The Decisive Moment! /  by John Wineberg

Vancouver, BC

Cartier Bresson talks about the decisive moment in photography. The moment when subjects and surroundings align and you click the shutter to capture the image. Umbrellas are a theme in street photography. They add to an image and create a story. I was wandering around Gastown in Vancouver looking for images and this presented itself. I was lucky enough to click the shutter at just the right moment with umbrellas evenly spaced, walking down this alley, streetlights visible. I loved the geometry of the buildings and the bridges that connect them. The wet ground adds a nice touch as well.

Sometimes you capture the decisive moment and sometimes you don’t. With the image above I believe I did. What do you think?

Until Tomorrow,

John

My Love Of Film Photography! /  by John Wineberg

This image isn’t perfect and that is why I love it. Sometimes imperfections are what make things perfect. The grain, the color, the nostalgic feel of this image. While it was taken recently, it takes me back. It takes me back to a time and place of my youth. A time when film was the only option. When the camera was simpler. There weren’t menus to navigate. There was no screen to look at to see if you got the image. You just believed that it would be there. That moment in time captured on a flexible piece od plastic with chemistry on it. I love that I can still do this. An old camera in the hands of an older, ehem, Man. I will continue to shoot film as long as it exists and there is chemistry to develop it. I find comfort in holding my old camera and using all of its’ manual controls. It brings me joy!

Until Tomorrow,

John

Fall! /  by John Wineberg

Fall is in full swing here in the wine country. Reds, yellows, browns, fill the scenery. Days are shorter and the rain has slowly made its way into the forecast. I’ll admit I love the cold, waking up to crisp mornings, knowing that the peaks will soon have snow on them. This season creates so many visuals for photographers.

Fall leaves make for amazing subjects. The leaf in the image above was found on a sidewalk after lunch with my Wife. I had to bring it home. I know there will be someone that wonders why I shot it in black and white. For me it is about the texture of the leaf, the veins, the edges and the details. Yes fall has vibrant colors and many photographers capture just that. I see things different.

Fall also signals the end of the year. A time for reflection, as well as future direction. This year has been tough for me. I’ve been dealing with pain for most of the year. In October I had my hip replaced. This was due to a defect at birth that finally had to be dealt with. The recovery has been slow but steady. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Looking to 2024 I hope to create more. Make more images as well as video content. I’m not gong to make any promises or projections but just take it as it goes. I’m enjoying my photography more and more and look forward to what is next.

Until Tomorrow,

John

Not Quite A Daily Blog! /  by John Wineberg

This was harder than I thought. It’s not impossible but definitely a challenge. I’m up for a challenge. Creating habits takes time. Writing every day is something that I can do. Making it interesting and having content that is engaging or informative every day is more of a challenge. Seth Godin was my model. He has been daily blogging for several years. He has this down to a science. I’m setting three goals for myself to try this again. Pick a time to blog, don’t always include images and have fun!

Picking a time is hard but doable. I have a fluctuating schedule but it is possible to choose a time of day, every day, to blog. I think this is the key to making this happen. If I sit down every day at the same time, set aside this time for this and this alone, it will work. Every morning I sit in my office with my coffee and breakfast, before I go to work. This is the perfect time to write. I usually spend it consuming content, whether it be news, new YouTube videos, blogs, etc. I think we all do this instead of creating content. I know i’m better served if I create something vs. consuming something.

The second step is that I don’t always have to have an image to share. I do have a ton of images, on hard drives, to choose from. It can be time consuming to choose just the right image. I have to realize that words are enough. I could even choose several images when I have down time and stack them up to use with each blog. The idea being that the image has something to do with what i’m writing. There are many ways to accomplish this. Writing about a photo adventure is an easy one. Another is to explain why I took a particular image or the thought process of editing or composition. I tend to overthink things to the point of paralysis. That needs to stop.

