tim mcmurdo

waiting in the wings

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Do you think you can handle one more dance recital photo? This one is a crop from a much larger image. However, I fell in love with the light and decided to see what I could do with it. Before processing, the image had reall noise issues and was very dark. First task was to re-size the photo and tackle some basic spot healing and cloning to remove a few odds and ends. Next came curves adjustments. I also used some selective sharpening, blurring, and dodging to bring the image to where it is now.

I kind of like the resulting impressionistic feel of the final image.

the spot light

the waiting is the worst part

tiny dancers

the spot light

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

When all of the waiting, the practice, and preparations are over, each girl gets her moment in the spotlight. Her time to show the audience what she has learned and what she can do.

Some moments are shared with other dancers and some lucky girls get the stage to themselves.

The older girls seem to focus on the smallest of gestures. Placing their feet just so. Moving their hands as elegantly as possible. In dance, it seems, perfection is in the smallest of details

Throughout the entire experience, I am often struck by the impact that dancing must have on the lives of these young girls. Dancing takes them from childhood, through their awkward teen years, and into adulthood. I wonder what they take with them. Do they gain grace and poise? Patience? Do they learn to work hard to achieve their goals? Do they become confident as they change from young girls to young women?

Did you grow up with dance lessons? How did they impact your life?

tiny dancers

the waiting is the worst part

tiny dancers

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

A dance recital wouldn't be the same without the smallest of dancers having their time on stage. In the same instance, they are the worst dancers and the best dancers to watch. Poorly coordinated and easily distracted, they are the ones that everybody loves to see in action.

These are the kids that watch intently as the older dancers move about on stage. When their turn comes, the tiny dancers get the most patience from their instructor and the most rapt attention from the audience. They are wonderful to behold.

I hope you folks have a day that is wonderful to behold. Go ahead and do a little dance…just for you. You know you want to.

Tim

the waiting is the worst part

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

This weekend, I enjoyed my annual opportunity to shoot a dance recital from back stage. The dance instructor is also a dancer in my wife's belly dance troupe & generously invites me to shoot the practice day as well as the show. I am always awed by the natural back stage lighting combined with the girls as they begin the process of mentally preparing for their time on stage.

Each of them moves through their own preparation process, some moving silently through their dances, while others stand in silent contemplation.

All of them are incredibly patient, knowing that their turn will come soon enough. Perhaps, this is a lesson for all of us in life. Be prepared and wait patiently, your turn to shine will come soon enough.

stairway to the second floor

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Nothing quite so interesting as a stairway to heaven. However, there is some very nice light and lines for you to enjoy. This one was taken in the Braselton Bros. mill in downtown Braselton, Georgia during last weeks vacation with my family. I'm sure that there are a few more images form the mill to come in the future, so stay tuned.

Tim

miss kitty found a new home

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

While in Atlanta, visiting my parents, we discovered that their cat, Miss Kitty, has a new favorite place to nap. Seems that the cabinet holding all of the quilts is the perfect place to snooze. The life of a cat can be reduced to a few simple rules.

If you can eat it, then eat it by all means.
If you can kill it, then you must play with it first. There is time to kill it later when you are finished having fun.
If you can knock it onto the floor, then of course you should do so.
If you can sleep on it, then it must have been placed there for your comfort. Sleep on it.

I know that all of our family cats have these rules tattooed onto their skin. It's good to be a cat.

a star is born

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

After many years of disappointing blooms, our star magnolia finally showed what she could do. Why this year? We cut down a big ugly pine tree that was sucking up all of the sun around the magnolia. With plenty of sun to give it energy, the bush was spectacular. thought you might want to see what was shining in our yard this Spring.

home

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Yesterday, I made the trip back from Atlanta. It’s been a wonderfully relaxing week. Plenty of time with my family and son. We told stories and made some new ones that will be used in future tellings. My niece, Katie, graduated from college, my sister-in-law got a new truck, and my son and his fiancée bought a new home. It was a nice week. I say that in the way my mother would say “that’s a nice old dog”.

We had two really interesting photo outings. I’ll share those with you later this week, once I’ve had the time to sort them all out. Meanwhile, I hope all of you have a great weekend. Thank you for sticking with me during my down time.

Tim.

living as art

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

Living as Art 1

I wonder what your life would be like if you were a living, breathing, walking piece of art. Certainly you would need to be a brave soul and immune to the comments, stares, and opinions of others. You would have to walk your own path in life.

Would it be a lonely life or a life rich and rewarding? Something for me to think about. I don’t believe that I have this king of courage.

on my way

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Tim McMurdo

As many of you are aware, I have been struggling a bit lately. Trying to find a direction for my photography. In some ways, I feel as though I've lost my photo mojo for the moment. So, I am going to try a little experimenting. This will be an attempt to rediscover what I enjoy about photography and have some fun with it.

A prime example is this image that I took yesterday morning on the way to work. The first twenty minutes of my drive winds through local farm country and, at this time of the year, I catch the light just prior to the sun's rise. When I saw this scene, I was struck by the saturated colors that looked as though they had come from the brush of Maxfield Parish, the American painter from the last century. I share a fondness with his work with my sister. She has often displayed prints of his work on her walls. This image is no Maxfield Parish and is not even similar to his work. However, his colors inspired my take on the scene. You just never know where inspiration will come from. Maybe that's why it is inspiring.

As part of my work flow, I often switch to black and white to get a good look at the tones. I find that the colors can sometimes be distracting and seeing the image in black and white helps me during the process. While, I have no intention of using the image in black and white, I thought it was interesting and that you might like seeing the converted image as well.

Have a fantastic Friday folks.