Monday, June 29, 2009

It's Done

My book is now posted at the official SoFoBoMo site.

Twas the end of SoFoBoMo and all through the blogosphere, not many photographers were stirring—not uttering a peep.

Maybe a lot of us are tired. Or maybe it's the heat. Or, maybe I am just projecting. At any rate, a number of people seem quieter than usual. I think it was quiet last summer about this time, as well.

Now I have some time to enjoy all the other posted books. What a treat.

22 comments:

  1. And now imagine how I felt last year when I finished one week late :)

    Congratulations! It's very beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations, very well done considering the workload you seemed to suffer from. The book is downloaded to my desktop now, and I will have a look at it later, when time permits. Looking forward to that.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anita: Things have been very quiet! Especially me. :-) I guess that I just don't have much to say. I had a look at your book. I really liked it. I was especially fond of the picture of the rabbit. He was so cute. Not to offend the deer, though. They are cute in their own right!

    Looks like you're getting settled and familiar with your new surroundings. Excellent job!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Andreas - I don't think I would have lasted another week! Yesterday, it felt like "now, or never".

    Thank you for the congratulatory note. Today, I shall treat myself to poring over books and yours ranks high on my list of priority views.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ove - I feel like such a wimp. Workload?! I'm retired, Ove. I make my own work. I'm not overworked, just greedy, foolish, and not very smart about time management. You are so kind and I deeply appreciate your concern, but I feel a little embarrassed that I have complained.

    I hope you will enjoy perusing the photos of my journey. I know how much I like your book. Back when yours was finished, I thought I had oodles of time and took the time to enjoy browsing through yours.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Paul - The Husband spotted the rabbit. That's why he's sometimes known as the Sherpa. Having four eyes, two of which are much sharper (those are The Husband's) helps a great deal in some situations. See why he's the one looking for the mountain lions and rattlesnakes?

    By the way I promise not to tell the deer that they came in second. I am delighted that you enjoyed my book. I am, indeed, feeling more and more at home here.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A job well done Anita. I just finished looking through it. Some favorites...

    Page 16 - love the trees here and the overall delicate light. I have a feeling this scene is symbolic of this special place.

    Page 28 - does anyone else see an upside down Galapagos tortoise here? :-)

    Page 29 - knarly branches are a favorite of mine - I enjoyed how this particular image was composed.

    Page 35 - Even though I am a rock fanatic - I don't fall for them so easily. I like how this image seems to have an upward pull to it, leaving you feeling like you want to see more up the side of the cliff.

    Page 36 - don't know what the purple flower is on this page, but it sure is a beauty.

    Page 40 - knarly branches in beautiful light - what more could you ask for?!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mark - I so appreciate your detailed comments. It is quite interesting to know which pictures most appeal to you. I see we have something in common when it comes to tree branches in evening light.

    Your tortoise comment provided a big laugh here. I had wondered what others might see in that. You can imagine how horses react when they come around the bend and suddenly they are facing that thing. I have heard that it makes for an interesting moment.

    I wish I had learned the names of all the flowers in the canyon. I should do that soon.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anita, I'll echo Marks comments and add a few references of my own:

    Page 21 - The old narly tree and that rope swing, what imagery that brings to mind--old and young, wilderness playground, time passing.

    Pages 9, 10, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 28, 32, 37 - I have a weakness for paths curving off into the distance--makes me yearn to follow them.

    Page 38 - Wow, love the softness and detail here.

    Beautiful work and what a wonderful place to have close by to explore!

    Congratulations on completing your book. I've certainly apprecited your efforts.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Earl - Thank you so much for listing favorites. I love knowing which pictures appeal to viewers.

    That hanging rope is tempting, isn't it? Like you, I am drawn to curving paths that disappear. They make me want to discover what is around that curve or over that rise.

    Thank you for all the kind words.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I read you book, and I must say that your writing in the beginning really invited me to see the pictures with eyes tuned in to the right wavelength. I simply love the trees in this landscape, many real old ones in grand solitude.

