Category Archives: Animal

Photographer’s Choice – Kelly Clampitt

Pickin’ and Fiddlin’ at Phipps Store

Kelly Clampitt - Phipps Store near Lansing

Kelly Clampitt - Phipps Store near Lansing

The images above and below are just two great examples of the work by Kelly, one of four ACC members, who recently participated in the “Lansing Project”, an attempt to capture the everyday life of area residents. A total of 36 large black and white images will be displayed at the old Lansing School during June with the proceeds to benefit the Greater Lansing Area Development program.
Instead of sticking with the tried and true approach, Kelly elected to move to the edge with a focal length of only 10mm for some extreme wide angle shots. As in most cases, these images show considerable distortion which, with the right subject matter, only adds to the interest. If you listen carefully, you can hear the mountain music in Phipps Store.
The photo below depicts James “Dawg” Wood, who volunteered to be a subject for the project, with two of his prized rare Crockett Plott hounds whose origins in North Carolina date back to the mid 1700’s. The setting, the signs and the two hounds tell the story of, as Kelly says, ” A vastly talented and unassuming man except when bowing his fiddle, Dawg thought it quite odd that he should be the subject of any documentary. He much prefers to be in the background, so I had challenges getting him “in” some of the shots. My experience working with Dawg gave me a deeper appreciation for the people and bounty of these mountains I now call home.” Quite a statement from an Oklahoma girl by way of California.

Kelly Clampitt - James "Dawg" Wood On His Front Stoop

Kelly Clampitt - James "Dawg" Wood On His Front Stoop

Photographer’s Choice – Martha Combs

ACC Members are an Eclectic Bunch

Martha Combs - Make a  Silk Purse?  In a Pig's Eye!

Martha Combs - Make a Silk Purse? In a Pig's Eye!

The weekly postings in this series have included insects, fish, jelly fish, birds, horses and elk – subjects that are considered by most as “photogenic”. Martha has bravely stepped outside the usual and submitted this image of….a hog. Not only that but it might even be called a “portrait” of a hog. It’s not likely to be printed in a large format, matted, framed and hung over the mantle in the living room (although such a hanging would sure break the ice for your dinner guests). But it is a well conceived, beautifully framed photograph. One’s eye certainly has no trouble finding the focal point as the strobe lighted eye comes immediately into focus. The back lighted flopping ear helps to frame the eye and creates the dark shadow above the eye. A narrow depth of field allows the less important elements to gradually fade into the background. Processing the image as a tinted black and white is the final touch. In fact, one can’t image this shot in color.
Hats off to Martha.