Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Rob C on October 30, 2010, 05:32:18 pm

Title: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 30, 2010, 05:32:18 pm
I've knocked the idea around a few times, may be worth trying to see if it sticks.

Basically, I thought it might be nice to have a spot where we can hang pix that aren't looking for 'critique', that exist just for the hell of it, and seemed to be a good idea at the time they were sketched.

I kick it off with a self portrait shot in the office by looking out of the door.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on October 31, 2010, 01:36:35 am
Okay, Rob... here's one from today.

Mike.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 31, 2010, 03:53:28 am
Okay, Rob... here's one from today.

Mike.




Hi Mike

My first thought was: Witches of Eastwood, followed by Blair Witch Project.

Nice of you to post it because though it's a pissing-with-rain sort of morning, 09.42 hrs for me, I think the clock goes back tonight and I get an extra hour in my pit. And best of all, the snow we get is usually on the mountains! However, it does mean that I might be an early loser of domicile if the sea rises, which it seems to be doing.

Early as it is, I discovered that if I put an 11cms piece of barra (French bread) into the toaster, when it's ready, it shrinks to 90.90909%  of its original length - to 10cms. That's not to say, of course, that I always manage to cut an exact 11cms length every time; for a snack, I prefer longer with cucumber and tomato, which is where I originally discovered the phenomenon of format change, if not its order of magnitude. The reason that I discovered the change had nothing to do with gravity and falling apples, just that I expected to have cut sufficient length to accommodate three slices of tomato but ended up with base for about two-and-a-half.

Not a lot of people knows that.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 31, 2010, 05:44:57 am
Rob, I was thinking: don't know if it's possible to correct the OP title but maybe without prejudice is "too short" and some users that would like the idea would not see the thread.
Because it's a good idea loaded to be a big thread.
The thing could be: without prejudice: post your pictures that aren't aimed to critic
something like that, don't really know with mny englisn but, a more journalistic title?

I think the only way to change the title is via the Administration - I agree that it would be a nice extra, permanent spot to have.

I posted a comment on your image in the Pro section.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 31, 2010, 05:53:02 am
Another from last night, and the foreground to the 'portrait' posted earlier, the main thing I was actually thinking about, not portraits at all.

Let's see: if I get the film into the post on Monday, then it may get to Barcelona on Tuesday (with luck), get processed the next day, arrive back here possibly two days later... and I could pick it up from the post office the following week!

Can't really fight that side of the argument, can we?

;-)

It ain't Torres, it is cold English Breakfast tea.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: grouchomarx on October 31, 2010, 09:18:18 am

My try.

(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TM1b16I8xPI/AAAAAAACxws/3n7wVOnsTf8/s600/IMG_0479.JPG)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 31, 2010, 11:24:19 am
I was tempted to make a religious reply about the hat, then I realised that I wasn't quite sure which group would find offence and decided to play safe! Do you think the Bretons would also find a hat remark distasteful?

;-)

I think that rain and cobble stones are a great tool for photographic effects. Those guys in Paris sure used them a lot; in Glasgow, we risked being killed by a tram if we didn't pay attention. Perhaps the people in Paris faced the same dangers too, but they were existentialists, which makes all the difference... What did you use to capture?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 31, 2010, 11:34:52 am
The last one from last night (I'm pushing my luck, I know, but it's a near-virgin thread) is here.

It was the single business instrument that lived with me from '66 until we both became redundant. I think it loved me, but my wife was never the jealous type.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: grouchomarx on October 31, 2010, 12:33:22 pm
The camera is a Canon S95 P&S. But the place is porto, in northern portugal.

regards,

grouchomarx
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 31, 2010, 02:48:16 pm
One pic for friends of EADGBE.

Rob C

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcriNmPyY-Q&feature=related
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Joe Behar on October 31, 2010, 03:27:52 pm
jealous type.

Intentional or not.....great pun
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on October 31, 2010, 07:00:08 pm
2 Toreros.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 01, 2010, 01:11:53 am
Hallowe'en Ghosts

In honour of the day and all...  Could put this in the 'Clouds' thread I suppose.

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 01, 2010, 06:13:02 am
Intentional or not.....great pun


God, how I wish I could have claimed to have intended it!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 01, 2010, 06:17:57 am
2 Toreros.


Great cropping in the first one, and the embarrassment of being the fancy dressed palooka in the second one is, in itself, enough to end the practice even beyond Cataluña!

The faded out background in the second one gives it a sort of old-fashioned photograph look... you haven't copied a Capa, have you?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 01, 2010, 06:19:43 am
Hallowe'en Ghosts

In honour of the day and all...  Could put this in the 'Clouds' thread I suppose.

Mike.



Remember that song about the Spirit in the Sky? 60s/70s?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Lost on November 01, 2010, 06:20:11 am
One from Barcelona, on the Rambla del Mar.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 01, 2010, 08:14:05 am

Great cropping in the first one, and the embarrassment of being the fancy dressed palooka in the second one is, in itself, enough to end the practice even beyond Cataluña!

The faded out background in the second one gives it a sort of old-fashioned photograph look... you haven't copied a Capa, have you?

;-)

Rob C
No, original picture is as you see it, the only thing I did was to use silver effex to give this sort of vintage look. I normally never do that because it's not my cup of tea, I did it with fun intention because it was at the time Cataluña prohibited corridas.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Morris Taub on November 01, 2010, 09:16:55 am
spirit in the sky? Norman Greenbaum?...

image : morning coffee
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 01, 2010, 10:54:55 am
spirit in the sky? Norman Greenbaum?...

image : morning coffee



That's the song!

Love the feeling in the grain - goes with real coffee...?

Ciao

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 01, 2010, 07:17:05 pm
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/5129913289_ee8f40b2c7_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5129913289/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on November 01, 2010, 07:26:20 pm
Ouch!

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TM9MSqU_2QI/AAAAAAAAAwo/sfzI4eIxKqg/s1600/ouch.jpg)

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on November 01, 2010, 09:12:46 pm
This taught me not to stack my cylindrical panos.  Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 02, 2010, 05:40:14 am
This taught me not to stack my cylindrical panos.  Bruce



That's no mistake: that should get you into the gallery world!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 02, 2010, 05:42:01 am
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/5129913289_ee8f40b2c7_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5129913289/)


I know the feeling; happens after the morning shower each and every winter, into which Mallorca has suddenly dipped!

Thanks for playing!

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 03, 2010, 04:14:12 pm
This conversion was from a very early shot on the venerable D200; does anybody know if it is possible, or even worthwhile having the thing converted exclusively for b/w and removing that filter that sits in front of the sensor?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on November 04, 2010, 05:46:33 am
No: I think he is talking about the "Bayer filter", so each photo-sensor receives the full spectrum of light.
But I am afraid that "filter" is so deeply embedded into the sensor, that I do not think it can be removed.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 04, 2010, 11:30:24 am
Ah, in this case there's not a lot of choice: A Leica M or Sigma Foveon or MF.
Rob, you could try a Foveon for very cheap, 300 euros for a DP1. The camera is slow and basically a manual camera.
But the file render is very Kodachrome. In prints it performs bloody well.
Different planet but worth a try.
http://www.sigma-dp1.com/
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 04, 2010, 12:08:25 pm
The M9 would be very nice, but only as a present!

I'd thought of my D200 because since I got the D700 it has done next to nothing at all but sit around in a box. So, converting it to b/w seemed a sort of 'dedicated' function for it. But, perhaps that's all crazy: I still own a perfect F3. Trouble is, I gave away my processing tanks etc. and stripped the office of all its darkroom conversion kit.

But still, I can probably find another tank for films and the toilet can easily be lightproofed. I had used sheets of that silver/grey material that they use here for making curtains as protection in windows against sunlight - my wife had sewn them to size and fitted velcro to a large such sheet, and I stuck 'n' stapled the mating side of velcro onto the wooden frame of the window in the office. It was very quick and very light-light. A similar sheet on the doorway into the office and I was as blind as a bat but without radar.

But, I think I would probably prefer to use tranny material and scan, even though it is a real pain in the ass. Better still would be a 500C-type, but that would mean a hugely expensive scanner - I wouldn't use an Epson. I would also like an M film model, but digi has a way of corrupting the soul... that three-minute mind.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on November 06, 2010, 08:16:32 am
@ tokengirl, priceless picture
@ Rob C, doesn't only happen in Mallorca, also in Lier (Belgium)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201010/PEGA8500229120101025/1074866128_viLPp-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201010/13996958_KtwgT#1074866128_viLPp-A-LB)

Translation of the sign:
YOU DON"T SEE US, BUT WE SEE YOU
Pls. use the public toilet further down the street

apparently some people don't mind to be "seen"
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 06, 2010, 08:25:15 am
2 for Rob Taken with my mobile phone, to convince him to go to the beaches...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 06, 2010, 10:46:58 am
1+



That's a beautiful black/white shot. You have created an exceptional sense of curiosity in me. HC-B did the same to me with some of his street life shots too.

Regarding the later colour shots with the mobile: I had no idea you could get that sort of quality (at least, on a monitor) out of them. My movil has no camera. Yet.

A question: why the hell are you assisting? You don't need to learn anything more. All that techie stuff about different post systems: leave that to your assistant once you get shooting. Your eye already sees all you need to see.

A word of advice from my personal experience: I got work because of my 'book' - they used to call them portfolios - but I was seldom expected/required/allowed to shoot in a similar manner. It only proved I could think photographically and provided would-be clients with a sense of security. Fred, concentrate on making your book. Once you have that...

Go for it.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 06, 2010, 11:00:41 am
@ tokengirl, priceless picture
@ Rob C, doesn't only happen in Mallorca, also in Lier (Belgium)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201010/PEGA8500229120101025/1074866128_viLPp-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201010/13996958_KtwgT#1074866128_viLPp-A-LB)

Translation of the sign:
YOU DON"T SEE US, BUT WE SEE YOU
Pls. use the public toilet further down the street

apparently some people don't mind to be "seen"


To be brutally honest, it isn't so much the tourist that make the mess - there are no football hordes looking for somewhere to leak up in the north, either. What we do have, is a strange mindset that allows dogs to shit anywhere they feel like it. Some are small and you might just skid; others are rocks and you could break your leg.

There are indeed laws about it, as well as stands on some streets where you can get a plastic wrapper bag, but they don't seem to be enforced. Just like bicycles: one-way street signs apparently don't apply to cyclists. I don't suppose the dogs use bikes, but you never know what's going on while you are looking the other way.

However, the worst place I ever saw for rubbish was Sardinia. Amazing display of total lack of concern about space and environment out there in the sticks...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 06, 2010, 11:21:18 am


That's a beautiful black/white shot. You have created an exceptional sense of curiosity in me. HC-B did the same to me with some of his street life shots too.

Regarding the later colour shots with the mobile: I had no idea you could get that sort of quality (at least, on a monitor) out of them. My movil has no camera. Yet.

A question: why the hell are you assisting? You don't need to learn anything more. All that techie stuff about different post systems: leave that to your assistant once you get shooting. Your eye already sees all you need to see.

A word of advice from my personal experience: I got work because of my 'book' - they used to call them portfolios - but I was seldom expected/required/allowed to shoot in a similar manner. It only proved I could think photographically and provided would-be clients with a sense of security. Fred, concentrate on making your book. Once you have that...

Go for it.

Rob C
Thanks for the kind words Rob.

Assisting? Well, I learn in 2 different areas: 1 is the lightning, my knowledge on lightning and how to use it was lacking, and then I learn about a side of the business. Also, it gives me money, the hability to work to a level with all the means and probably the most important was to be aware of the field reality in a working team. But you're right about the personal portfolio. And also right about giving the tech and pp to others. Now that I'm starting to feel more confident it's time to build my own imagery in serious.

Mobile phone, the "nacked photographer" is downsampled twicish and zero pp. It's right out the box.  You can see the pixelised blue, so quality is not that much, not that bad either but there are better mobile phones now, mine is rather old. The first beach pic is post producted so much cleaner.

Cheers.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on November 06, 2010, 12:17:07 pm

To be brutally honest, it isn't so much the tourist that make the mess - there are no football hordes looking for somewhere to leak up in the north, either. What we do have, is a strange mindset that allows dogs to shit anywhere they feel like it. Some are small and you might just skid; others are rocks and you could break your leg.
...
Rob C

This is indeed "local mess", no tourists around.
Also agree on the dogs, but it's their bosses who need a lesson.

Photographed this sign at a cemetary:
(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200910/PEGA7000854820091015/684308023_JsmUS-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200910/9850242_qyrcp#684308023_JsmUS-A-LB)

I'm shocked there is a need to put it up there....... 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 06, 2010, 03:13:56 pm
This is indeed "local mess", no tourists around.
Also agree on the dogs, but it's their bosses who need a lesson.

Photographed this sign at a cemetary:
(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200910/PEGA7000854820091015/684308023_JsmUS-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200910/9850242_qyrcp#684308023_JsmUS-A-LB)

I'm shocked there is a need to put it up there....... 



Holy shit!

But really, I think the problem is often the other way around: the dogs are the bosses.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on November 06, 2010, 03:21:12 pm
Bugwood Forest ....
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on November 06, 2010, 03:53:37 pm
Holy shit!

But really, I think the problem is often the other way around: the dogs are the bosses.

;-)

Rob C
It's the same the whole world over, to quote the song: I took the one below outside Cape Town.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: grouchomarx on November 06, 2010, 05:58:39 pm
.
.

Shopping mall restroom signs:
 
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TM2XdC7HR3I/AAAAAAACxyE/pX2QXnatuI4/s500/IMG_0586.JPG)


Last weekend @ Porto:

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TNHbDMmSHwI/AAAAAAACy5g/jeSWKwGLkqc/s500/IMG_0490b.jpg)


Train Station:

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TNXu2iEvW4I/AAAAAAACzJI/HNcbh4ZmY10/s500/IMG_0820.JPG)


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on November 07, 2010, 03:45:29 am
Hi Rob. Good idea. Here's an orphan shot from earlier this year in Scotland.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 07, 2010, 03:50:41 am
Hi Rob. Good idea. Here's an orphan shot from earlier this year in Scotland.




Thanks Dave, I'm glad folks are taking it up!

Your signs are a collective criticism of the Health Service; sort of naming your options when you cross those heavenly portals.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 07, 2010, 03:57:42 am
Last weekend @ Porto:

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TNHbDMmSHwI/AAAAAAACy5g/jeSWKwGLkqc/s500/IMG_0490b.jpg)

Train Station:

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TNXu2iEvW4I/AAAAAAACzJI/HNcbh4ZmY10/s500/IMG_0820.JPG)


Loved the black/whites; I'm far too chicken to take the camera out in the rain! There's something about rain shots that's very powerful - those old Parisians did a lot of it - maybe they had little choice - but some memorable shots came out of it. Well done, even if Porto isn't 'on the plain' and should have been dry!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on November 07, 2010, 06:11:04 am
@ Rob C: thanks for starting this thread, some beautiful, worthwhile as well as humorous pictures show up that otherwise would never be seen by others.

Also allows me to post some stuff that caught my eye, but have no other meaning than to chuckle when looking back at them later.

Like this one: London seems to take good care of their old pieces  8)
(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201007/PEGA8500090820100724/946501961_RyCjb-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201007/12785638_NiW38#946501961_RyCjb-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 07, 2010, 06:27:02 am
pegelli

Thanks for the laugh! I bet the humour was not even imagined by those responsible for the sign.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 07, 2010, 11:22:56 am
Sometimes, when a job goes sour, it can seem like the end of the world. On this shoot, it went so sour I didn't even get my model shot trannies back from the client. So, all I have to show for Africa is one friggin' shot of a mountain taken as we were waiting for the truck to take us overland to Mombasa and the next leg of the job...

Trust me, hatred exists and can be mutual.

Oh well, not all memories can be sweet.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 07, 2010, 12:08:24 pm
Fred, I loooove the umbrella photo for composition, light, content and the metallic-blue sky!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 07, 2010, 12:20:36 pm
… Regarding the later colour shots with the mobile: I had no idea you could get that sort of quality (at least, on a monitor) out of them. My movil has no camera. Yet….

Rob, given your love for model photography, and your question about mobile phone photo quality, here is something for you:

"An ad campaign shot entirely on a mobile phone camera? Well, Sony Ericsson -- claiming to be the first -- has done it, using the C905, ostensibly to prove what an awesome (8.1-megapixel) camera it boasts. The results can be found exclusively in December's issue of FHM…"

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 07, 2010, 12:25:59 pm
Fred, I loooove the umbrella photo for composition, light, content and the metallic-blue sky!
Thanks Slobodan.
I found that the umbrela was kind of contrasting in an humoristic way the little silouhettes. The metallic sky is mostly because I was very close to the sun, while for the nacked photographer, taken at the same moment I'm back to it. So I just pushed further what was already there.

This nacked guy (was a nudist beach) spent at least 2 hours shooting like that the sea and his chubby partner that does not appear here, in a very erotic beach session. The girl was playing with a bottle, dropping water on her breast and the guy was shooting from 20cm from all possible angles.

I told you Rob, what are you missing not going to the beaches!

edit: hey, great mobile the Sony Slodoban! Mine is also a Sony Ericson but just 3MP. I think I will update very soon.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 07, 2010, 01:36:10 pm
You guys must be going nuts!

I already have three cameras, one that's film and never gets used; another that's cropped format and never gets used and the latest that's FF and seldom gets used!

You think I want to grow up to be a curator?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 07, 2010, 01:56:41 pm
During a trip to the Bahamas we were introduced to a man who owned a slice of an island. He offered to take us out to it so we could shoot with greater freedom than we had on New Providence or Paradise Island.

It was a great speedboat ride out, the girls rather silent the whole trip, both hands holding tightly upwards to compensate for not knowing that fast boats bounce like on concrete...

Then it was my turn to feel doubtful. We tied up to a similar little pier as in the picture (same island) and where I had been expecting white or pink sand, I discovered a wall of rock. Great; a wasted day. We climbed up the track to the low summit and on to where the guy was building a house; at that stage, he'd managed to erect a bar - a fine sense of priorities. So, with ice in a plastic bathtub and bottles of this, that and the other, we had the makings of a great picnic, if not a lot more.

As he was setting up with his man Friday - a huge bloke - he suggested we continue along the path up from the sea and look to see if anything grabbed our photographic imaginations. A little disappointed, as I said, we did that and after some time we started going downwards and boom! The perfect strip of beach!

So there you are, a sense of humour from a generous man.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 07, 2010, 02:56:03 pm
Haa Rob, this pic is almost provocative. Now that we are going to enter the "castilla winter" with all it's goodies. I wish I where neighborhood to Tokengirl. Where she is, no hassle, no calefación, no snow like this one in Madrid but beaches, yatchs, crocodiles and dogs
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: grouchomarx on November 07, 2010, 03:20:58 pm
"Little cute news reporter plus onlooker"

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TNcJ7SiB4mI/AAAAAAACztE/6WedspzimrQ/s600/IMG_1207.JPG)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 07, 2010, 03:31:04 pm
Since we seem to be complaining about the weather, let me log my complaint against Parisian summer weather  :)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 07, 2010, 04:41:10 pm
Ah, the weather.

Yet, look at the great stuff you folks are posting because of the weather! That's a seriously artistic shot of Paris - better watch yourself, Slobodan, or you'll get caught up in the art world... And Fred, snow makes me freeze even in photographs. I don't think I could put my hands on a snow image of my own to save my life. I think I had a couple many years ago, but many years ago it never occurred to me that I might one day want to have pics for their own sake.

That means that there's pretty well nothing from any of my travels other than what survived from work. No personal images of much of anything at all. Now, too late, I would have liked to have had something other than in my head. C'est la vie.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 07, 2010, 05:06:20 pm
Yes we have a good palette of shity weather, from Porto, to Paris and Madrid.

The only picture that we need now is one of those Tokengirl's or Lisa's trips in Bora Bora, you know those with cristal clear water, lazy people swimming or taking the sun on the yachts decks  :P just to make sure about our citizen conditions above the 30th parallel

Or...a Rob's nacked breast model from the Bahamas in the pure style of Pirelli to warm us up a little bit.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 08, 2010, 04:33:22 am
Okay, Fred, not one but two in a Baja Mares from my Biscuit Tin.

If you look carefully - at the faces - you will see the girls are far from happy. The concern isn't about the sun, it's about a real snake that crept rather rapidly along the sand towards us. I always imagined that snakes would avoid people if they could, but this one was either deaf, blind or just curious. Whatever, I told them not to move because that would spook it, so they froze. As you can see. In the event, it must only have been looking for its girlfriend because it kept right on ahead until it vanished into the shrubbery. We avoided the shrubbery after that.

It was jet black, not particularly long, and definitely not a worm.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 08, 2010, 05:21:04 am
Rob, looking at your picture, I don't know if you remember the french singer call "antoine"
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_(chanteur)

Well, he was and is really clever. What he did was to embrassed the peace and love movement with a couple of successfull songs. When he did money, he bought a boat and sailed right to Tahiti. No more Paris hassles, he would spend his life under tropical seas. Each time he runs out of money, he has an agent in Paris and organise a come back on tv with the same songs, or write a book about how to navigate happy arround Bora Bora... spend a week in Paris to sign the book and then, back again to the Pacific. Now he's doing business through internet so he doesn't have to be any more in Paris.

His website: http://www.antoine.tv/  tells all.

Clever man.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 08, 2010, 06:26:56 am
I didn't know about him, but as you said, a clever man.

I mentioned a while back that I had neglected to make 'personal' pix of my travels, and looking at his work I realise I didn't even pick the right islands!

Well, if one could live life over again, I'm sure some things would be kept the same and some altered. Unfortunately, as a photographer, I lived well enough to feel happy(ish) but never made the money to finance great adventures on my own. That was always the rôle of the clients, to polish my wanderlust!

Well, it's pouring just now and I'm contemplating whether to go out for lunch and brave the elements, or, just stay home and make more pasta. Sitting at home eating pasta, looking put of the window at wall-to-wall grey is not a comforting thought. I think going out today wins.

Ciao

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 11, 2010, 02:41:44 pm
A friend of mine, computer programer, concentrating on the code on his screen, illuminated by a sliver of late afternoon light squeezing through closed shades.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on November 11, 2010, 03:24:17 pm
...Dostoevsky lumine...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 12, 2010, 04:54:33 am
Speaking of window shades put me in mind of Harper Valley PTA.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 12, 2010, 12:01:11 pm
Nice cloudless day today, until around 4pm, and then it got pretty cold so I retreated indoors and to the computer, where I found this fairly old shot which seems to be from the first few test shots with the D200 and probably the 24mm.

Anyway, I rather see the old warmth than feel the current cold.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 12, 2010, 12:34:38 pm
Speaking of window shades put me in mind of Harper Valley PTA.

Thank God for Google so that I can figure out in a split second what your obscure (for me) reference means :) I am much less lucky in tracking down the original meaning of "midget revolting" though :(
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 12, 2010, 02:38:43 pm
Thank God for Google so that I can figure out in a split second what your obscure (for me) reference means :) I am much less lucky in tracking down the original meaning of "midget revolting" though :(



And to imagine that I thought you were going to tell me I had knocked off a great 'late evening Ektachrome impersonation' with that D200!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 13, 2010, 09:24:36 pm
Gravity-defying pants.  I must have followed this guy for 20 minutes waiting for them to fall, but they never did.

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5172973313_a6022b6a49_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5172973313/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 14, 2010, 01:30:38 am
Gravity-defying pants. ...

Why does that remind me of this:  :D

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 14, 2010, 03:37:26 am
Hi Slobodan

Whilst the stereotyped social politics in the image are almost totally screwed, since there's as much human lard dragging around in Europe as anywhere else, I have to say that I find the entire tanga/thong concept revolting; an absolute failure of design for purpose. Yuck!

I am the first to admit that it (thong, not lard) may have a place in some forms of 'glamour' photography (another purloined word that usually indicates anything but glamour in the same way that gay no longer indicates cheerful), but for the vast majority of people - I meant women, but who the hell knows anymore - who might wear such a thing, it must represent the epitome of discomfort, quite apart from its inability to afford any possible hygienic function nor even offer the basics of warmth and shelter!

Toke

I used to imagine that I was guilty of wasting much of my own time, but twenty minutes chasing a piece of tail! Makes me think of Alain and his wait for the sun to illuminate the canyon. Oh well, as he says, to each his or her own.

Rob C



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: grouchomarx on November 14, 2010, 04:50:38 am
EU 1 - US 0:

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TM2YGuHbeiI/AAAAAAAC02k/cIQAXlA_2hA/s500/IMG_0594.JPG)

grouchomarx
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 14, 2010, 11:23:48 am
...I have to say that I find the entire tanga/thong concept revolting; an absolute failure of design for purpose. Yuck!...

Damn right, Rob! While in the past one needed to separate layers of underwear to get to the… You Know What, nowadays, one needs to separate the YKW to get to the underwear!  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 14, 2010, 11:44:45 am
Damn right, Rob! While in the past one needed to separate layers of underwear to get to the… You Know What, nowadays, one needs to separate the YKW to get to the underwear!  ;)



That's rather well put; suitably graphic for a photographic venue such as this. Might pull a few heads out from the bushes. Or the rocks.

Let's be brutally honest: the joy vanished when suspender belts became passé. Well, for the sake of transparency, I don't really have any recent, verified knowledge of the above, but Victoria and her blessed Secrets notwithstanding, I see precious few fastener bumps around mid-thigh any more.  Nor anywhere else, for that matter. What a shame. As with the virtual passing of film, so many beautiful babies are thrown out with the bathwater. And you know what? I never ever heard a feminist scream to burn your belt, only your bra, which in the right circumstances might be a grand idea. Perhaps they were really on our side all along, those sisters.

But what do I know - I've had heart attacks. And pills.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: grouchomarx on November 14, 2010, 12:27:16 pm

[...]
Let's be brutally honest: the joy vanished when suspender belts became passé.
[...]

Rob C

Google search results:

Suspender Belts: 114,000 results
Thong: 28,300,000 results

Still prefer the suspender belts...

Without entering unduly into technicalities, cheeky panties are probably a good compromise (by the way, 265000 google results)

 ;D ;D ;D

grouchomarx
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 14, 2010, 02:26:20 pm
Google search results:

Suspender Belts: 114,000 results
Thong: 28,300,000 results

Still prefer the suspender belts...

Without entering unduly into technicalities, cheeky panties are probably a good compromise (by the way, 265000 google results)

 ;D ;D ;D

grouchomarx


Figures, figures, figures!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 14, 2010, 08:06:18 pm
I have to say that I find the entire tanga/thong concept revolting; an absolute failure of design for purpose. Yuck!


I am right there with you on this one.  Flossing is something you're supposed to do for your teeth.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 15, 2010, 04:02:06 am
I am right there with you on this one.  Flossing is something you're supposed to do for your teeth.



Oh Jesus, there goes my breakfast - all over my knees.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 15, 2010, 10:25:41 am
Okay, got over the floss, but the weather was rotten at lunchtime so, rather than face the wet hike to the car, I made something to eat at home. That almost joined breakfast. Next time, rain or shine, I go out.

Anyway, that meant I had more time to waste at the alter of the computer, and I found this from brighter afternoons.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on November 15, 2010, 02:52:50 pm
Anyway, that meant I had more time to waste at the alter of the computer, and I found this from brighter afternoons.

Rob C

Bright seems to be an understatement Rob. Ethereal might be a better description. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 15, 2010, 03:10:51 pm
Bright seems to be an understatement Rob. Ethereal might be a better description.  


You mean as in astronomy? Heavely bodies?

Rob C

EDIT: I could have done with Coot's 2/200mm; I think this might have been my old 3.5/135 or the equally old 4/200, though the latter would probably have vignetted more. Anyway, Kodachrome 64 Pro and no fill.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on November 15, 2010, 03:36:26 pm

You mean as in astronomy? Heavely bodies?

Rob C

Yup. Afterall, stars can brighten up the darkest night.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 18, 2010, 04:43:36 pm
This one's sort of bitter sweet.

A Kodachrome shot during a happy cruise, to be followed a while later by further shots for the broker's brochure... poor health hits anyone. This boat was destined for the Amazon, but neither owner nor boat made it. Still, as long as you enjoy what you can whilst it's there for you, you can do no more in this life.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 18, 2010, 05:44:08 pm
Still, as long as you enjoy what you can whilst it's there for you, you can do no more in this life.


Bittersweet indeed.  Enjoy the Kodachrome while you still can (until December 30th).  I've 4 more rolls left to shoot.

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1305/5185378121_39c4a82751_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5185378121/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 19, 2010, 04:01:39 am
Lovely balanced shot; recognize the sea feeling...(!)...

I've still got a stack of the Kodachrome stuff, but as I have no people to photograph anymore, it'll just die when the granddaughters throw out the freezer and all who sailed in her. However, I'll leave a note explaining the historical value and even the character-building cache that resides within those sacred cassettes. Just hope they don't open them to see what I'm talking about.

I guess that once you've lived by the ocean you just can't say goodbye to it.

I've spent the past few days scanning a further sixty-four transparencies connected with the sea - mainly from guesting aboard of from work travels around the place, and have begun a new gallery in my site called Sea. It makes me realise that I could probably have been just as happy (and now perhaps rich enough to own/run my own boat) had I tried to work for yacht brokers instead of dress makers and their asscociated peddlers. However, having said that, I don't know a single broker who actually owns his own boat. Must be a lesson there!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on November 19, 2010, 04:34:48 pm
I recognize myself as suicidal away from the sea...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 20, 2010, 05:04:44 am
I recognize myself as suicidal away from the sea...




Pat, in my case even the sea isn't that much of a help. Most of my happy days were connected with it, in one form or another, but it took two. That can neither return nor be replaced, so in a sense, the sea is also a constant reminder of loss, a subliminal surf that's my permanent background to life.

On the bright side, that loss would be felt regardless, and at least I can still go for the same walks and share the same inner moments of togetherness that were, even at the time, an individual's part of the whole.

I wonder when people say there is no God; I follow no religion but I certainly see evidence of a Power everywhere I look, within everything I feel or touch, but I think it's obviously far beyond Man's ability to quantify or qualify.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on November 20, 2010, 08:32:02 am
Rob, one for you (as a reaction to your story about the sea)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201011/PEGA8500242520101114/1095954046_XaD9Z-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201011/14685313_T75cR#1095954046_XaD9Z-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 20, 2010, 09:55:36 am
Rob, one for you (as a reaction to your story about the sea)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201011/PEGA8500242520101114/1095954046_XaD9Z-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201011/14685313_T75cR#1095954046_XaD9Z-A-LB)


It fits very well. Other than that there are seldom any boats that size around these parts - it's a quite tight bay but given to huge storms in winter - the mood is very very recognized by me!

There's something about solitude and the ocean that gets to the soul; maybe it's to do with the idea that, as a species, we came from the sea. Whatever the truth, there's something both comforting and sad about standing there in the wind, alone with your thoughts and memories, and facing God alone knows what's to come.

I find I can't bear to go there in summer when it's busy; it's like an intrusion into myself. Come winter, it's just me and some few other unknown people lost in their own thoughts.

Thanks for the image; it touches deeply, even down to the colour.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 20, 2010, 10:38:38 am
Speaking of the sea...

"In His Father's Footsteps"
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2313468258_3c0c744cc7_o.jpg)

(Lightroom 1, even)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 20, 2010, 03:05:59 pm
Nice sense of what the title proclaims!

Incidentally, have you noticed how the last two shots have almost identical sea colour? We used to get that light slate look on the west of Scotland sometimes.

The sweat, blood and tears I'm shedding at the moment doing my (probably last!) set of scans presents me with problems in the other direction. The seas seem to have too much red or magenta most of the time, and I have to do a hell of a lot of masking off to change the water colours only; doing a general alteration, whether dark, medium or highlight, simply effs everything else. That's a very good reason for preferring b/white!

Thing is, once these shots are up and running, I'm faced with the problem of actually doing something new. I sometimes wonder why one does all this; suppose it could be worse: football or something. Well, watching it is what I meant.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on November 21, 2010, 05:04:37 am
Very nice picture Mike, symbolic and well executed!

The fathers strong stride made me think about the strong stride of this contrarian:

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Events/Dyxum-Meet-16Oct2010-Naarden/PEGA7001224620101017/1067670199_GoZzW-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Events/Dyxum-Meet-16Oct2010-Naarden/14250862_xeCYL#1067670199_GoZzW-A-LB)

It takes the thread off the ocean, but now leaves us the question, do we follow the person or the arrow ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 21, 2010, 06:39:41 am
Very nice picture Mike, symbolic and well executed!

The fathers strong stride made me think about the strong stride of this contrarian:

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Events/Dyxum-Meet-16Oct2010-Naarden/PEGA7001224620101017/1067670199_GoZzW-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Events/Dyxum-Meet-16Oct2010-Naarden/14250862_xeCYL#1067670199_GoZzW-A-LB)

It takes the thread off the ocean, but now leaves us the question, do we follow the person or the arrow ;)



You do both: you spin!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 21, 2010, 07:12:15 am
Just because I like Michael's curent cover shot with the cat lens, I thought of this one that shows that though you can get doughnuts, you can also get peanuts if that suits you.

500mm cat Nikkor on Kodachrome 200 via yellow rear filter (no pun etc.), a film I should have used more often.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on November 21, 2010, 02:12:18 pm
I recognize myself as suicidal away from the sea...

Having grown up close to the sea, learnt to drive ( damn those Landrovers) on loose sand, happily spending a large part of my growing up period with the waves as background music, and having made a living from it for a while I tend to feel the same. Living in the mountains with the fog and unpredictable wheather tires me. Fortunately my escape is an hour and a bit drive away. Even though I have strong words with myself sometimes for driving around so late at night- just to see the full moon rise over the Indian Ocean- I tend to feel better for a while, after having listened to the rythm of the waves.   
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on November 21, 2010, 05:47:36 pm
The beach shots reminded me of an image I had taken in Albany, Western Australia of a father and his sons emerging from the dawn mist.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TOmgyBXS3JI/AAAAAAAAAxw/L2qJyZThfB8/s1600/beach.jpg)

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 21, 2010, 07:33:34 pm
Ok then, looks like the name of the game is 'people by the sea', so I'll play too:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on November 21, 2010, 09:05:32 pm
I was thinking about beach images when I remembered these shots. Taken on the beach at Puri just south of Calcutta in 1978. I was amazed that anyone could go into the surf with six metres of cloth wrapped around them. Luckily they had lifesavers, that's the guy with the white cane hat on. One day there was a pod of dolphins surfing the waves. Unfortunately someone stole my t shirt whilst I watching them, pretty good for 14 months travelling through Asia and Europe.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TOnNP22jTXI/AAAAAAAAAx8/Td5jKCMDS6Y/s1600/puri_03.jpg)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TOnNGIdl2gI/AAAAAAAAAx4/KI7ysVy_PsA/s1600/puri_02.jpg)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TOnM9dr91vI/AAAAAAAAAx0/tbIAgVCGXAk/s1600/puri_01.jpg)

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 22, 2010, 03:10:56 pm
Well I'm here to break the theme with a little Monday afternoon irony:

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/5198494648_cf209ce37b_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5198494648/)


Xpan/45mm, HP5+ in Rodinal
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on November 22, 2010, 05:32:31 pm
You can't ditch the beach that easily. Turkey 1978, Leica CL and TRI-X.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TOruZPFCDfI/AAAAAAAAAyA/kkXJ6YtjvEI/s1600/turkey_06.jpg)

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 23, 2010, 01:07:10 am
Hey Tom, is that water in that shot?

All seriousness aside, I don't often make an image that I'm REALLY happy with, but this one turned out pretty well...

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5198781549_4790dbba8e_b.jpg)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on November 23, 2010, 01:23:57 am
If it's not breaking the "rules" of Rob's thread, can I say I think this is a lovely image Mike? I love the combination of energy and stillness and the way the eye is lead.
Cheers, David
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 23, 2010, 03:55:44 am
The beach shots reminded me of an image I had taken in Albany, Western Australia of a father and his sons emerging from the dawn mist.

Cheers,


Tom, that really is a very good picture! The atmosphere is amazingly strong; I wish I had more of an eye for those things myself. I used to imagine that I didn't make that kind of shot because I didn't have the clients that sought them - now I think the truth may be that I just didn't notice them if they happened under my nose. The closest I ever got was a series of a girl on a very windy beach in Kenya wearing a long robe thing my wife bought for the job in a shop there; I have not even a tranny left: the client failed to return anything from the shoot, a bitter one that marked the end of a great relationship. Fortunately, the blowing sand didn't ruin the F2!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 23, 2010, 03:57:20 am
Mike

Nice image; are you also one of those who craves a square sensor in a 35mm body?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 23, 2010, 03:59:55 am
If it's not breaking the "rules" of Rob's thread, can I say I think this is a lovely image Mike? I love the combination of energy and stillness and the way the eye is lead.
Cheers, David


Dave, the only 'rule' I'd like to see observed is that folks don't feel obliged to critique with advice! The rest of the section allows that, and I just thought it would be nice to have a slot where pics stand alone without criticism and second-guesses.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 23, 2010, 04:17:23 am
Well I'm here to break the theme with a little Monday afternoon irony:

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/5198494648_cf209ce37b_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5198494648/)


Xpan/45mm, HP5+ in Rodinal


Hi Toke

Irony indeed, and a photograhic situation where added titles would be superfluous!

It's facile to criticise overweight people, and I've been as guilty as the next to so do, but on further thought I now wonder if it isn't more to do with declining standards of family life: without wanting to stirr a nest of hornets, I believe more than ever that the stay-at-home wife contributed a hell of a lot more than she was ever given credit for. My own stayed at home when the kids came along, but after some years she felt the need to test herself again against the outside world. She returned to chemistry and managed to struggle through for a while, but the domeerstic pressure became too much and she decided to return home. Further gainful employment was when she worked on photographs with me, y nada mas.

I have arrived at the conclusion that it's the advent of both spouses working that has pushed the cost of living up into the crisis zone. Before that, people who put in the effort did very well, thank you, as a one salary family; as soon as wives started to work outwith the home front, the shops quickly put up prices to harvest the freshly available capital and it has never stopped since, to the level that two salaries are no longer an option, they are a necessity! Effing greed of the middle man.

Sorry, the point: well, good home cooking seldom seems to fatten people with junk; how do you get to be a good chef unless by doing it every day?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 23, 2010, 09:48:04 am
Hey Tom, is that water in that shot?

All seriousness aside, I don't often make an image that I'm REALLY happy with, but this one turned out pretty well...

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5198781549_4790dbba8e_b.jpg)

Mike.
Mike,
That's a very nice Great Blue Heron! (See, even I can identify some critters.)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 23, 2010, 09:55:48 am
Hi Toke and Rob,

When I saw your "irony", I had to look again to be sure that wasn't a tee shirt of mine.
I'm about to bite the (low-calorie) bullet and start a serious weight-loss program that has worked extremely well for a friend, who went from many years of overweight to downright skinny, and has stayed that way for a couple of years now.

I have a next-door neighbor who owns a terrific bakery, and she gave us all of her test samples while she was preparing recipes for her first cookbook. That, and the fact that at an age when my taste buds are supposed to be losing gusto, unfortunately I just still really enjoy good food.

A friend sent me a jpeg of a few of us photographers together, and I'll have to admit I immediately photoshopped it to remove several inches from my middle.

Cheers,

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 23, 2010, 11:02:51 am
Quote
Mike

Nice image; are you also one of those who craves a square sensor in a 35mm body?

Rob C

Thanks, Rob, but my first thought about that was, 'Isn't that what Lightroom is for?'  That and I still have a Yashica Mat 124G, although 120 film gets harder to find every year.  And thanks to others for the compliments!

Obesity is definitely an issue, especially but not exclusively in the US.  I don't know if there's any one specific cause, but I found Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution show quite good.  I wonder if the people in that town have followed through...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on November 23, 2010, 10:18:40 pm
UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver sets his sights on Ipswich, west of Brisbane, as the first Australian location for his health cooking campaign.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/11/08/3060737.htm?site=brisbane

And taken with a APS sensor we have …

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TOyDfMXYKAI/AAAAAAAAAyI/GHCrJTwZ2GE/s1600/Jaisalmer.jpg)

Just hold down the shift key.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on November 25, 2010, 01:25:26 am
UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver sets his sights on Ipswich, west of Brisbane, as the first Australian location for his health cooking campaign.






What the food thinks?
(http://)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 25, 2010, 11:30:21 am
What the food thinks?


That strikes me as a rather Scottish looking beast! On a bad day.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 26, 2010, 03:13:38 am
In case anyone likes sea-related pics, just to let you know I've now stuck up a new gallery of such called, believe it or not, Sea! (Other shots I'd scanned have vanished within the computer, leading me to think that disater is just around the corner. However, I've copied most of what I want onto cd and an external hard-drive, but I dread a failure nonetheless.)

One set of pics was done for a friend selling a ketch, the rest were for fun and stock whilst having fun.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 27, 2010, 04:59:00 pm
No prizes, but can anyone identify make and model?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: grouchomarx on November 27, 2010, 06:39:16 pm

"Praia de Miramar"

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TPFB-0DjUSI/AAAAAAAC3Iw/RSwXU7rMorc/s640/IMG_1736.JPG)

grouchomarx
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 27, 2010, 07:47:31 pm
No prizes, but can anyone identify make and model?

Rob C

My Better Half says Ford Mustang.  I have no idea, could be  a Yugo for all I know.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 27, 2010, 07:48:24 pm
Went to the county fair today.  :)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5243/5213090700_4581bb03a5_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5213090700/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2010, 04:03:50 am
My Better Half says Ford Mustang.  I have no idea, could be  a Yugo for all I know.



Nope, not a Yugo, but that, of itself, reveals a good memory!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 28, 2010, 08:03:39 am


Nope, not a Yugo, but that, of itself, reveals a good memory!

Rob C
Not a Model T Ford or a Packard or an Edsel either.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2010, 09:57:56 am
Not a Model T Ford or a Packard or an Edsel either.

This is true. Not even a Hudson Hornet!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 28, 2010, 01:15:11 pm
This is true. Not even a Hudson Hornet!

Rob C
Or even a Nash or a Studebaker.

Rob, I kinda expected you to be a '59 Cadillac kind of guy, with the tail fins and especially the bumper boobs.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2010, 02:45:14 pm
Or even a Nash or a Studebaker.

Rob, I kinda expected you to be a '59 Cadillac kind of guy, with the tail fins and especially the bumper boobs.

Eric


Eric, I am! Not that I've ever owned one, worst luck, but that's exactly where my dream car is located.

Actually, there's another verison, somewhat older than the '59 that also has fins and boobs instead of sunglasses on its head.

No, not even a DeSoto nor a Kaiser.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igXdVIkPYxY

Ahhhhhh..!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 28, 2010, 03:42:57 pm
'cuda was the first thought that came to mind.  Or Charger, or Roadrunner...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on November 28, 2010, 06:14:58 pm
Looking for a New Zealand image I stumbled upon this one. I hope the antipodeans get a chuckle.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TPLhmqgbvDI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Ifv9b34AR4c/s1600/woolanddag.jpg)

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 28, 2010, 07:41:14 pm

Eric, I am! Not that I've ever owned one, worst luck, but that's exactly where my dream car is located.

Actually, there's another verison, somewhat older than the '59 that also has fins and boobs instead of sunglasses on its head.

No, not even a DeSoto nor a Kaiser.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igXdVIkPYxY

Ahhhhhh..!

Rob C
Rob,
I must be getting senile in my old age. I was right that the '59 had the biggest tailfins ever, but I mis-remembered the boobs, which I thought were also the '59. But here is a U-tube that shows the '57 with the boobs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOlHpcu1EwE&feature=related

I suppose you could put the '57 front end onto a '59 and have the best Caddy ever.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 29, 2010, 04:59:53 am
'cuda was the first thought that came to mind.  Or Charger, or Roadrunner...

Mike.



Nope, and certainly no Plymouth because surely, you didn't think I'd have been moved to photograph one of those, did you?

I'm sorry that I don't have the companion tranny anymore which shows the entire car from the side, but I think it does reside somewhere in a grid of pics on the cover of my 1980 Hewden/Stuart Group calendar which we shot in the Bahamas. If I find it (I think I know where it is), I'll copy it, the front page, with that 105 Nik. micro I bought some time ago and have been wondering what to do with recently ;-)

Actually, when  all is revealed you'll kick yourselves for missing the blatantly obvious.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 29, 2010, 05:09:52 am
Rob,
I must be getting senile in my old age. I was right that the '59 had the biggest tailfins ever, but I mis-remembered the boobs, which I thought were also the '59. But here is a U-tube that shows the '57 with the boobs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOlHpcu1EwE&feature=related

I suppose you could put the '57 front end onto a '59 and have the best Caddy ever.

Eric


Eric, why are you concerned? Senility and a certain age do go together; it's the mismatching of age and senility, like mismatching tail and boobs, that causes trouble. But, if you look at it from another angle, had they kept the best parts from '57 and '59 you'd have the ideal, as you suggest. I've said before, I wonder why Detroit didn't just make them smaller instead of abandoning the flamboyant in favour of the jelly mould? The ugliest Brit Ford must have been the Sierra, regardless of how hot some were made; what purpose power if without glamour? At least that's something the Italians understand.

Wheelspinners, instead of fins? Blame the ghetto and video.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on November 29, 2010, 12:11:51 pm
No prizes, but can anyone identify make and model?

Rob C

Certainly not Italian- their cars don't do aerials and big stickers in the window very well. Sorry but I don't know Rob.

 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 29, 2010, 03:45:50 pm
Certainly not Italian- their cars don't do aerials and big stickers in the window very well. Sorry but I don't know Rob.

 


Hi, and thanks for reminding me about that car: I have found the old '80 Hewden/Stuart Group calendar and my memory was right this time - the other shot of it (the car) shows enough to make it crystal clear. Well, the calendar itself is pretty messed up, and only the top half, the pictures section remains; the lower half, with the sheets of dates, was wiro-binding suspended from the backing board of the top bit and it carried its own little cover and the shooting credits, plus the individual company's name which, being for a group of over forty firms, was some print order to handle! But, the right guys got the right ones.

Anyway, I don't want to shoot it tonight in the strip light of the office, so if tomorrow is dry I have an appointment with the terrace table!

Rob C

EDIT: What am I thinking about? A brick wall is better!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 29, 2010, 05:04:19 pm
I'm not normally particularly superstitious, but this place, Aphrodite's Birthplace, in Cyprus, gave both my wife and myself the creeps. It's down a relatively small slope from the main coastal highway, but she insisted we stop the car and that she walk down to the beach. Anyway, I shot two cassettes of Kodachrome on this bottle/packaging still life (one such was shot in each model location) and the client shot our picture as we worked (this is his shot) setting up and doing it. The result? Two rolls of jet black film. And I always used alternate Nikons to prevent just such events from a single camera body.

On an earlier shoot in that location for a fashion manufacturer (Twomax), the model went into the water about, say, two yards out. The shingle just kept giving way underfoot as she tried to get back onto the dry. I had to go help, and I began to think I wasn't making it either. I would never return there.

On the then/now thing: two people doing a calendar shoot with still life and model shots too. Rare today...

Main reason to post: shows I did have hair at the end of the seventies, and my wife still had the shirt off my back anytime she wanted to. Now, the ponytail covers only a very thin streak down the same neck. But, I do wear a baseball cap, not that I'd know how to play baseball.

Isn't life amazing?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 29, 2010, 05:35:47 pm
Hey Rob, small world… guess who was shooting there too :)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on November 29, 2010, 09:17:21 pm
Policing Thai style.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TMZLsaUIB4I/AAAAAAAAAvE/QnCCGsrjB_c/s1600/move_on.jpg)

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 30, 2010, 03:49:19 am
Hey Rob, small world… guess who was shooting there too :)




Not only shooting there, but standing on the same rocks, I think!

I even recognize the delightful camera... but mine wasn't there that time. Do you remember the year?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 30, 2010, 06:27:38 am
I'm sure I remember a thread dedicate to the subject matter, but a trawl through them fails to reveal the heading, so here goes:-

More beauty on the beach. Too late for Colgate.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 30, 2010, 10:01:18 am
Rob,
I must be getting senile in my old age. I was right that the '59 had the biggest tailfins ever, but I mis-remembered the boobs, which I thought were also the '59. But here is a U-tube that shows the '57 with the boobs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOlHpcu1EwE&feature=related

I suppose you could put the '57 front end onto a '59 and have the best Caddy ever.

Eric


Okay before you all fall asleep, here's the dénouement, possibly best enjoyed to the tune of Silver Lady.

Told you it was obvious - all in the colour.

You may wonder why the interest in US cars on the cover of a pin up calendar: well, to a Glasgow lad, US cars were always going to be something quite interesting in the forbidden fruit manner and, as I had the choice and thought the Ford Torino rather exciting in its alien way...  

I suppose some might think that's a Ford made in Italy, but there's nothing as odd as folks.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 30, 2010, 12:52:04 pm
Looks like a nice calendar, Rob. But I see my problem: 1980 was after I stopped looking much at cars (even though by about that time my then two-year-old son could spot any vintage of Volvo and announce it enthusiastically).

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on November 30, 2010, 04:15:41 pm
Back to the water.  Or very close by:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5212597146_9f1cbf93cf_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5212597146/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 30, 2010, 04:38:59 pm
… Do you remember the year?

1999… just not sure if B.C. or A.D.  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 01, 2010, 04:02:57 am
1999… just not sure if B.C. or A.D.  ;)




Told you the place was unlucky: at the end of '99 all the world's computers might have crashed!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on December 03, 2010, 03:45:34 pm
Back to the water.  Or very close by:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5212597146_9f1cbf93cf_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5212597146/)
Love it. I really like your film series. With what do you scan?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 03, 2010, 09:48:30 pm
Love it. I really like your film series. With what do you scan?

Fred, thanks.  I have been using an Epson V750 for scanning film.  It's okay, but not spectacular.  Certainly good enough for posting on the web, or for batch scanning at lower resolution to pick your selects.  And very handy for multiple formats.

However, I started experimenting with something this morning:  photographing my Kodachrome slides on a lightbox with my 5DMkII and 100mm macro lens.  The results are absolutely stunning compared to the V750.  The colors are dead on.  Once I get the workflow all sorted out, I will put up a post with details and samples.

Quick sample (Fuji Astia/Xpan):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5230607056_09b1c53f8e_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5230607056/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 04, 2010, 04:41:21 am
Fred, thanks.  I have been using an Epson V750 for scanning film.  It's okay, but not spectacular.  Certainly good enough for posting on the web, or for batch scanning at lower resolution to pick your selects.  And very handy for multiple formats.

However, I started experimenting with something this morning:  photographing my Kodachrome slides on a lightbox with my 5DMkII and 100mm macro lens.  The results are absolutely stunning compared to the V750.  The colors are dead on.  Once I get the workflow all sorted out, I will put up a post with details and samples.

Quick sample (Fuji Astia/Xpan):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5230607056_09b1c53f8e_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5230607056/)




Hi Toke

Great minds think alike.

That's exactly what I did with my 6x6 trannies that I couldn't scan. Used the D700 and 105 Micro Nikkor to great effect. Just cut a mask within a large black cardboard sheet and placed it over the slide taped to the lightbox. Perfect. The originals were Ektachrome.

I wish I'd kept my Durst: it was wall-mounted and would have been a cinch to convert to copy stand! I always did say that as soon as I dump something I end up wishing I had not; space is the problem. Also, I really, really don't need two cars, either, so it's a somewhat of a flawed logic...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on December 04, 2010, 05:16:43 am
Well, I think you got it.
Not a long time ago, I was having a coffee (bars are my personal training school) with the owner of a company that do huge enlargements for cities urbanism projects and I asked him about the scanning and guess what? they use exactly the same approach as Claire is experimenting.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 04, 2010, 11:08:08 am
Fred

I like some (few) coffee shops/bars too, but the ones I find are not thriving, thrusting, throbbing hives of creative conversation. Rather, they are small and 'hanging on by the skin of their teeth' family operations feeling the hole in the Spanish economy bigtime. I remember having lunches in my local one a couple of years ago and it was full, every time, of local workmen having their coffee and cognac. Yesterday, I was the only eater. Nobody was propping up the bar for most of the meal. I'm starting to get a conscience about being able to buy a meal!

As a prelude to being a shadow of my former self, here's a shot of a young lady cooling off on my terrace one day.

I can't shoot that shot anymore, with anyone. The wooden door, despite repeated varnishing with marine varnish every year, finally rotted. We had two joinery companies come to quote for a replacement - not one came back after taking the measurements (the door, not the girl, she was long gone), including the firm that made the original one for us. So, in frustration, we had it walled up. The other side of the terrace is still as per original one, but it just shows you how much of a killer direct weather can be. I would hate to live on the shoreline; need a new everything every five years! Just like one of Toke's boats, come to think of it.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 04, 2010, 06:58:59 pm

About Claire's boats. Yeah, all that is unfair! I imagine her, with the dog and the 35mm film exotic camera, and the most dramatic is that she probably wears a bathing suit because the beaches are just on the corner and the average temperature never goes down to 20 celcius grades.

If it makes you feel any better, I usually wear long pants, long sleeves and a hat to protect my skin from the sun (and mosquitos sometimes).

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/3649643469_2d662e84fb_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/3649643469/) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3413/3650446024_9b8222d364_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/3650446024/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 05, 2010, 05:08:57 am
"If it makes you feel any better, I usually wear long pants, long sleeves and a hat to protect my skin from the sun (and mosquitos sometimes)."

And she kills fish! I only eat them.

Toke, you must post a proper self-portrait some time; seems like Cindy Sherman would have very strong competition...!

Fred, I watched Sky News for some minutes this morning and the weather report said still warm in the Med... where are these people looking? It's freezing! There was snow up on Tomir, the mountain behind Pollensa, and I had lunch looking at a hailstorm the other day. I do believe that weather people just read a lot.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Morris Taub on December 05, 2010, 07:30:44 am
Fred, thanks.  I have been using an Epson V750 for scanning film.  It's okay, but not spectacular.  Certainly good enough for posting on the web, or for batch scanning at lower resolution to pick your selects.  And very handy for multiple formats.

However, I started experimenting with something this morning:  photographing my Kodachrome slides on a lightbox with my 5DMkII and 100mm macro lens.  The results are absolutely stunning compared to the V750.  The colors are dead on.  Once I get the workflow all sorted out, I will put up a post with details and samples.

Quick sample (Fuji Astia/Xpan):
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5230607056_09b1c53f8e_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5230607056/)

this may be a silly question, but i wonder what kind of lightbox you use...i mean i've read about this way of duping neg's and slides, so I wonder, a lightbox with what kind of light source as a minimum?...or can it be any kind of box, translucent plastic/glass back lit with a bulb?...something i can even make at home?...

ah, and here's a b&w conversion i did recently...fabulous tree near home...



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 05, 2010, 09:53:24 am
this may be a silly question, but i wonder what kind of lightbox you use...i mean i've read about this way of duping neg's and slides, so I wonder, a lightbox with what kind of light source as a minimum?...or can it be any kind of box, translucent plastic/glass back lit with a bulb?...something i can even make at home?...

ah, and here's a b&w conversion i did recently...fabulous tree near home...


Not a silly question at all.  I use this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194987-REG/Hakuba_KLV_5700_5_x_7_Lightviewer.html

It has a 5000K bulb and it is a very even light source.  Compact, slim design, comes with a nice neoprene case.  I give it two thumbs up.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 05, 2010, 11:26:02 am
I imagine her, with the dog and the 35mm film exotic camera, and the most dramatic is that she probably wears a bathing suit because the beaches are just on the corner and the average temperature never goes down to 20 celcius grades.

And then she goes and adds to the illusion by being handy with a flyrod too..I don't know if anybody here has fished with the "long rod" or fished at all for that matter, but watching a woman flycasting is just beautifull. There is a fluidity and gracefullness in the rythm of their casting that comes naturally to the fairer species.   
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 05, 2010, 12:49:00 pm
And then she goes and adds to the illusion by being handy with a flyrod too..I don't know if anybody here has fished with the "long rod" or fished at all for that matter, but watching a woman flycasting is just beautifull. There is a fluidity and gracefullness in the rythm of their casting that comes naturally to the fairer species.   



Riann, not just when they fish - for real fish (which, unfortunately, has escaped me); have you watched the skilled ones walk and dance when they fish for something else? That's really something else - makes you happy even just watching as the useless bystander.

Regarding the question about lightboxes. I have, and still use, a Kodak Transparency Viewer Model 3 which came with daylight tubes. I once bought a portable model, from some other maker, that looks like a Samsonite briefcase. It was expensive, uses a single bulb or tube, I think I remember (so could never illuminate evenly), and sucks. For this to work with few problems you have to get correct colour temperature for the job: viewing transparencies meant daylight temp. It's also a good way of quick proofing if you buy LF film formats, but beware that you usually end up using only a section of the copy camera's format... sort of defeats the original large format concept for anything other than web or proofing. In fact, 6x6 comes off worse than 6x7 or, obviously, 6x9 which does best. Don't think I'd want to try it for copying 35mm originals, though; asking a lot from camera/box alignment, should you have no dedicated copy stand.

Have fun!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 05, 2010, 01:14:23 pm
Riann, not just when they fish - for real fish (which, unfortunately, has escaped me); have you watched the skilled ones walk and dance when they fish for something else? That's really something else - makes you happy even just watching as the useless bystander.
Rob C

Yeah..I could stare for hours and have done so.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 05, 2010, 05:34:20 pm
And then she goes and adds to the illusion by being handy with a flyrod too..I don't know if anybody here has fished with the "long rod" or fished at all for that matter, but watching a woman flycasting is just beautifull. There is a fluidity and gracefullness in the rythm of their casting that comes naturally to the fairer species.   

It gets worse.  I tie my own flies too.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/3795438100_b5215bccd3_z.jpg?zz=1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/3795438100/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Morris Taub on December 05, 2010, 07:36:07 pm
Not a silly question at all.  I use this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194987-REG/Hakuba_KLV_5700_5_x_7_Lightviewer.html

It has a 5000K bulb and it is a very even light source.  Compact, slim design, comes with a nice neoprene case.  I give it two thumbs up.

thanks tg...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 05, 2010, 07:48:05 pm
About the lightbox, yes, Claire, if you could find an old MF film camera, the guys I was talking to told me that they used this macro technique with MF film in lightbox and that was amazing. A portable MF camera like this one: http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/06/17/the-fuji-gf670-film-camera-review-medium-format-lives/
if you like to walk easy.