The last is to just have fun. Most of my adult life I have worried to much about what others think. I have stifled my creativity because I believed that I would be ridiculed or made fun of, not taken seriously. Art is something that is outside of the box by its’ very nature. It is making something from nothing but an idea in your mind. You are only constrained by your imagination. The problem is that your imagination is narrowed by your world experiences, but only if you let it. I’m learning that I can be free. I can express myself any way I want. I just need to make it happen. I am the only person standing in my way!

So once again I am jumping into daily blogging!

Until Tomorrow,

John

Why Do We Post On Social Media? /  by John Wineberg

I’ve been asking myself that question a lot lately. What is the importance of social media? Why do we feel the need to like, comment and share or even create a new post? For some it is a connection to the outside world. A way to share what is new in their life with family and friends. For others it is the idea of fame and monetization. For others it is a way to share their art. A way to show the world their creativity whether it be photography, digital media, paintings or sculptures. What is the impact of these sites on all of us, what has it become in our lives?

I’m definitely not going to be able to address that last question here. What I can say is what it represents for me. First off, I don’t care how many people like, comment or share my work. If that happens, great. If not, it’s not the end of my work. It doesn’t discourage me. I will continue to create my work and share it out. I figure what is the purpose of my work if nobody sees it. This way there is a chance. There is a chance that just one person might enjoy it, one person might find inspiration, or even just take the time to enjoy one of my images for more than a quick swipe of the screen.

I’ve been studying other artists that I admire, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cartier Bresson, Ansel Adams. They all seem to have one thing in common. They didn’t care what other people were doing. They weren’t following the latest trends, they just created their art the way they wanted to. My take away is that I need to think outside the box. I need to do my own thing, follow my heart and my passion. Keep capturing the things that resonate with me. Quiet the voices of all the people that are saying to do this or that. This is my art, not theirs and it will forever be, because of me!

Until Tomorrow,

John

Images Are Everywhere! /  by John Wineberg

Eagle Lake, Desolation Wilderness, CA

Everywhere you go there is an image to be made. As we walk through the world, we miss so much. We move from point A to point B and focus on the destination. We miss so much along the way. I like to stop and listen, look around and absorb all that is around me. Some would say that is a distraction from the goal. I would say that that is part of the goal. The destination is just as important as the journey.

I don’t know about you but I have so many stories of events that occurred during the journey. Everything from flat tires, unexpected pit stops, amazing conversations that started in the back seat. Even the vehicle that i’ve travelled in is part of the story.

The above image is a shoreline of an amazing lake near Lake Tahoe. This lake is on the way to some amazing destinations within Desolation Wilderness. I make a point to stop at this lake every chance I get, no matter the destination, if it is anywhere near. I soak up its’ beauty. I’ve made so many images of it but this one is my favorite. Something about the granite, the color of the water, the curve of the shore and the reflections of sunlight. Every time I am there I notice something different.

So take the time to look around, soak it all in, be an observer on the way to wherever you may be going. You never know what you might notice or capture in that amazing moment.

Until Tomorrow,

John

Joy! /  by John Wineberg

This image brings joy to my heart! My Boys, in a place that is special to me and yes I posed them. I will always have this image, this memory, this moment, forever!

I share places with them that have meaning to me. This perch, overlooking Donner Lake, is one that I have returned to again and again, throughout my life. I’ve stood on this spot before they were even a thought and I know that I will be back, right there, again. I want them to know who I am through the places that bring me joy. I hope some day they find their place. A spot that resonates with who they are and what they hope to be. A place that comforts when things are tough but also a place to go to contemplate success. I hope they find a place where they can experience joy the way I have.

Until Tomorrow,

John

The Doomscroll! /  by John Wineberg

Taos Pueblo, NM

I had heard the term but didn’t really know what it meant. I learned recently that it is the late night habit of scrolling through the, nearly endless, stream of bad news that is available on social media or other online locations. With everything that is going on lately it is easier and easier to fall into the pit of despair that is our online experience. This post is about the exact opposite of that. I have something to ask of you.

