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Patricia Lay-Dorsey | all galleries >> my photo-a-day archives >> 2008 photo-a-day galleries >> photo-a-day July 2008 > harvesting garlic
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10-JUL-2008

harvesting garlic

Today was a BIG DAY for the Hannan House gardeners! They had planted garlic last autumn and today was the day of harvest. Thirty-five buds were dug up and divided among seven gardeners with instructions to let them dry for two weeks before using them. For a garlic-lover like me, the fragrance was heavenly.

You know, my artistic eye is changing. No longer do I worry about having every face light enough to "read." I now like having fairly deep shadows fall where they may. I'd rather have variety in values than make everything the same. So when you see my recent photos where individual faces are too dark to be seen properly--as in the one posted here--chances are it is exactly the way I want it. Not to say this is to everyone's taste, but it is to mine. At least for now.

My technique for taking photos is also changing. In the old days I would put the camera's viewfinder to my eye and carefully frame each image, being quite particular about focus and composition. And now? Generally speaking I am "shooting from the hip," which in my case means shooting with the camera in my lap pointing up. I rarely use the viewfinder anymore. Yes, it makes for a lot of unusable images, but enough interesting ones come through to keep me happy. And the ones that DO work are always a surprise, which I love.

It's becoming more about process than product. I want to stay connected with the people I'm photographing and sitting behind a viewfinder feels like putting up a barrier between us. Does this make sense at all? I've never enjoyed the process more than I do right now. And looking at my pics on the LCD screen when I get home is like opening up a surprise present. I never know what I'm going to find. It's SO exciting!!!

Canon EOS 40D
1/200s f/7.1 at 26.0mm iso320 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Máire Uí Mhaicín11-Jul-2008 08:58
I like this very much. There is something about the way you've recorded this work that reminds me of the Van Gogh approach to the worker paintings he did in the south of France. Here is one which is currently in Detroit:http://www.vggallery.com/painting/p_0701.htm
You are using your camera as a painter uses his brush. I salute you for that, as I know I don't possess the talent, the courage or the technique to do so. But I get great pleasure from your work, both in words and images. I console myself by reminding myself that one doesn't need to be a great writer to appreciate fine literature, or an artist to recognise fine art. So, I continue to look forward to your constantly changing unfolding portfolio.
Pat Shawyer10-Jul-2008 07:39
What a gallery this is turning into !! I love looking at the pictures and reading your wonderful narrative too. Well done Patricia ! Keep shooting from the hip !
Sabine Stetson10-Jul-2008 05:01
you have been always hip...in my book...now even hipper...:))))))
talking about harvest - want to share little experiment i have been doing, i put the cut off roots of green onions into flower pots....and you guessed it, they are coming right back...
small miracle in the city.....happy you are doing well...keep on shooting...:))))
carol j. phipps10-Jul-2008 04:33
Looks like a "family affair." Keep shooting from the hip.
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