One Stop Poetry: Picture Prompt Challenge (Holiday Edition)

Take the Holiday Poetry Challenge!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend! Due to the hectic nature of this time of year, One Shoot Sunday will return next week in its entirety with what promises to be another spectacular interview by Chris G. It will also include a picture prompt challenge inspired by a photo from a professional photographer. 

For this week's abridged version, I offer an image I shot a couple of days ago in New York City. The scene is part of Rockefeller Center, home to the world famous Christmas tree and ice skating rink. Without revealing additional information to influence your writing, let us see what you come up with using this festive image as a prompt! As always, make sure you enjoy the creative process. Have fun with it :)

Rules:
Write a poem (or Flash Fiction 55) based on the prompt.
Then post your creation on your site.
Sign up using Mr. Linky so people can find your work.
Let us know what you are sharing by leaving a comment below.
Finally, please visit other participants & comment on their posts.

Thank you,
dustus

Challenge Time!

One Shoot Sunday - Photo prompt - homelessness

 

Adam Dustus is taking a much needed day off. So I (Leslie Moon) am putting together a photo prompt which I hope makes your creative juices flow.

I was struck with a poem written (by Brian Miller) about homelessness and the responses it evoked. I would have to say that people often skirt the issue of homelessness because they can't understand it. I guess you can't understand it unless you have been there or you make the effort. I was homeless as a young, single woman; I lived in my car. I never felt any different; never wore a placard. I just had no money and no place to live.You learn from life by living it.

 Look at these pictures. What do they evoke? 

What are the people thinking; what does their day hold?

Please take the picture prompt challenge and share your words by placing a link to your site below. 

Thanks to the photographers for their fantastic work in capturing these individuals.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosimoes7/3148834712/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/3351531204/sizes/m/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wetwebwork/120881153/

One Stop Poetry Interview with Photographer Silviu Ivana

One Shoot Photography Sunday!

Sunday means another photographer for your viewing pleasure. Today we’ve the honor of introducing Silviu Ivana, a Romania-based photographer with a focus on nature photography. His explorations have brought forth some truly beautiful art, and we are grateful to have but a few of his pieces for you today. For Silviu, it is the touch and feel of the world that drives his photography.
—Chris Galford

 

How did you become involved with photography?

"My first contact with photography was when  I was in high school. I asked my mother to buy me a camera for Christmas. Unfortunately after a few days somebody had stolen it when I was at a party. It was a simple camera with film, but it was my first camera. Since than I have changed a few cameras."

What about photography appeals to you?

"I believe that photography gives me the possibility to express the way in which I see the world. It also gives me (sometimes) the power to shape it in a way in which I want to see it. But the most, it gives me the possibility to transmit the beauty of this world."

Do you find any similarities between photography and poetry?
"Both give the possibility to share a feeling or a multitude of  feelings. The photography uses the visual way and poetry uses the written way."

Do you have a personal philosophy about photography?

Currently I can't say that I have a clear philosophy, because I don't have the necessary experience for that. I can say that my current principle is to "use" the camera every time I have the possibility and whenever I believe that I see something that can be captured in a photography. In time, I will develop my own philosophy, mainly based on the photography type that I will enjoy the most.

Where are some of the places you’ve shot photographs? Do you have any favorite locations/spots?

Now I enjoy the landscape/nature photography, so every place on this earth can be a candidate for great shot. At the end, it's all about the capacity of the photographer to "build a frame" for that location, a frame that will capture the attention of the viewer.

What catches your attention when you're taking photos? 

"I try to capture everything that touches me; that reaches my heart. It can be the beauty of place, or of a face. But it also it can be the pain of a person, or the degradation or the mystery of a place. All of these are parts of our life, it's not always the nice part."

What kind of camera, lens, filters do you use?
"Currently I use a Canon 450D with 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses. Most of the times I use also a polarized filter. I work most of the times with the Av and Tv settings, based on the situation."

Could you please recommend a few photography resources for individuals who wish to know more about the art form?
"There are plenty of specialized photography sites and books (either reaching general topics or either treating specific topics), the only condition is to have time to read and practice. Here are a few examples of sites from where I 'steal' the photography knowledge."

Digital Photography School : http://www.digital-photography-school.com/
Photocrati: http://www.photocrati.com
Photography: www.photography.com
Photography About: http://photography.about.com/

*********

Visit Silviu's Picasa page

His photography blog: http://sisivana-photo.blogspot.com/

*********

Now for the Picture Prompt Challenge!

How would you translate Silviu's beautiful photograph into poetry (or microfiction)?  Submit your poem (or Flash 55) by signing in to Mr. Linky. Then let us know what you are sharing with us by leaving a brief comment. Finally, please visit other links, comment, and give credit to Silviu.

