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Heart Of Hearts Wins 2nd Honorable Mention

Youssef Ismail — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:27:27 +0000

Heart Of Hearts

This photo was made at the end of October. I was photographing this colorful frosted edge Cottonwood leaf on a cold autumn morning in Yosemite National Park on the outskirts of a small Cottonwood grove along the Merced river. It was a cold chilly morning and the leaves were still delicately frosted on the leaf face and along the edges. I still use my old manual focus lenses from my 35mm film camera days, but now on a DSLR. One of my favorite lenses is the 80-200mm fixed f/4 lens. It has a single focusing ring and to zoom in and out the barrel is move in and out respectively. As I was working the camera was pointed directly down at the leaf. As I was metering the leaf, I kept seeing the leaf size changing as the lens’ barrel kept sliding down changing the focal length. Suddenly an idea hit me. What would happen if zoomed in or out during the exposure. I closed down the aperture to its smallest setting which gave me the longest shutter I could muster. I started the exposure with the lens zoomed in to 200 mm and then about 1/3 of the way through the exposure I quickly zoomed out to 80mm and allowed the exposure to finish. I must have made over 20 attempts to get both the zoomed out and zoomed in leaf well defined in the photo. This one was my favorite. My reflection about this photo is below.

Making photographs is an enigma to most when asked why the take photos, or at least it might spark some introspection. Photography, writing with light, is something that might be rooted deep in the need for us to share our experiences with others. It might also be rooted in the need to feel connected to what the photograph was taken of. It could also be rooted in the need to hold on to those things we find dear to our heart. When we look into our heart of hearts we just might find that photography fulfills all of these needs, regardless of what we photograph. In fact, even if the image is never really captured due to the absence of film or other capture media, the very act of tripping a shutter to trap the brief moment of light might be all that is needed to find fulfillment, reward and connection to the things that we love.

Heart Of Hearts has just been announced as the 2nd Honorable Mention on the NPN (Nature Photographers.Net) Editors Pick Awards 2011. You can see it on the NPN website HERE.

Heart Of Hearts is available for orders on the Organic Light Photography website at this link, HERE

Peace.

Organic Light Photography Best Of 2011

Youssef Ismail — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:59:06 +0000

It was a strange year of photography for me. It seemed like I hardly got out at all, but the number of photographs made this past year speak to the contrary. It was difficult narrowing down all the photos to just these favorites. The other thing I noticed was that I did not update the website as I normally do, unfortunately time just did not allow for it. I will try to do better this coming year. So without any further delay, enjoy my favorite images from 2011. And don’t forget to visit the website to see the other photos from the year in the “new images” section, HERE

Number 1:

I think by far my most favorite photograph of the year is The Gathering. It was a whole family effort and it brings back a great memory of my four children, uh assistants, and I stomping around in the surf at the coast gathering and placing all these amazing rocks. And I did not think I would even make a photo that day as the coast was completely socked in with a thick fog that never lifted. ‘The Gathering’ has also been a big hit in the art show exhibit as well. I am hoping for great things with this photo.

The Gathering

Number 2:

I started out the year in a real funk. I was having a very hard time “seeing”. I went out one warm, we’re talking like 70 degrees warm, yeah California is strange, February day to the coast with my four assistants to play in the sand. I wandered the beach while the assistants did what they do best, play. I soon became enamored with patterns in the sand and started to work. As soon as I made this photo, my youngest got caught by a sneaker wave and even though it was warm to a dry body, her little 5 year old wet body could not handle it and started to shiver uncontrollably. We piled whatever clothes we could on her, packed up the camera and carried our little treasure for over 1/2 mile back to the car to warm her up. She was fine, and my vision was renewed with Treasure.

Treasure

Number 3:

There are those times when you walk upon a scene where the light is just speaking to you in a very deep way. This was one of those times. The light falling on this small area of fallen Black Oak leaves was something I just could not pass up. I look forward to printing this one very large and exhibiting Final Words in the show.

Final Words

Number 4:

There is a place along the Merced River in Yosemite National Park that brings tranquility to my heart. Its the place I think of when I need to go to my ‘Happy Place’ and its a place that I have been photographing for years with only marginal success. This year, the photos I made there were exceptional. The variety of colors and shapes made me think of an Autumn Garden.

