Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

PACE Through Series, Day Two

Copyright © 2011, Tania Amochaev, All Rights Reserved

A photograph. Not a painting. Not a digital image converted to a painting with software. But lovely, am I right?

So what was Tania's (www.taniaamochaev.com) creative technique? Turns out I wasn't the only one that decided to shoot "through" car windows. She drove around in the rain, looking for pleasing compositions out her car windshield. She would stop and wait for the rain to fully soak the glass and then take her shot. My first thought when I saw the work was that the images were like Monet paintings.

Just beautiful - thanks for sharing the technique and your art Tania.

 

Fun Friday - Camera Battles

 

Taking a break today from the PACE Through series, because of this hysterical video one of my PACE buds shared with our group. Very creative! I would like to make more time for video projects.

Pretty great eh?

 

 

PACE Through Series, Day One

Copyright © 2011, Bob Cornelis, All Rights Reserved

One of my favorite things about photography is that once in a while a photographer can show you an entirely new way of seeing. Such was the case when Bob Cornelis showed his "through" work at our meeting. Bob shot buildings, an empty car dealership in this case, where the image consists of many reflections and views through windows. It's a multi-layered visual puzzle. One shot, no Photoshop trickery.

I'm not real good at visual puzzles so it took me a while to decipher what was going on here. When he got to his last image I remarked "That was really some inspired shooting!" At my next shoot I was able to see differently and obtained this image.

As I mentioned a few days ago, the "through" assignment was one of my favorites, and our group (The PACE Photography group) did some outstanding work. I'll feature one image from each of these great photographers over the next week. And through these posts you'll get to know the work (& blogs in some cases) of a group of people that I'm proud to be friends with.

Bob Cornelis is what I call "the thinking man's photographer." Me, I'm happy to get some worthy images. Bob usually wants to feel a purpose and he has an intellectual basis for much of his work. He challenges me, a good thing. If you like this image, leave a comment for Bob on the continue link below.

Through Series, Day Six

And thus our characters come to the end of their adventure and we come to the end of the series. I have to give all my friends a HUGE THANK YOU. Originally I planned to have a different friend of mine be "the john." But he couldn't deal with being handcuffed. Luckily Jon (I know, funny eh?) stepped in and did a great job.

I guess this one qualifies for sort of a Wordless Wednesday image?

Click on the Continue link for one last image and final thoughts. 

Through Series, Day Five

So it looks as though the deal was made.

I'm particularly happy with this image. From a story telling POV, the characters have a "I've been through this routine before" look that I find very appealing, especially hers. There is a disdain that is apparent.

The technical side of making this image was interesting as well. I was sitting in the back of a small SUV, with the back hatch window open. We drove around town in the rain, with the Mercedes following, and I snapped away. At first I was just trying to get anything, then numerous elements started coming together for me. I found this background more appealing than with lots of other cars around, so we began working this area. I had a lot of shots with windshield wipers in them!

I also had a problem where my people were just not lit up. I tried in vain with hand gestures to get them to turn on the car's dome light, but couldn't communicate. Finally we stopped and got close enough so I could yell that out.

Wide open on the 70-200 F/4.0 did a nice job with DOF.

So, the good times are about to roll, right? Let's find out on the Continue link.

Through Series, Day Four

So we are all on the same page with our theme, right?

I had put this shoot together in my head for several days. I scouted the area the day before so I'd know just the right time for the shots. One thing I didn't factor in was the locals, who were not in on my plan. This ended up working in my favor as some of the guys at this dive bar would go outside to smoke.

Think about me in this situation. The four of us (there's another player you'll see tomorrow) discuss what we are going to do, then Jon and I jump in the car and we try to make it happen. It's raining. There is traffic. A lot is happening in real time.

It was exhilarating.

And I missed the shot of a lifetime, boo hoo. As we made a pass by this same location, there was a dwarf standing on the bench! And my model had just walked by and he was looking her up and down. It took me about .25 of a second to know I had to get this shot, and as I raised my camera and fired, a truck drove between us.

When we came back, the model (who is a photographer buddy of mine) said "TELL ME YOU GOT THAT SHOT!"  Kinda heartbroken I had to say I had missed it.

Later that night when I was replaying the whole thing in my mind I realized I should have just walked into that bar, by a round of beers for him and his buddies and get him to do it again! Next time, eh?

You'll want to click on the Continue link and see the next one in the series...

Through Series, Day Three

Bet I have your attention now, eh? Love how the sign worked into the shot, that was unplanned.

Through Series, Day Two

Well, sort of an ignominious start to this series, comments wise. No comments yesterday! And the pic above probably won't generate any either. I'm building the story. Here we find our guy on his evening drive, checking out the scenery. Click on the continue link and we'll see the story become a bit more interesting...

Fun Friday - Through Series, Day One

It has been quite a while since I have done one of my series, eh? Well let's do one then.

As you know I'm fortunate to belong to a group of photographers based in Sonoma County, called the PACE Group. We do monthly assignments, then get together, review each others work, share a meal and excellent conversation.

Often our assignments are a single word, open to any interpretation. We then create ten images based on the theme. A few months ago it was "through." As I thought about "through" I decided I would tell a story alway shooting through the window of a car.

A story line began to evolve in my head. I would need the help of four people to pull off my shoot. Luckily I have good friends.

Here is how I'll present the series: six days of two images each. One image will be on the main page, the other on the continue link. Let's roll, and I hope you enjoy the series. Just like I did when I presented the series at our group, I'll let the images tell the story line themselves.

Floating with the Clouds

Panasonic GH2, 14-140mm, f/5.6, 1/640, iso 160

Up to my flying photography tricks again. This time a little higher than normal! I loved how these clouds seems to be flowing down the river and the patterns of the crops. Endless opportunities flying over the Sacramento valley...