A New Perspective

I have been playing with a new lens lately... one that I got to fill in for my old standby, which is at Canon for repairs. I bought the lens used, and fairly inexpensively at the shop where I took my other lens for repair. The new (used) lens is a Tamron 55-200mm Macro. It takes some surprisingly interesting photos.

It has some issues, like the very noticeable vignette and no image stabilization, but it's still fun to play with a new perspective. Kind of like life.

I shot a whole series of still life, and then took it out to Abbot's Lagoon to see how it would fair with wildlife. Not bad, but I'm pretty sure I'd do better with a 400mm for shooting birds. They are fast little buggers.

Anyway. here are a few sample shots. More at my website http://www.sarahclarehartphoto.com

Watermellon Pearls

Cheeky Sparrow

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Iggy Ko has done it again. If you like all this free stuff, do yourself a favor and signup for his newsletter!

At last... my updated website!

Yesterday I launched an updated version of my website. In addition to showcasing all the work I completed in the past 15 months, it was my intention to simplify my site and make it a little more fun.

Have a look and tell me what you think! SarahClarehart.com

I'm pretty new to blogging (can you tell?) but it is my intention to share some of the great tools I find around the internet that have helped me in developing my skills.. as a designer, website creator, photographer. I just love the wealth of information that is available to all of us through this kind of sharing.

That being said, here's a fun post that I recieved today from fellow blogger Iggy Ko. His website is chock full of interesting stuff!

20 Really Helpful Infographics and Cheats for Designers

Cheers!
Sarah

A new start

Trying to get all my ducks in a row. (wow.. that is an old expression.. wonder it's origin?) I'm in the process of reevaluating my life's ambitions. And I would like to write more frequently on this blog.

There are many pundits who say that having a blog is essential to a successful presence on the internet.. which is to say a successful business presence.  But for me it goes beyond that. I would like to write from my heart.. my experience.. my insights. Not trying to craft my message in any kind of influential way.. just wanting to be authentically ME.

So, the question (which I ask myself) is "how transparent can I allow myself to be?" Knowing that the internet IS a permanent and widely accessible medium.  I am reminded of this every time I watch an episode of "Bones" or "Castle". (If that kind of technology doesn't REALLY exist yet, it will soon!) Even the posts you delete can still be uncovered. Not that I have any great secrets to hide... but I know that we each, as humans, have places inside of ourselves where we feel vulnerable and judged. Usually, these judgements are self-inflicted.

My answer to this question is.. I will start with baby steps. Truthfully, I want to be living in a place where there is nothing about "who I am" that I am afraid to be or to express. That is true freedom. And "truth be told" I know that I am the only one keeping me from that place.

So let's start there. With intention.

Sarah

I haven't written here for quite a while. I don't imagine that anyone is actually reading this blog.. but no matter.

I look at so many beautiful images..as part of my job.. as part of my passion.. as part of my life's expression. It makes me long for the experience of witnessing (and hopefully recording) such beauty. There seems to be a never ending expression of it. Every day, I see a little bit of it.. in the sky.. in the expressions of the people I meet in the elevator.. it's overwhelming at times.

There is so much to see.

I read something today.. it was fleeting so I don't remember the source.. but to paraphrase "If the price of looking were to lose my vision.. I would have looked". I get it.

There is so much beauty in this world. Why do most humans insist on looking for what is wrong? Perception is everything.

Getting closer

I had a chance to try out a macro lens this weekend, borrowed from a good friend. I learned that it's not as easy to use as I thought it would be. I will have to buy my own and get some more practice.

Get Lost!

Sunday, I decided to get lost. I had a destination in mind, but didn't want to get there the usual way. I knew I would get there quicker following the normal course.. freeways, etc. but I felt like exploring. I noted with some curiosity that I was actually a little bit nervous about doing this. Not because I would be in any danger... just because it was unknown. It's pretty easy to get lost in Orange County without a map, especially for a girl like me from the grid systems of the east coast. You can't just "go around a corner" here to get back on track. There ARE no corners. I relaxed into it and did indeed get very lost. I found some wonderful things. Discovered some new parks... with actual goddamn trees! Big ones! Discovered a quiet stretch of road with no traffic that led me straight to the beach. I found that my mind also lifted out of the rut it had been in for awhile. Just by doing something different. It felt really good.

I ended up at my favorite beach, and again, decided to NOT go to the place I usually go. I tried the entrance on the opposite side. The walk was easier. There was an elegant winding boardwalk leading up to the descent to the shoreline. I felt liberated.

I must admit, I am very much a creature of habit. I get in ruts all the time.. food ruts for example. I'll find something I like and eat it over and over for weeks on end. Saves me from having to make up my mind at the grocery store.

Once on the beach, I took about 200 shots. Watched the sunset then headed back to the parking lot. As I was leaving, I put my left blinker on about to head home the same way I had come... then at the last second, I flipped it off and went straight up the hill....and got lost again.

More from Photowalk

Worldwide Photowalk

Today, July 18, 2009, was the second annual photowalk but first time for me. I met with a nice bunch of photographers in San Juan Capistrano, CA and we strolled around for 2 hours shooting. Always nice to meet others who share your passion. Here's a sample of my shots.

Amy and Jason took me to their very private secret spot in the woods (just down the street from their home). In truth, it was a little patch about 400 sq. feet.. but to them it was wonderland. I felt very very privileged to be granted access to their sanctuary.. and I will NEVER divulge its secrets. I asked them to pose for me.. and it took a moment for them to settle down.. on top of their buried treasure. I'll never ever ever EVER tell.

I have always, always, always loved trains. This train station in Hoboken, NJ is a beauty. But there is nothing more exciting than being ON the train headed to a new adventure.

Monday Blues

Nothing wrong with blue. I like it a lot actually.

Summer Boy

Great summer recipe: a softball game, a barbecue, a hot humid day, kids and a watermelon.

The Morning Light

Early morning on the 4th of July, I opened the vertical blinds in my kitchen and the sun shot through the cobalt blue bottle that I had left on the counter the night before. I twisted the bottle around, fascinated with the electric blue "shadows" that it cast on the white laminate surface. Thinking it might look even better if I added some complementary color, I grabbed the small orange cut-glass I picked up in Prague and added it to the path of the light. A little spill of water for some added reflection, and my still life was complete. Shot with a Canon XTi, ISO100, 24-105mm lens @ 105mm, f/7.1 @125 sec.