John Cowan Photography

Tis the season.

2010-12-07T05:26:00.001-08:00

We have these two Santa's that mom puts out every year. I used to find them rather creepy, but I have grown to like them over the years.

Dance Fever!

2010-07-26T09:56:00.001-07:00

I went to a club a few nights ago, and I took a few minutes to get some grab shots of the dance floor. I think they are pretty cool.

The queen of summer.

2010-07-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

Monarch Butterfly

Wow, I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted. And what a dreary post it was. At any rate, I have finally taken a few shots with my camera and thought I'd go ahead and share.

Nothing spectacular here, but it was nice to get out and stretch my photographic legs. I am not happy with my choice to use the flash, but there is nothing I can about that now.

I hope you guys enjoy them!

Sad report...

2010-06-24T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have not touched my camera in weeks, months even. I have been feeling rather disillusioned lately, but I can see light at the end of the tunnel, even if I am not nearly there yet. I know I will pick the gun back up again, hopefully sooner than later. Don't give up on me yet friends.

Thanks!

Trouble... 2005-2010

2010-05-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

This is Trouble. She was my friend Carla's kitty, and she was my friend too. Today the vet decided that it was necessary to put her to sleep due to major illness. Last year I took the opportunity to shoot some portraits of her, and I would like to share them here as a small memorial.

We love you Trouble. Rest in peace.

Pretty Posies

2010-05-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

These are some flowers from my zoo trip in December. Not sure of the species, but they are more than likely from Central America.

Vivicam!

2010-05-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

Some years ago a friend gave me a very inexpensive 2MP point & shoot camera. I have long since forgotten the model, but I do remember it was a fun little POC. After playing with it for a year or so I gave it the home for mentally challenged children. However before I did so I was able to get a few shots that I actually rather like.

Above are a selection of images that I came across whilst snooping through my old photo folders. They were my attempt at being artistic with a toy camera.

Snakes Alive!

2010-05-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

Eyelash Viper

Green Mamba

Rough Green Snake

Banded Water Snake

Boa Constrictor

Florida Brown Snake

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Copperhead

Gaboon Viper

Ball Python

If you know anything about me, you'll know that I love snakes! In fact I am a bit of a snake fanatic. I have owned them, I hunt for them (photographically speaking), and I just generally like to be around them. My favorite snakes are pythons & boas, and among these my favorite is the Ball, or Regal Python.

Displayed here are a set of snake images, some from the zoo, some from the wild, and some are from my own collection. Some are venomous and some are non-venomous. Let me stress that I have a lot of experience dealing with snakes, and that i do not recommend that the average person should approach any snake, especially if they do not know the species.

Some more from the zoo.

2010-05-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Bongo

Bongo

Bongo

Lioness

Crested Cariama

Marabou Stork

Wood Stork

Here are some more from my last zoo trip in December. I am quite pleased with them. Considering how disappointed I was after I shot them, I am very happy with what has turned out after processing.

As a note of interest: The last picture is of a Wood Stork. This is a bird that is Native to Florida, and other parts of the South Eastern US. It is a year round resident here, and breeds locally. There is a small colony at the Jacksonville zoo that consists of wild storks that have chosen several trees in the African Savannah section as nesting sites. As I stated, they are wild animals that are not a part of the zoo's collection.

Jacksonville en Fog

2010-05-06T20:19:00.001-07:00

Main St. Bridge

Bank of America Tower

I love Jacksonville. It is a beautiful place, and a great place for photography. These pictures were taken downtown, early one morning. The fog was so thick it forced me to get creative. I was able to use the fog to my advantage to add mood and atmosphere to the images.

Dan The Man

2010-05-04T16:15:00.000-07:00

Dan

This is Dan, one of my best friends from the time I lived in Michigan. We had a lot in common, and just enough differences to make it interesting. He is a pretty cool guy, and always willing to pose for my camera!

This image goes as far back as I do with digital, 2003 in fact. It's hard to believe that it has been seven years!

This is actually one of my favorite shots ever, and one that I am always proud to share.

Nana

2010-05-03T23:14:00.000-07:00

Hiding

Too Funny!

A special person is one that touches your life without even trying. My "Nana", is just such a person. She leaves a part of herself with everyone she meets, and loving her is just standard with the package.

These two images were shot 5 years ago, there about. We were sitting at her kitchen table and I was just snapping pictures of her randomly. She is quite a character, and even though I asked her to ignore the camera, she couldn't help posing for me.

The first image has a somber feel to it, but the mood at the time could not have been more light hearted, as the second one shows very well.

I love you Nana!

Sisters

2010-05-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sarah & Emma

These are two of my best friends. Sarah and her little sister Emma. We went out to have breakfast, for lunch, one day, and I took a moment to capture them for a facebook picture. However I am quite pleased at how well it came out, considering it was not much more than a snapshot.

Looking over some portraits I came across it and just had to share it.

Sarah and I met at the library where we worked together, and we became fast friends. She has been a big part of my life over the last few years, and despite our differences we have a strong bond of friendship. Emma was a bonus! Sort of a, buy one get one half off deal. But you'll never find a better farmville buddy, no sir.

Continuing On The Theme

2010-05-03T00:29:00.001-07:00

African Plated Lizard

Bongo Eating Duckweed

Here are a couple more from the same batch of pictures from the zoo. Not much to say here really. Just the same feelings of disappointment to rifle through. It has taken me a few months to come around to the feeling that I could edit these images at all. The surprise for me is that I am actually liking some of them.

Zoo Pics!

2010-05-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

Nile Crocodile

Southern Ground-hornbill

Great Blue Heron

I was going through some zoo pictures that I shot the last time I was there. It was a very disappointing visit to the zoo for me. Come to think of it the last few times have been somewhat of a let down, photographically speaking. I had not been very impressed with my photography for a while, and to see what I shot that day looking so underwhelming really made me just want to dump all the RAW files and forget about them.

Obviously I didn't do that (I don't think I could!). I just filed them away and though I have looked over them a few times since then I never touched them. However, this time I felt a bit different, and I was able to look at them from a another angle. There are actually a few I really like. I worked up a few last night, so I figured I'd pop them up on here.

Times Are Tough...

2010-05-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

I know it's kind of a drag to start off a new blog on a somewhat depressing note, however, this image has been weighing on me ever since I shot it a few weeks ago. The man in the picture was siting on St. George's street in St. Augustine on a pretty hot day. When I first passed him he had a sign out that read something to the effect of; Times are tough. Every bit helps. God bless.

I wanted to shoot him there and then, but he had a few kids huddled around him cooing over his dog. By the time I made it back to him the sign was put up, but I still feel the image has a certain power to it. It's really all in his face I think. At any rate this picture is a bit of a return for me to shooting candid portraits on the street. It's a form a of photography that I love and plan to do more of in the future.