Actually, the next camera on my list is a Mamiya 7 with the 43mm and 65mm lenses.  It's even lighter than the Fuji, and has stellar interchangeable lenses.  Then after that, perhaps a Hasselblad Flexbody might be fun.  Or a small view camera that uses roll film backs - that might be a better choice.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 06, 2010, 04:05:48 am
It gets worse.  I tie my own flies too.




That's nothing: I tie my own shoe laces! You're playing with the big boys here, you know.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Morris Taub on December 06, 2010, 04:51:11 am
Not a silly question at all.  I use this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/194987-REG/Hakuba_KLV_5700_5_x_7_Lightviewer.html

It has a 5000K bulb and it is a very even light source.  Compact, slim design, comes with a nice neoprene case.  I give it two thumbs up.

oh, what about how you keep the film flat...do you have film holders or something to keep the film plane parallel to the light box?...

I've been interested in this method for a while now...I mean i read an article on scanning in a french mag (found the issue this morning), Reponses Photo/march 2010 issue, and one alternative to scanners was using a digital cam with a macro lens...they recommended a 60mm in their article...I'm thinking i may even hunt down a relatively inexpensive manual focus ai-s macro for my D700...in their article they use a slide duplication thing to shoot on, something called a Multiblitz...what also intrigues is their idea about bracketing a b&w neg and then using what you need off of the files to print what you need or to create the new digital file...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 06, 2010, 05:05:20 am
oh, what about how you keep the film flat...do you have film holders or something to keep the film plane parallel to the light box?...


for 35mm film, I am using an old Beseler negative carrier from an enlarger, with little bits of blue painters tape.  For the Xpan slide, I just used the blue tape to tape it down to the lightbox, but I will probably make some kind of mask.  I saw something on RFF where a guy used that fridge magnet material to make a mask and it worked great, so I may try that.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 06, 2010, 05:52:34 am
for 35mm film, I am using an old Beseler negative carrier from an enlarger, with little bits of blue painters tape.  For the Xpan slide, I just used the blue tape to tape it down to the lightbox, but I will probably make some kind of mask.  I saw something on RFF where a guy used that fridge magnet material to make a mask and it worked great, so I may try that.


A large black card mask to cover the rest of the lightbox is essential; if not, you are just shooting into the light, not digital's best side. Also, keep the ambient light switched off; film surfaces reflect light too, as well as transmit!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Morris Taub on December 06, 2010, 10:37:37 am

A large black card mask to cover the rest of the lightbox is essential; if not, you are just shooting into the light, not digital's best side. Also, keep the ambient light switched off; film surfaces reflect light too, as well as transmit!

Rob C

ok, tg, rob, thanks for all the good advice...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 06, 2010, 12:04:05 pm
It gets worse.  I tie my own flies too.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/3795438100_b5215bccd3_z.jpg?zz=1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/3795438100/)

OK Toke enough now, have some compassion please.

Your fly picture brings up a question on my side, having been a rather good flytier in my previous life ( wrote articles for national publications etc and what nots) there seems to be an opportunity for photographing them- well I would need to tie new ones of course as the ones I have are riddled with fishmoths. Would seem easier than the damn insects that are in perpetual motion but would throw a spanner in the works as there would then be two spheres of "creativity" unleashed onto the unsuspecting world and viewer.     
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 06, 2010, 01:20:06 pm
OK Toke enough now, have some compassion please.

Your fly picture brings up a question on my side, having been a rather good flytier in my previous life ( wrote articles for national publications etc and what nots) there seems to be an opportunity for photographing them- well I would need to tie new ones of course as the ones I have are riddled with fishmoths. Would seem easier than the damn insects that are in perpetual motion but would throw a spanner in the works as there would then be two spheres of "creativity" unleashed onto the unsuspecting world and viewer.     
From Toke's example I'd say it looks like a very promising new genre. I say that as one whose interest in fish and lures is limited to what lands on my dinner plate.

We've already got threads here on Clouds, Rocks, and Trees, so why not one on Photographer-built Flies?

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 06, 2010, 02:09:58 pm
From Toke's example I'd say it looks like a very promising new genre. I say that as one whose interest in fish and lures is limited to what lands on my dinner plate.We've already got threads here on Clouds, Rocks, and Trees, so why not one on Photographer-built Flies?

Eric



Make sure that the fly has been de-hooked, then, before you eat!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 06, 2010, 02:46:45 pm
Okay, another one especially for Toke, our resident sailor.

Location, location, location: Bal Harbour, eat your heart out!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on December 06, 2010, 03:38:14 pm
Two impressions from my recent Chicago river walk, Dec 4th, the day of the first snow in 2010:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on December 06, 2010, 05:36:33 pm
Two impressions from my recent Chicago river walk, Dec 4th, the day of the first snow in 2010:


I really don't understand this thread, but I do like your images. They are dynamic.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 06, 2010, 06:44:43 pm
I really don't understand this thread, but I do like your images. They are dynamic.

JMR
My take on the thread is that Rob C wanted a place where we can post images we want to show others, but where we do NOT want suggestions for improvement. Sort of a "critique-free zone." I find the images and the comments relaxed and informal, with no sense of competition or of "how do I make it better?" I find the spontaneity in this thread quite refreshing.

Now as to the question of which is better, Canon or Nikon, or how many pixels can sit on the head of a pin, or how many more stops of DR a DSLR has than an MFDB, you'll have to look at other threads.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on December 07, 2010, 12:18:53 am
My take on the thread is that Rob C wanted a place where we can post images we want to show others, but where we do NOT want suggestions for improvement. Sort of a "critique-free zone." I find the images and the comments relaxed and informal, with no sense of competition or of "how do I make it better?" I find the spontaneity in this thread quite refreshing.

Now as to the question of which is better, Canon or Nikon, or how many pixels can sit on the head of a pin, or how many more stops of DR a DSLR has than an MFDB, you'll have to look at other threads.

Eric
Thanks Eric. Pretty much agree with your comments. However, I thought the coffee corner was for that. No matter, maybe I will post my personal likes, even if noone else likes them!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 07, 2010, 05:59:33 am
Okay, another one especially for Toke, our resident sailor.

Location, location, location: Bal Harbour, eat your heart out!

;-)

Rob C

I love this photo Rob!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 07, 2010, 06:41:18 am
Okay, another one especially for Toke, our resident sailor.

Location, location, location: Bal Harbour, eat your heart out!

;-)

Rob C

Just lovely.  To be correct, though, I'm not a sailor, don't know the first thing about sailing.  My vessels are either powered by Yamaha, or oars.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 07, 2010, 06:44:05 am
The official language of Miami:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5239445061_20fbeea5e2_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5239445061/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 07, 2010, 10:47:04 am
Thanks Eric. Pretty much agree with your comments. However, I thought the coffee corner was for that. No matter, maybe I will post my personal likes, even if noone else likes them!
It's OK to post your personal likes here, John, because "I like it" isn't a critique, it's an appreciation.

Besides, this is a great thread for showing Claire's always fascinating images!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 07, 2010, 03:34:03 pm
Thank you Eric!

Everyone, pull up a chair and stay a while, won't you?
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5238994928_34d1a92e97_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5238994928/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 07, 2010, 04:07:52 pm
Thank you Eric!

Everyone, pull up a chair and stay a while, won't you?
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5238994928_34d1a92e97_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5238994928/)
Love it!!!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 07, 2010, 05:23:10 pm
Toke, your eye is too good for this slot.

Sailing. My cousin served on the Ark Royal (UK aircraft carrier) and he was a sailor...  never heard him say they had sails; maybe Nelson?

Worse, he was also a saturation diver later on. My cousin, not Nelson. Even worse yet: he (the cousin) laughed out loud when he saw my Submariner. That really depressed. Apparently, they aren't good enough for real divers. Rolexes, not sails.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 07, 2010, 05:36:39 pm
Even worse yet: he (the cousin) laughed out loud when he saw my Submariner. That really depressed. Apparently, they aren't good enough for real divers.

My Better Half loves his Submariner.  I don't think he dives with it though.  He thought I should have a "real" watch too, so he got me a pretty Lady Datejust.  It is positively the worst watch I have ever owned.  Whenever he asks me what time it is I tell him I have no idea.

I miss my old Mickey Mouse watch.  That kept good time.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 08, 2010, 12:36:20 am
Rock pool inhabitant.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 08, 2010, 04:20:24 am
My Better Half loves his Submariner.  I don't think he dives with it though.  He thought I should have a "real" watch too, so he got me a pretty Lady Datejust.  It is positively the worst watch I have ever owned.  Whenever he asks me what time it is I tell him I have no idea.

I miss my old Mickey Mouse watch.  That kept good time.


Heysoos Toke, we must be related! My wife had one too and our daughter now wears it. The trouble with Ann's was that she didn't wear it all day - she liked the sense of freedom - so it kept running out of puff and had to be restarted. The trouble with both watches is that they require regular servicing to keep them waterproof as advertised, and here, that means around three months separation from them.

Regarding our kid, she teaches, and one day a young boy came up to her in class and asked if she was wearing a Rolex. When she said yes, he told her he knew people that would kill her to steal it. Great incentive both to having such an item and/or wearing it.

Our next door neighbour's wife has one too, and she remarked that she'd never have another: trouble with it all its life so far. The practical problem with the girl one is that its very difficult to tell which is the minute hand and which the second; you have to pause, focus, and then guess!

I bought mine in '72 or '73 for the simple reason that I thought it the most beautiful bit of watch design I'd ever seen and also because I loved the sea and worked near or in it a lot. These days, if I have to go to the Big Smoke to buy anything, I go there watchless. Why die for a watch?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on December 08, 2010, 11:06:09 am

... The trouble with both watches is that they require regular servicing to keep them waterproof as advertised, and here, that means around three months separation from them... he knew people that would kill her to steal it… Why die for a watch?

You see, being rich is overrated. Only a constant stream of tax breaks can make life less miserable for the poor rich folks.   ;)

P.S. Not directed at you Rob
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 08, 2010, 12:02:19 pm

The practical problem with the girl one is that its very difficult to tell which is the minute hand and which the second; you have to pause, focus, and then guess!


True.  The Mickey Mouse watch was much easier - the hands had actual hands with big white gloves on them, very easy to see.  ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 08, 2010, 12:03:44 pm
Rock pool inhabitant.

Fascinating critters, these little crabs that shack up in other critters discarded homes.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 08, 2010, 12:33:21 pm
Fascinating critters, these little crabs that shack up in other critters discarded homes.
They're the original "Freegans."
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 08, 2010, 02:38:40 pm
They're the original "Freegans."


Is that the US version of squatters?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 08, 2010, 02:42:01 pm
You see, being rich is overrated. Only a constant stream of tax breaks can make life less miserable for the poor rich folks.   ;)

P.S. Not directed at you Rob


Trust me, Slobodan, I'd be delighted if it could be aimed at me and deserved!

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 08, 2010, 03:47:58 pm

Is that the US version of squatters?

Rob C
Sort of, with political overtones. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Freeganism:

Quote
Freeganism is an anti-consumerist lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources.

Freegans "embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed."[1] The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters, known as 'dumpster diving'. Freegans salvage the food for political reasons, rather than out of need.[2][3]

The word "freegan" is a portmanteau of "free" and "vegan".[4] Freeganism started in the mid 1960s, out of the antiglobalization and environmentalist movements. The movement also has elements of Diggers, an anarchist street theater group based in Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco in the 1960s, that gave away rescued food.[4]

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on December 08, 2010, 04:32:44 pm
I love this thread, good discussions and fine pics  8)

And to answer Tokengirl:

No chair for me, I prefer the couch  ;)
(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201007/PEGA8500080520100719/940110356_ExaTP-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201007/12785638_NiW38#940110356_ExaTP-A-LB)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201007/PEGA8500080420100719/941467825_AiDsn-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201007/12785638_NiW38#941467825_AiDsn-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 08, 2010, 05:31:39 pm
I love this thread, too. You never know what's going to show up next!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 08, 2010, 06:15:59 pm
You never know what's going to show up next!

Indeed.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5244232059_d47f95c166_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5244232059/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 08, 2010, 06:49:40 pm
Exactly!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on December 08, 2010, 07:01:21 pm
Tis the season…

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TJa0Q-opGeI/AAAAAAAAAms/mCbPnnNPkB4/s1600/santa.jpg)

Santa Homer

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on December 09, 2010, 01:29:30 am
Indeed.

disgusting, I love it  :D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on December 09, 2010, 03:55:54 am
disgusting, I love it  :D
Then you'll really like this (not mine, alas, so I'm probably breaking a rule).

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 09, 2010, 04:15:26 am
Now I underdstand why Toke's watch doesn't function well.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 09, 2010, 01:00:59 pm
Tis the season…
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TJa0Q-opGeI/AAAAAAAAAms/mCbPnnNPkB4/s1600/santa.jpg)
Santa Homer
Cheers,

Must say, I do not feel any festive cheer with this..thank heavens it is not in B&W, I'd probably start crying if it was.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 09, 2010, 01:12:02 pm
Must say, I do not feel any festive cheer with this..thank heavens it is not in B&W, I'd probably start crying if it was.




I quite understand. You're getting feedback from the plants.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 09, 2010, 01:29:32 pm
I quite understand. You're getting feedback from the plants.
Rob C

It's the effort of trying to brighten up a sad ( for me) environment with makeshift Christmas props and dangling wires that I think gets to me Rob. Strange ( or maybe not) how a picture can jolt a response from your insides, purely because of personal experience.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 09, 2010, 02:22:38 pm
It's the effort of trying to brighten up a sad ( for me) environment with makeshift Christmas props and dangling wires that I think gets to me Rob. Strange ( or maybe not) how a picture can jolt a response from your insides, purely because of personal experience.


Yep, and just goes to prove that music and pictures have a lot in common, too. Both can wrench your guts with memory - think 'our song' when there's no longer any 'our'.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 12, 2010, 07:30:52 pm
Tis the season…

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TJa0Q-opGeI/AAAAAAAAAms/mCbPnnNPkB4/s1600/santa.jpg)

Santa Homer

Cheers,

A little Christmas spirit is better than none.  I suspect Homer has plenty when it's all said and done.  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 12, 2010, 07:31:26 pm
Back to the sea, again.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5282/5255544629_1143d313f1_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5255544629/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on December 12, 2010, 08:44:40 pm
Christmas in Australia is in the middle of summer. It's more likely to around 35°C/95°F than freezing cold. There is more likely to be bushfires than blizzards. Christmas 2001…

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TQVv007_qxI/AAAAAAAAA1U/n2qB4vVPIgs/s1600/pool.jpg)

It's a little hard to take things Christmas too seriously when you're being bombarded with traditional white Christmas messages.

Anyway a grander Santa.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TQV5rrjTskI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/WxnjqTJc0GY/s1600/santa.jpg)

Cheers,





Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 14, 2010, 03:15:38 pm
Not a drop of sea in sight, but it is an island...

During a recce for a shoot in Cyprus; happy snap of wife as assistant/stand-in. A patient lady.

Slobodan, don't tell me you shot the same little church....?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on December 14, 2010, 04:04:58 pm
Not a drop of sea in sight, but it is an island...

During a recce for a shoot in Cyprus; happy snap of wife as assistant/stand-in. A patient lady.

Slobodan, don't tell me you shot the same little church....?

;-)

Rob C

Ha, ha… no, not this time… my "patient ladies" (wife and daughter) preferred to stay by the water:
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 15, 2010, 04:54:41 am
Hi Slobodan

Nice shot of the family - I have very few along those lines, a case of the shoemakers children having to go barefoot! My wife really hated being photographed, and I found it very awkward too, standing on the wrong side of the camera. Our kids were much more used to it, as both were used as child models for local department stores, from time to time. However, I do have a lot of shots of both standing in front of a white roll holding up tickets saying 4, 4.5, 5.6, 6.3, 8 etc. etc. all the way to 32! The reason was that flash meters were not so common back then, and the metering unit I did have at the time, a huge aluminium Bowens box, was remarkable inaccurate and prone to directional holding errors. It didn't matter much with b/w which was the main studio medium for me then, and a stretched pair of arms a close enough measure for flash/subject distance (I actually used a long knotted string, and one knot was for FP3/4 and the other for TXP 120; the model held the knot to her chin, the other end of the string was attached to the flash stand - always accurate, standard setting for standard shots), but transparencies were another matter altogether with much testing required prior to shoots. That was also why I used the 'blad system indoors for colour: E6 and its earier manifestations could be processed and evaluated within hours, but my favourite, Kodachrome, took weeks! I never did use Kodachrome in 120, but someone who did has told me that it was very unreliable - probably why it went back off the market very quickly after being reintroduced.

Pools. It used to be that when I lived in Scotland, images of nice pools in foreign parts were very emotive, evocative things; having lived close to them for almost thirty years now, they seldom inspire... how familiarity can deaden perception, when the pools really remain the same, and it's us who change... and boy, how we change in thirty years. Where the hell do they go, those years? Can I have mine back, please?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 15, 2010, 07:15:26 am
Christmas in Australia is in the middle of summer. It's more likely to around 35°C/95°F than freezing cold. There is more likely to be bushfires than blizzards. Christmas 2001…

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TQVv007_qxI/AAAAAAAAA1U/n2qB4vVPIgs/s1600/pool.jpg)

Looks like a typical Christmas day in South Africa too.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 15, 2010, 10:15:06 am
Observation or self-delusion?

On seeing the above posted shot of the little church in Cyprus, here in LuLa, I got the immediate impression that it was darker than the original same size psd. ultimately derived from the original scan, when it's seen on the same monitor, but via the other computer that only does pictures and isn't 'net connected. They share the monitor via a splitter and I have tried switching rapidly from the one to the other at the same size and I feel I can spot the differences each time.

Does this imply that the same, calibrated monitor, is also affected by the difference in graphic cards within different computers, and/or that jpegs made at 72 and at max. quality setting also fail in some important respects, even at such small sizes? Maybe the question should be: calibration, does it change the monitor screen itself or the graphic card, in which case, should I try to calibrate using both computers, or would that just eff the whole thing up for both computers?

If that's so, there seems grim hope for web photography presentation... I still feel it's my fault somewhere along the line, but don't know where.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on December 15, 2010, 10:40:26 am
Observation or self-delusion?

On seeing the above posted shot of the little church in Cyprus, here in LuLa, I got the immediate impression that it was darker than the original same size psd. ultimately derived from the original scan, when it's seen on the same monitor, but via the other computer that only does pictures and isn't 'net connected. They share the monitor via a splitter and I have tried switching rapidly from the one to the other at the same size and I feel I can spot the differences each time.

Does this imply that the same, calibrated monitor, is also affected by the difference in graphic cards within different computers, and/or that jpegs made at 72 and at max. quality setting also fail in some important respects, even at such small sizes? Maybe the question should be: calibration, does it change the monitor screen itself or the graphic card, in which case, should I try to calibrate using both computers, or would that just eff the whole thing up for both computers?

If that's so, there seems grim hope for web photography presentation... I still feel it's my fault somewhere along the line, but don't know where.

Rob C
Hi Rob, your image is perfectly profiled for the web as it is in sRGB.

Calibrated monitor is only for you to work. Then, once in the web, there are browser that take the profiles like Firefox and others that do not like Internet explorer. Then, the viewer would also have to have a profiled monitor to see exactly the same results. And then a wide gamut monitor etc...In short, this is important if you work with other mediums like your printer for example. Once you send any image on the web it escapes to your control.

In Photoshop, your PSD might be setted to a different profile that could be Adobe RGB for ex. You need to simulate the convertions in order to have a clear view (a preview) of the results. For example, Pro Photo is a wider space and converted to the reduced srgb you might find some surprises. Or if you work with quadrichromy it is particularly important.

This task can be done from the top menu in VIEW / PROOF SETUPS and choose CUSTOM. then you need to elect a profile and then simulate with the action Control+Y then desimulate with the same action.
You will see the info switch where the image's title is. Control+Y, it will get the profile elected, another Control+y it will be back to the original.

Make sure first your original is first in RGB color space from top menu: IMAGE / MODE, then try what I explained above.

Also, this is not very fortunate to directly work final images from a PSD file. This is due to the particular structure of Photoshop and would be too long to explain here, just keep in mind that once you have multi-layers, you need to get a 1 layer tiff as a master, specially if you are using complex guides division, it is absolutly important to get a flatten non destructed image first at the end of the process. (don't ask for more explainations because it would be a torture for me to explain the all issues involved in english, but for the curious there is extensive material on line), just keep in mind to have one tiff from any psd.
This image will have to be converted to the correct bit/chanel that you also find in IMAGE / MODE, in your case for the web it has to be a 8 bits.

Good luck.

Cheers.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 15, 2010, 12:06:17 pm
Rob,

I wish you would post some of your "family f-stop" series. The image of your wife in front of the white church I find very compelling, even though her face is almost invisible.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 15, 2010, 03:40:15 pm
Rob,

I wish you would post some of your "family f-stop" series. The image of your wife in front of the white church I find very compelling, even though her face is almost invisible.

Eric


Hi Eric

I think I still have a couple of my daughter, standing against the paper roll in the second studio (alongside the house) which I had built after having let the first one go when studio work fell away... obviously, it came back, proving yet again, Sod's Law. Or possibly the Law of Diminishing Returns, as only about eight years later we left the country, just like Elvis his building.

But I couldn't post them; she's a mother and teacher now, and wouldn't appreciate being a world star in her little girl red dressing gown!



Fred

Madre de Dios, you've lost me! You know how long it took me to learn how to follow the Weebly instructions! But I certainly never knew that it was better to go to jpegs from Tif files. The only time I use them (Tif) is going from Nikon Capture into Photoshop. It's my idea, based on absolutely nothing (like so many of my best ideas), that Photoshop would work best with its own psd files...

I wonder why some people seem to take to all that stuff like ducks to water, and others, like me, panic into freeze mode?

Another strange one tonight. It's been so cold, and the wood seems to be putting out no heat whatsoever, so I remembered the little notebook my family gave me, and connected it up via long wires from the office to the sitting room and took up the couch potato posture and found all sorts of Youtube rock'n'roll that's nothing like the stuff on the other computer's Favourites. Anyway, the odd thing was that I couldn't log in to LuLa. I raised it and could read, but it just wouldn't take my identity checks, which is okay, but the odd thing concerns the pic of my wife and that little church: it wasn't to be found in my post. The other shots in the thread are there, but mine, no. Strange - but I already told you about the two black films at Aphrodite's Bithplace. Cyprus - unsettling vibes. But it is there on this normal computer.

The snow was down to about 600 metres today. No wonder it's cold. Global warmning, obviously. I understand the reason: the melting ice is creeping southwards. That's another good idea of mine, as good as all the rest, I guess. Ha, guess!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 16, 2010, 04:23:39 am
Thank you, Fred; I have copied this out and put it into the computer in preparation to printing it!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 16, 2010, 11:49:53 am
Thank you, Fred; I have copied this out and put it into the computer in preparation to printing it!

Rob C
Be sure to print it in Prophoto.   ;)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 16, 2010, 01:21:29 pm
I can see that I shall have to do something to ground this conversation...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 17, 2010, 08:07:05 am
Be sure to print it in Prophoto.   ;)

Eric

LOL!  :D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 17, 2010, 08:13:15 am
While we were out fishing last weekend, we stopped at a sandbar at low tide so that I could use up the last of the Kodachrome.  My Better Half had custody of the G10 - that little camera does perform admirably when set in Full Idiot mode.


(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5257192607_34a449e404_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5257192607/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 17, 2010, 01:53:34 pm
Waiting to launch.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 17, 2010, 04:40:46 pm
While we were out fishing last weekend, we stopped at a sandbar at low tide so that I could use up the last of the Kodachrome.  My Better Half had custody of the G10 - that little camera does perform admirably when set in Full Idiot mode.


(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5257192607_34a449e404_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5257192607/)



Hey, Full Idiot did pretty well!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 17, 2010, 04:48:30 pm
Lost for anything to do tonight (tonite), other than Pshop, that I can't face again right now, I watched, for the seventh time (at least) an ancient DVD on St Ansel. I was comforted to learn (yet again - I forget easily) that he was pretty cash-strapped until he was around seventy, which I found tremendously encouraging.

Yet, even there, it took somebody outwith photography to turn an archive into millions of bucks.

What is it with most of us people?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 17, 2010, 05:44:23 pm
Waiting to launch.

Love it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: feppe on December 18, 2010, 07:54:30 am
Others seem to be enjoying warmth, here's what Amsterdam looked like last night - very rare to get this much snow, and it is still there which is highly unusual.

Taken in Old Town (Red Light District) in Amsterdam. The towers in the background are Sint-Nicolaaskerk. Canon 550D, Sigma 14mm @ 10 sec f/8 (5 exposures stacked for 50 sec total exposure time).
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on December 18, 2010, 08:05:20 am
Others seem to be enjoying warmth, here's what Amsterdam looked like last night - very rare to get this much snow, and it is still there which is highly unusual.

Taken in Old Town (Red Light District) in Amsterdam. The towers in the background are Sint-Nicolaaskerk. Canon 550D, Sigma 14mm @ 10 sec f/8 (5 exposures stacked for 50 sec total exposure time).
Very nice indeed. Love it!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 18, 2010, 08:16:15 am
Others seem to be enjoying warmth, here's what Amsterdam looked like last night - very rare to get this much snow, and it is still there which is highly unusual.

The closest we get to snow here is the ice cubes we put in our drinks..I like your photo Harry. I can't even begin imagining how cold it must be to shoot in such conditions.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: feppe on December 18, 2010, 08:29:33 am
The closest we get to snow here is the ice cubes we put in our drinks..I like your photo Harry. I can't even begin imagining how cold it must be to shoot in such conditions.

Thanks Riaan and Fred!

I've always said winters are for editing (Bernard would probably disagree), but so much snow in Amsterdam is so unusual I couldn't pass on that opportunity. Might do some more shooting this afternoon with my E-PL1.

It's actually not that cold, last night was -1 Centigrade - still cold enough that operating a camera for long exposures without gloves becomes a bit awkward as you stop feeling your fingers :) Back in Finland where I'm from it can easily get to -20 and goes all the way below -30 a few times a winter, and you really don't want your fingers exposed.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on December 18, 2010, 10:19:13 am
… Taken in Old Town (Red Light District) in Amsterdam...

Lovely atmosphere and post-processing (I am assuming the sepia tone comes from it, not some combination of long exposures and weird white balance?).

Btw, last time I tried shooting architecture across a canal, while standing in the Red Light District and my back turned to the windows, one of the hard(on) working girls walked out and threatened to throw me and my camera into the canal  :D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: feppe on December 18, 2010, 11:37:21 am
Lovely atmosphere and post-processing (I am assuming the sepia tone comes from it, not some combination of long exposures and weird white balance?).

Btw, last time I tried shooting architecture across a canal, while standing in the Red Light District and my back turned to the windows, one of the hard(on) working girls walked out and threatened to throw me and my camera into the canal  :D

Thanks! It's post-processing. The original color shot is quite monochromatic, and has strong, deep yellow tint due to yellow/orange street lights. White-balancing such color shots "properly" yields a very strange and unnatural results. Even if one wants to go natural-looking color, there are usually several light sources with varying colors, so going black-and-white is often the best option.

You have to be very careful waving a camera around in the District. The closest windows are about 50 meters behind where I shot and pointed. It's a bit more relaxed these days when everybody has cameras, but even then I won't take pictures of the windows to respect everybody's privacy - and you'll definitely get in trouble if you do.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 18, 2010, 02:37:54 pm
Two very nice shots!

The snow one in Amsterdam is very atmospheric indeed, and the glass shot reminds me of the mood in one I did recently, and showed here, with a bunch of keys sticking out of a filing cabinet. It was b/w too, which adds that je ne sais quoi that's so nice to see.

I'm rather fond of close-up stuff with differential focusing... I should try it more often.

Rob C


Edit: no idea who's experiencing warmth: here in Mallorca it's freezing cold, and the problem is made worse by the breeze block walls: heat goes out in winter and in in summer.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 18, 2010, 02:52:02 pm
Thinking of warmth, and of how Mallorca should be, enclosed an early memory of my wife with one of her favourite species. It was a funny thing: I wouldn't go near the damn things, but she fed them all - never got bitten, despite a horses-owning friend telling her that they do indeed bite should they be feeling stroppy. Or just bored, which, apparently, they do become at times, which I find hardly surprising.

I never could read minds, not even that of a horse.

Rob C

Edit: hmmm, looks a bit reddish to me now. Oh well, doesn't really matter.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on December 18, 2010, 03:13:43 pm
The other day I was down at McNeill Bay (SE tip of Vancouver Island), looking across the Juan de Fuca Strait at the mountains in Washington, and the light just kept getting better and better.  Sometimes you get lucky.  Fifteen images in total, five sets of +1/0/-1, combined in Autopano Pro and finished in Lightroom.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5269777411_330ac2ec51_o.jpg)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on December 19, 2010, 12:02:29 pm
The other day I was down at McNeill Bay (SE tip of Vancouver Island), looking across the Juan de Fuca Strait at the mountains in Washington, and the light just kept getting better and better.  Sometimes you get lucky.  Fifteen images in total, five sets of +1/0/-1, combined in Autopano Pro and finished in Lightroom.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5089/5269777411_330ac2ec51_o.jpg)

Mike.
 The more I looked the better and better your seascape became, then I reread your caption and started to wonder if those were mountains in the sky or?  There are no mountains at all in this in this photo from a walk to the store yesterday.  Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on December 19, 2010, 09:38:30 pm
From my walk this morning:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5276023790_0717b9a214_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5276023790/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on December 20, 2010, 01:33:50 am
Nice to see those chairs all applauding the sun...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 02, 2011, 09:48:42 pm
Hasn't been anything here in a couple of weeks, so, to start off the new year...

Blowing Off the Peaks
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5318619150_db8635ebc3_o.jpg)
an HDR image of the Washington mountains from Victoria's south shore.

Waves Rolling in
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5318024529_b7bfb236d9_o.jpg)
Ross Bay, Victoria, BC
(made from 52 images combined using the LR Enfuse plugin - not the same as using a neutral density filter, but I like it for some things)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 02, 2011, 11:42:03 pm
Nice, Mike.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 03, 2011, 01:22:55 am
Thanks!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 03, 2011, 05:04:08 am
Great, we shouldn't let this great thread die  8)

We were at the beach yesterday (very good after some days with too much food and way too much to drink)

Here's some B&W's I took inbetween the showers:

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201101/PEGA7001238620110102/1144764657_MBy7g-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201101/15300407_MudJh#1144764657_MBy7g-A-LB)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201101/PEGA7001238320110102/1144764637_DSJxQ-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201101/15300407_MudJh#1144764637_DSJxQ-A-LB)

Happy New year everybody
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 03, 2011, 11:49:36 pm
Really like the first one although the second does have some nice clouds!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 05, 2011, 06:15:41 am
Man I'm glad the festive season is a thing of the past. I like the cloud pano Mike. Toke, I need to take one of those chairs of yours and go and sit, or perhaps even lie, somewhere on that beach for at least a day, with some of Mozambique's cheap rum as company. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 05, 2011, 11:39:14 am
And some pleasingly soporific music such as the 'Beach Boys Kokomo Soundtrack Cocktail' on youtube. I can seldom get these video links to youtube to work, so you'll have to key it in by yourself if interested... Not to be confused with the great old Gene and Eunice Ko Ko Mo. If you start with that one, it takes you to the Beach Boys one in a few minutes and thus you get two or three for the price of one! Don't say I don't look after you.

I also remember very clearly listening to Connie Francis singing Stupid Cupid on the same local coffee bar's Bal Ami jukebox. Yep, those were indeed years of golden youth, when hair grew thickly on the head so you'd never have the snow touching the scalp, oh yes, that was nice! A Coke or a hot orange or even a coffee on the table in front of you and the idiot behind emptying the ashtray into the hood of your duffle jacket. I enjoyed my late teens very much indeed. I refer to the years, of course; the other possibilities depend on how active (or realistic) your qualities of hindsight...

Some years ago on a visit to Scotland we were taken to the coast to see my bro'-in-lo's new boat. It was sleeting when we left the car - I had no hat, of course, as I only used to wear them to protect from the sun... ice on an unprotected bare head is something they should consider for torture sessions... no bumps, bruises or much of anything else to show. I think I thought the boat was nice, but can't remember much about that.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 05, 2011, 07:31:20 pm
I had a new friend follow me home from the camera shop today.  God help me.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5328073739_b31a9b0f3c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5328073739/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 05, 2011, 11:30:49 pm
Better keep him on a short leash. Have fun with him!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 06, 2011, 04:34:54 am
I had a new friend follow me home from the camera shop today.  God help me.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5328073739_b31a9b0f3c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5328073739/)



Hi, Toke

Congratulations! He might be one of my strays - I would love to have him back, but the plus side of losing him is that those scanners he needs are so expensive... But beware: turning those knurled knobs can be bad for your fingers if you do it too long at any one time! And remember, always put him on a pedestal, sorry, tripod, and mirror him up first! Unless you choose to flash him, that is.

In a fight, he's better than a club, if inclined to slip off his leash.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 06, 2011, 11:07:08 am
Congrats!  Looks like fun!!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 07, 2011, 03:19:04 pm
Don't think I've posted this one before but I do remember chatting about it in connection with it being a rather old Kodachrome of some kind that had been kept between glass or thin plastic since the 60s when it was shot. It had also suffered some discolouration in places, but since it's the only thing left from our honeymoon other than some 8mm shot on her Dad's old cine-camera and later put onto DVD, it's as good as I'm going to get!

Obviously more of the G.O.Ds syndrome...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 07, 2011, 06:13:32 pm
That's a fine image for Memory Lane, Rob. I hope you have a good print of it up somewhere.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 07, 2011, 06:50:47 pm
I like this - a sort of moody/mysterious/seductive glance...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 07, 2011, 06:51:45 pm
Now for something silly: typical Florida kitsch.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5329378623_5942c52e7d_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5329378623/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 08, 2011, 04:25:54 am
That's a fine image for Memory Lane, Rob. I hope you have a good print of it up somewhere.

Eric


No, I'm afraid I don't. I knew I had the image somewhere but didn't find it again until a few weeks ago, though I have memories of playing around with it when I worked in the industrial unit and had the colour lab at my disposal back around '64 - '65... I'm pretty sure it wasn't discoloured then!

I've been trying to remember if it was done with my Vito B or the Exakta with a 2.8/50 Tessar, though I sort of think it was the former since the first lens I had for the Exakta was a 135mm and I don't think this shot was with that - doubt I could have afforded it then. Also, the slight thickening of the arm leads me to think 50mm because in reality the arm was not like that at all. Well, neither of the arms were, of course.

Remember pre-set diaphragms? (Nothing to do with Kinsey.)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: jule on January 08, 2011, 04:34:16 am
We've had a lot of rain here lately...and consequently I have been taking some images from inside the car through wet windows. I think this one really captured the feel of part of our property.

Julie
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 08, 2011, 04:36:07 am
I like this - a sort of moody/mysterious/seductive glance...


Yes, and she was only twenty-one.

Love of my life.

However, the short hair vanished just as surprisingly as it had come - a mad impulse for the wedding. Before, it was Veronica Lake and afterwards approaching Jean Shrimpton, thank God! And our daughter, who is invisibly in the shot though neither of us knew it at the time, also kept and keeps it very long. When she (daughter) got her driving licence at seventeen the two, mother and daughter, were indistinguishable when driving the car - the way you could tell was that the daughter played the music too loudly and the mother not at all.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 08, 2011, 04:52:32 am
Rob, Nice picture from Scotland.

Crocodiles...I love them. When I was child I was dreaming to have a crocodile instead of a cat or a dog.  Might have lived in Egypt in another life.


I knew it! That's why you know too much about Cleopatra's love life and her attraction for those pesky Romans.

But, if you'd lived in Florida, it would have been the next best thing. It reminds me of Chuck Berry -much does - when he sang about swimming in Turtle Creek, all them snappers 'round his feet, sure was hard gettin' 'cross that thing, both hands holdin' his ding-a-ling-a-ling. Though that might have been the Delta. More G.O.Ds.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on January 08, 2011, 12:58:00 pm
Downunder our sculpture is on the big side . The big banana, the big trout, the big Ned Kelly etc.

The worst one however must be…

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ffdIOaF8Hrg/TSikQE-NrjI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/aamW6u7kWt8/s1600/big_potato.jpg)

Yes the Big Potato in Robertson home of Babe the cute little pig.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 08, 2011, 04:59:05 pm
I did something different today. I went to a bar that was having a jazz group on - I know the Cuban sax player a bit - and I took the D700 along. I had decided this morning to try it out with fixed shutter and diaphragm and with auto ISO, something that ran very agin the grain as I hate giving up control of anything.

I discovered two things: you can't photograph music, only musicians and instruments; there may be something to autofocus after all.

No idea if anthing worked, but I'll have a look at it all tomorrow.

At least it didn't cost me anything, so maybe that's three things I discovered today. No, four: some women, after a certain age, no longer use mirrors; tight don't suit when it's too tight over too much or too little. It is not the new black. Even if most of it was.

Rob C

EDIT:  To my surprise, the jazz stuff doesn't look too bad at all - should have used a faster shutter and a smaller stop, but that auto ISO does seem to be a pretty reliable technique. I'm doing it all in b/white, of course, and the ability to make up for lousy location lighting (to remove a friggin' dart board, even!) is rather handy.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 10, 2011, 04:33:43 pm
Having said which, for some reason or another I thought I'd post this one in its original colours -  more or less - everything kept changing so I've really no idea; the rest are being done in b/white which I think suits jazz much better. Apart from the fact that my HP does a nicer job in b/w than anything with reds...

For what it's worth: manual 1.8/50mm Nikkor at 125th or something like that, and f2.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 10, 2011, 05:01:19 pm
We've had a lot of rain here lately...and consequently I have been taking some images from inside the car through wet windows. I think this one really captured the feel of part of our property.

Julie


I love it.  I also love taking pictures through the car windshield when it's raining.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/3814260619_7b68182bfb_z.jpg?zz=1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/3814260619/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 10, 2011, 05:02:40 pm
Having said which, for some reason or another I thought I'd post this one in its original colours -  more or less - everything kept changing so I've really no idea; the rest are being done in b/white which I think suits jazz much better. Apart from the fact that my HP does a nicer job in b/w than anything with reds...

For what it's worth: manual 1.8/50mm Nikkor at 125th or something like that, and f2.

Rob C



Can't wait to see more of the series.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 10, 2011, 05:04:25 pm
Well, I made a better portrait of my new friend.  This time I used a "real camera" instead of my iPhone.  ;D

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5166/5338940203_230321e3f4_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5338940203/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 10, 2011, 08:21:46 pm
I love it.  I also love taking pictures through the car windshield when it's raining.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/3814260619_7b68182bfb_z.jpg?zz=1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/3814260619/)
I love this one, too. It's a great response to Julie's series.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 10, 2011, 09:21:38 pm
Quote
I love this one, too. It's a great response to Julie's series.

Eric

Me too!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 10, 2011, 10:53:04 pm
Enough with the rain through the window! :) How about some snow through the window?

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 11, 2011, 04:44:48 am
Slobodan, is that a sports bar?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 11, 2011, 04:50:20 am
I love it.  I also love taking pictures through the car windshield when it's raining.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/3814260619_7b68182bfb_z.jpg?zz=1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/3814260619/)



Toke, that window and rain is ART! What's it doing here embarrassing photographers?

Rob C


EDIT: I just realised the window is also steamed up! There's a story there you may want to tell us all about?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 11, 2011, 09:32:28 am
Slobodan, is that a sports bar?

Every bar in the US is a sports bar (o.k., probably an exaggeration, but not too much) :)

The place was actually quite packed, especially the bar part, where the majority of sport screens are, but I found this quiet and empty spot, as it better matched my mood that evening and the quiet, snow-falling atmosphere outside, on deserted and quite cold streets of an art-gallery district. And coincidentally, earlier that evening I was at a photography exhibition opening at the Catherine Edelman Gallery, and stood for a while in front of two Michael Kenna's snow landscapes there. I love Kenna, though I never understood why on Earth would someone shoot Hasselblad and then print no larger than 8x8"!?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 11, 2011, 01:21:49 pm
Every bar in the US is a sports bar (o.k., probably an exaggeration, but not too much) :)

The place was actually quite packed, especially the bar part, where the majority of sport screens are, but I found this quiet and empty spot, as it better matched my mood that evening and the quiet, snow-falling atmosphere outside, on deserted and quite cold streets of an art-gallery district. And coincidentally, earlier that evening I was at a photography exhibition opening at the Catherine Edelman Gallery, and stood for a while in front of two Michael Kenna's snow landscapes there. I love Kenna, though I never understood why on Earth would someone shoot Hasselblad and then print no larger than 8x8"!?


Because he used to use 35mm and never quite believed how good it could be. At least, that's my guess. Maybe some collectors think the prints are contacts of some sort?

Yes, I like his work quite a lot too; he had a thing he shot based on an old lace factory in France, I think it was, that I enjoyed very much. But then, how many long exposures can anyone take and stay ahead of the mythical curve before they all become part of the same blurry continuum?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 11, 2011, 05:55:53 pm
Can't wait to see more of the series.




Toke - framed to suit the shape of your new love. Nik goes Hass.

More or less the next shot on the roll (roll?).

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on January 11, 2011, 06:42:21 pm



Toke - framed to suit the shape of your new love. Nik goes Hass.

More or less the next shot on the roll (roll?).

Rob C
Very nice! like the blured keyboard guy and the direction look of the sax player that really work with the composition.
Well done Rob.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on January 11, 2011, 06:45:11 pm
Enough with the rain through the window! :) How about some snow through the window?


Like very much the tones of that picture Slobodan.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 11, 2011, 07:50:18 pm
Very nice! like the blured keyboard guy and the direction look of the sax player that really work with the composition.
Well done Rob.
I agree with Fred. One of your best, IMHO.

But did you get Russ's permission to crop it?  :D

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 11, 2011, 08:23:25 pm

Toke - framed to suit the shape of your new love. Nik goes Hass.


Yes!  Thank you, sir.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 12, 2011, 03:40:20 am
I agree with Fred. One of your best, IMHO.

But did you get Russ's permission to crop it?  :D

Eric



Eric, it was trimmed to please the lady; Russ would be the first to understand and to forgive!


Edit:  not to hog space here, the rest (only six selected) of the jazz afternoon shots are now up on the website. I can't figure out how to link directly to the zone they're in - I seem to display the general web address but not subsections of it as per the heading of LuLa above here, for example, so if anyone is interested, click on the The Biscuit Tin title shown on the Home page of the site, and when it comes up, scroll down to the bottom and there they are - no need to churn through the older stuff. Nothing spectacular - not young Jaggers! - but just an experiment in fixing one set aperture and shutter speed and putting the camera into auto ISO to control exposure. Rocket science, in short. ;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 13, 2011, 11:46:26 pm
At last, some normality has returned at the workplace, with the festive season being a thing of the past. No more working from five in the mornings till who knows what time at night. The ten hour working days now feel like a holiday.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 14, 2011, 10:27:30 am
Rob,

Let me try for a direct link, at least to the Biscuit Tin set:

http://www.roma57.com/the-biscuit-tin.html (http://www.roma57.com/the-biscuit-tin.html)

The Jazz series is from #91 through #95, starting on the next to bottom row of thumbnails. There's a lot of other good stuff there, too.

You haven't lost the touch, Rob! Keep on shootin'!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 14, 2011, 01:46:33 pm
Thanks Eric, I have Rob's site saved under my "favourites" allready though and visit at least every second day. Gallery 2 fascinates me but please don't tell him :) :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 14, 2011, 03:58:14 pm
Eric - where did you find the code to add after the .com part of the website address or is it a standard way of doing this?

Thanks for the kind remarks - I hope to do just that! As I took delivery of the new wheels last evening, and discovered today that the tyre pressure were nothing close to where they shold have been, I'm rather glad that I didn't do what I'd intended today, which was to go for a spin and try some pretty pictures of the new addition to my fold of one... Rusty is sitting in the forecourt, a huge emotional slap in my face - and when I went back to pick up some stuff I'd forgotten to take from it last evening I felt like a grave robber!

Riaan - thanks for your interest too; it's strange, but the first gallery was put together from what I thought the better shots, and then the second one when I realise it was all a bit bare (no pun etc.) and needed more pics. Since then, I've used up all that I felt worthwhile from the salvaged past and that means I have to do something... but anyway, that Gallery 2 is the one that holds your interest shows that the author probably doesn't always make the best editor!

Ciao -

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 14, 2011, 05:12:38 pm
Eric - where did you find the code to add after the .com part of the website address or is it a standard way of doing this?
I went to your website, clicked on the "Biscuit Tin" link, and scrolled down to the jazz pix. I then copied the link from my browser's address bar and pasted it into the LuLa forum's "add-a-hyperlink" box. And Bob's yer uncle.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 14, 2011, 05:18:21 pm
... that Gallery 2 is the one that holds your interest shows that the author probably doesn't always make the best editor!
Ain't it the truth, Rob.
Whenever I go on a big trip or a big shoot, I come back with a lot of images and right away I pick "the best" for processing.

Often I go back to the unsorted bunch from a shoot/trip two or three years later and go through them again. Then I usually end up spending much time muttering to myself either "Why the H didn't I choose that one; it's really good!" or else "Why the H did I choose that one; it's a real loser and the one right next to it is loads better."

That's why I never throw a negative or a raw file away.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 15, 2011, 03:35:02 am
I went to your website, clicked on the "Biscuit Tin" link, and scrolled down to the jazz pix. I then copied the link from my browser's address bar and pasted it into the LuLa forum's "add-a-hyperlink" box. And Bob's yer uncle.

Eric


Thanks Eric; the odd thing is that looking at my own address bar after having posted the previous message, I do indeed see the bits of address that followed the .com part. I can't understand that: I was aware that such showed up on other sites, but it didn't seem visible for my own when attempting to create links for my family. I tell you, electronics and Rob C are not a good mix. Ever. Makes me feel a total chump!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 15, 2011, 03:48:52 am
Ain't it the truth, Rob.
Whenever I go on a big trip or a big shoot, I come back with a lot of images and right away I pick "the best" for processing.

Often I go back to the unsorted bunch from a shoot/trip two or three years later and go through them again. Then I usually end up spending much time muttering to myself either "Why the H didn't I choose that one; it's really good!" or else "Why the H did I choose that one; it's a real loser and the one right next to it is loads better."

That's why I never throw a negative or a raw file away. Eric


And that's why I regret having sold off to clients or otherwise destroyed all of my fashion/advertising images before leaving Britain for life here. Okay, a lot of bulk to manage, and there wasn't any understanding of the possibility of 'art' photography coming out from dead negs and trannies, but even so... brings to mind a religious quotation that impressed me once, from the lips of a Scottish minister living/working in India when preaching about conscience and regret: 'the again bite of inwit' was how he referred to it, in a Scottish phrase I'd never heard before. But he did come from the islands, I believe, so anything goes. On the other hand, such personally targeted vandalism does put me in the same exalted company as Brian Duffy.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 15, 2011, 12:32:25 pm

Thanks Eric; the odd thing is that looking at my own address bar after having posted the previous message, I do indeed see the bits of address that followed the .com part. I can't understand that: I was aware that such showed up on other sites, but it didn't seem visible for my own when attempting to create links for my family. I tell you, electronics and Rob C are not a good mix. Ever. Makes me feel a total chump!

;-)

Rob C
No, Rob, it isn't your fault. You just have to remember that all electronic gadgets (especially computers) are actually run by little invisible gremlins that like to do little tricks like hiding part of your address. If they didn't play these little tricks on us, they'd get bored just making the gadgets run correctly.

Perhaps if you leave a little dish of Scotch out by the PC at night, you might pacify the little beasties so they won't bother you.

Good luck!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 15, 2011, 03:14:25 pm
Eric

Gremlins. Automotive ones.

I picked up the new car the other evening, and once on my way home in the dark I realised that though I could find the sidelights as well as dipped headlights, there was no way of hitting main beam (that I could find). I could use the flash function, but couldn't hold the bright lights.

Then, I spent another hour yesterday trying to work out how to do some other things, but had to do that whilst holding a conversation with an elderly lady - I think she's a bit younger than I - who insisted on telling me all about her late husband's Datsun. I learned nothing new about my own car. But, today, I discovered how to make both the radio and the CD player function.

I went back to the dealer to ask him where the mileage meter lived, and also where they had concealed the trip reader. Turns out they are both at the end of the light stalk. You have to press it repeatedly and run through friggin' menus! Worse, the numerals are so smnall that I need glasses to read them, but I can't drive with glasses. However, the rev counter and speedo are clearly visible. And they haven't hidden the gear stick.

All in all, I think that bath from which they threw out the baby contained a lot more than water and babies! What on Earth was wrong with rolling numerals to tell you how far your car had gone?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 15, 2011, 03:45:35 pm
Rob C, Same car, same colour but different weather conditions. It's to give driving lessons to our daughters, but they weren't up to it in this weather. Can't blame them  ;D

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201012/PEGA8500263820101224/1157501178_r2x3L-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201012/15059490_aVnPg#1157501178_r2x3L-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 15, 2011, 05:59:04 pm
Eric

Gremlins. Automotive ones.

I picked up the new car the other evening, and once on my way home in the dark I realised that though I could find the sidelights as well as dipped headlights, there was no way of hitting main beam (that I could find). I could use the flash function, but couldn't hold the bright lights.

Then, I spent another hour yesterday trying to work out how to do some other things, but had to do that whilst holding a conversation with an elderly lady - I think she's a bit younger than I - who insisted on telling me all about her late husband's Datsun. I learned nothing new about my own car. But, today, I discovered how to make both the radio and the CD player function.

I went back to the dealer to ask him where the mileage meter lived, and also where they had concealed the trip reader. Turns out they are both at the end of the light stalk. You have to press it repeatedly and run through friggin' menus! Worse, the numerals are so smnall that I need glasses to read them, but I can't drive with glasses. However, the rev counter and speedo are clearly visible. And they haven't hidden the gear stick.

All in all, I think that bath from which they threw out the baby contained a lot more than water and babies! What on Earth was wrong with rolling numerals to tell you how far your car had gone?

Rob C
Ah, Rob!
You have now learned that the gremlins have moved from simply buggering the electronics while the car is running to mucking up the design of the beast in the first place.

Perhaps the rdio and CD player can at least entertain you while you drive onwards, pressing the flasher lever continuously.

Much more than just babies with the water.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 16, 2011, 03:32:19 am
pegelli -

God help you with the daughters. I took mine out for a single attempt and she came home in tears and I in a high state of perspiration sweating blood. I was convinced I had actually lost a middle gear somewhere on the road, not to mention a door or two. In the event, my wife took over along with a driving school and the girl sailed through her test. Mum also taught son with help of the driving school and he, too, got through it first time! I think that the principal benefit of the schools is that they teach you how to appear as if you are using mirrors etc. - in other words, they coach you in your act for the tester.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 16, 2011, 11:53:46 am
Thought maybe this thread could use some more automotive photos...

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/2247523557_4093ef43e0_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2297201996_1bc0dfa028_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/2558750681_780f8e008c_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2643646555_4e541e95fe_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2717471174_86396d5f0a_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3506039607_1afb3f094c_o.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/4553986798_dc808b9f9c_z.jpg)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4539129792_c21f4e8db8_z.jpg)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4487733848_9f2c5e476f_z.jpg)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4925300599_71dda29d4d_z.jpg)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4928834618_14a93c2b6a_z.jpg)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/4847214393_254665d854_z.jpg)

That should tide us over for a little while...

Mike.

P.S.  Lightroom's Spot Removal Tool at work...

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/4554028326_0356ca2afd_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 16, 2011, 01:21:43 pm
Mike, wonderful set!

On a side note, looks like your sensor is in dire need of industrial-strength hosing down (Rambo in the police station, in the First Blood movie, comes to mind ;))

But back to cars… can I play?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 16, 2011, 04:10:30 pm
Aaaah, cars. I'll play (with some stuff I can't afford):

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201009/PEGA7001210720100911/1147856370_JKYWE-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201009/13697600_3rVyb#1147856370_JKYWE-A-LB)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201004/PEGA7001109820100418/1158221855_tJFLK-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201004/11700486_xWyey#1158221855_tJFLK-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2011, 04:11:03 am
Hi Guys

Love those car shots - and it isn't just nostalgia at play: there was something exuberant and optimistic about that period of autocar design that's woefully lacking this past couple of decades, at least outwith the supercar zone. I think there are even political undertones to it now: some are afraid to look too successful via their choice of car because of the almost inevitable envy factor and mindless vandalism that unavailable beauty attracts.

I remember that on the second or third day of my ownership of Rusty - a humble Escort XRi - somebody thought it worthwhile stealing the blue oval from the hood, having first tried, without luck, to lever off the one on the trunk. You need a blue oval as a prize, a measure of your prowess? And we live in a 'peaceful' small town. Frankly, were Santa to give me a free Ferrari I'd have to lock it away in a rented garage. It wouldn't survive a single night in the car park and going anywhere would mean non-stop driving with no stops for lunch! What on Earth do people who actually own them do with them, other than look?

Reminds me of my bro-in-lo who was sitting in his S Merc one night outside somebody's house when he watched an oldish guy walking up from behind. To his amazement this old chap walked the length of the car with a coin... he had no idea anyone was sitting in it. Well, they ended up through a fence and on a lawn, the fuzz came and the old guy was let go because nothing could be proved... All of which just shows that envy crosses the age divides; in fact there are no dividing lines for that ugly emotion.

Take care - park in a field!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2011, 04:36:11 am
Fortunately, today has begun with sea fog, which means that the car won't get photographed without its makeup or, at least, the benefit of its first wash! I have been dreading that part of ownership: the old one had reached the comfortable stage where the rain did the washing and I no longer felt compelled to rush to the car park when holidaying brats started to kick friggin´balls everywhere. As I have wondered before, what is it with males that they fell obliged to kick these damn things all day long and almost anywhere? I have even seen them playing with them inside supermarkets, whilst fond parents smile on in deep love. Madness indeed.

Anyway, here's another family shot.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2011, 06:37:48 am
Mike, wonderful set!

On a side note, looks like your sensor is in dire need of industrial-strength hosing down (Rambo in the police station, in the First Blood movie, comes to mind ;))

But back to cars… can I play?


Slobodan -.

Porsche 1600

Do I see hand-held? Even your companion is shielding her eyes from the very idea!

When I get around to it, I must pack away a small tripod and hide it in the car. Then I shall be able to use smaller stops and if I find a river with rocks or a friendly beach with some waves... wow! Oh, probably need a neutral density filter or two as well.

I think I have found myself a new project. No, not a Porsche, a Ford. I can afford a Ford; as they used to say, there's a Ford in Your Future. There were - last count - six in my past and present, three of them black, so Henry wasn't that far off.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2011, 06:42:53 am
Looked at from a modern perspective, the old rusty one in your batch (Ford?) shows something to which new ones can't aspire. That many years into the future, today's new ones will have vanished into red dust.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 17, 2011, 09:13:50 am
Since you seem to like small Fords Rob, how about this old "Ford Popular" (It's actually UK built)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200807/PEG00415420080712LR/390878853_z78QK-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200807/5311792_6Tu6Z#390878853_z78QK-A-LB)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200807/PEGA7000185120080712LR/390973673_TirZ6-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200807/5311792_6Tu6Z#390973673_TirZ6-A-LB)

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200807/PEGA7000185420080712LR/390973771_EHCc8-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200807/5311792_6Tu6Z#390973771_EHCc8-A-LB)

The first shot was with a 10 mm, so I had to clone out my feet  :-[ 

Pretty neat car, but I think yours looks more comfortable
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2011, 11:47:05 am
Since you seem to like small Fords Rob, how about this old "Ford Popular" (It's actually UK built)

The first shot was with a 10 mm, so I had to clone out my feet  :-[ 

Pretty neat car, but I think yours looks more comfortable


Hi pegelli, not so much a matter of liking them small, as feeling obliged to stretch the pennies as far as they will go. Like with many folks of a delicate age, there's this guilt thing about consuming the kids' inheritance... However, living in Spain there is the added problem of narrow streets - many one-ways in places for that reason - and I found my very first Fiesta here difficult enough to take round several junctions in our local small town. In the event, I gave up very early on and now park on the outskirts and walk. Probably better for me, but that again is beset with problems: the kerbs are far too high, and many are scratched from the bumpers and towbars of the cars they have effed. But there is little choice. In fact, I'd contemplated the Sport version of this Fiesta but it comes with lowered suspension and low profile tyres, both of which are hopeless here. You really can't win: park parallel to the kerb and you get bumped fore and aft; go nose in into those sorts of slots that require that and the kerbs get you. I used to have my wife guide the nose in to the edge of the kerb - you simply have no idea where modern cars start or finish. Even the supermarket underground parking is dodgy: they use a projecting steel bar to protect their wall...

In fact, on the matter of tyres, the Escort had 50s, and one night we hit a puddle that was in the road and received a hell of a bump. The next day I had a look in daylight and the alloys looked fine as did the tyres. A couple of weeks later we were driving through France en route to Scotland and pulled in at a motorway rest stop to stretch our legs. As we sat on a bench, I looked across at the car and thought something looked odd. I got up and had a look: both the tyres on the starboard side had grown eggs on the sidewalls. Clearly, the high French motorway speeds (130kph) were enough to show up the hidden damage from the bump of the weeks before. Guess that stop saved our lives. This current car also has 50s, but that's not as bad as the rubber bands on the Sport.

On the matter of Ford Populars: the very first proper car I had was a '59 Popular - it was the one that looked 'American' and not like the one in your shot; a baby Consul, then. 1172cc side-valve and three gears with no synchromesh on first. I remember it well. Solid steel, too.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 17, 2011, 12:15:44 pm
Some spiffy models shown so far..guess I can't say the same of my contribution.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 17, 2011, 12:36:05 pm
Hi pegelli, not so much a matter of liking them small, as feeling obliged to stretch the pennies as far as they will go.

Rob, Agree, that's why I drive a 9 yr old Rover with 260 K on the counter and still going. Hope I'm not halfway yet, but not sure.

BTW first driving lesson went better than expected. At some point in time I smelled the clutch but that's as bad as it got. Might also need a new starter if it continues like this, but not from abuse but more from overuse  :o.

@Riaan van Wijck, great shot processed to get just the right mood in my mind.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 17, 2011, 01:52:47 pm
Quote
On a side note, looks like your sensor is in dire need of industrial-strength hosing down

The dust wasn't on the sensor, but on the car.  I tell ya, the nerve of some people - leaving a dirty car in a parking lot and waiting for some poor unsuspecting photographer to come by...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2011, 03:36:22 pm
Some spiffy models shown so far..guess I can't say the same of my contribution.