It will probably only take a few minutes of your time and a little of your good will. I ask that you find a creator that you love online, it can be a photographer, videographer, artist or anyone else that is creating content that makes you smile, that brings joy into your life. When you decide who that is, go to one of their posts and like and comment on it. Tell them how it makes you feel, why you love their work or other kind words. It will make their day. I also ask that it not be me. While I would appreciate the kind words, this post isn’t about me. This post is about all of those creators that may never hear from people, or may need a lift today because they were doomscrolling themselves. Spread a little love across the beautiful part of this amazing technology!

Until Tomorrow,

John

Free To Create! /  by John Wineberg

Bodie State Historic Park, CA

“I have already settled it for myself so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.”
― Georgia O'Keefe

Until Tomorrow,

John

Motivation! /  by John Wineberg

Motivation

mo·ti·va·tion

/ˌmōdəˈvāSH(ə)n/

noun

  1. the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

    "escape can be a strong motivation for travel”

    • the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.

What motivates us? Why do we do the things we do? Everyone will have a different answer. That answer will most probably have a common thread. That thread is that we were trying to fulfill a want or need. This brings me to my photography. Why do I feel motivated to go out and make images? Why did I make the image above?

Some motivations are easy to explain. Why did I make a sandwich? Because I was hungry. Other motivations are a bit harder to explain. When someone asks me what is the motivation behind my images, I have a hard time putting it into words. One word that comes to mind is passion. I have a passion for photography. I can’t explain why, it just is. When I met my Wife, I looked into her eyes and I knew. It wasn’t rational, but I knew! This would be the woman I would spend the rest of my life with. I have the same passion for my photography. When I picked up a camera, I just knew. It wasn’t the camera or the film, it was the idea of making an image. Capturing something. The magic of stealing a moment in time and holding it in my hand. It was magical. The older I get the more magical it is. I can look back at these moments and relive them over and over. I can laugh with friends that are long gone. I can cry remembering moments with loved ones that I can no longer hug. I can see the younger me enjoying a moment, over and over again. Without those images there are still the memories, but not as strong. As I get older the memories fade, but I can still hold the images.

So, from now on, when someone asks me what motivates me to make images, I will show them! If i’m fortunate, they will see what I saw, feel the emotion, see the beauty and at the same time, see me!

In that moment in time I captured the image, at the top of this page because it sang to me. Something about the cracked windshield, broken wiper and the buildings seen beyond. They sang a song of the past, a place that once had life but left memories behind. Memories for me to capture to create even more memories. I hope I never lose this passion and I hope to share more of it with you!

Until Tomorrow,

John

My Path Back to Film Photography! /  by John Wineberg

Patch From TAP & DYE, Bandana and Booklets Pete’s Pirate Life

If you know me, then you know that I have returned to shooting film. I shot film from 1970 something until 2004. During that time I learned not only how to make images but to develop and print them. I’ve used everything from a small home lab to large commercial equipment. I love the smell of photo chemistry and working in a darkroom. Over the last year I have rediscovered my love of this way of shooting and the process that brings images to life. Don’t get me wrong, i’m not giving up digital.

Going forward I will be doing what I call hybrid shooting. I will always have both film and digital with me when i’m out and about. I’ve actually been shooting this way for a little over a year. This was a tough decision for my online presence. The digital algorithm isn’t kind to people that mix things up. It likes a proper niche. Well i’ve never fit into any specific niche, so why try now!

I’m also not going to limit myself as to genre of photography, street, portraits, landscapes etc…. I will shoot where my whim takes me. I will be sharing some, of all of these types of photography, on both film and digital. The idea is to enjoy myself and share this experience with you, the reader or viewer, depending on the platform you decide to follow, as I have several. This blog will continue and in addition i’m going to start creating content for my YouTube channel. It’s been dormant for almost a year. I will also continue to share my black and white work on my Instagram. I may add a color account as well but that is TBD.

