I took a break the other day from my event photography processing and played around with some landscape images. I then posted about my “time out”.

Shortly after that, I saw on FB that the next workshop for The Mindful Eye was in Big Bend National Park. An amazing place in its own right but I also remember the old mining town of Terlingua was full of colorful characters too. I remember grabbing a few images of that “color”.

That thought took me back down memory lane. I so very often enjoy catching the odd image and colorful characters and then (thanks to the fact that Craig Tanner has a sense of humor too) I have had the opportunity to throw in a couple of the images in the critiques for a little comic relief.

So, back into the workshop folders for another afternoon break while I wait for the lab to process my recent Mitzvahs.

What follow are some of the “out-takes” from my journey over the last few years. Tried to include some of the back-story too. Hope it inspires you to be a little irreverent too; to look for the out-take; to meet some of the “colorful” characters you might bump into….

It’s fun to grab a quick shot of photographers being photographers. The top image is from Yellowstone–how many photogs can crowd around a moose?? The bottom is from Death Valley-called tripods are for sissies!!

I am definitely not the shy retiring type! I approach virtually everyone. These are my “Harley girlfriends” I met in the Valley of Fire outside Vegas prior to a Death Valley workshop. They were in town for a Nascar weekend from Chicago and, being winter there, hadn’t ridden in awhile so rented a couple of bikes to see some of the sites. Wonder what Mom would have thought if i had brought a Harley girlfriend home???

Speaking of Big Bend–went there too. One of the assignments was to create a “story” about Big Bend. so being the irreverent SOB that I can be these were my opening and closing slides

Sometimes with a little persuasion you can get the model to do an outrageous spoof on things

Sometimes the eye catches an interesting and odd site to stand in stark contrast to an iconic image–everyone has a old farm house from Mormon Row in Tetons but how many wander down the road and find their outhouse–kind of iconic too – - don’t you think???

Then there’s the odd tourist doing odd things in the road but kind enough to let me catch it too…of, course (irreverent remember) Josh, Stacey, and I had to recreate it…I called my version 3 Amigos; Catherine, a workshop participant, preferred to call it “3 knuckleheads”

A self portrait is often an assignment at these workshops–one morning in Death Valley, Josh, Stacey and I simply “lost it” after a couple of hours in a blinding sand storm in the dunes-then remembered we still had to do the self portrait–’nough said!!!

occasionally things get completely out of control–Savannah–Bryan decides we need a “girl in a red dress” for a “pre-visualized” shot from a classically tiled men’s room–Jessi was game–pounced on an unsuspecting tourist; convinced her and the guy (turned out to be her son-in-law. Kind of weird!!!)…amazing

speaking of iconic images–Oxbow Bend in the Tetons draws a crowd-better get there early and stick the tripod in the holes of other photographers that have gone before you

of course, started by talking about Terlingua

finally, even Craig Tanner stumbles into the mix–great sense of humor–as did the Savannah police force–everyone enjoyed the show

hope these provided a laugh or two; maybe some inspiration to look around

have a great weekend

For my very first post, I wrote about the “journey” -ie- transitioning from Wall Street to sabbatical to Atlanta photographer. The other day, I was catching up on some Daily Critiques from my good friends at The Mindful Eye. Craig Tanner had commented on some images from a recently completed Grand Teton National Park workshop.

Wow!! Where had the time gone?? Grand Teton is one of my favorite National Parks for a lot of reasons-the history of the place; the rugged landscape; the animals. I also like how approachable it all is from a very nice town-Jackson. You got to love time in the mountains followed by a dinner at Snake River Grill!!

But–it is really about the scenery!! Grand Teton National Park is one of the most recognizable mountain landscapes in the world. Iconic images (aka-”mature subjects”) seem to be everywhere you turn. It is a spectacular landscape with incredible mountains, beautiful lakes and an extraordinary variety of wildlife. The jagged Teton Range overlooks the valley floor covered with sage. The Snake River flows south through the park and provides an amazing waterway in the national park. It’s no wonder the park attracts nearly four million visitors per year.

It was in the Tetons, in September 2007, where I joined Craig Tanner and company on the first of what would be many workshops in some amazing places. I actually spent a total of 2 weeks there photographing amazing wildlife and all of Grand Teton’s classic locations — Schwabacher Landing, the Mormon Barns, Oxbow Bend, as well as many other stunning locations. If you ever wanted an outstanding landscape experience then check out Craig’s photography workshops.

But I digress…where did the time go??? It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 years!! It was an amazing experience and as I listened to Craig comment on this years workshop, I realized after a couple of weeks of Atlanta event photography, I was ready to “play” and take a break-head down memory lane for awhile. Stop and smell the…sage. So, back into the folder from the workshop…

I do mean “play” in post processing: how about a pano (or two), maybe a B&W version; a little bit of HDR; what if I took the HDR to B&W. What about that thunderstorm image that led to the rainbow picture I had critiqued at the workshop that I had never processed….

Play time was just what I needed late yesterday afternoon…OK…now back to work…hope you like…

photography of Atlanta photographer Stephen Milano photography of Atlanta photographer Stephen Milano photography of Atlanta photographer Stephen Milano photography of Atlanta photographer Stephen Milano photography of Atlanta photographer Stephen Milano

It’s All Greek to Me…

With apologies to those who were confused by my test posts, which I pulled back, but not before a few of you saw them…

Just when I thought I had this technical stuff all figured out, I was back to the drawing board—what is with all this HTML stuff anyway—Greek???

Although many say I have mellowed in my old age, when I decided to share some of my landscape images following my very first post, the overachiever in me came out!!  I was determined to find the best gallery plug-in to present the slide show.  I tested a few and then posted a couple of test posts.  They simply didn’t work!!!

Anyway, it then got kind of funny!!  I had accompanied the images with some “placeholder text”  -ie- nothing like a little bit of Latin from Lorem 2 to fill in the test post.

Seems a few of you saw the posts.  My brother even sent me a note suggesting my site might have been hacked—said he was seeing a foreign language on his screen.

Say what…it’s not a foreign language—it’s a dead language!!  That coming from a brother who had years of Latin in school. Like, I am just saying…..

So, after some tinkering; some help from my computer friend I refer to as Yoda  ( yup-it’s nice to have your own Yoda );  some regrouping—I am finally ready to show some images from the initial part of the journey.  Sure hope it works!!

By the way, the majority of the images came from National Parks—places that have been on my “bucket list” for years.  And, as part of the journey, have had the outstanding privilege to attend a number of photography workshops offered from The Mindful Eye Photography School and can recommend Craig Tanner and TME without reservation.  If you’re looking to learn and spend a week in beautiful places, check them out.atlanta-photographer-rhyolite-truck atlanta-photographer-emerald-lake atlanta-photographer-bryce-canyon atlanta-photographer-sprague-lake atlanta-photographer-antelope-canyon atlanta-photographer-big-bend atlanta-photographer-death-valley-footprints atlanta-photographer-dream-lake atlanta-photographer-zion-narrows atlanta-photographer-death-valley