Time Lapse Photography - TimeScapes and Baraka

Baraka. Do I need to say anymore. Have you seen this film? If you have not seen it and you are into nature or travel photography then this is a must. I still remember when I started dating my wife and she mentioned that we should go check out this movie called Baraka at a local theater. Not the mainstream Regal Cinemas but a local place that plays mainly indie, older and just plain different films. She had seen it and knowing how we were into the outdoors and my highly advanced point-n-shoot photography, she knew I would like it too. Boy did she nail this one. I loved it.

I can remember seeing that film as if it was yesterday. I walked out of the theater and it was for sure in my top 10 films, still is. It's a movie of mainly time lapse work filmed in 24 different countries showcasing tribal people to big cities to desolate landscapes, and here is the kicker, no words. Only the sites you see and natural sounds which allows your thoughts and emotions to flow as they like. Why I went into more single frame photography and did not explore time lapse more I do not know. I guess it kind of lost interest after the buzz from the movie wore off and I went on to figure out more about the single frame world and less about movies or time lapse.

Fast forward almost 10 years and now there is another time lapse movie coming out that holds serious promise to be another winner. Tom Lowe appears to be putting together quite a film that has me ready to see the full feature after only a two minute trailer that had me from the start, check out Rapture. I have tried a little here and there with time lapse since seeing Baraka yet nothing more than a few tries that did not go far. I have to say after seeing Tom Lowe's work it is really getting me to think about photography and exploring the time lapse side. Very inspiring to say the least.

Use It or Loose It

In this day and age of letting technology try and do everything for us we need to step back and remind ourselves that we don't want to do that. Technology advances are great for us and our world yet we still need to remember and keep our mind engaged and active from time to time. If you don't use it you will surely loose it, this includes your mental awareness as we age.

I go into this more in the podcast. Basically a recent article my wife sent my way talks about GPS use and how some folks are becoming "GPS Zombies" from over using their GPS to guide their way around. These units have a purpose and I have one for hiking that I enjoy but we should not be using them on a daily basis for places we can remember to get on our own with a little bit of brain power and memory. I still have a map and atlas that get used many times a year. I guess that is old school to many.

I also mention photographer Eric Curry. Although it's more conceptual with the significant setup in the field, many lights used and extensive processing it is some amazing and impressive work.

Rangefinder / Eric Curry:
http://www.rangefindermag.com/storage/articles/RF0910_Curry_Jacobs.pdf

GPS Addict? It may be eroding your brain:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40138522/ns/health-mental_health/from/toolbar

No Casino In The Columbia River Gorge

As a landscape photographer from the Northwest I feel strongly that certain natural areas need to be preserved for future generations. I want others to be able to experience the beauty we get to enjoy today that seems to be slowly eroding. One proposal that some of you may already be aware of is building a Vegas sized casino in the heart of the historic Columbia River Gorge in Cascade Locks. This is a battle that has been going on for quite a few years now.

Yet after much effort the supporters have worked to get the proposal to the desk of Secretary of Interior for a supposed final decision coming later this year. I am not anti building or development, change in certain respects is inevitable. However a change of this magnitude to the Columbia Gorge is something that will hurt the visual beauty, bring sound and light pollution, and not benefit the area in the long term. If you agree please take a moment to visit this link where you can send an email to Secretary and Assistance Secretary of State to voice your concerns.

In case you are not from the area and wonder what kind of fine art imagery can be had right in the area where they plan to build this casino, here is one such image. This is an image I took last winter that I would not have been able to take had the casino been there. Behind the foreground trees would have stood part of the casino complex.

Thanks for allowing me to interrupt the normal stream of photos and useful photography info for a subject of importance like this.

Friends of the Columbia River Gorge