Accept the picture prompt challenge! :)

One Shoot Sunday, 5 Amazing Photography Sites to Visit!

Welcome to One Shoot!

I enjoy taking time on Sunday to surf the ‘Net, especially for exquisite photography blogs. For this One Shoot Sunday feature I have posted five photography links that lead to some excellent sites with stunning images and plenty of information. The leads for this post are courtesy of Traceimages (featured last Sunday with poet Jemfry, Mosaïque Journey).

Soon after asking Trace what photography sites he enjoys visting, I recieved a list of amazing photography links. Knowing that One Shoot is interested in featuring great photography guests, Trace emailed me a list of all his favorites. While the entire list is beyond the scope of this post, both Trace and I recommend visiting the following five photography sights:

5 Amazing Photography Sites:

John Paul Caponigro’s Illuminating Creativity

John Paul describes his life's work as being dedicated to “empowering authentic individual creativity, strengthening creative communities by stimulating dialog and the exchange of information, and enhancing media practices and literacy....” It’s worth the trip to watch his slide show. While there, also check out his “image cloud”—very cool.

David duChemin’s pixelatedimage:blog
David duChemin is an assignment photographer based in Vancouver. He has extensive international assignment experience on 5 continents. My favorite part of his site is what he calls “World Vision.” There you will discover beautiful photographs from all over the world.  

Chris Orwig's Flipside

Chris Orwig says his artistic aim is to “distill idea, concept, vision, experience and emotion into poetic, provoking, intriguing and beautiful fine art and commercial images...." For anyone in the mood for further exploration, Chris also provides an outstanding list of links on a page he calls “Inspiration.” You can find his galleries @ http://www.chrisorwig.com/. Click on view portfolio and check out some fantastic shots!

Ashley Lebedev Bottle Bell Photography—The Blog

Ashley maintains a fantastic photography blog with beautiful images, in addition to an extensive archive of great posts that date back to early 2007. Her most recent entry is Lake Michigan Shoot: Sneak Peaks/Behind the Scenes caught my attention first. Also, I highly recommend visiting her Flickr Photostream called Bottle Bell’s Photostream.

PIX Channel

Once on the home page, there is an incredible short film called What makes photographers click. It's an insightful look at the art of photography through the commentary of Elliot Erwitt, Ruth Bernhand, Ralph Gibson, Duane Michaels, Arnold Newman, David Fahey, Eddie Adams, and Nick Ut. In addition, discover Randi Lynn Beach’s portrait series. 

*********

Have a wonderful Sunday!


Cheers, Adam

One Shoot Sunday: Interview with Photographer Roger Allen Baut

""

Welcome to One Shoot Sunday!

I'm Adam and for today's festivities I've decided to post an interview with Detroit area photographer Roger Allen Baut (@ChasingTao on twitter). Roger's work continues to gain a loyal following through social media. He's also very kind and went out of his way to provide great info and insight into his photographic art, including his view of a connection between poetry and photography.
Enjoy!

Do you find similarities between photography and poetry?

"Yes. Poetry is a wonderful art form that creates visual images within the mind of the reader of a poem, and photography brings a visual image ‘captured’ in a ‘moment’ of time to the person viewing it. Poetry and photography are mirrors for one another in that both create images within the mind of the reader and viewer, and from these images one may gain new insights and perspectives into the world around us, as well as our own place within the cosmos."

Do you have a personal philosophy of about photography?

"Photography is an art form that gives one an opportunity to ‘capture’ a moment in time, a specific moment which might otherwise have gone unseen, were it not for the photograph, and the ability to share that moment with others.I also view the photographs that I have been fortunate to take, as gifts from the universe. I know I have been ‘guided’ or ‘intuited’ to them, from a greater consciousness than my own. One example of this, is entitled Green on Green, which I really wasn’t looking for, but some ‘inner’ guidance drew me from the path I was hiking, to find a wonderful small green frog sitting on a leaf."

Tell us a little bit about ‘Contemplative Photographic Art.
"I define Contemplative Photographic Art™ as certain photographs which may lead the viewer into a calm, thoughtful, peaceful, and/or lightly meditative state."

"In this contemplative state an individual may connect, gain access to, or come into resonance with his or her own inner being, and from this connection, perhaps gain insights that will assist that person on their Journey of Life on Planet Earth."

Where are some of the places you’ve shot photographs?

Michigan: Huron National Forest, Alpena, Au Sable River, Oscoda environs.
Ohio: Indian Mounds, Blue Hole, Mound City, 7 Caves.
Germany: Black Forest, Rhine Fall.
Japan: Tokyo, Nikko, Osaka, Kamakura, Nara, Ise Shima.
Switzerland: Berne, Basil, Zurich.

