Thursday, January 11, 2007

Water, light and shadow


Deck chair, post-children
Deerfield Beach, Florida, January 2007 [Click to turn droplets into globules]

It's late in the afternoon and we've finally succeeded in coaxing the kids out of the pool. They slowly get their sandals on as they sadly talk about the fact that this has been their last swim of the vacation. Tomorrow morning, we finish loading the van and head home. (Yes, I know I'm blog-posting way out of sequence. I'm strange like that.)

The neighborhood pool sported a new deck - interlocking brick, tres chic - and new lounge chairs this year. After the facility suffered significant damage during the 2005 hurricane season, the residents were decidedly happy to reclaim their pool and enjoy this quiet, bright spot. I wanted to take a picture of one of the new deck chairs to mark the site's return to normalcy, but a basic frame-and-webbing chair hardly makes for a compelling photo.

That is, until my kids are finished with it. Little wet bodies leave little traces of water in their wake. The glint from one of the droplets caught my eye as I picked up the last towel and prepared to walk away. I called to the kids to hang on a second - something they're all too used to thanks to my snap-happy ways.

I shot quickly before the kids decided that maybe they wanted to go back into the pool. This was another one of those times where I didn't have the luxury of time to artfully compose or otherwise fiddle with the camera's settings. Still, I rather enjoyed the pressure, and used the few seconds that I had to snap a few close-up perspectives. The few adults still there looked at me kinda funny. If they have Internet access, I hope they eventually find my site.

Your turn: I am always amazed at the fun things you can do with low-angled light. Did you ever think taupe-colored plastic webbing could be so fascinating?

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fascinating pic of a mundane piece of furniture. I would never have guessed what it was if you hadn't said.

I love the effect of teh water on teh surface.

Here from Michele's.

Anonymous said...

Always love how you see the details, Carmi. Do you also notice when your wife's hair is different or when she's wearing something new? Because, you know, a lot of men don't.

Anonymous said...

Very alluring and interesting for a plastic chair...nice one!

Anonymous said...

This is a really cool shot. Great light.

Hi from Michele's!

Anonymous said...

Light is beautiful. Maybe one of the MOST beautiful things. :)

Hi from Michele's, and happy weekend!

Anonymous said...

It's the light and sharpness that make it such an attractive image.
Here from Michele's once again.

David Edward said...

without the light and the droplets (and the bubbles INSIDE the droplets) it would be lines on paper.

the way it is, it's a universe, a solar system that many never see because their eyes are dulled by sparkling starlets, BIG stuff, important things. You have a child's gift of "wonderment" and we so appreciate that. when is the Carmi photo book being published?

Anonymous said...

The dros of water look like little opalescent gens don't they?!

Back from Michele's.

Anonymous said...

If I had thought about it, no, I never would have thought that taupe-colored plastic webbing could be so fascinating. I just never gave it much thought - until now.

Michele sent me.

Mike

Anonymous said...

Wow, That is beautiful & from just water on plastic! it is so detailed, I wish I could get such detail in my pictures (I'd probably need a better camera!)
Here from Micheles,

Anonymous said...

I like to discover what everyone else is missing in front of them. I've been trying to do that with my own pic-a-day journey, but lately it's been based more upon inspiration for what's going on with me internally.

What I like about your photography is that you look for the picture within the picture, deconstructing the obvious to show the hidden shapes, colors, and patterns within.

Anonymous said...

Hi Carmi,

Back from Michele's

Mike

Anonymous said...

i love the look of the shadows behind the water drops. very cool!

michele sent me this morning.

Anonymous said...

When I grow up, I want to be able to take pictures just like yours.

Seriously, awesome picture, as always...

Michele sent me ; have a great weekend !

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Well taken and detailed; very good.

Michele sent me here.

Azgreeneyes said...

I( love the close up, it seems like even the droplets of water have droplets inside them! I know it's just air, but it looks awesome!

Here from Michele's today

Anonymous said...

Absolutely amazed at the thoughtful provacation of that image :)

Really enjoyed your blog :)

Thank you ;)

Here via Michle ;)

Anonymous said...

Only the patterns they leave on ladies' legs.

Grrrrrrrrrr...

p

Here via Michele

sage said...

no, never thought about photo water on the deck, but maybe i should go out now and do it as it's raining again--in january! Here from michele's

srp said...

How did they leave such wonderful drops..... mine would have smeared them on the way out of the chair.
And to answer your question.... who knew...

Now the debate... do I try and get a good zoom for this new camera or a great macro lens..... what to do.

Here from Michele this time.

Anonymous said...

Really interesting picture, you really know how to look at uninteresting things and make them seem interesting!

Here from Michele's!

Anonymous said...

I'm getting addicted to these pictures.

A new fear - what if Carmi stops posting pics???!!!

Anonymous said...

I love this shot!

Seems to me that to be a good photographer you must become immune to the strange looks from passersby. Some people's curiosity have outweighed their shyness and they've asked what I was taking pictures of. I kinda like that. That I bring their attention to something they otherwise wouldn't have noticed.