I am a retired Northern Ontario secondary school teacher (30 + years) with a background and teaching experience in English, Special Education, and Media Literacy. I tend to think in a global structure and find the trends in media technology and its impact on culture, education, and social structure fascinating.
This photography blog is a place for me to display my photographs, both digital and pinhole, as well as any digital art pieces that I have created. Hopefully, by sharing my efforts and what I have learned I will increase my own understanding and skills in the process.
I’ll also use the blog to look at related photography issues that don’t fall under the media literacy and education topics ( See: Dark Pines Media ) .
For a different view of language, culture, media and art see my blog Implied Spaces.
I’ve extended my output and interest in Tarot Card art, Asemic art, collage, mixed media art, visual poetry, and deconstructed/Dadaist writing. This work can be found at Asemic Tarot .
Thanks for visiting my website! (I clicked on your “like” Gravatar.) I’m blown away by the resources on your 3 websites!
John Robinson — http://thedailygraff.com/
P.S. As a teacher you might like the post “First Day of School”: http://thedailygraff.com/2010/11/05/first-day-of-school/
Thanks very much. Puns and word play help teachers stay a bit saner. You don’t have to be crazy to teach, but it helps.
You’re a genius. x
Only briefly. 😀
I visited here after your kind comments on my blog. Great images! I am new to semi-serious photography (a retirement avocation) so I have a lot to learn. I especially like the image of the guitar/pond scene – as guitar is one of my other activities these days. I’ve subscribed to your blog hoping to learn some things…..thanks.
Scott
Thank-you for dropping by and subscribing. Also check some of the photographers in the blogroll lists. You’ll see some wonderful creativity and examples of excellent compositional skills.
Elmediat, *
I just visited your wonderful “Art&Media Literacy Teacher Site.” I follow a Toronto photographer you might find interesting–Daily Dose Of Imagery: http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/
From his extensive ” Archives” I recommend his “Little Planet Series” (example: http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/09/05/28/ )
John [Photoblog: http://thedailygraff.com/ ]
* As much as we trade comments, I’ve searched ALL your sites for your first name but couldn’t find it.
Thanks for the tip. Interesting site.
Hello elmediat – I thought I was subscribed to your blog but have just realised that your photo blog is completely separate from your media blog – how wonderful to see a whole new aspect of your talent – I have some catching up to do 🙂
Thanks for the support and joining in. I have been putting more energy into the photo-blog because of the creative and more personal expression. The media literacy blog is in part an extension of my work as a media -literacy teacher. Unfortunately the Media Studies course in Ontario schools is optional. The assumption is that more media literacy will be apart of all courses – you know what happens when “you assume”. I still have material that I plan on posting, especially as I get into the teacher mindset in the fall. Thanks again. 🙂
hello!
great photo blog! looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Thank you for the tutorial…very helpful!!
cheers.
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hey darkpinesphoto, i nominated your blog for the versatile blogger award.
cheers,
bruno
Thanks for the support, most appreciated.
Thank you Elmediat for nominating my blog this year for Versatile Blogger! Happy 2012!
You are most welcome and deserving of the award. Best wishes for the coming year.
“Elmediat”–
I like to address all of my blogger friends by their first names (rather than a Nom de Blog when I respond to their comments on my blog, but after combing through your blog several times, all I can find is that Nia refers to you as “Joseph.” Is that your name (and how would Nia have known that)?
If you don’t mind telling me, but want to maintain a degree of anonymity, respond to me at robinsoj@ohio.edu and then delete my question above and this follow-up. After posing the above question, I realized that to answer me here, in a permanent comment on your About page, would be to “blow your cover.” –J
Thanks for visiting my blog and from what I have seen from Today’s post I will definitely be enjoying yours for a great long while.
Cheers!
M
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Glad you enjoyed the recent post..
I’m glad you stopped-by my blog today, Elmediat. I’m still at the beginning of my journey into photography, and your commentary inspired me to look a bit further. I appreciate the feedback you left on my post…as well as the information you have on your blog about the technical aspects of photography, tips on taking the photos, etc. Your three sites will be wonderful resources…and your photography is compelling. Thank you for sharing it all.
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Hope you find the various resources useful. The Reading A Photograph page on the Media Literacy blog has a couple of useful PDF documents on the codes and conventions of photography that you may find of value. Keep taking photographs and blogging; I and many others will be watching.
