My Blair Witch Project: happy halloween

So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the forest. There is a chill in the air. The leaves are gone and what's left is the wooded forest and its Spirit.

Inspired by the movie Blair Witch Project, I took this shot from my tripod while taking a walk in a cold early Spring in Des Plaines Illinois. The Forest is the ideal setting and my hooded coat is the best wardrobe so I can create an image that will give you a li'l fright. But if you know me by heart, looking at my big round eyes will make you smile :-)


The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film; the narrative is presented as a documentary pieced together from amateur footage, filmed in real time. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three young student filmmakers (Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams) who hike into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch, and subsequently go missing. The viewer is told that the three were never found, although their video and sound equipment (along with most of the footage they shot) was discovered a year later.

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

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October Winning Images

"Reflections on the Pool"
1st place
2010-10-04 - Creative Projected Image, Basic

"Straight On"
2nd place
2010-10-18 - Color Prints, Intermediate

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Photographing Plumas: a photographer's heaven

The recent trip in Plumas County covers the town of Portola, Graeagle, Blairsden, Maybe, and Quincy. For my 1st release 2010 Plumas Photo Trip images as Plumas County Official Photographer, I decided to blog Plumas as a place for photographers due to its versatile land features enhanced by a pleasant climate. The world of photography keeps on growing: its networks and influence. Hope that through this blog will create awareness to all photography enthusiasts that Plumas is another place that I can call A Photographer's Heaven!

"Photographing The Saw Mill"

The Siera Pacific Industries (SPI) in Quincy manufactures small and large saw mill and has a cogeneration plant. While they harvest trees, SPI uses high technology to lessen the overall impact on the environment while providing jobs to the community.

"Photographing Davis Lake"

Lake Davis (elevation: 5785 ft. and a shoreline of 32 miles) was created in 1967 for recreational purposes and as a water supply for the nearby town of Portola. It is well noted for its great camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, mountain biking and wildlife viewing.

"Photographing The Canyon"

The drive from Highway #70 to Frenchman Lake takes you through the beautiful canyon of Little Last Chance Creek. This canyon was formed as the result of several geologic "volcanic" events .

"Photographing Frenchman Lake"

Frenchman Lake (elevation: 5,588 ft and a shoreline of 21 miles) offers a wide variety of summer outdoor experiences including: camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, jet skiing, mountain biking, swimming and water-skiing. In the winter, ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are favored activities. It is my favorite lake in Plumas County and will definitely go back there to kayak and shoot!

"Photographing Wildflowers"
Colorful shows of wildflowers can be seen along major Plumas County roads during the late spring and early summer. Among the best places to spot color are: The Feather River Highway 70, Indian Valley, Lake Almenor, Chester, Bucks Lake Road (Quincy-Oroville Highway), Butterfly Valley Botanical Area, and Lakes Basin Recreation Area.


"Photographing Fall Foliage"
Go out and catch a glimpse of natures splendor while Fall is still here and enjoy the changing leaves and feel the crisp breeze of Autumn.

"Photographing Downtown Quincy"

Not known to many, the town of Quincy in Plumas County has the best California Fall foliage color. Recent media coverage and photography social network has attracted more visitors this year. The future looks promising, expect more visitors arriving in the years to come.

"Photographing The Farm"

Go to the farm before sunrise and catch the early morning light. And when the daylight breaks in with fog, you will feel you're in Photographer's Heaven.

"Photographing For Fun"

Whether traveling solo, with someone or in a group. Whether it's a disposable, film, digital point and shoot, or DSLR camera. Photography produces pleasure especially in the company of fun friends. And when birds of the same feather flock together, they stay together.

"Photographing The Good Earth"
Discover Plumas and let Mother Nature surprise you!

Acknowledgement:
John & Ed: America knows you got brains, talent, and models! and now, you are my models :D Such a priveledge to know and work/play with you. Had so much fun on this trip. More trips and modeling to come. Keep expressing yourself through your camera and lens. Thank you.

