Inspirations #23: Edward Weston - Cypress

When one is visiting the California coast one cannot ignore the cypress trees that make this rugged land their home. The cypress was one of Edward Weston's favorite subjects. I believe he felt a connection with these tenacious conifers, often gnarled in this part of the world from eons of wind. He photographed them equally well as both part of the larger landscape and intimately.

This image of cypress roots has an abstract quality to it, reminding me of flames and even a mountainside or cooled lava flow.

Cypress Root, Pt. Lobos, CA, 1929 by Edward Weston

My father was a printer, and when I was young he would take me to the paper company when he ordered paper. I was fascinated by the entire process, including how paper was made on a commercial scale. I remember receiving a poster of this process from his salesman at the warehouse on the life cycle of a tree (for paper-making purposes, of course). There was an illustration of a redwood with a time line depicting the life of this giant which included the birth of Christ. This fascinated me how something could live that long. And the key to deciphering this was the rings. Rings... also the source of grain.

The image below was taken in the Allan Memorial Grove at Pt. Lobos, most probably in the same area Weston photographed his roots in 1929.

Cypress Grain, Pt. Lobos, CA, 1986 by Richard M. Coda

This image, in addition to being inspired by Weston, was also the result of an image I made on Ellis Island two years earlier of a piece of very weathered plywood. I would love to continue a series on this theme of grain... the life story of trees.

Grain, Ellis Island, NY, 1984 by Richard M. Coda

Inspirations #22: Ansel Adams "Redwoods"

Redwoods are hard... oh, and hard to photograph, too.

It is very hard to find a place where you can get far away enough to encompass the sheer size of a redwood. Ansel Adams was able to find such a place in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park in northwestern California.

Redwoods, Bull Flat Creek, CA, 1960 by Ansel Adams

I was not as fortunate to have the time and resources to travel all over California, so instead, during a 1987 trip to Carmel, I finally had the right lighting conditions to photograph this stand of Eucalyptus trees at the junction of Palo Colorado Rd. and Hwy 1 in Big Sur. These trees are beautiful and fragrant, but no match for coast Redwoods.

Highway 1 and Palo Colorado Rd., Big Sur, CA, 1987, by Richard M. Coda

Many people drive past this stand of trees every year, but few, if any, stop to appreciate their simple beauty. I consider myself lucky to have been one of the few.

My first attempt to photograph a redwood resulted (IMHO) in a mediocre image. Others have told me they like this image but I just think that it doesn't "feel" like an image of the greatest [size] of all Flora.

Redwood, Big Basin State Park, CA, 1987 by Richard M. Coda

Post Christmas Observation

Jesus for Sale, 2009 by Richard M. Coda

I took my daughter out to the "Town Dump" in Cave Creek today so she could photograph some "western" stuff to use in one of her paintings. The Town Dump is a touristy, kitschy, western themed curio shop. Lots of rusted sculptures, old sewing machines, Mexican wooden doors, cow skulls... you name it. Visually very interesting. They have these little niches where they have items displayed... some are "themed" some are totally not related to each other. In one of these niches I found this. For some reason this image disturbed me quite a bit... almost like saying Jesus was for sale... for $28. And, a classic painting like this ending up pasted on some old wood almost made me cry. Another affront to Christianity, I guess. Kind of reminds me of my Salton Alien image. I think I'll have to go back and see if I can photograph it with the big cameras.

Guest Blog: Christmas... Lindsay Style

My daughter, Lindsay, is an artist at heart, and a traditional one at that. She loves the Masters and prides herself on technique. She paints and she draws using a variety of mediums. We took her to National Portfolio Days a few weeks ago, and at 15, she received comments like, "If you were a senior showing me this portfolio today, I'd offer you a scholarship right now... wouldn't think twice about it" (NHIA). "A lot of people are going to be after you in a couple of years." (AIBLU) Yes, she is an artist... but put a camera in her hands and she's a completely different person.

We went out to look at some of the larger displays of Christmas lights tonight. Lindsay is a very unorthodox photographer, especially when it comes to night photography and Christmas lights... she uses the camera as if it were a paint brush, creating strokes and abstract compositions, even though she does not like abstract art (yet).

She even got me doing it...

And, here are a few action shots...

Merry Christmas!

Please don't call the ACLU on me!


Photo by Lindsay Eve Coda, 2008

From my family to yours, we wish you a blessed and Merry Christmas.

More Old Color

Just going through some more old chromes where I got lucky and made a good exposure.

Ellis Island, NY, 1984 by Richard M. Coda


Pinnacles National Monument, CA, 1980s by Richard M. Coda


Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, 1990 by Richard M. Coda
This is a honeymoon photo on 8x10 transparency film.


Zion National Park, UT, 2000 by Richard M. Coda

Oh, what a glorious morning...

Wednesday morning, the girls just left for their last day of school before the Christmas break. As I was firing up the computer to begin my day I looked to the East out my office windows and saw this... Still in my robe I ran to get my Nikon D300 and outside to take this. There are houses on the ridge and I didn't want to include them, but left the top of the power lines in. The colors were incredible, as they are frequently this time of year. Looks almost like an orange tidal wave or a star that's way too close to Earth!

I have to try and get up earlier and get out there with the big cameras!