Photography

Fairmount Park, Riverside’s jewel of a park

Fairmount Park is a frequent haunt of mine because of the innumerable possibilities as a backdrop for portraits. Lots of shade any time of the day makes it ideal for my purposes.
Fairmount Park is a frequent haunt of mine because of the innumerable possibilities as a backdrop for portraits. Lots of shade any time of the day makes it ideal for my purposes.

If you’re a reader of this blog, you might realize I seldom photograph landscapes or scenics.

I thought long and hard about why.

I suspect it has to do with my need to come up with something different even if it’s a very common subject that’s been photographed countless times.

Think of Machu Picchu, the Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal,  Zion, Yosemite, Borobudur, Angkor Wat  and all the other Wonders of the World.

They are amongst the most photographed manmade structures on Earth.

They’ve been photographed from every conceivable angle, time of the day and season of the year.

Egret in evening light at fairmount park
During its quiet moments, Lake Evans which is one of the 2 lakes at Fairmount Park, is a favorite spot for wildlife like this egret.

The other thing about landscapes is this: if you can get to the location and if you have the time, you can probably take a very similar to the postcard you see.

The need to put our own spin on the common is what drives a lot of of us.

Take for instance, one of my favorite local parks: Fairmount Park.

red-tree-at-fairmount
My favorite tree looks red only during certain times of the year. But that could also be due to the time of the day naturally.

It’s a 35 acre park with a variety of vistas.

It’s no wonder if it’s a favorite for lots of photographers and plein-air artists who paint.

On the weekends, it’s a hive of activity.

On the rose garden end on weekends, for example,  limousines line the curb.

Photographers and assistants work furiously cajoling  beautifully dressed young ladies celebrating their quinceñeras and their escorts  for their best expressions.

Here's another picture made maybe 20 feet away from the first picture you saw. The cotton candy vendor appeared suddenly and before I knew it, I was out of position to keep him backlit against the stand of trees.
Here’s another picture made maybe 20 feet away from the first picture you saw. The cotton candy vendor appeared suddenly and before I knew it, I was out of position to keep him backlit against the stand of trees.

I bring some clients there but I do so during the weekdays for obvious reasons.

It is also among the places I bring students for field trips.

Its biggest appeal for me is the quiet I can always find if I am there early in the morning or in the evening on weekdays.

It’s a good place when I am introspective mood but I’ve always been able to find something different when I least expect it.

I’m sure you have some beautiful parks where you live.

How about sharing them with us by posting them under comments?

A field trip to the local park, some imagination to set up a situation followed by instructions on panning and here is what my student Laurel came up with. Photo by Laurel Williams
A field trip to the local park, some imagination to set up a situation followed by instructions on panning and here is what my student Laurel came up with. Photo by Laurel Williams
Driving by at different times of the day is the perfect example to illustrate how you can find or see something different. It also illustrates how important lighting can be to create mood.
Driving by at different times of the day is the perfect example to illustrate how you can find or see something different. It also illustrates how important lighting can be to create mood.