It’s all about perspective…, a photo by thewoodenshoes on Flickr.

I just recently switched the permissions on ALL my images to Non-Commercial, Share-Alike. Why, you may ask? I came to the conclusion that sharing my images with the world is the reason I make images…if someone wants one bad enough, they’ll get one regardless. That being said, ALL my images are available for license through Getty Images as well as through me for a much more reasonable fee. Enjoy your weekend! -DvK

 

Palouse Barn – Palouse Region, Eastern Washington State, originally uploaded by thewoodenshoes.

3,000 square miles of rich farmland and endless compositions…enjoy! -DvK

In 1743, William Hathorn IV, Samuel Hathorn and Alexander Hathorn, left Salem, MA, to settle on the Maine coast. Each had received a 100-acre land grant on what is now known as Hathorn Point in Cushing, Maine. Hathorn Point is bordered by the St. George River and Maple Juice Cove and leads out to Muscongus Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Like many other families in the area, the Hathorns were seafarers and shipmasters. Each man built a log cabin on Hathorn Point.

In the late 1700s, Captain Samuel Hathorn II, the son of Alexander, replaced one of the cabins with a frame house, creating the original structure of the present Olson House. His son, Captain Aaron Hathorn, occupied the house until 1859. In 1871, Aaron’s son, Captain Samuel Hathorn IV, dramatically altered the original structure. A new, steeply pitched roof replaced the former hip roof, enabling several bedrooms to be added to the third floor. From 1872 to the 1890s, the bedrooms were rented to summer visitors and the residence became known locally as a “summer house.” The family also established a successful farm.

In 1892, an early freeze on the St. George River forced ashore John Olson, a young sailor. There he met 34-year-old Katie Hathorn and her recently widowed mother, Tryphene. The women were the last surviving members of the Hathorn family. John and Katie were soon married and John took over the family farm. In 1929, two of their four children, Christina (1893-1968) and Alvaro (1894-1967), inherited the property and lived there throughout their lives.

The Olson House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011.

Enjoy the frame! -DvK

Smile of the Inner-City – Jalisco, MX, originally uploaded by thewoodenshoes.

Sometimes a scene crosses your lens with such grace, you can’t help but feel the need to capture it. The places of the world and the people that make up them often afford me such opportunities, which by their very nature leave me wanting no more at that single moment; I am simply and quite honestly, content. It is not until later, when I’ve had a chance to go over in my head what has happened within me, how the photograph I made has changed my soul, and how I take those changes and continue on, honing my craft and carving out a niche in my mind of what I desire my craft to provide to others. I can spend all day making photographs and not come up with anything I would call noteworthy and then a photograph like this materializes in front of me and it all seems worth it.

I saw this little girl from across a busy street, being carried in a bucket by her Father and became intrigued by the normalcy of it for both Father and Daughter. I approached at a steady pace so as not to alarm them and offered my hand with a few Pesos in it and politely asked, “Hacer photo, por favor”.

The little girl’s face lit up as if I just presented her with a large stuffed bear or a handful of candy. The battle of my thumb and forefinger (I own a Nikon and shoot exclusively in manual) ensued and a few seconds later… ::click:: There was but a few seconds on a bright, sunny day in Jalisco, Mexico to get it right. For that instant, the rest of the world fell away and it was just me and her. There are but a handful of moments in my life that have proven to be that profound, poignant, and from God.

People at work often ask where I find the material for my images. Most of the time, it’s in the places that 1, most people wouldn’t go, and 2, right under their noses. There are people in this world that bring the best out in the people they are around…then there are people in this world that simply look for the beauty in the world they are a part of…I’d like to think I’m the latter.

I have never been one to write much. When I write, I go to a place that requires the amount of concentration [that may be] required to balance a car on the head of a pin. Just as each photograph I make is, my writing is deliberate and inspired from my soul. Each sentence is a part of me I wish to reveal to you…thanks for reading. -DvK

…a little rougher than others., originally uploaded by thewoodenshoes.

Sometimes there are no words, just reverence for the subject when we are alone with them… -DvK

"Cyclist" – Golfito, Costa Rica, originally uploaded by thewoodenshoes.

With the majority of the working class in Latin America using alternative methods of transportation (Public Bus, Taxi, Bicycle), it comes as no big surprise that finding a cyclist on the side of the road to make a photograph of would be easy. Sure, that’s an accurate statement, but finding the juxtaposition between the new and the old worlds proved to be a bit of a challenge. The day I made this photograph, I probably walked somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 – 15 kilometers, ducking into every alley-way, store front, and seaside hut searching for a frame that accurately described the vision I had formed in my mind long before I visited such a place.

A little research revealed that in the mid-20th century, Golfito, Coast Rica was once a thriving transfer hub for the growing banana industry in the region and perhaps one of the busiest ports in the Puntarenas Province. With the United Fruit company closing in 1985, Golfito quickly became one of the largest producers of African Palm Oil in the region. In the mid-90′s, Golfito became a popular destination for the thriving sport fishing industry and its nearby beaches, most notably Pavones, which hosts one of the longest left point breaks in the world.

Seen in the image above, time as well as harsh tropical conditions have taken a significant toll on the former United Fruit Company building located on the main drag there in Golfito. The intricate attention to detail, that has obviously been degraded since the building was erected in 1899, makes me wonder what this thriving area once looked like. For now, this photo will have to suffice.

Thank you for visiting! -DvK