Do you have any favorite locations/spots?

"Not really. I usually “intuit” where I should go, and follow my ‘inner’ direction to where I should find my photographs. For some reason I really like bronze and/or lead statutes, stone sculptures, et cetera. My very favorite is from the Shrine of Eve, and as I call it I Offer you Wisdom. The beauty of the sculpture and sheen of colors on the metal I think are wonderful."

What would you suggest to people just starting out?

"Learn the basics of your camera. Get ‘in touch’ with your ‘inner’ nature, and let yourself be guided by the ‘you’ that resides within your physical body. Think not of making money, but what your photographs can tell others about life, mankind, nature, et cetera."

What kind of camera, lens, filters do you use? What f-stop/settings do you prefer?

"I am presently using a Canon PowerShot S5IS 8.0 MEGA PIXELS, with Canon Zoom Lens 12x and Wide Converter 0.75x. I do not use any filters, nor do I have any f-stop/settings I prefer."

Could you please recommend a few photography resources for individuals who wish to know more about the art form?
"My first recommendation is to keep it simple. One doesn’t need thousands of dollars worth of equipment, tools and software to take a photograph. Also, there are scads of people who ‘photoshop’ their work. I don’t do that. My feeling is that if one has to manipulate a photograph to make it look attractive, then maybe it wasn’t attractive in the first place. I will ‘crop’ or trim a photo when necessary, but that’s it. When you view my photographs they are all ‘raw’ images. Secondly, a good reference book that helps select appropriate photographic equipment is helpful. Peruse a local bookstore and perhaps ask a staff person which books are the most popular for beginning photographers. Again, one doesn’t need tons of books or equipment to take an exceptional photo. Remember: keep it simple."

*********

Hope you enjoyed the interview. Your feedback is always appreciated.
You can also visit Roger's website to view his excellent slide show.

 The Garden of Serenity

One Shoot Sunday - Guest Hosted by Moondustwriter

Welcome to 

One Shoot Sunday

Today I have the honor of  showing  you Terence Jones' photography. 

Look through the aperture with him and experience art.

Enjoy Terence Jones

What is your favorite subject to shoot?
"I usually want to capture something that is lost in every day's speed. I just realized this extremely old iron rail in front of my window. It is probably eighty years old, has seen wars, births, deaths; it is a silent witness of what happened here."

How does black and white impact your expression?
"Very much actually. Colors force the viewer to see the picture in a pre-defined way. In shooting black and white, I believe that  the perception is more genuine and not necessarily linked to former experience. It is more pure, more about the picture itself."

Tell me about the 365 project:
"It was a challenge from some friends. The 365 is about more honest experimenting with techniques and sharing those results no matter how good or bad. It's much different from the pretentious way of taking professional pictures; you only send out the ones which are the best of the best.  With the 365, you openly present whatever you have on that particular day. I see my shots and can reconstruct my mood on that day. It is good and honest because it is authentic."

What would you suggest to people just starting out?
"I believe in the Tradition of the Sun (Coelho). Go the extra mile, explore, get in touch and connect with what you are doing. You have to touch it yourself. Go out from the beginning and have fun."

For those of you who are curious, Terence shoots with a Canon EOS 7D. His primary lens is the Canon 50mm. He is a shallow depth of field addict; usually shoots almost wide open at f/2.0.

Thanks Terence

Just like One Shot Wednesday, we are trying to create a community of photographers with One Shoot. There is diverse talent out there. I enjoy each day of discovery. Please feel free to link a favorite piece and/or comment. Maybe you will feel challenged to enter your own 365 day photo project. I am thinking about it.

Adam Dustus will return next week for another One Shoot Sunday.

Cheers - Moondustwriter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terence_s_jones

Dustus Friday: Photography by Terence Jones

You know the saying when the cat's away?? Well today I am going to play on Dustus' day a little. I want to introduce Terence Jones. If you have been to my blog recently you have probably seen several of his photographs.

Terence is a professional photographer who lives in Germany and the East Coast (lucky guy). His love for photography started twelve years ago. He has shot all over the world.

"My philosophy of photography is existential. I want to capture things the way they ultimately are; I try to capture an idea or a perception in a shot. Often the real nature of something is hidden or cluttered by other things."