Beautiful picture, Riaan; so much atmosphere and on so many levels.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 18, 2011, 12:13:42 pm
Probably my favourite car ever: the Auburn Speedster (this one 1935)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5367021719_cc9e14b90f_o.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5367022585_19903c4eac_o.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5367635034_9a76e6543a_o.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5367635612_f1d52a9e20_o.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5367640148_abb906f6ef_o.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5367637062_faf58c867c_o.jpg)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 18, 2011, 03:37:31 pm
That is incredibly gorgeous, Mike.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on January 18, 2011, 05:48:59 pm
Yeah... if only it was mine!

Mke.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 19, 2011, 05:34:47 am
And damn nice pictures of it too!

Reminds me vaguely of the Excalibur, another wet dream based on a real one.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 19, 2011, 03:45:09 pm
Tempted Fates.

Another good reason for not buying boats unless you are prepared to obey the natural laws; considering they name mountains after them, observe them at all times.

Another good reason for not buying film again, too.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on January 20, 2011, 12:44:50 am
Plenty of them in Australia at the moment. I would hate to see what the bottom of the Brisbane River looks like.

The weather on the South Coast has been poetry ordinary but at least it's warm.

Actually it's been so boring at the moment that I've been putting comments in the PC versus Mac thread. Now there is a definite waste of energy.

I'm in Eden at the moment, it's an ex whaling town. They occasionally get visited by pods of killer whales though it would be well against the odds to see them.

cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 21, 2011, 11:27:20 am
This of the new baby was shot two evenings ago - today there is snow up on the hills behind Pollensa (about 8k to the left of the mountains in the shot) and the car is covered with salt in the air from the sea, which is about 1k away from the car park, behind a low hill. Not even worth cleaning it off - the wind is blowing with no intention of stopping any time soon. Bugger.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 21, 2011, 03:40:56 pm
This is a 100% crop from a file shot just after the one of the car, above. No sharpening done.

I can't see the same defect on the car shot, so I'm wondering how I got this circular thing on the shot here. There was no lens change between shots; the lenses are only changed in the office with no air currents at play. The defect is plainly visible at around postcard size, so it should, presumably, still be visible on the car shot above in the same area, which is in the sky, about a fifth of the way in from the right and close to the top.

I've posted the image over on the Digital Image Processing section too, but as we don't all read all the sections, maybe somebody here can pick up on this and tell me if it is sensor dirt; I'd have thought that would appear as crisp, like dust on a negative.

Any help appreciated.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: candide on January 21, 2011, 06:00:51 pm
This is a 100% crop from a file shot just after the one of the car, above. No sharpening done.

I can't see the same defect on the car shot, so I'm wondering how I got this circular thing on the shot here. There was no lens change between shots; the lenses are only changed in the office with no air currents at play. The defect is plainly visible at around postcard size, so it should, presumably, still be visible on the car shot above in the same area, which is in the sky, about a fifth of the way in from the right and close to the top.

I've posted the image over on the Digital Image Processing section too, but as we don't all read all the sections, maybe somebody here can pick up on this and tell me if it is sensor dirt; I'd have thought that would appear as crisp, like dust on a negative.

It's dust on the sensor. It appears as a fuzzy dot or blob on a digital sensor, not like dirt on film, where it would be distinctly outlined. Even though you didn't change lenses between this and the previous shot where no dust was visible, it's quite possible that the dust was already inside your camera body and some vibration or jostling of the camera caused it to migrate to the sensor. I've seen it happen before.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: feppe on January 21, 2011, 08:43:08 pm
This is a 100% crop from a file shot just after the one of the car, above. No sharpening done.

I can't see the same defect on the car shot, so I'm wondering how I got this circular thing on the shot here. There was no lens change between shots; the lenses are only changed in the office with no air currents at play. The defect is plainly visible at around postcard size, so it should, presumably, still be visible on the car shot above in the same area, which is in the sky, about a fifth of the way in from the right and close to the top.

I've posted the image over on the Digital Image Processing section too, but as we don't all read all the sections, maybe somebody here can pick up on this and tell me if it is sensor dirt; I'd have thought that would appear as crisp, like dust on a negative.

Any help appreciated.

Rob C

Hard to say, but my bet is on either Alpha Centaurians or Martians.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 22, 2011, 12:52:58 am
Hard to say, but my bet is on either Alpha Centaurians or Martians.

Haha..if you have these chaps flying around on your sensor, a fumigation, rather than a sensor clean might be required  :)   
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 22, 2011, 03:45:27 am
It's dust on the sensor. It appears as a fuzzy dot or blob on a digital sensor, not like dirt on film, where it would be distinctly outlined.

The reason it's not sharply outlined is that it's not really laying on the sensor itself, but on the anti-alias filter which is a small distance from the sensor itself. So the dust is some distance from the sharp plane and therefore is shown "out of focus".

Dust was a curse in the film days, but it still is in the digital days as well.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 22, 2011, 04:24:46 am
Thanks for the replies, guys.

I imagine that the 'shaker' mechanism might create as many dust problems as it cures - but I may as well see how it works out in practice, since a problem now already exists and I wouldn't be creating one where non existed, which I have found myself good at doing in the past.

I suppose I can safely return the spaceman suit to the wardrobe, then?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 22, 2011, 08:21:02 am
I suppose I can safely return the spaceman suit to the wardrobe, then?
But keep the tinfoil hat, just in case.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 22, 2011, 03:50:58 pm
But keep the tinfoil hat, just in case.


You think I live in Kansas, with Dorothy?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 22, 2011, 10:32:20 pm
Tempted Fates.

Another good reason for not buying boats unless you are prepared to obey the natural laws; considering they name mountains after them, observe them at all times.

Another good reason for not buying film again, too.

Rob C

I hate when that happens.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 23, 2011, 01:21:45 am
Tempted Fates.

There is a weird mysticism regarding boat ownership Rob. Changing it's name at the spur of the moment is severely tempting fate- the whole process of name change needs to take some time, and then a party ( with copious amounts of alcohol consumed- to ward of the evil spirits) needs to be held with fellow boat owners to announce the name. Refering to a boat as "male" is not on either, it is always a "she." Swearing on deck is largely frowned upon, especialy if the boat has some mechanical problem.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 23, 2011, 05:17:09 am
I hate when that happens.


So do I. The little Fletcher (?) was lying on the beach the morning after the mama of all storms. I took myself off to another marina that lives in Mal Pas, across the Bay of Pollensa, and inside the marina it was mayhem too: a row of yachts on the hard had collapsed sideways lke dominoes; other boats had sunk at their moorings and part of the harbour wall had been taken clean out by the waves. It happened in November, 2001. I returned there last week to do some shots of the new baby and to my surprise, the place in which I'd gone to shoot, a small carpark outside the marina, no longer had the huge chains that marked the edge with the sea. (I show a link of that chain in a wesite image called Insurance, or something of that nature.) In their somewhat romantic place, there is now a wall of rocks.

Still, it goes to show you that it's possible to live a few clicks away from somewhere yet not visit it in nine years. We can certainly make a small world even smaller.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 25, 2011, 09:56:06 am
I was having a bit of fun with Photoshop last night.  :)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5387427486_2ccb951a92_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5387427486/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on January 25, 2011, 12:14:22 pm
Funny, my initial response was my normal workflow.

Remove dust, correct white balance and reduce noise using CS5. Clone out US flag and replace with Australian flag (it's Australia Day today).

Anyway, everyone have a nice day and don't forget to throw a shrimp on the barbie.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 25, 2011, 01:16:23 pm
Tom,

The really funny part is that I spent like two hours cloning out little white dust/particle spots (C41 film, you know how it is) before adding the layer of textured paper.  What the hell was I thinking?  ???
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on January 25, 2011, 05:51:55 pm
The funny thing was that I thought the dust that you had on your image looked too digital age and I was going to say that white spots would look more realistic.

cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 29, 2011, 03:22:44 pm
Toke -

We were chatting about film/dev combinations some time ago. This was shot on FP4 developed in D76 1+1 and blown up it looks quite nice regarding skin tones - also, the lashes are relatively crisp too.

The girl was my daughter doing her duty as test model for something or another about 35 years ago or thereabouts. When she hit seventeen and got her driving licence, she was her Mum's double. It was a trick of the hair: you couldn't tell which one was driving past, other than by the music which was always too loud in the kid's case. Them wus the days them wus. Just realised: I must have been younger too. Hot damn!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Justinr on January 29, 2011, 03:59:01 pm
I found myself with a few idle hours in Cork City today so I took the camera and nosed around, it was a clear and frosty morning yet there was a scent of spring in the air which was cheering, and boy do we need some of that around here. Anyway, this is known locally as The Wobbly Bridge and you'll know why just as soon as two or more step out on it together -



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on January 31, 2011, 02:15:19 pm
Toke -

We were chatting about film/dev combinations some time ago. This was shot on FP4 developed in D76 1+1 and blown up it looks quite nice regarding skin tones - also, the lashes are relatively crisp too.

The girl was my daughter doing her duty as test model for something or another about 35 years ago or thereabouts. When she hit seventeen and got her driving licence, she was her Mum's double. It was a trick of the hair: you couldn't tell which one was driving past, other than by the music which was always too loud in the kid's case. Them wus the days them wus. Just realised: I must have been younger too. Hot damn!

;-)

Rob C


Lovely!  Love the "moody teenager" look!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 31, 2011, 02:27:01 pm

Lovely!  Love the "moody teenager" look!


Thanks Toke; one of the few times she got away without having to carry one of those cards with 5.6, 6.3, 8, etc. held in front of her. The cards were made by pressing Letraset to clear acetate and using that as a negative. I still have them to this day - I wonder why I kept them - would have made more sense to try and find space for all my negs instead of selling them off to the clients that thought they could use them after I'd left the UK, and destroying the rest. Oh well; you reap what you sow.

Ciao

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 01, 2011, 04:51:14 am
Rob, Latest movie, this is a downsampled frame from the movie still in pp as it comes from camera, no retouching at all. I setted my White balance to get this tone. I almost falled in love with this actriz. Elle a du chien! My god! Save me from so many temptations  ::)




C'est la bouche, c'est la bouche! How could you possibly be expected to resist the hidden smile in those lips? Terrible thought: maybe you were not supposed to resist? Quel dommage! ¡Una lástima! An entire lifetime passes slowly in front of the eyes and into the mists of the past... pero la próxima vez - mas listo?

What was the movie about - for whom? If it's not still confidential and under wraps, of course?

Ciao

Rob C

P.S. I love those little wrinkles under the eye on the left of the shot; so much more attractive than sheets of high-gloss plastic! I really do find a certain suggestion of maturity and experience so much mnore fascinating than perma-teen pretend!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 01, 2011, 07:44:52 am

Lovely!  Love the "moody teenager" look!

Yeah me too..
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Athena on February 01, 2011, 12:11:50 pm
I will play. :)

Other Worlds
(http://www.athenacarey.com/Other/other-bits/OilDrop3098/805221521_d8X3u-M.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 01, 2011, 12:30:29 pm
There used to be a great poster'n'print shop called Athena once... (U.K.) At least, I think that's what its name was, but like many such adventures into art it didn't last for ever and owed its trajectory to the glories of the 60s ethos..

Interesting image - welcome.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 01, 2011, 07:10:15 pm
I love this thread... for the opportunity to be all over the place and ramble just about anything, "just for the hell of it", as Rob put it.

So, while I am sitting in a warm room, waiting for the "epic blizzard" to hit Chicago area tonight, here is my rambling on the following:

Tunisia, Egypt, Social Media & My Father

It is funny how the stream of consciousness works: one moment you listen to the news about social upheavals in Tunisia and Egypt, and the role social media played in facilitating it... and the next you remember your own father, 87-year old, spending his dementia-filled days alone on another continent.

So what, you might ask, does my father have to do with Tunisia, Egypt and social media?  Apart from a tourist visit to Tunisia about 20 years ago, not much with the first two, but I could not help wondering what his old days might have been if he would have access to the modern tools of communication, email, Facebook, internet forums, etc. Actually technology is there, but he missed the opportunity long time ago to learn it and stay current. As much as I might hate social media for giving the false sense of communication with people you could actually really communicate with, through phone calls, personal visits, letters, even emails, I must admit it plays a certain role in facilitating communication with people too far to reach in person.

Or take this forum for instance... no matter where in the world you are or how old or young you are (of feel)... you can exchange ideas, debate them, find like-minded people,  virtual friends (or enemies), or have a good (rhetorical) fight occasionally... in other words, someone to talk to, when nobody else is around.

Anyway, enough with my ramblings... and since this is a photo thread, here is photo of my father I took last year. And to satisfy your photographic curiosity, it was taken with a Canon G10, window light, ISO 800... I asked my daughter to hold a white t-shirt in front of his face, to reflect some of that window light into the shadows. Post-processing in LR3:



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 02, 2011, 05:05:06 pm


C'est la bouche, c'est la bouche! How could you possibly be expected to resist the hidden smile in those lips? Terrible thought: maybe you were not supposed to resist? Quel dommage! ¡Una lástima! An entire lifetime passes slowly in front of the eyes and into the mists of the past... pero la próxima vez - mas listo?

What was the movie about - for whom? If it's not still confidential and under wraps, of course?

Ciao

Rob C

P.S. I love those little wrinkles under the eye on the left of the shot; so much more attractive than sheets of high-gloss plastic! I really do find a certain suggestion of maturity and experience so much mnore fascinating than perma-teen pretend!
La bouche, oui! It's bloody under wraps. Not because of me, but the producers want balckout 1 mounth after release because as always, there is an exclusivity. So before end of March nothing. Those guys could work for the CIA.
It's for MTV spain.
I have more suggestive frames to enhance male senses but Lu-La being a serious victorian forum I do not dare. (in fact, suggestive have been abandoned by the prod because not "politicaly correct", there are parents associations and church that could demand). I think I'd like to sign for Rammstein sometimes...

Slobodan, you really look like your father. It's nice to see some private pics from members. I also really like this thread.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 03, 2011, 04:25:15 am
La bouche, oui! It's bloody under wraps. Not because of me, but the producers want balckout 1 mounth after release because as always, there is an exclusivity. So before end of March nothing. Those guys could work for the CIA.
It's for MTV spain.
I have more suggestive frames to enhance male senses but Lu-La being a serious victorian forum I do not dare. (in fact, suggestive have been abandoned by the prod because not "politicaly correct", there are parents associations and church that could demand). I think I'd like to sign for Rammstein sometimes...

Slobodan, you really look like your father. It's nice to see some private pics from members. I also really like this thread.



That's what killed my calendar career, and I didn't even make OTT pictures, just what you see on the site or shown here on LuLa. I hated and still hate porn, but who decides what's okay?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 03, 2011, 04:43:16 am


That's what killed my calendar career, and I didn't even make OTT pictures, just what you see on the site or shown here on LuLa. I hated and still hate porn, but who decides what's okay?

Rob C
Exactly, when I said suggestive, you would laugh...not even erotic. But it seems that they don't want trouble with group pressure. Sometimes I tend to think that the human race is a mistake in the universe, like a poison. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 03, 2011, 03:15:38 pm
Exactly, when I said suggestive, you would laugh...not even erotic. But it seems that they don't want trouble with group pressure. Sometimes I tend to think that the human race is a mistake in the universe, like a poison. 


Hi Fred

I’m not sure if I could agree with the ‘poison’ diagnosis – there may well be a little something rotten in the state of Denmark, but there is something else in the human race that’s also quite loveable (no, not Lovable) at least, in some humans, and I think that’s what makes the entire experiment worthwhile.

Perhaps it all boils down to the right little groups coming together, mixing the pot a wee bit and producing something appetizing. For instance, though I more or less always worked alone or, if I couldn’t avoid it, with the tightest little group of those who simply had to be around, I still envy you your time in Madrid: I’d love to be there and have something to contribute, but I can’t imagine what today. But, the atmosphere of that plateau… now that is a drug! Always loved making up little scenes, minimal theatre.

You know I bought a Fiesta. Well, today I went to the garage and asked the guy to get rid of the rust and do some paintwork on the 12-year-old Escort I’d left behind. It’s next to worthless on the market, as it is, and too good to scrap. So, after losing a lot of sleep, I decided that since it is ITV-valid until the end of July, the road tax had already been paid for the year, and the boot/trunk is much bigger than the one on the Fiesta, why not keep it? So, that’s what I’m doing.  Hope my kids decide to come out and spend time here again this year – at least they can have wheels of their own and won’t have to think of the added expense of renting, which they seldom do. But I love the little new one! It is so directional, great torque and no fuel consumption to cry about. I’d always felt diesels to be nose-heavy (try a 1.9 diesel Megane on a corner!), but not this one. Anyway, as Shakespeare might have declared, he who hath a spare hath no care… as long as either keeps working, he should have added.

Heaven forfend, I might even start doing double car portraits!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 04, 2011, 03:38:43 am

Yes the atmosphere of the plateau...that's a drug I know. That's the only real link that I have with the work. Just for that it's worth. I envy the landscapers, their plateau is there everytime they want, but I just can't shoot anything else than human beings and street does not fullfill me enough.

Cheers.



Fred, I can see clearly that you suffer the same disease (conviction?) that I have since 1960. It doesn't get any better despite repeated attempts to subvert your natural programme and fall in love with cement, wood or tin.

I hope you can survive it by getting a lot of work doing exactly what interests you; the reason you won't be abe to give up trying is because, like myself, you know that some fortunate few can pull it off, and that they do spend their lives doing the work they need in order to flourish and find what the younger Mr Jagger said that he could not...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 04, 2011, 06:51:18 am
I love this thread... for the opportunity to be all over the place and ramble just about anything, "just for the hell of it", as Rob put it...-
Or take this forum for instance... no matter where in the world you are or how old or young you are (of feel)... you can exchange ideas, debate them, find like-minded people,  virtual friends (or enemies), or have a good (rhetorical) fight occasionally... in other words, someone to talk to, when nobody else is around.

My thoughts too Slobodan.

Lovely picture of your father..

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 08, 2011, 11:24:40 am
My thoughts too Slobodan.

Lovely picture of your father..



+1.  There was a thread (not photography related) on a fly fishing forum I frequent that was hundreds of pages long, and it was about anything and nothing, a repository for random thoughts. Sadly, it vanished into the ether when the forum migrated to new software.  I hope that never happens to this thread.

My random thought for the day:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5420649056_7b28700d44_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5420649056/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 08, 2011, 12:35:39 pm

My random thought for the day:
...

Claire, I forgot to mention in another thread how much I like your new Hasselbald/square b&w images. Very elegant and atmospheric. I hope you will not get my next compliment wrong, but I especially like your gray matte... goes so well with the images.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 08, 2011, 02:00:11 pm
Toke-

You've had your 'blad for a few weeks or so now; how do you find it in use? Do you feel that it has become almost instinctive in use, or do you hanker after digital features once you are using it?

I feel as if I could pick up my long lost ones again and feel so familiar with them that no relearning curve would even show its nose. There's no doubt in my mind that it was a system that led to very much more mentally focussed work if only because it generally lived on three legs; it wasn't really exciting in the ways that a Nikon F was, but it sure did concentrate the mind on the job in hand.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 08, 2011, 02:16:12 pm
+1.  There was a thread (not photography related) on a fly fishing forum I frequent that was hundreds of pages long, and it was about anything and nothing, a repository for random thoughts. Sadly, it vanished into the ether when the forum migrated to new software.  I hope that never happens to this thread.

My random thought for the day:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5420649056_7b28700d44_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5420649056/)



Gator Hook Trail


For some deeply flawed psychological reason I keep seeing a closeup of the the right side of somebody's head of hair. Wish it was mine!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 08, 2011, 05:12:52 pm
Whose head of hair?  Phyllis Diller's?  ;D

It's actually a bromeliad growing on the trunk of a cypress tree.  By the end of next month they should be in full bloom - should be quite a site.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 09, 2011, 05:29:20 am
Whose head of hair?  Phyllis Diller's?  ;D

It's actually a bromeliad growing on the trunk of a cypress tree.  By the end of next month they should be in full bloom - should be quite a site.


Even more so, then, if it had been someone's hair! Medusa comes to mind.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 15, 2011, 06:10:19 am
So I went for a boat ride on a bright and sunny day with my little point & shoot halfway through a roll of fast film.  I love grain, but this might be a wee bit too much.  ;D

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5446318809_63defe771d_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5446318809/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 15, 2011, 10:38:57 am
It looks like excellent Street Photography to me, but I can't find the street.  ;)

As usual, you manage to capture the spirit of a moment and not just what it looked like. Nice!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 15, 2011, 12:03:50 pm
Think I like the watch, Toke; does the pooch have one too? Some of you Americans manage to look so cool...

;-)  Enjoy the life!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 15, 2011, 03:07:14 pm
Think I like the watch, Toke; does the pooch have one too? Some of you Americans manage to look so cool...

;-)  Enjoy the life!

Rob C
Of course the pooch has a watch, Rob. It's on the left paw.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 15, 2011, 03:20:01 pm
Of course the pooch has a watch, Rob. It's on the left paw.

Eric


Obviously that's where it would be, but fore or aft?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 15, 2011, 05:17:32 pm
Eric,

The "street" is to the left of the house.  It's a watery street, deep enough for the big fishing boats.  To the right is the "sidewalk", a place that should be avoided by all motorized vessels.  Sadly, too many pleasure boaters out there not paying attention have left a dizzying array of prop scars in the sea grass.  :'(

Rob,

Jasmine doesn't need a watch.  She has an inner clock in her stomach that is far more accurate than any Rolex.  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 16, 2011, 04:01:19 am
Eric,

The "street" is to the left of the house.  It's a watery street, deep enough for the big fishing boats.  To the right is the "sidewalk", a place that should be avoided by all motorized vessels.  Sadly, too many pleasure boaters out there not paying attention have left a dizzying array of prop scars in the sea grass.  :'(

Rob,

Jasmine doesn't need a watch.  She has an inner clock in her stomach that is far more accurate than any Rolex.  ;)



My God, Toke, you make her sound like something from Peter Pan (or an Omega ad.).

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 20, 2011, 04:50:56 pm
For the first time in two weeks I have some time ( and the means) to visit the site after hours. Having had the honour of recently  ( unwillingly and forcibly, by having two doors of my house raped by forced entry) donating my laptop to those less fortunate than me, the " someone to talk to, when nobody else is around" words that Slobodan used to describe this thread rang truer than ever to me. Thanks for planting the seeds for a place to ramble Rob, be it with words and thoughts or photos.

I would love to post something to accompany this, fact is though I've lost quite a lot of files ( guess who bought an extra hard drive recently for backup) and the CS5 program that I opened tonight for the first time looks like a long forgotten foreign language, with the new ( for me, a CS3 user for the last three years) interface with all the shiny bells and whistles. Strange how "lost" one feels when faced with sudden and unplanned changes.

To top it all off, I'm taking delivery of a new ( for me) 4x4 pick-up next week, parting ways, after five years,  with another very good and close friend who has carried me through and over some of the roughest terrain my country has. I guess all that's left is changing camera brands and the fiance..the kids by default have a free pass of being mine forever though.

Toke, I like the photo, it needs a flyrod propped up on the side of the railing to complete it for me :) :)   
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 20, 2011, 06:03:24 pm

Toke, I like the photo, it needs a flyrod propped up on the side of the railing to complete it for me :) :)   

Fly fishing, railings and Weimaraners do not mix.  I do not wish to discuss how I know this.

Sorry for your troubles, losing files is probably the worst of it, all else can be replaced.  Hope you were not home when the "Visitors" arrived?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 20, 2011, 06:38:31 pm
Riaan,

I'm sure all the denizens of this thread join me in wishing you the strength to get through this difficult time.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 20, 2011, 06:41:08 pm
Fly fishing, railings and Weimaraners do not mix.  I do not wish to discuss how I know this.
My imagination comes up with all sorts of possible disasters that could result from this combination of items. Please keep your secret.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 21, 2011, 02:46:30 pm
Riaan -

Probably just as well you were not at home when the friends came calling; it's the sort of situation where I think that US-style gun laws are not quite as crazy a some believe them to be. The point being, the bad guys seem to have no problem finding them and only the folks in the white hats have difficulties. I can tell you that there have been many times when I wished I had a little Paulo Beretta tucked into my waistband when I have had to go out in winter to get wood in for the fire. There's something about being (currently) the only person in the building during the dead season; not thrilling at all.

Toke -

Dogs and the sea can be fun - our alsabrador was a great swimmer and she seemed to enjoy having somebody hang on to her tail and tow them; at least, she never complained and certainly didn't give a hint of teeth. However, there are times when dogs and small landings are dangerous if you don't think about all the possibilites. Once, her leash was tied to the railing on one such little structure here near home, and we were setting up a picnic. For some reason, she reversed and went right over the edge, and found herself hanging from said leash. I was in the water at once, and before I got to take the weight, my wife hauled her up and right over the railing with one arm: seventy-three pounds of pooch. Which just shows you how strength can come from nowhere. Not that my wife didn't have a full complement of arms, just that the other was holding on to the rail for dear life! All in all, I might as well have stayed dry.

The dog didn't develop a thing about the sea, though; she continued to love it. But then, she might have been a slow learner: she also ran and then skidded right off our terrace onto the grass, a few feet below, when her braking system couldn't cope with the tiles. The terrace wall is only about ten inches high - it's only there to retain the flowerpots from going over in the gales.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 22, 2011, 05:28:07 pm
Jasmine loves going out on the boat, sometimes her enthusiasm gets the best of her though.  On more than one occasion, she has gone overboard on my little flats boat (which has no railings and therefore is better for fly fishing).

On another note, I added a new toy to my collection today:  a Ricoh GXR with the 28mm module.  It's about the size of a Canon G10, but with an APS-C sized sensor.  Exactly what I wanted in a "go-everywhere" little digital.  Jasmine likes it too.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5468643443_a27f9bc2fd_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5468643443/)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 22, 2011, 08:13:14 pm
Jasmine loves going out on the boat, sometimes her enthusiasm gets the best of her though.  On more than one occasion, she has gone overboard on my little flats boat (which has no railings and therefore is better for fly fishing).

On another note, I added a new toy to my collection today:  a Ricoh GXR with the 28mm module.  It's about the size of a Canon G10, but with an APS-C sized sensor.  Exactly what I wanted in a "go-everywhere" little digital.  Jasmine likes it too.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5468643443_a27f9bc2fd_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/msmambo/5468643443/)
Toke, I'd like to have your opinion on that Ricoh. To me the modular system they did was simply brilliant, I'm even surprise we don't see that system somewhere else instead of the old film age designs. I was very curious about that, then I forgot. And Ricoh are very good in terms of usability.
Nice to have your thoughts.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 22, 2011, 11:55:38 pm
Why don't you get Jasmine to write us a nice review of your new Ricoh?
In that lovely portrait she looks to me as if she's seriously considering its pros and cons.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 23, 2011, 04:39:51 am
Nice shot, Toke.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 23, 2011, 11:12:00 am
Fly fishing, railings and Weimaraners do not mix.  I do not wish to discuss how I know this.

Sorry for your troubles, losing files is probably the worst of it, all else can be replaced.  Hope you were not home when the "Visitors" arrived?

Toke, in a perverse way I wish I was home when it happened, the outcome would have been very different.

Talking about "mixing," flyrods don't like to mix with anything for that matter, being the fragile beasts that they are. I realy need to tie some flies sometime, the river and it's Tigerfish are calling. I'll take some photos of them first though, Tigerfish are not kind to fur and feathers.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 24, 2011, 04:52:21 pm
Birds...Madrid 2010
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on February 24, 2011, 05:52:25 pm
I personally really like this in the thumbnail...there I see the charm and in the negative and positive space wing dropped feathers and the soft fall to an almost hesitant breast creating another soft flurry in negative of the wings above...hidden within..those eyes...I wished you the time to stay in that moment shooting tonally, shyly, to intensify the almost tender charm... squinting at the thumbnail I like what you have seen...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 24, 2011, 06:23:45 pm
Birds...Madrid 2010

Fred,

Maybe you should self-edit a little less.  :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 24, 2011, 06:44:08 pm
Fred,

Maybe you should self-edit a little less.  :)
Toke, this is actually not a post-prod work, the birds where done by the stylist and hairdresser for a magazine cover as you see them here and after the session I shooted some personal pictures for my self. This is one of it. All I did in that pic was a black and white convertion. You can see easily that they are plastic stuff.

Another snap from another angle.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 24, 2011, 06:52:56 pm
Well I like it even if the birds are fake.  I just think it's a well-balanced photo, both in tone and composition.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 24, 2011, 06:57:46 pm
Well I like it even if the birds are fake.  I just think it's a well-balanced photo, both in tone and composition.
Thank you Claire and Patricia. How about the mysterious Ricoh? I was about to purchase one with the same module.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 25, 2011, 05:08:21 am
Nice shots, Fred, only one problem: we are plagued by pigeons here: they shit in the gutters and in the little tower at the top of the stairs, where they clog the drains and the ceiling falls in every second year, and the insurance refuses to help anymore... it costs the community thousands in scaffolding (andamio) and each time the guys get up there, they remove nine to twelve large black bin liners of poop... I mean they put the poop into those bags, the pigeons don't oblige.

We even tried a plastic owl up on the roof, but I have a shot somewhere of birds sitting on its head. I wonder if the model knows that?

Being just on the border of suburban we can't shoot, and poison is too radical for the other, non-offensive wildlife. Nature has lost its balance - must be tourism to blame.

Rob C

Found the pigeons.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on February 25, 2011, 05:34:37 am
How about the mysterious Ricoh?

I'll have a chance to give it a good workout over the weekend, I'll give you a full report.  So far I like it, it feels good in the hand.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on February 25, 2011, 07:59:49 am
Toke, this is actually not a post-prod work, the birds where done by the stylist and hairdresser for a magazine cover as you see them here and after the session I shooted some personal pictures for my self. This is one of it. All I did in that pic was a black and white convertion. You can see easily that they are plastic stuff.

Another snap from another angle.

Fred.. Dark, full of ghosts, a wonderful uncertain warmth...another like for me... Do you know the work of Lillian Bassman? George Hoyningen-Huene? I'm not sure just what is your daywork that allows you these moments aside to shoot for yourself... I really like what bring here in your images...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on February 25, 2011, 08:07:23 am


Rob C

Found the pigeons.

...doves, ritual of welcome...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 25, 2011, 09:08:28 am
Fred.. Dark, full of ghosts, a wonderful uncertain warmth...another like for me... Do you know the work of Lillian Bassman? George Hoyningen-Huene? I'm not sure just what is your daywork that allows you these moments aside to shoot for yourself... I really like what bring here in your images...
Thanks Patricia. I did knew the Lilian's works but not Huene and it's been a nice discovery. Well, you touched a point.

I actually have zero time to work seriously on my own stuff. What really blocks me are not that much the stills but the video side in the sense that I had to dedicate a lot of hours (I mean a lot) on the learning curve. It did also brought me mess into my own path because I'm very enthusiastic with this medium and deserted logically quite a lot the stills while in the learning process. Now I'm still in it but I've done the hardest part so I have less pressure and things will acomodate by themselves.

I was also very busy trying to get a new studio (loft type) where I can both work and live but my resistance to move outside downtown (I hate suburbs ugliness) made all the search a sort of time consuming. I saw some wonderfull spaces but you just go out and there is not even a bar to have your coffee, or they where located in the middle of those horrible offices buildings in those new unpersonal districts. I still have not find the right place but yesterday I saw another area that is berable. So, yes, my personal work is completly paralised since at least september and I must admit that this is not very desirable.

Then, another phenomenon is that more I'm learning as an assistant, less I know what I really want to do. I'm getting better, I know more things and have more skills than before, but the irony is that I have no bloody idea of what I want to do with all that. I like to work with women, but on the other hand the fashion or editorial does not fullfill me (if it's the quality of Lillian I'd sign anyway). I'm sure it's a process and things will come naturaly on the right time as Rob suggested to me one day. I just release it and allow things to come at their right time.
I've discovered that resistance, or pushing things does not bring results. So, I accept that fact and maybe I even feel more exited in the sense that I allow the unknown. I honestly do not know what I'll be doing tomorrow.

Cheers.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 25, 2011, 02:26:03 pm
Fred

Yes, things will happen in their own time. Your part is to be ready. When I was a kid just about to return from India, an Indian girl in school signed my autograph book on the last day with this little remark: 'the secret of success is to be ready when your opportunity comes.' I think that's a great motto for life.

(Until now, I never realised that she might have meant something quite else and much more personal. I was fifteen going on sixteen and she around the same age... heysoos, I must have been blind! Girls are always ahead of the boys.)

I have only once seen the sort of apartment you speak about. It belonged to a client of mine in the IWS and it was a very long sitting room with rooms off. One end would have made a great 'plateau' (love that expression - thanks!) with all the comforts of home... except that instead of a roof, it was a basement. But I always liked electronic in the studio anyway.

Patricia, do you know that Bassman gave up fashion when the stylists, hair and makeup people became important and invaded the plateau? Her modus operandi was identical with mine: our girls knew what to do by themselves and we worked within a minimalist setup. As a rôle model for Fred - I don't know.

But, Fred, the right thing will come, for you as it did for me. Just be ready to grab when it does.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 25, 2011, 02:30:38 pm
...doves, ritual of welcome...



As I remarked, Patricia, twelve bags full!

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 25, 2011, 02:41:00 pm
... we are plagued by pigeons here: they shit in the gutters and in the little tower at the top of the stairs, where they clog the drains and the ceiling falls in every second year...

Not sure whose shitty work is to blame here... pigeons' or builders/contractors'? ;)

On second thought... life's contradictions: symbol of peace, elegance, eternal love...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 25, 2011, 02:41:44 pm
Thanks Rob,

Well I'm not surprised that Bassman gave up because of the plateau invasion. I like the team work, but indeed (at least for me) I rather work with a very reduced fixed team. All this noise on the plateau, all the useless circus is something that I think does not help the photography process.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 25, 2011, 03:03:09 pm
A wall of a different kind: inside a local bar last Saturday afternoon.

This was with the camera set at Auto ISO and the shutter at around a 125th or so and aperture of the manual 1.8/50 Nikkor at f1.8 or f2. It features some of the same musicians as the previous time, but as the video guy's lights were gone this visit... the b/w conversions suck. Funny how colour can work better with poor lighting. I almost wished for af as it was so hard to see anything to focus; best reason for metal highlights I can think of!

I'm convinced, more than ever, that when Annie L commented that you can't photograph dance she was right; I'd extend that to music. All you can get are musicians. On the upside: the speaker on the right was so damn loud it blew away my sensor dust. You'd never know that - looks so cool and laid back. But the sax man is always laid back, wherever I see him. He's Cuban, you know. Very philosophical.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 25, 2011, 03:08:39 pm
Thanks Rob,

Well I'm not surprised that Bassman gave up because of the plateau invasion. I like the team work, but indeed (at least for me) I rather work with a very reduced fixed team. All this noise on the plateau, all the useless circus is something that I think does not help the photography process.

Reminds me of an interview I saw with Jean Shrimpton. She said more or less that about Bailey when somebody commented about his using the same small group of two or three girls: "he hates surprises." I endorse that view. Familiarity doesn't breed contempt: it gives you something from which to build, and saves the intro bullshitting every time.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 25, 2011, 03:55:11 pm
A wall of a different kind: inside a local bar last Saturday afternoon.

This was with the camera set at Auto ISO and the shutter at around a 125th or so and aperture of the manual 1.8/50 Nikkor at f1.8 or f2. It features some of the same musicians as the previous time, but as the video guy's lights were gone this visit... the b/w conversions suck. Funny how colour can work better with poor lighting. I almost wished for af as it was so hard to see anything to focus; best reason for metal highlights I can think of!

I'm convinced, more than ever, that when Annie L commented that you can't photograph dance she was right; I'd extend that to music. All you can get are musicians. On the upside: the speaker on the right was so damn loud it blew away my sensor dust. You'd never know that - looks so cool and laid back. But the sax man is always laid back, wherever I see him. He's Cuban, you know. Very philosophical.

Rob C
I like this pic Rob, the tones and the division in 3 (by the 2 verticals) and the very narrow d.o.f. Also, the Nikkor prime is a great glass, it's visible even at that size-resolution.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on February 25, 2011, 05:51:52 pm
Fred
Patricia, do you know that Bassman gave up fashion when the stylists, hair and makeup people became important and invaded the plateau? Her modus operandi was identical with mine: our girls knew what to do by themselves and we worked within a minimalist setup. As a rôle model for Fred - I don't know.

But, Fred, the right thing will come, for you as it did for me. Just be ready to grab when it does.

Rob C
Rob/Fred... I read a wonderful interview with Lillian, at age 93, December of last year. She has reinvented herself and is doing remarkable work with her old love of the darkroom, but via Photoshop now. She said she had always been interested in going back and changing things, the way she would in George's darkroom with spatula and tissue paper for example to produce her sensual diffusing and selective sharpening. Her assistant, Steve Lipuma does the legwork/scans and she does the PS work in a quite unconventional way. She did a shoot last year to keep her hand in it..."For me, all that goes on in photography is intuitive...I just feel certain directions and that's how I go."  That's what made me think of Lillian Fred when I looked at your two images...  There's a bit here    http://www.coolhunting.com/culture/lillian-bassman.php   
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 25, 2011, 06:06:51 pm
Rob/Fred... I read a wonderful interview with Lillian, at age 93, December of last year. She has reinvented herself and is doing remarkable work with her old love of the darkroom, but via Photoshop now. She said she had always been interested in going back and changing things, the way she would in George's darkroom with spatula and tissue paper for example to produce her sensual diffusing and selective sharpening. Her assistant, Steve Lipuma does the legwork/scans and she does the PS work in a quite unconventional way. She did a shoot last year to keep her hand in it..."For me, all that goes on in photography is intuitive...I just feel certain directions and that's how I go."  That's what made me think of Lillian Fred when I looked at your two images...  There's a bit here    http://www.coolhunting.com/culture/lillian-bassman.php   
Yes, Lillian pics are stunning. It's very good to see that in all the mess about dynamic range and pixels and bits and my gear is better than yours etc...just looking at her images, the way she blows highlights on purpose and all the poetry and love involved, how refreshing!

Agree about using the intuitive feelings and move from there.

Thanks for sharing Patricia.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 27, 2011, 01:40:34 pm
I like this pic Rob, the tones and the division in 3 (by the 2 verticals) and the very narrow d.o.f. Also, the Nikkor prime is a great glass, it's visible even at that size-resolution.

Well, Fred, the rest of what's salvaged from the day is up on the site

http://www.roma57.com/the-biscuit-tin.html

down at the bottom of the gallery. I tried some b/w conversions but they didn't look good at all so next time...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 27, 2011, 02:06:45 pm
Well, Fred, the rest of what's salvaged from the day is up on the site

http://www.roma57.com/the-biscuit-tin.html

down at the bottom of the gallery. I tried some b/w conversions but they didn't look good at all so next time...

Rob C
??? what's wrong with the B&W Rob? I looked at the 6 B&W musician pics and they look perfectly fine to me.
Ps: I like the way you focus, intentionally and I suspect manually.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 27, 2011, 03:00:22 pm
??? what's wrong with the B&W Rob? I looked at the 6 B&W musician pics and they look perfectly fine to me.
Ps: I like the way you focus, intentionally and I suspect manually.

Fred -

The six b/w ones are from the first shoot a few weeks ago: the guy doing video had put up additional lights and there were better shadows to give modelling; this time, there was just the available bar lighting. The main problem is that the instruments - the sax in particular - turns into a creamy sort of nothing that reminds me of bad four-colour litho except in monotone!

Yes, intentional (if slow) focs and manual 1.8/50; I may take my af 2.8/180 this next Saturday just to see how af works, but I suppose I'll end up doing it manually...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on February 27, 2011, 03:12:59 pm
Fred -

The six b/w ones are from the first shoot a few weeks ago: the guy doing video had put up additional lights and there were better shadows to give modelling; this time, there was just the available bar lighting. The main problem is that the instruments - the sax in particular - turns into a creamy sort of nothing that reminds me of bad four-colour litho except in monotone!

Yes, intentional (if slow) focs and manual 1.8/50; I may take my af 2.8/180 this next Saturday just to see how af works, but I suppose I'll end up doing it manually...

;-)

Rob C
I'm sure you will end manually.
ps: I did not mean to put this little yellow face on my post, what I did was 3  ? to express the surprise, and 3"?" gives the yellow stuff...oh well, keyboard mysteries.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on February 27, 2011, 06:36:19 pm
Thought I'd park a couple of images in here, although the second one also shows up in this thread: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=51664.0

These were both made using my little walkaround camera as I saw this on my way home - shot handheld in low light.  Both are panoramas combined using Autopano Pro and processed using both Lightroom 3 and Nik's HDR Efex Pro.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5475915960_74096c9012_o.jpg)
This was made from nine images - still somewhat noisy in the clouds, but not bad overall.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5475916930_a59b65a3ef_o.jpg)
This was made from 120 images (40 images x 3 exposures), combined in Autopano Pro, then processed twice in HDR Efex Pro, both times slightly differently.  The first time I wanted to highlight the textures in the clouds, and the second time I set the sky to be almost completely blurred out.  I took both completed image in Lightroom and combined them using the LR/Enfuse plugin.  Turned out pretty well, I thought.

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on February 28, 2011, 12:54:28 pm
I like the delicate tree.  My attached image is a close-up of a study using four frames.  They are a scano rather than a pano, however.  I attached the camera to a small car which ran on a track.  CS4's photomerge repositioned them.  Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on February 28, 2011, 05:49:08 pm
Interesting piece.  I assume the white line on the bottom right edge is a part of the artwork?

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on February 28, 2011, 07:26:49 pm
-
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on February 28, 2011, 08:07:26 pm
Interesting piece.  I assume the white line on the bottom right edge is a part of the artwork?

Mike.

The short answer is: yes.  The long answer is: The close-up is about 2/3s of what is, unfortunately, a triangular panel.  The line is part of it topographically; the thick paint film rolls off at the edge of the sheet.  It is [I think, I did this in the fall of 09] catching the light from the top of the frame of a DeWalt LED work-light/flashlight that is shining edge on into the acrylic sheet that the paint is on.  Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on March 01, 2011, 10:01:42 am
I would rather look at RSL's beach photo, but here is a detail.  It is of an area about an inch and a haft high.  The red and blue are pigmented; the white is air bubbles in clear medium, so glare on the edge is much like the other brightness in the picture though it would seem to have some potential for distraction here.  Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 01, 2011, 11:04:24 am
Russ, lovely atmospheric image! I know this is not a critique forum, but I will anyway ;) I love how the single flying seagull is breaking the negative space. I would, however, like to see a bit more detail in the guy, as his blackness appears too aggressive within the overall grayness. Imho, of course.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on March 01, 2011, 11:27:03 am
Slobodan, Thanks. Actually it's an allegory. The guy is aggressively intruding -- on unspoiled nature. I had hoped to do some street photography over on the gulf coast but as it turned out, for various reasons I had to substitute beach photography.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 01, 2011, 12:01:45 pm
... Actually it's an allegory. The guy is aggressively intruding -- on unspoiled nature...

Ahh! I knew I should not try to out-critique you! ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 01, 2011, 02:08:06 pm
Ahh! I knew I should not try to out-critique you! ;)



Especially in a c-free section!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 03, 2011, 01:29:31 am
... Actually it's an allegory. The guy is aggressively intruding -- on unspoiled nature...

Russ, your explanation reminds me of a Caspar David Friedrich's 19th century painting "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" (http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/his/CoreArt/art/rom_fri_wand.html). The similarity is uncanny: wanderer, fog, blackness, "aggressively intruding -- on unspoiled nature". Even the sea is there, although figuratively only.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on March 03, 2011, 02:06:22 am
Another intruder on unspoiled nature:
(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/photos/1179176958_SWvvN-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Portraits/TheBook/15730430_8vLAv#1179176958_SWvvN-A-LB)
Allthough for me I take the guy with the umbrella any day over the noisy vehicles that make the tracks you see there

And spoiling nature can give nice graphics  ;):
(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/photos/1179176827_ZgKPa-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Portraits/TheBook/15730430_8vLAv#1179176827_ZgKPa-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on March 03, 2011, 03:31:45 pm
Even the sea is there, although figuratively only.

Ah, yes, but the man understood mountains.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on March 05, 2011, 01:59:39 am
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5475916930_a59b65a3ef_o.jpg)
This was made from 120 images (40 images x 3 exposures), combined in Autopano Pro, then processed twice in HDR Efex Pro, both times slightly differently.  The first time I wanted to highlight the textures in the clouds, and the second time I set the sky to be almost completely blurred out.  I took both completed image in Lightroom and combined them using the LR/Enfuse plugin.  Turned out pretty well, I thought.
Mike.

Yikes..I think if I tried this with the old laptop it would have coughed once and died..
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on March 05, 2011, 02:34:54 am
Wel, I was secretly trying to make smoke come out of my computer but it didn't work.  This is probably a good thing...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on March 06, 2011, 02:44:15 pm
Fun in a water deposit with a mobile phone
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 06, 2011, 02:56:19 pm
I'm sure you will end manually.
ps: I did not mean to put this little yellow face on my post, what I did was 3  ? to express the surprise, and 3"?" gives the yellow stuff...oh well, keyboard mysteries.


Yes, I used the 2.8/180 this time and only manual... I tend to be a single lens at a time photographer these days: makes me think about stretching what that one optic can do for me. I thought I'd be doing faces, but found myself more interested in close-ups of instruments and things like that. Hope some of the stuff is good enough to post later on.

Rob C 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on March 06, 2011, 06:38:35 pm
Fun in a water deposit with a mobile phone

Interesting... We're drawn to faces of course, and there's just enough lack of detail in the face to make one wonder what he's contemplating...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 06, 2011, 08:25:51 pm
Interesting... We're drawn to faces of course, and there's just enough lack of detail in the face to make one wonder what he's contemplating...

Mike.
Indeed. Much more interesting than this face:    :)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on March 07, 2011, 01:10:20 am
Hi all. Oooooh I've been tempted to post these two images in some recent threads. Better to be polite I suppose and put them here.  ;D
David
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on March 07, 2011, 04:54:02 am
Interesting... We're drawn to faces of course, and there's just enough lack of detail in the face to make one wonder what he's contemplating...

Mike.
Yes, that is what interested me, not the face but the relation with an hidden object and its contemplation.
The light was extremely low and located as you see it, appart from the convertion, the mobile phone on that configuration produce horrible noise and lack of details. It's a primitive mobile, no isos settings, nothing.
But I sometimes use it because it just fits in my jeans pocket and produce a sort of Holga kind of pics.

The man is looking at a sculpture, installed in that water deposit. The only source of light was the leds from the sculpture that where constantly moving so the guy's face was lightened from time to time. You see a part of the sculpture on the bottom-right.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on March 07, 2011, 05:47:54 am
Hi all. Oooooh I've been tempted to post these two images in some recent threads. Better to be polite I suppose and put them here.  ;D
David

I think one of the threads may be closed now and one member got banned, indeed maybe better you didn't post them there  ;)

Btw "Lies" is also a quite known female first name in the Dutch speaking countries (pronounced differently). Sofar I never made the connection  :o
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on March 07, 2011, 07:58:57 am
I think one of the threads may be closed now and one member got banned, indeed maybe better you didn't post them there  ;)

Btw "Lies" is also a quite known female first name in the Dutch speaking countries (pronounced differently). Sofar I never made the connection  :o
What happened? Have I missed something?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 07, 2011, 03:30:39 pm
What happened? Have I missed something?


Guess I missed it too.

Earlier, I was rather happy about converting to b/w from those jazz files. However, I have found that the metal on saxophones is a killer for the process. I have one conversion where it looks like the guy is playing into a tube of milk. But, it looks fine in colour.

I never found those problems with film.

However, guitars look okay and so do drum kits. I think it has something to do with the bar lghts. I've shot chrome on motorbikes (in daylight) and it looks beautiful on digital.

JJJ, are you still with us? If so, love advice!

Puzzled, from Mallorca.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tokengirl on March 07, 2011, 06:15:12 pm


Earlier, I was rather happy about converting to b/w from those jazz files. However, I have found that the metal on saxophones is a killer for the process. I have one conversion where it looks like the guy is playing into a tube of milk. But, it looks fine in colour.

I never found those problems with film.


What software are you using to do the conversion?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 08, 2011, 10:24:45 am
What software are you using to do the conversion?

Hi Toke

I start with taking the NEFs via a SanDisk card reader into Nikon's Capture NX2; fiddle a bit there with Exposure (sometimes a little Highlight Save too), and then take them out as Tiffs and into Photoshop (6) and there convert into photoshop files as soon as I can.

If I'm converting to b/w I do: Imagen > Ajustar > Mezclador de canales (which I assume is Channel Mixer). Being in Florida you'll know that already.

I think I'll see if I can find an example of exactly this problem with the sax metal and post it here, along with a correction that I did that went way in the other direction and looks as if it's printed on a separate piece of paper.

Rob C

EDIT: here's one with the odd metallic effect on the sax; have to admit, it's a very old one and in other shots yet to be processed it shows the vanished gloss, but I've had it on pristine instruments too.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on March 08, 2011, 03:49:42 pm
Hi Rob. Some things with digital can be quite different. I have a lot of trouble with snow.  I think your sax shots look fine but the lighting looks difficult. In the sax shot you posted it looks to me like the work needs to done before conversion to b&w, but someone else may have a better solution.
Have you tried using B&W conversion instead? In my version of Photoshop the third batch of adjustment layers go:
Vibrance/ Hue saturation/ Colour balance/ Black and white/ Photo filter/ Channel mixer.
The Black and White adjustment layer gives you a bit more control over tones than Channel Mixer I think. You may need to do a second conversion just for the metal, and then mask it off and brush in just the sax.
Another thing you could try is to create a Hue/Saturation layer UNDER the black and white conversion layer, maybe increase the saturation to give more tonal separation, and then grab the Hue slider and move it right across its range while carefully watching the part of the image that concerns you. Again you may need to do two conversions and blend together the bits you want.
Cheers, David
Edit: You could also look at the individual RGB channels before conversion to see if there is something useful
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on March 08, 2011, 05:11:10 pm
Rob, as David pointed, you also can use: ajustes > blanco y negro (or pressing at the same time the keyboard keys: alt+mayus+ctrl+b) and then try the numerous options in the pop-up panel. You can give a color tone at your b&w warmer or colder with the Matiz option enabled.

Plugins like Silver Effex Pro are really usefull for B&W.

Usefull link to see sax renders: http://www.google.es/images?um=1&hl=es&rls=com.microsoft%3Aes%3AIE-Address&rlz=1I7ACPW_es___ES372&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=coltrane&btnG=Buscar&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 09, 2011, 04:34:21 am
Thanks for the replies, guys, but the PS advice looks as difficult to me as playing the sax must be!

Basically, it really boils down to my not being a PS whiz-kid (at all!) and without a personal demonstration about these techniques I doubt I'll ever improve. I have learned through the years that I can pick up on what I see far more efficiently than by reading the same info from books. The trouble stems, partly, from a sort of intrinsic dislike of things technical; wet photography was so simple and obvious to me that we both got on like a house on fire. There is no such love affair with computers.

I have studied the link you provided, Fred, and seeing all those saxes at once like that, makes me think that my own efforts aren't at all bad, either, except for this strange effect on some.

Regarding the lighting on my shown shot, I had no control over that: it was a setup that somebody doing a video had arranged. However, it was still a lot better than the natural room lighting that the bar provides, and to which the last two attempts at working there have subjected me. The clear winner in all of this is auto ISO that the D700 handles very well. I simply set the camera at that, add the max. high-ISO noise reduction that is provided as an option, and that's it: no other noise reduction anywhere.

Here's another shot during the initial session with the added lights. Again, auto ISO and 1.8/50 manual at around f2 and 125th sec. hand-held. The question I faced later was: how red/yellow is the gold of a sax when you can't see it? Remided me of doing fashion again, and wondering about the colour of clothes long gone...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on March 09, 2011, 04:07:22 pm
Hi Rob. You have my sympathy about Photoshop. Until a few years ago I was happily using other editing software but realised I couldn't talk to other photographers in detail. The initial learning curve can be a bit steep. The thing I found is to know what I don't need. And not having anyone around here to teach me that was a bit tricky, so I ended up travelling across the world to Wales for lessons (very good ones too). Probably half the things in Photoshop I'll never use, but what I do use it does really well.  If like me you lose consciousness reading “how to” books there are good video tutorials at Lynda.com and at http://www.photoanswers.co.uk/Video-Tutorials/Left-Hand-Nav/Buy-Videos-on-CD/  (Digital Photo mag was a help). The all cost money but.
If you want to try the black and white adjustment layer then have a play around with it. Move them sliders and bend some pixels. I'm on holiday for another week and am happy to stay online one day or night and walk you through the rest.
Wet photography was magic, but  I never had the sense I do now of looking at a subject with a camera in hand, visualising what I want to show about it and knowing I can do so without limit. It's being able to visualise how I feel and having the certainty that my imagination can translate that into print. The limits now are of mind and heart. Be patient with yourself.
David S
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 10, 2011, 06:28:38 am
Tutorials/Left-Hand-Nav/Buy-Videos-on-CD/  (Digital Photo mag was a help). The all cost money but.
If you want to try the black and white adjustment layer then have a play around with it. Move them sliders and bend some pixels. I'm on holiday for another week and am happy to stay online one day or night and walk you through the rest.
Wet photography was magic, but  I never had the sense I do now of looking at a subject with a camera in hand, visualising what I want to show about it and knowing I can do so without limit. It's being able to visualise how I feel and having the certainty that my imagination can translate that into print. The limits now are of mind and heart. Be patient with yourself.
David S


Thanks for the generous offer, David, but I'm so tied up with current files and more to shoot on Saturday (Jazz) that I just don't have space to do anything for ME! I had imagined that music was going to be a self-indulgence, but it has bloomed into probable orders for prints from the venue owner (I should know tonight when his fellow owners see the stuff) but I've already been asked to do a wedding as a direct consequence of the first owner's girlfriend viewing the jazz pics... I told her I didn't do that, but if she convinces me... she is pretty, after all. But thank you very much again!

I enclose one of the current shots from Saturday: this time, there is no glossy metal - it's a well-used machine! Kinda like a Leica with bullet scrapes, or my old leather camera case festooned with destination stickies... Was a time it felt cool, now it embarrasses.


D700 with 2.8/180 on auto ISO, manual focussing, wide open and about a 100th sec. on two-legged tripod which is far better than a mono. (Not a Spanish monkey.)

;-)

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 10, 2011, 05:36:30 pm
Okay, a change from a sax.

Still like the 180mm wide open, though.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on March 10, 2011, 05:43:40 pm
Great picture. The 180 is stunning. I remember when I had the monster dinausor horrible F4 (after the delicious F3) I had the Nikkor 105mm 2.5 and I was in love with that lens.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on March 11, 2011, 01:57:09 am
Yes lovely shots Rob, but I suspect it is the person behind the camera and not the 180. I particularly like the piano player photograph.
The thing I like about photographing musicians is it's fun, because they are having fun and it becomes infectious. If you have a local orchestra try a session with them. That's a real blast.
David
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 11, 2011, 04:57:29 am
Great picture. The 180 is stunning. I remember when I had the monster dinausor horrible F4 (after the delicious F3) I had the Nikkor 105mm 2.5 and I was in love with that lens.

 "the pianist is a neighbour, too, a banking professional witness sort of man, with a bent for music. He's terrific. As I only go out with whatever is the the fitted lens these days, I couldn't get both his face and the keyboard in the same shot, so what I've discovered that I can do is a three-shot series of two heads looking down coupled to the keyboard shot. Side-by-side, as a sequence, they look okay, and when I've finished all of the images I'm keeping I shall have them up on the site - will let you know."

Okay, these (all 180mm) are now up on the site at the end of The Biscuit Tin gallery. Felt obliged to shoot the singers, too, because otherwise it might have been noticed and that wouldn't do in a small situation. Nothing wrong with them, just that I'm really interested in the instruments and materials at the moment and how these are melded with their users. Yesterday, I switched to the 2.8/135 and finally concluded it was a mistake: neither long enough for effect nor short enough to hand-hold, I wished I'd returned to the 50mm. Anyway, another 77 files to download and sort out... thank goodness I only take one card.

The drummer from the first lot has just had a heart attack and I'm told he's been given a double-bypass; makes me feel lucky with my own events in that department.

You just never can tell, can you, as I seem to remember Patricia writing.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on March 22, 2011, 04:44:42 pm
I think the name of this beach cottage can be interpreted in different ways, the choice is yours  :D

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201103/PEGA8500332620110320/1224490243_DGRyg-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201103/16106246_QDWvv#1224490243_DGRyg-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 23, 2011, 10:12:52 am
I assume it's an advert for the establishment? Quality over quantity?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 24, 2011, 06:01:28 pm
Solved my Photoshop problem this evening, got the masking function back and the whole thing is now in English! It used to be in Spanish, so that's thrown me a bit...

Anyway, a shot from the last music session, with a new session coming up Saturday. They might start to charge me model fees. I hope I joke!

Manual 2.8/135 Nikkor wide open (I think) at auto ISO and shutter set at around a 200th this time. Two legged tripod.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on March 25, 2011, 11:53:47 am
Love all your musicians Rob, lot's of character.

Here's a lady on the horn I shot last December at a concert at work:

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201012/PEGA8500255320101209/1228094224_nmMVz-X2.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201012/15059490_aVnPg#1228094224_nmMVz-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 25, 2011, 01:19:57 pm
Love all your musicians Rob, lot's of character.

Here's a lady on the horn I shot last December at a concert at work:

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201012/PEGA8500255320101209/1228094224_nmMVz-X2.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201012/15059490_aVnPg#1228094224_nmMVz-A-LB)


Thanks, it's not as easy as it looks, I discovered! Perhaps the difficult bit is waiting until they move into a decent spot of light and also decide to turn their heads to where you want them to so do... something like shooting ducks, I imagine.

Have you found problems getting the colours of the metallic instruments right? I've never done it with colour film, and with b/w it didn't pose a problem, but digi seems to dislike golden metal conversions to b/w. I suppose that making an infinite number of Layers could turn strange face colours more realistic, but two things stop me: I dont think it's necessary; it's too much like slavery! Shows are one area where folks shouldn't expect skin tones to look like outdoor skin tones.

I suspect that music photography is a bit like portraiture: you're as good as your subjects are famous!

But hell, it gives us something to do...

Ciao -

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on March 26, 2011, 12:27:05 am
Love all your musicians Rob, lot's of character.

