Photography Blog

Smartphone Saturday: Arthur’s Seat

11 Jul 2015, Posted by P.J. Oswald in People, Places
Panoramic photo taken from the summit of Arthur's Seat

Nope. No lengthy stories for you today since today is another Smartphone Saturday. A photoblogger needs a bit of rest after all! That means I’ll leave you with an unedited photo from my trusty smartphone.

This vista comes to you from the top of Arthur’s Seat — a dormant volcano in the center of Edinburgh, Scotland. Within walking distance of downtown, you can climb from sea level to this blustery point high above town in just about an hour. My wife, dad and my sister-in-law took the trail to the top during our first real day in town and relished the views of green Scottish hills, Edinburgh, and the charming bay the Scots call the Firth of Forth. Did I mention it was windy?

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Over the Mighty Columbia River

10 Jul 2015, Posted by P.J. Oswald in Places
An aerial photograph of the Columbia River that divides the states of Washington and Oregon.

My day started at 3:30am. The early wake up was due to the fact that I had a 6:00am flight to Portland, Oregon to catch.

Though I get the feeling that my nerves would have nudged me into the waking world early even if I didn’t have to hop a plane that day. You see, I was excited anxious to delve back into the world of commercial photography during an all-day shoot at Western Seminary Portland Campus.

My body was moving. Now my mind just needed to wake up as well. (more…)

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Green Sea Turtles, Attack!

09 Jul 2015, Posted by P.J. Oswald in Things
A Green Sea Turtle rests on some algae-covered rocks in Kiholo Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii.

I’ve never really thought of turtles as being bloodthirsty. Not until one viciously attacked my son at Kiholo Bay.

Well, maybe “attacked” isn’t the right word. And “viciously” is probably an overstatement. But not as far as my son was concerned! (more…)

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Irrepressible

07 Jul 2015, Posted by P.J. Oswald in Things
A purple flower shoots upright just beneath one of the steel wheels of an old farmland irrigation system.

Since the advent of the camera, the world has been graced with some incredible images of irrepressible spirit. Think back to that iconic photo of the man in the path of the tank at Tiananmen Square. Or the photo of the Buddhist monk who set himself on fire in protest. Or the migrant mother shouldering her children during the dust bowl.

My photo is not an image of irrepressible human spirit. I don’t see any humans in it, for one. I’m fairly certain that it won’t go on to feature in any issues of National Geographic. But for me, it calls to mind a story of spirit that just wouldn’t quit.

(more…)

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Smartphone Saturday: Nickel Creek on Stage

04 Jul 2015, Posted by P.J. Oswald in People
Photograph of the bluegrass band Nickel Creek on stage at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA -- May 19, 2014

Saturday is my sabbath from blogging. No Photoshop edits, no DSLR camera, no tripods, no hours of writing. Just simple unedited photos from my smartphone with a bit of detail.

Today’s photo comes from the Oakland, California stop of Nickel Creek’s Reunion Tour. After getting word that my favorite genre-bending bluegrass band had broken up seven years prior, it was a dream come true to see them again here at the Fox Theater.

Bonus trivia: See that guy second from the left? He’s Chris Thile, the mandolin virtuoso and tortured genius who will be taking over as host of A Prairie Home Companion when Garrison Keillor retires later this year.

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