...in other works:

Thought I'd show those of you waiting for more nature photography what the heck is taking me so long getting back to work.

A few stainless steel handrails that I designed, built and installed in the newly opened section of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

 This railing took me a month to fabricate.  So you're getting two photos.

 Yes, I'm quite pleased.

Finding ways to keep hands off the walls was often equally important as crowd control.

Finding style was secondary, however I affectionately adopted this as a pet.  Looks like a De Stijl Dog.

 Down a ramp.

 Up some stairs.

I'm very happy to be making metal works again.  This is a restart of a life-long love and an auspicious beginning to a new metal studio.  I look forward to sharing more in the future.

My Shadow

My Shadow, a photo by McF Studios on Flickr.

Here is my shadow, waving neither "hello" nor "goodbye". He is signaling that our game is about to start and I should get ready to play!

Main Canyon Mustangs

Main Canyon Mustangs, a photo by McF Studios on Flickr.

I can't believe it's march already. Been swamped with commissioned work lately and I haven't been up for air much. Last weekend, we woke up braindead and decided enough was enough. You know those mornings when you're making coffee backwards (yeah, I put grounds in the water kettle and sat down with a cup of tapwater). Time to remind ourselves why we moved out here.

This canyon area is part of a wild horse preserve in Western Colorado. We weren't expecting to see much more than mud, so catching a glimpse of this stallion making sure no one was messin' with his ladies was a treat to be sure! We put a few miles on in the short time we had and made it back to the Jeep just before headlamp time.

PS: We found our first tick of the season and lots and lots of mud, too.

Infrared Study 5

Infrared Study 5, a photo by McF Studios on Flickr.

Not long ago I suggested there'd be more images from this affair: flic.kr/p/dDKW3B
As is the case with affairs, what I saw in this beauty causes me to chase other beauties, but I return often to seek that initial spark of imagination.
Maybe it's strange to you that I should spend so much time making portraits of trees and rocks. That I could have a lucrative job making portraits to feed someone's vanity might be a better use of my skill. Maybe, but I can't get enough of trees and rocks!
It's Friday, leave your desk and have a pleasant weekend!

Infrared Learning Curve, Or, Let's Talk About Bonsai

This infrared work I've been doing recently has been very consuming.  In some instances it's like learning photography all over again.  I've commented before about slowing down and being more deliberate with my compositions, but there's a lot more stuff that happens before I press the shutter button.  For instance, I now have to focus twice.  Autofocus is awesome, but infrared light focuses at a different point than the normal visible spectrum.  That means, after finding a composition, you need to focus once for visible light, then make a manual adjustment for the IR light.  Not too difficult a task, but easily messed up or forgotten.  That's one of plenty of extra steps before making an exposure.  I have a list in my notebook so I don't forget them all.  Then there's a lot of decision making back in the studio.  That's what I'm going to show today.

Infrared Study 3

Infrared Study 3, a photo by McF Studios on Flickr.

After doing a lot of false colour IR, I bought a new filter and reshot the same scenes with the intent of going monochrome. This scene didn't work well as false colour. I find it to be interesting as monochrome, however, I'm not sure why. This is a troubling photograph for me. Someday, I will recognize what is affecting me and I will then know whether to make a thousand more photos like this or never do it again. Until then, please, enjoy what I think is an interesting sketch.

Passage

Passage, a photo by McF Studios on Flickr.

Moments of introspection and navel-gazing are of great service to the artist, however, they are rarely of much use to an audience. After all, the audience should be staring at the art, not their navels! Within that context, I offer this photo.
Creative endeavours are not linear tracts, not plotable courses. They are often inexplainable, yet, invite curiosity and wistful theories.
Creativity moves at it's own pace on it's own course.
Happy New Year to you all, best of luck in your own endeavors!

The Yearning Tree

The Yearning Tree, a photo by McF Studios on Flickr.

This time of year seems as good as any to begin an affair with a tree. As with most burgeoning affairs, you can expect to see a lot more of this beauty!