Autumn Garden

Number 5:

This past spring was lackluster at best in California, at least for me. The one photo that I came back with was from Carizzo Plain. It was my first multi-4×5-sheet film stitched panoramic. It brought my computer to its knees, then running Windows XP with only 2 GB of RAM. The final photograph opened for me some great possibilities in both size and detail in my prints. The final photograph, Remembering Spring, can be printed out at its native resolution of 360 dpi to the size of 50 inches tall by 100 inches wide! It can go even larger than that. I am looking for takers.

Remembering Spring

Number 6:

I have been photographing the moon, the new crescent in particular, for the last 20 years. I go out each and every month to find it in the sky if not to photographing it as well. Some months the sky sings with color and vibrancy as the moon sinks slowly to the horizon. However on this night, color was not even a question, but the atmosphere and the company, Venus shown there to the left, made up for it. To add to the ambiance, this moon marked the beginning of the new Islamic year, 1433 AH. This scene made Starting Anew one of my all time favorite new moon photos.

Starting Anew

Number 7:

Some friends and I have a tradition where we take our kids out for several days of camping and fun in the Sierra. Most often we find ourselves somewhere along the Yuba River. Years ago, I found a tributary to the Yuba river which came to this lush waterfall about a mile or some up this side canyon. Each time we camp in the area, I try to make a photograph of it. It has taken me quite a long time, but I finally captured that waterfall to my liking. The Long Wait was a exercise in patience. I guess good things do come those who wait.

The Long Wait

Number 8:

Acquiring wisdom is a life long effort. The longer we live the better the chances of becoming wise as we have more chances of learning the life lessons associated with wisdom. I am always in awe of things that portray wisdom by virtue of their age. Desert Sage and Tufa formations impart that awe to me. My recent visit to South Tufa Beach along the Mono Lake shore was interesting in that I found a serendipitous juxtaposition of the young crescent moon with old desert sage and ancient Tufa. I saw myself sitting before The Tufa Sage seeking the wisdom to navigate through life. Knowing myself and how forgetful I am, I left Mono Lake with a sprig of the desert sage that I now keep in my studio hoping that the aroma would remind me of what I learned. My studio now reminds me daily with the scent of desert sage to be cognizant that every event in life has a lesson to be learned and waxes my wisdom just a little bit more.

The Tufa Sage

These are the eight photos from this past year that meant the most to me. I invite you all to let me know which of these photos are your favorite. If you would like more information about each photo, the title of each was hyperlinked to the photo on the Organic Light Photography website where you can read my reflections about the photo and possibly purchase a print for your home, office or as a gift to a friend or loved one. I thank all of my patrons and supporters for the continued support that makes this body of work and what is to come possible.

Have a Happy, Prosperous and Peace filled New Year.

One or Two, the Moon is Still New

Youssef Ismail — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 07:47:54 +0000

Sunset on a Quiet Day

I have always been amazed when I awoke on Christmas day to find it to be peaceful and quiet. Today was no different. Everyone and everything just stops on this day and because of that, its is intensely quiet. For that reason, I like this day.

Today also happened to occur on a new moon. As I do every month I go out to find the new crescent moon and to record it, as it used to be on film, but now with pixels. As quiet as it is on any other day, today it was even more so. As I stood out there on top of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the silence I felt like I was very far away from the things of man.

I waited a while before the moon made itself visible as it emerged from behind the clouds. It was a fine moon, crisp and clean in the sky. As I worked photographing it my cell phone broke the silence. I was called for a sighting report about the new moon. I replied “I am looking at right now as we speak”. I was asked “who else is with you?”, and my reply “I am alone”. “You know two people are needed for a valid report”. “Yes I know” was my reply and the call ended.

Safar 1, 1433

I suddenly thought, one person or two, the moon is still new. I laughed, finished up and drove home alone in the revelry of beautiful silence. I started this 20 year odyssey of looking for the new moon when no one else would, and now I still go out alone most months, only now with a reputation of the Moon-Sighter following me. And whether I see it or not, the moon waits for no one or two.

