Sunday, January 27, 2008

De-Animated


Day 20 of 366: De-Animated
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo
I was going to write about this last week, but got so busy, it fell on the floor.

The intended outcome was NOT the image at right -- I spent a few hours setting up, executing, and processing the shot (stay tuned), without thinking things through far enough to realize I wouldn't be able to post the image in the format I needed (animated -- was hoping to PNG but ended up with GIF).

Day 20 of 366: De-Animated

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Flashing at Sunset


Day 22 of 366: Sunset Flasher
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo
My trip to the asylum with my Flickr and friends and photo enthusiasts from work gave some additional knowledge and inspiration to get my flash out more often.

Since I'm working half days now (6 a.m.-6 p.m.) -- I rarely shoot during the daylight, so there's lots of time to practice, not that I have committed to a photo a day for the year.

This was one of more than 50 shots I took -- the sky started out colorful, but considerable lighter). Problem was I needed my tripod for the camera, and I had only my GorllaPod (LOVE THIS) to mount the flash onto. Just couldn't get it high enough. There is a light stand in my near future.

So I held the flash in my left hand, and varied intesity, with/without the diffuser, etc. It kept getting darker and darker, but near the end, it looked like I had a series of good shots.

Alas, I wasn't in focus. I was getting cold, and didn't zoom ein enough on my preview screen to discern the fuzziness.

Composing myself and getting into focus is the most maddening part of this entire 366-Day project ... but I wager I'll have it figured out before the year is up.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Expedition at the Asylum


Paul Swortz - Photo by Jan Klier
Originally uploaded by janklier
I'm scouting locations for some future shoots, and invited some friends (I'd never met -- but that's what makes the inter nets so cool!) to come along.

One of them, Jan Klier brought his lighting gear along, and after we'd walked the grounds a while, we hauled them up the hill to one of the old barns.

I learned more about my flash, metering, and light in the 60 minutes or so we worked together than in the three months since I started using external lighting -- Jan was so generous with his time, expertise, and equipment.

You can see my work from the event here (I got a few I like), but my favorite of the day was the black and white version Jan got of me.

Friday, January 11, 2008

A Million Little Pictures


This little art cooperative in Atlanta had a great idea: give a bunch of people identical disposable cameras and a theme, then see what happens.

I loved the idea, but since there is no instant feedback (gosh, I love digital), I don't know what the shots will look like, if they were in focus, or precisely how the composition turned out.

But that's part of the fun.

So 227 people couged up $16 bucks for the cameras, and shot the theme "Adventure."

I don't know if I'll get to know in advance whether my shots get used in the gallery)... the exhibition is from noon-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15. Trouble is, it's in San Francisco, so I am unlikely to make it. I hope they'll have something online.

http://www.amillionlittlepictures.com/

Saturday, January 5, 2008

My celebrity look-alikes?


I personally don't see it ...

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Multiple Exposure


Day 3 of 366
Originally uploaded by Honu Photo
I was trying to think of something interesting to do when this idea occurred to me ... trouble is, I hadn't my flash nor my tripod, and didn't want to draw TOO much attention to myself at the office.

I balanced the camera on a neighboring desk, and took a couple of test shots. It was clear I needed to do something about my face -- the overhead fluorescent lights left my eyes in shadow and made me look even more sinister and fat than I am.

I grabbed a small desk lamp, and held it in my left hand while firing off a bunch of shots quickly with my remote.

I want to do this again -- but with my off camera flash and some time to clean off the desktop and do something about the cables beneath the desk.