So if you’ve been enjoying this blog and want to know more about my process, why I shoot and what i’m shooting with, then stick around. So much more to come!

Until Tomorrow,

John

Where Are Your Memories? /  by John Wineberg

Sonoma Balloon Classic, 2014

I have made tens of thousands of images over my lifetime. Prior to 2004 I shot primarily on film. I have these images, in shoe boxes, binders full of negatives and even a couple of personal photo books. My wife has amazing scrapbooks that she creates, saving the memories of our life together as well as her past. We can enjoy these physical representations of our memories. I also have many hard drives that contain my work from 2004 on. The majority of these images are only available on these drives. I would have to search through them to find images that have meaning for me. I have created a method of catologuing but it would still take some effort to find something specific. Today I was looking at an old drive from 2014 and came across these images of the Sonoma Balloon Classic. My point being, where are your images? What are you doing with them? What will happen to them over the years?

Sonoma Balloon Classic, 2014

The digital age has allowed us to collect so much information. The number of images you capture is only regulated by the size of the storage device you are using. When I photograph an event I can come away with 100’s of images. How many of us go through those images? How many of us edit them and then present them in some form, either printed or online? Chances are you use one or two images, post them to your social media and move on with your life. For many os us social media has become the catalog of images from our life. The other day I was looking for an image to share and the only place I could find it was on the timeline of one of my accounts.

Sonoma Balloon Classic, 2014

The above images were taken in 2014. I was looking through some old hard drives and saw the folder labeled “Sonoma Balloon Classic”. I had actually forgotten about these images. I woke up crazy early to capture what they called dawn patrol. Balloons were launching, prior to sunrise, for obvious reasons. If it weren’t for this blog I don’t think I would have ever looked at these images. They would have been left for my kids to find, after I am gone. I know this because after my Mom passed we ended up with thousands of images, in drawers, at her home. I still want to go through them to relive her memories and have them for my kids so that they can learn more about her life and my youth.

So the question you have to ask yourself, is it worth the time and effort to do something with your images/memories? Are you going to print them? Are you going to create an online archive? Do you want to create scrapbooks or photo books? Or do you want to create a blog and share them daily with anyone that wants to see them?

Until Tomorrow,

John

Happy Birthday Georgia O'Keeffe! /  by John Wineberg

Today is Georgia O’Keeffe’s birthday. This painting and O’Keeffe have had a more profound impact on me personally than any other artist or work of art. I grew up in Chicago. The Art Institute was a regular part of my life, starting at a very young age. My Aunt would take me there and I would immediately find this painting. There is other art, that I love there, but this one has always been my favorite. Later in life I learned more about her relationship with Alfred Steiglitz as well as Ansel Adams. I also learned more recently that she was also an avid photographer.

Art is subjective. We each can stand in front of a work of art and have very different reactions. I won’t go into too much depth but this image has a symbolic meaning for me, part religious as well as touching the explorer in me. The sunset in the distance, the never-ending hills that beg to be explored. There is so much to discover within this painting. Every time I stand in front of it I see something different, a texture, hint of color, wisps of clouds, the definition of the nails or pegs that hold the cross together. I imagine, would I be warm or cold if I were standing by this cross? What would it smell like? What would the breeze feel like? My imagination runs wild.

El Santuario de Chimayo

Last year I traveled to Santa Fe, one of O’Keeffe’s homes and home to her museum. I wandered, learning more about her with every painting. There is a section that displays items from her home and shares more about how she lived. I began to wonder what it would have been like to be around her as she created. What it would be like to have a conversation with her. In my own way I continue to do that by enjoying her work. Soaking up everything that I can, whether it be her photography, art or written words. I celebrate the day she was born because, without it, her impact on the world and myself in perticular would be a void I can’t imagine.

So Happy, Happy, Georgia! Thank you for everything that you have left myself, and the world, to enjoy!