Enjoy the coming winter. Peace.

It Starts Anew

Youssef Ismail — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 06:24:31 +0000

This evening as the moon made its appearance once again, I was out along the Skyline Highway. It was a smashing way to greet in the new Islamic Year. This evening the year 1433 Hijri started. Without any fanfare or incendiaries the year came in silence, exactly how I like it. Sublime moments bring there own grandeur to share with those open to seeing and recognizing them. I was fortunate to be among the audience.

Muharram Crescent & Venus 1433

The year has gone by very fast, faster than I could have imagined. Endings and beginnings are always times of retrospect and introspect. As I look back over the past year, I find that I have some regrets and some gratitude. It also brings hope and resolve to continue on. Much has changed over the past year both internally and externally. Nonetheless we have no choice but to accept the changes and move on, hopefully attaining growth as a human being.

I have much to share with you, my dear readers, in the weeks to come, and I just hope I can find the time, a commodity that has been in short supply with me lately, to bring out many new and exciting photographs and to share some interesting developments with Organic Light Photography. Its never boring here, so stay tuned.

Sunset # 1, 1433 AH

One thing that you can be certain of is that the beauty of our fragile world will continue to grace the pages of this web journal and its parent website. And along with them my reflections that will hopefully keep us growing as individuals leading us to the nexus of love and action that will change the tide that is rapidly eroding our home.

To all my readers, Happy Islamic New Year and Peace to you all.

Dhul Hijjah 1432 Begins

Youssef Ismail — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:47:50 +0000

Wow, it has been too long since I have posted. I am sorry. I have been swamped with teaching, and it only looks like its going to get busier. In any case several things have developed over the last month. I promise to get to that news as soon as I get back from the Autumn in Yosemite Valley workshop taking place this weekend.

However tonight, like clockwork we went out to search for the new crescent moon of the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar, Dhul Hijjah. With good fortune we were able to see this incredibly thin crescent and photograph it. This moon not only marks the beginning of the 12th month, but also the Hajj or holy pilgrimage to Mecca for the Muslims. Approximately 2 to 2.5 million Muslims make the annual pilgrimage in a human spectacle that is unsurpassed anywhere else in the world.

To all my Muslim readers, Dhul Hijjah Mubarak and to all the Pilgrims, Hajj Maqbool (may your pilgrimage be accepted).

Crescent Moon of Dhul Hijjah 1432

Oh, the particulars of this moon. Captured at 6:40 pm PDT, at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve in California in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains 37.2° N latitude, 122.2° W Longitude at an elevation of approximately 2300 feet above sea level. With an altitude of approximately 2° and an azimuth of 242°. The skies were completely clear.

Peace.

Alone Again – But in Good Company

Youssef Ismail — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:06:06 +0000

This is the followup to last night’s moon sighting trip. Only this time no one was with me, well not entirely true as I had two of my usual four assistants with me. It did not take us long to see the moon and as always it was stunning.

No noise, no distractions, not even a breeze rustling the grass. All we heard were the faint screes of red-tailed hawk in the distance. We stayed nearly 45 minutes watching the moon slowly sink in the sky and vanish below the horizon.

We bid farewell to Ramadan, a most blessed time of the year, and hoped that we would live long enough to host it once again in our lives.

To all my Muslim readers I wish all of you a heartfelt Eid Mubarak!

Oh yeah… the moon.

Shawwal 1432

Peace to you All.

Sometimes Nothing is Better than Something

Youssef Ismail — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:11:44 +0000

Nothing

Last evening the 29th day of Ramadan 1432 came to a close. It being the 29th day of the lunar month meant it was time to go out and look for the new moon, marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal and of course Eid Al-Fitr (the festival of breaking fast).

Astronomically the new crescent moon was not going to be visible here in North America. The moon was to set only 7 minutes after the sun and its elongation was below the Danjon Limt for being easily visible with naked eyes. We were not going to see it, but maintaining the tradition is just as important as seeing the moon, so off we went.

