Monthly Archives: December 2019

Happy New Year!

Click here for my Workshops & Events; here for my Best of 2019; here for my blog; and here for a link to my reflections on my life in and out of photography!

Posted in Photography

Updates to My 2019 Best; Happy New Year!

I’ve updated my self-selected 2019 Best of Harold Davis selection with a few new images. These were either photographed or processed after I initially compiled the list. Since the selection is chronological, based on the date posted to my Flickr account, the new entries are at the end of the story.

Check out my complete 2019 best, including Old Schoolhouse Trail shown below, by clicking here.

And, a Happy New Year to one and all! Can’t we work our best towards building a better, more serene, and lovely world in the year to come rather than striving to tear each other down?

Along the Old Schoolhouse Trail © Harold Davis

Along the Old Schoolhouse Trail © Harold Davis

About the image: I photographed Along the Old Schoolhouse Trail along the eponymous trail in the coastal range mountains above Kensington, California. I was hiking with a friend on a somewhat foggy day in November. What caught my eye was the way the old California oak trees seemed almost to be dancing with one another, like spirits of the forest frozen in time. 

With my camera on tripod, I waited until the breeze had stilled and I could be sure there were no other hikers or dog walkers. I made three exposures with my Nikon D850 and my 28-300 “walk-around” general purpose lens at 190mm. Each exposure was at f/22 and ISO 64, with exposure times of 3, 6, and 10 seconds.

As an editorial observation, I’d note that the great technicians of the black-and-white analog darkroom knew how to control and extend dynamic range with great results. Some of the same creative ideas they used, and some new ones, are required to fulfill the vision of making exciting digital imagery that also prints well. The technical expertise required is no longer that of the wet darkroom.

Knowing how to proceed in the digital darkroom means knowing how to work with software files in Photoshop and other digital post-production tool sets. It takes no less skill than the wet darkroom did, but the skills required are certainly different. You have to know the technical side of cameras and photography, and also how to work with software.

Most images available as prints. Please inquire. © Harold Davis. All rights reserved.

Posted in Photography

Print Sold: San Francisco Moonrise

San Francisco Moonrise © Harold Davis

San Francisco Moonrise © Harold Davis

I’m happy to have sold a print of my San Francisco Moonrise to a collector particularly interested in local (San Francisco) imagery. By the way, a color version of this image is reproduced on the title page of my book Creative Lighting.

Posted in Photography, Print of the Month

Greetings of the Season!

Blizzard © Harold Davis

Falling Snow © Harold Davis

Best wishes from my family to you and yours for a wondrous and happy holiday!

Yosemite Snowstorm © Harold Davis

Yosemite Snowstorm © Harold Davis

Posted in Photography

There’s always something new to explore in Paris

There’s always something new to explore in Paris. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur from the observatory on top of the Tour Montparnasse are shown in this photograph.

I can’t wait to be back exploring Paris with a select group of photographers in the spring of 2021. If you are interested in joining us, please check out the itinerary here, and download the Reservation Form by clicking here.

Note that for the most early-bird savings, please contact us for a reservation by December 31, 2019.

Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur © Harold Davis

Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur © Harold Davis

Posted in Paris, Workshops

Japanese Monastery Courtyard

This is a photograph of the garden courtyard of a Shikubu (guesthouse) in a monastery in Mt Koya Japan in autumn. There’s no place like Japan, and when I am away from it too long I get nostalgic. If you are interested in coming with me on a new Japanese photographic adventure this autumn (October 2020) please note that the early-bird savings end January 31!

Japanese Monastery Garden © Harold Davis

Japanese Monastery Garden © Harold Davis

Posted in Japan, Photography

Double Mandala

A mandala as wreath is nice, and more so with a starfish. So, why not twice as nice? Hence this Double Mandala.

Double Mandala © Harold Davis

Double Mandala © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers

Accessing the Goddess

Untitled © Harold Davis

Perhaps she is the goddess of ballet, or another deity such as Ambika, ferocious with her many arms on the back of a tiger, or Kamala, seated on a lotus and representing prosperity and wisdom. Found as was once upon a tintype, and in my Multiple Exposures series.

Related: Check out my Multiple Exposures portfolio.

Posted in Multiple Exposures, Photography

Upcoming 2020-2021 Workshops & Events; Paris Early-Bird Discount Ends Soon

Here are my currently scheduled workshops and events going into 2020 as things now stand. Please bookmark my Workshops & Events page for updates and changes. I hope to see you soon!

