Saturday, November 17, 2007

Three Freaking Years

It's been three years since we bought my Sony F717 digital camera.
I set some goals 365 days ago and most of them have been met.
Tonight I decided to shoot something with a new/old feel--similar to previous photos but with more crustiness that's due to being too new and unfinished instead of old.


Web browser version

It took freaking forever to get here!
The last mile consumed an hour--which equals 1 mph on a major highway due to an accident (thanks a lot, dumbass!).


1024x768 Wallpaper version

This was literally the first frame I exposed on-location, and there isn't any rotation or cropping, either.
I guess I had my usual Anniversary PhotoMojo™ working overtime.

This picture is already one of my all-time favorites, much like "Waiting To Cross Over" from last November 17th.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Waiting For A Train To Pass

Two lucky snapshots.
I wasn't even going to shoot this train, but at the last second changed my mind.
Then this guy shows up on his bike, and acts all impatient for the train to get out of his way.
Almost midnight--I would want to get home, too.

It's also lucky that he didn't move much during these 8-second exposures.
In fact, they were the only times he wasn't riding around in circles or standing/sitting/standing/ then riding forward and back.


A few more of these and I'll have enough for a photo-essay I've been planning about the strange behaviors of people at RR crossings.
(I'll post a link when it's published).

Monday, November 12, 2007

Halloween 2007

At the second Halloween party on a hectic Saturday night I was surprised by this scene. More and more people own prints of my work, but this was the first time I have ever walked into someone's home and seen one of mine framed on the wall.
I like everything about this display.
Thanks, Holly--you made my day!

As you may have guessed, there was a Halloween party at Holly's house.
Here's a view towards the rear of the property.

Graveyard out front.

Her most excellent firepit that makes mine look like a joke, although I enjoy portablility.

Hope you enjoy this one, H.

Some of the action at our house. Smoke and strobes of course.
Two flashing strobelights serve to disorient the trick-or-treaters, as does the bubblewrap under a rug on the sidewalk that pops and makes some of them scream--parents included.

This half-dummy I made is a new addition to the team.
Many kids of all ages never made it to the door this year. We cracked a front window and listened to their sobbing and screaming.
Their loss, since we give a good selection of treats.

I never got around to carving these fake pumpkins. My plans for them include internal strobes, possibly smoke, and animated movement. I should have them ready for next year.

A handful of kids--those without costumes or the ones who won't say "trick or treat" but are old enough to know better--got tricked instead of treated again this year.
It's our standard practice to drop packets of TacoBell sauce into their bags instead of candy.
They are colorful, the right shape and size, and make the correct 'plop' when they hit the bottom of the bag. (Ketchup packets aren't funny--it has to be TacoBell sauce).
Our porch is dark and my witches are skilled so they never know what we've done until it's time to inventory the loot at home. We love to imagine the look on their faces.

Halloween has rules.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

For The Veterans

Thank You

Friday, November 09, 2007

Falling Water 3 (x2): My Favorite(s)

Buz and I had a blast shooting at Hemisfair last Sunday night. Despite multiple trips it never gets old to me and I always seem to find a new favorite photo here.
Like this one.
It combines many of my favorite aspects of both the place and my photographic techniques.
The smooth water is among the best I've ever captured, if I do say so myself.

On the other hand, some rare birds aren't enchanted by smooth long-exposure water.
They've told me so, and are 100% entitled to feel that way.
For them, I have added a little handheld flash mid-way through the exposure to freeze enough of the waterfall and spray to make things look more realistic.

I don't dislike this version at all.
In fact, it's far superior to using flash alone on water at night because the long-exposure part of the equation adds color and density that simply don't exist in flash-only photos.
Trust me, I've tried many times in many places using many methods and the results are just too thin and weak looking, and don't do a credible good job of conveying what the eye/brain/heart actually see at night.

Both of these are uploaded for you at 1024x768 resolution so you can really dig into the details.
(Hit F11 on your keyboard's top row to take your browser into full-screen mode. F11 again will return to normal.)

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Falling Water 2