Dream Tomorrow, Live Today, Cherish Yesterday

WWPW Series - Wordless Wednesday

On Wordless Wednesday, you tell the story...

WWPW Seattle Series - Day One

Leica M9, 50mm F/2, f/4.8, 1/180, iso 160

This weekend was "world wide photo walk," begun by the irrepressible Scott Kelby. See http://worldwidephotowalk.com/.  Briefly, for those of you that aren't familiar: A published date/time/place for photographers to get together and just shoot. Walking in neighborhoods or wherever. There's a little bit of organization, sometimes some type of sponsor.They are limited to a certain number of participants.

The one I joined was affiliated with Adobe in Seattle. We met at their HQ (very gorgeous) in the Fremont neighborhood. Our destination was the Gas Works park that is nearby. But part of a photo walk is opening up your mind to the everyday, along your way. It was a hoot. The locals are certainly intrigued (all of a sudden you have 50 photographers snapping pics in all directions).

I figured it would be a great "trial by fire" for me learning my Leica gear. Mostly, during this shoot, I had plenty of time to manually focus. Except for this shot, taken when we were walking back to Adobe HQ. I was walking with two other photographers when this little girl just burst into the scene. I wear the M9 on a neckstrap, have never been able to do that with a heavy SLR. I literally just moved my hand to the shutter, aimed a tiny bit (without looking into the viewfinder) and tripped the shutter. "Shooting from the hip" as it is known.

A fun experience, great place. This week I'll show you more. What do you think of this one?

Precious

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-300mm, f/7.1, 1/800, iso 200

I love scenes like this. They always take me back to when my kids were this age. Doesn't it seem like life always gets more complicated? As an adult it would be hard to experience the singular joy this girl feels at this moment. I am making an effort to "live in the moment" these days, depending upon what I'm doing. But it is work for me, and I wish just once in a while I had the luxury of a child like experience. Thanks, precious little one, for reminding us of a simple pleasure.

Mona Lisa at the pastry shop

Leica M9, 50mm F/2, f/2.4, 1/125, iso 500

I have been reading about street shooting, and watching some videos on websites and youtube. The advice about shooting people is either do it and explain yourself if necessary, or ask. I was showing some friends around a town nearby yesterday. I wondered in to this old pastry shop, hoping perhaps for some interesting characters perusing the treats.

But no one happened to be in the shop at that moment. When this woman said "may I help you?" I immediately thought "wow, a face that has served a million pastries." She seemed very interesting and photogenic to me, in a street shooting sense.

Before I knew it I was blurting out "would you mind if I take your picture?" Somewhat to my surprise she smiled and said "not at all!" I had her back up against the racks of goodness in the back and (trying to manually focus quickly) fired off a shot. I looked at her and she began walking forward to me. That's when I had the sense that this placement of her and composition was going to be much better. I said "hold it," quickly raised the camera and tried to focus.

The M9 is manual focus. That's right, no pressing the button, hearing the beep and shooting. There's a little "patch" in the middle of the screen where the image aligns if you have the lens focused correctly. I should have chosen her eye, but I chose her lips. Who knows why? The whole thing happened in about 1.5 secs. So her eyes are a bit OOF. At this distance, a little more f/stop would have helped. Hey, I'm learning!

But viewing on the computer screen, her very appealing look, and Mona Lisa smile, still win me over. I'll get those eyes next time.

Perspectives Series - Day 10

Canon 5D Mark II, 14mm F/2.8, f/4.5, 1/50, iso 800

Last day. I guess you have to be an architecture buff to have made it this far with the Perspectives series?  I had some waiting to do in the various locations to get my shots without people in them. I would often wait quite awhile at the bottom or top of the escalator, for the people to clear out.

Then this couple came along. On a hunch, I jumped on after them. Somehow I felt that including a couple of people would humanize the building, in my images. This place is actually FULL of people all the time. Yes, I was shooting "perspectives," but to be true to the subject I think some people shots are important.

I clicked off a few shots with them looking down as we all do when riding an elevator. Then she slowly turned around and looked right at me. A moment of doubt, on my part. Do I just go ahead and be "a creeper" as the young people call older dudes looking or shooting images of them?  Pretend I'm just shooting the escalator?

The strength of this scene overcame any shyness and I fired away. I could explain to them later what I was doing if necessary. This shot simply had to be taken. Maybe some of my street shooting has made me bolder. In the end, she just turned around and they went on with their day.

And that brings us to the end of this series. Please let me know what you think of this series, the comments are free for the forseeable future!

Of Heroes and Patterns

Canon 5D Mark II, 180mm F/3.5 Macro, f/4.5, 1/200, iso 100

In the Palouse last weekend I got to meet one of my photo heroes. I'm not going to name him because he was just there on his own taking pictures, not leading a workshop or anything.