Me too.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on March 26, 2011, 03:26:17 am

Have you found problems getting the colours of the metallic instruments right? I've never done it with colour film, and with b/w it didn't pose a problem, but digi seems to dislike golden metal conversions to b/w. I suppose that making an infinite number of Layers could turn strange face colours more realistic, but two things stop me: I dont think it's necessary; it's too much like slavery! Shows are one area where folks shouldn't expect skin tones to look like outdoor skin tones.

Rob, I haven't but also maybe because I haven't looked hard (or good) enough

Here's a straight B/W conversion in Lightroom of my first shot. Upped the contrast a bit (by the curve), darkened the yellows slightly in the colour mixer and that's it.
Note the the girl is playing a horn with a matte finish, while the guy with the glasses has the shiny gold metal variant. What do you think, OK on the metal or or not?

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 26, 2011, 05:56:12 am
Hi pegelli,

The girl's matt horn looks the same way that some of my glossy metal ones have turned out: I can best describe it as if the horn was a glass of milk. You appear to have been able to cover both ends of the spectrum well, so maybe it's just me, in the end.

The intriguing thing is that the same sax, from different angles, works perfectly normally, just as a good sax should. I'm wondering now if it is all to do with the direction of light - some weird form of filterless polarization or similar, maybe even a reaction of sensors to different wavelengths/colour sources. It would be nice to be able to get input here from some pro music photographers - unfortunately, I don't think Annie will oblige just yet.

The delay caused by my recent PS glitch has meant that I've become somewhat confused with my numbering sequences. I have tried to have a triple set of folders covering this little exercise: one for the first importation into PS from Nikon Capture NX2 called Jazz, another titled Music Images and a third, master one, called My Images which carries everything that I think worth keeping from  all shoots. The problem stems from the fact that in My Images, everything is numbered serially, from 1 upwards. I have then used the same numbers for the same files when they are in Music Images (the final workings), but within the Jazz folder I use a different code that corresponds closely to the NEF numbering. Sadly, in an attempt to make uploading to my website essier, I started a further set of numbers using a series such as Jazz 1, Jazz 2, Jazz 3 etc. which corresponds to the order in which I want the pics to sit within the website. This fourth system is applied to the Jpegs... consequently, it gets ever more difficult to know what the true identity of anything on the website really is; so far, it holds together because I have a list of conversions noted on a pad as I do the work.

So far, so good, but it is not streamlined and can only get worse. I think the way out is to abandon the Jazz 1 etc. serial numbering and use the same master number for everything and just put up with awkward jumping about at the uploading moment.

The tangled web we weave.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 28, 2011, 06:29:32 pm
Did another shoot of musos on Saturday; I listen to klrzfm.com (swamp pop rock) most nights when I'm worlking on PS and it's surprising the amount of sax music that's there when you listen for it... only glitch, these jazz people (in the pics) have a sort of basic dislike for blues... seems it's too fundamental to hold their interest. I wonder, if you were a musician, where you should draw the line between pyrotechnics and emotion - I'd settle for emotion every time. It's just like photography but without the graphics.

Funny little things happen: whilst they were messing around with computers and mics etc. Fats Domino came on with Blueberry Hill - just a couple of bars (one of them must have wider tastes) - as they were setting up some weeks ago... the place went wild. Maybe the reaction should be listened to... also, they ended one session with another break from tradition (theirs) with Tutti Frutti. Everybody was on their collective pair of legs. Oh well, it is a jazz group.

Working on the pics with different sounds in my ears, it all comes together as sweet. So maybe photography's a step beyond.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on March 30, 2011, 01:40:23 am
This has been a really interesting thread Rob, and I like your musician shots, but I feel on the whole there is a lack of really cute stuff. So seeing this thread is “without prejudice” I have rummaged around my files looking for shots of kittens and baby hedgehogs. Alas I've found none, apparently I don't have the fortitude for that sort of work. Fortunately a trip to Edinburgh earlier in the year has saved the day, for I've found......SQUIRRELS! While I dig them out here is photo taken while setting up. I never knew they had a Pavlovian response to supermarket bags. Put a bag down and before you can find a camera, this happens:
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on March 30, 2011, 01:43:58 am
We did find red squirrels up in the Cairngorms, but until I get round to that folder, this will have to do.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on March 30, 2011, 02:38:08 am
Rob,

"Unfortunately, I've run into a power pole due to some runaway soccer balls, so I have to second the opinion."

Come on, more info, much more interesting than inane half awake comments about the horizon.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 30, 2011, 04:23:35 am
Rob,

"Unfortunately, I've run into a power pole due to some runaway soccer balls, so I have to second the opinion."

Come on, more info, much more interesting than inane half awake comments about the horizon.

Cheers,


I really like surreal.

I didn't even know I'd had an encounter with soccer balls or even soccer hooligans! But then, being resigned (read condemned) to a max. of a single glass of red per day, how can you expect better where there's no lubrication?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 30, 2011, 04:44:24 pm
Two saxes: a really worn alto that's lost its gloss and a slightly better-preserved tenor that still glows darkly.

1.8/50mm manual at f2 unless it moved inadvertently, which is always possible in the circumstances. A reliable 35mm Nikkor of the same speed would be pleasant, but I can't really justify such things any more.

Rob C

PS  Take a look at the new Hans Feurer Portfolio over on http://www.wibagency.com and tell me anyone else working today can show him anything.  The Fashion gallery's pretty cool, but for me, his Beauty one is the best. There are some there from Pirelli and also from the single Pentax calendar that I own, along with some that were clearly part of the same shoots but not printed. It kinds proves what I've always believed: you do what's in you regardless of the headings under which you are allowed to work. Suddenly, musos have lost their appeal. Knew it was going to happen. Leopards, spots etc...



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on April 11, 2011, 01:35:14 pm
PS  Take a look at the new Hans Feurer Portfolio over on http://www.wibagency.com and tell me anyone else working today can show him anything.  The Fashion gallery's pretty cool, but for me, his Beauty one is the best.

Lovely stuff Rob, thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 11, 2011, 03:53:44 pm
Lovely stuff Rob, thanks for sharing.

My pleasure, Riaan; wish I could find more like that, but guess they don't exist. There are lots of agencies, but the snappers generally strive for a 'modern' look that usually doesn't boil my water that well; there are, of course, exceptions, but what seems to happen to me is that I go through periods where I love some fresh flavour-of-the-month but inevitably find myself drawn back to another ethos where my head feels more comfortable. I suppose its because I go back a long way myself and they do say that your first love is hard to forget...

Ciao -

Rob
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on April 13, 2011, 10:36:26 am
Piers in fog, Avila Beach, this past October

(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tanngrisnir4_5/random%20crap/AvilaBeachPiersinFog1of1.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 13, 2011, 12:10:59 pm
Piers in fog, Avila Beach, this past October

(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tanngrisnir4_5/random%20crap/AvilaBeachPiersinFog1of1.jpg)



Unfortunately I've never witnessed them, but this reminds me of The Vagina Monologues.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Justinr on May 07, 2011, 06:03:34 pm
I've been a busy busy boy of late and had rather deserted this fine house however I thought I'd call back and drop this on the doorstep-

Royal Wedding Street Party (http://www.justinseye.com/Galpics/Woodford_Halse.htm)

Photos uploaded in a bit of a hurry I'm afraid and I cringe at some of the horizons but still one or two reasonable shots there.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 16, 2011, 04:31:33 pm
Thought this might go well with the decaf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 22, 2011, 04:34:59 pm
Another one for Eric:

http://youtu.be/Snbj-upXQ-I

I wish!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on May 22, 2011, 08:42:00 pm
Another one for Eric:

http://youtu.be/Snbj-upXQ-I

I wish!

Rob C
Now that one is a proper landscape. No messy humans to despoil it. Only God's own chariot.

I did have a moment of panic when I thought there might be a scratch in the right front fender, but I soon realized it was just a reflection of a pavement paint stripe.

Wouldn't you trade your beloved old Ford for that one, Rob?

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 23, 2011, 03:48:57 am
Now that one is a proper landscape. No messy humans to despoil it. Only God's own chariot.

I did have a moment of panic when I thought there might be a scratch in the right front fender, but I soon realized it was just a reflection of a pavement paint stripe.

Wouldn't you trade your beloved old Ford for that one, Rob?

Eric


The old Ford and the new one too! Both could go at the blink of an eye. For all the mileage I do these days, I doubt I'd notice the difference. Oh, I wouldn't need any logos or special plates, either... less to have stolen. They'd never steal the car - where could they use or hide it on the island without getting caught? There is a problem, though: in these little villages designed for the donkey cart and tailored to disorientate the invading Moors, turning corners would be well-nigh impossible. Or I'd have to learn how to drive properly: truckers here still mange to deliver building materials almost anywhere.

The only thing I dislike about those US classics in general is the dashboard design. But then, neither Mercedes nor BMW ever managed to reach the beauty of the slightly more lowly Jaguar cockpits either. The most desireable car I saw here, at a village fiesta where they also do a mini-motorshow: a cherry-red mettalic XJR with white leather seats. In the sunshine of that Sunday morning it was Omar Khayyáms' Paradise enow, no loaves of bread or bottles of wine in sight, though there certainly were enough trees: they are de rigueur for the birds to sit and rest on before they bomb the cars with lime and varied multi-coloured acids. Comes with the tourist plan. 

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on May 23, 2011, 10:19:28 am
There is a problem, though: in these little villages designed for the donkey cart and tailored to disorientate the invading Moors, turning corners would be well-nigh impossible. Or I'd have to learn how to drive properly: truckers here still mange to deliver building materials almost anywhere.
I remember noticing how impossible it would be to drive a large vehicle in Florence or the other Tuscan hill towns. But they have trucks suitable for delivering building materials almost anywhere, too:

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 23, 2011, 10:53:28 am
But there might be a happy solution, Eric: joining the erotic exotic front of the '57 with the more spectacular tail of the '59 would leave a modicum of control for some judicious shortening somewhere, but I'm not certain which bits would be best left out...

Something I'm rather unclear about is the purpose of the leadsleds or taildraggers; pics I've seen of them suggest that the turning circle must be almost infinitely wide. Further, do they have tiny wheels attached to the underside of the rear, as do drag machines? (An owner here of an example of the Harley marque tells me that they, too, need a hell of a lot of room to execute a turn. I thought bikes were supposed to be easier.) I don't think those lowered (to that extent) cars look right at all - just badly designed.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Sareesh Sudhakaran on May 23, 2011, 11:38:29 am
Funny pepper just before it was eaten...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 23, 2011, 03:49:59 pm
I mailed this to a couple of friends on Sunday.

"I had a slightly understandable, but unpleasant experience yesterday at the jazz session. A friend of mine, a sax player who sometimes jams with the regular group, was chatting to me and I mentioned a pretty girl at one of the tables; I suggested it would be nice to try some shots with her and he said hey, I know the family, I'll ask about that right now. So, off he went, only to return with the remark that he wished he hadn't bothered: the older woman in the party instantly asked if it was for dirty pictures! Anyway, she came over to where we were both standing and explained that the girl was daughter of a friend in Germany and that she was looking after her. I said that I was father and grandpa to girls and that I understood perfectly.

By chance, I'd with me a CD I'd made of some pics I wanted to explore with another person who, unfortunately, hadn't turned up at the art meeting last week, so I said take this, play it, and you'll see exactly what I want: head-shots. I also gave her my card.

She came back a further time (Batlady) and said that they'd contact me in a couple of days to let me know, but that the girl, though interested, would not be coming (wherever) alone. With mindsets like that, I think I would now insist that somebody accompany her for my security! The funny thing is, the mutual friend is the one who feels most offended, as if he'd make an intro for a pornster! God knows what they'll make of the website. Frankly, who gives a flying fig anymore? Enthusiasm needs two parties to flourish. Oh - I'd shot one or two frames of the chick at her table, and I was asked not to use them... Hell, who are these people and what do they imagine this is all about? Use them for what? She's a friggin' totally unknown little lady with a pretty face and not a lot else."

So yes, another rock, another tree does, as genre, offer a sort of safety...

 ;-(

Basically, not a great time of year.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 25, 2011, 06:01:40 am
As an update (horrid word, but apt), the family telephoned this morning seeking further clarification! I replied that the clarification was that I'd totally lost interest and had been wracking my brains in order to find a way of letting the girl down gently and without ruffled pride; its sufficient that one of us feel offended. The 'spokesman' replied that their attitude was understandable and I replied yes, that I'd already said that at the time, but that making the point over and over had become too much to stomach and that I had no intention of trying to create anything under such a cloud of suspicion.

So much for photographic fun.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 29, 2011, 11:37:22 am
Okay, another 2.8/180mm of a beat-up old Selmer that makes delightful sounds. No stress on those sorts of work!

You can snort another couple of lines of related stuff at the bottom of the The Biscuit Tin gallery in the website, should you feel so inclined.  It's free - might as well as not.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 01, 2011, 03:13:06 pm
A musical allegory for Russ.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 04, 2011, 06:02:46 pm
Work Spaces

I vaguely remember that we once had a thread somewhere here where folks showed their working place; if memory serves, it was darkrooms, mainly, but I think Russ showed a beautiful office/studio with all manner of tables etc. Or I just dreamed it. I get all sorts of unpleasant dreams these past months... mainly, I tend to be quite horrid to people that I really love. I can't come up with any reason for that.

Anyway, to kick it off (the thread, not the dreams, unfortunately) here's the view out of the office into the civilized zone.

Rob C


PS I see I can sometimes spell copyright incorrectly, too. Oh well.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on June 04, 2011, 10:11:50 pm
Where is the picture within the picture taking us?  It seems vivid enough, though without being much more definite that one of your dreams.  Are we to structure the area before the tree[?] with our subconscious?  And no, I am not going to tell you what I see there.

Bruce

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 05, 2011, 03:27:22 am
Where is the picture within the picture taking us?  It seems vivid enough, though without being much more definite that one of your dreams.  Are we to structure the area before the tree[?] with our subconscious?  And no, I am not going to tell you what I see there.Bruce





Well, I wouldn't have expected otherwise, Bruce; this is the non-critique section of the Critiques department after all!

But let me help you, regardless: the image within the image on the right is a landscape of a single tree and several rocks within a field of raw umber, itself lying à la Russian doll within the heartland of Old Mallorca; the skies are redolent of the greater majesty of the power of Time, where the eternal excitement betwixt heat and humidity combine in their heady way to produce the spirits in the sky we call clouds.

To stage left is a further tree, this one caught as it wakens to the cold dawn's smokey breath, its summer leaves but a distant memory and, yet, promise of renewal in some remorseless future of birth and rebirth, the cycle within paradox that drives to ultimate ext¡nction of species after species.

Yet within compass of the arch, the Arch to the South, in this case, and marking a border with darkness lies yet another signifier of time: a speaker from the fabled marque of Bang & Olufsen, circa 1973 (give or take some light error for carbon dating).

Ah... as the man in the song sang: my troubled mind grows weak, to another you belong, and I feel the need for some fesh tea.

I was thinking about testosterone. Perhaps its only two useful manifestations are in the junior school playground and the bedroom.

Bonne journée

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: William Walker on June 05, 2011, 05:16:14 am
Hey Rob,

Glad to see you still use - to quote that brilliant "Not The 9 o'clock News" sketch - a "gramophone", dad"!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 05, 2011, 11:17:02 am
Hey Rob,

Glad to see you still use - to quote that brilliant "Not The 9 o'clock News" sketch - a "gramophone", dad"!



Gramophone? Gramophone' That's latest technology: it's a Pioneer turntable, dear boy! Where have you been hiding recently?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 05, 2011, 01:05:36 pm
Just to show that there's more than the workroom in my life, I offer this little snippet from yesterday's shoot. I don't have a clue how to do this, but it would be best viewed with the soundtrack that's in the link, but without the visual to the link, if you see what I think I mean.

http://youtu.be/VWZkRNEULi4

Technology would be nice were it tame.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on June 05, 2011, 01:24:48 pm
Just to show that there's more than the workroom in my life, I offer this little snippet from yesterday's shoot. I don't have a clue how to do this, but it would be best viewed with the soundtrack that's in the link, but without the visual to the link, if you see what I think I mean.

http://youtu.be/VWZkRNEULi4

Technology would be nice were it tame.

Rob C
You just have to show it who's master, Rob! Open the music link in a separate tab, then switch back to looking at the image.

Lovely combination.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 05, 2011, 03:18:54 pm
You just have to show it who's master, Rob! Open the music link in a separate tab, then switch back to looking at the image.

Lovely combination.

Jeremy


Never thought of that! You see my problems with the modern age? I'm, sure my granddaughters wouldn't have hesitated in finding a how, but then, I'd rather they didn't listen to the music this time.

God, that woman has a heavenly voice. On the one hand I have C&W ladies like Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless and Patsy Cline can make the hair stand up on the back of my neck (better than nothing) whilst others like the divine Julie can make me purrrr. What magic in sound.

Glad you liked the combo!

Rob C

PS  Just tried to do it: it worked! Thanks!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: William Walker on June 06, 2011, 03:16:34 am


Gramophone? Gramophone' That's latest technology: it's a Pioneer turntable, dear boy! Where have you been hiding recently?

;-)

Rob C

 Here is the link I was referring to:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco
you will see what I was meaning  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 06, 2011, 09:09:59 am
Here is the link I was referring to:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSINO6MKtco
you will see what I was meaning  ;D ;D ;D




Hey, I knew what you were talking about; I have grandchildren for pity's sake! ;-)

In point of fact, it isn't as far off as you might imagine: some ten years or so ago we were back in Scotland with the car and I'd taken along the Beogram turntable to see if the local B&O dealer could still get the parts to fix it: probably only needed a new drive belt or something similar. Anyway, the reception was pretty close to the one in the video, except that the guy informed me that they had around five or six similar dead units up in the attic of the shop...

Folks complain about camera makers abandoning people with old stystems; compared to the money some have in records, that's chicken feed.

But I digress. He told us that he could sell us a new Technics turntable that would work with the B&O amplifier and the rest, so we bought it at his word. When I tried to connect it up in Mallorca, it was dead as a brick. The local hifi dealer here, whom we'd known for years, came along to see if it was my error, but no, it just wouldn't fly. So the B&O amp ended up in the top of a cupboard and I bought into Pioneer... which, fortunately, does work with Technics. All that remains from that era is the speakers, still rather nice to my ears.

I sometimes wonder where the hell the money flies.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: William Walker on June 06, 2011, 09:23:40 am

Hey, I knew what you were talking about; I have grandchildren for pity's sake! ;-)


 I wasn't thinking you were too young to know it, the way you talk somedays, I was worried that you might be more of "Goon Show"  and earlier vintage!! ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 06, 2011, 02:00:42 pm
I wasn't thinking you were too young to know it, the way you talk somedays, I was worried that you might be more of "Goon Show"  and earlier vintage!! ;)

What was wrong with the Goons? What was wrong with Ted Heath (the band) or Ken MacIntosh? Lita Rosa, early Cliff Richard? I still await a cheque for a print or two from Chris Barber, but I'm not holding my breath. Don't you remember Earl Bostic's Flamingo?

I have the advantage of spatial perspective, as Russ would say; sometimes much of it has haze, too.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: William Walker on June 06, 2011, 03:23:07 pm
What was wrong with Ted Heath (the band) or Ken MacIntosh? Lita Rosa, early Cliff Richard? I still await a cheque for a print or two from Chris Barber, but I'm not holding my breath. Don't you remember Earl Bostic's Flamingo?


You've got me there....apart from Cliff (I remember seeing "The Young Ones" when I myself was a very young one). For the rest of them, not even a faint memory. Chris Barber sounds sort of familiar, who was he? Not later a member of Coliseum, with Dick Heckstall-Smith?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 06, 2011, 05:18:45 pm
You've got me there....apart from Cliff (I remember seeing "The Young Ones" when I myself was a very young one). For the rest of them, not even a faint memory. Chris Barber sounds sort of familiar, who was he? Not later a member of Coliseum, with Dick Heckstall-Smith?


Chris Barber is/was a trombone player in the traditional jazz idiom; he had a great band and I was fortunate enough to shoot some pics at a dance. He asked me to send prints down to London... I did... I wait.  This was mid-fifties, maybe I shouldn't hold my breath? Anyway, loved his style so it doesn't really matter; for all I know I might even have forgotten to put the bill inside the package. Wouldn't surprise me at all. Barber and Humphrey Lyttelton were the two most successful trad bands in the UK, I'd suggest.

MacIntosh and Heath were very big British dance bands of the 50s in the Glenn Miller manner. Earl Bostic had a great sax sond; try looking for him and 'Flamingo' on youtube. Just struck me: you did hear of Glenn Miller? Not being rude here, it is quite possible that one of the biggest names in WW2 music, he could be totally forgotten a short while later.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: William Walker on June 07, 2011, 02:12:06 am

Just struck me: you did hear of Glenn Miller? Not being rude here, it is quite possible that one of the biggest names in WW2 music, he could be totally forgotten a short while later.

Rob C

Glen Miller I do know, through my Dad,who was in the War (South African Air Force), so I grew up listening to him. Glen Miller died in a plane crash during/towards the end of the war? I'll tell you who else my Dad listened to and I have been trying to find it ever since, Billy Vaughan. I just remember the saxes playing in harmony, that was great to my five-year old ears. Crazy Otto? Did you listen to him?

I was more influenced by my Uncle's taste though, Acker Bilk, Fats Waller - that sort of thing. Still love the clarinet today because of that. There is a great album out by Louis Cottrell, "New Orleans Living Legends", beautiful!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 07, 2011, 03:32:55 am
Glen Miller I do know, through my Dad,who was in the War (South African Air Force), so I grew up listening to him. Glen Miller died in a plane crash during/towards the end of the war? I'll tell you who else my Dad listened to and I have been trying to find it ever since, Billy Vaughan. I just remember the saxes playing in harmony, that was great to my five-year old ears. Crazy Otto? Did you listen to him?

I was more influenced by my Uncle's taste though, Acker Bilk, Fats Waller - that sort of thing. Still love the clarinet today because of that. There is a great album out by Louis Cottrell, "New Orleans Living Legends", beautiful!


That's controversial about Glenn; some say his 'plane didn't vanish in the English Channel but that he and Elvis and Henry, from M*A*S*H, who also supposedly perished on a flight from Korea are all together on an island in the Bermuda Triangle. I am only reporting, so don't quote. It could be false.

New Orleans. The book that opened the doors (or my ears) to that sound was Jazz by Rex Stuart. It was, at least I seem to remember it as, a paperback from, I think, Penguin. As with so much in life, you lose things... I lost David Niven's The Moon's a Balloon to the crew of a boat that I shot here for Pete Townshend via a local agent (I'm told he had several boats at the time); they sailed away without giving it back. But I did get paid. Not for the book, for the snaps. In retrospect, I bet I was screwed there, too: the local boat agent later did a run owing a huge sum around the marina; I wonder how inflated my quote for the shoot might have been...

I remember it, rightly or wrongly, as being called the Billy Vaughan Orchestra; maybe that'll help you do youtube search for videos?

Mr Bilk had a style and some popular hits, but I preferred Monty Sunshine on clarinet (from the Brits), but if you listen to Sidney Bechet on clarinet or soprano with Armstrong's Hot Five or Hot Seven you'll love him.

As you might have seen, I have a few shots of a Cuban tenor player who lives and works near me on this island; it's interesting to learn that due to political censorship at various times, the whole New Orleans sound is totally alien to him: with no exposure to it in Cuba. On the other hand, modern jazz he knows all about. Hard to understand how politics can alter musical perspectives so radically.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 09, 2011, 03:33:02 pm
Okay, some psychoanalysis: why is it that this old D200 shot reminds me of Judy Garland?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on June 09, 2011, 03:43:07 pm
Okay, some psychoanalysis: why is it that this old D200 shot reminds me of Judy Garland?

Rob C

Because it is a pinwheel with a solid core in the context of going up or down.  And because it is missing something?

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 09, 2011, 05:06:24 pm
Because it is a pinwheel with a solid core in the context of going up or down.  And because it is missing something?

Bruce



Hey! Bruce

The missing bit's easy: the top hat. The minute you look for it you realise it's lost in suggestion.

Did Judy do a lot of spinning, though? Guess she probably had to; the up and down is fairly standard, all the same; we all have to do it on and off, in and out of season.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 15, 2011, 04:41:48 pm
Just for the hell of it, I decided to take the D200 out of mothballs and try it out with the 2.8/180mm as the 'effective' 270mm it then seems to become.

A bit of a shock, actually. The D700 seems to deal with contrasts a little bit better - no, a lot better - and several otherwise nice frames from this shoot had to be abandoned because the OOF effects didn't work smoothly at all, but rendered themselves as far too burned out. (Oh film...) Even this shot had to have a lot of the left side removed because of the distractingly burned out clothes. But anyway, digital still gives a result that can work well enough, to borrow that dreadful phrase of the charlatan!

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2011, 11:28:00 am
Okay, not my pics, but what the hell!

Instead, my granddaughter Francesca (on the right) doing well; wish my wife was here to see this.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on June 26, 2011, 12:28:18 pm
Fully justified to be proud Rob. A beautiful young lady with the talent to convince the judges that she has the best English language mooting skills is worth all praise.

Just listen with me to the friendly harmonica player on a bridge in Amsterdam playing a song to celebrate the occasion :)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2011, 12:54:30 pm
Hey Pieter, thanks for the kind words!

Tried to get the sound to work but can't find it - shouldn't it have opened on my sound system the same way as youtube links do? Quite clearly, regarding computer dexterity I am still very much pre-kindergarten!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on June 26, 2011, 01:07:19 pm
Sorry Rob, tongue in cheek (didn't mean to test your computer skills)
You'll have to close your eyes and imagine it  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2011, 01:18:29 pm
Sorry Rob, tongue in cheek (didn't mean to test your computer skills)
You'll have to close your eyes and imagine it  ;)



You see what I mean about skills? The granddchild doesn't take after me very much...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on June 27, 2011, 01:49:53 am
Congrats to both of you, Rob!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on June 27, 2011, 02:57:30 am
I always thought it was called a Stomach Steinway.

Baby boomers driving large 4x4s around Australia towing caravans are called Grey Nomads. This one was just a bit different from the rest. Somehow I thought of Rob when I saw it. I'm assuming the bikes would have to go.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ths6YWpv9xc/TggorBi9BiI/AAAAAAAAA9U/Ht80m_s_Mtw/s1600/nomads.jpg)

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 27, 2011, 03:21:15 am
Congrats to both of you, Rob!

Mike.


Thanks, Mike; I always suspected that girl was going to be trouble. She and her kid sister always had their noses buried in books, even at meals, and that annoyed me somewhat, but what's a grandparent to say? When the books were finally put aside, we used to have 'debates' as we'd eat together out there on the terrace when they'd be here on holiday, debates that were not really debates as much as total demolitions of my stances on various points, political, social and possibly moral. The problem was that, to quote the legal eagle one (the other starts uni reading medicine this year), one has to learn to think laterally, as well as vertically. For a while that definition/distinction baffled me. As it would. By the time I realised what she meant it was too late: too late to pull seniority and hope to hide behind it!

Lovemall!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 27, 2011, 03:45:57 am
I always thought it was called a Stomach Steinway.

Baby boomers driving large 4x4s around Australia towing caravans are called Grey Nomads. This one was just a bit different from the rest. Somehow I thought of Rob when I saw it. I'm assuming the bikes would have to go.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ths6YWpv9xc/TggorBi9BiI/AAAAAAAAA9U/Ht80m_s_Mtw/s1600/nomads.jpg)

Cheers,



Not so sure about the bikes having to go (just as long as they don't import them into Mallorca), Tom, but the trailing thing, certainly. There used to be zillions of caravans circulating the byways of Scotland during the 50s and 60s and getting caught behind one of those disasters meant that you might as well park at the first opportunity and go for a siesta, or at least a swim in a brook. Of course, as in the Dordogne outwith winter, you never could park unles you broke down, in whch case you could simply shrug, spread your arms out wide and smile. That's why we would almost invariably pick a rainy day for going on family picnics; on the other hand, that might just have been our luck at the time, but at least we had the few slots to ourselves. I recall playing Patsy Cline over and over on the tape at some period around the 60s/70s. Even then I couldn't sing, so that's hardly a talent I lost with time. But nobody seemed to mind - I was the one doing the driving, I suppose, and it kept me awake.

But I know why you thought of me: the car's much the same colour as my old refurbed Rusty!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on June 27, 2011, 05:55:51 pm
Three different worlds…

I suppose my view of caravans in Britain has been coloured by Top Gear. You either drop them from a helicopter, blow them up or have a conga line of cars following you on some country lane.

When I was in Spain I was in awe of the ability of Madrid drivers to park in such restricted spaces. I thought that it should be called a Parker's License not a Driver's license.

This shot was from a different world, Outback Australia. I just got back from driving 4500km from Sydney to the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia and back. Caravans are no problem in this part of Australia. The only thing slowing them down is the cost of fuel. Modern caravans are a whole world away from the tin cans of the past. Queen size beds, toilets, showers, fridges and real kitchens. Top Gear wouldn't have the budget to blow up some of these babies. You're more likely to see a Land Cruiser towing them than 6 cylinder mum and dad car.

The roads in that part of the world are something else too. You're more likely to have 200km stretches of road with nothing more than a half a dozen rest stops along the way. The signs are mainly things like kangaroos next 150km or a microsleep can kill or this one from South Australia…

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6ZrJBIgT4o/Tgj4yLiE0mI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/XEjoDs7J7Rc/s1600/stop.jpg)

I think it's something about creeping over the speed limit which could be quite true. Either my speedo is out by 25% or there are a lot of drivers that are more than creeping.

Cheers,







Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 28, 2011, 04:31:16 pm
Well, Tom, it's always nice going back to your site for another trip down south!

Having washed old Rusty recently, and having spent more on tarting him up, I think I shall refer to him as the 'coupé formerly known as Old Rusty.''

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on June 28, 2011, 05:26:52 pm
Thanks Rob.

After cleaning up a kangaroo my car came back from the repair shop looking all shiny and new. It only lasted a week as I was given an offer I could refuse at work and so have unlimited time to do things now. I took it back to the outback and it now has a thin covering of red dust all over it.

Having had my last two cars stolen from the front of my house I have called my car the Loaner, That is, it's just on loan till it's real owner takes possession of it.

I worked with Danny who also had his car stolen. Around a year later he spotted his car on the street. He still had the car key on his key chain so he drove it home happy that it was in better condition than when he last saw it. It was gone the next day…

It's better to be just looking at down under on my site, winter is upon us and it's getting cold.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on June 28, 2011, 07:25:02 pm
Photographers in the wasteland.  Just trying to give sense of perspective from almost in the middle of Badwater Basin.  I didn't have a great sky, the borders between salt polygons weren't there, and there was nothing in particular to focus on in the reach of my camera at the time (LX5), so the other photographers, waaaaaay further out to the west, would have to do.  The black and white gave it (to me, in any case) a more extreme sense of the tiny figures up against the barren immensity of the background.

Still can't decide if I really like it or not.

(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tanngrisnir4_5/Death%20Valley/P1000489.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 29, 2011, 04:02:25 am
What are these guys doing - walking on water, or similar?

Actually, this picture illustrates a phenomenon that's been troubling me - well, inviting my attention - these past few months: what is it about some photographs that allows them to be very interesting indeed, but absolutely not material for the wall? I can't really think of another medium where there are such obvious decorative purposes yet so many instances where decoration isn't what it's ultimately about. Street (however you might care to define it) fits into this for me: very interesting but not something I'd think of putting up on the walls of my home. Landscape is another such - I see painting as far more likely to get that hook; about the only use I can honestly see for photography on the wall, as decoration, is black/white hanging in some city loft somewhere, and then probably a nude of some sort; a statement, if you will.

On the other hand, I see photography as having an almost exclusively 'right' home within books, where painting doesn't look at ease. Also, I think photography looks very much in its element in galleries, and it's ironic that they (photographs) are only there in order to be transported to another location where they will probably not look so good.

So really, I doubt very much that it boils down to whether or not an image is good or otherwise, but has far more deeply hidden factors at play.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on June 29, 2011, 02:45:02 pm
What are these guys doing - walking on water, or similar?

Well, they're walking on the huge salt pan that is Badwater Basin, so they're sort of walking 'over' water.  When I took it, if you kneeled down to get a certain angle, or sat down on it, the crust would break and you'd end up with wet and scraped up knees.
Quote

Actually, this picture illustrates a phenomenon that's been troubling me - well, inviting my attention - these past few months: what is it about some photographs that allows them to be very interesting indeed, but absolutely not material for the wall? I can't really think of another medium where there are such obvious decorative purposes yet so many instances where decoration isn't what it's ultimately about. Street (however you might care to define it) fits into this for me: very interesting but not something I'd think of putting up on the walls of my home. Landscape is another such - I see painting as far more likely to get that hook; about the only use I can honestly see for photography on the wall, as decoration, is black/white hanging in some city loft somewhere, and then probably a nude of some sort; a statement, if you will.

On the other hand, I see photography as having an almost exclusively 'right' home within books, where painting doesn't look at ease. Also, I think photography looks very much in its element in galleries, and it's ironic that they (photographs) are only there in order to be transported to another location where they will probably not look so good.

So really, I doubt very much that it boils down to whether or not an image is good or otherwise, but has far more deeply hidden factors at play.

Rob C

Very interesting ideas I hadn't yet considered.  I wonder, and this is impossible to quantify, how many people appreciate/view 'fine art landscape' photography through books as opposed to hanging on a wall.  With the advent of coffee-table books and their popularity rising since I was a kid in the 70s, I'm guessing it's likely waaaay out of whack, like 100/1.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on June 30, 2011, 04:22:44 am
I suppose my view of caravans in Britain has been coloured by Top Gear. You either drop them from a helicopter, blow them up or have a conga line of cars following you on some country lane.
Or play conkers (http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/van-conkers) with them.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 30, 2011, 10:33:02 am
Or play conkers (http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/van-conkers) with them.

Jeremy




To me, Clarkson is an enigma. I used to read him when I would buy the Sunday Times, and he was brilliant; I watch him, on and off, on his car (?) programme and he leaves me stone cold. He exchanges the relative erudition and real wit of his writing for the most crass of junior schoolboy (with budget to indulge himself) pranks. And the audience grows... What a friggin' world. For years I simply couldn't make myself watch, but left to my own devices now and facing the joyous alternative of Photoshop, I sometimes give up, make yet another coffee beyond the allowed dose and switch on the show. It numbs the brain, and that's sometimes a good thing, I guess.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 23, 2011, 06:42:25 am
Discover why my generation is/was slimmer:

http://youtu.be/LLnOhTRk-Is


you had to be, otherwise this was impossible.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 23, 2011, 09:25:52 am
Discover why my generation is/was slimmer:

http://youtu.be/LLnOhTRk-Is


you had to be, otherwise this was impossible.

Rob C
Can you still do that stuff, that fast, these days, Rob?

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 23, 2011, 10:24:41 am
Can you still do that stuff, that fast, these days, Rob?

Eric


You want the truth or you want the dream?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 23, 2011, 12:45:02 pm

You want the truth or you want the dream?

;-)

Rob C
Me too.    ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tq-g on July 24, 2011, 09:22:53 am
This is probably one of the most processed photos i've made. Lot's of doding, burning, cloning and cropping the hell out of it. :D

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5040/5877799823_11b0e33b72_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/63343759@N04/5877799823/)

Also, will I get hanged for posting a (digtial) drawing here? I had almost forgotten about it when I found it today. It turned out pretty well I think.
http://i52.tinypic.com/33cb2g8.jpg
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 24, 2011, 01:59:51 pm
Also, will I get hanged for posting a (digtial) drawing here? I had almost forgotten about it when I found it today. It turned out pretty well I think.
http://i52.tinypic.com/33cb2g8.jpg
That's the nice thing about this "Without Prejudice" thread: You should be able to post anything and nobody should complain.

Of course, if you want preempt any complaints, you could always take a photograph of the drawing and post the photograph.   :D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tq-g on July 24, 2011, 02:33:17 pm
That's the nice thing about this "Without Prejudice" thread: You should be able to post anything and nobody should complain.

Of course, if you want preempt any complaints, you could always take a photograph of the drawing and post the photograph.   :D
You Sir, are a genius! :D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 24, 2011, 11:33:02 pm
You Sir, are a genius! :D
But of course! I remark that to myself frequently, even if nobady else does.  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 25, 2011, 03:47:48 am
But of course! I remark that to myself frequently, even if nobady else does.  ;)


That's interesting, Eric. I find a similar trait developing lo these last few years. Perhaps it's the result of all that experience that drifts into our lives.

I had a peek at Slobodan's graphic display of construction based on 100 dollar bills; do you think it might be the model for some of the newer top-grade (?) camera systems? You know, price based on the number of bills one can compress into the body and stuff into the lenses? It used to be based on pounds sterling per millimetre, but then they felt they were losing out with the wide-angles and a change was introduced at Photokina one year. They never looked back.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 26, 2011, 06:21:56 pm
Finally decided to go with this group show (should have been called Chaos) of mixed artists - painters, snappers, sculptors etc. that's been simmering away, pretending to give birth for weeks.

I figured that the only way to survive it was to take it tongue-in-cheek à la French kiss, and so, in a true spirit of sedition, I  have brought into play the Italo-Iberic-Scot thing, combining an eclectic mix of motifs: a shell from the Bahamas, bought as a prop for a Scottish calendar client, shot years later on a beach in Spain on Kodachrome that's been scanned and then converted into black and white to make my Cinecittá first page of a projection show. (I know what a Parthian shot is, but is there a handle for a first shot? Russ?) This is going to happen on the town hall's machine, and only they know if anything has been calibrated or not. I'm not sure the town hall is ready for this; I may be deported. But at my tender age, who cares?

(Just to keep Slobodan on side, some of the imagery that fleshes it all out was actually shot in Cyprus, so Aphrodite should be happy enough to view the show.)

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 26, 2011, 08:18:55 pm
Hey! Good for you, Rob! You're never too old to show your work. I hope you get some good responses, and that the projector doesn't die on you.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on July 27, 2011, 12:48:43 am
Congrats, Rob!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on July 27, 2011, 04:14:53 am
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5311/5906216400_4ee431c7f3_z.jpg)

3min...


/Daniel
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on July 27, 2011, 02:48:38 pm
Intriguing!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on July 28, 2011, 04:21:01 pm
I find this one funny
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 29, 2011, 09:04:44 am
A new version of a studio wind-machine, Fred? I used to use an old Electrolux vacuum cleaner. They were longish boxes with holes at both ends. If you connected the hose to one end it sucked and if to the other, it blew. And best of all, it made so much noise you didn't have to listen to anyone! Also, you could aim the damned thing! How cool was that for the 60s?

My mobile and that of my wife both died some time ago, and so I eventually bought another one this week. It's a Samsung Galaxy Ace and has a 5mpx camera, the main reason for choosing it. The thing is anything but intuitive, and so far, I've managed to load a few numbers into the memory. The old card from my dead Nokia worked, but the memory didn't come with it! Seems like nothing ever works the same way twice.

Anyway, to stay on topic - sort of - I sat down for a coffee in a bar this morning and thought yes! the perfect opportunity to play HC-B and make a picture with the mobile. So, I cleverly set up the shot, and when I pressed the button (they should make an electronic cable release...) I didn't get a picture, I got another menu. Amen. It's been like that since I got the damned thing. I spend ages looking at the online instructions... but how the hell do you remember anything?

I've been reading your stuff about Red - you and Cooter must be masochists.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on July 29, 2011, 06:51:21 pm
It looks like a studio wind machine isn't it? But it is an "abanico". the girls was moving it to get cooler and she just noticed I was taking the shot, when she looked at me I pressed the shutter. It was taken with a Pentax I think, quite close.

About Red, I don't own one, I've just experienced the post-prod workflow wich is in fact easier than with other systems. On the contrary, if all equipment was like Red things would be much more simple and we wouldn't have to fight with transcoding, with loosing datas and all the loosing-time-and-energy-chaos.

About the instructions I understand you. Each time I change the phone I try to push further the moment I'll have to read the instructions, until I loose a shot or I didn't save properly the phone number of this beautifull woman I met...annoying micro technology!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 30, 2011, 02:01:10 pm
It looks like a studio wind machine isn't it? But it is an "abanico". the girls was moving it to get cooler and she just noticed I was taking the shot, when she looked at me I pressed the shutter. It was taken with a Pentax I think, quite close.

About Red, I don't own one, I've just experienced the post-prod workflow wich is in fact easier than with other systems. On the contrary, if all equipment was like Red things would be much more simple and we wouldn't have to fight with transcoding, with loosing datas and all the loosing-time-and-energy-chaos.

About the instructions I understand you. Each time I change the phone I try to push further the moment I'll have to read the instructions, until I loose a shot or I didn't save properly the phone number of this beautifull woman I met...annoying micro technology!


The reality, Fred, is that they are designed as toys for rich children. The chances of an adult finger hitting a single letter or number every time is practically zero. The early calculator (Sinclair?) had the size about right; I could use that reasonably well. Not quickly, you understand, but fairly accurately. But my wife was still quicker and more accurate than I, using her mind alone. She was good at maths...

;- )

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on August 01, 2011, 12:17:53 pm
(http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af71/tanngrisnir4_5/5998176026_3ea1679d17_b.jpg)

Incredible light this weekend in the Alabama Hills.  Still, the higher ISO limitations of a LX5 were quite evident.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on August 02, 2011, 01:58:36 am
Some great clouds too, I see!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: stevegalle on August 03, 2011, 01:24:44 am
After the crop debate that the station pic kicked off I thought I'd post something that I cropped heavily (orig is 6x6). I like the image, but it's a pretty strange format for a portrait I guess...

(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/6003994655_c04f30907a_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 03, 2011, 04:46:05 am
I quite like the occassional stretch image. Your shot also demonstrates one of the things that I liked about 500 Series cameras: versatility and freedom to change the original to suit the future useage - great for stock. Though 6x7 was, in some ways, superior, it already committed you to an image format which 6x6 didn't quite do to the same extent.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on August 20, 2011, 03:07:42 am
Reviving this thread with another image I keep getting back to and wonder why.

It's a scene after dropping off my daughter (not in this picture and not at this castle  ;D) and walking around the village a bit before driving home.
My first caption was "sleepover party for pricesses" but that doesn't fit, because princesses would be arriving by horse drawn coaches, and certainly not pull their own suitcase  ???
Who can help with what I saw?


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: degrub on August 20, 2011, 06:34:41 am
how about the long road home
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on August 20, 2011, 04:05:15 pm
Well, it does like a princess who slipped out the back door and went off to discover the world without being discovered by her family, and after having seen both the good and bad of the 'real world', decided to come home...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on September 25, 2011, 01:52:50 pm
This thread seems to have fallen quiet; it's time to get it going again.

It's a shame about the finger but he's a tricky beast to photograph.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on September 26, 2011, 11:06:47 am
This thread seems to have fallen quiet; it's time to get it going again.

I miss Rob..
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: aduke on September 26, 2011, 12:49:36 pm
I miss Rob..

me, too.

Alan
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on September 26, 2011, 02:47:58 pm
And me. His profile indicates that he's logging in regularly (most recently, under an hour ago).

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 26, 2011, 02:52:44 pm
Yes indeed. Come on back, Rob! We need your wit and angst here again.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 26, 2011, 04:08:24 pm
And me. His profile indicates that he's logging in regularly (most recently, under an hour ago)...

Apparently, mostly to check his personal messages. So, if anyone wants to get in touch with him, PM seems to work (it did for me).
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on September 27, 2011, 12:54:10 pm
Cute though!!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on October 08, 2011, 06:53:55 am
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6222612866_43f8b9968c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6222612866/)
polaroid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6222612866/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr

St Kilda/Melbourne


/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fotometria gr on October 08, 2011, 01:24:15 pm
My try.

(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TM1b16I8xPI/AAAAAAACxws/3n7wVOnsTf8/s600/IMG_0479.JPG)
Bloody good shot! Where do you print man? Contact me. Regards, Theodoros. www.fotometria.gr (Please have a look)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fotometria gr on October 08, 2011, 01:35:24 pm
Waiting to launch.
Well done! Regards, Theodoros www.fotometria.gr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 11, 2011, 09:55:24 am
On the understanding that no rash act goes unpunished, I continue to pay the penalty for listening to those blessed Sirens and trading all my saintly 35mm stuff for the whorish smiles of 6x7. So many droplets have flowed under that bridge since then, but the process of rehabilitation takes forever.

The latest step in rejoining the flock, in growing the armoury of mixed metaphors and confused thoughts, has been the restocking of the longer tools. I received my new/second-hand 500 cat the other day and, on the next, I betook myself (and it) to the local marina and gave it a whirl. The lens, not any of the boats which are all beyond my current budget, a condition unlikely to change through any doing of mine – after all, who do you think took me to this place of penury in the first instance? Maybe it was the Euro – would you buy that? I don’t believe that I can, but you never know…

Anyway, here are some of the results from that couple of hours.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 11, 2011, 12:35:42 pm
It's great to see you back and shooting, Rob!

I do fancy the mirror-lens abstracts, but my fave is "God and Man." Very nice.

See? You can't get rid of an addiction that easily. Back in the day, I used to sometimes go out shooting with no film in the camera, just to photograph in my imagination. Every shot came out absolutely perfect (also in my imagination).

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on November 11, 2011, 12:39:50 pm
I agree with Eric, Rob. The abstracts are interesting, but "God and Man" is more than just interesting. Eric didn't dare admit that it's especially interesting because the focus of interest is the hand of man.

We've been corresponding, but welcome back to LuLa. LuLa missed you.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 11, 2011, 02:15:22 pm
Thanks for the kind words - but I think I'm more drawn to disabstraction these days.

I guess that the reason is that I'm not capable of seeing landscape (per se) in any valid way other than as background to a model, which is probably part of what Eric hadn't quite realised when he mentioned addiction. But that takes me back to ground deep with my own tripod holes, so best avoid it unless God sends me another talented young muse who loves photography as much as did I.

I use the past tense consciously; sometimes it's as if photography can't really save me anymore, which flies in the face of my expectations, but there we are. But it does help in its way, if only by posing the awkward question: if not photography, what else?

What I have learned, though, is that trawling back catalogues is not much of an answer to anything.

Rob
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 11, 2011, 04:51:04 pm
Welcome back, Rob!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 11, 2011, 05:42:52 pm
Funny that: I don't see "God and Man" as landscape at all.

I see it as just another mood, which is what I also see in the abstracts. Blue Monk, for example, wasn't felt as that at all in the shooting but after seeing it a few times, it brought Thelonious's eponymous tune to mind. The thing is, focussing long lenses has a tactile quality (well, almost) that is, for me, visceral in the extreme, and that was ever so, even with girls. The closest I get to the same thing is looking through binoculars at something distant and framing it with a nearby hedge, for example, where the depth shimmers and plays around with reality, even though it actually is reality. Much like Eric's empty camera shoots; did/does it matter if they were empty - isn't it the seeing?

Maybe it's simply that I can't find much of interest in things that are readily available - that there's a need for something that doesn't really exist outwith the moment, returning me, sadly, to the product of shooting with the ladies: you only have the record of a fantasy you created between you. Retrace the steps later and there's nothing there; a bit like the empty studio blues which some of us recognize so well. Or that now empty, windswept beach.

Which brings one to the matter that Keith raised: how many (abstracts) would he (or I) want to see? And that's the thing: is photography for the self or for others? Simple in the commercial world, but not quite that easy when outwith the paymaster situation. 

Perhaps that's been the huge block I have faced these past years: why do anything with a camera today? In a way, it's as if I feel myself some mechanical toy that's lost its original purpose but still runs on until the clockwork stops. (Which I hope ain't no day soon!) A photographic Flying Dutchman, then.  But anyway, better active than in traction. On a practical basis, abstracts don't charge fees!

;-)

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 11, 2011, 05:43:43 pm
Thanks, Slobodan. Nice to meet you all again.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 11, 2011, 08:16:11 pm
Great to see you actively engaged with the world and craft once more Rob,

My immediate suggestion is that "if it feels good, just do it".

Each of these has value but screen resolution on the interweb hardly lets the value shine to full effect.

Next idle hour, go for another walk.  And then another.  Build up fluency and confidence.

Regards,

WG
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 11, 2011, 08:22:53 pm
I guess I might as well smash a taboo and post a snap or two also:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 11, 2011, 09:09:41 pm
Very arresting, Walter. They have abstraction and mood and a hint of reality.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 12, 2011, 03:36:10 am
Hi Walter

"Very arresting, Walter. They have abstraction and mood and a hint of reality.

Eric"

Kinda says it all.

Also, I think your two shots illustrate the huge difference betwen treating something as colour or b/white: in b/white there is an essential mystery and, in its own manner, that brings the viewer's interpretation to bear. Were the same two in colour, then I suspect that we'd be looking at glamour which brings a quite different mood, though one that's just as much a celebration of the unconscious appreciation of form and suggestion. Didn't the ancients have a far more easy time!

"Next idle hour, go for another walk.  And then another.  Build up fluency and confidence."

That brought an early morning smile! I'm just sitting here finishing off my third mug of breakfast tea waiting for the washing machine to finish its cycle which then means cleaning off the terrace table in order to lay out the rags before hanging them up on the rack or the line, depending on size. Idle hours, dear boy, are what no male housewife ever has! I often wonder how Ann used to run the house, do the books, cook the food, do the shopping and drag me out for the best times of my life, all within the same day. There is, indeed, much to learn.

'Fluency and confidence' has me a bit baffled: do you mean as in another rock, another tree, another lake or another sea? That's no matter of confidence, I'm afraid, just of lack of basic interest in the genre. I'd far rather share your interest in veiled ladies! I can find the veils but the rest is currently beyond my means.

I take it your girls are film?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 12, 2011, 02:13:07 pm
Thank you gentlemen for your kind and interesting words,

Film indeed Rob - 4x5 T-Max 400.

I am not sure, exactly, as to the censorship rules on this site and so I played safe by a couple of nudes for when you are not having a nude.

I'll push the envelope with another pair (8x10s this time):

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 12, 2011, 02:35:07 pm
I'm not sure whether there really is any specific rule about nudes; I'd imagine it to be very difficult to arrange, because all these judgements are so subjective. I do recall Michael once posted a b/w (I think) shot of two girls getting rather close; it caused some anger in certain circles, but I seem to remember that the solution was self-motivated: the offended party left the scene. Which is fair enough.

I'd imagine that the best guide to this is the thought that if you wouldn't mind your wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/mother seeing it, then it's probably okay! I accept that some relatives are weird.

Anyway, I'm sure that the images would be pulled by Admin. if they caused real concern, which I doubt these will.

Rob C

P.S. Just ran a test print of a colour shot. After so much time not printing anything, I found the process and the look of paper prints to be rather a disappointment. I wonder if it's possible to turn into a totally virtual photographer? Close to being in love with the lightbox, if you see what I mean.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on November 13, 2011, 03:39:05 am
I am not sure, exactly, as to the censorship rules on this site and so I played safe by a couple of nudes for when you are not having a nude.
I don't think there's a firm policy: have a look at Michael Ezra's posts. They are nudes but I defy anyone to find them pornographic: they are art.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 13, 2011, 06:09:54 am
"They are art."

Ah, Jeremy! That's something that I have been thinking a lot about lately; I don't mean Ezra in particular, just the entire photographic oeuvre and how it fits within this vague definition of stuff that gets defined as such.

In fact, having observed a large number of documentaries on various painters, including, quite recently, da Vinci, I am being drawn ever closer to the conclusion that 'art' doesn't exist at all, that it's nothing but a fabricated definition for things that are, in general, perfectly useless but nonetheless pleasing to one or two of the senses. Do nimble fingers create art?

Hanging off this thought are the various genres within photography seen across this website and others. Broadly, it's about various forms of landscape, peoplescape, news and practically anything else at which you can point a camera, but where the art?

We like to soothe ourselves with claims to having a grand eye, an enquiring mind and an acute sense of observation of the passing world and even, where possible, of the past via nostalgia (one of my own addictions). But art? Really? It seems to me that perhaps, if there actually is art, then it resides in music by virtue of it being unseen, lives in the mind, is wholly pervasive and able to cross time and distance at the flick of a switch. How else can one be transported back to the 50s, 60s or any other time that was personally important? Yes, the movies, but even there the accent comes from the soundtrack without which even the Detroit chrome loses some of its glow. Speaking of which, perhaps the car, just a mechanical buggy that has, however, come to represent so much more to its owners (and to those who see it) is another emblem of grand design and, at times, a higher art?

The suspicion is that we are in a state far from grace; that we grasp at anything in the wan hope of finding salvation from both ourselves and the very nature of life.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 14, 2011, 10:14:03 am
"P.S. Just ran a test print of a colour shot. After so much time not printing anything, I found the process and the look of paper prints to be rather a disappointment. I wonder if it's possible to turn into a totally virtual photographer? Close to being in love with the lightbox, if you see what I mean."

I used to scan the occasional Reader's Digest in the late 40s/early 50s... in the spirit of their Quotable Quotes, I reference my rash comment of a day or two ago.

In the event, the print worked very well indeed, gaining much when it was safely stored within its crystal archival sleeve! Does anyone know, first-hand, of a glossy paper that works well with the HP B9180 printer and its pigment inks? Difficult combination, I know, but no way I seek another printer. I think Michael has one such machine in his attic...

Anyway, I risk enclosure of another couple of shots that the Tourist Board wouldn't think of buying, which means they must have merit if only because of that.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 14, 2011, 02:05:43 pm
Given that this thread (and some other posts in the forum) meandered recently into "what's art" debate, allow me to contribute my own artwork (or "artwork"), aptly named:

An Eye for Art

A bison, refreshing in the Yellowstone lake, appears to admire an impromptu stone sculpture:

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5055311335_eefc5c5b10.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slobodan_blagojevic/5055311335/)
An Eye for Art (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slobodan_blagojevic/5055311335/) by Slobodan Blagojevic (http://www.flickr.com/people/slobodan_blagojevic/), on Flickr

You see, even a bison "gets it"  ;)




 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on November 14, 2011, 02:12:15 pm
Splendid, Slobodan. You should be doing installations. Stuff the bison, build the rockpile, put the whole thing in a tub of water, and you've got another modern museum winner sure to sell in the millions.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 14, 2011, 02:17:54 pm
And all I see is another bullfight...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on November 17, 2011, 02:21:19 pm
Welcome back, Rob!

Hear hear..
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 19, 2011, 05:18:17 pm
Don't always rain on the plain, in Spain.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on November 19, 2011, 06:01:16 pm
Fine shot, Rob. And there's the hand of man right in the middle of the bay.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on November 19, 2011, 06:41:39 pm
In fact, having observed a large number of documentaries on various painters, including, quite recently, da Vinci, I am being drawn ever closer to the conclusion that 'art' doesn't exist at all, that it's nothing but a fabricated definition for things that are, in general, perfectly useless but nonetheless pleasing to one or two of the senses. Do nimble fingers create art?
My own view, for what that's worth (since I'm not an artist, despite my pretentions) is that something nimble, other than the mind, has to create art; there has to be some skill as well as some vision. Otherwise, we have at best philosophy and at worst, simple self-aggrandisement. The idea that something is art because an "artist" says it's art seems to me to be no less absurd than the idea that potato peel is toast because a "cook" says it's toast.

I find the elaborate explanations from artists of what their installations mean and are meant to convey almost as absurd as the extensions of those interpretations by critics. Of course, it could be simply that I'm too aesthetically challenged or simply too stupid to understand why an unmade bed, or a shark in formaldehyde, or a few pieces of wood and a bit of brownish paint, carry any significance, or should inspire in me anything other than open-mouthed admiration for the confidence trickster who's made himself (or herself) rich by peddling what seems to me to be worthless garbage.

Knowledge of background, of intent, of the artist's thoughts (if any) might enhance or augment my appreciation of a work but if the work itself can't speak to me unaugmented, it has no voice worth hearing. Before a performance of Shostakovich's fifth symphony recently the conductor spoke about the work, pointing out how it had been influenced by Carmen and how it quoted from that opera's themes. I thought I knew the symphony well - and I love it very much indeed - but this was entirely new to me and I heard that performance in a new way. However, it didn't need that explanation to move me greatly.

I've drifted off whatever the topic was. Too much wine, allowing my inner Philistine to break through, perhaps.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 20, 2011, 04:25:39 am
Fine shot, Rob. And there's the hand of man right in the middle of the bay.



Thanks, Russ, and yes, it's that that attracted my making the exposure at all. The same weather was all around, but only with some other sort of focal centre than the clouds did it make any sort of sense.

I've stated before that I usually - almost always - see landscape as backdrop to a model; that's probably why I'm willing, out of desperation, to swap that for the 'hand of man' in the manner of one of his constructs!

Without the human element, there seems little sense to it, not a lot more than documentation of God's artistry rather than one's own; as for the taboo about graven images, I believe that's just misreporting by the artistically challenged: why would God want us to refrain from exercising his given abilities to admire/create beauty? It's one more thing that makes us human, though I can't really speak on behalf of the other species, as none of us really knows the truth about how they perceive things.

Jeremy - yes, you share my position; I've always felt the art of the Saatchi school/collection to be about money rather than a lot else. I'm willing to be wrong about that, and could I have afforded to so do, I may also have indulged in the buying and selling of the stuff as a hedge against all sorts of financial woes that seem to surround us today and yesterday. In effect, it's the reason I believe that those large Teutonic photographs do so well...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 20, 2011, 08:51:02 am
I will readily grant that there are some situations in which the "hand of man" adds to the quality level of the image, and this is one of them.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 20, 2011, 10:26:15 am
I will readily grant that there are some situations in which the "hand of man" adds to the quality level of the image, and this is one of them.

Eric



Hmmm... Eric, are you referring to the little yacht or to the effects of global warming, in this instance?

Some warming of another sort, dear to my heart, is here: it symbolises the very last employed job that I had. I recall wandering down the streets of central Glasgow of a lunchtime with the other couple of guys who toiled there too, attempting to sound like that; the others were not bad, but I usually ended up just clicking my fingers. I wonder what they are doing now? Goodness, so very long ago...

http://youtu.be/GzNNE8JKX10

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 21, 2011, 12:58:04 pm
I've just been struck by another thought: is there a power to weight ratio between viewings and resulting replies?

If you take the 'Trees' thread, there are currently .....530 posts per 44,844 readings (I trust!);

Take the 'Without Prejudice' one, and you get...........535 posts per 25,764 readings.

Does that indicate a third factor hiding in the bushes awaiting analysis?

Conveniently, time for an evening snack!

