Beginning a new day, ending an old

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Sunrises and sunsets are always a thing of beauty for me. To be able to have the time and sit to watch one, whether it be with someone you love, or by yourself, and take a photo of just the right moment is just so peaceful to me. It is rare when the picture doesn't come out well, even if you have no idea what you are doing. But then you start to learn. What happens if I expose this one 2/3 less than what is recommended? What is behind me that the sun sees but I don't? Should I take it now, or wait until it has broken the horizon? Each question will give you great results with a little bit of patience.
Iraq is not the most beautiful place I have been to by any means. It is a war torn country, filthy with litter on the side of every road, from a people who don't really care. Everywhere you look there is desert, with the occassional dots of a few trees in the distance. But the sun can take that all away and make a spectacular view.

The pictures here are just a few of the many sunsets/sunrises I have photographed. I am posting them today because as I get closer to leaving this country it is like the sun is setting, and waiting to rise again to bring the new day. One that holds new hopes and dreams, new thoughts and feelings, new friends and memories of old.

Empty Space

Sunday, February 24, 2008

The sky is really just a vast amount of empty space. Who wants to look at emptiness? I do, but it has to be done right. You can take a small object, photograph it against the sky, and it makes that empty space work to perfection. It will confuse a viewer as to whether or not the sky is the subject of the photo or not.


These two photos are using that empty space of the sky. Although I included a little more of the subject it works almost the same way. Without the grass in these pictures the viewer would just say, "Oh...A picture of the sky." But because of the grass the viewer can enjoy the beauty of the natural sky, as well as what comes from the earth.
It is the same as in all our lives. We all have that empty space. At times it fits and is just what is needed, and other times we need to look for something to fill that emptiness. It doesn't have to be something grand and complex, it can be the most simple thing like posting photos and thoughts on the internet for random people to look at.

Pieces of Me

Thursday, February 21, 2008
Walking around in the rubble. Was it created by the Americans, or the Iraqis? I'm not sure. I do know that it was once a resort. A place for people of importance to come and relax and cool off in the sweltering desert sun. Now it is just a place to pull what little resources the Iraqi government can.

I found myself wandering in this place, looking for something to take photographs of. Maybe a flower sprouting in the midst of this ruin, maybe a neat piece of marble to make a decent abstract photo. Creation through destruction. I didn't find much, most of it was concrete and re-bar with the occassional piece of marble scattered throughout. Then I saw the sun glint off of this mirror. I walked towards it and as I crouched in front of it I could see my face in it. I snapped the photo thinking of the irony of it, this time in my life when all feels as if it is in pieces. The only sure thing is my reflection and the rubble around me. I wonder now if this place will be rebuilt. What does it holds for the future, and what does life hold for me in my future? Can I pick up these pieces and rebuild what is being torn down around me?

Architecture

Wednesday, February 20, 2008


Architecture is a fascinating subject to photograph. There are so many different points where you can get great photographs from. It is slowly becoming one of my most favorite styles of photography as I learn more of the skill. Here are two examples of architecture that I snapped a photo of. I used my Canon Rebel for these two.




This is the construction of some South-west Asia huts, known as SWA huts. They were being constructed to improve our living situation while in Iraq from twelve people to a hut, to around nine. These huts aren't that big, probably around the size of a large garden shed. We would have bunks stacked, and everyone's stuff was crammed where we could get it. in the rafters, under beds, hung on walls. It's nice to have a bit more space now.


I like these pictures with the open roof. It really allows the blue sky to come down and contrast with the wood. The natural light and the angle of it allows for the shadows to zig-zag around the building. I used the rafters here to block the sun out just enough so that I wouldn't get a huge flare in the lens. It also helped to darken the image slightly.

A Start

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Here is my first photo post to this blog site. I had another post, but I decided to go another route with the blog, so I started over.


This photo is one of my favorites taken in Iraq. This was taken just using a point and shoot Canon digital camera. It's a friend of mine getting his .50 cal machine gun ready before we went on a mission.


It was just before Christmas, and it was cold and windy in this place. Most of us chose to sleep outside in the twenty degree weather in tents. I have to say that it was one of my favorite times out in Iraq. I felt like I was in my own little world while I was in my tent, the peace of the wind blowing, the slowly warming sleeping bag getting nice and toasty warm as I lay there writing or thinking of my loved ones back home. It would be a short lived peace as our mission ended and we had to head back to our base down South.
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