Sunflower and gourds • click to embiggen

Considering that 90% or more of my picturing over the past 2-3 years has been done with a 11-22mm lens, I have had no trouble at all "seeing" with a much reduced field of view. Picturing with a normal-ish lens is what I did in my 8×10 view camera days and that MO seems to have come back to me somewhat intuitively.

My only dis-satisfaction with the lens is that I would like even more narrow DOF than its 2.8 aperture creates. Sigma makes a 24mm f1.8 lens that would probably deliver the look I am striving for .... although, I'll be perfectly honest - I'm not exactly certain what it is that I want to accomplish with this narrow DOF stuff.

I think it has something to do with "mystery".

Open window ~ Montreal, CA • click to embiggen

Peppers at the market ~ Montreal, CA • click to embiggen

Flowers at the market ~ Montreal, CA • click to embiggen

For the most I don't struggle with either of those concepts because I have an open mind which can grasp the idea that truth has many interpretations - which does not mean that they are all worthy of consideration - and that reality has different meanings to different people - which, once again, does not mean that they are all worthy of consideration. But that said, my guiding principle regarding those ideas is the same as that stated by Richard Dawkins -

By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out. ~ from "Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder

I bring all this up because I want to address the notion of photography pictures as a form of Rorschach / inkblot test.

There can be little doubt that every photography picture is open to interpretation in the mind of each and every viewer. This is generally true despite the fact that the picture maker may have made a very deliberate intent to create a very specific meaning / interpretation in any given picture. One possible exception (of many) to this notion are those pictures that are so simple-minded in concept and intent that the range of interpretation possible from viewing them is rather limited.

But the idea that many interpretations can be had from a given picture negates the idea that a picture can not contain truth(s) is simply not true. A single picture can contain many unrelated truths and the discovery of any of those truths does not negate any of the truths a picture may contain.

Each and every viewer of a picture brings their very own and often unique life-experiences, emotional and intellectual acumen, prejudices, preferences, and so on to the viewing table. All of that "baggage" obviously influences what a viewers quite literally "sees" in a picture. And, what one sees, in a quite literal visual sense, will most likely influence one's perceptions of meaning(s) to had in / gleaned from a picture.

That is why I am often very surprised by the sometimes many different meaning(s) / interpretations that my pictures engender in those who view them. In many cases, those meanings / interpretations are not at all what I had in mind when I made the pictures in question and I find this to be quite enjoyable and interesting.

What this multi-interpretive, multi-truth concepts tells me is that pictures are filled with truth(s) and that there is much to be learned about truth and reality if one approaches one's own picturing and pictures as well as the pictures made by others with an open mind - but, of course, not so open-minded that your brain falls out.

Church dome ~ Montreal, CA • click to embiggen

Port park building ~ Montreal, CA • click to embiggen

Marina + lighthouse ~ Montreal, CA • click to embiggen

Rue St. Paul church ~ Montreal, CA • click to embiggen

As previously mentioned many times, my favorite time of day for making mixed-light pictures is that time after the sun has set but before the night takes over. The time of day that the French all entre chien et loup - between the dog and the wolf. If I were to become a "light stalker" or to start "chasing the light", the light of entre chien et loup would be "the light" for me.

Stracciatelle • click to embiggen

However, I found it quite weird to be in a Little Italy and eating in an Italian restaurant where the first language was French. Really, it was very weird and more than a bit disconcerting.

Grey day light #1 • click to embiggen

Grey day light #2 • click to embiggen

Grey day light #3 • click to embiggen

Grey day light #4 • click to embiggen

Due to the prevailing architecture of Montreal's old city - which is primarily made of grey stone - and the soft "grey" light, my eye was drawn to those "snippets" of color that, set against the grey surround, seemed to be especially vibrant.

Artist's paints and stuff • click to embiggen

Toast map • click to embiggen

Hair drying + cows • click to embiggen

Golf book • click to embiggen

1.) A map of the world made out of stale bread. I believe that the map is burned onto the bread with a small blow-torch. If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.

2.) A bronze beauty drying her hair - the bronze beauty is actually quite beautifully distorted. And, don't ignore the cow painting in the background - 3 cows on a white field, approx. 5×8 feet. If you have to ask, you probably can't afford either of them.

3.) My personal favorite - a book of golf courses (primarily European) pictures. Opened, a spread is approx. 2.5 × 5 feet. The book is quite thick and comes not only with a slipcase but also the viewing stand pictured here. If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it - $10,800 CAN per copy.

Late day light #1 • click to embiggen

Late day light #2 • click to embiggen

Late day light #3 • click to embiggen

Late day light #4 • click to embiggen

Late day light #5 • click to embiggen

Late day light #6 • click to embiggen

Late day light #7 • click to embiggen

In any event, round about 5PM-ish we decided to head our for walk around the neighborhood no matter the weather. As it turned out, just as we were leaving the room the sun was breaking through the clouds and casting some nifty light on the other side of the port as viewed from our room window.

By the time we got out the front door, the light and the air had turned golden and the street and adjoining strip park were bathed and immersed in an seemingly unearthly amber glow. The entire scene and experience put us in a kind of amber-glow state of mind which we managed to hold onto for the rest of a wonderful evening.