Meanwhile down in South America, there was a good possibility that someone in Chile might see it and bring fasting to an end. People in Chile were in contact with the CrescentWatch.org project and all were ready to convey and record the sighting report. To our surprise the report came back as Negative – crescent not seen!

This seemed like the future had been sealed and fasting would continue for one more day. But that would be too easy, right? Suddenly, out of nowhere another independent sighting report appeared on one of the older moon sighting report websites, moonsighting.com indicating that someone in Chile had actually seen the moon.

The sleuthing began in search of that person so that the particulars could be ascertained. Once found, it is discovered of course that our sighter in question only spoke Spanish, oh wait Farsi too. Great, find a translator and then begin the dialogue. After much discussion, and well into the night, a decision had been reached. Only one solitary sighting under very favorable sighting conditions did not provide the certainty needed to declare the end of Ramadan.

It was nerve racking carrying that kind of pressure knowing that the decision resting on your shoulders would effect so many people.

Contrast all this with our carefree 40 minute trip up the mountain, a leisurely 1/4 mile walk to the top of a hill overlooking the fog enshrouded canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains and below all that the mighty Pacific Ocean. Allow our eyes to feast on the ethereal afterglow of sunset and then enjoying a communal breaking of the day’s fast on the 29th day with good friends. We stayed there for no more than 30 minutes when we were sure the ‘moon’ had set seeing nothing of it at all, and then turned around and came back home. Our conclusion as we walked back to our cars, we have one more blessed day of fasting and then we would all celebrate on the following day.

In the end both endeavors yielded the exact same result - Ramadan would be a 30 day month. Need I say which undertaking issued the greater return?

Peace to you All!

Ramadan 1432 Begins!

Youssef Ismail — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:37:03 +0000

Ramadan Light

Well it was a long night. Reports came in from many locations and they needed to be tracked down and confirmed. Reports came in from as far away as South Africa, and several locations in the Caribbean and South America.

Here in the States, the best location astronomically was in San Diego, which by the way suffered like we did in the Bay Area with cloudy or foggy skies.

Fortunately there were two separate sighting groups in south Texas that helped us confirm the beginning of Ramadan this year. In one case there was a group of 16 individuals that saw the moon initially with binoculars and then of the 16, 3 were able to see it again with the naked eye. In the second case we had four individuals that saw the new crescent with their naked eyes alone, not far from the the other group but completely independent.

Here in the Bay Area, the day played out nicely. Fog in the morning that burned off by mid morning and mild temperatuers and clear skies for the remainder of the day…that is until the temperature started to drop.

We headed out with a group of nearly 40 adult individuals and counting the children we had to number well in to the 60′s. We headed up to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve hoping for clear skies there, but as we neared, the fog started to climb up from the coast and covered us over. The marine layer had to be nearly 2700 feet thick!

The above photo shows the full extent of the light we saw on Borel Hill, the highest hilltop in the Bay Area’s Peninsula region.

Nonetheless, we managed to get the sighting confirmations we needed to mark the start of Ramadan. To all my Muslim readers, Ramadan Mubarak.

Peace.

Shabaan 1432 Begins

Youssef Ismail — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 06:21:53 +0000

Shabaan 1432

This evening the new crescent moon of the 8th month of the Islamic calendar known as Shabaan was sighted marking the beginning of the month. It was not a very young moon, thus making it very easy to see, but none the less it was a beautiful moon. Every month has its appeal and its beauty, and this moon is no different. The light was sublime and thankfully again, I did not need to go far to see it.

Shabaan is also known as the Month of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) and it was in this month that he fasted the most of any of the months other than Ramadan, which begins on the next new moon.

Make this a special month of remembrance and peace.

2011 Open Studio Photo Giveaway Winner Announcement

Youssef Ismail — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:18:45 +0000

The drawing was held just a short time ago on Random.org. If you sent in an email, or left with me at the open studio event you can go to the drawing page on random.org and type in your first and last name as it was given to me and verify that you were in the running. You can verify your entry by clicking HERE and typing in your name in the entrant box.

The winner this year: Julia O’Connell.

Julia is the winner of two studio sized matted prints of her choice. Congratulation Julia and I await your reply with your choice of photos. And a heartfelt thank you to all who participated.