“Life on earth is the preface to the book, the warm-up to the concert! Heaven is the main event!” ~ Randy Alcorn

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Me...in Plumas County News

From casual talk to published article...my fellow photographers told me that I am now a published pro and famous in "blogosphere". Below is the unsolicited article (which I was mentioned) in Plumas County News from Suzi Brakken, Plumas Visitor's Bureau director.

[from the left: Marichu Pereira, Ed Mestre, John Goyer, and Kari of Plumas County Visitor's Bureau]

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Photo bloggers are boosting Plumas County tourism
10/13/2010

Suzi Brakken - Plumas County Visitor's Bureau

The promotion of Plumas County’s fall foliage has attracted unprecedented numbers of visitors and inquiries this year, but there’s been an additional benefit, thanks to technology. The changing leaves have been attracting more and more photographers and photo clubs who post their pictures online via websites, blogs and Facebook, thereby adding to the viral marketing effort.

Through Google alerts, the Visitors Bureau is able to track these photographers and make contact, which has led to various photo sharing arrangements or purchases, future photo shoots and even friendships.

Tony Mindling is a great example. Mindling is a talented amateur photographer-geologist who was discovered by local photographer Richard McCutcheon when both were out shooting fall foliage in Indian Valley a few years ago. We contacted Mindling, who lives a few hours away, and asked if he could come back up to shoot some images with models. Mindling’s productive visits have resulted in cover shots for the Plumas County Visitors Guide for the past three years. Mindling’s shots also were featured in VIA magazine and led Tom Stienstra’s outdoors column in the San Francisco Chronicle this month. In exchange for Mindling’s talent, we’ve offered modest compensation and a couple of free RV camp spots donated by local businesses.

Last year, we found another photographer through Google, Marichu Pereira, who donated some images used in the Visitors Guide. In exchange, we arranged for a cabin (donated by Chalet View) last weekend, which she shared with two other photographers she brought along from her Livermore Valley camera club. Pereira is a delightful, talented photographer that we had the pleasure of meeting in person last weekend. Her fellow photographers – one of whom is a “master” (in the photo competition world) – shot images across the county all weekend, and will likely be back, perhaps even as a club field trip. Photography is a huge social network, and turns out there are some 30 camera clubs just in Northern California!

Meanwhile, Pereira, who works in a Stanford Hospital laboratory, herself used social media to spread the word about Plumas County. She was so excited to become an “official photographer” for us that she blogged and Facebooked the news, linked the online Visitors Guide, and encouraged her hundreds of friends and fans to visit Plumas County.

This upcoming weekend, two photo groups are coming to Lake Almanor/Lassen Park as the result of a web-based tool known as “meet up.” This worldwide social network allows people with common interests to organize group functions, in this case, a photo trip to Plumas County. The invite is illustrated with Pereira’s photos, so we know that’s how they got the idea. We’ve already been in touch with the group leader from Sacramento who’s gathering 30 photographers; the other group from Tehama County is bringing seven. Local tourism businesses will benefit of course, but we’re hoping to form some new relationships with photographers as well.


http://www.plumasnews.com/index.php/home/7443-photo-bloggers-are-boosting-plumas-county-tourism

“As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs.” ~ Sam Abell
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Mosaic Reflections On The Pool: winning Creative Image

"Reflections On The Pool"
1st place Creative Projected
LVCC October 4, 2010

Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral. Small pieces, normally roughly cubic, of stone or glass of different colors, known as tesserae, (diminutive tessellae), are used to create a pattern or picture.

My Mosaic WATER Images were taken from a swimming pool. The pattern and colors are from the dark blue sky, reflections of the house and the ripples from a boy swimming on the right side of the pool.

Our camera club defines Creative Photography as producing an image through the use of imaginative skill or originality of thought including the altering of reality. The Mosaic Reflections On The Pool are already Creative on its own!

Acknowledgement:

Merrie - for opening your beautiful house and pool.
Marek - Boy! you really are a good swimmer!



“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful Mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” ~ Jimmy Carter

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