Essay #46: Concert magic

The next couple of posts will be more concert photos--second only to produce in sheer quantity of what I shoot.

Needtobreathe played in Madison last night, closing out The Outsiders Tour (which also began in Madison--fitting, no?).

Something about live music is just...magical. I have zero musical ability of my own, so I'm amazed by the lovely sounds artists can conjure. A strum, a hum, and the air thrums with dazzling beauty, a profound connection that stirs in the hearers and binds the audience to each other and the artists in shared sensational experience. I'll pay more for a concert ticket than I will for an album.

Essay #45: Pumpkins

 Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Essay #44: So cute it's sick

She looked at him.

He looked at her.

And everyone who saw that look wanted to throw up a little.

And as if they weren't absolutely adorable enough...let's add a puppy!

Essay #43: Fun with filters: Star

Apollo 14 performs at Battle of the Bands in Mineral Point, WI. These guys have talent--check 'em out!

I like playing with filters. My favorite to use at a concert is a four-point star (six-points can be good, too, but it's usually too much). The filter itself looks like a grid carved into the glass. It does bring the exposure down a stop and makes the focus less crisp, but there's no better way to add a little "star power" to an aspiring band.

Essay #42: Golden apples

Mmmmmm.
There's just something about eating an apple right off the tree, its lifeline severed only seconds before enameled dismemberment, juices still flowing.  These were cold and crisp, with traces of frost lingering on the leaves.

Essay #41: Fragile tenacity

A cold, frosty October morning isn't the most hospitable environment for new blossoms. That didn't stop these lovely flowers from opening to greet the day. They're a bit beaten down by the chilled wind and an early morning snowfall, but not defeated. I guess it's true: You can never hold back spring.

Topic: Life, the Universe, and Everything

Between having limited availability and limited internet access, the old topic-a-week format probably isn't going to work well anymore. So I'm changing things up a bit. While I may occasionally have a topic that spans a few posts, most of my "essays" will be one-offs, or what used to be "freestyle," from now on. Or at least until I have better internet access.