In a world of moving pictures, I have always been more fascinated by still images. They seem to work on the brain in a different manner than moving images. If you read a lot of photography blogs, you will soon figure out that there are two photographic subjects that are despised by “serious” photographers. They are train tracks and cemeteries. “Too cliche,” the serious photo bloggers will tell you. Well, that may be, but what if you just want to capture beauty in whatever form you happen to find it? I’m sure I would enjoy photographing, not only trains (and their tracks) but planes and automobiles as well, but I just don’t have access to a large variety of different subjects in those genres.

Serious photographers will also say that you are wasting your time if you head out to make photos in the middle of the day, when the sun is harsh and contrasty. “Go out only during the ‘golden hours’ at dawn and dusk,” they will tell you. Well, there certainly is good light during those golden hours, but what if you only have access to a particular location or subject outside of the golden hours? What if your schedule doesn’t allow you to be choosy? Perhaps you could learn to deal with contrasty light and other impediments to satisfying photographs? It's worth a try.

I say photograph what you want, when you want, or when you can. Each press of the shutter button will teach you something about your camera, light, perspective, etc. and you will see things, both in your subjects and yourself, that you may not get the chance to see if you wait for the perfect time or place to start taking pictures and enjoying photography. I also like to think of myself as a conduit of images to people who, for whatever reason, can’t get out themselves, to see what I see. Whether it be deer in the local state park, or a particular work of art at the local outdoor art gallery known as Cave Hill Cemetery.

And, as much as I enjoy gathering photographs, I really enjoy getting a good look at them on the computer and editing them in a way that I find pleasing or even surprising. You’d be amazed at how much color one can find in what first appears to be a gray slab of granite! When you look intently at something, you will see more.

Back in the day there used to be a show called “CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt”. Each episode would end with some usually eclectic story of a location, person, phenomenon, etc. to leave you with something to think about after the news portion of the show. The video would start rolling with some calm footage accompanied by a voiceover by Charles Kuralt describing what you were about to see. It was usually something you wouldn't see anywhere else

In the spirit of that show long ago, some photos from Louisville’s secret outdoor art gallery, all gathered in the last week or so.. Happy Sunday morning!