    You made a good job keeping all the pictures in the same colour scale, not only temperature-wise but also colour-wise by emphasising earth colours. Like the pictures on the flowers, for instance. It would have been easy to mistakenly add to much warmth to the greens and to bumb up the reds in the background.

    I also like the dead tree on page 40. Imagine that one with the cloud in the background slightly larger and directly behind the crown of the tree. It would be as visualizing the ghost of the foliage that now is in heaven. :)

    Lovely book, really lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ove - Thank you so much for all your remarks. So, you, too, are a tree-lover? Those trees are one of the main reasons that I fell so much in love with the canyon.

    I am delighted that my color corrections (mostly slight ones) did not go awry. I still get anxious about color. We have so many choices with software, that it is a minefield of possible disasters.

    I considered omitting the snag on page 40, because it is on the portion of the trail after you come up out of the canyon. In the end, obviously, I couldn't bring myself to let go of it. So far, the comments have validated my choice.

    I appreciate all your thoughts, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ah, yes, forgot to say, I'm sure I will have all but time the day I retire. So many things to do and so little time. It wont be any better as time goes by, I'm pretty sure about this. Not a comfort, really, but anyway... :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ove - You have retirement figured out. That's the part no one warns you about. Yes, you aren't working anymore and theoretically you have all the time in the world. But, you are smack into that stage of life where you realize that you really aren't going to live forever and have a very limited time left to enjoy this beautiful planet. The result: As you said, "So many things to do and so little time."

    I suppose I will never stop complaining about the fact that there aren't enough hours in the day. I have been doing it since I was about six years old. Not much hope I will fix that part of me, I suppose.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Good job Anita.

    I particularly like the way your book projects an atmospher to me as the reader. This to me is a rare and most valuable quality.

    How did you get so close to the wild life? Is hunting allowed?

    ReplyDelete
  16. One suggestion. Quit being so modest. Place a direct link to your book! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Bob - Thank you for the comment regarding atmosphere. I hoped for that, but had lost all perspective, by the time I finished. I appreciate your feedback.

    Hunting is not allowed in our valley and that explains why the deer and elk are relatively comfortable when they see humans. On that evening, we were careful to not make sudden movements and to move parallel to them rather than toward them. I was amazed that they watched us for so long.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Paul - Good grief, I suppose that would have been a good idea. Frankly, I was pretty done in by the time I finished and was lucky to get any link at all attached. It's fixed. Thanks for the heads up.

    By the way, you know the old saw: some of us have a great deal to be modest about.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations Anita.
    I am downloading your book while I write this. Am sure it will be a pleasure to view.
    More later....
    Anil

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anil - It's great to hear from you. I hope you enjoy the book.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Finally went through your book. Had to have the setting perfect to browse and enjoy it. Tumbler with a healthy helping of a nice malt within easy reach, deep comfy chair, feet up and tucked-in, "Hawk Flies High" playing on the hifi. Page by page, one delicious image after another. My favs? The tree with spreading branches pages 16 and 21 [is it the same tree, different angles?], the path on page 17, the "from-another-planet" plant on 29 and the forest image on 34.
    Much enjoyed!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anil - Wow. You could give tips on how to enjoy a photobook.

    The trees on pages 16 and 21 are different trees. That canyon has several of those beautiful old oaks. I love your description of the plant on page 29. Since it is familiar to me, it hadn't occurred to me that to some it would be exotic. Your choice of the image on page 34 is particularly satifying because, at one point I wavered—wondering if was strong enough, even though it was one that especially spoke to me.

    Thank you so much for the wonderful comments. Furthermore, my image of viewing a book online will never be the same.

    ReplyDelete

You can leave your comments here. Because all comments are held pending review, yours will not immediately appear on the site. I eagerly read all of them and sincerely appreciate your taking the time to record your impressions and views. Thanks for visiting.
Anita