You’re welcome…and I did see the PDF documents you mentioned…thank you for the encouragement. 🙂
Thank you for calling into my Space today my friend
and I will be returning here whenever I get the opportunity…
Have a most excellent weekend…
Androgoth
Hope your weekend has been enjoyable. Thanks for dropping by.
Wow. Beautiful blog. Thanks for checking out mine.
Most welcome. Thanks for visiting.
! what a fascinating chronotope you have here
thank you for taking the time to actually look at my work – one of these days i’ll be back to explore yours
Thanks for dropping by and commenting. Also thanks for the new word. I had to look up chronotype, even with my background in English Literature, Philosophy, and Linguistics & Mass Media, I had not come across the term. it certainly applies to many of my posts and themes. It has given me food for thought. 🙂
Psst, it says chronotope, not -type, but hey, I sense that’s just a … typo. 🙂
Btw: in my ignorance I once thought I had invented the word, only later on I learned where and how it already existed – I was perfectly happy with that.
Ooopsie. Thanks. Well we now have two extra words, before I Tyed-OH, I was going to write Chronotrope. 🙂 Chronotype and Chronotrope are both medical terms. Considering the words archetype and literary tropes, I think I will need to extended definitions. Must not delay, after all time is passing. 🙂
I have added your blog to my Blogroll list (Art & Design, European Photographers).
thank-you elmediat 🙂
Thank you so very much for liking my post! Awesome photography!
Thanks for dropping by Becca.
Hello, one of my ‘fan’ Mike Reverb, mentionned me in his post ‘Versatile Blog Award’ , from what I do understand it is a nice way to bring bloggers to discover new blogs…unfortunately no big checks are coming with it…:)), but on the bright side, no threats either, like something terrible will happen if you don’t follow….:)), because there is a few things it is suggested to do…., like mentionning seven things about you that are unknown to your blog’s reader, and adding a list of about 15 blogs that you like by putting their addresses, I took the liberty of adding your’s to mine, to know more about this please go to http://jmrart.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Thanks very much !
You are welcome!
You have some very interesting images here. Like it. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by and commenting. 🙂
Thanks for visiting and the like. Interesting posts you have here.
Thanks for visiting and commenting. 🙂
Thanks for liking my recent photo post “Broad Creek at Dawn”. You have such a rich and diverse blog, and I look forward to seeing more of your posts. You also use the same theme for your blog, which has helped me to see how I might improve mine. Thanks again.
Thanks for visiting and commenting. Glad to share ideas & methods. 🙂
Hi, great blog you have here. Love the textures. Thanks for visiting and liking some of my pics on “In My View”. — Rob
Hi, Joseph. I passed along the One Lovely Blog award to you. You don’t need to do anything about it, of course. I just wanted to link to your blog because you do such fine work here. Half the time I don’t get it, as you know, but I love the images…well, mostly. 🙂
George
Many thanks. 🙂 Sometimes I don’t get what I am doing till I read my replies. 😀
Ha Ha! 🙂 The replies are brilliant. I can see you grinning as you read them!
always inspired by your work – thank you
http://manoftheword.com/2012/09/04/thankfulness/
Thanks very much. 🙂
again – thank you and kudos for all your inspiring and creative work!
appreciated!
http://manoftheword.com/2012/11/23/reasons-for-thanks-inspiration/
Thanks very much for mentioning me. I have been going through my November Brown out. I try to use creative expression to fight it. Your support and those of others make it very worthwhile.
An easy pleasure for me – I’m glad to hear that we can make a difference – there is much worth in your work
Nice site! Like the artwork!
Thanks. 🙂 Glad you dropped by,
Hello, I just found some great texture work on a Blog that I’d love to bring to your attention – I think you might like 🙂
http://twistedsifter.com/2013/02/turning-rusty-fire-hydrants-into-planets/
Hydrants in to Planets…please! – I love it!
Thanks very much. 😀 It really impressive.
I like the different things that you have done with some of your photos.
I have Adobe Photoshop, and I did use some filters on the photo in ‘Something about No Thing’ and ‘Dreaming Eyes.’ I inverted (negative ) the colors on both, and then used a drawing filter on one, and an oil paint filter on the other.
Most of the time, I don’t use Photoshop on the pictures that I take though….because once I start playing with Photoshop, hours and hours and hours can go by in the blink of an eye.
Thanks very much for dropping by & commenting..