Until Tomorrow,

John

The Mountains Are Calling! /  by John Wineberg

“As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can".
― John Muir

It wasn’t until my 20’s that I discovered the wilderness. I was lucky enough to have a college roommate that asked me along on a multi day backpacking trip into Yosemite. Little did I know that I would fall in love with the mountains.

It would be one of many trips that I would take with the men above. I discovered who I was during these trips. I pushed myself harder than I thought possible.

The quote at the beginning of this post resonated with me. During these trips I learned to listen to nature in a way I had never done before. The sound of the wind, the waterfall, birds in the distance. I could smell the sun hitting the trees at first light. When i’m in the mountains, I feel closer to whatever it is that makes all this possible. The world we live on is alive. It talks to us constantly. You just have to listen!

Until Tomorrow,

John

We All Have a Camera With Us, All the Time! /  by John Wineberg

It’s obvious I love photography and that I have many cameras. Whenever I go somewhere that isn’t work, I take one of those cameras with me, always! You may not be a photographer or have anything but a mobile phone. Chances are pretty good that that phone has an amazing camera. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you have the ability to capture the moment. I challenge you to do just that. We live each day, hours, minutes, seconds, gone after we experience them. They will only live on in our mind and I don’t know about you but my mind can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday, let alone the wonderful things that happen around me constantly. This is what my cameras are for. So that I can look back, so others can look back, on the things that happened before. The magical moments, the amazing people that may be gone some day. Sights and memories and stories can be captured by that device in your pocket. So I beg you, capture those seconds, minutes, hours that fly by! Because, if you don’t, they will be gone forever!

Until Tomorrow,

John

I'mpossible! /  by John Wineberg

Read that title again! We are all faced with limits in life. Some we create in our head and others are real and can slow us down or even stop us in our tracks. I have dealt with this issue directly with my creative work. The idea that i’m possible, that I am only limited by my own imagination and actions. Or is it impossible? Are there brick walls in my way, stopping me from being creative?

I know that I am my worst enemy when it comes to being creative. So much going on in my head, will people like it, is it worth it, what excuse can I find to avoid it. Distractions everywhere! It all boils down to how important is this to me? Do I love it? Does it bring me joy or satisfaction? Since you are reading this, the answer is obvious. I took the time to sit down and write this. I took the time to find the right image to express how i’m feeling right now as I type these words. Reggie overcame so many obstacles to be in the moment above. His lifelong love of his craft expressed in this image. We are all capable of amazing things. The hardest part is realizing that thing. Working hard to be even better at it and then share it with the world. Yes there are roadblocks, issues, challenges but the key is to find the detour, the workaround and to overcome. The idea you have, or potential outcome you imagine, may change over time, it may look different than you imagined. When we realize what’s possible it makes all that work worth while. Even if you never reach the end goal, the journey can be just as important.

So i’m enjoying the journey. I keep creating work. I walk the world with my camera, capturing moments, places, people. I’m still not sure what the end result will be, I just know it is what I love and i’m enjoying the journey, finding what’s possible for me!

Until Tomorrow,

John

Inspired by Ansel Adams! /  by John Wineberg

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
― Ansel Adams

I have always been inspired by Ansel Adams. His images sing to me. Amazing rock faces, beautiful landscapes, black and white images that capture the world. I can’t even count how many times i’ve visited Yosemite. The first trip was back in the 70’s and so many since. I’ve traveled the back country, the east and west sides of the park and made thousands of images during that time. The one above is one of my favorites. This image was taken in 2015 after a storm cleared the valley. The lighting was perfect, a few clouds in the sky. When I got home and loaded it into my editing software, I fell in love with it immediately. Over the years I have revisited it and tweaked it even more as I gain new perspective and abilities with the tools available to me.