You may not have noticed this poignant scene in the bustle of the city but Terence caught the moment:

"One of my all-time favorites. Why? Because I was this girl waiting. I knew that she was waiting for something, for someone. She was very nervous. And then the guy showed up. And that was the most authentic, true, deep hug I have ever seen in my life. Absolutely *amazing*. There was soooo much energy there! "

****

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terence_s_jones/4924809125/

Please don't let this silly poem detract from the depth of Terence's shot from his window

Boston

 a poem by Moondustwriter

I can't make sense

of this weather

can you

hot and steamy

now it's flooding too

I can't seem

to keep the drops at bay

my feet aren't dry

what am I to say

I'm wet

clammy and cold

the damage

to my potted plants

cost untold

 please let up

your beauty is my friend

but on a day

of rain and sogg

our love affair

nears its end

Please come back for One Shoot Sunday. I will have a montage of Terence's work.
Would also love for you to visit my site and read the poetry of a High School student friend, David, who all of a sudden was bit with the poetry bug. He is looking for feedback. 

One Shoot Sunday: Picture Prompt & Photo Feedback

Picture Prompt (by Adam Dustus)

****************
What do you think of this scenic spot?

Come on and take the One Shoot Sunday Image Prompt challenge!
Use the above image as a writing prompt and share your result with us!
Here's how it works...

1. Write a poetic piece or short fiction and post it on your blog

2. Then let us know about your post by linking back to One Stop

3. Sign up in the Mr Linky list, linking directly to your post, AFTER you've posted it.

4. Then go visit others who have signed up!

Or...

If you don't wish to write for the prompt, you may sign up and post a picture of your own to share with everyone. Feel free to tell us a little about the image. Just make sure you sign up and link back so we know where to reach you for commenting. Enjoy and have fun!

Cheers.
Adam 

Cosmic Bowling, A Poem by Adam Dustus

Poem  & Photo by Adam Dustus

Fever pitch, hold my breath

Veiling streaks shine laser-etched

Striking light for splits to save

Raucous chorus of kids through games

*

Mindless fun, we all need some

Adults drink beer, their little ones run

Mesmerizing these blurs that beam

Blink real fast, call it a dream

*

Scores irrelevant through alley cheers!
Gutter balls and lightening smears

Crashing thunder through stale smelling air

About the game, who really cares?
 *
Marvel at lanes, pick up despair

Talk is why my friends go there

Prompting smiles, making fun

Cosmic bowling, anyone?

****************
*The above poem was written from the prompt I posted for our first
One Shoot Sunday.

Stayed tuned for Round 2 of One Shoot. There will be a new picture prompt &
everyone is welcome to use & share it.
Cheers!

One Shoot Sunday: Picture Prompt Challenge & Photo Feedback

Picture Prompt (by Adam Dustus)

****************
What do you think of "Cosmic Bowling?" 

Try the One Shoot Sunday Image Prompt challenge... Feel free to use the above image as a writing prompt. What do you see?  Care to share your perception of the image through poetry or microfiction form?

Pause and consider the image. Then go ahead and write something! Let’s have fun considering unlimited interpretations of an image, to discover the flourishing creativity arising from a subject we will all perceive differently .



Be creative. Dare to share your artistic thoughts!

What do you see when you look at this image?  You are welcome to express yourself through comment, or by posting a response and/or a link back.

OR

Since One Shoot is about sharing your image and thoughts, we encourage everyone to post a photograph they wish to share. So post an image, or two, or a few. to your blog and link back to us.

Let's see some of your favorite pictures! Tell us why you like the photo so much. Is there an interesting story behind your posted pic?

If you take the picture prompt challenge, or post an image for the One Stop community to consider, please drop your link in these comments so others can easily discover your work.

POETS, if you see an image you like that you may want to write about, for say One Shot Wednesday, comment on the photo and strike up a conversation with the photographer— ask if it's okay to use it.

Have fun, Everyone! And support those of us brave enough to post photos. lol

Share ideas and images. Enjoy!

Sincere thanks,

Adam

One Shoot Sunday: A Place To Share Your Photography

New To One Shot & Starting Sunday 8th August

One Shoot Sunday: A Place To Share Your Photography

We at One Shot couldn't help but notice how poets love their cameras! Read a poem and you can be guaranteed it is accompanied by a wonderful photograph.

Sometimes you take a photo and want to share it; that photograph could inspire a poet to resonate!

One Shoot Sunday gives you the opportunity to share your photos, see the work of others, study new mediums, inspire new ideas. You never know - there might be a poet just waiting in the wings captivated by your wonderful image, wanting to immortalize it with words of wonder....

Welcome to One Shoot Sunday: A new place to share your photography. Starts this Sunday, August 8th.  Hosted by: Adam Dustus - our resident photographer.

"Self Portrait"

"Capsized"

***********************

                                                            

top image courtesy creative commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/