More fun: 'Fern for brains'

A simple fun shot -- "Fern for Brains" -- captured July 24, 2007, in the Lockerbie Square neighborhood of Indianapolis, Ind.

To see other images from this shoot, visit my Lockerbie Square neighborhood folders at SmugMug.com

Gear talk: Lens prices spike, Sigma to issue 10-20mm f/2.8 lens

After several weeks of watching the price of a new Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens drop from $990 to as low as $860 at amazon.com late last year, I saw the price spike up dramatically last week -- to the upper $900s -- then incrementally upward since. Today I saw the price had hurdled the four-figure mark -- $1,030.

I've been watching this lens because it's been described as having Canon L series (pro) quality optics and that the only L series features it lacks are the distinguished red ring and the magnesium alloy body (it's plastic), trade-offs I could live with easily given the right price on the lens!

The price spike seems to indicate that Canon is matching a more definitive move by its chief competitor. The other day, Adam Freedman, an acquaintance in a LinkedIn photography equipment group, said the owner of Ace Photo, his local authorized Nikon USA dealer, told him that Nikon USA is increasing dealer costs on lenses by 20% come the first of February.

I'm not exactly sure of gear manufacturers' logic in all these price increases in this slumping economy ... unless it's a response to the depressed US dollar.

Meanwhile, Freedman said it looks like Sigma Corp. is preparing to release a new 10-20mm f/2.8 lens for Nikon and Canon cropped-sensors camera bodies. This seems to be a response to last year's release, by Tokina, of an 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, which has received pretty good reviews.

Also, Sigma reportedly is adding Optical Stabilization (OS) to its 70-300mm telephoto lens. Rumored not far behind, Freedman said, is a new Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 OS lens that will be for both full-frame and cropped sensor single-lens reflex cameras. It would seem that this lens is to give shooters a more affordable option to Canon's vaunted and pricey ($1,600) 70-200mm f/2.8 L series telephoto lens, as Sigma and all third-party lens makers usually sell for attractively less than the Big Two. But Sigma will have to do a top-notch job with its version of the 70-200, however; the optics of Canon's are sweet ... and will be hard to beat unless the Sigma price is so much lower that a wallet-watching buyer simply would not be able to resist.

This is all in addition to Sigma's already announced 24-70mm f/2.8 hyper-sonic motor (HSM) lens.

Dissection of an image

The above image was the starting point of an odyssey that I'm sure a lot of photographers have experienced: Finding different ways to look at the same image. The "anatomy of a single image" below tells the story of one such odyssey -- some successes, one surprise and one "I'm not sure sure about this."

The top image isn't anything spectacular or unusual. It was taken inside the Garfield Park Conservatory in Indianapolis in a tropical plants exhibit. The foliage was dangling from a boulder from which a very modest waterfall was spilling. I got behind the waterfall and shot into the light behind it. Dodging the light was nearly unavoidable; the conservatory is a glass-surrounded facility, so no matter what angle I chose to shoot -- unless it were straight on -- I would have had to take into consideration the presence of backlight -- and decide whether I wanted to compensate for it by overexposing, or shooting for silhouette. I chose to overexpose slightly because that day, I wasn't interested in a silhouette; I wanted to capture the color in the foliage and the waterdrop cascade. I wasn't surprised afterward when I saw a lot of the reflective circles -- the result of flare. But I chose to use those to my advantage in this little project.

Again, the shot at the very top is the original image. Right below it is the same frame with a slight increase in the color saturation and contrast. Not a huge difference, but enough to bring out a little more red in the leaf and darken the dark green foliage shadow on the left. Next, I took the same frame one more time, boosted the highlights and increased the saturation (only a little less than the first time). The result is the image above. The red leaves, especially, are beginning to pop out in the frame, which was the objective in the first place. It's fascinating what just a tweak in highlights and saturation can do when you're looking to distinguish elements in an image file.

While studying those three images, it occurred to me that I could crop this frame into smaller segments and create several whole "new" pictures. First, I concentrated on isolating -- and accentuating -- the vertical nature of the leaf foliage itself. So I created a copy of the original image and cropped it to isolate just the leaf vine.