Some would say that I am just copying the work that has already been made, duplicating what already exists. While I am inspired by images of the past, I believe that we all have a unique perspective, our own way of seeing and interpreting the things we experience. My images are my my own, taken by me, looking through the lens, choosing when to click the shutter. If you travel the world with the idea that everything has already been done then why bother? Well this is my experience, my passion, my art. I may travel in the footsteps of others but I make new footprints. I make my own path and then share it with the world.

So thank you Ansel! Thank you for showing me the way, for inspiring many of my images. You shaped an entire genre of photography that will impact generations to come. I can only dream that some day, one of my images will continue on, beyond my time here, and will be the inspiration for even one person, one image, made because of something I created.

Until Tomorrow,

John

One Step at a Time! /  by John Wineberg

For the last five weeks i’ve been taking it one step at a time. It was that long ago that I had my hip replaced. I won’t go into the boring details but it was caused by a defect that I was born with. Pain had been a part of my every day. The majority of the pain is gone and with some work i’m hoping to be pain free soon. Whenever you are recovering it feels never-ending. I thought I would be further along after five weeks. What i’m hearing is that I'm actually ahead of the game. No longer using a walker or cane, I am able to walk somewhat normally again. I know that it will be months before I am 100% and that is ok. It’s ok because it’s 100%. I’ve been living at 50% for so long, I don’t even know what that may feel like, but i’m excited to find out.

I wanted to capture an image that shows the progress I am making. Movement, one foot in front of the other. What this image also represents to me is the challenge, hard work and struggle that I have worked through. The last five weeks are a blur. The one thing i’ve been focusing on is putting one foot in front of the other. I will continue to do just that, not only physically but mentally. Moving on the next task and making plans for the ones after that.

One Step at a Time!

Until Tomorrow,

John

My Muse! /  by John Wineberg

Muse

muse1

/myo͞oz/

noun

  1. 1.

    (in Greek and Roman mythology) each of nine goddesses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences.

    Similar:

    inspiration

    creative influence

    stimulus

    stimulation

    afflatus

  2. 2.

    a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.

The model in the image above, known as Devi, @googlymonstor on Instagram, is the closest I have come to having a Muse. She is definitely a personified force! I have been working with this amazing creative for many years. Her style, mastery of craft, confidence and nature cannot be matched. She has taught me so much over the years. With each photo shoot I learn something new, not just mechanics like lighting, composition, framing and such but who I am in the situation. She puts me at ease, helps me achieve the idea in my mind. Nothing else has impacted my photography more. If you are interested you can see more of my work with this amazing human here! I have been lucky enough to have found my Muse. I look back on an amazing collection of work that I will cherish always and I look forward to the possibility of creating even more in the future!

Until Tomorrow,

John

In Search of the Perfect Image /  by John Wineberg

I have been wandering the world with my camera for over 40 years. You would think that within that timespan that I would have found the perfect image. What do I mean by the perfect image? When all the stars align, composition, exposure, capturing time and place and after the edit feeling the emotion that I felt when I made the image. Truth be told, I am still looking for that image. Yes I love some of the images I have made. I will cherish them forever but they are not what I consider the perfect image. In actuality I probably and hopefully will never achieve that goal.

The reason I will, hopefully, never achieve that goal is, after that, nothing else will compare. For me it is more about the journey. Learning from the imperfections of each image I make. Moving on to the next shoot knowing more than the last. The never-ending learning process. I even return to the same location over and over to see what I can do that is new, different or better than the time before. For me this is what photogaphy is about, the journey! Wanting to take my camera everywhere because I don’t know what might be around the next corner. The idea that I might learn something new with each image I make. For me this is a metaphor for life. Throughout my life I have faced many challenges and highlights, my first backpacking trip, earning my college degree, cycling from San Francisco to Los Angeles, marriage and the birth of my sons and so much more. Whatever the challenge or accomplishment, we strive for more, until there are no more challenges to be had. I know for me, when there are no more challenges, it will truly be the end. So I continue, with my camera, looking for the next challenge, seeking that perfect image!

Until Tomorrow,

John