Note that the $500 early-bird discount for Paris in the Spring (2021) ends soon (Dec 31, 2019—click here for the Reservation Form). Please let us know right away if you’d like to come.

Thanks to all for support, and very best wishes for a great holiday season from my family to yours.

  • Marin Photography Club, Education night presentation, June 8, 2020
  • Garden Photography—Capturing the Great Gardens of Maine, Sunday August 16 – Friday August 21, 2020, Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine, information and registration link to come.

2021 and beyond

Harold’s workshops are often sold-out, and fill up quickly. To avoid disappointment, please register early. Feel free to contact Harold Davis if you have any questions about our workshops! 

Road Less Traveled by Harold Davis

Road Less Traveled © Harold Davis

What folks have said about Harold Davis workshops and events:

  •  “A great artist and speaker!”—W. Anglin
  •  “Harold is genuine, generous, and gracious – He has a world of knowledge and expertise that he loves to share – his wonderful books show his monumental talents and skill set- his workshops shows the depth of his connecting with others in a very real and personal way.”—P. Borrelli
  • “Awesome! He patiently addressed questions from the audience which contained photographers of all levels , molding his answers to the level of understanding for each of us. His presentations covered a wonderful range of technical knowledge as well as emphasizing the need for images to have an emotional quality. The images he shares are breathtaking and he is generous in sharing many facets of how he captures such beauty.”—J. Phillips
  • “Not all photographers are good verbal communicators. Harold is someone who can DO and TEACH. A rare combination of talents.”—B. Sawyer
  • “Inspiring!”
  • “He was very giving of his talents and time. The course was very organized and thorough. Loved it! Learned so much! … I also wanted to let you know that I have more than paid the cost of the workshops I’ve done with you by selling some photos! I have sold three prints already.”—L. Beck
  • “Very creative and a marvelous instructor.”—Kay S.
Poem of the Road © Harold Davis

Poem of the Road © Harold Davis

Posted in Workshops

Harold Davis—Best of 2019

The journey continues! 2019 was an exciting year for art, photography, books, teaching workshops, and travel. Abroad, I walked another pilgrimage trail; this time from Tui, on the River Minho and the Portuguese border to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. At home I enjoyed time with my family as well as some exciting new artistic horizons. I am looking forward to a gazillion fresh adventures in art, photography, and travel in 2020!

The images are more-or-less in the order made in the course of the year; or, at least, in the order processed and uploaded. Below each image, I’ve added links to the relevant blog stories that include my selected images (where I blogged them). I’ve been in a reflective mood lately; to see some of my musings please click here to read my Guest Blog Post, Photographer As Poet, Harold Davis.

My “Best Of” selections for prior years, going back to 2013, can be found here.

Crepuscular Coast v2 © Harold Davis

Click here for the blog story!

Gerbera Petals © Harold Davis

Click here for the blog story!

Eiffel Tower in Paris Landscape © Harold Davis

Click here for the blog story!

Night Highway © Harold Davis

Baltazar Chrysanthemum © Harold Davis

Blue #1 © Harold Davis

Pale Garden © Harold Davis

Pale Garden © Harold Davis

Click here for the blog story!

Quartet © Harold Davis

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Wisteria Gate © Harold Davis

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Japanese Bridge, Schwetzingen Garden © Harold Davis

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X-Ray Floral Medley Fusion © Harold Davis

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Nautilus X-Rays © Harold Davis

Nautilus X-Rays © Harold Davis

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Tulips X-Ray Fusion © Harold Davis

Tulips X-Ray Fusion © Harold Davis

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Paris Landscape © Harold Davis

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Flowers at Giverny © Harold Davis

Flowers at Giverny © Harold Davis

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Giverny Afternoon © Harold Davis

Giverny Afternoon © Harold Davis

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Inside Tui Cathedral © Harold Davis

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Tulips Fusion X-Ray © Harold Davis

Garden along the Camino © Harold Davis

Click here for the blog story!