Again I went back to the saturation, highlights and contrast and tweaked with those ever so slightly to effect the vertical version at left. The one thing I didn't like was how the crop drew unwanted attention on the bright white spot in the upper right corner. I figured that if I really wanted to display this version, I could address the white splotch by applying a frame or border to the image, harnessing a bit of the white. Two things I did like about this version:

1) It gave more prominence to the hefty water cluster near the bottom of the red-leafed vine, the heart of the cluster falling right on top of the series of horizontal reflective circles.

2) It played up two solo reflective circles -- one just above the third leaf down, the other on the far left side of the frame, providing a sort of balance.

Next, I wanted to create an extremely horizontal frame. At the far left side of the rectangle, I placed the lower portion of the leaf cluster; on the far right, the green foliage with the white circular spot. So I created that crop off the original, went to the color curves and played up the reds ever so slightly and the greens a bit more and came up with the horizontal slice you see at left. I liked that it maintained the prominence of the water cluster; what I didn't like was that it possibly introduced confusion as the real subject, or focus, of the image -- was it the leafed vine, or the foliage on the right? My initial hope was to include the two for balance, and again initially, I thought that because the leafed vine would be in focus and the green foliage out of focus (beyond the depth of field), that it would be clear that the leafed vine was the focal point. But after making the crop, I wasn't so sure that got accomplished.

I saved the most enjoyable sectioning for last. It was the super-crop of just the horizontal row of reflective circles on the far left of the original image (the one dissected by the unleafed vine).

With only a few droplets in the image anywhere close to being in focus, it left me a challenge to find something to make this version appealing. So I pushed the color curves to the extreme -- and came upon this strikingly dual-shade purple abstract. It did fetch a few comments at my photo.net gallery (in the Manipulations folder). The only drawback to this crop was that the image file is so small -- relative to the original, anyway -- that I probably couldn't squeeze a print larger than 5x7 out of it, and that might be stretching it.

PP's Photographer in the Spotlight: Trish van den Berg

That beautiful, distinguished sunset you see above was captured by Trish van den Berg, the subject of Photo Potpourri's inaugural "Photographer in the Spotlight" interivew.

In the two years that I've maintained a photo gallery at photo.net, I've come to appreciate the work of fellow photo.net photographers, including Trish. As her bio at photo.net states, Trish was born and raised in Holland, has lived in the United States and Spain, and for almost 20 years now has resided in the Bahamas. Her portfolios and galleries at three sites – photo.net, Fotki.com and DeviantArt – support her self-description as a nature photographer. Her specialties are sunsets, skyscapes and the animal-reptile-insect kingdom – and all the images you see in her collection (and in this post) were taken in the Bahamas. She owns horses and dogs, and often uses them as her subjects.Trish and I both own a Canon 30D; she has since moved up to a Canon 5D but still uses the 30D from time to time. Her warm sunsets caught my eye early on, and I've enjoyed watching her compositions evolve creatively and compositionally. Here's what she had to say in our interview:

Trish, how (and when) did you get into photography? Was it an interest that developed over time, or did you throw yourself into it right away?

I have always enjoyed photography, even as a child. When my two children were born, I made each of them their own albums to take with them once they moved out of the house. I have made at least 50 albums over the years. Then, in 1996, somebody told me about photo sharing on line, and I took notice and great interest in that. I love to share my work and see the reactions of people worldwide, and I enjoy their work and learning from it, while at the same time, I grow and get better. I am not very protective of my work as so many artists are. I love to share and see it on sites. I think we need to share with everybody on this planet. I saw a photograph of my wonderful dad on a Web site about old people in the world. A picture that I took of him was next to a picture of Mother Theresa, and my dad was so taken by it. I was so happy to see that as well. As long as people do not abuse it, I think it is wonderful that it is being shared...

What gives you the most pleasure, satisfaction or fulfillment in your work?

The most pleasure I get out of my work is when I have done a piece, and I put it on my wall – in the the garage, living room or anyplace. It does not matter where it ends up. It is such a satisfaction to see it, and I get so much confidence from that. When it is on the wall, I know I have done a good piece. Plus the thousands of comments and questions I get from random people from all over the world on the Web sites – it is so fulfilling! Plus, I am not a churchgoer, but being so close to nature I so feel the spirituality of our amazing beings … human beings and creatures …

At your DeviantArt site, you identify yourself as a nature photographer. For sure, the vast majority of your photographs are taken outdoors -- landscapes, sunsets, sky/sea vistas and members of the animal, bird and reptile kingdoms. How did you pick those as your focus of interest?

