Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thematic Photographic 13: Watery v.1.0


"Fading Daylight"
Raleigh, NC - March 2000 (Click to embiggen)

Thematic Photographic hosted by Carmi - Button Image by Smarmoofus Hosted by Written Inc.

"Surf's Up"
Wrightsville Beach, NC - November 2005 (Click to embiggen)

Thematic Photographic hosted by Carmi - Button Image by Smarmoofus Hosted by Written Inc.

This week's theme is a different kind of challenge. The challenge is cutting down to a reasonable number of shots. Water, water everywhere -- and especially in my archives. It's one of the most common elements in my photography. The first shot was taken along one of Raleigh's greenways. I don't know the name of the creek -- or even if it has a name. But this reflection begged to be photographed in the dying light of the day. My trip to Wrightsville Beach for a conference in October of 2005 yielded a number of watery photo opportunities. The second shot came early one morning while I was taking my coffee on the balcony of my hotel room.
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13 comments:

G. Harrison said...

great contrasts, between sunrise and sunset, and from small creek to large expanse, in the two photos mojo.

but they both speak of peaceful moments.

i would be drawn back to the Wrightsville Beach for coffee every morning if I lived in the area; i'd sit on a folding chair between the two small fences, raise my thermos glass to surfers and act as if i owned that spot.

cheers, gord

Nestor Family said...

I really like the expanse of the second photo... and how I can clearly see the color of the water! Very nice!

Mojo said...

At the time of year I was there, that spot between the fences wouldn't be too bad. But in the heat of summer, it could get pretty uncomfortable unless you brought your own shade.

But I know what you mean. I could spend every morning in that spot and never tire of it.

Mojo said...

Heidi: If you think the water's gorgeous at Wrightsville, you should see it at Hatteras or Ocracoke. Those are the two major islands making up the Outer Banks, and they're basically only accessible by ferry (although you can land a small plane there, but for most of us...). There are permanent residents on both islands, but the difficulty in getting there makes most people who want to live on the coast opt for one of the other areas. As a result, the Outer Banks aren't nearly as developed as the ones on the southern coast. In addition, Cape Hatteras is only 12 miles from the Gulf Stream, meaning the variety of aquatic life -- and colors -- is spectacular.

(OMG... I sound like a travelogue.)

Lil Bit said...

Interesting idea for a "play-along", kinda like HNT, but diff, lol...
Never heard of this one b4, but will clicky the link & check it out.
Who knows, might play along sometime. =)

Lil Bit said...

ps. That reflective shot in the puddle is really v. cool! =)

carmilevy said...

I'm stunned by the divergent artistry of both shots. The first one because who would think of shooting a reflection in a forgotten-name creek? (Well, you, of course. And possibly me. Which is likely why I love your work so much.)

And second, I swear this photo could have been taken in 1965 and not 2005. It has a lovely old cast to it. The old-style oval-ish surfboard seals the deal, as does the minimalist surrounding scene.

Either way, they both move the soul in different ways. Damn, I'm so glad I picked this theme this week, as everyone's just hitting 'em out of the park!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Lovely photos! I particularly like the beach shot. It has a great composition, the reflection is wonderful and the surfer adds mid ground interest. Water is fun, is it not?

I am editing some right now that I think will be killer for this theme!

Wonelle said...

Beautiful shots. I must say, I'd like to visit either place for a weekend respite. Thanks for the visit and compliments on my cheap-digital-camera photos, very nice indeed. To answer your question, the water in the foreground is the stream from the waterfall in photo #1.

smarmoofus said...

I want to call the first one "The Burning Pool" or something to that effect. That brilliant pinkish-orange makes it look hot.

The second photo is just perfectly composed. Nice work, Mojo.

-smarmoofus

Unknown said...

We are always off walking the trails at Point Pelee and i have often photographed the trees reflected in the water, I really like doing those photos. This one is very dramatic, I love the pink and peachy colors of the sunset.

That's quite the view from your hotel room, the water looks so inviting.... super photo!

Mojo said...

Carmi: I'm glad you picked this theme too since my archives are so packed with potential submissions.
iPost: Sounds like you've had a class or two in this area. Or studied it in some fashion at least. The composition on that shot was at least partially dumb luck. the surfer just happened to take a path that put him exactly where I needed him. (If I knew who he was I'd thank him for his cooperation.)
Wonelle: Funny you should say that given that you're in one of the most scenic areas of the country. But come on down and I'll give you the Mojo tour. We do have our charms down heah.

PS: knowing where your second shot comes from makes the series that much cooler!

Smoofus: Every once in a while I "get all of one" (to keep Carmi's baseball metaphor going). Funny thing about "The Burning Pool" is that if I recall correctly, it was pretty chilly that evening. Not cold really, but nice 'n' cool anyway. It's still a neat title though.

Carol: If I'd had to pay for that room myself I'd never have gotten this shot. But since I was there for a conference, work was footing the bill.

Thanks everybody for your comments. Hearing such high praise from a group of such talented people is pretty damn special.

Heather said...

These are very nice, but that first shot at the end of the day is really beautiful ... love the composition and the viewpoint in the reflection!