves are beautiful. That scale on the windows and the light coming through it was what made me walk through a bit of bramble to get to this vehicle. And of course that side mirror and shard of broken glass among shiny bits of chrome.

I just like it.

iPhone Overload

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:14:00 +0000

Just as I think I need to be more deliberate in my photos -- slow, thinking, take one instead of ten -- out pops my iPhone and before you know it I have five on my way to....well you get the (ahem) picture.

It is like it was when I got my first digital camera and realized that I was no longer limited by the number of frames on a roll. I could shoot; well until that 128mb card would fill up.

The iPhone is so convenient. The apps make it so fun. The sharing on Instagram, Flickr, etc. make it all so easy. I am going to try -- for February -- to slow down. Thank goodness this is a short month.

Lucky 13

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:01:00 +0000

I had not thought much about the number of the year until a few days ago I heard it referred to as "Lucky 13." That made me stop to think for a moment about what a magical year lay before us; me. It was time to stop and think about what is important, what is fun, and what needs to change. Then I ate a fortune cookie and inside was this tidbit "You will soon make a change for the better." A little over a year ago I wrote about a busy 2011 and what was coming up for 2012. My contract with Serenbe Photography Center ended on December 31, 2012. I decided to not sign on for 2013.

Last year I took a writing workshop with the amazing Janisse Ray; maybe this year I will have more time to practice what I learned that day. And maybe I will take another workshop with her.

Occasionally I like to go out to shoot photos without much idea of what I will find until I get there; this year I will (and have already) do more of that. Just in the past couple weeks I have taken more photos that I love than I did all of 2012.

I love this photo. This is one that no matter if it never gets into a show, or no one else ever says anything about it -- I will love it. It truly is what I like about photographs -- simple but a wow. It is not cropped, not edited in anyway except to tweak the contrast a bit. It is what it is. And I think this is my Lucky 13 theme -- keep it simple and do what you love.

Each month this year I plan to work on something that needs attention. January has been great so far for that -- and it is almost over. Time to think about what I need to concentrate on for February.

Digital Black and White Conversion

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:47:00 +0000

There are just a few days left to get in on a workshop that I am teaching at Serenbe Photography Center January 12 -- Digital Black and White Conversion. This is a hands on workshop. You will bring a laptop and work with me trialing and testing techniques that I use to get the black & white look that I want with my images.

I always shoot in color. The photo below is the image I started with of a wolf spider in my backyard.

After working with the file in a couple different programs. I achieved the look I was searching for and the finished image is below.

Christmas Card 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 19:02:00 +0000

I thank you God for this most amazing day,

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees,

and for the blue dream of the sky

and for everything which is natural,

which is infinite,

which is yes.

~ e.e. cummings

Compelled

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:28:00 +0000

A good friend of mine has a blog titled "Compelled to Paint." I am sorry he has that -- because I would like to steal the concept and say that I am compelled to photograph.

Recently I have gotten into Instagram with my iPhone -- oh. my. gosh. -- that would have been awesome for the 365 project of 2010. Now when I see something -- I take that photo and send it to Twitter and to the Tumblr blog. Here is a LINK TO MY TUMBLR. You can also find me on Instagram at donnarosser.

I just made a short trip to the grocery store and took three photos. Here is my favorite one.

Nature Undisturbed 2013 Call for Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:19:00 +0000

It is that time of year again -- time to get out the call for entries for Nature Undisturbed. The show is on for next March at the Serenbe Photography Center. I am pleased to announce our juror is Amy Miller, Executive Director of Atlanta Celebrates Photography. In addition to the call -- we are offering a early entry discount from now through December 1.

Please check out the updated website natureundisturbed.com

Afternoon in the Country

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Yesterday I attended the Les Dames d'Escoffier event -- Afternoon in the Country in Serenbe. It was wonderful!

Favorite food of the day -- the fish taco followed closely by the duck and cranberry lasagna. Oh and the pork -- the pork -- the roasting pigs -- yum! When I returned home yesterday afternoon my dogs sniffed my clothes for quite a while.

Favorite drink -- tie between the champagne and the American Spirit Whiskey apple cider drink.

For you Top Chef fans -- Kevin Gillespie with there with Woodfire Grill. Richard Blais' new restaurant, The Spence, was represented -- but no Richard at the event.

In the Field with Peter Essick

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Last November I had the opportunity to spend the day at a local nature reserve with National Geographic photographer, Peter Essick. The day could not have been better! Peter was recently named one of the 40 most influential nature photographers in the world by Outdoor Photography Magazine. How wonderful for us that he lives right here in the Atlanta area.

Peter has also been working with the Serenbe Photography Center for the past few years leading workshops in the field. For those who love nature photography and get out there on a regular basis to shoot -- the opportunity to shoot with someone like Peter is an awesome experience. The Fall Colors Workshop is coming up again -- and it is almost sold out! People began signing up for this as soon as we put it on the schedule last summer.