Rob C
Title: "Without Prejudice" should be its own category
Post by: popnfresh on November 21, 2011, 03:06:24 pm
Given the popularity of the "Without Prejudice" thread, and the fact that it's not for critiquing anyway, I think the Admin should make it a separate section within the Art of Photography forum. A place where people can just show off their latest work without inviting a barrage of criticism. Just my two cents.
Title: Re: "Without Prejudice" should be its own category
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 21, 2011, 09:46:29 pm
Given the popularity of the "Without Prejudice" thread, and the fact that it's not for critiquing anyway, I think the Admin should make it a separate section within the Art of Photography forum. A place where people can just show off their latest work without inviting a barrage of criticism. Just my two cents.
Plus philosophical comments like Rob C's that aren't meant to praise or insult anyone or to start a technical battle or a "my ...'s better than your ..." type of remark.

Eric

P.S. and a special thanks to Rob C for seeing the need for this in the first place.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 22, 2011, 06:00:43 pm
Spent much time tonight watching BBC tv which has taken on a distinctly American flavour, what with Fry doing all the States (over several programmes) and then after that, a Bragg docu on Steinbeck.

I’m not sure Fry was the best choice for this, but I suspect it would be difficult for the writer to be displaced! On the one hand I enjoy some of his observations, but also, on the other, I feel he tends to be a little dismissive, somewhat too flip… whatever the truth, that’s one hell of a country out there! I suppose that credit should really be given to the unseen people who map/flesh out the story, the fixers behind the scenes who find the people and locations and create the canvasses upon which the ‘stars’ leave their mark.

I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy being out there in the wild in the company of wolves (literally, no puns intended), with just space and a tiny car. Neither am I sure how confident I’d feel stopping off in some of the small towns or, rather, ribbon developments that seem to make up a lot of the landscape. I guess that’s a hangover from Psycho and the many motel room murders that constitute much of film/tv drama. There’s always this feeling that one could just vanish without trace, victim of some impulse fun slaying or robbery gone wrong, though the latter would be most unlikely as I’m fairly sure I’d offer up all the visible worldies at first threat! Of course, a film team probably creates some safety in numbers, and even its own wall of craziness that might keep the possibilities of violence a little further away. Or maybe it might just offer the prospect of more to loot.

I remember a conversation I had with a designer who was responsible for a Mintex calendar shot out in the California desert; I recall him saying that it was rather a tense situation, shooting  vaguely dressed models in cars, motel carparks and in lonely locations out in the nowhere. There seemed to have been a constant sense of anxiety caused by the characters drifting around the places they worked… pin-ups and rednecks and bikers - explosive mixture, I’m sure!

Which reminds me: better take that reflex glass for another walk… maybe tomorrow.

Rob C

P.S. Which also reminds me of the problems associated with writing late at night when fatigue has already set in. The purpose of this note was to say, in fact, that the people who film these travel features seem to have a far keener, if not fresher, eye than do stills photographers. Or is it just a product of movement?  
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 24, 2011, 04:51:38 pm
Another shot of the Bay during the brewing of a storm that I managed to evade by the simple expedient of running away. Well, that's an exaggeration: I drove away.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 25, 2011, 10:39:32 am
New Digital Rule of Thirds: every third shot shall be out of focus.

Who am I to argue?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 25, 2011, 01:52:47 pm
Rob,

I have always considered focus to be totally optional.  True, some things do need to be sharp.  But only some. 

Regards,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 25, 2011, 03:44:38 pm
That, Walter, is encouraging news!

I was going to do some more shooting today, but in the event, it became a toss-up between making lunch or going out and paying for it. In the event, I elected to make my own, and took a piece of sole out of the freezer and put it into the warmer part of the fridge in order to thaw it out (the fish). By the time I was read to cook, the fish surprised me with its rock-like property, so I put it back into the Ice Age and went out. That way, I lost both home lunch and morning shooting. By the time lunch was over, I thought I'd better stroll around for an hour to digest it, and then I returned home, by which time I was too damned tired to go back out again and work.
Things sometimes conspire to thwart me.

I've put the fish into the fridge again tonight, so it may be okay for tomorrow. Or not. Either way, I've gotta get out and do it!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 25, 2011, 04:00:39 pm
... I've gotta get out and do it!

Careful, Rob! You might end up creating landscape photography and actually enjoying it along the way ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on November 25, 2011, 06:19:49 pm
Another shot of the Bay during the brewing of a storm that I managed to evade by the simple expedient of running away. Well, that's an exaggeration: I drove away.

Rob C
Very nice indeed!

Yeah, Slobodan's right...be carefull, it might be adictive.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 26, 2011, 07:14:31 am
Oh those weasel words: "creating... addictive... enjoying"!

Hot dam, it's out of desperation that I tread these paths. But thanks for noticing, anyway!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on November 26, 2011, 08:02:26 am
Relax guys, a glass of Rioja on Plaza Major (or any other place in Spain for that matter) is all you need to wind down:

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Events/Dyxum-Madrid-201111/i-t9b25Mr/0/O/PEGA8500549320111105-L.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Events/Dyxum-Madrid-201111/19996893_jqMNxr#1578330851_t9b25Mr-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 26, 2011, 08:40:47 am
Nice shot, but this guy is straight out of Central Casting for the next Desperado movie. Don't know if I'd enjoy the Rioja under those conditions; however, were Salma to appear, the wine would take second place at once...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on November 26, 2011, 10:22:25 am
Rob, You'd be safe as long as you went with your 45 on your side.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 26, 2011, 10:43:22 am
To tell you the truth, Russ, though I was once very anti-guns (in the sense of others carrying them) I am coming round to the idea that it isn't such a bad concept after all, my carrying one. In fact, the older and more spaced out I become the more it seems to have a divine logic to it - the gun, that is.

Well, I took myself out after lunch after all, bag over shoulder and tripod in hand; should have stayed home. Like Brenda sings into my ear right now: sweet nothin'! The problem was the clouds allied to the concept of the tripod. I hate the bloody three-legged things and though I have two, a huge Gitzo as well as a much lighter Slik, it's only the little Slik that I can still carry further than ten yards. And, in poor weather, and with the 500mm, it's a waste of time. As I found. I suspect the Cat will remain in its case until the sun comes back, whenever. Carrying a single, fitted, hand-holdable lens is far more reasonable a concept. Which is back where I was.

Glad to say the fish I almost had yesterday turned out to be rather nice today, so not everything was lost after getting out of bed.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RSL on November 26, 2011, 11:47:58 am
Strange, Rob. I have two tripods also, including a little Slik. I rarely use either one of them, but when I do it's almost always the little Slik, since the Slik only weighs about three pounds. The other one's a Flashpoint. Like the Slik, it's carbon fiber, but much bigger and, even in fiber, fairly heavy. I sometimes use it in the mountains when the wind's blowing and I don't have to go far from the car. Here's a shot I made yesterday off the Slik. Since this thread bans prejudice I guess it's okay to post a landscape of sorts. This is PEAR Park (Palatlakaha Environmental and Agricultural Reserve). I'm standing on a very jungly path under the palms, etc., looking out at what I call the veldt. I always sort of expect to see a rhino wander into the scene.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 26, 2011, 12:11:44 pm
I always sort of expect to see a rhino wander into the scene.



Never mind the rhino, worry more about snakes! You have enough home-grown varieties to scare the bejeezas out of most sane people. I remember being in Florida and reading a notice warning one away from any little heap of twigs or stones... seems not all the snakes that left Ireland turned into something else, regardless of what pulp writers claim!

;-)

Rob
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 26, 2011, 02:19:21 pm
I must be weird, I just splurged an an even heavier twin shank Manfrotto because the carbon fibre Gitzo lacks the necessary mass for true stability — and it ain't no small Gitzo, either.

A Copal 3 shutter goes off with a bit of a wallop, especially when racked out some 12 inches or so from the fulcrum with a breeze hitting the spinnaker bellows.

Probably am weird using such kit to begin with.  It is just an aversion to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 26, 2011, 04:24:36 pm
Walter -

My bitch with the big Gitzo isn't the Gitzo: it's me! I'm just too pooped to pop with it outwith car or location easy-stolling distance.

Using the toy Slik today with the D700 and 500 Cat would have been funny if it wasn't so damned frustrating; even without touching the bloody thing I could stand there, fascinated, as I saw the shuddering going on in the image within the pentaprism at every tiny breath of sea air.

The Slik works like a dream when used as a two-legged monopod, even does well with my 2.8/180mm as my music experiments showed me; however, on three legs with extended balance points it's another matter, akin to your own with bellows. The two-leg solution doesn't seem to work too well with the Cat not only because of balance, but because the angle is so extreme that just holding the subject in the right place is difficult, never mind the little matter of focus when required which, we both agree, isn't always. But framing does need to be right!

Worse (you just knew that would come), I'm having trouble with my right eye and though it works well enough to frame, I find myself using the left one for a final quick focus check. Strikes me that not only tripods are going to be problematic. When I checked with the quack, he blamed the muscles and said not a lot could be done; I hope it is only muscular. The chef at my local eatery has just had a dislodged retina fixed; said it was a hellish experience and that the damage came without any blow to the head or any form of impact of which he was aware.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 27, 2011, 03:07:32 am
Another little offering to test the NSFW waters.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 27, 2011, 03:59:57 am
Walter

Beautiful.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 27, 2011, 05:50:11 am
Thank you Rob,  She has beauty and brains.  Lives in the nation's capital and works as a legislative editor - putting new bills passed by government into comprhensible syntax.

Who'da thought?

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 27, 2011, 10:31:37 am
... She has beauty and brains...

Ain't that a naked truth ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 27, 2011, 11:30:36 am
Ain't that a naked truth ;)




Of the two, had I to make a personal, permanent choice, I'd pick brains every time. Imagine life with a bimbo?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 27, 2011, 11:37:17 am
Rescued from yesterday's disaster with baby Sliks and sea breezes.

I'd thought of showing it under the Trees banner, but thought I might get me timbers shivered there.

This was taken with the 500mm Cat wide open at f8 or, as some choose to see it, stopped down to its smallest aperture of f8. Clearly, this all depends on that terribly important thing to do with glasses being half empty or half full.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 27, 2011, 11:47:59 am
... Imagine life with a bimbo?

I do not have to imagine.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 27, 2011, 11:57:16 am
I do not have to imagine.


Oh - oh!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2011, 06:26:12 am
Didn't even have to get out of the house to do this one: managed to use the big Gitzo too, though you'd hardly know it. But at any rate, it's good exercise for the thing - lies on its side for months at a stretch and that can't be good for anyone.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 28, 2011, 09:45:51 am
Way to go, Rob! It's great to see you getting out there and playing with the equipment.

(If critiques were allowed in this thread, I'd be tempted to say I like what you've been showing lately, but since they're not, I won't.)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2011, 01:39:35 pm
1.     Way to go, Rob! It's great to see you getting out there and playing with the equipment.

2.     If critiques were allowed in this thread, I'd be tempted to say I like what you've been showing lately, but since they're not, I  won't.)

Eric



1. At my age, I might as well play with something that works.

2. Absolutely forbidden, so I won't say thank you, either!

Ciao

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 28, 2011, 02:58:02 pm
Imagine life with a bimbo — crikey!  I had twenty years surrounded by an army of them daily.  Some other people keep a horde of cats or souvenir spoons.

Occasionally one would emerge that was a good deal more striking than the average bear.

This one I call Tenebrous Intimacy.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on November 28, 2011, 06:58:40 pm
Walter

Such gorgeous fruit might hang well in the horticultural dept. of the site; perhaps not... no, keep it here if only because I'm more likely to come across it that way.

I've just spent a long evening on more Americana: S. Fry, again, doing his take on the south-western states and then, after that, another chap (Andrew Graham-Dixon, I think is his name) doing the last part of his series on American Art followed by another docu on the contemporary nomads of the same south-western region, from retired folks in huge campers to hobos riding the rails via rodeo cowboys doing 800 miles a day in a car from job to job. Fascinating stuff, and I'm so glad I never had to do it. (Then, yes, I'd have to be armed from the teeth to the tip of my toes. But I doubt that would save my ass.) All that travelling with cameras and crew must cost a hell of a lot more than my wildest calendar ever did!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on December 02, 2011, 11:57:32 am
This is domestic or about not going anywhere.  However, if I stand still long enough, though the days get shorter, the low angle light hangs around longer.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 02, 2011, 01:51:08 pm
Is this a stetson I see before me?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on December 02, 2011, 03:35:08 pm
Is this a stetson I see before me?

Rob C

Nawh, it's a middle aged, nylon, OR; they call it: "Desert Sombrero".  Hats just look like that on us down here.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 02, 2011, 05:32:21 pm
Nawh, it's a middle aged, nylon, OR; they call it: "Desert Sombrero".  Hats just look like that on us down here.

Bruce


Funny stuff, headgear. Used to wear a smallish straw hat like the farmers did out here (made in China, would you believe?), then when that became uncomfortably stiff, I swapped over to baseball caps. Mine grew old and dirty and then, one clever day, I thought I'd recondition it -the front bit - with paint. Sadly, it didn't work. I then took up the bandana which I quite like, but I think it distressed my neighbour's wife, because last time they came out on holiday he brought me a golf-branded cap... I'm back on the bandana. I can't see photographers and golf going hand in hand, at least, not this one. Good thing about the bandana, it keeps the head warm in winter and doesn't fly into the sea when I go walkies down at the marina. Like the straw hat, my two bandanas are too stiff. I think there's an old silk Aviaco one around somewhere, and that wouldn't be stiff, but I'd rather not be mistaken for an air hostess...


Complications, complications.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on December 09, 2011, 04:12:48 pm
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6040/6408788905_ee55e7227b_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6408788905/)
Windmill & Trees in sunrise fog, Robinson Road, Merced County (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6408788905/) by tanngrisnir3 (http://www.flickr.com/people/87368247@N00/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on December 09, 2011, 07:27:37 pm
Missing
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6483923145_fd74c815c1_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6483923145/)
Missing (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6483923145/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 10, 2011, 06:41:12 am
It is my considered opinion that we find the best images here, in this thread. Seems to appeal to a different mindset, which I like.

Not for a moment am I knocking the Pro threads, but they are of a totally different nature, as they pretty well have to be, so no fights sought!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 10, 2011, 05:04:22 pm
A guy whose work impressed me greatly some years ago; just had another look and made me wish I still had a 500C/M!

Might appeal to some of you blokes too.

http://www.chipforelli.com

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on December 10, 2011, 05:26:24 pm
Thanks Rob, wonderful photographs. I just realized I've had this guy's photo on my Mac as a screensaver all along (as a part of Apple's selection).
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 11, 2011, 06:25:41 am
And now, for the ultimate job:

http://youtu.be/_dKsJB3uOI0

Sigh.....

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on December 11, 2011, 04:21:19 pm

Sigh.....


Agree, I think I wouldn't even qualify to hold a reflection screen in a shoot like that  :'(

So I have to get fun from other things, like finding this lens my father bought in 1951 in an old enlarger on my attic this morning.
It's from a time that focal length was expressed in cm instead of mm  ;). Looks kind of cute on a modern camera, don't you think?

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201112/i-wbhwPqj/0/L/PEGA8500597620111211-L.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201112/20412015_btbVQx#1626612198_wbhwPqj-A-LB)

I also took some test shots, and not bad at all for such an old and simple design.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 12, 2011, 04:03:52 am
Yes, lenses from way back looked sort of - well, finished off, if you see what I mean. In fact, even with cameras, the 111G struck me as a finer-looking piece of mechanics than the first M that I saw... the attraction of tiny windows. (On first typing this it read 'the attraction of tiny widows... hope it doesn't indicate then sort of morning or day I'm, going to have.)

Regarding the shoot, I'm disappointed with Pirelli's company ethic. When I first found their calendar site, years and years ago, they allowed internet access (open) to the history of their calendars, and it was really very interesting for anyone who was in the business or art; then, maybe two years ago, it was suddenly blocked if you didn't have 'membership'! I understand the exclusivity of the actual calendars, but the website representation of the historical interest in the genre? Come on Pirelli, you've sabotaged a huge opportunity.

Regarding the 2012 one, I have no more idea of what's actually in it than anyone else not privy to the job or to the calendar itself. What did strike me was that though the shooting involved a lot of wet clothes (the spraying reminded me so much of what my late wife used to do on our shoots!), there was an emphasis on totally nude black/white images at the end of each separate model segment; I wonder if it means that these shots are the chosen ones? They are very nice, but I thought the semi-translucently clad ones more appealing.

Of the girls, I'd have loved to have worked with three: most of all Isabeli Fontana, and then Margareth Madè and Edita Vilkeviciniute.

Sometimes, it's best if they don't speak, least of all when attempting to draw parallels betwen tyres and 'strong, empowered women'! Utter crap. Perhaps it was all tongue-in-cheek and I missed it.

What I did agree with was Isabeli saying how nice it was being just snapper and model... in that siutuation, with all those folks hanging around? Maybe she meant no art director?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 12, 2011, 05:32:08 am
Never had much interest or aspiration regarding Pirelli - apart from a set of four on my little van.

Happy to play in my own backyard:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on December 12, 2011, 09:29:54 am
A guy whose work impressed me greatly some years ago; just had another look and made me wish I still had a 500C/M!

Might appeal to some of you blokes too.

http://www.chipforelli.com

Rob C

ACK!  Holy driverless, flaming busloads of wombats is that guy good.

** sounds of camera gear being smashing into small bits of metallic kindling **
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 12, 2011, 09:48:16 am
Never had much interest or aspiration regarding Pirelli - apart from a set of four on my little van.

Happy to play in my own backyard:





Hey, Walter!

Four complete Pirellis? Hate to imagine you really, really did mean tyres... ;-)

Only ever owned a single one: the '69 one which was by Harri Peccinotti in Big Sur. It wasn't a favourite of mine, but at the time, gift horses and mouths etc... didn't export it along with myself.

In the end, I had a few Pentax ones that I liked a lot during the period when Feurer and Haskins were alternating. I still have an enormous Feurer one that I prize beyond anything of my own, as much as I'm pleased with a couple of them.

Have you see this bloke's b/w stuff before?

http://www.christiancoigny.com

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 12, 2011, 05:27:02 pm


Hey, Walter!

Four complete Pirellis? Hate to imagine you really, really did mean tyres... ;-)

Yep, just round black snake squashers on the wheels of my conveyance, Rob.  I don't think I even have one of the many Pirelli Calendar books.  For the most part, I am not a fan but there have been a couple that were impressive.  Lategan springs to mind and possibly Moon.

Had a look at the provided link and have to say that M. Coigny leaves me overwhelmingly underwhelmed.  A couple of nice ideas but they failed to speak to me and I see them as missed opportunities.  (Although, I guess one is not supposed to offer critical comment here:  hand me a yellow card.)

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 13, 2011, 04:40:37 am
Yep, just round black snake squashers on the wheels of my conveyance, Rob.  I don't think I even have one of the many Pirelli Calendar books.  For the most part, I am not a fan but there have been a couple that were impressive.  Lategan springs to mind and possibly Moon.

Had a look at the provided link and have to say that M. Coigny leaves me overwhelmingly underwhelmed.  A couple of nice ideas but they failed to speak to me and I see them as missed opportunities.  (Although, I guess one is not supposed to offer critical comment here:  hand me a yellow card.)

Cheers,




Sorry about the ‘underwhelming’ experience! Truth to tell, that’s what constitutes most of life, I’m afraid.

Regarding the Lategan one – didn’t like it at all; employed the same logo-centric device that killed most of the Martyn Walsh-directed ones for me. Guess Derek Forsyth was as good as directors get! There is ever a problem with the introduction of logos on calendars: in one beer calendar that I did, my last one, the client forced a situation where we shot one pic in a bar in Ireland of a ‘barmaid’ standing behind the bar with a tray of booze, each glass with its logo and around twenty further identical logos on bits’n’pieces behind her. It was one of the most humiliating images I ever found myself forced to produce. That’s selling? No, that’s pathetic! Actually, I believe it was done on purpose to harm me.

The other thing about logos is that you are torn between promoting their use on otherwise nice shots of pretty girls with the thought in mind that to do without would be to introduce the temptation of the client using stock. Hellish, isn’t it?

Yeah, I agree about Moon: probably still is my favourite of them all. There’s just something about some woman photographers – that other girl, Camilla Akrans, whom I think I first learned about through a reference to a magazine that you made long, long ago in ‘another place’ also has something special.

After the Pirellis were handed over to Walsh, Forsyth took on Mintex (brake and clutch lining manufacturers) and did nice work there, continuing along much as Pirelli should have during his absence… it was nice to see him get Pirelli back!

Regarding critical comment: no, no card issued! Comment is what it’s all about, just that pics get posted in ‘Without Prejudice‘ simply because they mean something to the shooter and, in most cases, the shooter doesn’t need anybody’s advice on how to create images. Hell, without comment there’s no thread!

Take care –

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 13, 2011, 11:35:15 am
Fruit of this afternoon's stroll around the marina.

Especially for Walter.

;-)

Nod, wink, etc.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 13, 2011, 02:28:54 pm
ARAT without the T from what I can see.

Good on you for getting out and about.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 13, 2011, 03:53:24 pm
ARAT without the T from what I can see.

Good on you for getting out and about.

Cheers,

W



Okay, another from today with an FB instead of a T, then!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on December 14, 2011, 01:56:15 pm
Mario Miranda (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2011/12/11/mario-miranda-1926-2011/).

(http://www.parrikar.org/images/LL/mariomiranda.jpg)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: popnfresh on December 14, 2011, 02:43:12 pm
Yet another great shot, Rajan!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 16, 2011, 04:06:15 am
Less abstract... attempting to print this one up, but before I even start, the darn machine tells me that I've got a faulty light grey.  I hope this refers to the ink. Maybe I won't even get a test through today.

Rob C

Edit: no; the damned thing won't even talk to the computer, so new ink ordered today.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on December 17, 2011, 01:09:30 pm

The Toddy Tapper (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2011/12/17/the-toddy-tapper/).

(http://www.parrikar.org/images/LL/toddytapper.jpg)


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on December 17, 2011, 01:22:08 pm
The one that got away...

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 17, 2011, 02:22:36 pm
Definitely have to blow it up to catch the joke!

Nice one.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 17, 2011, 06:37:03 pm
Definitely have to blow it up to catch the joke!

Nice one.

Rob C
And it definitely wouldn't work in B&W.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 18, 2011, 03:59:42 am
And it definitely wouldn't work in B&W.

Eric



Now that is true! Russ?

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 18, 2011, 04:23:12 pm
Took my fancy this morning whilst I was having my ersatz, decaffed coffee; these cardios don't have much of a sense of humour. Or maybe they do?

Hmmm...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on December 18, 2011, 05:36:20 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6528035017_3a2f7e35af_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6528035017/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6528035017/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr



/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on December 21, 2011, 07:57:54 pm
From: The Cafés of Panjim (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2011/12/21/the-cafes-of-panjim-cafe-central/).

Toast -

(http://www.parrikar.org/images/LL/toast.jpg)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on December 22, 2011, 03:07:04 am
Rajan, every now and again someone posts a photo here which makes me chuckle gently to myself when I see it. "Toast" is one of them (particularly since, as it appeared on my monitor, I had a toasted crumpet in my left hand). Thank you for brightening my morning!

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 22, 2011, 02:45:36 pm
Me too. "Toast" is a charming and very satisfying image.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on December 24, 2011, 01:28:05 pm
From: Christmas Eve in Goa (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2011/12/24/christmas-eve-in-goa/).


Christmas spirits

(http://www.parrikar.org/images/LL/spirits.jpg)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 24, 2011, 02:11:25 pm
I remember when India was dry.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on December 24, 2011, 02:19:09 pm
I remember when India was dry.

Rob C



Yes, but we're talking Goa.  Captain Haddock would feel welcome here.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 26, 2011, 06:26:41 am
Yes, but we're talking Goa.  Captain Haddock would feel welcome here.




Rajan, we're all kippered - it's the economy.

I've discovered the joys (?) of the mobile's camera. On the one hand, it looked as if it was going to make the perfect notebook machine - you know, take whatever you see and then worry about it later. And that was the first mistake: I can't even see what I'm trying to take and worry about later.

It has been suggested that viewfinderless cameras are the way to go. That must be the most crazy photo idea of all time!

Here's this morning's effort to both glorify the little car and compete with Haef's Detroit Dreams.

(The latter was t-i-c!)

See the 'hand' of Rob?

Rob C


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 26, 2011, 11:20:43 am
So, whose hand would you blame for this?

The story goes that the Frenchman who owns this thing had moored in a cove where local knowledge says you never do - much like the bay at Cala San Vicente, up here in the northern tip of the island, becuase though often beautiful and calm, a change in wind drives in rollers in a venturi effect. Nasty.

Anyway, seems that he tried to motor his way out, but a combination of underpowered engine and tiny prop defeated him. At least he's still alive, and now has a 24/7 hobby.

Rob C

P.S.  Can anybody tell me how to get apostrophies using the T tool in PS6 and, also, the © copyright sign? Used to get it (the latter) by using the right-hand set of numbers - 0169 - but it doesn't seem to do it anymore. At least, I think I did.

P.P.S. Oh yes it does - copyright - now! But not apostrophies!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 26, 2011, 02:29:52 pm
At least he's still alive, and now has a 24/7 hobby.

Rob C


Link to the local newspaper   http://zululandobserver.co.za/Pages/wip1.html  to see what a boat fire looks like Rob. Fibreglass burns in a scary and fast way.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 26, 2011, 04:31:00 pm
Link to the local newspaper   http://zululandobserver.co.za/Pages/wip1.html  to see what a boat fire looks like Rob. Fibreglass burns in a scary and fast way.



The same has happened out at sea, here. Some think it an insurance scam - happens within radio and rescue distance. Of course, that might be the ones we know about, whose smoke we can see...

The guy in my wee pic was lucky: his boat's steel. Anything else, and it would have sunk like a stone, probably taking him with it. Boats can be scary things. My wife and I were out with another older couple in one of their boats and he was testing/playing with the auto-pilot from inside, and I was standing beside him. The two women were out on the forward sundeck. We were coming back to Puerto Pollensa from around the Formentor headland, not far off the very high cliffs, when the boat suddenly lurched to the right and shot straight for the cliff. I realised what was about to happen, but stood there with a stupid grin, paralysed. However, the old guy was quick: he cut both throttles at once, and the boat stopped pdq, maybe twenty-five yards off the rock. Deceleration is rapid on some boats; when the thing stopped, it seems his wife turned to mine out there in front and remarked: 'I never did like this lousy boat, anyway'. Cool. Maybe that's why folks drink so much out on the ocean.

Must be a moral there, could I but find it.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 26, 2011, 04:54:36 pm
Some time to rest and catch up with passions over the extended holidays:

Cheers,

Walter
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 27, 2011, 04:21:38 am
Some time to rest and catch up with passions over the extended holidays:

Cheers,

Walter



And here I was, Walter, imagining you to be cool, calm and detached!

Personally, I'm frozen. The wood fire we have has broken one of its doors - thirty years old now, and the makers in England informed me they no longer make that model of door... I had the thing repaired - three spots of weld along the top edge of the door where it had split asunder (I thought cast iron didn't do that - had no internal stresses) now hold it together. Problem is, the glass window within that frame might fall out if the metal gives way again, and the contents of the fire would fall onto the carpet and set the place alight. I know I have an admiration for the Viking Way, but that reqires a boat, not a bed.

As an ironic result (no pun, etc.), all the wood that a neighbour laboriously cut for me when he felled some trees now lies unusable both on the terrace and out in the garden, whilst I burn very expensive electricity. My daughter brought me a pair of those clever gloves with no fingertips a year or two ago - they help with the bad circulation when I play at keyboards - like now - but do nothing for the rest of me.

The problem, currently, post door-repair, is that I ordered a made-to-measure fireguard that is being held up by the festivities, and I don't fancy using the fire until I have both belt and braces in place. Fortunately, I have a ground-floor apartment, otherwise I'd be looking for a parachute, too.

Such is life when you live alone on an island in the middle of nowhere; not even a single striped model to be seen.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 27, 2011, 10:30:18 am
Rob,

I hope both your fireguard and your striped model will be delivered to your doorstep post haste.
In the meantime, type faster on the keyboard to keep the fingers warm.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 27, 2011, 12:37:26 pm
Rob,

I hope both your fireguard and your striped model will be delivered to your doorstep post haste.
In the meantime, type faster on the keyboard to keep the fingers warm.

Eric



I had my doubts about the stripped striped model hope, but, being optimistic by nature - honestly, don't snigger - I did think I could at least be warmish... surprising how cold an indoor temperature of 67 degrees F can feel! It must be a product of the prevalent dampness that turns leather jackets black, even when they are blue. Again, not a pun, just dampness. I don't have that jacket any more (it was probably more of a greyish blue) but my hands seem to resemble it quite a lot now. Perhaps I shall start to wear sunglasses indoors again as antidote. Did that in 1966 for a couple of weeks on location in Mallorca... only at the end of it all did I realise that the guy I was accompanying, the client firm's foreign manager, who had the same stylistic shtick, was actually wearing prescription glasses. Oh well, at least I felt mysterious for a couple of weeks. Told you I was optimistic.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 28, 2011, 03:57:59 am
If you could exchange BEER with CLINIC, you might encourage her to make her New Year's resolution come true...

Funny thing: I stopped in '66 despite being one of those idiots who smoked in the darkroom, burning lips as well as creating hours of spotting problems for myself, and now I hate even the stench of the stuff. My wife never did smoke - don't know how she put up with me for all those early years of stinking curtains, foul car, ruined fine cuisine etc. etc.

Fine cuisine: I wonder if we could expand that into something like the dumb arguments about fine art? Let's face it - prices get similar...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: popnfresh on December 28, 2011, 09:25:07 am
If you could exchange BEER with CLINIC, you might encourage her to make her New Year's resolution come true...

Aren't many denizens of Bourbon Street interested in working on New Year's resolutions!   ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 28, 2011, 11:12:00 am
Aren't many denizens of Bourbon Street interested in working on New Year's resolutions!   ;D



Not surprising, really, if they all have the blues.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 28, 2011, 11:23:03 am
Another mobile shot from this morning's exercise chore...

Oddly, as John Smith mentioned in another post about his train driver's face, this one doesn't seem to translate from PS-seen jpeg to transmitted jpeg all that accurately either. There's a sort of loss of tonal separation I can't quite put into words, even to myself! When I put the two files up together in PS, they look identical; it's the sending them into the void that causes the change... I even tried switching from computer to computer (PS-only one, and then to the transmitted image on the computer on which the Internet is allowed) as rapidly as the two permit, but it was too slow for visual memory to hold. My opinion here is based on how the image looks on an e-mail sent to my daughter; perhaps it'll fare better on LuLa...? Yep, it's better than on the e-mail. I wonder why?

Rob C


Oh yeah - though I'd call it Quaking Aspens...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 31, 2011, 02:30:37 pm
Happy New Year!

http://youtu.be/tkuMs-WYDdY


Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 01, 2012, 04:52:05 pm
Went for the first walk of the year, bushy tailed and ready to snap. Putting the cellphone back into my pocket, I managed to let it fall between pocket and body, and onto the concrete. I exchanged a fee shortish words with myself, but since the thing lives within a thick, stiff leather jacket of its own that I bought as an optional extra at the time, not a scratch, not a blip! Ah the value of investment in belts and braces.

I'd been thinking of some way of overcoming the waving arms problem when holding the camera cell, and came up with Velcro on the photo machine and on a plate fitted to a small tripod. Then the second thought arrived: what the hell's the point of doing that with a camera that's not a camera? May as well carry a proper one if all that hassle is to be contemplated. Well, at least I don't have to do anything since that second idea arrived. The power of a diligent mind.

As a third thought: wouldn't it be nice if Samsung had also thought an extra little thought and fitted a release button on the side of the cell and saved the hopeless pushing of finger against screen!

Rob C

P.S. Had yet another blinding flash: why not make a box-like thing out of cardboard and stick it to the back of the cell, just like the hood on a camera? Of course, it would make touching the screen button a little difficult, but at least you'd then be able to see the subject that you couldn't shoot...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 01, 2012, 07:44:30 pm
P.S. Had yet another blinding flash: why not make a box-like thing out of cardboard and stick it to the back of the cell, just like the hood on a camera? Of course, it would make touching the screen button a little difficult, but at least you'd then be able to see the subject that you couldn't shoot...
Rob,

I think you just hit on exactly why I'm not a fan of so-called "live" view.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 02, 2012, 12:31:50 pm
As a third thought: wouldn't it be nice if Samsung had also thought an extra little thought and fitted a release button on the side of the cell and saved the hopeless pushing of finger against screen!

Rob C

I miss my Nokia N95, had a dedicated shutter release on the side with prefocus. Also wish it had a remote detonation function, I would dearly like to give the people who stole it some serious ear problems.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 02, 2012, 02:26:23 pm
Hi Riaan - Happy New Year.

I didn't realise that such a system had already been available - but then, I didn't ever have a cellphone camera before this one. I'm getting a bit tired of mine, though. I washed the car this morning because it wasn't that brilliant, and the lack of sunshine allowed me to get it dry without the hard-water streaking the sun loves to create. So, when it got bright again after lunch, I thought I'd wait until later in the evening and try a few more cellpix of the car near sunset. Which I tried to do. Frankly  the overexposure was terrible, and I saw no way of cutting back.  Because of my position, I could actually see the image on the screen this time, and the frustration of not being able to change exposure was making me go slightly mad. A lot of wasted driving, then.

I then went off to do some shopping, and have a coffee. After the coffee I went back to the carpark which, by this time, was in shade. So, out came the cell once more, and two quick shots. When I got home, having completely forgotten to do the shopping, I was a little more pleased with the exposure, but then I discovered another problem: the lens is so wide-angled that even stepping back a bit and cropping doesn't really avoid awful distortion. One shot, which I've done a little bit of work with, reveals this fault quite well: a side view of the car from just a little bit off-centre makes the thing look like it's bent in the middle - the two wheels are so noticeably different in scale that it looks ridiculous!

If I can get it finished this evening I'll add it to this post as an attachment just to show the problem. Okay - that's done; added some clone and blur to lose a few vans etc. but that doesn't change the problems!

Frankly, I think the bother with these instruments is more than the experiments are worth.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: feppe on January 02, 2012, 03:33:44 pm
P.S. Had yet another blinding flash: why not make a box-like thing out of cardboard and stick it to the back of the cell, just like the hood on a camera? Of course, it would make touching the screen button a little difficult, but at least you'd then be able to see the subject that you couldn't shoot...

Something like this (http://www.hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1017)? :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 02, 2012, 05:03:52 pm
Something like this (http://www.hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1017)? :)


Now that's cool, feppe!

I still have a Schneider loupe for looking at transparencies - I'll dig it out and see if it works, hand-held, against the cellphone. That'll be two things going on at a time... any woman could handle that (possibly even with her eyes closed ;-) ), but I'm not sure about myself. Certainly a fun  project - if a little bit masochistical. Won't cover much of the screen though, but it might scratch it, somewhat.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on January 03, 2012, 03:47:44 am
Just a couple of days ago I saw somebody taking photographs with an iPad / Samsung Galaxy; I was quite shocking to see somebody hold something that large, trying to compose while chasing a child. Now that I think about it, that screen was probably larger than the print size (if any of those photographs ever gets printed, that is)... mind blowing.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 03, 2012, 09:05:22 am
Lying in bed last night, my mind going over the cellphone thing, I thought I might try to make a collapsible cardboard thing like a box with no top or bottom. Then, with two rubber bands, it could be held onto the cell and when finished, folded and put away in the pocket. It wouold have to be just a little bit shorter than the image, because otherwise you couldn't touch the release. Alternatively, the focussing hood from an old Rollei or Mamiya might be suitably inexpensive and worth messing with in this context.

However, theoretical games aside, I've just tried the Samsung with my Schneider transparency lupe X4 and though it works, it's still a waste of time. Moving anything around on that screen brings up different and unexpected menu things. Frankly, if you have to touch the screen to expose, anything is a compromise after that.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 03, 2012, 05:39:35 pm
Am I alone in thinking that this time, the Christmas/New Year thing has passed very quickly indeed? Seems like ages ago.

Voici a little memento of how it was.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 03, 2012, 05:53:36 pm
I have just been through an interesting exercise Rob,

I purchased a Panasonic Lumix GF 2 with 14mm lens.  Something somewhere with the little sucker ain't right and images are not sharp corner-to-corner at any aperture so the auction closes on Ebay today at noon.  Did I tell you, I hate digital!

Having had a load of fun with it (and a Canon G10 predecessor) it dawned on me that there was nothing I was using it for that the iPhone could not do as well or better.

Meanwhile, herewith a couple of the very few Lumix pics I made.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 04:19:27 am
Hi Walter

Now that's a funny thing: if you have a look back at my car shot, five or so posts back, you'll see the curvature/bending of the subject that I now see happening also in your shot of the truck wheels.

I thought that in my case it was a product of the wide angle of the 'phone camera's lens, even though I am, in fact, using a small section of the frame, having stepped back to avoid distortion that I thought I saw on the screen in the first place. I understand how wides have a shell-like plane of focus, but there must be a difference between the points on a shell being sharp, and distortion that looks like the subject is wrapped around a sphere. Maps come to mind.

Waddya think?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 04, 2012, 06:17:01 am
Rob, I think you're describing "barrel" distortion.
Can happen with any focal length (for instance my 50 mm lens shows it a lot) and is easily corrected with photo processing software.
The opposite (pincushion distortion) can also happen, and with zoom lenses both can happen depending on whether you're at the short or long side of it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 04, 2012, 06:51:05 am
Rob,

It just convinces me that I am right.  For me it is a view camera or nuttin'!!  The little bastard did not sell on Ebay so it is relisted.  What possessed me to buy it in the first place?  Nobody kicks us in the head like we kick ourselves in the head.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on January 04, 2012, 09:07:44 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6578967131_bbb634c1e6_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6578967131/)
Powerplant in Haze, Huron, CA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6578967131/) by tanngrisnir3 (http://www.flickr.com/people/87368247@N00/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on January 04, 2012, 10:06:56 am
Powerplant in Haze, Huron, CA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6578967131/) by tanngrisnir3 (http://www.flickr.com/people/87368247@N00/), on Flickr

Interesting... intriguing... I like it!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on January 04, 2012, 10:16:16 am
Interesting... intriguing... I like it!

Thanks! It was the first shot I ever took w/a Panny GH2, under the strangest atmospheric conditions I've ever been in the CA's Central Valley.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 10:51:08 am
Rob, I think you're describing "barrel" distortion.
Can happen with any focal length (for instance my 50 mm lens shows it a lot) and is easily corrected with photo processing software.
The opposite (pincushion distortion) can also happen, and with zoom lenses both can happen depending on whether you're at the short or long side of it.



Never thought of it in those terms: barrel, to me, was only something that one saw at the far edges of the frame, and as a sort of flat distortion - in one dimension, as it were, whereas this seems to be almost a depth thing. But as I have seldom even seen it with my real lenses, I suppose I might just scrape a 'forgiveness' point on this occasion...? Please

The other thing that's distressing me about the mobile is the inability to control over-exposure. I enclose this frame, untouched other than to trim off some sea in the foreground (there was probably as much sky to eff up exposure as dark sea) and a minor sharpening. There's no point in doing anything else with the image - it's waste.

As you can see, the boats are bleached white, beyond recall. The same happened in a sunny shot (same sort of late afternoon light) that I made of my black car - hopeless. Perhaps the poor camera was attempting to compensate for the black paint... However, I've been shooting some abstracts with it today of paint and surface damage on boats - in shade, mostly, and the metering works far better without the contrast.

High frustration value, however.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 10:54:28 am
Thanks! It was the first shot I ever took w/a Panny GH2, under the strangest atmospheric conditions I've ever been in the CA's Central Valley.




Very nice image - fits my idea of simple art being stronger than complex imagery.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 11:06:48 am
Rob,

It just convinces me that I am right.  For me it is a view camera or nuttin'!!  The little bastard did not sell on Ebay so it is relisted.  What possessed me to buy it in the first place?  Nobody kicks us in the head like we kick ourselves in the head.
Cheers,




In the head, already! And everywhere else, too.

The one, single, unique (is tautology an endearing symptom?) thing that I think makes the cellphone a winner is that it's there.

How I wish I could justify that M9!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 12:10:49 pm
Shiverrrrring with cold this evening, but anyway, one for Fred.


Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 04, 2012, 12:22:39 pm
Rob, have you considered NEX-7? Isn't it supposed to be the poor man's Leica? Wait, scratch that... that phrase was just the usual pandering to the slow-dying myth... how about: Leica, the rich man's NEX-7? ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 12:40:58 pm
Rob, have you considered NEX-7? Isn't it supposed to be the poor man's Leica? Wait, scratch that... that phrase was just the usual pandering to the slow-dying myth... how about: Leica, the rich man's NEX-7? ;)



Slobodan -

No, I'm not really in the camera market at all - I already have three Nikons - the M9 remains a sort of mythical beast of fantasy for me, that fixit masterpiece that held me spellbound whilst I watched Michael's video long ago, the one shot in the Leica Works with the camera sitting on a table in front of a man who rambled on and on... I couldn't get my eys off the thing: a perfect sex symbol with whom I could play all day without causing disappointment. Which wouldn't always be the case with other types of symbol, I have to admit. I blame beta-blockers, I blame them for everything. Even the state of the economy, at least, of my own.

As a consequence, I know nothing about the 'poor man's Leica' at all. I'm suffering from techno overload as it is!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 04, 2012, 03:24:08 pm
Here's one with the poor man's Leica predecessor, a lowly Nex 5 (even without the N).
Still I like it a lot and yesterday tried a "sweep panorama" from a 4th floor balcony.
With this tech gizmo setting you just "sweep" the camera from left to right while keeping the release down. The cam takes a quick succession of shots and stitches them together to one panorama. No operator interference needed, it does so all by itself.

Talk about distortion, still the overall effect isn't bad, but the street at the bottom is straight in real life. If you look carefully near the street crossing on the left it even converts a lone cyclist to an identical twin on a tandem, technology these days has no hurdles anymore  :D

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201201/i-TjKvpdj/0/L/PEGNex0079320120102-O.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201201/20890479_WhXKZW#1658971718_TjKvpdj-A-LB)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 04, 2012, 05:06:10 pm
Maybe the solution is a Nex 5 plus a sticker to paste on it that says "Leica."

Come to think of it, maybe I'll stick one on my S95.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 05:08:33 pm
"it even converts a lone cyclist to an identical twin on a tandem"

There is definitely a family planning component there to be exploited!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 04, 2012, 05:11:13 pm
Maybe the solution is a Nex 5 plus a sticker to paste on it that says "Leica."

Come to think of it, maybe I'll stick one on my S95.Eric


Golly, didn't know you drove a Volvo!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: degrub on January 04, 2012, 05:15:03 pm
It is gratis with the purchase of every Leica ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 04, 2012, 05:28:37 pm
Eric,

I still have an old Hot Pink Leica sticker you are welcome to ...... as long as you don't mind a pic of an R3 on it.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 04, 2012, 09:14:54 pm
Eric,

I still have an old Hot Pink Leica sticker you are welcome to ...... as long as you don't mind a pic of an R3 on it.

Cheers,

W
W,

Actually, I like-a my Canons just fine as they are, thank you.

My father had a Leica M3 many years ago, and I got to handle it once. Just holding it and operating the controls taught me what Leica envy was ll about. My own camera then was a Pentax. I never dared borrow my father's Leica to shoot pictures with, as I was afraid I might misuse it in some way. It felt as if it demanded that I wear silk gloves when handling it. No, thank you.

E
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 05, 2012, 09:58:41 am
That's quite a surprise, Eric; many a Leica went to war!

I'm not advocating pretty in pink, but I'm sure there's something wrong with me. Reading your post above had me seeing all manner of unusual metaphors hidden deeply in the subtext:

Leica envy; borrowing something of your father's; misuse of it; the wearing of silken gloves...

I think I'd better have another coffee and then go out for a brisk walk in the current gale conditions that have replaced the New Year calms!

Unfortunately, there won't be a Leica along with me.

Puzzled of Pollensa.

(aka Rob C)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 05, 2012, 03:52:08 pm
Not a Leica, but the dreaded Samsung cell thinggy! Shot a series on this theme yesterday, and today, coming back from the café (wow! feel like a teenager circa 1950s!), there was the most amazing sunset as I parked the car. I had a crack at it with the cell, but the pic on the 'phone's screen looked burned out near the hot bits... shall see later for, as someone famously said, tomorrow's another day.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 07, 2012, 01:09:14 pm
Teased the other computer into allowing me to update the website - well, to add a Cellpix section.

http://www.roma57.com/cellpix.html

Whether I'll still have it working when I try going back to it, I don't know. But one must remain optimistic, and in an attempt to be that, I've put a lot more stuff onto two external HDs and vanished the stuff from the computer itself. Awkward to access older images, I suppose, but better that than constant crashes and complaints about memory loss. (The computer's, not mine. With my own, as I don't remember what I've forgotten, it's quite unlikely that I shall complain, as anyone would understand.)

Hope you like the new cellpix stuff - yes, some of it is art because I just said it is. And some is not, but I know which is which.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 07, 2012, 02:22:07 pm
Rob,

The cellphone (as you call it) pics are fantastic — well spotted and not overcooked with deliberation and contrivance.

I just successfully sold the wretched Panasonic Lumix GF2 I had squandered on because it dawned on me that the spontaneity I sought in a mirrorless camera was already inb my pocket on the iPhone.  Permanently in HDR mode and quite capable.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 07, 2012, 02:29:52 pm
I really like the new abstracts from your cell phone, Rob.

My only complaint is that I don't know which ones I'm supposed to like, since you haven't told us which ones are Art.
(And I thought Art was just the nickname of my pal Arthur).   ;)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 07, 2012, 02:33:30 pm
Thanks for the compliment, Walter; coming from you, that's praise indeed!

Do you do any shooting yourself, on the cellphone? I know I bitch abut mine, but I have dicovered that one or two of the shooting 'modes' that it offers do make a difference: I tried 'candlelight' (would you believe?) in a dim bar yesterday evening, and the shot in normal mode wasn't much (straight) but the candlelight one had a warm glow that I shall work with... hell, I'm doing more with this toy than with the real deals that I own! That just shows you: a perfect carry-around machine really would have a future. I still wonder at Nikon not doing a Lazarus with its rf cameras: stuff a D700 sensor into one of those rf bodies, and that's as good as I'd seek!

The hell with M9s!

Dream on, Rob; nobody listens to photographers.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 07, 2012, 02:36:08 pm
I really like the new abstracts from your cell phone, Rob.

My only complaint is that I don't know which ones I'm supposed to like, since you haven't told us which ones are Art.
(And I thought Art was just the nickname of my pal Arthur).   ;)

Eric



Hell's teeth, Eric, you don't think I'd spoil it for you with my hang-ups, do you?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 07, 2012, 11:13:35 pm


Hell's teeth, Eric, you don't think I'd spoil it for you with my hang-ups, do you?

Rob C
;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 08, 2012, 12:06:18 am
The THING is, Rob, that a reworked Nikon RF would be as superfluous as any other 'camera'.

The cellphone cam is where it is at for that style of thing.

They have clip on accessory lenses for the iPhone and I feel they are superfluous also.

I was hoping that the Lumix was going to be a latter day equivalent of the Olympus Mju II with 35mm 1:2.8 that I had and loved.  But it is not and it can't be.  The digital file is different in nature to the little rectangle of film and so we are more discerning as to what we get with it.

Simple is best.  Well, for me, anyway.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 08, 2012, 05:17:09 am
The THING is, Rob, that a reworked Nikon RF would be as superfluous as any other 'camera'.The cellphone cam is where it is at for that style of thing.

They have clip on accessory lenses for the iPhone and I feel they are superfluous also.

I was hoping that the Lumix was going to be a latter day equivalent of the Olympus Mju II with 35mm 1:2.8 that I had and loved.  But it is not and it can't be.  The digital file is different in nature to the little rectangle of film and so we are more discerning as to what we get with it.

Simple is best.  Well, for me, anyway.

Cheers,

W

I'm not sure about that - the appeal of the rf is that it's flatter, smaller lenses fit, and I'd hope the ensemble would weigh far less. Weight is the single most difficult thing for me with my slr stuff, that and the tripod.  I have this huge Gitzo, but once out of reach of the car, it stays at home, and I have to use the tiny Slik... so much stuff and so limited by circumstance!

Simple is indeed best, for me too, but it should be the right simple, not one where most of the time I'm working blind. I've tried using the flash function on this cellphone, and you can elect to have it Off, Auto or just On. In the darkness it works when On, in mixed light it won't in any of the options! I've a couple of shots in the new gallery - one of a tricycle and another of a disused cinema doorway. In both cases I tried to get flash to play, but I couldn't see any flash at all; maybe it's so small that it's beyond the capability of my eyes to detect. In the cinema shot, the exposure turned out so long that there had to be massive sharpening to make the thing usable - and only at tiny sizes! I'd hoped a slight fill would have saved the day evening. Oh - what I did see in the cinema shot, as I was trying to get it to work, was the reflection, in one angle, of the camera with what seemed to be a continuous light in operation! I wonder if that's how it's meant to provide boost? Or is it a measuring device, to be followed by a real flash? It took so long I assumed it wasn't doing anything at all.

Rob
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 08, 2012, 03:22:16 pm
I've tried using the flash function on this cellphone, and you can elect to have it Off, Auto or just On. In the darkness it works when On, in mixed light it won't in any of the options! I've a couple of shots in the new gallery - one of a tricycle and another of a disused cinema doorway. In both cases I tried to get flash to play, but I couldn't see any flash at all; maybe it's so small that it's beyond the capability of my eyes to detect.

Rob,

Thank your lucky stars that the flash failed to function.  I hate flash nearly as much as I hate digital, and that's really saying something!

What is needed with mobile phones (as we call them here) is a bracket that allows attachment via a 1/4 thread to a tripod.  In my brief interlude with the Lumix I employed a Leitz table-top tripod and ball head combo that I have had since the 60s or 70s.  It worked a treat.  We all think we can hand hold more steadily than we really can and so with this there is a half-way point between hand-hold and proper tripod.  The table top can be held against a vertical wall if need be.

The shots on your Cellphone page are amongst the best I see you do - stick with it.  Does your cellphone have an HDR setting as the iPhone does?  That makes an incredible difference I find.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 08, 2012, 04:37:48 pm
Hi Walter

Well, that’s a good point: HDR. I simply don’t find anything called that. What I seem to have is a set of choices such as:

Landscape; Portraits; Night; Sports; Party/Indoor; Beach/Snow; Sunset; Dawn; Fall Colour; Firework; Text; Candlelight; Backlight.

Exposure value, from –2 to 2; Auto focus and Macro; Resolution 2560x1920 to 640x480; ISO Auto, 100, 200, 400; Auto contrast; Metering – Centre-weighted, Spot, Matrix. Image quality – Superfine, Fine, Normal.

Shooting Mode – Single Shot; Smile Shot; Continuous; Panorama.

Today I tried out the Beach/Snow setting hoping to cope with highlights à la burned out white boat hulls. I saw no difference. I also tried out the Backlight setting on a huge water reflection of the lowering sun: it was pretty damned good at holding detail within the burned area.

I’ve never moved ISO off Auto – as I have no way of knowing what the shutter or diaphragm are doing (if there is an iris!) where’s the advantage? If it’s Auto, I assume it’ll find ISO 400 when it needs it and ditto for 100.

As for the metering – I’m always on Matrix because that, as far as I understand, is using the whole area, but I have no idea what area the centre-weighted covers and even less the spot, and as I see no way of holding or changing what Spot might say, how does it fly?

Confusing, to say the least; could be that old pros just carry too much tech. baggage for these things.

Like you, I’d love to have a tripod hole on the thing, but even more than that, a simple button to press to fire it. Riaan tells me his Nokia used to have that. I have to hit the screen and that jolts everything, hence the tripod with use of the delay options supplied could be quite useful at times.

I did another test with the flash in the apartment today; what happens is that the light goes on, stays on for a while, and then the damned flash fires! How strange – I’d have tired arms doing that. Or great shots of my feet.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 10, 2012, 04:37:02 am
Teased the other computer into allowing me to update the website - well, to add a Cellpix section.

http://www.roma57.com/cellpix.html

I'm rather fond of "Iberian Chairs."
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 10, 2012, 04:56:03 am
I'm rather fond of "Iberian Chairs."




A proper artist's agent would reply to that and say of course, it gives the feeling of sitting but not sitting, raises the very question about the dangers of sitting in a DVT world, of the transcient versus the substantial within the world of perceptions and, generally, of the way we view what's in own subconscious. At that stage in the disposition of the proposition, I'd butt in to say that those chairs are really the most uncomfortable ones I have ever sat upon for the pleasures of eating. They are, I'm sure, based upon the original design patents of the Spanish Inquisition. However, they didn't seem so uncomfortable when we were young and bought them.

Anyway, stuck in this morning some more from yesterday. No, not chairs, pix.

;-(

Rob C  
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Fips on January 10, 2012, 08:43:17 am
Kill Your Enemy  :D

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 10, 2012, 10:35:04 am
I was sitting quietly by the window of my local bar, having a morning coffee as usual, when I though I heard the melodic popping of muffled champagne corks coming from the back of the establishment. On investigation, it proved far more mundane: just some idiot smoking whilst engaged in something else.

I wonder if he paid his tab before he left?

Rob C

Eric, if you're still looking for Art, he's not there; neither, I believe is Marcel; the signature on the urinal is Roca.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 10, 2012, 03:46:44 pm
I much prefer Edward Weston's classic.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 10, 2012, 04:57:11 pm
I much prefer Edward Weston's classic.

Eric

Did he have an exploding cubicle door too? I've just realised: cubicle - of course! Cubism! My Eureka moment at last. But wait a minute - wasn't Marcel more Dada?

;-(

Rob C

P.S. Funny thing: I didn't hesitate to take the shot with the cellphone (no pun intended, though it might fit) but I would never have dreamed of doing so with a camera. Would have felt strange; that I was strange, I mean, whereas with a cell, I wasn't.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 12, 2012, 04:48:05 am
Was going to go to listen to some music last night... it was so cold that I decided to stay at home and work at the computer instead. It was also freezing at home: heat goes straight through breeze-bock walls. As everybody in the estate agency world knows, and especially do architects, it's never cold in Spain! Once, folks would have said tell it to the marines, now I don't know to whom one should tell it. Okay, I'll tell you instead as there are no marines handy to carry the load.

Oh - I spent the evening working on the day's crop of cellphone shots, which are now up at the end of the gallery, should you be masochistic enough to care.

http://www.roma57.com/cellpix.html

Maybe I should just have braved the cold.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on January 12, 2012, 06:00:53 am
Oh - I spent the evening working on the day's crop of cellphone shots, which are now up at the end of the gallery, should you be masochistic enough to care.

http://www.roma57.com/cellpix.html

Maybe I should just have braved the cold.

Rob C

Those are the kind of photographs that anyone could take, but only some can take: no fancy equipment, no traveling expenses, no editing effects, ... no excuses, just photography; stirring, thanks.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 12, 2012, 08:01:52 am
Those are the kind of photographs that anyone could take, but only some can take: no fancy equipment, no traveling expenses, no editing effects, ... no excuses, just photography; stirring, thanks.




No Eduardo, I thank you! To tell you the truth, those shots you showed some long time ago, of the factory, stirred something in me, and led to my doing my own electricity generating complex shots on the D700 with a 24mm; it sort of made me think sideways, away from the pro side of what I did, which is now impossible. So at least I'm playing with photography and enjoying it!

Gracias -

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 13, 2012, 06:02:28 pm
Another from the 'phone today.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 16, 2012, 09:32:43 am
Amazing. My PS computer seems finally to have died. I wonder if I can blame the cellphone company?

Shall take it to the repair shop whenever the local fiesta (San Antoni) ends; tonight it's the turn of the bonfires, which is quite good, since they deliver vast quantities of sand/earth to locations in the streets - usually outside popular bars that have BBQs at which regulars are invited to have a snack. On those mounds they build huge fires that would suit a witch; that would keep me in warmth for a year, now that I think about it. The trouble, of course, is that it delays the other, coincidental necessities of life such as the making/delivery of my bespoke fireguard, without which I'm unable to use the broken-but-repaired wood fire, which is ironic, as my neighbour has given me much of a tree which is already perfectly dry. In the interim, the electricity company is laughing all the way to the bank, but that laugh may turn to a scream as and when the € falls on its ass. Assuming, of course, that it keeps its booty in Euros. (Booty means something quite else in English English.)

I had a thought: what with all those refrigerated ships plying the seas, wouldn't it be an exciting business opportunity to contract with the Mafia and have a 'burning' of all the bodies via these island fires? Who'd ever know? Who'd ever see? Would make a change from pig farms. This needs work.

Oh well, at least the enforced PS hiatus will allow a sense of calm to return to my savage(ly?), beaten breast. Or hysteria.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 16, 2012, 03:07:29 pm
Rob,

The mail box offered delight yesterday.  The tripod adaptor for my iPhone arrived.  It makes working so much easier (for me, anyway:  I was never one for hand held pictures).

Regards,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 16, 2012, 05:09:03 pm
Hi Walter

Is it a dedicated unit (the tripod adaptor) for your specific make?

My problem with the 'phone camera isn't so much with shake - though I'm sure touching the screen to make the exposure is no clever way - but with the impossibility - often - to see the damned image on the screen. I'd thought this could possibly be solved by making a cardboard hood, but on further thought, I wondered if it would make any difference because the real problem might lie in our eyes: they are stopped right down to cope with ambient sunlight and the situation isn't the same one as the eye faces when pressed up against an eyepiece...

Of course, with a tripod, one could use a hood over one's head.. that would be cool, with a cellphone!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 16, 2012, 08:02:11 pm
There's always the horse blanket Rob.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2012, 04:09:32 am
There's always the horse blanket Rob.




That's a good idea - oh, wait! the Fiesta doesn't have one. Foiled again!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: ivan muller on January 17, 2012, 05:20:27 am
Amy going for her 1200m practice swim to the other side of the Ebenezer dam and back......January 2012

(http://i41.tinypic.com/aoqgc4.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 17, 2012, 05:53:12 am
No disrespect intended, so don't find it, but has she just seen the bull in the other thread?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: ivan muller on January 17, 2012, 05:57:20 am
Dont worry Rob, I do have a sense of humour....! Actually I had a very good laugh, thanks!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 19, 2012, 03:15:00 pm
Aaah, the disappointment of how fast the stationary world of the urban landscape shifts.

I had made a pic on 6x6 of a wall and signage in Arabic in the western suburbs of Sydney.  I went back to shoot it on 4x5 and found instead .....  (first the original and then an iPhone of the disappointment):

Regards,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 20, 2012, 03:47:47 am
Really feel something in the first shot; it has that mood that used to happen in those Italian movies out of Fellini and Antonioni. Add some Nino Rota soundtrack and you're home! 

