Negative Space

Builidng Blocks

Three white plastic toy building blocks on a white background. Day 129 of 365 Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography www.scottnorrisphotography.com

Six Strings

One of the main reasons for undertaking this 365 Project was to force myself to think outside of the box but also to create images quickly. After all, each shot, for the most part, would be shot, processed, and uploaded in a day. For today, I wanted a shot of my electric guitar (which is just gathering dust these days). I envisioned something very minimal - I'm on a minimalist kick right now, if you couldn't tell - and not seen before (at least by me). After a bit of trial and error - well, mostly error - I ended up simply sliding a sheet of printer paper under the strings and shooting from straight above. That is good lesson learned - the solution to your creative problem is most likely very, very simple. Don't over think things. Day 125 of 365 Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography www.scottnorrisphotography.com

Four Small Containers of Paint

These small containers of washable paint belong to my son. I noticed the complementary colors when I was cleaning his painting supplies and I thought, 'I have to shoot those!' Of course, I dropped everything and took the plastic buckets to my camera stand. Priorities, you know... Day 338 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Unzipping

I actually had a tough time coming up with something to say about this image beyond the title. I called it "Unzipping" for obvious reasons. And my goal in shooting it was very simple - I thought the graphic nature of the line of the zipper and the metal teeth coming undone would make for a very cool high contrast minimalist photograph. Beyond that, what was there to say? But after a bit of reflection, I thought the zipper could represent the undoing of civility and respect in our communities. It could also represent the opening of our minds to alternate realities. Or perhaps, if you turn things around, it could be symbolic of the coming together of two opposite sides to create a strong partnership. While all those interpretations of the photo are valid, in reality, not every image I create has a deeper meaning, at least at the beginning. Sometimes, I just thought it was cool.

Partly Cloudy

The weather is partly cloudy with plenty of sunshine. Or at least it was in my office today. And I have pictures to prove it!

Broken Bulb

"I am on until I am dead, like a light bulb." --Henry Rollins A single burned out light bulb on a bright white background. Day 135 of 365 Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography www.scottnorrisphotography.com

The Eye in the Sky

"I am the eye in the sky Looking at you I can read your mind I am the maker of rules Dealing with fools I can cheat you blind And I don't need to see anymore To know that I can read your mind" --from the song Eye in the Sky by The Alan Parsons Project While it may look like some science fiction alien mechanical robot eye or perhaps the Hal 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, it is, in fact, an articulating LED desk lamp. Well, at least that is what I think it is. Perhaps it really is some form of artificial intelligence - an eye in the sky - that sees all and hears all. I wonder if it is a friend or foe?

Paper Spiral

A spiral of cut white paper on a bright white background. A composition focusing on shape and shadow.

Down Feather

Another reoccurring subject in my 365 Project is feathers. This tiny down feather is the latest image in that theme. Only about an inch long, it's amazing that a collection of these can power flight. Day 352 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Smallest Leaf

"Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain." --Henry David Thoreau I am fascinated by decaying leaves. Like little leaf shaped skeletons, I still find them here and there, even in the dog days of summer. Perhaps that is mother nature letting us know autumn is just around the corner. Day 310 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Peeling Back the Layers

"I wondered to what extent people remained the same as they'd been when very young; if one peeled back the layers of living one would come to the know child." --Dick Francis With my son as my guide, I'm working toward peeling back the strata of my own life to reveal the wide-eyed exploring curious child I was and still am. If we all could see things from a child's perspective, I believe the world would be a much better and exciting place. Day 332 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Fierce Calm

Long exposures of large fierce waves can produce a surprisingly ethereal and calm image. The waves you don't see in this image were around 4-6 feet tall. Quite tall for Lake Michigan, but what you'd expect after a thunderstorm. And since this is yet another horizon shot for me, I wanted to do something different with the composition. To emphasize the vastness of the lake, I placed the original photograph on a larger plain white background. It makes the scene feel somewhat intimate, yet the negative space implies there is a lot more to see. The image had an overall feeling of a charcoal or pencil drawing due to the long exposure. So using Topaz Impression, I also added a small amount of a sketch effect to the edges to blend the photograph into the white background. Day 330 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Paddle on Lake Monona

Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Another Vent in the Wall

With apologies to Pink Floyd, here is just another vent in the wall. Why do simple, minimal scenes fascinate me so? Perhaps I'll never know. Day 303 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Moonbeams on the Attic Window

"Such a deep silence surrounds me, that I think I hear moonbeams striking on the windows." --Lucian Blaga A midnight moon shines its light through a dull pane, signing its name on the crumbling plaster walls of a long forgotten attic room. Of the days of joy and sorrow, love and loss, life and death, only a century of dust, and the deep, deep silence, remain.

Pencil on a Blank Page

A pencil on a blank white page. Another image inspired by my lack of any good ideas for my image of the day. And now as I write, add to that the scarcity of words to go along with it. However, I have learned that the best way to get over creative (or writer's block) is to use that blank chasm, that silence, as inspiration. That, and just keep on doing what I'm doing. So until tomorrow, here is... Day 301 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Solitary

Always vigilant, a tiny solitary Seuss-like tree stands alone in a vast never-ending grey. Although isolated, it is not joyless. For it knows its purpose - to add form and shape to the eternal void. And so it abides. "The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere." --Michel de Montaigne Day 292 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Learning to Let Go

“Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.” --Ray Bradbury Day 281 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Infinity

"This is the truth: as from a fire aflame thousands of sparks come forth, even so from the Creator an infinity of beings have life and to him return again." --Marcus Tullius Cicero A simple raised line on a piece of white card stock represents the horizon and the infinite beyond. Day 269 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Fantasy Forest

"I'm always astonished by a forest. It makes me realise that the fantasy of nature is much larger than my own fantasy. I still have things to learn." --Gunter Grass Day 233 of my 365 photo a day project. Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Lighting the Way

A dual street light, lighting the way to...who knows? There is something compelling and yet sad and lonely about a man-made structure like this lamp post isolated and removed from it's normal environment. Framed like this, reality is hidden and our imagination takes over. Is this the top of a high-rise parking structure? A quiet suburban street? A lonely rural intersection? Day 232 of my 365 photo a day project Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

A Hint of Autumn

I found a small hint of autumn on the sidewalk today. Yes, the calendar says it is fall, but at least here in Milwaukee, the trees are still thinking summer. But soon enough, just a few weeks or so, the gold and yellows will be out in full force. And I can't wait for that! But for the time being, I'll rejoice in the little hints. Day 361 of my 365 photo a day project. Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography scottnorrisphotography.com

Spring Blossom

Another early Spring blossom, this one brought inside to isolate it on a bright white background.

Sky Blue on White

"The sky is the daily bread of the eyes." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson A cyanotype print on a white background. The cyanotype was created with a sunlight print kit. Day 128 of 365 Copyright 2016 Scott Norris Photography www.scottnorrisphotography.com