So right about passage of time; So many variations with a few clicks. I try to stay with a goal, but even then, either a surprise variation shows up, or you get caught up in modifying some small detail that consumes your time as you try to get it just right.
I keep in mind how much time my wife will spend on her artwork to get it right and then I do not feel quite so bad, until I realize I forgot to do a chore requested of me. Oopsie. 😀
Yes! Exactly.
Thanks so much for visiting my new photoblog and for the like of one of my posts.
Most welcome. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Hi thank you for stopping by, I shall enjoy looking around your blog. Be well and happy 🙂
Thanks for coming by for a visit. 🙂
Great images and ideas here . . . your experience and ethusiasm shines.
RR
Thanks very much for dropping by & commenting. Much appreciated. 🙂
got you an award here’s the link http://kintal.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/sunshine-award-nominees/ please accept, thank you.
Thanks very much. Most appreciate. 🙂
Hello,
Thank you so much for stopping by blog 🙂
I really feel glad to find you here and it’s been great exploring your posts.
Beautiful images and a different style indeed.
Thanks a lot for sharing and have a great time 🙂
Thanks for dropping by and commenting. It is much appreciated and I am glad you found the posts of interest. 🙂
You have some wonderful images on your blogs Joseph. Thanks for visiting mine 🙂
Thanks Belinda. It is much appreciated. 🙂
Your images are absolutely wonderful, thanks so much for sharing.
I’m certainly looking forward to seeing more in the future!
Have a fantastic day xx ❤ Cha
Thanks Cha. May the zoological force be with you. Great poetry. Hope you found the teeth ( from your latest post). 🙂
Beautiful work!
Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed the posts. 🙂
Pleased to have found your eye catching blog. Lots to encourage return visits. Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (give it a spin).
Most welcome. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
I’ll visit again. Hope you’ll check out the Jukebox.
Retired. Key word. 😉 Me too. Thanks for the like. I ‘like’ your overlay image.
Retired teachers keep trying new things – we must communicate & share; it is in our DNA psyche. 🙂
Yes. I hope you don’t mind. I’d like to try something similar. It really intrigued me.
Great ! I have some tutorial pages that show some of my approaches to layering & processing an image. 🙂
Thank you for visiting my blog site. Recently took up photography beside designing and your site is more than amazing. Looking forward to enjoy all your posts.
Many thanks. Glad you have been enjoying the posts. Your comments are most appreciated
You know, our art/photography editing styles are scary similar. I don’t think I’ve seen in 15+ years of doing this that resembles my own personal style so much. it’s a little bit freaky! But pretty darn cool. :0) And, who likes onions, anyway?! (I do. Haha…)
Many thanks . Glad you enjoy the work presented. Lately I have done a bit more monochrome . My other blog, Implied Spaces, tends to feature more experimental work, both written and visual.
Your Onions reminded me of some pieces I did a while back. If you do a search on this blog for “Antique Impressions: The Onion” you will see a similarity in style. For more onion madness there is ‘Surreal Thursday: Lachrymose or Hard-Boiled ?” . 😀
Once again thanks for coming by. Very much appreciated.
BTW If you like very unique photo art vision check out Ashley’s blog Syncopated Eyeball. Somehow, one of her links eventually led me to your blog. 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I appreciate it very much. 🙂
Most welcome. Glad you are enjoying some of my posts. 🙂
What you’re doing is very interesting.
I’ll come back soon 🙂
Greetings,
Ulli
Thanks very much for dropping by & taking the time to comment. Hope you enjoy the visit. 🙂
very nice digital blog full of inspirations … I’m following you
Thanks very much. 🙂
What are you creating now? 🙂
I have shifted my output a bit. This blog is now putting more emphasis on regular photography with greater emphasis on monochrome. My Implied Spaces blog is where I am posting more of my creative & experimental work – a combination of images, digital video, prose & poetry.
A mix of circumstances have also recently reduced output. 🙂
monochrome is a great way of expression. So you have another blog, can you give me the link, I’m curious about it
Links at the top of page. Media Literacy blog can be reached through Dark Pines Icon at top left of sidebar. Most recent posts from Implied Spaces listed on sidebar just above search box. 🙂
thank you for your visit and wow! Great blog you have!
Most welcome. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Excellent! I’m quite pleased to have connected here. Wonderful work.
Many thanks.
Always refreshing to visit here.
Regards Thom.
🙂
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