On my first night there we were both shooting at Steptoe Butte (here is a previous post from Steptoe if you aren't familiar). I asked him if he was finding anything interesting and he said "Well, not bad, but I'm not so much into these big landscapes these days. Everyone that comes here shoots this, right?" I had to agree, and this is what keeps me away from the well shot places like Yosemite and Antelope Canyon to name two.

He then whipped out his iPhone and showed me a few images from earlier that day. "These days I'm into finding things that are different, patterns or scenes that are different, yet striking." Bingo, I thought, that's exactly how I feel.  He showed me four images that really wowed me. He is seeing the same view as any person, but picking out unique and interesting compositions. That's really what I want my photography to be about.

On Sunday morning I went out to do some shooting of this type. I went really well, and I have to say I was definitely "feeling it." I was letting the compositions come to me, and I believe I got some pretty great ones. I was on a high walking back to the hotel when I crossed a bridge and saw this scene to my left. "Shapes and shadows" I thought. Looking through the viewfinder I gave it some tilt I felt belonged there, and fired a few shots.

In Lightroom, I liked what I had, but wanted to just emphasize the shapes, shadows and colors. I brought down the low tones, which richened them, then "de-clarified" with the clarity slider. I like this abstract feel. Looks pretty nice for a big concrete drainage ditch?

Back at the hotel I was having breakfast and some people asked to see the images I took out on Endicott Road. It was fun having my hero look them over and tell me the ones he liked. I was able to tell him that the columns he wrote back when I first started getting serious about photography back in 2001-02 were a big help and inspiration for me. Thanks again!

Janis is Back?

Canon 5D Mark II, 70-300 F/4.5, f/5, 1/40, iso 200

Spring through Fall there is a Farmer's Market every Saturday here on The Island. We have been going since we moved here, to get locally grown produce and other items. There is usually a band. On this particular morning the band featured a singer that really reminded me of Janis Joplin. She had on sort of retro garb. At one point in the song she moved away from the mic and just started dancing, and that is when I snapped several shots of her.

I was quite a ways back. I didn't think she would have even noticed me. But when I zoomed in on this image, it's clear she saw me (girl has good eyesight). I really like this look she is giving me. A bit haughty, maybe a bit of disaproval. Maybe she's just wondering why she is performing amongst tables full of lettuce, beets and carrots.

On the Continue link below I'll show you all of her. What do you think? Janis is back?

PACE Through Series, Day Three

Copyright © 2011, Jane Baron, All Rights Reserved

Often times with our PACE Group assignment, we are able to work shoots into trips or other shoots we already have planned. Such was the case with Jane Baron (www.janebaron.com) as she had a trip to China planned while we had our Through assignment. 

A wonderful thing about my group is that I could never pick a favorite photographer or person. Each one has qualities that appeal to me on both sides. Take Jane. Now you'd think that someone that drives a Prius and is a vegetarian is not going to have much in common with yours truly. She has more "social sensibilities" than say I do. Yet we share a lot and I like how practical she can be. She told me a story once about being in a foreign country, being invited over for dinner. The hosts knew she was a veg. So they figured no meat, they would serve veal instead! Jane told me "I figured what the heck, it isn't going to kill me. And you know, it really was tasty!" 

I look forward to every session and every meal with Jane. (Hey Jane, we need to do a shoot together??)

Her images are always thought provoking, well conceived, shot and processed. I recall an image of hers where we were having a hard time coming up with how it was done. "Oh, about 50 layers in Photoshop," she replied.

Several of her Through images involved incense or in this case steam. And showcased the people that she met. This one was my favorite of her ten. The angle really makes it for me. Emphasizes the enormity of pot, and the timeliness of it really got to me. Probably in use for generations. It is a simple scene and photograph, but it really tells a story. Check out Jane's website for many more incredible images of China and her other work. Love you girl!

(ps: There are other veg's in our group and I have really enjoyed making some veg dishes for the first time in my life!)

 

Happy Valentines Day

Canon 1D Mark III, 24-70 F/2.8, f/8.0, iso 250, 1/50

For Valentine's Day I'm bringing back an image from an engagement shoot a few years ago. I haven't done many weddings, but this was one of the best. I had just met them minutes before this shot, and you can see we all had a pretty good connection right off the bat. It's not work when it is this easy!

Have a nice Valentine's day everyone!

Model Monday - Window light

Canon 5D Mark II, 85mm F/1.2, f/1.8, 1/1000, iso 320

Is there anything better for a portrait than window light? I think not. I shot this lovely young creature during the last Preston Castle shoot. The other photographer was "flashing away" and I said how about a natural light version?" I placed her at this window and had her do a few poses.

In several of my shots her hand was not visible, just her arm, and I found that a bit disconcerting. This one, with the hand blurred due to the f/1.8, I think is just right.