Last year I also brought along my son. He is usually shooting race photos and drifting -- but I think he had a great time that day also. Fall color, along the Chattahoochee, with a National Geographic photographer all day -- who could ask for more.

Wet Plate

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 20:17:00 +0000

It is hard to believe tomorrow is October. So much has been going on. This goes back to early August.

Gayle Stevens came to Serenbe for a residency in early August. Gayle is into wet plate collodion photography. I had been wanting to try this. It seemed that it may be the only hope I would have of making a photo with my grandfather's old Hawkeye. I had not yet figured about getting 120 film to fit it. I was told that a piece of tin could be cut to fit the camera and I could use it for wet plate!

So wet plate it was...

In the first photo -- that is the plate I shot with Granddaddy's camera. In the lower photo mine is the long photo and the smaller one belongs to Anne Berry. Anne was shooting with a Land camera.

Below is a digital shot of our subject -- a rather fancy chicken coop.

While Gayle was in Serenbe she shot several portraits. Below is mine in the works.

Patience -- A Waiting Game

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:04:00 +0000

Photography has always been an exercise in patience for me. When I used film -- I had to wait to see the image. Entering juried shows is a game of waiting -- you enter and you wait. Sometimes you wait longer than was first expected.

Last year I was thrilled to have one of my entries selected for Art Kudos -- an international juried art competition that is online. I like participating in an art call more so than just photography. I like to see how my photography will stack up against any artform. The photo selected last year is this one...

This is one of my favorite photos of Sadie. I like the color combination of her white & spots with the green quilt and thread pattern. Last year I also submitted the snake. It was not chosen last year -- but this year it was. That is how fickle juried shows can be. You can have a strong photograph but it may not fit with other selections in a show -- so it is not picked. Just because a photo is not picked for one show -- that does not mean it could not be a winner some place else.

But back to being patient -- about a month ago I received an email from Art Kudos telling me that one or more of my submissions had been selected for their 2012 exhibit. Then I was instructed to wait over two weeks -- and check the website on July 15 to see the selections.

It is a game of enter and wait. Also recently I had forgotten I entered the Texas Photographic Society's TPS 21: The International Competition. I think I saw that call near the end and entered it -- then never made a note of the selection date -- so imagine my surprise when I received the email that I had a photo in. It is a new photo and one I think will do well in juried shows (if it fits well with the others).

Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:51:00 +0000

So -- it is hot -- pretty darn hot -- and going to be a bit hotter this weekend. What did we do recently -- oh yeah -- had some sod installed. So -- this is the summer scene at my house -- keeping the sod happy.

Oakland Cemetery

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:21:00 +0000

Jimson Weed at Oakland

Sometimes you need to spend a little time in a cemetery. I have said before, some of my fondest memories are of accompanying my grandmother and mother to the family plot to weed and leave behind a small vase of flowers. I remember running around the cemetery at Ebenezer Church being careful to not walk across the graves.

This morning I spent a few hours in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. A group of us from Serenbe Photography Center made a morning out of it -- and then made off to Six Feet Under for lunch and to cool off.

Even though there were close to 15 of us; we all went off on our own to make photographs of the things that caught our eye. As I walked the brick pathways I noticed damage from the tornado that hit the heart of Atlanta a few years ago. I also heard the noise from MARTA and passing sirens. It made me think that Oakland may not be a very quiet resting place. It is an interesting one though.

The Historic Oakland Cemetery Foundation has been working to really create the experience of the Victorian garden cemetery. It is relaxing to walk the paths and take in the beauty of the landscaping and statuary.

Sumac

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:54:00 +0000

I have become interested in the sumac growing at the edge of the woods in our backyard. This is not the first time this interesting plant has caught my attention.

The other morning as it was about to rain, I was walking the dogs as usual and noticed how pretty the new spring growth was under the threat of rainy clouds.

Maynard Jackson International Terminal

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:08:00 +0000

Today marks the opening of the new Maynard Jackson International Terminal at the Atlanta airport. A few months ago I was contacted by Atlanta Celebrates Photography to submit photos for consideration for an installation in the new terminal. The exhibit, Picturing Georgia, is in three locations inside the arrival areas of the terminal. This is all about giving those arriving a welcoming look at the state of Georgia.

Two of my photos were selected. One is of a flock of blackbirds, taken in my front yard. I really like this photo; the black and blue are appealing to me with the movement of so many birds. I have printed this one in black and white and like that version as well. The other photo is of a peach orchard in bloom in Pike County, Georgia. I get to Pike County often due to SlowExposures Committee meetings. I think most people identify Georgia with peaches -- personally I like peaches from South Carolina better.

I have never printed one of my photos so large. It was awesome to see them and the photos from all of the other artists. The Atlanta Celebrates Photography blog has a few more photos. The exhibit has a very diverse collection of photography showing those arriving how Georgia varies from coast to mountains and everything in between.