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on January 20, 2012, 05:44:12 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6724695919_fb4255a042_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6724695919/)
Imperfect (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6724695919/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr



/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 20, 2012, 09:35:14 am
Perfect!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 20, 2012, 04:50:50 pm
Daniel,

Your very appealing shot prompted me to go to your Flickr page and subsequently to your website which all led to a rather splendid accompaniment to breakfast.  Beautiful and interesting work.  Keep it simple, indeed.

Regards,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Fips on January 20, 2012, 06:11:33 pm
Carnival Season is starting in the area where I live. I see it as a chance to work on my street photography skills, which are virtually non-existent. Unfortunately ISO 1600 and an 1.8 prime isn't really fast enough for street lamp lit available light action  :(

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 20, 2012, 06:37:49 pm
Unfortunately ISO 1600 and an 1.8 prime isn't really fast enough for street lamp lit available light action  :(

Why not, I wonder.  There does seem to be an issue with back-focus here but none of the blurr worries me, in fact it probably adds to the immediacy and vibrancy.

Regards,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 21, 2012, 04:07:01 pm
Why not, I wonder.  There does seem to be an issue with back-focus here but none of the blurr worries me, in fact it probably adds to the immediacy and vibrancy.

Regards,

W



If it's manual focus, then it could be the excitement of the moment. (I like exciting moments - can almost remember them, in fact! I shall expect to have another one when the damned computer comes back. I did a remarkable self-portrait today with the cellphone; it may or may not appeal to anybody else, but I can't wait - well, I shall have to wait - to see how it pans out. Again, a release button on the side of the instrument would have been nice...)

Blurr, as we both know, Walter, has never been allowed to stand in our way. Indeed, it's an added weapon in the arsenal.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Fips on January 21, 2012, 06:11:01 pm
Thanks for the comments. I used the Nikon 35mm 1.8 which I find hard to operate manually quickly enough under difficult conditions. So I tried to use autofocus, which also didn't work out so well. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on January 21, 2012, 08:28:21 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6708161741_6905fbe468_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6708161741/)
Details (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6708161741/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6713501835_1d0982dde2_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6713501835/)
float (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6713501835/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on January 21, 2012, 08:33:55 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6708161741_6905fbe468_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6708161741/)
Details (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6708161741/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6713501835_1d0982dde2_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6713501835/)
float (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6713501835/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


/Dahlmann

I don't know what you are doing but the photos you are posting here are really excellent!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 22, 2012, 04:21:39 am
Yes, less is so often more; difficulty is knowing when!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on January 26, 2012, 03:05:29 am
I don't know what you are doing but the photos you are posting here are really excellent!

YES! Simple but very effective, I like them very much.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on January 26, 2012, 08:08:41 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6764934493_27ae72e41d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6764934493/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6764934493/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


/Danne
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 27, 2012, 06:19:39 am
Any news on the PC yet Rob?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 27, 2012, 09:53:13 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6764934493_27ae72e41d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6764934493/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6764934493/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


/Danne
Cool triptych!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 27, 2012, 10:05:49 am
Any news on the PC yet Rob?



Not a word!

But at least I managed to get the Internet back on this one. I was going double-nuts (?) for a while whilst I had no toys to play with, but I can now play music in the wee small hours... love that klrzfm.com late at night!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on January 28, 2012, 03:12:54 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6773403581_1929a3092d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6773403581/)
Monster pic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6773403581/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr

This pic have a resolution of  46046x9150 and the file is 2,3 gig big...=)
My Mac had to work hard..=)
Im going to print a big panorama and hang on my wall...

Yes I know, a bit unnecessary with that large file.. but I scanned the 5 flowers and stitched them together in ps.


/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on January 28, 2012, 11:12:33 am
Yes I know, a bit unnecessary with that large file.. but I scanned the 5 flowers and stitched them together in ps
...
but I scanned the 5 flowers
...
I scanned the
...
SCANNED

Thanks for the tip!!!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 30, 2012, 03:11:10 pm
Found this big ad on a Hotel.

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201201/i-jxVWW76/0/O/PEGA8500612020120124-L.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201201/20890479_WhXKZW#!i=1684838630&k=jxVWW76&lb=1&s=A)

Who wants sustainable meetings? I want my meetings short, to the point and end on time.

Or are we looking at some serious greenwash here  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Fips on January 30, 2012, 03:48:16 pm
Quote
Who wants sustainable meetings?

Maybe the coffee is so yucky, you'll sustain some long term damage from it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 30, 2012, 04:25:10 pm
Got my computer back this afternoon; more cellpix clogging the thing, but here's the first one PSd today.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: degrub on January 30, 2012, 08:20:21 pm
almost looks like some saints walking across the water ...... nice composition.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on January 30, 2012, 08:43:51 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6792841919_915bbebe75_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6792841919/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6792841919/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr




/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 30, 2012, 09:19:08 pm
Who wants sustainable meetings? I want my meetings short, to the point and end on time.
Amen!!!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 30, 2012, 11:21:23 pm
... Who wants sustainable meetings?...

Don't know about meetings, but certain threads seem self-sustainable, e.g., about perspective and $2,000 power cables ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 30, 2012, 11:46:46 pm
Don't know about meetings, but certain threads seem self-sustainable, e.g., about perspective and $2,000 power cables ;) :D ;D
+1000!    ::)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 31, 2012, 01:34:54 am
Don't know about meetings, but certain threads seem self-sustainable, e.g., about perspective and $2,000 power cables ;) :D ;D

Just piss in the pool, good chance Michael will close them (http://bestsmileys.com/lol/17.gif)

By the way, this thread is certainly worth sustaining (http://bestsmileys.com/writer/1.gif)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 31, 2012, 09:52:20 am
By the way, this thread is certainly worth sustaining (http://bestsmileys.com/writer/1.gif)
Absolutely. It's one of the few that I check every time I visit.

No pissing in this pool!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on February 01, 2012, 03:15:47 am
Absolutely. It's one of the few that I check every time I visit.

No pissing in this pool!

Eric

Keep the thread about subjective and arguable opinions, and we will be safe; try introduce some facts and science, and the swords will be drawn... mind-blowing.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 01, 2012, 05:33:33 am
Absolutely. It's one of the few that I check every time I visit.

No pissing in this pool!

Eric




Yes, but still safer to test the pH each time you dip a toe, Eric!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 01, 2012, 03:01:02 pm



Yes, but still safer to test the pH each time you dip a toe, Eric!

Rob C
Aw shucks. Just dive in and see if it hurts.   ;)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 01, 2012, 03:30:36 pm
Aw shucks. Just dive in and see if it hurts.   ;)

Eric



Wasn't that a movie, Reckless?

Could be a seriously brave senior moment instead. Anyway, just in case you see me somewhere, stop and say hello! This should make it easy.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: michswiss on February 01, 2012, 03:38:06 pm
Related to you?

(http://michswiss.smugmug.com/Projects-and-Studies/Two/i-5CkBMwv/0/L/DS20880-Version-3-L.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 01, 2012, 03:41:29 pm
Not that I know - but as Chuck said, you never can tell!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 03, 2012, 04:49:04 am
Yes, but still safer to test the pH each time you dip a toe, Eric!
Rob C

And if you are in Africa, also check for crocs while you are at it. I read in yesterday's paper of a man in town finding one in his backyard. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 03, 2012, 09:32:34 am
And if you are in Africa, also check for crocs while you are at it. I read in yesterday's paper of a man in town finding one in his backyard.  



That's one of the problems with tourists: they don't know where to draw the line between Kodak Viewing Points and private property!

Rob C


EDIT: will KVPs continue now?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on February 04, 2012, 04:06:22 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6814743759_377c5c7242_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6814743759/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/6814743759/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


/Danne
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on February 09, 2012, 01:19:59 am
Hello folks.
I've been thinking about what I like to see in my photographs if I can manage it. I've discovered I like shooting into the sun. I like it if I've found a small element in the frame without which the image falls apart. And I like tackling wildlife as I might a studio portrait. I hope I've been making a start on this, so here's a shot from Andvord Bay and two from Half Moon Island, Sth. Shetland Islands (with chinstrap penguins).
Cheers, David
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 09, 2012, 05:46:32 am
Hi David

Two points:

a. I like the first shot most: amazing atmosphere;

b. you have just described my own credo/belief with what I find wrong with almost every landscape I have attempted: to me, mine are always nothing more than sets for a missing human model, a girl. In your case, it happens to be natural life, but in seeking that single element without which there wouldn't be a picture, you've illustrated what I suffer from when out with a camera and no humanoid with bumps.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 09, 2012, 09:49:55 am
... what I find wrong with almost every landscape I have attempted: to me, mine are always nothing more than sets for a missing human model, a girl...

You see Rob, you are not seeing the scene like a real landscape photographer... A real photographer, when watching a beautiful sunset on a beach, with equally beautiful girl, seductively posing in the foreground, all a real photographer can think of is: "Hmmm... F/8 and..."  ;)

P.S. Credit for the above belongs to a Canon's ad (from maybe a year or so ago)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 09, 2012, 03:30:50 pm
Different strokes for different folks ..... as usual.

I had half a lifetime of putting food on the table by placing excess walking protein (with bumps and sometimes thatch) in front of amazing scenic locations and I saw it as nothing more than bastardisation of topographical beauty.

It is very popular in the allegedly 'art nude' world to hide figures in rocks or have them skipping along pristine shorelines but I never ever see it work.  It does, and it has ..... sometimes ..... but sadly not at all often.

And if I see one more faux pensive unwrapped damsel through the broken window of a falling-to-pieces agrarian or ethnic structure I think I'll scream.

Invariably it is the same picture over and over with just a different face and bumps and (these days) optional thatch.

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on February 10, 2012, 12:49:22 am
b. you have just described my own credo/belief with what I find wrong with almost every landscape I have attempted: to me, mine are always nothing more than sets for a missing human model, a girl. In your case, it happens to be natural life, but in seeking that single element without which there wouldn't be a picture, you've illustrated what I suffer from when out with a camera and no humanoid with bumps.

Rob C
Hello Rob! I wondered if you would respond.  :)
Personally I have no objection to a humanoid with bumps in my photo, but the ones in bikinis are a bit hard to find that far south. And though there were some most attractive ones for the polar plunge event, cloning out the blue skin and goosebumps is beyond my Photoshop skills.
The thing that interests me in portraiture is the lighting and bringing out something of the inner life of the subject. With wildlife the lighting can be hard if you want natural light, but not impossible. And each wee creature has an inner life. Admittedly, penguins may not be the best example. For many of them there is not a lot going on up top, not being the brightest bunnies in their environment. But you take what you can get when out and about, so I have a lot of penguin photos now doing things that would make you blush.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 10, 2012, 01:51:18 am
I could have sworn I had Rob in the car with me yesterday ( no I haven't lost my marbles, the two I have left are safe and sound) while enjoying a day out with a photographer mate of mine.

Harry was a portrait and nude photographer for as long as I am old but these days doesn't shoot anymore. Unavailability of models being the main problem. Anyway, we went for a drive outside of town to see if we can find anything to occupy ourselves with. We found a few derrelict farmhouses ( sorry Walter) and stopped at a few of them to look around. Harry mentions this could be a nice setting for a nude shoot. Further on we found a railyard full of disused and rusting carriages. Harry mentions this could be a nice setting for a nude shoot. Later we spent some time in a section of coastal forest ( huge ferns, big leaved trees, lots of shade and green) and Harry mentions that this could be a nice setting for a nude shoot..  
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 10, 2012, 05:10:43 am
Thank goodness it's not just me!

I think that, these days, I'd be happy to find a naked damsel almost anywhere except in my bed; the latter location wouldn't be producive to great photography because by the time I retire I'm freezing (it is winter here, after all) and as with the penguins, there's not a lot you can do when your undercarriage has retracted. That's a very good bit of natural defence, winter retraction, because otherwise the chances of total loss through frostbite would run very high. It's no coincidence that plumbers make most money in northern winters - everything shuts down, falls off or needs repairing, one way or the other. Even, I'm told, the plumbers. But that's just chit-chat I once overheard at a ladies' luncheon in town.

Of course, Walter's southern location probably accounts for a lot: blood rushing to the head instead of the toes.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 10, 2012, 03:29:12 pm
Guys,

I am always cautious, never to say 'never'.  There have been, and there will be, some rewarding images of exposed epidermis in all sorts of places ..... including rockscapes, derelict structures and rotted tree-trunks.

I guess a large part of my disinterest in adding to the abundance is shying away from cliché.

The notion that when we look through the viewfinder "if we see something we have seen before then don't shoot" is somewhat axiomatic for me in my personal work.  Of course, commercial image haberdashery for clients is another thing again — they tend to revere cliché because there is less challenge, and hence less risk, of alienating punters.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 10, 2012, 03:59:03 pm
Cliché.

Ah Walter, if you let that enter your mind you are done for, effed and hung out to dry and truly hoist by your own - well, not petard, but consciousness. Everything is now a cliché and the thing is to make yours the definitive one. In other words, you have to revert to the artistic trick of theft: not petty, but grand larceny, just like the white rock´n´roll artists of the 50s did. Do you know that many, today, still believe that Elvis and Jerry invented it? Some even think it was Cliff!

Were I to subscibe to your philosophy (for a while, I did to Heff's), then I would have never bought anything photographic after I retired from active service. I'd have died years ago (do I hear muted groans of disappointment from the back rows?) from terminal boredom, stifled in the knowledge that it has all  been done before and better.

On the other hand, that applies to many things in life beyond the noble art of snapping (I have recently realised that quite a few other things are noble arts); where would civilization be today if we'd given up immediately after Adam had had his big moment under the apple tree? There was a warning song about that during WW2. You know, don't stand under one?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on February 10, 2012, 04:19:40 pm
Speaking of loosing one's marbles, I went to bed last night with Riaan van Wyk's post in my head and dreamt of the consequences of Da Vinci listening to Harry or Rob while painting the Last Supper, or Adams shooting Moon and Half Dome. Of course, some artists undoubtedly succumbed. I believe Botticelli's Venus started out as Still Life with Sea Food.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 10, 2012, 08:04:18 pm
I love the graphic David!  Thanks.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 10, 2012, 09:23:26 pm
I love the graphic David!  Thanks.
+1.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2012, 05:09:51 am
Speaking of loosing one's marbles, I went to bed last night with Riaan van Wyk's post in my head and dreamt of the consequences of Da Vinci listening to Harry or Rob while painting the Last Supper, or Adams shooting Moon and Half Dome. Of course, some artists undoubtedly succumbed. I believe Botticelli's Venus started out as Still Life with Sea Food.




Close, but not quite: the original shell wasn't an oyster one as oyster's shells are imagined. No, the original work of girlie creation was actually performed within the shell of a clam, and here's a brief history of the impact of that seminal shot with visible proof of how it improves when clams are substituted by conch.

The shell in the shot (sounds faintly military, that) below was actually bought, not stolen, in Nassau, used on New Providence, on Paradise Island and also Rose Island, and then imported to Scotland from whence it took up residence on the shelf at the rear of a bath in Spain.

Later, it was re-shot on yet more Kodachrome on a beach in Alcudia, Mallorca, and then when the need arose, it was converted into b/w and used to promote my own rôle in a small local show which, in the end, I never did attend as I was stricken low with Delhi Belly from a suspcious meal that I'd paid for in good faith.

Botticelli might well have been thinking of a doing a special Marks & Spencer tv commercial at the time but found himself sidetracked by those terrible hairdressing/cosmetics people who, as is well discussed in these pages, are so corrupting of the female gender.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 11, 2012, 09:07:21 am
I wish I'd gotten to that show, Rob.
And what was served at the reception? Oysters, clams, and nudes?

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2012, 09:34:10 am
Eric, I have no idea; I was doing my level best, at home, to avoid replicating the looks of the baboon when viewed from the rear.

I suspect that anything that was served there might have contained more of the same ecstasy powder that I'd presumably found earlier. Conch chowder, perhaps? Of one thing I'm fairly certain: any nudes would have been imported.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on February 11, 2012, 04:17:47 pm
I wish I'd seen that show as well. Just to momentarily side-track this thread even further, I just had a look at a photo of said Venus and wonder if Botticelli ever saw a female nude. The "Venus" appears to be a young man with poorly painted bumps added.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on February 12, 2012, 03:37:37 am
On a similar theme, see here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9074356/Size-zero-Botticellis-Anna-Utopia-Giordano-Photoshops-Venus-Renaissance-masterpieces-by-Titian.html) for an example of phenomenal silliness indulged in by someone with too much spare time.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 12, 2012, 05:43:50 am
On a similar theme, see here (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9074356/Size-zero-Botticellis-Anna-Utopia-Giordano-Photoshops-Venus-Renaissance-masterpieces-by-Titian.html) for an example of phenomenal silliness indulged in by someone with too much spare time.

Jeremy




I can see that one of the ladies in the background is on her knees and spewing up onto the sofa/into the trunk, or whatever lurks in  the shadows. The retoucher has obviously considered the anti-gravitational properties effect of false tits, too, because they stick out in absolute defiance of Mr Newton. Further, I suspect that the other main problem that is faced here is the matter of face: those old styles belong with corpulent figures - they simply don't go with slim-line bodies.

Perhaps fun to do, but pointless nonetheless. Much like cellpix, come to think of it.

Strange; I haven't done anything with camera or PS for a few days because of the cold and the lack of will to risk pneumonia out by the sea; strange, because instead of withdrawal anxieties this time, I find myself caring ever less about the entire business of photography or, at least, substitute genres... Makes me think again of Riaan's Harry.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on February 16, 2012, 07:24:41 am
(http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/5928/img095r.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/img095r.jpg/)


(http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/5843/img0942k.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/img0942k.jpg/)

www.danieldahlmann.com




/D


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on February 16, 2012, 02:38:20 pm
Daniel, I love your photographs!

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 16, 2012, 02:56:17 pm
Daniel, I love your photographs!

Jeremy
Indeed. They have real pizzazz.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on February 20, 2012, 03:07:19 am
my first attempt to stichting..


(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7198/6908315185_76baeaefed_z.jpg)
Snowgum on Mt buller Australia, VIC


/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: ivan muller on February 20, 2012, 07:01:25 am
My first attempts at stitching I wouldn't show to anyone..obviously you don't have that problem....
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 20, 2012, 05:12:31 pm
This was all so much easier as a cellpix...

Anyway, D700 and 105mm Micro Nikkor instead.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on February 20, 2012, 05:25:15 pm
My first attempts at stitching I wouldn't show to anyone..obviously you don't have that problem....

Can't comment on the first part, but I agree with the second!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 20, 2012, 06:07:47 pm
Damn, Rob, this is absolutely fantastic!!!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 20, 2012, 06:10:07 pm
Damn, Rob, this is absolutely fantastic!!!
Agreed. And it doesn't even need his favorite model to complete it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: shutterpup on February 20, 2012, 08:42:38 pm
Up Periscope
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on February 20, 2012, 09:57:25 pm
Pretty Flamingo has legs.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on February 20, 2012, 10:08:02 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6908313911_5fd1af6e71_z.jpg)



/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 21, 2012, 05:07:03 am
Thanks for the encouraging comments on my latest 'bird' - reminds me that life is all a circle: a repetition, in this case, of a visual mood that set me off with my paint/photography of a few years ago, where I'd paint on a piece of Formica, shoot it, and then scrub the paint away for the next trick. Bought a lot of paint, most of which dried up in the can... going walkies instead is more healthy!

Actually, of those shots, the one that worked best for me was using the board after it had been scrubbed, and putting a butterfly onto it rather than more paint. Charon's Ferry was the result. And no, I didn't go butterfly catching - the poor thing was just there, dead on the terrace tiles. Truly matched the rôle it was cast.

It really does underline the validity of HC-B's dictum about simply being receptive and not trying to force things. You just have to make do with what God provides, and I used to feel exactly the same way with my model work, too. I seldom went out with fixed ideas, probably because I never had much ability to formulate them in the first place.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 21, 2012, 03:37:23 pm
http://youtu.be/fF6cSMsMstI

Quite nothing to do with the above, this shot's another from the little marina wander the other afternoon.

Incidently, I've stuck two rows of pix from that period onto the end of the Sea gallery, should anyone be interested.

http://www.roma57.com/sea.html

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on February 22, 2012, 01:07:40 am
I really like the textures and colours in these Rob.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 22, 2012, 04:17:23 am
(http://www.gouptoday.info/avatar1.jpg)The camera is a Canon S95 P&S.




Whose camera?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 22, 2012, 04:33:47 am
I really like the textures and colours in these Rob.



Hi David

There's a problem, though: my lenses are manual (other than for the 180mm) and as far as I can remember without RTFM again, only the centre af point on the screen works with manual lenses as an indicator of focus. That used not to be a problem for me, but now I am finding an ever increasing inability to focus with the right eye, so I dodge from the right one to compose to the left to focus... I found the cellphone, on the same subject type, very much easier; especially as I couldn't see the subject anyway because of the strong light! It became a simple matter of point and touch and hope! And no tripod.  ;-)

Something else: the first set of files I made were in the Adobe (1998) colour space because I hope to run off a couple of prints, but when switching to the web colour (something 1966-2) I found the changes required contrast and colour alterations, and I don't feel I can ever do quite the same thing twice. As oddly, looking at the wooden plank shot as it appears in my post and then switching to it on the link, I feel they don't match, which is strange because they are the same file. Maybe it's all an illusion of the mind.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on February 22, 2012, 05:22:50 pm
Hi Rob.
I have the same issue with a Zeiss 35-70 lens on my 5DII. It gives the Canon lenses a total hiding, but I need live view to be sure of the focus. For hand-held I intend trying getting it roughly in focus and then rocking back and forwards for the final shot, and then seeing what percentage of sharp images I can get. I'm hoping it will come down to practice. At least with digital there is no cost to this.
As a result of a recent post I tried switching to my left eye. On the one hand, it never felt natural, but on the other hand  it took a surprisingly short time to get it working reliably. Probably if I'd stuck with it then it may have become second nature. Fortunately the sight in my right eye is still good.
As to photos matching, there are so many factors including background colour. I no longer worry about it too much. I'm not doing product shots. I usually use Lightroom to convert to srgb for web display, and seem to get consistent results. More so than any other software I've used.
David
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on February 22, 2012, 08:27:13 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6916509315_ed459a0071_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6916509315/)
Infinite Towers & Heat Waves, California Desert (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6916509315/) by tanngrisnir3 (http://www.flickr.com/people/87368247@N00/), on Flickr

Still trying to get the hang of using legacy glass on a modern digital camera.  On a GH2, a Rokkor 200mm is the equiv of 400mm, which brings things ridiculously close, it's front heavy, my remote shutter release is fritzy, there's wind, a crappy plastic-y tripod and heat waves.

And as someone who learned strictly on digital, I keep forgetting to focus and adjust the aperture.  Somewhat important, those two things.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 23, 2012, 04:18:19 am
As a result of a recent post I tried switching to my left eye. On the one hand, it never felt natural, but on the other hand  it took a surprisingly short time to get it working reliably. Probably if I'd stuck with it then it may have become second nature. Fortunately the sight in my right eye is still good.
David


Hi David

I remember reading something Frank Horvat wrote about himself somewhere - it may have been in his website - of a problem he's had with his eyes. As I recall, it took him out of the game for a while. I'm not sure how/if it was fully resolved, but it does have quite a psychological effect on confidence, especially ¡f thinking about doing people shots where reaction speed is very important.

http://www.horvatland.com

As it stands at the moment, I find that composing with the right eye is natural but not so with the left; however, focussing is okay with the left so I'm not totally out yet!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 23, 2012, 04:29:06 am
[Still trying to get the hang of using legacy glass on a modern digital camera.  On a GH2, a Rokkor 200mm is the equiv of 400mm, which brings things ridiculously close, it's front heavy, my remote shutter release is fritzy, there's wind, a crappy plastic-y tripod and heat waves.

And as someone who learned strictly on digital, I keep forgetting to focus and adjust the aperture.  Somewhat important, those two things.


The shot you chose to show here is quite a difficult one to bring off with long lenses. I think I understand your intention, which I believe to be to show the compression of perspective that long lenses offer, and also the effect of shallow DOF. However, if you look at some of the classic shots with really long objectives, then most of the ones that I, at any rate, remember, include a single subject/object within the frame that's very isolated. Think Dr Zhivago's figure in the desert or Hans Feurer fashion shots. Your shot doesn't really have the advantage of such a principal subject, and using the pylons themselves is a bit difficult because of their insubstantiality. Another great shot in my memory is one somebody posted here (I think!) of a jet plane in heat waves at the end of a runway...

Keep working on it - can make you feel really good when it happens!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on February 23, 2012, 02:26:07 pm

The shot you chose to show here is quite a difficult one to bring off with long lenses. I think I understand your intention, which I believe to be to show the compression of perspective that long lenses offer, and also the effect of shallow DOF. However, if you look at some of the classic shots with really long objectives, then most of the ones that I, at any rate, remember, include a single subject/object within the frame that's very isolated. Think Dr Zhivago's figure in the desert or Hans Feurer fashion shots. Your shot doesn't really have the advantage of such a principal subject, and using the pylons themselves is a bit difficult because of their insubstantiality. Another great shot in my memory is one somebody posted here (I think!) of a jet plane in heat waves at the end of a runway...

Keep working on it - can make you feel really good when it happens!

Rob C

Thanks!  You're right about what I was trying to do, but I thought the gap at infinity distance between the two sets of towers would serve the same purpose as (as you rightly point out) have an actual physical thing or object there as a subject.  IOW, not having a subject there would be the actual subject.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 23, 2012, 03:53:37 pm
Thanks!  You're right about what I was trying to do, but I thought the gap at infinity distance between the two sets of towers would serve the same purpose as (as you rightly point out) have an actual physical thing or object there as a subject.  IOW, not having a subject there would be the actual subject.


Right, I see what you mean, but then to achieve that you'd probably have been better to focus at the most distant pylons; it's probably always going to be the crisp bit that makes the eye go to it.

Interestingly, you've done what I generally find that I do on the rare occasions I try landscape: I end up producing something that needs a figure of some sort to make the point, whatever I think that might be at the time. And to revert to another thread, that's not a talent I have for it: it's a lack of talent for it, apply myself for as many hours as I may!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 23, 2012, 11:31:14 pm
But you do great abstracts, Rob, even without figures in them. So keep on showing more of them.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 25, 2012, 01:50:51 pm
But you do great abstracts, Rob, even without figures in them. So keep on showing more of them.

Eric




Okay, Eric: here's another one, reworked a bit to raise/change the colours slightly. Abstract enough, but I'm afraid I couldn't quite bring myself to do it sans figure...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 25, 2012, 05:44:57 pm
You've reduced the scene to the essentials. Nice!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on February 26, 2012, 01:59:41 pm
I got a weird abstract thrown in my lap this morning.

A pigeon and a small falcon hanging on his neck banged into our window.
You can see the imprint of the falcon's head and beak in the right upper part, the rest is pigeon dust

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201202/i-kZkDHtS/0/L/PEGA7001497420120226-L.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201202/21325450_jjFsHg#!i=1725992429&k=kZkDHtS&lb=1&s=A)

The pigeon did not survive, the falcon was off before I got my camera out.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 26, 2012, 05:11:51 pm
Nifty! Good thing the window didn't break. Would have spoiled the photo.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 26, 2012, 05:16:07 pm
Looks like you managed to capture the elusive, incredibly rare moment of spirit leaving the (pigeon) body! ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on February 26, 2012, 07:26:54 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6786152314_856945c451_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6786152314/)
Bill and Ted's Excellent Departure (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6786152314/) by tanngrisnir3 (http://www.flickr.com/people/87368247@N00/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 27, 2012, 05:31:26 am
Looks like you managed to capture the elusive, incredibly rare moment of spirit leaving the (pigeon) body! ;)

You're quite right, Slobodan; it only happens once in the life of any pigeon.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 28, 2012, 01:14:16 pm
Following the flu I flew away to the local village this morning to have the Fiesta serviced. It would have been nice to have had myself serviced instead, but I have to wait until around July for my next one.

In a cold-sweaty spirit of faux emotion I shot this thing with my cellphone. Made me think of St Ansel and Yellowstone, though like Three Dog Night might have sung, "But I've never been there..." Never been to Needles either, for that matter.

Rob C

P.S. For the technical amongst us:

http://youtu.be/dm6qw_yeo6o
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 28, 2012, 04:04:56 pm
Looks to me as if your Fiesta needs a new radiator cap. Or is that not the Fiesta?   ;D

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on February 28, 2012, 07:24:00 pm
Critiiques can and many times do become overbearing in the digital world, so here is one which I really like. Shot in a historic building Cobourb, Ontario.

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-5nqSp8d/0/M/Feb-26-12-Port-Hope-248-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1726871205&k=5nqSp8d&lb=1&s=A)

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 29, 2012, 03:37:04 am
Critiiques can and many times do become overbearing in the digital world, so here is one which I really like. Shot in a historic building Cobourb, Ontario.



It appeals to my senses too: makes me think of Stealth Bombers etc,; anything but a static building. Well seen.

Regarding your first statement about critiques, that's why this particular space exists: takes any such wise-after-somebody-else's event stuff out of the picture. (Oh dear!)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: ARP on February 29, 2012, 04:56:38 am
Ghosts of flowers past.

(http://alistair-petersen.co.uk/out/_ARP1920.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 29, 2012, 05:07:23 am
ARP and Dahlmann must be good buddies!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 29, 2012, 05:13:07 am
Another one from my wait for the Fiesta to get itself oiled (and possibly scratched, too). I suspect the cell has taken more pix than conversations. Well, I do tend to ignore calls unless I suspect they could be important. One good aspect about retirement, I suppose.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on February 29, 2012, 01:20:11 pm
ARP and Dahlmann must be good buddies!
Precisely my first thought. Lovely images from both of them.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on February 29, 2012, 03:51:34 pm
=)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6941988539_d46571ba2b_z.jpg)



This one looks good on paper..
Printed on Canson Edition Etching Rag 310gsm



/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 29, 2012, 04:47:13 pm
P.S. For the technical amongst us:

http://youtu.be/dm6qw_yeo6o

Aaaah, thanks so much Rob,

Did me the world of good ..... and of course penned by the irreplaceable Hoyt Axton (his mother wrote Heartbreak Hotel)

What a shame that the phrase "It really doesn't matter" has not been catapulted to R&R infamy like some of the other single lines.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 29, 2012, 04:49:32 pm
On the subject of "It really doesn't matter" I doubt that  is what the driver of this rented car thought on Sunday morning when he got up after a spot of possibly contraband honeymooning .....
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on February 29, 2012, 07:15:12 pm
A definite reminder of The Cars that Ate Paris (http://sean.thewhatsgoodconspiracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/car1nj3.jpg).

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 01, 2012, 04:29:28 am
On the subject of "It really doesn't matter" I doubt that  is what the driver of this rented car thought on Sunday morning when he got up after a spot of possibly contraband honeymooning .....



First thing I thought of on seeing the image was the Ku Klux Klan, followed by a generous portion of condoms. I'm not implying that Klansmen and Kondoms are in any way connected, thought they possibly could be, just that thought 1 led automatically to thought 2, but you knew that.

Was that one shot using the aid of your tripod adaptor unit for cellpixes?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on March 01, 2012, 05:53:22 am
Was that one shot using the aid of your tripod adaptor unit for cellpixes?

;-)

Rob C

Quite the opposite Rob,

It was the Sinar F2 with a sheet of T-Max 100 and a 210mm Sinaron-SE 1:5.6.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 01, 2012, 06:35:56 am
Quite the opposite Rob,

It was the Sinar F2 with a sheet of T-Max 100 and a 210mm Sinaron-SE 1:5.6.

Cheers,

W



Aha! In that case, the prosecution could be forgiven for believing that you had a hand in setting up the 'plateau', as Fred would have it!

I thought you guys down there would all be asleep at this time of day/night.  I'm just tossing up the relative virtues of staying home and making a lousy lunch or going out and paying for much of the same; I suppose it's part of the problem of having the flu: the mind doesn't think terribly well. In fact, it feels worse than being under the influence, because I know that I've had some excellent ideas whilst in that condition, but can't for the life of me remember the details of either the hows or the whys afterwards. Very frustrating indeed, more so as I know I'm not going to be able to reach that state again without too great a risk to survival - one glass of red a day isn't nearly enough to approach the level of mental equilibrium needed for those thoughts to materialize... bugger.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 01, 2012, 09:19:19 am
Quite the opposite Rob,

It was the Sinar F2 with a sheet of T-Max 100 and a 210mm Sinaron-SE 1:5.6.

Cheers,

W
Typical spy camera.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on March 02, 2012, 06:08:22 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6945897275_e1c176e6d9_z.jpg)


Tulips...

No scanner.=)



/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on March 03, 2012, 07:38:52 am
Something quite different, an evening shopper in Hong Kong

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200906/i-N4N2tCQ/0/O/PEG00595320090611-L.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/200906/8403476_683jjN#!i=1731870975&k=N4N2tCQ&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on March 04, 2012, 11:20:41 pm
We do architecture competitions in our club. Very strict rules- no problem with that. But what about when you have images which are somewhat in and somewhat out of category? In the end, if you like taking images and showing them to other people that appreciate photography, that's all that matters. Taken in downtown Toronto of the parking lot of the Design Institute.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Port-Hope-and-Cobourg/i-6npxD3H/0/M/Mar-4-12-Gastown-176-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Port-Hope-and-Cobourg/21767534_BPMqWQ#!i=1736366639&k=6npxD3H&lb=1&s=A)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 06, 2012, 03:52:50 am
John -

I think your problem is solved if you decide the picture fits within 'abstract' and you continue shooting more of them.

It really is a shame about pigeonholes, but there you go - the way of the world. At least, if you are interested in competitions. I never have been; I'd rather do what a client might want for a fee and do what I want for fun. Sometimes it's been possible to combine both to a great degree, which makes for happy work. Unfortunately, the latter leads to an attitude where you tend to concentrate on a much smaller market, with all attendant dangers.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on March 06, 2012, 09:57:05 pm
Right you are Rob. I do everything, more or less for fun. I even compete just for fun. I now spend more time helping others learn basic photography and that too is rewarding. I was just trying to show you can't always fit an image into a category. Abstract category is a very good idea.

JR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 06, 2012, 11:19:26 pm
Abstract category is a very good idea.

JR
PhotPlace Gallery in Vermont has a show coming up on the theme of "Abstract Expressions," curated by Carl Chiarenza. Unfortunately the deadline for submissions has now passed.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: tom b on March 06, 2012, 11:29:03 pm
My Abstract series is here (http://www.tombrown.id.au/eclectic/abstract/album/index.html). From Peter Griffen's art studio, the floor and bench tops.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 07, 2012, 04:06:24 am
My Abstract series is here (http://www.tombrown.id.au/eclectic/abstract/album/index.html). From Peter Griffen's art studio, the floor and bench tops.

Cheers,




Very attractive images! makes me wonder, sometimes, about the Ultimate Creator and how much we borrow from Him! And I'm not a particularly religious person in any conventional sense... its just that Nature sems to come up with so much more than I seem capable of doing and my best contribution to the events is, sort of, to recognize them every now and again...

Our own Keith has some crackers:

http://www.keithlaban.co.uk

and so does Peter Defty:

http://www.gooseloft.com

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on March 07, 2012, 06:39:44 pm
There are endless discussions about what is an abstract. If we go by some definitions, my image was not a true abstract but a non-representational view of part of a subject. In looking at the sites you mentioned Rob, I would say only the section from Koba called 'found paintings" are abstract. On the other hand, "gooseloft" section called appropriately enough, 'abstracts" do appear to fit the more classical defintion of abstract. Do I care or want to get into a debate? Not really, as long as the work is good and relates in some way to me, the viewer. But both sites are indeed very good.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 08, 2012, 03:20:59 pm
There are endless discussions about what is an abstract. If we go by some definitions, my image was not a true abstract but a non-representational view of part of a subject. In looking at the sites you mentioned Rob, I would say only the section from Koba called 'found paintings" are abstract. On the other hand, "gooseloft" section called appropriately enough, 'abstracts" do appear to fit the more classical defintion of abstract. Do I care or want to get into a debate? Not really, as long as the work is good and relates in some way to me, the viewer. But both sites are indeed very good.



Glad you enjoyed them, John. I'm not into tight definitions much either, but I do classify things within my own vaguish system of where things fit.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 08, 2012, 07:33:03 pm
I am into tight definitions, following the Humpty Dumpty philosophy. I call it an "abstract" if it looks to me like an abstract.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 09, 2012, 04:08:30 am
So, if we were to put our heads together and work on this, we could come up with a tightly defined vaguishness?

Hmmm... troubling thought to think so early in the day. In the meantime, I shall depart this uncomfortable typing-stool upon which I perch, risking life and limb, and go clean out the fire, another of the thrills of winter that comes a close second to the nasal delights of flu, which I am also currently enjoying to the full...

Sniff.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on March 10, 2012, 07:29:25 pm
Really enjoying this "abstract" banter. Inspires me to show one more image from the Design Institute of Toronto. I do like Humpty Dumpty and I know both he and Eric will agree this is abstract.

JR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Port-Hope-and-Cobourg/i-X4zPvVR/0/L/Mar-4-12-Gastown-184-smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Port-Hope-and-Cobourg/21767534_BPMqWQ#!i=1740744931&k=X4zPvVR&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 10, 2012, 07:56:45 pm
Yes. H-D and I agree: It is Abstract, because I like it.

And Rob: I love that term: "tightly defined vaguishness."

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 11, 2012, 05:22:31 am
Yes. H-D and I agree: It is Abstract, because I like it.

And Rob: I love that term: "tightly defined vaguishness."

Eric




At the moment, I'm into the second (or even third) cycle of the flu; these run into one another, leaving me dazed and confused, a real embodiment of that tdv we're on about.

Worse, due to the heart problems I have to take an aspirin each day (were that but all!) in order to keep my blood thin; as a result of doing this over the years, I tend to bruise and bleed quite easily, much as might some exotic fruit, and the heavy nose-blowing has come with is own side-effects which can be imagined. I'm sure it'll lead to anaemia. So really, tdv isn't anything new for me, more a way of life. Good for the makers of paper kitchen-rolls though.

I'm about to clean out and reset the fire; the dust from that'll set things off again very nicely! Another way to miss one's wife: was a time I could have just stayed in bed until this had blown over...

;-(

Roll on summer!

Rob C
Title: walk-way
Post by: Bruce Cox on March 11, 2012, 12:18:16 pm
Twenty-five years ago I shot pedestrians with a Leica under this bridge.  Winter's return, in what is now spring here, reduced the number of beautiful people and sped them beyond the reach of my camera as I rested from the traffic above Thursday.

Bruce
Title: Opportunistic Surveillance
Post by: Bruce Cox on March 11, 2012, 12:31:51 pm
The parking lot was cut into a hill, which the car was close to and facing, so that glare was reduced on the lower part of the windshield.  

Bruce
Title: Re: Opportunistic Surveillance
Post by: Rob C on March 11, 2012, 01:13:35 pm
The parking lot was cut into a hill, which the car was close to and facing, so that glare was reduced on the lower part of the windshield.  

Bruce


Hope that's not your car, Bruce?

Could be worse: have you ever noticed the lethal weapons folks put nonchalantly onto their rear shelf?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 11, 2012, 01:26:46 pm
... have you ever noticed the lethal weapons folks put nonchalantly onto their rear shelf?

Hmmm... sounds like an idea for the next installment of the Final Destination movie :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on March 11, 2012, 03:23:54 pm
I find it quite amusing. There's nothing like having a few kibitzers aboard to offer advise when your GPS screws up.  ;)

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 11, 2012, 05:37:11 pm
I find it quite amusing. There's nothing like having a few kibitzers aboard to offer advise when your GPS screws up.  ;)

Eric



I don't have a GPS device; the salesman showed me how my cellphone could be adapted to work on the little info. screen of the car but I never really paid attention, and certainly resented paying for the facility. Frankly, thirty years on the island and you won't need one! I'm sure I could get myself back to Glasgow without even a map now; the only problem would be Barcelona near the docks, but it always was, even with a map and a navigator.

Perhaps my temporary monkey could have helped.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on March 11, 2012, 06:05:47 pm
Humpty Dumpty is back, Eric. Found him in pieces this morning. Take a look. He turned a little blue before he fell apart.

JR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Port-Hope-and-Cobourg/i-g8ZGd4F/0/L/Mar-11-12-UofT-008-smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Port-Hope-and-Cobourg/21767534_BPMqWQ#!i=1745293827&k=g8ZGd4F&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on March 15, 2012, 01:51:49 am
Fun With Mirrors

As Above So Below
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7199/6981166741_16382d48f6_o.jpg)

Lake Reflection?
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6835037192_181e9824b5_o.jpg)

Stag Bridge
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6835028440_fbac5aff9b_o.jpg)

Spider
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6981151665_66f3117a87_o.jpg)

Just a little cell phone camera fun...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on March 15, 2012, 04:32:59 am
Fun With Mirrors

Just a little cell phone camera fun...
Oh, how I wish the second one was real!

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 15, 2012, 05:43:46 am
That's really nice stuff, Mike; I particularly like the strength and simplicity of the tree in Lake Reflection. Pushing cellphones even further than I'd imagined possible! Great!

Rob C

P.S. Were I able ever to see anything on mine before shooting, I'd definitely try to rip you off! ;-) or ;-(
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 20, 2012, 10:44:07 am
Yesterday provided some small surprises, one of which was the sight of a Lamborghini covered in mud, driving slowly in front of me through the streets of Pollença. Try as I might, I couldn't pass the damned thing; so wide and so slow.

Funny how Lamborghini chose to name their car after a cow bull that was named after a bat; there's more to Latino than meets the eye. Anyway, here's my version.

Oh, the one I couldn't pass? A tractor.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on March 21, 2012, 01:23:11 am
Oh, how I wish the second one was real!

Jeremy

Thanks, folks.

"When I chided the old man about the truth that I had heard, he smiled and said, "Reality is only just a word..."" ~ Harry Chapin, from the song' Corey's Coming'

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on March 21, 2012, 01:24:36 am
"Oh, the one I couldn't pass? A tractor."

Love it.  And the image too.

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 21, 2012, 12:56:04 pm
Doing my compulsory, postprandial walk the other day, my mind wandered ahead of me into the asteroid belt. Didn't much like what I saw there. Almost gave me indigestion, but that was because I'd segued into Major Tom.

Just as well I had my handy communicator with me.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on March 21, 2012, 06:01:11 pm
Interstellar reach with a phone-cam is impressive Rob.

I worked with a more earth-bound stellar body on Saturday:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 22, 2012, 11:24:34 am
Interstellar reach with a phone-cam is impressive Rob.

I worked with a more earth-bound stellar body on Saturday:





Yes, it's amazing what technology can do nowadays! Yet, somehow, I think I'd rather spend time with you on planet Earth; your heavenly bodies are sort of more, well, heavenly?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 26, 2012, 04:50:37 pm
Wish I could apostrophize in PS, but until I can, have to do with long, lugubrious tiles.

But Walt's Wheels still shine!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Trevor Murgatroyd on March 27, 2012, 02:42:14 pm
Observed last week in New Orleans

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 28, 2012, 04:59:36 pm
From Walter's Wheels to exotic wheels.

More visual grief from walking the walk but not singing in tune nor being in step. Life is a tragedy; a comedy with a terrible sting in the tail. Just like the bumblebee, then; it can't even drive a little XKE, as the Beach Boys or Jan and Dean would have had us believe it's called. (The car, not the bumblebee.) Once, as a small, barefooted child, I did step, inadvertently, upon one such flying horror. They sting. No, let's not get into the world of Stingrays, of any type, or those Beach Boys would have to have their say again.

As I was saying, the horror of appetites beyond the size of wallets.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on March 28, 2012, 05:57:39 pm
James Callaghan, eat your heart out.

Allegedly dreadful car but "pretty" is proved timeless.

Cheerio,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on March 28, 2012, 06:16:15 pm
From yesterday

Narooma in Nsw australia



(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7023412649_d26af1a3da_z.jpg)

/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice - will what replaces it look better? I doubt it.
Post by: kencameron on March 28, 2012, 09:02:05 pm
I am not sure if I have posted this right. I have put the image file as an attachment. When I click on the insert image button I just get some html in the text box rather than an invitation to upload an image file. Does this mean I have to link to an image file hosted elsewhere? And when I preview my post I don't see an image file. Advice appreciated.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on March 28, 2012, 09:17:39 pm
... Does this mean I have to link to an image file hosted elsewhere?...

Yes.

When you, alternatively, attach a file (as you did), you will not be able to see it in preview mode, but it will be displayed in the post.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on March 29, 2012, 01:38:58 am
Very typical urban view at this time Ken.

What locale were you shooting in?

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on March 29, 2012, 02:18:31 am
Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. Below and across the road and to the left of the "morrisett street" label here (http://maps.google.com/?ll=-35.351957,149.232612&spn=0.002155,0.004128&hnear=Queanbeyan+New+South+Wales,+Australia&t=w&z=19). The house has been like that for maybe 5 years. I used to tease my wife that it was my dream home. The fences and for sale signs went up recently.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on March 29, 2012, 05:04:01 am
James Callaghan, eat your heart out.

Allegedly dreadful car but "pretty" is proved timeless.

Cheerio,





Don't think Jim has any need to eat it! At any rate, I'm sure he'd never use a cellphone to shoot his cars, and I don't think he digs distortion. ;-)

As I recall, when the original came out, it cost about 2100 quid... this one's a 4.2, so maybe it would have been a lot more in its day. They now fetch around a hundred grand or so, depending on condition and spec.

The car that I loved, within reasonable prices, was the Sunbeam Alpine, the little coupé that figures in Dr No. My wife (she would probably still have been my girlfriend in those days) and I gazed at one in a garage window for a long, long time and she hoped her Dad would buy it for her, but it never happened. Ahhhh... Discovered from the owners of that garage chain, who became close friends when we all moved to Mallorca decades later, that they bought it for themselves and that it was ruined on its frst day out on the street: the guys in the garage didn't fill the sump. Red faces. I wonder who bought a second-hand bargain? Had Ann's pop bought it, would it have fared the same way? No wonder I believe in divine providence! Another one that grabbed my fancy was the MGB GT, prior to the US bumpers that disfigured so many pretty cars. I was fortunate with my own X1/9 because I got it just before they too, had to stick on yards of ugly stuff up front. I often regret not having it here, now. Would be perfect had it been made of steel, and not recycled tin cans. Poor man's Ferrari.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on March 29, 2012, 05:04:09 am
Crikey!

Where was this house when they were shooting Australia.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on March 29, 2012, 06:51:51 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7026381129_92834a3208_z.jpg)


www.danieldahlmann.com -->Portfolio-->Coastline



/Dahlmann



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on March 29, 2012, 04:03:32 pm
Thanks Ken,

It is a gem.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice - autopano mode on the tiny sony.
Post by: kencameron on March 29, 2012, 09:57:28 pm
Here (http://g.co/maps/fqajz).

I take the dog for a walk through there most days. The australian bush is kind of monotonous, at first glance, but I click away.


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on March 29, 2012, 10:57:21 pm
Looks like an interesting place.

Lots of scope to work the place photographically particularly if you are there most days.
Look forward to seeing more.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on March 30, 2012, 10:20:44 am
Great to see a landscape with such a geometric sense of form to it.  Thanks Ken.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on March 31, 2012, 03:49:26 am
Looks like an interesting place.

Lots of scope to work the place photographically particularly if you are there most days.
Look forward to seeing more.

Regards

Tony Jay

Same here Ken.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on March 31, 2012, 05:45:10 am
Good day to day...


(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6885450546_46a4f3c4bc_z.jpg)




/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on March 31, 2012, 05:50:15 am
Nice shot.

As a thought: have you considered a longer exposure to reduce the surf to a milky consistency. Can be a great effect when done right.

Kind Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on March 31, 2012, 06:56:22 pm
Very nice.

Narooma?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on March 31, 2012, 11:11:17 pm
Thanks mate..=)

This one is from Eden in Nsw..



/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 01, 2012, 04:50:36 am
I want one for Christmas.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on April 01, 2012, 06:14:38 am
But Christmas is so far off.  We have to get through Easter first.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on April 01, 2012, 08:07:42 am
Easter, indeed ...
Sorry Rob - I just couldn't resist showing what you relentlessly cloned away to bend reality ..  :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 01, 2012, 03:44:44 pm
Easter, indeed ...
Sorry Rob - I just couldn't resist showing what you relentlessly cloned away to bend reality ..  :)





Sorry - it's right over my head. I didn't clone anything away, that I can see; what's different in the original file is that the central area of the large hub has some pipes that I have allowed to vanish, but I see no colours other than black and blue.

But anything's possible: today I shot a Porsche and to my horror, when I tried to put the shots (2) from the cellphone onto the computer, I only had one, and the rest of the files from ancient pictures had reappeared, having been cancelled by myself and then, a second time, by the young lady at the Telefonica shop when I despaired of ever getting them off the cellphone memory by myself.

I guess I'll have to go back a second time, plead old age, or just RTFM again.

Was there ever a Golden Age of Cellphones?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 01, 2012, 03:50:27 pm
But Christmas is so far off.  We have to get through Easter first.

Cheers,





Walter, I'm taking the optimistic, long view. Gives me something to look forward to and to worry about as well.

;-)

Rob
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on April 01, 2012, 05:12:58 pm

 the rest of the files from ancient pictures had reappeared, having been cancelled by myself and then, a second time, by the young lady at the Telefonica shop when I despaired of ever getting them off the cellphone memory by myself.


Rob C

Ha! An "it's not just me" moment. I pack for a long journey whenever I venture into my cellphone memory, after downloading from it into Lightroom and discovering that it contains hundreds of images, many repeated, some of which I don't remember taking, and most of which have ridiculously long filenames. While I understand why it won't, I do wish Lightroom would help me delete them from the memory because finding them, nested many layers deep under folders with names in no way suggestive of digital images, is a PITA, and after all, LR already knows where they are. And then there are videos.  Is there, I wonder, an application which will find and delete all digital images on a cellphone?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 01, 2012, 08:39:10 pm
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of...

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 01, 2012, 11:34:49 pm
Is there, I wonder, an application which will find and delete all digital images on a cellphone?
Yes. It's called a sledge hammer (of course you'll need to get another cell phone after you use it.)  ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on April 02, 2012, 01:11:33 am
I was thinking you could just connect the phone to your computer and view it as an external drive, but yes, a sledgehammer should work.  Unless you've got the new Gorilla Glass, of course. Then all bets are off.

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 02, 2012, 09:51:57 am



But anything's possible: today I shot a Porsche and to my horror, when I tried to put the shots (2) from the cellphone onto the computer, I only had one, and the rest of the files from ancient pictures had reappeared, having been cancelled by myself and then, a second time, by the young lady at the Telefonica shop when I despaired of ever getting them off the cellphone memory by myself.

Was there ever a Golden Age of Cellphones?

Rob C


To quote myself (strange, worrying experience), I have now discovered the first Porsche image that I had thought lost; it turned up on today's download from the cellphone...

Anyway, as a nice twist on an old favourite, enjoy the Tina with her Ikettes:

http://youtu.be/JLBuTkIPbSA

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 02, 2012, 02:56:41 pm
Cellpix. Here's one such shot used by CSI Miami Puerto Pollensa for ongoing scene-of-crime investigations into local supermarket trolley theft. Under suspicion is a gang of semi-illegals from Eastern Europe who nick these things, put them into transcontinental transit vans, and smuggle them into the wealthy West where they are then rented to the disenfranchised at convenient extortion rates.

No end to the covert use of mobile technology in the brave new world. Aren't you glad this is your era?

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 02, 2012, 03:03:16 pm
Wasn't me, Rob, I swear!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 02, 2012, 03:46:27 pm
Wasn't me, Rob, I swear!


Hang on there until I remove my sunglasses, stand sideways, and consider those fantastic ladies working in my lab. I particularly like to consider the dusky one called Buonanova, Buonanotte (sounds more hopefully appropriate, the latter) or something similar. Then, and only then, shall I think about whether or not I accept your plea.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 04, 2012, 09:20:07 am
Another one from today's (shortened) walk through the marina: pulled the 'phone out of my pocket and, thanks to the lightish drizzle, I could actually see some sort of image on the screen! Perhaps that's what cells are all about: stormy weather snapping. Anyway, it always rains during Easter, which might be a Divine way of saying that such times are not really about having holidays, filling the air with aircraft, and having a high old time making merry...

Sermon on the Hard over, here's the snap.

;-)

Rob C

P.S. Loved this one since whenever!

http://youtu.be/LqX-fj9jETs
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 04, 2012, 10:31:48 am
That's definitely a keeper, Rob. You and the cell seem to be hitting it off just fine.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on April 04, 2012, 04:09:21 pm
Rob,

I can't help but feel that your infatuation with the supplied YouTube link is the Ford Edsel depicted in it.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 04, 2012, 06:02:43 pm
Rob,

I can't help but feel that your infatuation with the supplied YouTube link is the Ford Edsel depicted in it.

Cheers,

W




Ummm... well, the Edsel Ford bombed, but I suppose I'd rather have it than the other son of a Ford, Harrison (1'10").

Nope, it's just the voices, the emotion and the innocence of youth. I almost remember Ann's 16th birthday, but not quite. However, we certainly must have spent it together - that's beyond doubt!

;-) and ;-( 

(i.e. bittersweet.)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 04, 2012, 06:11:45 pm
That's definitely a keeper, Rob. You and the cell seem to be hitting it off just fine.

Eric



It's odd, but I seem to use nothing else these days; I find that not really knowing what I've framed is a sort of added surprise. In fact, had I not the history I have, I'd be very tempted to have no other camera, but then you can't really unlearn what you know and there is always the chance that some day (turn away now, Keith) I may find cause to shoot in earnest again, so just in case... Who knows? Glad you liked it, by the way.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 06, 2012, 12:21:57 pm
Easter on Mallorca, so naturally, with the fresh influx of tourists and dreams, it rains.

This is one spotted by my daughter as she accompanied me on my marina walk.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 06, 2012, 01:15:51 pm
It's the wrong color for a Great White Shark and the fin isn't the right shape, but those eyes sure look threatening.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 06, 2012, 03:32:13 pm
It's the wrong color for a Great White Shark and the fin isn't the right shape, but those eyes sure look threatening.


How strange! I never saw it from that perspecti¡ve at all! What I see is a guy in a cloak with his arms spread inside it...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 06, 2012, 05:12:30 pm
Now that you mention it, I can see it that way too. Maybe I've just watched too many scary movies.

But I like any image that invites different, preferably contradictory, interpretations.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on April 08, 2012, 01:14:43 pm
in Arizona
Title: Photograph taken in a state of anxiety.
Post by: kencameron on April 11, 2012, 03:47:58 am
Here.  (http://g.co/maps/pws4q)

They live in a hollow log, just off a path the dog and I take on our daily walk. They are becoming less active and fewer in number as winter approaches. I plan to go out after dark with the macro lens and a ring flash to try to get really close.
Title: Re: Photograph taken in a state of anxiety.
Post by: Rob C on April 11, 2012, 03:55:06 am
Here.  (http://g.co/maps/pws4q)

They live in a hollow log, just off a path the dog and I take on our daily walk. They are becoming less active and fewer in number as winter approaches. I plan to go out after dark with the macro lens and a ring flash to try to get really close.


It's not true that they can't fly in the dark. They are closely related to the Bat family. The Bats are well-known for flitting at night when they think no-one can see them; I believe they are wanted across several states.

Rob C
Title: Re: Photograph taken in a state of anxiety.
Post by: kencameron on April 11, 2012, 09:02:52 pm

It's not true that they can't fly in the dark. They are closely related to the Bat family. The Bats are well-known for flitting at night when they think no-one can see them; I believe they are wanted across several states.

Rob C

I had been hoping for sleep, or at least a state of rest, rather than actual flightlessness. I used to keep a couple of hives myself before deciding I wasn't that keen on honey. I believe they are threatened by disease in some countries, with potential damage to food production.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on April 13, 2012, 02:08:04 am
As long as you don't disturb the nest, you can stand beside them and they'll fly in and out past you.  Coating yourself with sugar water or having a can of pop nearby probably wouldn't be a good thing unless you want attention.  They've got better things to do with their time than chase you off for no reason.  I took Marcia to watch a white-faced wasp nest being built once; we stood about four feet from the nest and had the wasps zooming in and out past us, with some working on the nest and others fetching 'supplies'.

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 13, 2012, 02:17:43 pm
Yes, maybe, but you didn't mention that you two were sheltering beneath Perseus' cloak all the time!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 13, 2012, 02:49:37 pm
No Country for Old '59 Cadillacs

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 15, 2012, 02:21:44 pm
Inspired by the Russ' post on McDonald's (and the role of chairs), I remembered I had a similar fascination with the design of those places, colors and shapes, and the role chairs play in it. It was an early morning and rather empty. No humans in the picture is what attracted me to the scene in the first place, as nothing portrays better human loneliness, isolation and solitude than empty, deserted spaces.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 15, 2012, 02:34:53 pm
Slobodan, some of those places are empty because of the décor. See you in Madrid?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 15, 2012, 03:02:50 pm
Slobodan, some of those places are empty because of the décor. See you in Madrid?

Rob C

Ah, the typical European snobbery! ;)

I am only too familiar with the unique character and decor of European cafes, and how and why, after them, one might look down on such prosaic, utilitarian and mundane places like McDonald's. But it is what it is, a fixture of American (sub)culture, and I can only applaud those who are trying to infuse some sense of decor into it, however kitschy it might be.

As for Madrid, I wish... but more than two years of unemployment is taking its tall... in every respect.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on April 15, 2012, 03:19:04 pm
As for Madrid, I wish... but more than two years of unemployment is taking its tall... in every respect.

Two years Slobodan??!! I recently had two months of the same and felt my world was coming to an untimed and unplanned for end.   
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 15, 2012, 03:28:40 pm
Two years Slobodan??!! I recently had two months of the same and felt my world was coming to an untimed and unplanned for end.  


Wait until you retire...

How have you been, Riaan - long time no hear.

Rob C

;-(
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 16, 2012, 09:04:22 am
Love these therapeutic walks; some seem to achieve the same - or not - via sailing.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 16, 2012, 10:34:00 am
From an earlier day: recipe for disaster.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on April 16, 2012, 03:08:00 pm
The menacing sky looks almost unsuitable for walking, let alone sailing.  And, lighting-wise, the moment of moon and cock was impeccable.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 16, 2012, 05:57:36 pm
The menacing sky looks almost unsuitable for walking, let alone sailing.  And, lighting-wise, the moment of moon and cock was impeccable.



