Review by Reflecting on the Past...

I know I've been away from blogging for a while.  Sadly, I also stopped creating new images for a longtime as well.  I hope that won't happen again!  

I though it would be good to go back to my roots in sharing some insights on how I have developed as a photographer over the years.  While I'm sure there are many much more talented photographers out there, I find it useful to share my experiences to help other learn and also to help me continue to develop.  That is what is behind my post for today.

I think it's good from time to time to revisit some of your old work to see how you have grown and improved as a photographer.  Can see a difference in how you frame the subject?  How do you see the lighting and shadows? Has your eye changed on white balance, vibrancy, or saturation?  Has your interest in in subjects changed?  How will I view the images I'm creating today in 5 years or 10 years?  How has imaging technology and workflows changed my process or images?  Take some time to look back at some of your old work... if nothing else you will hopefully see that you have improved as a photographer.  Use that as motivation to continue to improve.

Day 13 Monorhyme

This poem may be quite small,
I had no time to think at all.
My brain has started to hit the wall.
My sense of verse is at a crawl.
I seriously think I dropped the ball.
I'm shocked and surprised this rhymes at all.

Day 12

Miles go by hour by hour, minute by minute, seconds and so on.

Just the humming noise of my tires to and an old song on the radio pass the time.

The destination far ahead, sign posts count down the miles I've gone.

I try to speed up the to hurry up but I don't want to get a fine.

Along the way, other cars driving to go to their own destinations and homes.

Some fixed on the road ahead, others barely aware or their surroundings at all.

Way too man distractions, eating, drinking, music, and texting on phones.

With all these distractions why don't we see more cars hitting the wall.

Day 11

The darkness settles on the land enveloping everything. 

Eyes strain to perceive the slightest glimpse of light. 

Wondering what lurks near by as the crickets sing.

A faint flutter of wings, a bat? Will it bite?

Day 10 - Brevete

Tacos
Burning
Mouth

Day 9

Zoom, zoom, zoom I used to say,

As a young child I wish to play,

But as I grow older day by day,

Carefree like my youth I wish I could stay,

But perhaps if wish real hard I may,

Remember the joy of yesterday.

Day 8 - Flappy Bird

You came into our lives with not so much as a word.

The critics all asked, "Hey! What's with the bird?"

The graphics were boring and flat as a board,

but that didn't matter, the rankings soon soared.

Oh the time wasted playing your game,

the chatter on Facebook just wasn't the same.

Then came the news that your app was pulled,

we thought they were joking, we wouldn't be fooled.

Then it made headlines, everyone had heard.

Gone was my good friend, my game, Flappy Bird.

Day 7

Let's Get Away

Grating, noisey, ringing in my ears,

the pressure in my head strains to let go.

I keep the anger at bay, afraid to face my fears.

Please let the the calmness and peace flow.

Imagine yourself on on a beach far away,

where tropical drinks flow from the bar.

A destination not more than a day,

some place quiet, peaceful, pleasant and far.

Day 6 The Brevette

The Brevette

The Brevette, created by Emily Romano consists of a subject (noun), verb, and object (noun), in this exact order. The verb should show an ongoing action. This is done by spacing out the letters in the verb. There are only three words in the poem, giving it the title Brevette.

Chihuahua
a s s u l t i n g
anklebone

Day 5 NaPoWriMo Katauta

The Katauta is an unrhymed japanese form consisting of 17 or 19 syllables. The poem is a three-lined poem the following syllable counts: 5/7/5 or 5/7/7. The Katauta form was used for poems addressed to a lover.

Look at her

Eyes like the blue sea

lost in you I have become

my heart yearns for your fair smile.

Day 4 NaPoWriMo Acrostic

Acrostic Poetry is where the first letter of each line spells a word, usually using the same words as in the title.

Lonely

Love always seems to be far away
Only know by those who's tales I read
Needing to have a closeness and comfort only dreamed
Each day, waiting, wanting, wishing for love
Let your heart take a chance, a leap of faith
You must reach out, and love, or lonely you will remain

Day 3

Writer's Block

As I sit here tapping my pen,

words and thoughts escape my mind.

What to say, how to say it,

words, expressions, I fail to find.

My paper sits lonely, unused, blank,

wanting me to use it to express and feel.

The keys are cold, unused and stiff,

I think the hamster fell off the wheel.

Day 2 NaPoWriMo Interactive Poem - Guess What It's About...

Guess what is it?

In my fridge, way in the back,
your sour goodness makes my lips smack
I remove the top of your jar with care,
Reach in with my fingers? I wouldn't dare!
Your great with a sandwich, or even plain,
Eating too many could cause my foot pain.
But I don't care, I love you so much,
I might have your brother tomorrow for lunch!

Blogging Again...

I decided that I would join my daughter in NaPoWriMo which stands for National Poetry Writing Month.  The goal is to write 30 poems in 30 days.  Frankly, I can't remember the last time I wrote a poem.  With that said... here we go!

What, No Photos?

I know that I normally post photography,
I'm attempting this task to break the monotony,
Thirty days of poems to write,
Hope my lyrics cause you no fright,
Or my use of spelling and apostrophe.



Hope you like it.

Old Number 7

Old Number 7, a photo by Big Mike's Photography on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I love the texture of this old casting on an old plow rusting away in Northwestern Montana

Fire Works

Fire Works, a photo by Big Mike's Photography on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Picture from a small fireworks show in Northwestern Montana this summer.

Mike Braaten shared an Instagram photo with you

Hi there,

Mike Braaten just shared an Instagram photo with you:

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"Jake passed us again."
(taken at Missoula, MT)

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Blow Up!

Blow Up!, a photo by Big Mike's Photography on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Huge plumes of smoke going up to 20,000 feet from a blow up of the Black Forest Fire on June 11, 2013. The smoke cloud was so big they could see it on Doppler radar.

Panoramic view of smoke

Panoramic view of smoke, a photo by Big Mike's Photography on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
A panoramic view of the smoke plume stretching for miles from the Black Forest Fire.

After Sunset Day 1

After Sunset Day 1, a photo by Big Mike's Photography on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
A bright orange glow app an be seen from the advancing flames of the Black Forest Fire after sunset on the first day of the fire.