I photograph as I walk … as I stroll through the nature trails I photograph it when the sun hits that spot so incredibly that I feel it is a cry for attention from nature. "Look, here I am. Take it before the sun moves away from me!" I don't particularly look for things to photograph; I just walk and see and click. I sit with my animals for hours, and they crawl over me, and I am in heaven … and I feel so one with nature.

Do you have interest in and/or indulge in other forms of photography -- such things as portraiture, street photography, architecture -- and simply elect not to include those in your online portfolios?

I do, yes I do. I have really a bit of everything in my photos that I store. I feel I am only beginning. I have done fashion work as well. I just did a shoot for a French artist, photographing her jewelry that she makes, and it is on her Web site.

Do you have a favorite lens? How have you adjusted to the Canon 5D, and what are the pros and cons of it vs. the 30D?

My all-time fave lens is the macro lens. Never knew this lens before, and it is a must to own if you enjoy macro work, and it is a lens with lots of possibilities. Also the wide-angle lens is a nice extra to have. You can make so many fun shots with it. I still prefer the 30D over the 5D. My macro lens and my wide angle will not fit on the 5D. The 30D is a very, very easy camera to use. I would recommend the 30D over the 5D. That's just my personal preference. I am still getting to know the 5D, as a matter of fact.

Which of your images tend to fetch the most comments or interest? And how popular, would you say, are the series of "framing" – or integrating – the setting sun around either a natural element (such as a rock formation or plant, tree or bush) or a human subject (hand formations and such)?

If you go to my DA (DeviantArt) site, you can view the most popular photos in my gallery and the amount of hits they get. All my animal shots are the most popular. The cute shots of baby rabbits and chickens are very, very popular. Yes, framing of the sun … playing with the sun … making the photo special is the key. Everybody can take a photo, but it needs that extra something that makes you want to go back and look at it again. The light is the most important subject on a photo. It can make or break even the most beautiful subject … or the most boring subject. The background is also very important, making sure that your eye doesn't go to a bright spot. I look at a photo, and I can tell right away if something bothers me. It jumps out at me, so to get the photo right, it has to be perfect. My eye goes directly to the part that bothers me. I want my photo to have a bit of art in it. That's the secret: It becomes art, rather then just a photo. That's always my goal.

Have you ever had any of your work published, or displayed in a public gallery or exhibit? Have you made your work available for sale at arts and/or crafts fairs? If so, how was the experience? If not, is that something you would like to do some time?

I am about to have my first official exhibit in April/June this year. I am so excited, and we just went over the 40 shots that will be exhibited. I do sell a print once in a while on DA, and it is a great feeling to know that my work is in some living room or garage or kid's room. I have made a wonderful children's book that I have given away to my friends and family over Christmas, and it is so, so popular that I am thinking of publishing it in a serious matter.

Are there any subjects or types of photography you haven't tackled yet that either intrigues you immensely or you would like to undertake sometime?

Yes, I am very interested in the human body. That's something I would love to photograph and get into. I think with time, I will look into that further. Plus, I want to go to Cuba and spend a few days with the people and the landscaping. It is on my list of things to do. I have an enormous urge to do that this year.

Explore more of Trish van den Berg's work:

Trish's galleries at DeviantArt

Trish's galleries at photo.net

Trish's galleries at Fotki

Garfield statue not dead yet

Before posting the item on the James Garfield statue Tuesday, I'd submitted a follow-up inquiry with IndyParks, which maintains all the parks in the Indianapolis system.

Here's the reply I received:

"Thanks for following up on the statue. It is currently awaiting restoration and has been moved indoors to protect it from the elements from further damage.

"There are many projects across the Indy Parks system similar to this statue that await renewal and maintenance upgrades that depend on funding. (The statue along the drive as you enter the Conservatory is one such project.)

"There are many supporters of our arts programs here at parks that we hope we will be able to look to to assist us with projects such as repairing the James Garfield statue at Garfield Park. We are super excited about the opportunity to improve the parks system and expand our successful programming. We hope we will find the funding soon to repair the James Garfield statue and return it to its rightful home."

James Garfield statue still missing

On this inauguration day, it seems appropriate to note that Garfield Park in Indianapolis has been without the statue of its presidential namesake now for several months. The statue (shown in three photos here) had been camped in front of the park's Burrello Family Center to greet visitors since shortly after the center opened in January 1998.