Scallop Shell Symbol on the Side of the Cathedral of Santiago © Harold Davis

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Rose Bouquet © Harold Davis

Sunset at Sea © Harold Davis

Old-Fashioned Rose © Harold Davis

Old-Fashioned Rose © Harold Davis

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Flower Block on White © Harold Davis

Flower Block on White © Harold Davis

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Flowers that Remain Behind © Harold Davis

Flowers that Remain Behind © Harold Davis

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Columbine © Harold Davis

Angel's Trumpets © Harold Davis

Angel’s Trumpets © Harold Davis

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Nesting Bowls and a Nautilus Slice © Harold Davis

Nesting Bowls and a Nautilus Slice © Harold Davis

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Weaving with Light © Harold Davis

Weaving with Light © Harold Davis

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Cactus Flower Detail V © Harold Davis

Cactus Flower Detail V © Harold Davis

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Eye Dahlia © Harold Davis

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Red Vein Indian Mallow © Harold Davis

Solar Flare © Harold Davis

Dark Angel © Harold Davis

Dark Angel © Harold Davis

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Bench © Harold Davis

Bench © Harold Davis

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Flower Magic © Harold Davis

Flower Magic © Harold Davis

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Curled Epiphany © Harold Davis

Curled Epiphany © Harold Davis

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Rollback © Harold Davis

Rollback © Harold Davis

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Gaillardia-gami © Harold Davis

Gaillardia-gami © Harold Davis

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Dawn Chorus Unbound © Harold Davis

Dawn Chorus Unbound © Harold Davis

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Sound of the Sea © Harold Davis

Sound of the Sea © Harold Davis

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Love of Spirals © Harold Davis

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Through the Rabbit Hole © Harold Davis

Through the Rabbit Hole © Harold Davis

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The Spiral Heart © Harold Davis

The Spiral Heart © Harold Davis

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Falling into Spirals V2 © Harold Davis

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Hydrangea Blossoms © Harold Davis

Hydrangea Blossoms © Harold Davis

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Wreath © Harold Davis

Wreath © Harold Davis

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Untitled In-Camera Multiple exposure © Harold Davis

Untitled In-Camera Multiple exposure © Harold Davis

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Mandala with Starfish © Harold Davis

Mandala with Starfish © Harold Davis

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Echinacea Seed Pod © Harold Davis

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Untitled © Harold Davis

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Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur © Harold Davis

Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur © Harold Davis

Click here for the blog story!

Chartres Exterior II © Harold Davis

Along the Old Schoolhouse Trail © Harold Davis

Along the Old Schoolhouse Trail © Harold Davis

Click here for the blog story!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my images and the associated blog stories. Most images available as prints. Please inquire. Check out my self-selected bests from previous years in Best Images Annuals!

Posted in Best Of, Photography

Echinacea Seed Pod X-Ray

Echinacea Seed Pod on Black © Harold Davis

Very special thanks to the scientists in the Photon Science group at the Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs who used the Beamline when it was in maintenance mode to help with this capture.

Check out more x-ray photos of mine here.

Echinacea Seed Pod - Sepia © Harold Davis

Echinacea Seed Pod – Sepia © Harold Davis

Posted in Flowers, Monochrome, X-Ray

Under the Dumbarton Bridge

In 1982, a new Dumbarton Bridge replaced the old, cast-iron cantilevered span across San Francisco Bay from Hayward to Palo Alto. The hardest part of the construction was the giant cast iron footings deep down into the muck and mud of the Bay. This location was close to the first bridge crossing the Bay, an abandoned train bridge finished just after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

Under the Dumbarton Bridge © Harold Davis

Under the Dumbarton Bridge © Harold Davis

Climbing down the side of the bridge to get under it reminded me a bit of an earlier adventure with Berkeley Municipal Pier. The footing was treacherous in stagnant salt water, mud, and detritus, and I made my way carefully around and through a bend in the dilapidated barbed-wire fencing. 

Once under the bridge, I found myself on a confronting the colossus of the cement footings of the bridge. These underpinnings were reflected in the inter-tidal zone mud flats. 

I put my camera (a Nikon D850) on the tripod and added a polarizing filter to amplify the reflections of the underbelly of the bridge. I made eight exposures using my 28-300mm Nikkor lens at 58mm. Each exposure was stopped down (at f/29) because I needed maximum depth-of-field to render sharply both the nearby reflections and the recession of pillars through the opening in the columns. The sensitivity was ISO 64. My exposure speeds were from 1/20 of a second to 6 seconds. 

I combined and processed the exposures using Adobe Bridge, Adobe Photoshop, Nik HDR Efex Pro, Nik Color Efex, Nik Silver Efex, Topaz Adjust, and Topaz Simplify.

I like to photograph the naked underbelly of bridges. Here’s another one of mine that has had considerable play: Under the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

Posted in Monochrome, San Francisco Area