In matters of moon and cock, timing is always of the essence. No meter will help you, not even a golden Rolex. Unless it's a present, of course.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on April 18, 2012, 07:54:16 pm
in Sedona
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 19, 2012, 04:21:28 am
in Sedona



Just a tiny touch of colour correction, and you'll be there with the perfect skin tones!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 19, 2012, 04:42:47 pm
Strange to say, up the mountains again today, where I haven't been for at least a decade-and-a-half. Funny world up there... must be the altitude - lack of oxygen, you understand. Not my fault at all.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 19, 2012, 05:24:52 pm
Couldn't resist the tripod holes.

Must carry my Swiss Army Knife...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 20, 2012, 03:49:59 pm
Back in the montains today; you wouldn't believe it though - this was the final shot of the day.

Not even the cellphone but the D700 and 500mm mirror. Obviously, there's no difference.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on April 20, 2012, 08:31:38 pm
There'd be a big difference, Rob, the moment you tired to do anything much more than post it to a thumbnail on the internet.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 21, 2012, 03:29:19 am
There'd be a big difference, Rob, the moment you tired to do anything much more than post it to a thumbnail on the internet.

Cheers,

W



I did put a ;-) at the end of my post...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on April 21, 2012, 08:47:21 am
Sorry Rob,

It was on a new line and I didn't think it related.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on April 21, 2012, 11:53:46 am

Wait until you retire...

How have you been, Riaan - long time no hear.

Rob C

;-(

Trying to cope with civilization Rob. Thanks for asking :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 21, 2012, 04:31:25 pm
Not much civilization up here - at least not until you walk in the opposite direction for a hundred yards.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2012, 05:35:55 am
Chris F at work yesterday.

Next to cameras, a useful (essential?) accessory for the camera bag would be a good head for heights. I don't have one. Well I have a couple of bags, but the head's the problem.  Neither does it particularly like tight spaces, the head I do have.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on April 22, 2012, 08:05:58 am
No Country for Old '59 Cadillacs

;-)

Rob C

Oh, Being the proud owner of two mini's, this shot makes my innerds chill....ooooohhgoooeybrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on April 22, 2012, 08:29:38 am
This is probably the best place to submit this as one of those..."I think this is going to be a great shot, oh well back to the drawing board, shots..."

Night Panning

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6968428759_3be0bf0109_c.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2012, 10:47:45 am
Forget the drawing board - the shot's interesting as it is, especially, for me, the bit of blur/action? on the foreground pier bit. I can imagine women in long dresses, champagne flutes in hand, lots of smiling teeth, Rivas tied up nearby and the chitter chatter of not very much but a damned good evening anyway. Seems to have all left me behind these days; damn Andy Warhol and his time limits!

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on April 22, 2012, 11:10:43 am
That has me to thinking I should try this same type of shot at one of the local outdoor Bistros that line the waterfront.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2012, 12:39:17 pm
That has me to thinking I should try this same type of shot at one of the local outdoor Bistros that line the waterfront.



Don'tcha just love this forum¿

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2012, 12:40:19 pm
Oh, Being the proud owner of two mini's, this shot makes my innerds chill....ooooohhgoooeybrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr


At last! A guy who wears one on each foot!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2012, 02:00:20 pm
Vertigo notwhithstanding, mountain air is bracing: look what it does for grass.

1.8/50mm Nikkor glued onto a D700 and with a little help from Mr Pola.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on April 22, 2012, 02:41:00 pm
I love my 50mm 1.8 and my 35mm 1.8 and my new 24-70 2.8.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2012, 05:28:40 pm
I love my 50mm 1.8 and my 35mm 1.8 and my new 24-70 2.8.



Yes, the 50mm is a pretty cool number; haven't got a 35mm anymore, but my ancient, non-AI 2.8/35mm was a cracker! The 24-70 G I got rid of as soon as I possibly could: it was useless even on the cropped format D200! God alone knows how it would have fared on my D700.

Today, for the first time, I read a criticism of the 'fabulous, amazing, balls-of-the-pooch 17-24mm' one; I am of the firm belief that people are either not used to primes anymore or, perhaps, have been so corrupted by zooms coming as standard kit with the digitals that expectation levels are lower than they used to be regarding products from the House of Nikon, even in the case of the two supposedly superior quality zooms mentioned.

However, seems that MF isn't immune either, as I deduce from current Hassy/Fuji conversations.

Bring back the Kodak Brownie!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2012, 05:39:44 pm
One more from Mallorca - I think from prison - where the view is spectacular and The Chadeau d'If comes hauntingly back to mind from schooldays... damned cold, all the same, without proper clothing for the altitude.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 23, 2012, 12:15:51 pm
Rural graffiti. Sometimes, it makes something a bit more interesting, but mainly not. This time it attracted me enough to snap it, which probably says as much about me as it does about the author. Oh well, you only live once or twice.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on April 23, 2012, 12:30:54 pm
One more from Mallorca - I think from prison - where the view is spectacular and The Chadeau d'If comes hauntingly back to mind from schooldays... damned cold, all the same, without proper clothing for the altitude.

Rob C

As my friend Harry would say: "That window needs a female figure to complete it"
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 23, 2012, 01:15:42 pm
I think the big smile on the guy's face is because the female figure has just disappeared inside the black window to put her dress back on. Rob got there just a minute too late this time.  ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 23, 2012, 02:14:27 pm
As my friend Harry would say: "That window needs a female figure to complete it"



Your old friend Harry is right: the area up the top of this mountain is full of spaces where models could shine. It breaks me friggin' 'eart!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on April 23, 2012, 02:25:14 pm
I think the big smile on the guy's face is because the female figure has just disappeared inside the black window to put her dress back on. Rob got there just a minute too late this time.  ;)



No; this is one of those rare moments when an event is frozen in stone. The 'guy', as you call him, is ectoplasm - its trace substance on the wall. He actually represents the moment after the shutter was tripped - a figment of my mind rendered visible. The invisible girl was just that: invisible. Not even Chris could see her through his Mamiya 67 ll - or he certainly didn't let me know if he had been able! It's the altitude, as I tried to indicate earlier; everything changes with it. A bird in flight doesn't even look like a bird sitting down, which obviously proves this observation to be accurate and based firmly on visible evidence.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EricDosSantosPhotography on April 23, 2012, 07:44:30 pm
Took this guy in the street
(http://dossantoslemone.com/selling/streetart1.jpg)


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on April 24, 2012, 09:13:15 am
Took this guy in the street

May I ask how did you lighten this, please?
May thanks.
Title: "'Artist' Statement" - this image has been digitally manipulated.
Post by: kencameron on April 25, 2012, 06:39:00 pm
And not just in Lightroom. What has gone? How obvious is it?
Title: Sculpture...
Post by: kencameron on May 04, 2012, 03:09:13 am
...of Sir Robert Gordon "Bob" Menzies (http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/menzies-sir-robert-gordon-bob-11111), former Prime Minister of Australia, by the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, around here (http://g.co/maps/knpv6), where he used to take a regular morning walk. Here  (http://the-riotact.com/menzies-steps-out-on-the-lake-shore/68408)you will find a link to a video of Sir Robert inaugurating the lake. I am not sure if, on his morning walks, he was accompanied by a security detail, as would be the case today. The building behind him the right is the High Court of Australia. The sign to the left warns against swimming in the lake because of pollution, which wouldn't have been a problem back then. However, at this time of year, swimming in the lake is uncommon because it is seriously cold, at least by Australian standards,and this isn't really a spot where anyone sober would swim.  But the bureaucrats still need to cover their fundaments. Some things don't change, or not that much. There is a lot of public art in Canberra, which some local voters and taxpayers don't like, but which I strongly approve. It would be fun to see some public art from other places, with a bit of context for it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 04, 2012, 04:45:55 am
How come he isn't sprayed?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on May 04, 2012, 10:49:10 am
How come he isn't sprayed?

Rob C

Give it a little time - he is too new even for the seagulls.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 04, 2012, 08:35:41 pm
Thanks Ken,

Of what material is the statue cast?  By the lack of rust I guess it was not cast in the namesake of "Pig-Iron Bob".

As a young newscameraman I filmed the very last press conference of Menzies in Sydney.  My, how time has flown and how times have changed.  No entry to the press conference unless the media representatives were wearing a suit.

Cheers,

Walter
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on May 04, 2012, 09:17:43 pm
Of what material is the statue cast...As a young newscameraman I filmed the very last press conference of Menzies in Sydney...No entry to the press conference unless the media representatives were wearing a suit.
Hi Walter
According to the sculptor's web site (http://petercorlett.com/) he models with clay and casts in bronze, so his work will look better with time.
Amazing to hear you were at Ming's last press conference. I imagine you were at some other famous occasions too.
Do "media representatives" even own suits these days? I guess the on-camera talent does, but most photographers and cameramen I see seem to go for a much more relaxed look.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 05, 2012, 03:42:11 pm
Do "media representatives" even own suits these days? I guess the on-camera talent does, but most photographers and cameramen I see seem to go for a much more relaxed look.

Ken,

It is a very different world.  Back in the 60s we had to have a suit at hand in case we had to cover a Lady Mayoress's luncheon plus carry a set of green overalls in case we had to cover something grubby like a bushfire to keep the suit clean.  The overalls were provided the suit was not.

Thanks for the info about the sculpture.  Next time I am down I'll make a point of having a look ..... unless, of course, I get distracted by Lake George being full of water up to the road.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 10, 2012, 01:59:43 pm
As a change from churches and clapboard buildings in general, I thought you'd be thrilled speechless to see this shot captured after lunch. It's a long way from Andorra to Puerto Pollensa, but with a white Bentley you can actuall fly here. Well, you can fly, but the Bentley will probably still have to catch the ferry or be choppered onto your yacht and make the crossing that way. But Bentley, under German ownership now, is working on it... watch this space or, better, Car magazine.

Rob C

http://youtu.be/4KAE1LaoT0o
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on May 10, 2012, 07:53:49 pm
Now if they'd just put some decent tailfins and bumpers on that Bentley, they almost have a Real Car! Right, Rob?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 11, 2012, 04:00:29 am
Now if they'd just put some decent tailfins and bumpers on that Bentley, they almost have a Real Car! Right, Rob?




It's just a young Bentley, Eric; give it time. Fins: maybe that's what Bentley Germany is working on now!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on May 11, 2012, 04:03:52 am
Given the price of these puppies, they had better make them fly someday soon...

(Specially for Rob, some vertigo-inducing straightening going on in this shot.)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 11, 2012, 10:04:49 am
Given the price of these puppies, they had better make them fly someday soon...

(Specially for Rob, some vertigo-inducing straightening going on in this shot.)




Beautiful cars, with a single, fatal flaw: so damned difficult to distinguish between the SL and the SLK, especially in silver! Imagine having bought the larger version and having the neighbours think it the other… better investment is the Rolex, as we’ve decided a while back; you can even take it to bed with you but, I suppose, you might just have problems trying that with the merry Merc. My sister-in-law has a silver SLK with the AMG bits…  ;-(

The white(ish) Bentley I shot the other day was not far away from an SL6.5AMG in white with ugly black inserts all over the place. It looked terrible to me: cheap as dirt and with the charm of home-made. Didn't even feel obliged/inclined to cellpix it!

In the league of expensive cars, I thing Porsche has it about right with the Cayman. Not too big, very pretty and not inclined to attract hatred (at any rate, not mine). I wouldn’t dream of owning a Ferrari, Lambo, Massy, Aston M. or any of those things. I would like a GT version of the Mustang, though; our resident car snapper Haef. had a shot here of one in a very appealing red paint-job a while back – Sheeley or something like that? Looked practical as well as good. Nice.

Until then, I’ll keep playing with the Fiesta in the comfortable illusion that it is, at least, a junior member of the same family… with the bits and pieces I’m slowly sticking on it, it’ll soon weigh about as much! Power to weight ratio? What’s that?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on May 11, 2012, 12:24:45 pm
Beautiful cars, with a single, fatal flaw: so damned difficult to distinguish between the SL and the SLK, especially in silver! Imagine having bought the larger version and having the neighbours think it the other… better investment is the Rolex, as we’ve decided a while back; you can even take it to bed with you but, I suppose, you might just have problems trying that with the merry Merc. My sister-in-law has a silver SLK with the AMG bits…  ;-(

Ah, so true. Especially because they eventually put the same V8 engine in the SLK as well, which defies sensibility if you're talking power-to-weight ratio. Actually it is the torque that makes the engine sublime, but verging on overpowering the large car, let alone the smaller one.

On the other hand, while you can't take it -to- bed, you can use it -as- a bed, and that might just come in that bit more handy on occasion.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 11, 2012, 01:58:43 pm
Ah, so true. Especially because they eventually put the same V8 engine in the SLK as well, which defies sensibility if you're talking power-to-weight ratio. Actually it is the torque that makes the engine sublime, but verging on overpowering the large car, let alone the smaller one.

On the other hand, while you can't take it -to- bed, you can use it -as- a bed, and that might just come in that bit more handy on occasion.




Have you tried it? I used to turn over my sailing friend's 500SL for him when he would vanish off to the UK or wherever he would vanish to, and there wasn't much room inside the thing at all, not even in the trunk/boot. (The lower dashboard area was a nightmare of tiny switches, most of which I'm sure he never sussed out himself.) I'm speaking about the model they made about ten years ago - perhaps they have discovered the concept of passion-waggon in Germany now... oooh that Claudia!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on May 11, 2012, 06:57:40 pm
A Passion-wagon from Germany?? From the country that gave us krautrock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gChOifUJZMc)??

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 12, 2012, 05:22:46 am
A Passion-wagon from Germany?? From the country that gave us krautrock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gChOifUJZMc)??





As an old reative used to say: stranger things have happened! However, it does sort of illustrate what I suggested, that sex in an SL isn't a good idea.

However, on the up-side, so to speak, in another thread nearby they will soon be advocatiing the advisabilty (or otherwise) of sex in a train or even in a clapboard building. Anything related with clap must be an instant turn-off, I'd have imagined, but different strokes for different folks, the D800 or D800e of it, ¡f you like? (But even as I write, those people at Leica have come in with a spoiler, their own varation on the theme: MMmmm... as Michael might say.)

Sex (simulated or sublime) in a submarine might work: Ray would be there to record the moment on his modified D700.

Rob C

P.S. Sheesh! We get some weird folks on this forum!

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on May 12, 2012, 09:04:40 am
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7181496580_bb075c5e65_b.jpg)


www.danieldahlmann.com


/Danne
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: degrub on May 13, 2012, 01:50:16 pm
"I would like a GT version of the Mustang, though; our resident car snapper Haef. had a shot here of one in a very appealing red paint-job a while back – Sheeley or something like that? Looked practical as well as good. Nice."

Rob -

'tis a sad day
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10805550&ref=rss

Frank
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 14, 2012, 04:31:16 am
"I would like a GT version of the Mustang, though; our resident car snapper Haef. had a shot here of one in a very appealing red paint-job a while back – Sheeley or something like that? Looked practical as well as good. Nice."

Rob -

'tis a sad day
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10805550&ref=rss

Frank



Thanks for the link - didn't know he'd pased away. Neither did I know we shared a taste for nitro pills! I have to keep two in my wallet just-in-case, as the saying goes. The drill is this: if heart pains come, place one under the tongue and sit down, wait to see if it passes within fifteen minutes (another good reason to own a Submariner!) and, if not, put the second one under the tongue and get your ass to hospital as quickly as you can. I guess a Cobra would be a help in that respect...

Whilst I was having my first stent installed, I felt a bit faint and the medic instantly fed a dose of nitroglycerine into my system. I remember asking him if there was an explosion risk – he replied no, not unless you suddenly decide to have a cigarette… never thought I’d star in a civilian version of M.A.S.H.!

I quite liked that surgeon; unlike the second one, who had no sympathy at all with my shivering from cold. Seems that theatres have to be cold for hygienic reasons – or so I was told at the time. Sure makes it difficult to lie motionless. Best avoided if you possibly can.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on May 14, 2012, 05:52:23 am
'tis a sad day
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10805550&ref=rss

Spend 80 years on earth with such a track-record and a fulfilled life with children and grandchildren, even after transplants and death-defying heart attack hobbies, I would say this is not a sad day. This, instead, is a celebration of life.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on May 14, 2012, 05:55:52 am
never thought I’d star in a civilian version of M.A.S.H.!

D*mn Rob, if you know that series, your age is showing...

I quite liked that surgeon; unlike the second one, who had no sympathy at all with my shivering from cold. Seems that theatres have to be cold for hygienic reasons – or so I was told at the time. Sure makes it difficult to lie motionless. Best avoided if you possibly can.

That's why it's best to go for the full sedated state. Just tell them you're afraid of operating rooms or something. Heck, full sedation is the best way to experience life in general these days.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 14, 2012, 10:37:26 am
D*mn Rob, if you know that series, your age is showing...

That's why it's best to go for the full sedated state. Just tell them you're afraid of operating rooms or something. Heck, full sedation is the best way to experience life in general these days.


Can't be done, as far as I'm aware: they require your co-operation during the procedure. There is no sensation whatsoever (of pain) and all I felt was the cold. Both times they went in via the right wrist - others seem to have it done via the groin... don't know if that's telling me something or not.

Regarding full sedation for life in general - you have a point!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on May 14, 2012, 10:52:13 am
.... Heck, full sedation is the best way to experience life in general these days.

I am starting to like this guy ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 14, 2012, 01:39:24 pm
I am starting to like this guy ;)


I don't think he meant what I think you thought he means. Were I younger, I'm sure I might hold a different opinion on that, though.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 14, 2012, 02:37:42 pm
Spring may not be truly eternal, but its enough to get my juices going.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-pwkxtZ8/0/L/May-11-12-Rhodo-223-smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=1899425318&k=pwkxtZ8&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-CX7dd6M/0/L/May-12-12-Rhodo-126-smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=1899373445&k=CX7dd6M&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Photography/Niagara-Region/i-qbF4LcZ/0/L/May-2-12-Niagara-Gardens-428-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Photography/Niagara-Region/22549405_MDDKxd#!i=1826112730&k=qbF4LcZ&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on May 14, 2012, 03:26:12 pm
That is pretty nice, John.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 14, 2012, 04:34:06 pm
Spring may not be truly eternal, but its enough to get my juices going.

JMR



I think the first two are fantastic; not moved at all by the third.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 14, 2012, 06:55:37 pm
I think they are all quite wonderful and the difference in technique and vision of the third makes it a stand-out for me.

Cheers,

Q
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on May 15, 2012, 01:24:50 am
Nice, John.  I find the first particularly compelling. Reminds me of an oil stick painting.

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on May 15, 2012, 01:38:58 pm
Heck, full sedation is the best way to experience life in general these days.

It does get boring and ordinary after a while Oscar, as everything in life does I guess. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 15, 2012, 04:27:44 pm
It does get boring and ordinary after a while Oscar, as everything in life does I guess. 



Lift yourself, Riann, it's not a good place to go. I'm a friggin' expert, so take my word for that.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 15, 2012, 06:05:03 pm
Thanks for the comments everyone. I get more comments about the third than the others, as people really like it or hate it. What I find interesting is when I compare the idea, often suggested on this site, that people should try converting their images to BW. This seldom works for me, as these type of  images rely heavily on the colour component and their interaction with each other and less so on the design component.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 15, 2012, 07:12:23 pm
John,

The point that those who preach mono conversion generally miss (as most proselytisers miss something) is that to make black & white or colour images is ideally a decision made BEFORE the fact, rather than after it.

Back to the dreaded 'V' word — visualisation.

The works of yours that I have seen show that you are tuned in to the possibilities and gifts of colour.  Listen to your heart and move as the world moved YOU.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on May 15, 2012, 07:20:59 pm
... Back to the dreaded 'V' word — visualisation...

Funny you mention it, but pressing "V" in Lightroom does convert it to b&w ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 16, 2012, 04:51:19 am
Whale oil beef Oct!

I did not know but I do now.

Pardon my attempt at an Irish accent.

Regards,
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 19, 2012, 10:07:58 pm
I really like this one; far more abstract than simple non-representational images. I kept it dark because that is the way I saw it and because it maintains the more subtle mix of colour with dark tones. Curiously, in all my shots at dusk, I am getting little red spots (dots really) that I have to clone out. I wonder if that is a function of High ISO or shooting longer exposure images.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-W5RxSC5/0/L/May-19-12-Rhodo-pk-142-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1856088125&k=W5RxSC5&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on May 20, 2012, 03:07:02 am
Intriguing... I rather like it!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 20, 2012, 04:50:17 am
I really like this one; far more abstract than simple non-representational images. I kept it dark because that is the way I saw it and because it maintains the more subtle mix of colour with dark tones. Curiously, in all my shots at dusk, I am getting little red spots (dots really) that I have to clone out. I wonder if that is a function of High ISO or shooting longer exposure images.

JMR




Are those hot pixels, or whatever hot pixels might be? It was so simple back when you knew it was just dust or dirt in the water!

I like that sort of obscure imagery; makes the imagination work rather than just wallow in what's already there and glaringly obvious.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 20, 2012, 08:35:20 am
Rob, I wish I knew what these red dots are, because when I blow it up enough there are more than two, albeit smaller. Thanks for the comments Mike and Rob.

Here are the offending dots:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 20, 2012, 08:52:37 am
Rob, I wish I knew what these red dots are, because when I blow it up enough there are more than two, albeit smaller. Thanks for the comments Mike and Rob.

Here are the offending dots:





Rubies. Now you only have to find them.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on May 21, 2012, 02:45:40 am
I really like this one; far more abstract than simple non-representational images. I kept it dark because that is the way I saw it and because it maintains the more subtle mix of colour with dark tones. Curiously, in all my shots at dusk, I am getting little red spots (dots really) that I have to clone out. I wonder if that is a function of High ISO or shooting longer exposure images.

JMR

Red, green, and blue isolated pixels are mostly hot pixels; long exposures produce them, and high ISOs accentuate them. Most cameras have a "long exposure noise reduction" option precisely to deal with these, and some raw converters also try to deal with them.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 22, 2012, 09:50:02 pm
Red, green, and blue isolated pixels are mostly hot pixels; long exposures produce them, and high ISOs accentuate them. Most cameras have a "long exposure noise reduction" option precisely to deal with these, and some raw converters also try to deal with them.
Hey Ed, thanks very much for that information. I never knew that. I did indeed shoot handheld at high ISO 1600 and the exif says that noise reduction was off. So, is it better to turn noise reduction on for all night shots or long exposures?

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: EduPerez on May 23, 2012, 01:34:21 am
Hey Ed, thanks very much for that information. I never knew that. I did indeed shoot handheld at high ISO 1600 and the exif says that noise reduction was off. So, is it better to turn noise reduction on for all night shots or long exposures?

JMR

Usually, "long exposure noise reduction" (there is also a "high ISO noise reduction") is only recommended for exposures longer than one second; for shorter times it has little, or no effect at all. And bear in mind that when this option is active, the camera will pause after each shot, for a time equal to the exposure time; if that is not a problem to you, I would use it.

High ISO noise reduction is completely different: it is mostly the same noise reduction that you can do later at the computer; so, if you already plan to edit your photographs, and do not mind spending a few extra seconds on each one, I would not use it.

Just my two cents.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: sdwilsonsct on May 23, 2012, 12:01:49 pm
Does in-camera noise reduction have effects on anything else other than noise? I have avoided using it in in RAW captures thinking it would diminish the unprocessed image.

John R -- really nice images!

Scott
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: popnfresh on May 23, 2012, 01:13:16 pm
Noise reduction above the lowest level can smear fine detail in some cameras. And in a few cameras, even the lowest level of NR can smear detail. But typically, noise reduction does not apply to raw files, since by definition a raw file is the direct output from the camera's sensor before any post-processing is applied. But I understand that there are a few cameras that do apply NR even to raw files. If possible, I would turn off NR entirely, especially if your camera is applying it to its raw files. You can always apply NR in post with Photoshop if you need it. But once it's baked into the file that comes out of the camera you're stuck with it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: sdwilsonsct on May 23, 2012, 03:43:34 pm
Thanks, Pop: that all sounds very reasonable. Scott
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 23, 2012, 06:03:22 pm
Well thank you Scott, Ed and PopnFresh. Very good information which I did not know and simple to remember. From Ed's answer, I now realize that with my K10 I had the autonoise reduction feature on all the time and this explains why I had to wait almost as long as the exposure time for my results. Thanks again!

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 24, 2012, 06:14:47 am
A model prone to hissy fits I suspect all over a Harley-Davidson

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 24, 2012, 11:14:19 am
A model prone to hissy fits I suspect all over a Harley-Davidson





Walter, please tell me it's rubber!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 24, 2012, 02:24:38 pm
Another postprandial stroll this afternoon led me to thoughts of how wonderful car designers used to be: you could sit in the car and see all four corners from the driving seat!

I suspect that there's a parallel lurking somewhere here between old cameras and old cars... not to mention babies and bathwaters.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 24, 2012, 05:38:46 pm


Walter, please tell me it's rubber!

Rob C

Not at all Rob,

It is the real deal with a mind of its own as to where it will pose and for how long.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 24, 2012, 05:48:48 pm
Not at all Rob,

It is the real deal with a mind of its own as to where it will pose and for how long.

Cheers,

W



Unless you had a very long lens - doesn't look it - or either you or the critter was in a box (seperately), you have got to be nuts!

On the other hand, this could be the stuff of dreams: nightmares for some but heaven for others. Sorry, just been watching House on Spanish tv (original language) and after so many moons away from it, it appears to have changed doctors and Cuddy was nowhere to be seen. What a drag: she was the best thing in it. Might look in again next week, but I'll probably forget, anyhow.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 24, 2012, 07:15:34 pm
Not only ME being nuts Rob,

But the model also.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 25, 2012, 03:35:25 am
Not only ME being nuts Rob,

But the model also.






Insane!

The worm looks happy enough though, and I can certainly understand that. I would be happy enough too, but there you are, I'm stuck playing with a 31-year-old U.S. number plate instead.

Did anybody on the set come up with an apple?

Rob C

P.S. You studio heating's way too high.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on May 25, 2012, 04:38:10 am
Pentax Smc 105mm 2.4 whit Canon 5d2

f8
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7265241996_a1477277ac_z.jpg)

f2.4
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7266105586_f42621efdc_z.jpg)

i am happy!!


/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 25, 2012, 10:05:38 pm
Very nice work Dahlman. I like how you kept the red vase to a minimum and thereby nicely balanced the powerful red vase with rest of the scene. Clearly the the shape of the vase is suggested and mysterious and and is not how we normally see such a scene.

I also like the woman. Perhaps it is how you nicely separated her from the background. The features on her sweater are sharply visible in contrast to the more washed out look of her face, which gives her a somewhat archtype look.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on May 26, 2012, 12:05:44 am
Very nice work Dahlman. I like how you kept the red vase to a minimum and thereby nicely balanced the powerful red vase with rest of the scene. Clearly the the shape of the vase is suggested and mysterious and and is not how we normally see such a scene.

I also like the woman. Perhaps it is how you nicely separated her from the background. The features on her sweater are sharply visible in contrast to the more washed out look of her face, which gives her a somewhat archtype look.

JMR

Thanks John =)


/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on May 26, 2012, 12:07:09 am
Pentax 67 lens, 105mm 2.4 and 5d2


2.4
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7271259046_ee6f0fb73f_z.jpg)
Noonie




/D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 27, 2012, 06:36:10 am
Legs still somewhat sore from the struggle along tracks, but as I do these things ever so slowly, the heart seems not to suffer - as far as I can tell.

Anyway, as I didn't shoot this the last time - armed only with the cellphone which, as everybody knows, gets heavier with each and every uncancellable image one shoots with it - I thought that adding the weight of a normal camera to this later spur-of-the-moment walk might produce beneficial physical results. Thanks again to Chris for encouraging me beyond the comfort zone...

;-) or, on the other hand, ;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on May 27, 2012, 07:47:52 am
A nice illustration that the notional horizon line is sometimes best abandoned - the skewed angle makes this one for me.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 27, 2012, 05:51:32 pm
In reality, Ken, the structure is actually off the level too, as you can make out if you peer at it closely in relation to the stuff around it. Still, I did shoot it as straight as possible as well, but it didn't offer me the feeling I get from this approach.

Anyway, I watched the Monaco GP today and felt obliged to go out and wash the car, after which I though I'd take a snap of it since I seem to be snapping so many other ones instead... Sunday's not a good day for finding empty slots by the sea, but I was lucky enough to find a slot right away in which to catch a vertical. So I did. I've had the insert that takes up a lot of the space of the rear bumper painted to match the body - the original comes in bare, dark-grey plastic, on all Fiestas of all colours, as far as I know, and it must save Ford a fortune in paint when the costs are spread over many thousands - or, rather not spread over those thousands. However, it looks very unfinished, so I had it done. Turned out to be problematic for the painter, which might partly explain why Ford doesn't do it, but he got there in the end.

Funny old world, with funny old people.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 27, 2012, 06:05:35 pm
I am surprised at the things a thrifty Scot can find to squander his hard-earned on.

Painting the bumpers, indeed!

Regards,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 28, 2012, 04:06:57 am
Walter, that's the way of the world, now. You buy things and they are never complete or, as bad, they come with things you never wanted in the first place. That car demonstrates both extremes of bad customer relations: unfunished paintwork on the one hand and a talk-to-me-baby function on the other! ¿How crazy is that?

But then Scots have never been stingy - particularly to themselves - it's just another stereotype that gets handed down through the generations and played upon by the Scottish Tourist Board and sundry liars - much like the wearing of kilts, which strange idea I saw only in two situations: weddings of a certain type; a lone piper with hat on the ground attempting to earn a penny or two in the Trossachs. Obviously not the brightest of us: a truly clever one would have kept the bagpipes quiet and not driven away the passing tourists with the dreadful sound those things produce (I think I mean the pipes...). On the other hand, they do prompt the sale of lots of acetylsalicylic acid.

Better off with a kangaroo! At least it probably doesn't play the mouth organ.

Rob C

P.S. It struck me that it's impossible to tell whether this was shot with the D700 or the cellphone. It wasn't a cellpic. To be brutally truthful, I prefer the look of the shot of the classic Merc some slots above, which was on the cellphone. Oy veh. In fact, I suspect that were I actually able to see what I'm shooting with the cellphone, rather than guess, I'd stop using the cameras. Seriously, I mean this.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on May 28, 2012, 06:03:22 am
Funnily enough Rob,

I had not been so intent on keeping my tongue well and truly in my cheek I was going to ask which capture device this was with.

As you may know, I briefly owned and used a Panasonic GF2 and came to the conclusion in a single weekend that whatever I wanted to do with it I could accomplish with greater facility with the iPhone camera.  I bought a tripod adapter for the iPhoine and mounted it on a Leitz Table top Tripod.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 28, 2012, 06:28:00 am
Yes, I remember you saying you had got yourself one of those; however, do you have similar problems to mine in actually seeing anything on the screen in bright sunlight? It works perfectly all right in low light, but in sunshine, I can't even read telephone numbers etc. never mind see what the lens is covering. It's a real pain, because I inevitably end up having to stand well back with the subsequent cropping that that entails later on, but even then I often cut off one side or the other of the main subject - 't's a bitch! It was really a drag doing those close-ups of peeling boat paint because of that fault.

I do see how these 'phones will be the end of cheap cameras, though.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: amolitor on May 28, 2012, 06:54:00 am
I don't understand why you didn't have the bumper chromed instead of painted?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 28, 2012, 09:23:41 am
I don't understand why you didn't have the bumper chromed instead of painted?


Actually, two reasons: I didn't think of it; I once tried to get the frame of the U.S. plate (that you see with my website) re-chromed here - it was impossible to find a service.

Investigation into the matter on the Internet revealed that in America, at least, there is a liquid chrome paint or spray! I did have real chrome plating experience as an apprentice engineer at one time, but nothing non-metalic could be treated because it all worked via electrolysis, I think it was. Anyway, we used to hang great bits of con-rod previously fashioned into domestic pokers into the vats and then bribe the polishing shop (with a packet of ten fags) to polish it up to a fine sparkle. We apprentices had the best fireside tools in town!

Yes, chrome would indeed be unique! I must worry about that now... which makes a change from worrying about the damned cellphone which has now returned all the past couple of hundred shots to the memory, despite my own and several other people's valiant attempts to delete. It deletes for a day or so, then everything returns... just like a conscience, then.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on May 28, 2012, 01:26:48 pm
Finally had a change to take a look at the SL-owner's other car. I'm quite positive that this one is indeed capable of flight. It's either a hover-craft pretending to be a car, or it is a UFO responsible for crop-circles.

In case you're wondering about the setting; it's a quick impromptu venue, but this brand started off building tractors...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 28, 2012, 02:03:49 pm
Indeed, and as with Shelby, it was a grudge match with Enzo.

Love those old crocks! (And the cars are rather nice too.)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 28, 2012, 04:43:31 pm
As rocks seem to be flavour of the month, here's a collection of them in one place, with a sting attached, but not in the tail in this instance.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on May 28, 2012, 10:47:38 pm
Early and very hot weather is cheating me out of Spring! Well at least one more that I can attribute to Spring just because it makes me feel like getting outside and taking more images.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-2XNkBvK/0/L/May-28-12-HP-191-smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1873208110&k=2XNkBvK&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on May 29, 2012, 02:32:12 am
I always find it encouraging to see folks shooting other than purely representational images; especially now, where I suppose you can, technically speaking, make things look as if they are sitting inside your monitor, it's nice to see imagination at play. It might or might not work for everybody, but since when has anything found universal appeal? Yes, personal touch is where it's at, in my opinion.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on May 31, 2012, 03:46:13 pm
P.S. It struck me that it's impossible to tell whether this was shot with the D700 or the cellphone. It wasn't a cellpic.
[/quote

I had the same thought quite some time ago Rob, especially after your table and chairs (?) pic. Could it really mean that equipment is largely irrelevant in the greater scheme of things? 
 
 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 01, 2012, 04:10:31 am
P.S. It struck me that it's impossible to tell whether this was shot with the D700 or the cellphone. It wasn't a cellpic.
[/quote

I had the same thought quite some time ago Rob, especially after your table and chairs (?) pic. Could it really mean that equipment is largely irrelevant in the greater scheme of things? 
 
 


Hi Riaan

I think that in many cases, especially for stuff that's not expected to have any life beyond the web, that a cellphone is as good as it generally gets or needs to get!

Thing is, I can't really see the subject outdoors in sunlight, and the odd shot that I do think would make a pleasing print is then too small within the sensor area and is only a jpeg anyhow. I suppose the answer is something small and cheap, like half a Leica (M4.5?) with a good viewfinder and knobs.

Dream on, Rob.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 02, 2012, 10:47:32 am
Was a time that these little valleys were actually farmed - today, sheep graze and goats run wild. Tourists and bird-watchers (and the odd snapper) now have the run of the place - well, if they are very fit and wear anything other than sandals - but a hidden danger lurks: the grasses that grow alongside the rough paths/rain tracks are seasonally bedevilled with ticks. They hang about waiting for passing animals and hey, anything hot, sweaty and full of blood will do. I no longer smoke, not in bed nor anywhere else, and so the first traditional method of removal is denied me, but I do know that they sometimes just give up and let go, all by themselves. Perhaps they just dislike the aspirin content I enjoy. Oh, I don't know the season during which they flourish, but it's unlikely I'll be seeing them again in the very near future.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 02, 2012, 12:29:53 pm
Early and very hot weather is cheating me out of Spring! Well at least one more that I can attribute to Spring just because it makes me feel like getting outside and taking more images.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-2XNkBvK/0/L/May-28-12-HP-191-smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1873208110&k=2XNkBvK&lb=1&s=A)

I love it John!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 02, 2012, 12:45:48 pm
Was a time that these little valleys were actually farmed - today, sheep graze and goats run wild. Tourists and bird-watchers (and the odd snapper) now have the run of the place - well, if they are very fit and wear anything other than sandals - but a hidden danger lurks: the grasses that grow alongside the rough paths/rain tracks are seasonally bedevilled with ticks. They hang about waiting for passing animals and hey, anything hot, sweaty and full of blood will do. I no longer smoke, not in bed nor anywhere else, and so the first traditional method of removal is denied me, but I do know that they sometimes just give up and let go, all by themselves. Perhaps they just dislike the aspirin content I enjoy. Oh, I don't know the season during which they flourish, but it's unlikely I'll be seeing them again in the very near future.

Rob C

Rob, I don't know if you can find it in the shops where you are but we use an insect repellant in a tube ( like a Pritt stick as used by kids in school for paper glueing) that can be smeared on the edges of your shoes and socks and also for good measeure a few dabs on the thigh area for those adventurous buggers that sit on the grass seeds higher up.

We have a particularly horrible version of the insect called pepper ticks. Minute animals that burrow into the skin and can only be removed by smothering them with vaseline. The above trick works even for them.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on June 02, 2012, 01:45:00 pm
an older Florida shot
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on June 04, 2012, 01:41:34 am
Early and very hot weather is cheating me out of Spring! Well at least one more that I can attribute to Spring just because it makes me feel like getting outside and taking more images.

JMR

John: You might like this woman's work: Kathy Beal (http://www.kathybeal.com/Galleries/Galleries.html)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Waiting for the Dolphins
Post by: kencameron on June 04, 2012, 05:25:36 am
At Chanonry Point (http://goo.gl/maps/Qin2). Fort George to the right. The Dolphins arrived a few minutes later and were tossing salmon out of the water. The photographers were squealing with delight.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 04, 2012, 09:21:58 am
Goat tracks in the mountains are for goats; I really wonder why we lot sometimes find ourselves treading there where none of us should, not being goats, usually.

Anyway, might as well record the fact and chalk it up to experience, or simply as evidence against oneself.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on June 04, 2012, 09:29:45 am
Rob, this really is an intriguing image.

The more I look at it the more I like it (I liked it at first glance by the way).
It seems to combine an excellent photographic technique and composition together with a wilderness environment that I so treasure.

You do give very interesting critique, so it has been a pleasure to view one of your own images.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 04, 2012, 09:40:40 am
Rob, this really is an intriguing image.

The more I look at it the more I like it (I liked it at first glance by the way).
It seems to combine an excellent photographic technique and composition together with a wilderness environment that I so treasure.

You do give very interesting critique, so it has been a pleasure to view one of your own images.

Regards

Tony Jay





Thanks, Tony; it's all that D700 and bog standard 1.8/50mm manual Nikkor's fault.


Rob C

P.S. I have realised that it's possible to raise the brightness on the cellphone screen; I will probably try using it tomorrow after lunch on my constitutional stroll. I usually have to give up snapping with it because, in sunshine, the screen appears jet black and I can't see a thing. In fact, I was in the daft position today of answering it when it rang and having no idea who was calling; I usually don't take calls from unknown mumbers - too many rackets going down here.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Waiting for the Dolphins
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 04, 2012, 01:22:46 pm
At Chanonry Point (http://goo.gl/maps/Qin2). Fort George to the right. The Dolphins arrived a few minutes later and were tossing salmon out of the water. The photographers were squealing with delight.

These days I'd rather be there with a fly rod in hand, chasing the salmon.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Ligament on June 04, 2012, 01:51:17 pm
Outstanding! I'd love a print.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 05, 2012, 09:26:48 am
Another one from my recent bout of mountain madness.

I suppose that a tripod could always double as a crutch; one sees many of those disappointed ski-fans here: they walk about the place with their sticks but seem to have misplaced the skis. Reminds me of WalterEG's damsels - they too seem to have problems keeping track of things - their vestments, for example... it's all this Vestal Virgin stuff they learn at school - so much for a classic education if you catch your death of cold. Heaven alone knows what the summer sunshine skiers learned.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 06, 2012, 10:57:43 am
Whilst still in pastoral mood - choice of alternatives would be a fine thing - here's more rural excitement. LOL.

Another rock, another tree, but this time no rock worth speaking about. And not a helluva lot of tree, come to think of it, but you can't have everything, not even on LuLa.

Watched a programme on tsunamis last night. We are all doomed. If not from the Canary Islands slipping down, then from those pesky fjords oop north. I personally believe that there is an even closer threat from northern Mallorca. One of those cliffs down, goodbye Barcelona and the south of France too. Sounds like a Woody A. movie, doesn't it?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on June 06, 2012, 09:07:42 pm
I see that you are becoming a convert Rob.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 07, 2012, 04:19:47 am
I see that you are becoming a convert Rob.




Don't be cruel, as Elvis said.

Just lack of better oppotunities, Walter; I'd gladly swap all these stones, ticks and thorns for one of your better birds any day! Thing is, it's all that stands between me and oblivion, though even that may be optimism. My eye tests haven't been concluded yet, but those two words 'pressure' and 'glaucoma' appear written down in my papers...

The joke about my heart problems was don't buy any LPs... now, it's probably going to be don't buy any LPs and forget about M9s, even in your dreams. Hey ho.

Worse yet, maybe I should forget the Mustang (car, not ranch) fantasy too.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on June 08, 2012, 03:39:28 am
Worse yet, maybe I should forget the Mustang (car, not ranch) fantasy too.

Hopefully the mustang ranch fantasy will be one of the last to go.

I vividly remember straying over the border from California into rural Nevada one time and being amazed at all the ranch-style brothels down their driveways off the highway. Mostly they looked quite seedy and in need of another coat of (pink) paint. These days I rather regret not stopping (to take photographs, I mean).
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 08, 2012, 09:51:09 am
Hopefully the mustang ranch fantasy will be one of the last to go.

I vividly remember straying over the border from California into rural Nevada one time and being amazed at all the ranch-style brothels down their driveways off the highway. Mostly they looked quite seedy and in need of another coat of (pink) paint. These days I rather regret not stopping (to take photographs, I mean).



Well, Ken, seed and its (frustrated) sowing is what they are all about... I don't think I'd have stopped either - never felt that way about sex; had to be as a direct result of fond effort and wilful desire, not casual purchase in a down moment.

I remember a photo article in French PHOTO magazine some years ago based a shoot in one such place; boy, was it a lesson in sadness and depression dressed up as nirvana. To tell you the truth, I think that in my case the establishment would probably return me my money on the grounds of unfulfilled contract. I don't think I'd even kick the tyres.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 08, 2012, 11:15:10 am
As a change from twigs'n'stones, here's another postprandial walking shot on the telephone.

Not that you deserve this sort of stuff, of course, but what else can I do?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on June 08, 2012, 05:29:09 pm
That is actually very cool, Rob!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on June 08, 2012, 07:04:13 pm
Great shot Rob.

Could almost be an abstract although it is not.
BTW some of the previous landscape images also give pause for thought.
Dare I say it - keep 'em coming.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on June 08, 2012, 11:21:50 pm
I agree. I think you are finding a new niche, Rob. Keep it up!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 09, 2012, 04:10:03 am
Thanks for the replies - always nice to know somebody else enjoys what's on the screen!

Since discovering that the volume - sorry - brightness of the cellphone can be pushed upwards, it has become slightly more easy to see what's being shot; however, regarding the fish, I took two shots (so daring!) and even then, the area I covered wasn't particularly accurate despite my thinking I could see the target a little bit better. The main difference between the two is that for the first shot I crouched, whereas for the second I deposited the bottom of my Levis onto the concrete and felt more grounded...

However, these after-lunch walks do avoid indigestion.

There's some more live jazz this afternoon from the old band I used to shoot last year - the venue is now outside under some trees, and so I expect the light to suck because of shadows on faces, but maybe that'll add something rather than detract? There are some really big musical names playing, on and off, within the loose combination. One is the harmonica player (a multi-instrumentalist) who is German and Berlin-based. His name is Peter Schiller/Schirmer or something similar (I lost his ID that he gave me but I did look him up at the time and he does a lot of arranging for orchestras and film and tv; there's also a Scottish singer - Carol Kidd, MBE (lots of stuff on Youtube) who has a wonderful voice but I have never shot her. That's because of her age, but I saw her on Thursday evening and asked if she'd mind my shooting and she said no problem. If she's there today, I shall have a bash at getting something. Trouble is, insofar as women go, I have this conditioning thing about not wanting to show anything less than what's flattering. I suppose it's a mark from the past, but there it is. How I wish I could actually photograph the music! I was on the verge of tears last year when she sang Autum Leaves to the crowded bar... that's something wonderful: that a name can have no problem singing for free and to a local little group of music fans. Annie L. famously said that you can't photograph dance - music is no different and, if anything, even more impossible.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on June 09, 2012, 05:26:36 am
And each of us is possibly all to well acquainted with what a piss-poor job feat of it music makes in presenting a photograph or dance for that matter.  Thank goodness or all we'd need is one uber-discipline.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on June 09, 2012, 08:37:44 am
Fantasy march of the redcoats. The only one that came out looking reasonably like what I was after.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-NHpGbM7/0/L/June-3-12-Battlecreek-562-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1886626721&k=NHpGbM7&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 09, 2012, 09:03:57 am
There are probably some people in England seeing exactly the same thing these days! Nice shot; I only once tried doing that kind of thing: it was of my muse, and we were up a hill by the side of Loch Lomond doing some piccies for somebody or another and thought it would be nice to try one of those slow-shutter running shots. She had a petticoat/slip things with her - far more interesting garment than undies, IMHO - and we managed to construct a rough guide from little stones and twigs for her to follow so that she could run slowly in a section of a circle (no af in those days, but I eschew it still) and let me stay in focus. Well, not myself in focus, but to the keep distance right. Right? It worked very well indeed... sadly, it's all gone to blazes with the rest of my fashion negs. What a bummer that was - and all of my own doing except for a b/w cal. shoot at Auchindrain, which I had guarded jealously, but still managed to lose. Yet, so much junk from other things survived a bit longer.

What was the reason/occasion for the redcoats?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 09, 2012, 09:07:36 am
And each of us is possibly all to well acquainted with what a piss-poor job feat of it music makes in presenting a photograph or dance for that matter.  Thank goodness or all we'd need is one uber-discipline.

Cheers,




Can't argue with that... but it would have been nice to be able to practise in an überdiscipline... I used to think we did, but that was long ago.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on June 09, 2012, 01:12:40 pm

What was the reason/occasion for the redcoats?

Rob C
It's a slow exposure shot. It's a re-enactment of the battle of Stoney Creek, in Niagara Ontario. The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813, is part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812 between the Americans and Canadian-British colonies, which is what Cananda was at the time. It was a turning point in the war. There is going to be another grand celebration in Niagara Falls. It was great. Saw about 200 white tents and I guess that was part of the encampment. They fired two canons and many rifles. You could see the fire shooting out of the barrel, along with all the smoke. They told us 6 out of every 10 soldiers actually died of disease and not conflict. Thanks for your comments.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 09, 2012, 04:12:02 pm
It's a slow exposure shot. It's a re-enactment of the battle of Stoney Creek, in Niagara Ontario. The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813, is part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812 between the Americans and Canadian-British colonies, which is what Cananda was at the time. It was a turning point in the war. There is going to be another grand celebration in Niagara Falls. It was great. Saw about 200 white tents and I guess that was part of the encampment. They fired two canons and many rifles. You could see the fire shooting out of the barrel, along with all the smoke. They told us 6 out of every 10 soldiers actually died of disease and not conflict. Thanks for your comments.




Must have been before penicillin, then? Those pesky camp followers were a secret band of saboteurs infiltrated into the ranks by the opposite side. Maybe they all retired to the pink ranches afterwards, when conflict was over.

Goes to show, you never can tell.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on June 09, 2012, 04:42:42 pm
John this is a magnificent image.
Full marks for pursuing your vision.

BTW I fully understand that with this sort of shot a lot of trial and error is needed.

Bravo

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on June 11, 2012, 07:56:35 am
Bokeh hunting


(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7175023981_64b14c9b97_c.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7175030837_d6f0dfbe86_c.jpg)

And a portrait

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7175023507_a40ce81f35_z.jpg)


/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 11, 2012, 10:02:57 am
So, tell me, did the pooch find any bokeh? Tumescent bokeh, perhaps, or just something in the air? He looks concerned, if a little haughty.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 11, 2012, 05:33:48 pm
I had wondered what was going to happen with the paper fish; the plot, apparently, thickens.

I shall keep track of this.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: ivan muller on June 12, 2012, 06:21:11 am
....what breed is that dog ?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on June 12, 2012, 07:04:10 am
....what breed is that dog ?

A cross between border collie and blue heeler..


/Dahlmann



 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 12, 2012, 11:06:45 am
A cross between border collie and blue heeler..


/Dahlmann



 


Ah, a Heellie, then. Just like my late Alsabrador. The best kind.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 13, 2012, 11:54:09 am
Recently, much anxiety has been expressed about the rights and wrongs of sunlight or faux sunlight in landscape.

I found some such ammunition this afternoon during my usual walkies. (No, I no longer have a pooch, but I still put one foot before the other or even, sometimes, right into my sweet little mouth. Dependable, that is I.)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on June 17, 2012, 09:38:05 am
A cross between border collie and blue heeler..


/Dahlmann



 
Very nice work, Dalhmann. There is a natural looking quality about your work.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 19, 2012, 01:19:09 pm
A couple of weeks ago on a dullish afternoon.

Non-af Nikkor 2.8/135mm at something around f4 or so - I think.

On the principle of publish and be damned - here we go.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on June 19, 2012, 05:51:18 pm
Excellent example that you can't keep good old stuff down.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 20, 2012, 02:48:44 am
Hi Walter

Just checked the file details:

ISO 400; 2.8 @ 1/640th sec.

I thought I'd opened up a tad in the hope of catching some depth around the instrument... this eye problem is a bugger, though: catch focus at once or it just drifts off into uncertainty. Not at all conducive to long-term watching through the viewfinder!

Rob C

P.S. Regarding the problems with vision: in this shot, what price one of those film-days split-image rangfinders! Used on that sax, the focus solution in a single step! Wish the D700 could take one...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on June 20, 2012, 05:01:55 am
Rob,

I must confess to never having been able to get along with focussing aids - split focus or microprism.  Just a good old ground glass for me with the occasional addition of a fresnel.

It must be a real bugger for you.

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 20, 2012, 11:52:51 am
Rob,

I must confess to never having been able to get along with focussing aids - split focus or microprism.  Just a good old ground glass for me with the occasional addition of a fresnel.

It must be a real bugger for you.

W


The split-image was the only device that worked for me; I sort of remember the Exakta having that without a microprism around it, and I also think my Nikon F was without microprism surround. The microprism just seemed to be so intrusive. I had a plain screen on both 'blads and only bought a screen with a wedge on it towards the end, just before my middle-age crisis struck and I traded all that stuff... idiot that I was! Beware the male menopause, it's out to get you! Whoever you are.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: popnfresh on June 24, 2012, 11:31:44 am

The split-image was the only device that worked for me; I sort of remember the Exakta having that without a microprism around it, and I also think my Nikon F was without microprism surround. The microprism just seemed to be so intrusive. I had a plain screen on both 'blads and only bought a screen with a wedge on it towards the end, just before my middle-age crisis struck and I traded all that stuff... idiot that I was! Beware the male menopause, it's out to get you! Whoever you are.

Rob C

I miss having a split-image in my viewfinder. It was the best aid for manual focus ever invented.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 24, 2012, 12:14:21 pm
I miss having a split-image in my viewfinder. It was the best aid for manual focus ever invented.


Just as long as half didn't go black!

I wonder if it's possible to have a D700's screen changed to one with such a screen? It would be worth a hell of a lot to me now, with poor vision; I did some shots on Friday night at the opening of a new sculpture show at the little gallery that's come to life here, and though it's the traditional white rooms, good light, that's not the problem at all - the problem is my own failure to hold focus for any longish period. I can see the subject perfectly well, it isn't that; what it is is that unless I get it sharp almost at once, then I just hunt this side and that like a rotten af system probably does. I say probably because I never use one.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: popnfresh on June 24, 2012, 12:28:00 pm

I wonder if it's possible to have a D700's screen changed to one with such a screen?

Alternate screens for the D700 are available.

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/item--Nikon-D700-Focusing-Screen--prod_D700.html

http://brightscreen.com/styles2.html
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 24, 2012, 01:05:09 pm
Thanks, Pop - the Katyzeye solution looks as if it could be the answer except that I couldn't do the job myself anymore. The eyes, the eyes...!

But that's food for thought, and maybe I can find a company in Spain that would be willing to do the conversion. Or a watchmaker! Must follow that up!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 25, 2012, 10:40:41 am
During the 50s there used to be ads for Ford when their catchline was: There's a Ford in your Future.

Well, I've had six of them so far - one in Britain and five out here, but the real one seems to be ever out of reach! I suppose this iteration might come close, but it's equally distant. I do wish I could find a really excellent little camera to replace this pesky mobile, though... but nothing seems to be designed for me.

Inevitably, both the Mustang and the M9 will come with the same lottery win, solving both little problems in one fell swoop!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 25, 2012, 01:29:11 pm
I realised that the Mustang fantasy is a fake: it's just a way of hiding my real appetites!

The second car from this afternoon's walk:

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on June 25, 2012, 02:25:20 pm
I realised that the Mustang fantasy is a fake: it's just a way of hiding my real appetites!

The second car from this afternoon's walk:

Rob C

Mine too, Rob, mine too. That's perhaps the only car I really want (well, I might tolerate an Aston).

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on June 25, 2012, 05:27:37 pm
Rob,

Don't forget that if you want to win the lotteery, you have to buy a ticket!

I keep waiting for someone to buy a ticket for me. Hasn't happened yet. But I did drive a Ford ("Fusion") rental car on Vancouver Island recently, and it was a very nice ride, though nowhere near as glamorous as the two favorite rides of my much younger years: a BMW (motorcycle -- the smallest one they made), and a bit later a Porsche (with the "Carrera" name on the back).

Now my 12-year-old Camry suits me just fine, as does my wife's 13-year-old Camry. One feature they both have that is quite nice for those of us in our early dotage is that the headlights turn on and off automatically when appropriate without my having to remember to flip a switch. That was one feature I missed in the Ford Fusion the first time I drove it after dark. When the headlights didn't come on by themselves, I had to pull over and wade through the 200-page manual looking for how to turn them on.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 25, 2012, 06:56:08 pm
Rob,

Don't forget that if you want to win the lotteery, you have to buy a ticket!

When the headlights didn't come on by themselves, I had to pull over and wade through the 200-page manual looking for how to turn them on.

Eric


Eric -

The Euromillones lottery happens Tuesday and Friday nights; a ticket for the two dates costs 4€. It used to be just once a week, so you could say that my gambling habit has doubled from two to four euros a week! I have won the odd cup of coffee, but taking that mathematically tells a different story about economics. However, your first point is true: you gotta be in it to win it.

The manual thing made me laugh: I was washing the car on Saturday and realised that lots of blossoms from the trees on the by-pass where I park for lunch had fallen into that space under the hood and in front of the windscreen where you can't reach your fingers... so, I tried to find the lever to open the hood and attack the blossom from within; I had to use the book! The only lever I pulled turned out to be the one to adjust the level of the steering wheel. After that I decided that it was silly to take more chances, so it was back to RTFM!

I hate change. Cars should be standard regarding controls layout.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 25, 2012, 07:12:19 pm
Mine too, Rob, mine too. That's perhaps the only car I really want (well, I might tolerate an Aston).

Jeremy



Note the great German engineering: no matter how many miles klicks you drive, the wheels are always in the same position, one to the other. No, I don't mean distance between front and rear nor track: the way the spokes look. And they don't require spinners!

;-)

Rob C

P.S. I like to think I have created a fresh urban motoring legend or, better still, myth.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on June 25, 2012, 09:08:38 pm
I hate change. Cars should be standard regarding controls layout.

Rob C
Amen to that, Rob!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on June 26, 2012, 03:29:37 am
Note the great German engineering: no matter how many miles klicks you drive, the wheels are always in the same position, one to the other. No, I don't mean distance between front and rear nor track: the way the spokes look. And they don't require spinners!

Miles, Rob, miles. I'm English!

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2012, 11:06:45 am
I thought that, for a change, I should make a meaningful post.

But, try as I might, I just couldn't think of a things to write that had sufficient power to invoke or even to provoke meaning, so I offer this photograph instead as an example of double meanings. On the one hand, there's a loud and clear message to the older, more experienced membership regarding ultimate tonality, found only on WSG.

Then, on another level that requires absolutely no understanding of archaic darkroom processes, there's the difference between owning a boat and doing the work yourself. i.e. the painting, which would easily drive you insane, and making the mental adjustment required to accept that the very same task, when accomplished by an employed painter, brings said painter no anguish at all,  but joy in the knowledge of an invoice to be rendered. There could, as a bonus, be the additional concept of fear, fear that the client might suddenly see his porfolio turn to ashes. Who'd have imagined a painter's life could offer such drama?
 
Strange.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 26, 2012, 12:48:32 pm
Guess I'm the odd one out here regarding cars. The SLK's and Mustangs etc don't interest me at all, nice to look at sure but not something I would spend money on. If given a choice I would opt for a diesel Landcruiser or Pajero with front and rear diff locks any day of the week.



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2012, 02:26:20 pm
Guess I'm the odd one out here regarding cars. The SLK's and Mustangs etc don't interest me at all, nice to look at sure but not something I would spend money on. If given a choice I would opt for a diesel Landcruiser or Pajero with front and rear diff locks any day of the week.




Riaan, you don't want to know what Pajero is in Spanish.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 26, 2012, 02:55:29 pm


Riaan, you don't want to know what Pajero is in Spanish.

Rob C

It's called the Shogun in other places of the world Rob, strange that the Africans and Australians drive around in horribly named vehicles though. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2012, 02:56:27 pm
No bandana this post-lunchtime - only a common or garden baseball cap. Gotta protect the nose, you see; maybe a large Lee UV filter...

Anyway, don't I look cute in these long shorts?

;-D

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2012, 02:58:23 pm
It's called the Shogun in other places of the world Rob, strange that the Africans and Australians drive around in horribly named vehicles though. 


The plot thickens: it's also Pajero here in Spain, would you believe?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 26, 2012, 03:10:50 pm

The plot thickens: it's also Pajero here in Spain, would you believe?

Rob C

Strange indeed.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 26, 2012, 03:35:07 pm
Even stranger: German plates, French address but here in Mallorca.

Got to admire their courage, though; I don't think it would be a vehicle long for this world if parked in Glasgow. Stamper may disagree - and as I've been long absent, he may be right to disagree - if he does, that is. Look good on a Lambo, nonetheless. Not that it doesn't look different on this van.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 27, 2012, 05:21:31 pm
Finally got to finish the music pics I'd started three weeks ago: too many cellpix distractions!