Well, it was there, at least, until sometime late last summer or early fall. I called the city parks department in September to inquire, and all I was told was that it was removed because the center of its base was decaying and had become loose. 

The person I spoke to said she wasn't sure whether it was going to be repaired and returned, replaced ... or permanently removed. She did say she would let me know when that could be ascertained. So far, I haven't heard anything. Again, it's been September since that conversation. 

The first two photos in this post were taken in August 2006; I was concerned even then because of the serious crevice down the side of the face. 

The photo below, taken in Feb. 5, 2006, after a snowfall had moved through the area, gives some perspective of where the statue stood in relation to the Burrello center. 

 The likeness of the nation's 20th president was made from a single solid piece of sycamore weighing an estimated 2,000 pounds and completed in 1999 by sculptor Chie Kramer and woodcarver Dennis Maddox. According to the sculptor, the tree was alive — and on the grounds of the park — when Garfield was president.

Added April 17, 2026: In November 2025, on a lark, I sent an inquiry to Alex Cortwright, chief communications officer for Indy Parks & Recreation, asking if he would be able to officially confirm the status of the sculpture and/or whether the sycamore wood had been irreparable. He kindly responded with the following: “I had to ask around, and some folks reached out to former staff who are now retired to figure this out. You are correct that it had irreparable wood rot, and it appears it was taken to a log recycle yard once it was determined it was irreparable.”

Fetching some notice

When Photo Potpourri launched last month, it never occurred to me that I could use it for blatant self-promotion. But that's what this post is about, and I have the online business networking site LinkedIn to thank. When used the way it was intended, LinkedIn has the ability to connect its members with people they might not have otherwise gotten to "meet" or know, hopefully for mutual career-growth benefits.

Two weeks ago, an Indianapolis freelance writer, communications specialist and blogger, Kelly Jones Sharp, and I became connections at LinkedIn. After she visited my fledgling blog site, she posted at her blog an unexpected (and, I add, unsolicited) mention about Photo Potpourri and included a copy of the picture you see at the bottom of Photo Poutpourri's home page. Thanks much to Kelly, whose blog, "All the Commentary (Apparently) Not Fit to Print," has picked up steam again after she went on temporary hiatus at the end of last year. Kelly, who's compiled an impressive resume of writing jobs and achievements and currently contributes monthly commentaries for the op ed pages of The Indianapolis Star, recently began a full-time position as director of communications for the Indiana Dental Association. Because the Indiana legislature convenes only during the first quarter of each year, and hence the association will have only a short time to best position its membership for any legislative issues related to the state dentistry profession, this will be a very busy period for Kelly. A link to Kelly's blog always can be found in the "My Blog List" area on the right side of this home page.

Then just last week, another recent connection at LinkedIn, Jon Samsel, asked me if I would give him an interview for a writing/marketing/Web design blog that he compiles regularly. I was impressed that Jon, who recently began a full-time job as senior vice president with Bank of America, is well-versed enough in the art of writing and composition that he would consider taking on a blog of this sort, much less ask me for an interview. As if being a banking executive doesn't give him enough to do! But I jest; I visited the site, and it has some helpful information for people either trying to hone their writing skills or wanting to learn how to publish or market their work.

I accepted Jon's request, and in doing so, couldn't help but flash back to the last "interview" anyone asked me to do for publication. It was 30+ years ago in Muscatine, Iowa, where I toiled as a local news reporter for the daily Muscatine Journal. A student at Muscatine Community College wanted the interview for publication in the campus newspaper.

Jon and I already have conducted the "interview"; in this cyberspace era, you can accomplish a lot quickly via email, and the post of our interview at Jon's self-named blog is scheduled to publish this Wednesday, Jan. 21. In the interview, Jon wanted me to discuss the craft of copy editing (my full-time job) and my photography hobby. He is planning to use small versions of two of my images with the interview post. One image is the winter park bench scene you see at the top of the Photo Potpourri home page. The other is one Jon found himself after visiting one of my online photo galleries. I was impressed that Jon did a little homework to learn more about his interview subject. As a longtime professional journalist, I can attest that doing background research and data collecting are critical steps in the process of developing most news stories a writer composes. So Jon got a couple big points from me on that score.

The second photo Jon selected (above) is one I plan to discuss in a later post. You can find it in the "Manipulations" folder of my gallery at Photo.net. I include it here simply so you could at least say you saw it here first!