The terminal has a lot of great art. My favorite piece is called airField, a collaborative piece by UeBersee. This is made of round acrylic discs that react to electric current turning opaque and then clear dictated by the take off and landing patterns.

Lensbaby Edge 80 & Alice

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:22:00 +0000

Yesterday I took my new Lensbaby Edge 80 to shoot actors from Serenbe Playhouse. This year they are having the "Season of Dreams," presenting Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Time Between Us.

Coming soon we will have a workshop shooting the actors on location in Serenbe. If you have not signed up for the Serenbe Photography Center newsletter, you can at the website so you don't miss this or any of the great workshops we have coming up.

I Bought a Print

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:38:00 +0000

The Alligator of Mississippi by Jane Robbins Kerr

Yes, I bought a print. This is one that I have loved for a long time. I also really like the artist, Jane Robbins Kerr. Jane is our new exhibit at Serenbe Photography Center. Her "Seeing Red" show is up through June. As I was hanging the work yesterday I thought about how much I love this photo and decided it would be mine after the show comes down.

Jane is also our Collectors' Guild event for May -- come hear her stories and have coffee with Jane on May 19 at 10am.

Intellectual Property - Again

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:33:00 +0000

Again I find myself dealing with the issue of intellectual property and trademark infringement. I have been down this road before. Many artists deal with issues of intellectual property and others taking or infringing without permission -- and usually (as in this case) permission would not be granted. But in the case of this blog, if someone wished to repost it -- I would need to give permission and it would need to be clear that the repost is my property and even go so far as to direct readers/viewers back to my site.

A couple weeks ago I met someone who asked me a few questions -- he thought we had met at a bridal expo in west Georgia. I told him that it was not me. He went on to say my brand was the brand he remembered and thought it had to be me or someone who worked with me. This is not the first time -- I have heard this before -- recently. It seems there was not one -- but three people using very confusingly similar names as my trademark very close geographically to me. Why would anyone starting out in the photo business now choose "Barefoot" to be in their brand? Years ago when I chose it -- and it means something to me not just a cutesy name -- there were not many and we were all very spread out.

Where I find myself now is teaching someone the difference between a trademark and the availability of a domain name or business name. Just because it is available does not mean you can use it. Once again I hear the tired old argument of many others are using it therefore so can I -- are you serious? These people that use that one always give me the story of being a mother and having children that they need to support -- so of course, in order to support your children, you need to infringe on my trademark?? And, as a mother, what do you say to your child when they give you that "everybody else is doing it" excuse?

I don't appreciate other "photographers" insinuating things in emails to me because I am protecting what is mine. Business can be a tough place -- you need to know everything about business when you step into it. If you decided to create a new soft drink -- and you name this new drink "Coke by Laura" -- guess what, Coca-Cola is not going to say, "Oh you are fine. The 'by Laura' really lets everyone know that you are different." No, Coke will send you the same type of cease and desist email that I sent over the weekend to three people. Actually -- Coke would send you the registered mail type -- that I am now sending.

These three people are all different. One, love her, sent me a nice reply -- apologized for not realizing and took down the site. Another did send me a negative email asked me to cease and desist from contacting her -- I plan to contact her by registered mail later today. And the third has not responded -- another tactic I am used to from others in the past.

When you are on your own -- you are not Coke with a bunch of attorneys on staff -- you not only create work, market yourself, network, but you have to always be on guard for those who dilute your name/brand or in worst cases take your ideas and work and call it their own.

And speaking of someone else's idea...the photo above was not my idea. I need to give credit where credit is due. Last Sunday at the Serenbe Photography Center model shoot a friend (Anne Berry) had this idea to place the model in the breezeway of the stable. She said this will create a nice silhouette. So we did it -- and here is the great photo.

HGTV Green Home in Serenbe

noreply@blogger.com (Donna Rosser) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:27:00 +0000

So I have been sitting on these photos for a while. Last fall I was part of a shoot with one of the hosts of HGTV. HGTV's 2012 Green Home is in Serenbe. The show, aired last night, is all about the home and community -- highlighting things about Serenbe that are so cool. And of course, the Photography Center is a very cool part of Serenbe. If you missed the show -- check the HGTV website for repeat times to catch it. If you are interested in photography -- come like the Serenbe Photography Center on Facebook to keep up with the fun events we have on schedule. There is always something fun going on.

Monica Pedersen and I spent a little time on one of the nature trails in Serenbe. This was representative of a trail walk/shoot type learning experience that I do in Serenbe.

After a bit of shooting, Monica is checking her photos. Below is one of her photos from that day. The Green Home is open for tours soon. The Photography Center is hosting tours on May 17 and June 21. If you are considering coming out for a tour -- come one of those days and meeting some of our staff, members, and volunteers at the photography center.