The lady singing is Carol Kidd

http://youtu.be/KlIxE4qRBe8

and the guy lounging on the rear right is Peter Schirmann who also drops in and jams on harmonica.

His cv is interesting, to say the least: good luck!

http://www.peterschirmann.de

Oh - a picture: to save a hunt, here's a link to the website page, with the new stuff on the last three rows; there's older jazz stuff's a few rows further back should you be interested.

http://www.roma57.com/the-biscuit-tin.html

Rob C


P.S. The over-use of 'impromptu' on the captions is due to contractual reasons.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on June 27, 2012, 10:16:33 pm
Not my usual fare, but I could not resist the glow of twilight and am happy with this result.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-dXsdvm4/0/L/June-26-12-HB-097-smugcopy2-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1932205813&k=dXsdvm4&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on June 28, 2012, 02:41:32 am
Wonderful image.

I really like the water and the reflections off it.
Peace, grace, and beauty are three attributes that seem to fit very well with this image.

Congratulations.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 28, 2012, 12:53:03 pm
Rob, just wondering. The musicians that you so often photograph are residents in your valley? Or are they on vacation?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 28, 2012, 01:06:42 pm
Rob, just wondering. The musicians that you so often photograph are residents in your valley? Or are they on vacation?



No, some live here, Riaan; most are from Argentina; I feel I'd best stay friendly in case the Malvinas explode again ;-) The German gent, Peter, comes out on holiday and unwinds by jamming with the group; several singers pop in and out but few are anywhere near the status or quality of the Scottish lady, Carol.

The tenor player, however, is from Cuba, and he went off to Amsterdam this past winter for a while, but found that it was even more expensive to live there than here, so he's back. The guitar player with the ponytail is a local boy and has played pro all his life as, I think, has the new keyboard man from Argentina. He's gone through five marriages/divorces and tells me he's remained on happy terms with all of them... must be the music that weaves the magic. He is pretty thin, though, so he must have worn himself out with all that relationship-making.

Is there a music scene in your town? If there's a single drawback to all of this muso relationship stuff, it's that I can only have a single glass of red wine a day. Period. No other alcohol at all. What a friggin' break!

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 28, 2012, 01:48:24 pm
Not my usual fare, but I could not resist the glow of twilight and am happy with this result.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-dXsdvm4/0/L/June-26-12-HB-097-smugcopy2-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1932205813&k=dXsdvm4&lb=1&s=A)

Lovely/ splendid/ wonderfull stuff John..

I recently saw a coffeetable book by South African photographer Adrian Bailey titled " Dwellers in Eden." I was mesmerised to say the least, it felt like such a fresh take on the African wildlife genre that has been done to death to be almost unreal. I can't post the link to his site at the moment unfortunately. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 28, 2012, 02:25:16 pm
Rob, interesting how all the musicians with their different backgounds gravitate towards one area.

I saw this on a visit last year to an area called the Wild Coast here. We were on a business trip and stayed at a popular backpacker's venue called Port St Johns, further down the coast there is a place called Coffee Bay that looks like it is caught in a time warp, one almost expects John Lennon to walk out one of the coffe shops at any time.

We did some pub crawling the one evening and at every establishment there was a group of people from all over the world "jamming." Real music being made by real people- like the five times married chap you describe. 

 
 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on June 28, 2012, 11:52:40 pm
Lovely/ splendid/ wonderfull stuff John..

I recently saw a coffeetable book by South African photographer Adrian Bailey titled " Dwellers in Eden." I was mesmerised to say the least, it felt like such a fresh take on the African wildlife genre that has been done to death to be almost unreal. I can't post the link to his site at the moment unfortunately. 

Thank you for the comments Riaan and Tony. Just had a peak at Adrian Bailey and he is very good indeed. Wild and artistic.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 29, 2012, 10:27:06 am
Another very hot and heavy day - probably rain mud tonight, courtesy the Sahara. I have this mental image of thousands of poor souls standing on the North African coast of the Med, waving their towels at the sand in concerted effort to build a causeway to the European Promised Land, which, in the event, will give them nothing other than debt and problems of a different kind. In the meantime, all that sand falls as mud onto the newly washed cars and boats...

In lighter vein: so what did she wear?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on June 30, 2012, 06:30:40 am
Not my usual fare, but I could not resist the glow of twilight and am happy with this result.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-dXsdvm4/0/L/June-26-12-HB-097-smugcopy2-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=1932205813&k=dXsdvm4&lb=1&s=A)


Lovely capture mate..I like the colors in this one..


/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on June 30, 2012, 06:37:39 am
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/7471661342_5d6b4f3190_z.jpg)
Cliché?




/Dahlmann

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 30, 2012, 10:12:24 am
A blonde is a photographer's best friend. On location.

It's running 31C in the hallway and heaven alone knows what it's doing here in the office with two computers going! I'm trying to work my way through some shots I did at the opening of a new show at a new gallery here; it'll probably have changed hands before I get to finish this - or I'll just abandon the lot and take up knitting. That would be useful for the winter.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 30, 2012, 04:10:15 pm
The blonde should have been the subject of the picture Rob..my eye gravitates past the art in the foreground towards her out of focus, comfortably leaning against the wall profile. But then again, that would be the obvious thing to do and you are more clever than that. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on June 30, 2012, 04:20:32 pm
The blonde should have been the subject of the picture Rob..my eye gravitates past the art in the foreground towards her out of focus, comfortably leaning against the wall profile. But then again, that would be the obvious thing to do and you are more clever than that.  


Clever? And I'm doing this stuff for fun?

;-(

Rob C

P.S. But I definitely think this is a meaningful photograph. It means that everybody else was swanning around with a little glass of champagne in their mitt with the exception of yours truly who has forgotten the art of drinking and shooting at the same time. Well, that's not quite accurate: I do remember how to do it, but it would probably kill me, so whilst I won't risk it just now, I do have it in the arsenal should the time ever arrive that I think I should employ it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on June 30, 2012, 05:02:02 pm
P.S. But I definitely think this is a meaningful photograph.

So do I Rob. By "clever" I meant that you probably saw what I, in my inexperience, would have photographed but added interest and suggestion to the frame to make it more than just a figure leaning against a wall, talking to another figure.

I'm trying to learn what you and others here have forgotten long ago.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on July 03, 2012, 09:47:27 pm
Hey Dahlmann, I often don't understand the reluctance to shoot images that are supposedly cliche. For me, unless the image is a clear knock-off of a well known image, then it is all good if it is successfully executed and bears your imprint. Your image is well done.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RobbieV on July 03, 2012, 11:56:39 pm
Lovely photos in here. I've a lot a catching up to do, but I've just poured a glass of pinot noir so I'm prepared.

My first contribution:
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7498734504_15f088e16d_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 04, 2012, 10:19:28 am
For Fred:

She'll never replace the original - nobody could - but pretty effective nonetheless.

Rob C


http://youtu.be/8ZAKwpdgTZI
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: fredjeang on July 04, 2012, 12:14:03 pm
Oh yeah!

Thanks Rob,

The Senequier, souvenirs, I was there too, having my wine and watching the yachts I'll never be able to afford. Funny, St-trop really never lighted my fire, but BB was gone at that time.
Many top models of the Paris' scene were there. So I saw them in the 2nd district of Paris, then at the Senequier.

And Jonas Akerlund is one of the very very good filmakers for advert and music. I'm learning a lot from him.

Watch this: more models. http://www.jonasakerlund.com/music_videos#duran_duran/girl_panic_

Fimed at the savoy in London where the real James Bond (the real agent that inspired fleming) was during ww2.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 04, 2012, 12:17:07 pm
Passed by the new gallery where I shot some stuff the other week; wish I hadn't. During a chat with the grande dame we went onto my site and dear oh dear! The screen on the office laptop so, so out of calibration... and that's the only viable - so far - gallery in town, the others having eventually given way to the bigger bucks from hopeful restaurateurs.

Anyway, I kinda like this one, looking in from the outside, as it were. Not 'street', but from the street, Russ.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 04, 2012, 12:33:18 pm
Oh yeah!

Thanks Rob,

The Senequier, souvenirs, I was there too, having my wine and watching the yachts I'll never be able to afford. Funny, St-trop really never lighted my fire, but BB was gone at that time.
Many top models of the Paris' scene were there. So I saw them in the 2nd district of Paris, then at the Senequier.

And Jonas Akerlund is one of the very very good filmakers for advert and music. I'm learning a lot from him.

Watch this: more models. http://www.jonasakerlund.com/music_videos#duran_duran/girl_panic_

Fimed at the savoy in London where the real James Bond (the real agent that inspired fleming) was during ww2.



Thanks, Fred; guess what I'll be watching tonight!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 04, 2012, 06:01:16 pm
Just watched the latest Culture on BBC2 where there was a segment on David Bailey and his current show about a vanishing part of London he knew as a kid. During the conversation he mentioned his interest in 'street' and the interviewer asked him why he was doing this since he was well-known for being anti-art photography. He replied that he wasn't anti the genre just the name. Reasonably, he said that nobody speaks in terms of art painter, art sculptor, so why art photographer?

Oh, he was carrying a black M of some sort... I didn't notice any screen on the back, perhaps too rapid a cut for me, but could he still be on film? Maybe so - why not?

I think I've worn better, a least what's visible. But then, I would think that.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 05, 2012, 01:21:41 pm
Folks can be intense:

"If you don't think it's art, you know where the door is!" seemed an appropriate caption for what might be going down in this image...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 05, 2012, 03:07:03 pm
Yup!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on July 08, 2012, 01:37:52 pm
St Cirq Lapopie

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 08, 2012, 03:45:00 pm
A fine set, Jeremy.

The first reminds me of one I did a couple of weeks ago.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 08, 2012, 05:40:52 pm
Yes, a nice set of images - very French!

I never made it there, though it had been in my mind... I think the 'establishing' shot of the village on its hillside is the one for me. Trouble with these areas is that it's so hard to decide where to start and when to stop - there's just such a lot of material to play with that you can end up punch-drunk.

The problem with flights to France has caused a lot of people a lot of distress: second homes were bought because of new flight schedules and then, all at once, getting there became problematic. I'm of the opinion that unless you can get the time off work to drive, then best to stay around the principal airports because they're fairly certain to remain busy. Having said which, I don't think BA has flown to Mallorca in years, which I find surprising. I did try to find flights from Mallorca to Toulouse (with the intention of hiring wheels there) but it seemed you had to go to Barcelona or Madrid first - far too much stress and bother for lone holidays. Anyway, half the fun's in what you can stuff into the car and bring home with you.

Enjoy your next trip!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 09, 2012, 11:05:06 am
I posted the 'before' shot some weeks ago - this appears to be the end of the story - at least, on the port side. The young painters probably inhaled as much paint as they deposited.

Rob C

P.S. Made me think: had I still hung onto my classic Escort XRi 1.8 ...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 09, 2012, 06:09:33 pm
When I was a wee wee tot I used to watch my grandmother make a cake from scratch (no packets of mix back then; not for her, anyway.  Of course, like all kids of the era I'd be given the spoon and bowl to like once the cake had gone into the oven.

That roused my fertile young mind to thinking, "Why, ever, would you bake a cake because it never tastes as good as the mix in the bowl.  (And, as an additional observation:  if one DID cook the cake, then why not burn it because burnt cake was a whole different trip again ..... but I digress.

This duopoly of pixels prompts the question yet again because the first pic has a whole lot going for it that the somewhat bland finished hull has abandoned in the course of the painting being 'cooked'.

Still, I am thankful that Rob's cell phone is his constant companion and that he periodically lets us in on the conversation.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 10, 2012, 04:31:58 am
Funny about the cake: I often felt the same way, but I think the reason for the cooking of it is that left uncooked, you'd soon get indigestion. I also feel like that about carrots: whenever I screw up the energy (nerve?) to cook anything, I inevitable crunch on the last, thickest bit of the carrot that I don't throw into the pot along with the potatoes I intend to boil. (Saves electricity and they both cook perfectly well in 29 minutes.) That bit of raw carrot is always the best bit, but I coudn't really consume a lot of it at any one time.

But you're right about the finished artwork: it looks even less finished in its natural size because the kids just aren't good enough to give it that final touch of realism that makes the difference. Perhaps as well that I sold the old car... would have cost a fortune to ship it to California or Australia to have it done well! This is a joke, of course.

Thanks for the encouraging words, Walter; still wish I could find something truly small and powerful (camera) to keep around me.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on July 10, 2012, 05:35:07 am
still wish I could find something truly small and powerful (camera) to keep around me.
Rob C

Ditto. The mobile phones are getting better and the pocket point-and-shoots don't want to be on the back foot, so my guess there is something not far off. But we are probably close to the limit off what we want compared to the limits of available technology. Though experience tells me that sounds like famous last words.
Speaking of last words, being laid low with the worst cold since the last one, since I haven't posted for ages here are a few shots from Antarctica with the smallest and most powerful from 1911 and 1915. To wit, a Thornton Pickard Imperial Pocket Folding and a Kodak Autographic Special. I like the soft colour palette and I'm glad I took them along, but the processing and scanning was tiresome. Very tiresome.  :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on July 10, 2012, 07:05:54 am
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7526279844_a13ed48677_c.jpg)
unexpected =)




/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on July 10, 2012, 07:16:00 am
A cracker Daniel.

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 10, 2012, 09:57:42 am
Indeed! It's hilarious!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 10, 2012, 10:35:50 am
David -

Is there something of the masochist in your makeup? Not just the latitudes, but the cameras, too?

I once owned a Quarter-Plate Ruby Reflex that lived in the studio and was used as a copy camera. It had a reversible lens and did great line negs because there was no dependence on the shutter (a whole new experience in jiving) but on a black card held in front of the lens for the few seconds that it took to expose the film.

The look of your shots is very attractive - they have a quality that digital lacks: not unsharp, not soft, but pleasantly exactly what they are. What did you do for film?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 10, 2012, 10:39:51 am
Love the moo!

Unexpected, and another possible example of the lucky moment. The shot would now look quite wrong without the furry one with the clumpy tail. Don't argue: they all have such tails - comes with the diet, as anyone who eats grass all day long can testify.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 10, 2012, 11:17:18 am
Thinking about alternatives to the cellphone, I was reminded of the 'cheap' Leica X series, and the latest X2 which I hadn't realised had happened.

Does anyone here have experience of the X2?

http://www.leica.com

has an interesting pair of videos - one from Seal who I suppose brings glitz to the party, and another more interesting one of a Parisian street shooter of whom I hadn't heard. The latter employs the camera with a sort of reflex acces.finder that seems to offer a lot of scope. It looks small enough to be an ideal carry-about camera, and an equivalent 35mm sure is a handy fixed lens.

As I say, any user info. would be welcomed.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 10, 2012, 12:28:59 pm
Rob, In Sydney the cost is $AUD 2,270.00 = 1,790 Euro.

Dream on.

It does look good but I think my preference would still lie with the Fuji X100.

Would either shift me from sheets of film?  I don't really think so.

REgards,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 10, 2012, 04:59:59 pm
Rob, In Sydney the cost is $AUD 2,270.00 = 1,790 Euro.

Dream on.

It does look good but I think my preference would still lie with the Fuji X100.

Would either shift me from sheets of film?  I don't really think so.

REgards,

W






Well, you may not be wrong: thinking of 35mm lenses that I don't have anymore, I pulled out the old D200 again, and, with the manual 2.8/24 Nik on it, it's 35mm. I do remember how thrilled I was with the camera until I bought the D700 and took up working available darkness in music bars. Now, a walkies camera, for me, doesn't need beyond 100 or 200 ASA, which is where the D200 shines... so why give up for something new and sooo expensive for what it is?

Might as well exercise the arms as well as the legs after lunch, and cart that D200 about.

Ah Walter, the cool light of common sense!

Thinking of conversations (!) with the cellpic thinggy, I tried to shoot a silver Carrera today but managed to cut off the lower part of the tail in a verical shot guessed at in the sunshine, and then did the same thing in a horizontal... insanity could find me that way.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on July 10, 2012, 05:56:32 pm
David -

Is there something of the masochist in your makeup? Not just the latitudes, but the cameras, too?

I once owned a Quarter-Plate Ruby Reflex that lived in the studio and was used as a copy camera. It had a reversible lens and did great line negs because there was no dependence on the shutter (a whole new experience in jiving) but on a black card held in front of the lens for the few seconds that it took to expose the film.

The look of your shots is very attractive - they have a quality that digital lacks: not unsharp, not soft, but pleasantly exactly what they are. What did you do for film?

Rob C
Yes, there is something about uncoated lenses and film. The Lomography movement has kept film going. I found Fujicolor Reala worked well with these cameras. The problem is the processing: it often is a bit variable. I can put up with the amazing amount of dust on the scans but not poor processing. I used to do my own B&W as a teenager, so I got a tank and the chemicals and ran of some rolls of B&W (Neopan Acros 100) and that came out nicely, but I'd want a really good reason to go to the trouble. I do some stuff with an Edwardian heritage group, so that may be an appropriate project.
Edit: I mis-understood the "what did I do for film" question. I made sure they took 120 rolls before buying them on ebay. There are some very useful web sites out there for reference.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 11, 2012, 05:51:14 pm
Walter -

Your mentioning of Meola made me think I could have some fun with this shot from the other day - where I missed the tail of the car completely guesframing the cellphone image.

Reminds me of old film and rough handling by the lab... handy, that was.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 12, 2012, 10:57:09 am
Saw this old lady some days ago and did a paparazzo of her; I'm sure Hercule Poirot would approve.

There's something rather restful and, well, classy about some old designs, not anything one's inclined to encounter on contemporary drawing boards, I guess. There's also an old Silver craft lying here this passed couple of days, but she's so surrounded with glitz that there's no way of isolating her in her own glory.

Maybe tomorrow...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 13, 2012, 09:39:17 am
As one Willie Shakespeare was accused of having penned:

He with a spare
Never has a care.


Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 13, 2012, 09:09:37 pm
As one Willie Shakespeare was accused of having penned:

He with a spare
Never has a care.


Speaking of REGAL fornication was he?  The heir and the spare.

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 14, 2012, 06:17:31 am
Speaking of REGAL fornication was he?  The heir and the spare.

W



I imagine that his words were a sort of pansituational observation on the challenges of contemporary life, were they indeed his words, which I doubt, but it sounds possible since he said and wrote such a lot that I'm inclined to offer him the benefit of the doubt, despite my inner hesitations...

I feel things are in a slump, right now. Inspiration's in short supply; interest in even shorter. I'd like to find a way out, but some mazes are like that, and you need a helicopter to take you somewhere better. Damn, helicopters are in even shorter supply than the other two things!

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 14, 2012, 05:24:19 pm
Think I'll take a break from photography for a while - so many cars, so many boats, and so little time.

Seems the world's gone a bit off balance: had I this set of wheels, I'd at least have specified a colour beyond the primer.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 14, 2012, 07:00:03 pm
Think I'll take a break from photography for a while - so many cars, so many boats, and so little time.

Seems the world's gone a bit off balance: had I this set of wheels, I'd at least have specified a colour beyond the primer.

;-)

Rob C
Maybe the new owner wanted to decorate it himself.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on July 14, 2012, 07:40:18 pm
Maybe the new owner wanted to decorate it himself.

Or, Rob, maybe you can earn a cut by introducing him to the young painters who did the fish job? ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 15, 2012, 03:57:27 am
Or, Rob, maybe you can earn a cut by introducing him to the young painters who did the fish job? ;)



Good thinking: I've still got a heap of newspapers donated by a bar for my firelighting use; I could at least mask off the soft-top with them and get some creative rush...

Better yet -  could leave under the wipers a copy of Chuck Berry's You Never Can Tell, with the big hint about a cherry-red fifty-three.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 15, 2012, 07:00:44 am
Rob,

I just finished watching the concluding episode of Billy Connolly's Route 66 — talk about a wide-eyed Glaswegian landed in RnR heaven with bikes, trikes, and hopt rods.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 15, 2012, 01:26:45 pm
Rob,

I just finished watching the concluding episode of Billy Connolly's Route 66 — talk about a wide-eyed Glaswegian landed in RnR heaven with bikes, trikes, and hopt rods.




I had no idea that he'd made such a pilgrimage; he comes from a fairly tough industrial background, so I'm sure he'd be able to look after himself. As for wide-eyed, it must be an act: he's been around several  blocks several times and maybe the language on some of his early shows could make some rednecks blush!

Nice to see somebody from back there (Scotland) doing well... I'm just wondering if Bond, James Bond, is still the Scottish Nationalist Party's member for Lyford Quay, New Providence, Bahamas. It's often said that the stongest (most vociferous?) nationalists are those who no longer live in the country they feel so passionately about; guess I failed that test, too, as in our case, I see it as economic suicide. I occasionally wonder what would have happened to all those accounts in the RBS and BOS had they both been based in an independent Scotland.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on July 15, 2012, 02:00:42 pm
Nice to see somebody from back there (Scotland) doing well... I'm just wondering if Bond, James Bond, is still the Scottish Nationalist Party's member for Lyford Quay, New Providence, Bahamas. It's often said that the stongest (most vociferous?) nationalists are those who no longer live in the country they feel so passionately about; guess I failed that test, too, as in our case, I see it as economic suicide. I occasionally wonder what would have happened to all those accounts in the RBS and BOS had they both been based in an independent Scotland.

Connery is still quoted from time to time as being in favour of independence from the UK (Scotland's, that is: he seems to have arranged his own quite effectively already). It didn't stop him from moaning about not getting a knighthood for a while (the reasons for his expecting it being, shall we say, unclear), or from accepting one with alacrity when it was offered.  From his web site:

Throughout his life, Sir Sean Connery has been an ardent supporter of Scotland. While it is generally accepted that his support of Scotland's independence and the Scottish National Party delayed his knighthood for many years, his commitment to Scotland has never wavered. Politics in the United Kingdom often has more intrigue than a James Bond plot. While Scotland is not yet independent, she does have a new parliament. Sir Sean campaigned hard for the yes vote during the Scottish Referendum that created the new Scottish Parliament. He believes firmly that the Scottish Parliament will grow in power and that Scotland will be independent within his lifetime.


I particularly love "while it is generally accepted".

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 15, 2012, 03:03:40 pm
They say that for the whisky, it's something in the water of Scotland and a few of its islands that makes it what it is - whatever that might be; I wonder what makes some of the minds go all softly out of focus at times.

The hardest thing is to stand alone; alone, you face all the threats and problems with your own tiny resources and around six-and-a-bit million people with a generally lower per capita income than down south makes no sense at all as a swap for the strength of ten times the mass. But sense and passion are not always found in bed together; it's also very convenient to have a 'big brother' scapegoat to blame for all of one's own shortcomings. But then, there has always been an exodus of the best brains to other countries. Odd, if the 'old country' offers so much raw opportunity; worse, if it doesn't, then why do those travelling brains not stay behind to fix the field and make it level? They know damned well why not.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 16, 2012, 11:10:21 am
This damned cellphone keeps winding me up; I'm going to threaten it, gently, that I'm going to leave it at home or drop it in the drink.

All I do is end up in front of the computer for hours, tempting those veins to explode. And nobody even pays me.

Sheesh!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 16, 2012, 04:33:24 pm
Revisited an old website I loved; may have linked before - long time ago/leaking memory - so enjoy if it's your bag.

http://www.chicobialas.com

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on July 16, 2012, 10:48:08 pm
oldies
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 16, 2012, 11:26:17 pm
Classics!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on July 17, 2012, 02:43:30 am
Have you tried this in sepia or duotone maybe?

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 17, 2012, 09:34:37 am
Have you tried this in sepia or duotone maybe?

Mike.


Wot??? On WP?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on July 19, 2012, 10:55:14 am
Have you tried this in sepia or duotone maybe?

Mike.

Here is a small attempt to make it look like different. Technically the photo isn't that good so I didn't think it's worth spending too much time on it. It's more about the content than the processing.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on July 19, 2012, 12:09:31 pm
The vignetting does improve it. Nice.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 22, 2012, 01:42:29 pm
It has been a while since I have posted a shot:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7623162806_3138cc78b0.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/7623162806/)


Regards,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 22, 2012, 03:47:11 pm
I've never shot in these places - as far as I can remember. Thought about it on and off, but never got to the point; maybe somewhat afraid I won't get to leave.

They always strike me as a sort of railway station, with folks waiting for a train that's not coming along any time soon. The Sergio Leone ones would be quite interesting, what with tumbleweed and all that stuff drifting in and out of shot. I can almost hear the theme. Most apt for LuLa - absolutely in landscape genre.

I'm about to watch Shoot 'em Up, a Mafia flic with Monica Bellucci; love that mouth and the other bits aren't bad either. After that David Bailey swizz last night, I'm keeping my finger close to the OFF switch, though I hope Spanish tv is less prone to false/misleading advertising of itself.

Rob C

P.S. What I meant to say was that it isn't at all a depressing image, all things considered.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 22, 2012, 06:36:15 pm
After that David Bailey swizz last night, I'm keeping my finger close to the OFF switch, though I hope Spanish tv is less prone to false/misleading advertising of itself.

Rob C

P.S. What I meant to say was that it isn't at all a depressing image, all things considered.

So Rob,

What exactly was the DB swizz?

I have been documenting this necropolis for many many years.  Rookwood is the second largest in the southern hemisphere and dates from the early 19th century (old for here).  My study has covered such terrain as changes in the cultural attitude to the deceased across time and across nationalities.  The ornate wrought iron work, the tiles and the mass of this monument are in quite good order caomopared to many others.  The wall is the plinth of the largest monument in the entire place (which extend through a few suburbs) — a huge Celtic cross which I have shot before.  The fact that someone brought the lillies and shoved them into broken air vents caught my eye.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 23, 2012, 04:39:29 am
The DB swindle was this: the BBC programmes webpage advertised a 45mins. programme on David Bailey's new exhibition about East London, all because of the current madness concerning the Olympics due to take place there soon. The exhibition, alluded to quite often on the Service (so they clearly value it), is apparently about the East End, its characters and the structural changes during the 60s, 80s and now. Coming from the area and representing one of its rags-to-riches icons, the man's the real deal.

The 45mins show turned into a very brief segment, a conversation with Bailey in what seems to be his public grumpy mood, where he said he hated 60s nostalgia (having done very well from it) and that he only used digital for doing street shots because, unlike film, it (digital) has no 'attitude' of its own.

The BBC used the DB connection to advertise the show so well that I had imagined it was all about the man. I can't even remember what the rest was about, other than that it left me fuming with that sense of having been ripped off, lied to, being deprived of my bed and being generally treated as an old rag.

Thing is, they think so much of DB as a draw, so with all their resources, why not just go and do a proper show about man and exhibition? Only 45mins of time to fill, very late at night. Miserable sods.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 23, 2012, 06:31:12 pm
Man who wants pretty nurse, must be patient.
 
Passionate kiss, like spider web, leads to undoing of fly.
 
Lady who goes camping must beware of evil intent.
 
Squirrel who runs up woman's leg will not find nuts.
 
Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
 
Man who runs in front of car gets tired, man who runs behind car gets exhausted.
 
War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left.
 
Man who fight with wife all day get no piece at night.
 
It takes many nails to build a crib but only one screw to fill it.
 
Man who drives like hell is bound to get there.
 
Man who stands on toilet is high on pot.
 
Man who fish in other man's well often catch crabs.
 
Finally CONFUCIUS DID SAY. . ..."A lion will not cheat on his wife, but a Tiger Wood!"


Sometimes, words mean more than pictures.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on July 23, 2012, 07:06:21 pm
It has been a while since I have posted a shot:

Regards,

W
That's a great shot Walter!

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on July 23, 2012, 07:11:01 pm
Here is one that I may fix a bit at the edges, but in the meantime, I think it turned out rather well.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Rhododendrum-Park-Mississauga/i-SxJLhTC/0/L/July-16-12-Breuckner-park-John-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Rhododendrum-Park-Mississauga/22754120_zLdwX4#!i=1983341104&k=SxJLhTC&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 24, 2012, 03:56:59 am
JMR

Like that - not something seen every day unless in the habit of having one on the chin every day! ;-)

Shame about the initials in the image, even greater shame that such devices are necessary these day. All in all, a picture that I'd have been very very happy to have produced.

Nice work.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 24, 2012, 07:10:38 am
I agree with Rob that this is a striking image.

Excellently crafted.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on July 25, 2012, 01:23:40 am
Two from Marcia's cell phone (pushed around a bit in LR)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on July 25, 2012, 06:47:00 pm
Two from Marcia's cell phone (pushed around a bit in LR)

Mike.
Not sure how Marcia did these witha cell phone, but they look like DSLR work. They are fine indeed.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on July 25, 2012, 08:25:58 pm
She has steadier hands than I do.  And I DID push them around in LR!   ;D  But seriously, she has a good eye, even though she's not big into f/stops/ ISO, etc.  I just got 'Photography and the Art of Seeing' for her from the library and it's changed how she makes images.

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 26, 2012, 01:48:43 am
I don't think I have posted these here previously:

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5201/5251696259_3b6eedc3bf.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/5251696259/)

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5083/5251696315_0090d6eee9.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/5251696315/)


Maybe Rob will approve.  Then again?

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 26, 2012, 07:00:53 pm
I always approve of nice ladies making a graceful entrance... Just wish I had some to work with myself.

But that may change: I've constructed a support system that will fit at one end of the terrace and give me a plain backdrop. Not a paper roll - far too much humidity for that to survive even a night in the open air, but a roll made from kitchen blind material. It's two metres wide, and though somewhat less than the usual nine feet I worked with, PS will allow any added 'canvas' I might need after the event. The roll should arrive from the blinds company next week or so - then I'll feel the obligation to hunt for subjects... how we torment ourselves.

Anyway, I did a little tree photography and some large flower photography after lunch.

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Puerto Pollensa."

There's something in landscape...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 26, 2012, 07:13:50 pm
Rob,

Perfect timing for the light on the backs of the white cane chairs.

Are you intending to use natural light with your 'blind' backdrop?

I have created something of a fork in the road for myself.  Just purchased a Sinar 8x10 again and a brand spanking new 360mm lens to go with it.  But now I have to dream up a new project coz my 4x5s will not match in nicely with my 8x10s.  Additionally, it is my intention to contact print the 8x10s but the 4x5s need to be enlarged or scanned.'

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 27, 2012, 04:19:32 am
Thank you, Walter, for the compliment on my immaculate timing: it comes with ease using a cellphone because there's Internet access and should I really, really need it I can even get a direct line to the local harbour master who is always willing to give me an instant update on the position of the sun and, get this, the direction of the wind, which is vital when shooting this breed of large-headed sunflower. Ah, the world of genetics!

The ersatz Colorama. It's going to be a less-than-perfect thing for colour because of the bounced light off the terrace tiles, which will give everything a dullish, weakish red tint, but that could be a disadvantage turned around if I find a white - very white - model and need an instant fake tan for her. Black/white should be a piece of cake - at least, a piece of cheesecake, if you get my drift.

Anyway, I've got just about enough room to erect a brolly flash (must be about 35 to 40 years old now) before it hits a support column to the apartment above. Failing that, I can hang a white sheet from one of those wind 'em in, wind 'em out sunshades and put the flash further out into the open air and shoot it through the sheet. One thing where this scores highly over my real, former studios is that I can get quite a long way away from the background. Might get to use my 135mm on full lengths after all!

In mid-winter the sun sets almost exactly to the left of camera position and shines right across the face of where the backdrop will hang. Might even take up shooting sunflowers in pots; lillies are a bit more expensive and rare here. I think: I never buy cut flowers so can't really swear to it. Ann didn't like them - felt it so sad to destroy such beauty, but we had a ton of pots around the place! Still have the pots, but not much colour anymore.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: michswiss on July 27, 2012, 11:24:11 am
Me in a studio:

(http://www.michswiss.com/Work-in-progress/Work-In-Progress-2012/i-wQ4PczD/0/XL/DSC0745-XL.jpg)

(http://www.michswiss.com/Work-in-progress/Work-In-Progress-2012/i-RPZQsDw/0/XL/DSC0731-XL.jpg)

(http://www.michswiss.com/Work-in-progress/Work-In-Progress-2012/i-L7KSFk5/0/XL/DSC0743-XL.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 27, 2012, 12:42:11 pm
Strangely enough, I never imagined you wore sunglasses indoors. I wore them after dark for two weeks when I was young, but those was different times and even jazz musicians did the same.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on July 27, 2012, 02:09:21 pm
Not sure how Marcia did these witha cell phone, but they look like DSLR work. They are fine indeed.

JMR

Fine indeed.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on July 27, 2012, 02:16:36 pm
I don't think I have posted these here previously:

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5201/5251696259_3b6eedc3bf.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/5251696259/)

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5083/5251696315_0090d6eee9.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/5251696315/)


Maybe Rob will approve.  Then again?



Lovely Walter, lovely.

Rob, I found out today while visiting my friend Harry ( in between idle moments of raiding his library again) that he has signed Sam Haskins prints and attended two of Sam's "workshops" held here in Durban, South Africa. I also read last week that he is actually from South Africa but left because of the strict censorship laws upheld here at the time.   









W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 27, 2012, 04:08:40 pm
H Riaan

Yes, he did his first couple of books from S.A. (Five Girls which I thought his best, and then Cowboy Kate and Other Stories) then moved to Lodon where his wife became his agent and, to all reports, was a very good one and very much in control of what he did, who approached him etc. etc.

You do know that he died?

http://www.haskins.com

http://www.samhaskinsblog.com

It was a rather bitter-sweet end for him - just got out a new book in conjunction with a fashion house, fell ill, realised at some stage he'd never regain 100%, took matters into his own hands. To me, he was one of the real innovators, a giant of a photographer who didn't need Photoshop to make amazing tranny combinations and in-camera combinations.

A chap in Glasgow who ran a colour lab arranged for him to come up and do a projection show with his 6x6 and 6x7 material... stunning. I even got to ask him stuff about reflectors...

I had a couple of his Pentax calendars but all I now have of Pentax is one by Hans Feurer - they would be interchanged over several years - easily as good as Pirell and Feurer even did the last of those before the hiatus which was followed some years later by a series of rubbish (in my biased view) productions with a different art director instead of Derek Forsyth who, for his part (revenge?), then worked his magic for Mintex until he was brought back into Pirelli. Boy, I'd have loved to have been the fly on the wall at those negotiations!

The first link is to Haskins' old site; the second to his blog, which was set up and run by his son after the death - as far as my memory tells me (and I think it isn't lying to me this time).

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on July 27, 2012, 05:31:32 pm
From yesterday.
A nice winter day in Victoria/Australia

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7655069252_09182724e3_c.jpg)


/Dahlmann
 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on July 27, 2012, 06:37:47 pm
The Mainland Steam Heritage Trust have a steam engine based in Christchurch for a few months doing trips up into the mountains. I have been wanting to photograph one for ages and ages. Well, it's harder than I thought, but here are the first two attempts.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 28, 2012, 04:12:17 am
Of course it's difficult, David, you have to wait until it stops before you try to shoot it, especially for close-ups!

However, there's no doubting that old engineering certainly does come with an aristic bent all its own. Perhaps it's in the way that the bits and peices are designed to perform their specific tasks - a rather dedicated sort of attitude, in a way, as if there was no possibility that a straight bar was going to do what one of different thicknesses along its length would do. In fact, there's a feeling of engineering 'art' being introduced as separate from basic mechanical need for structural strength. Much like 50s American cars, then, with shape playing a rôle in the appeal that goes beyond the basic need for an enclosed (usually) box with a wheel at each corner and an engine somewhere to propel it.

Some think that the greatest displays of engineering art are to be found in buildings and bridges; I see the art to reside more in vehicles. Or I used to. Current cars are so homogenized they might all come from the same set of mother ships. As for Formula 1 cars...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 28, 2012, 08:41:00 am
Continuing a theme .....

Metropolis Angel in Steel:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/Sheetshooter/Hass005Web.jpg)


And diagonal force [unusual for me in that it is colour and digital capture]:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/Sheetshooter/PowerDiagonal.jpg)

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 28, 2012, 01:41:51 pm
Walter-

Those things will never fly with the eagles, but they sure look good. Wait! Didn't that happen to Concorde in the end?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on July 29, 2012, 03:04:25 pm
H Riaan

Yes, he did his first couple of books from S.A. (Five Girls which I thought his best, and then Cowboy Kate and Other Stories) then moved to Lodon where his wife became his agent and, to all reports, was a very good one and very much in control of what he did, who approached him etc. etc.

You do know that he died?

http://www.haskins.com

http://www.samhaskinsblog.com

It was a rather bitter-sweet end for him - just got out a new book in conjunction with a fashion house, fell ill, realised at some stage he'd never regain 100%, took matters into his own hands. To me, he was one of the real innovators, a giant of a photographer who didn't need Photoshop to make amazing tranny combinations and in-camera combinations.

A chap in Glasgow who ran a colour lab arranged for him to come up and do a projection show with his 6x6 and 6x7 material... stunning. I even got to ask him stuff about reflectors...

I had a couple of his Pentax calendars but all I now have of Pentax is one by Hans Feurer - they would be interchanged over several years - easily as good as Pirell and Feurer even did the last of those before the hiatus which was followed some years later by a series of rubbish (in my biased view) productions with a different art director instead of Derek Forsyth who, for his part (revenge?), then worked his magic for Mintex until he was brought back into Pirelli. Boy, I'd have loved to have been the fly on the wall at those negotiations!

The first link is to Haskins' old site; the second to his blog, which was set up and run by his son after the death - as far as my memory tells me (and I think it isn't lying to me this time).

Rob C

No I didn't know he is no longer with us Rob, the knowledge that he took his own life after the stroke  saddens me- I page through Cowboy Kate and Five Girls at least once a week. Thank you for the links. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on July 29, 2012, 04:33:54 pm
Hi Riaan

When I first saw Five Girls it was far too expensive for my tiny pocket; many years later I bought the current, revised edition of Cowboy and had hopes that Five would reappear, but that seems unlikely now.

Haskins has always been a sort of man of mystery to me; in a sense, his fame seems to have been greater than his (visible to me) body of commercial work. I'm aware of most of his books - I think - and about his calendar work along with a bit of fashion, but I can't for the life of me remember many magazine appearances. This isn't to say there weren't many, just that I can't bring them to mind or they were in magazines I didn't see or buy.

Perhaps, in truth, he was abe to work on his own projects and get them financed rather than have to depend on regular commissions all the time. That would have been an ideal life. Who could ask for more? Whatever the reality of his business model, he was one of my favourite lensmen, ever. In fact, he and Feurer probably still are, with Sarah Moon jostling somewhere in there too.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on July 29, 2012, 07:27:36 pm
I still have my first editions of Haskins' early books and several of his later editions.

I was fortunate enough to have an afternoon with him back in the 80s to interview him for a magazine article.  Sam chain-smoked as he sipped fine red wine.

There were a number of striking things that came of the interview, among them:

Cheers,

Walter
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on July 30, 2012, 01:06:25 am
Continuing a theme .....

Metropolis Angel in Steel:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/Sheetshooter/Hass005Web.jpg)


And diagonal force [unusual for me in that it is colour and digital capture]:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/Sheetshooter/PowerDiagonal.jpg)

W
These are good photographs Walter. I particularly like the textures and composition in the second.
Here are a few more from the same day. I had some fun looking for sites that included some of the background location.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on July 30, 2012, 03:34:36 am
Continuing a theme .....

And diagonal force [unusual for me in that it is colour and digital capture]:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/Sheetshooter/PowerDiagonal.jpg)

W

I like this one a lot, Walter, and although I'm normally very fond of monochrome, I think here the subtle, muted colours contribute a great deal to the effect.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 02, 2012, 02:04:31 pm
Came across this horse today after lunch; daughter and granddaughter were amazed when they discovered themselves being shooed out of shot... oh well, can't win 'em all.

Rob C


See post further along.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 02, 2012, 05:35:36 pm
Rob,

You let the team down by not including .......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfuHgzu1Cjg

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 02, 2012, 06:40:47 pm
Rob,

You let the team down by not including .......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfuHgzu1Cjg

Cheers,

W



Ah Walter, what can I say? It must have been the heat!

To tell the truth, one of the best versions of that number is in the film The Commitments and I particularly found myself watching the blonde lady singing in the middle of the backing group... forgotten her name but not her face.

http://youtu.be/RYj54YL3Yxo

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 02, 2012, 07:04:48 pm
Rob,

I nearly posted the Commitments version but thought that a vintage rocker like yourself might prefer the Wilson Picket.

I loved the Commitments just as I also love the Honeydrippers.  Robert Plant has just been over here playing pub gigs with his latest outfit doing his Rockabilly stuff.  With a 1.5 buzz cut I doubt I'd have much use for hair oil at a rocker do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc4fIQvr8e0

W

PS:  I found a euro version more to your taste Rob:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZQYFBsmmyg
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 03, 2012, 04:24:45 am
Hi Walter

Unfortunately, your second link doesn't come live, but the first one's nice.

Music and mood can be amazingly complex:

http://youtu.be/aH8FEZvaiAI

I had some links to excellent jive stuff (or was it lindy hop?) but the best one, Sleepy Labeef's Boogie Woogie Country Girl has  been removed from 'tube and lost to future generations of would-be dancers; being a wooden one myself, it removes dreams as well as visual delights. Amazing how some hips can girate, whether in skirts or in jeans; as with much else it must be in the genes...

No dancers here, unfortunately, but nice sound:

http://youtu.be/tkuMs-WYDdY

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 03, 2012, 06:32:40 am
Walter -

Couldn't live without changing the caption; unfortunately, I can't do apostrophes with the T tool in PS6 and so I had to be bit long in the tale. But it's now recaptioned to suit Sally, and she gets her name in lights again.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 03, 2012, 06:36:33 pm
Your perseverence shows commitment Rob.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 04, 2012, 04:38:31 am
Your perseverence shows commitment Rob.



I know, I know, Walter; even to the extent of flogging dead horses.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: graeme on August 04, 2012, 07:22:38 am
A recent shot taken at our less than luxurious workspace. ( One of the first images I've used lightroom for - this may be the best piece of software I've ever used ).

Graeme

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Sutton on August 06, 2012, 04:24:39 am
I was out early yesterday when the first building here to be dropped by implosion went down. So here are a couple of shots. Nearly dropped the camera when the detonations happened.  ::)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: seamus finn on August 07, 2012, 02:28:52 pm

I'm very late coming here - was a bit daunted by the extraordinary number of members who contribute in so many ways. Great pictures too, and great fun:





Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 07, 2012, 02:38:34 pm
Is this the most telling evidence yet of the impact of the economic crisis Seamus?

Even the oldest profession is hard hit.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: seamus finn on August 07, 2012, 03:32:21 pm

I suppose it's bottomed out, Walter.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 07, 2012, 06:31:00 pm
Is this the most telling evidence yet of the impact of the economic crisis Seamus?

Even the oldest profession is hard hit.




Yep, it's just like stock photography: too many amateurs ruining the game.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 07, 2012, 06:40:35 pm
Too true Rob,

As a teenager with a glowing devotion to photography my faith was shattered when I guy I was working for said,
"Photography is just like prostitution.  Both professions were stuffed by amateurs."

It has been my experience that the quip carried with it a load of veracity.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: amolitor on August 07, 2012, 07:43:32 pm
Stock photography IS being ruined by amateurs, for sure. It's over as a money-making business, since the number of people willing to spend $100s of dollars to make a picture they will sell for pennies appears to be infinite.

This doesn't mean they're doing bad work. There's stuff you can buy for a dollar on any microstock site that is truly excellent work.

Capitalism is hard at work here, stock photography shouldn't cost anything.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 08, 2012, 04:26:27 am
Stock photography IS being ruined by amateurs, for sure. It's over as a money-making business, since the number of people willing to spend $100s of dollars to make a picture they will sell for pennies appears to be infinite.

This doesn't mean they're doing bad work. There's stuff you can buy for a dollar on any microstock site that is truly excellent work.

Capitalism is hard at work here, stock photography shouldn't cost anything.



It's a confused world. Capitalists have taken over the agencies all right, but they also seem determined to chase one another to the death by making less and less for each picture they shift.

I agree that pro/am isn't any dependable distinction for marking out quality in all photo genres.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 10, 2012, 11:56:31 am
Still walking every day after lunch, even if it tempts indigestion. Anyway, instead of indigestion I might have caught one of 2042's classics today, which is a neat trick if you think about it.

As it isn't a current classic, and as the new classic section of LuLa's best left classic, I include it here instead.

So much work and so little reward; it must be love.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: StevenB on August 10, 2012, 12:51:51 pm
(http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l632/shbphoto/Thenaturalillusion.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 10, 2012, 04:13:39 pm
Still walking every day after lunch, even if it tempts indigestion. Anyway, instead of indigestion I might have caught one of 2042's classics today, which is a neat trick if you think about it.

As it isn't a current classic, and as the new classic section of LuLa's best left classic, I include it here instead.

So much work and so little reward; it must be love.

;-)

Rob C
OK, Rob, let's you and I check back in thirty years to see if Chris or Mark or Michael (or their grandchildren) have moved this image over to the "Classics" forum.

It may not be a classic yet, but most Porsches are still pretty classy, even without tail fins.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 10, 2012, 05:57:47 pm
Eric, I know that you probably don't subscribe to a common fishy heritage, but fins maketh the 50s classic. Even with sports cars: the Jag D-Type had a huge one right in the middle of it's rear end. (I had to rewrite that last sentence twice.)

I'm not sure I'd want to be back here in thirty years; I'm finding the current world isn't as good as the old one, so heaven knows how I'd feel in an even newer one. I sympathise with My Rip Van W. I'm sure if I did return, and even mentioned Kodachrome, that I'd be instantly locked away as a reactionary subversive or something as out of character as that.

Imagine arriving to discover rap being considered the new musical classic... enough to drive you back whence you came at top speed.

However, I could enjoy an endless belt system that ran from 1954 to 1984 over and over and over... not a musical one, a life one.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 10, 2012, 06:10:20 pm
stock photography shouldn't cost anything.


How outrageously preposterous.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on August 10, 2012, 08:23:46 pm
In Miami
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 11, 2012, 01:03:24 am
Out into the world to test a Nikkor-T *ED 500mm on the Linhof MT V.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 11, 2012, 03:48:50 am
Walter, this is obviously part of a survey to evaluate the number of deaths from snake and spider venom?

Always found a paradox at the heart of still and life.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: amolitor on August 11, 2012, 05:24:50 am
How outrageously preposterous.

It's just supply and demand! When the supply is infinite, the cost goes to zero. Unless yer some kind of COMMUNIST!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 11, 2012, 08:28:00 am
Unless yer some kind of COMMUNIST!

It is rude to shout.

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 11, 2012, 08:29:53 am
Always found a paradox at the heart of still and life.

;-)

Rob C

Of course, Roland Barthes maintained that a corpse is a living representation of a dead thing.

Still life it is.  Still!

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: amolitor on August 11, 2012, 01:02:20 pm
It is rude to shout.

I apologize, that was in jest. I hope that was obvious, but perhaps it was not.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on August 13, 2012, 04:06:39 am
Took this one today early in the morning.
a cup of coffee and tethered capture..=)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8290/7769056278_d6f5a21df4_b.jpg)


/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RobbieV on August 13, 2012, 08:49:50 am
How outrageously preposterous.



www.sxc.hu

Some people want to contribute to the free-ness of the Internet.

Yes, there are people willing to work for pennies, but I think some points are being missed. The Internet has created a movement where open-source technology and information is flowing and vibrant. It is in a similar manner that some of these stock photography sites are created. Some people just want to contribute, to share (for free) and to give.

I don't think it's a bad thing, necessarily. SXC.hu is but one of the free stock photography websites that features user-submitted work. You can instantly tell by the quality of the work, especially compared to the advertisements featuring paid work.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 13, 2012, 09:59:45 am
Daniel, that's one bad tempered little mother; look at his eyes!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: amolitor on August 13, 2012, 10:08:26 am
Always remember: Birds are basically small dinosaurs.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on August 13, 2012, 10:28:39 am
Daniel, that's one bad tempered little mother; look at his eyes!

Angry Bird (http://www.rovio.com), straight from the game
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 13, 2012, 05:32:38 pm
Took this one today early in the morning.
a cup of coffee and tethered capture..=)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8290/7769056278_d6f5a21df4_b.jpg)


/Dahlmann
Love it!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: AWeil on August 13, 2012, 05:58:24 pm
Dahlmann, did you get her to sign the model release form? One proud bird!
Angela
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on August 13, 2012, 07:37:34 pm
Dahlmann, did you get her to sign the model release form? One proud bird!
Angela

=)
No i forgot about that.

Damn!



/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on August 13, 2012, 07:42:08 pm
Daniel, that's one bad tempered little mother; look at his eyes!

Rob C

Like, What!?....WHAT!???

=)

/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on August 13, 2012, 07:46:20 pm
OK, seems like you guys liked my bird so I give you one more..


(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7772270158_46aa958e92_b.jpg)

Cheers
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on August 13, 2012, 10:52:37 pm
A couple from the land surrealism.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-2vvFjQL/0/M/Aug-13-12-GH-095-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=2024205563&k=2vvFjQL&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-X4XcXG7/0/M/Aug-13-12-GHaffy-099-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=2024205596&k=X4XcXG7&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on August 14, 2012, 01:15:14 am
A couple from the land surrealism.....

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-2vvFjQL/0/M/Aug-13-12-GH-095-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=2024205563&k=2vvFjQL&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-X4XcXG7/0/M/Aug-13-12-GHaffy-099-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=2024205596&k=X4XcXG7&lb=1&s=A)

Nice!

Regards

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 14, 2012, 03:53:45 am
Lke that - simple but very effective. (As the actress said to the bishop.)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 14, 2012, 04:28:59 am
At the risk of looking like I'm hijacking someone else's thread, I was inspired by JMR's forest work and at the worst end of a long night involving some serious digestive disorders (I'll leave the rest to your imagination - or not - and no, it wasn't fun). Anyway, had a go at some of CS6's new filter options, some layer masking and generally just screwing around with a relatively decent image, albeit, rather boring as it sat...and it still could be...now I am suffering from a definitive lack of sleep. Sheese!

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7779903540_49417d8da1_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 14, 2012, 09:35:22 am
Chris,

I'm also a fan of JMR's tree shots, but your imitation JMR shot is much nicer than any I've made so far.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on August 14, 2012, 05:45:41 pm
At the risk of looking like I'm hijacking someone else's thread, I was inspired by JMR's forest work and at the worst end of a long night involving some serious digestive disorders (I'll leave the rest to your imagination - or not - and no, it wasn't fun). Anyway, had a go at some of CS6's new filter options, some layer masking and generally just screwing around with a relatively decent image, albeit, rather boring as it sat...and it still could be...now I am suffering from a definitive lack of sleep. Sheese!


Thank you all for the comments. BTW, Chris, since I don't have PS6, but am very interested in how you did this, can you tell me. Is that a specific filter or radial blur? It looks pretty good to me. Despite the filter, the rawness of the forest and trees comes through.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 15, 2012, 11:37:40 pm
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7792807224_fbf8e35443_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 16, 2012, 03:38:38 am
Chris -

Your shot needs a pair of very dark-grey high heels and a well-turned ankle.

It reminds me of most of my attempts at landscape: the main character's always missing.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RobbieV on August 16, 2012, 09:41:46 am
With regards to the wonderful tree edits: is it a wind filter combined with a lens blur?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 16, 2012, 10:31:21 am
Motion blur - 90 degree angle at 260 pixels
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 16, 2012, 10:32:52 am
Chris -

Your shot needs a pair of very dark-grey high heels and a well-turned ankle.

It reminds me of most of my attempts at landscape: the main character's always missing.

Rob C

I shot another not far from this one which I think will fulfill at least part of your wish:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8442/7794946656_33e3906894_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 16, 2012, 10:40:09 am
You see? You knew all along; you were just pulling my leg!

Now I must think about my landscapes. Or not.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RobbieV on August 16, 2012, 11:09:08 am
Have dogs waiting for their owners been done to death?

(http://pcdn.500px.net/10414975/82eb22cdc44d0abb2ca662f718928766bb38cc88/4.jpg)

(http://pcdn.500px.net/9612167/c117fff73dac4bbcba8c554239bb840db3448a69/4.jpg)

It's really hard to capture the satiny shine I saw coming through the field one late afternoon. I suppose some careful dodging and burning could help ?

(http://pcdn.500px.net/10281077/69f7f08869b462ffa50c310a37723bd70c1242cc/4.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 16, 2012, 01:21:34 pm
Have dogs waiting for their owners been done to death?



I'm quite sure it happens in some countries, but the RSPCA does wonders, by and large.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on August 16, 2012, 02:30:23 pm
A couple from the land surrealism.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-2vvFjQL/0/M/Aug-13-12-GH-095-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=2024205563&k=2vvFjQL&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/i-X4XcXG7/0/M/Aug-13-12-GHaffy-099-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Landscape-Impressions/6106943_rMgStL#!i=2024205596&k=X4XcXG7&lb=1&s=A)

Lovely stuff as usual John!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on August 16, 2012, 02:34:51 pm
Chris -

Your shot needs a pair of very dark-grey high heels and a well-turned ankle.

Rob C

You are so right Rob!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on August 16, 2012, 04:21:53 pm
So, WHERE'S THE PEANUT BUTTER ALREADY?!?!?

Good fun!

Mike.

P.S.  You're lucky... these little ones usually travel in gangs!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 17, 2012, 09:31:33 am
You are so right Rob!




Riaan, it's a result of all those wonderful years I spent living with my Ann; she was always right, even when I hoped she was wrong. It rubbed off - now I'm always right; my self agrees with practically everything that I think. Where's the fun? Might as well be posting pictures for critique, for all the internal argument I get!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on August 17, 2012, 09:36:24 am
Might as well be posting pictures for critique, for all the internal argument I get!

So, whatever happened to that background curtain thingy you have been bragging about whole week?

Pictures or it didn't happen, as we say on the internut...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 17, 2012, 10:00:52 am
So, whatever happened to that background curtain thingy you have been bragging about whole week?

Pictures or it didn't happen, as we say on the internut...



Oscar, it is not a curtain thinggy, it's made from roller blind material. Or it will be once the sonofabitch delivers! I went to see pop and son yesterday - there's usually only one holding the fort and each blames the other - and I was promised, yet again, that it would be ready mañana, which is today - well, it is today but wasn't today yesterday, when it was going to be mañana, which is today... even I get confused. It's lilke bullfighting - the bull gets confused, what with all the junk they stuff into it (my belief in bravery is shallow) in the pen to confuse it and allow it to lose its cojones and even its ears... all I want is my white background, first discussed with the shop on the 18th of July (this Year of Our Lord).

In the meantime, I offer you a little token of the troubles and travails being suffered because of the crisis-what-crisis. People are selling what they can sell, but there are few buyers. They, too, await mañana.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 17, 2012, 10:33:31 am
Just to clear up any doubts, what with the great division by common language, I thought I'd illustrate what a curtain is usually thought to be; I do, however, accept that some refer to this specific type as nets. But never roller blinds.

This particular one, hiding the recent repairs and missing flower pots as we anticipate - still - the best efforts of the painters, is possibly the basis to a picture-in-waiting. With the exposure cranked up to illuminate a figure inside the room and close to said curtains, the doors opened away, the exterior would vanish and the girl would look quite ethereal...

I have no girl, so that's one that'll have to sit it out. Perhaps Cooter has a spare he could lend me for a week...?

Anyway, this is best examined to a decent soundtrack; imagine Sheryl as model and I'm sure you'll see this all differently.

http://youtu.be/EXSmAcJqsGI

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on August 17, 2012, 11:10:35 am
Sheryl as model? Then I won't much care about the background really. Especially so, if she is in a window frame, in which case i would want you to capture her in the corresponding much alluded to state, her being a lady and all.

The picture of the curtain reminds me of this word:
Vitrage (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Vitrage)

May I also suggest you date your pictures from now on? It would make the picture of the boat and the title all the more relevant for future generations, so to speak...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 17, 2012, 11:58:11 am
Oscar, dates and posterity are the last things on my mind.

I have just done the trip to the roller blind shop and back. I hardly dare write this, but I had to leave the friggin' roll with them: they didn't use the stiff blind material I'd specified, they used a thick, white curtain material! And it was all creases. I could have done the same with a bloody sheet, and for free!

This time it was the old guy in charge; I said I'd return on Monday and see the son (who took the order) - if he's there!

Do you believe in jinx?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: seamus finn on August 17, 2012, 03:35:21 pm

Cheeky:



Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on August 17, 2012, 06:44:39 pm
Great fun Seamus,

We see a lot of bare-bum tailoring in Sydney around Mardi-Gras time but I have never seen free-swinging metallic haemorrhoids before.

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 18, 2012, 04:16:59 am
Great fun Seamus,

We see a lot of bare-bum tailoring in Sydney around Mardi-Gras time but I have never seen free-swinging metallic haemorrhoids before.

W


Walter, I have no answer to your observation of Seamus's observation... I'm stuck for words. I better have another coffee and try again.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on August 19, 2012, 04:19:11 pm
This shot is closer to the middle of the herd, but I still like it.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on August 19, 2012, 08:17:02 pm
This shot is closer to the middle of the herd, but I still like it.

Bruce

I like the scenery a lot, where is it?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on August 20, 2012, 10:43:44 am
I like the scenery a lot, where is it?

This scenery was up and a few hundred yards to the left of a cable car lift in Wyoming's Grand Tetons.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 23, 2012, 04:36:09 am
I've a quite different sort of scenery; on one side (all round it, really - this is an island) it's rather flat and wet and on the other, quite tall and dangerous and given to the occassional attack of arson.

On my own obligatory, daily, exercise walks I tend to divorce the two extremes of topography and concentrate on the inner man and, especially, his finely-tuned sense of envy of things temporal.

This my latest flash of angst and breast-beating, tempered by the realisation that a long-standing dislike of cars in white (as of men in black) was possibly misplaced.

I took away the Swiss plate information to protect the probable owner who might have had a finger in someone's account. No kangaroo court justice here!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on August 23, 2012, 02:17:50 pm
I've always thought that the SL looks best in black. The only problem is finding someone to clean it hourly.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 23, 2012, 03:54:53 pm
That's curious; black's the only colour I thought that body shape and its predecessor never suited! But, I think the big Merc saloons look best in black.

I'm sort of partial to Merc silver, my wife hated it and thought it looked unpainted, and we had a friend with a champagne 500SL. I wasn't unhappy for him, but I think I'd have gone for something else - perhaps a very dark blue or a claret red. but red's a very difficult colour to get to suit different shapes. My little X1/9 was a sort of pale red/orange that sounds awful but actually looked rather nice. Shortly after I bought mine they introduced a black one called the Lido with white seats; it looked good, but the very best of them was a different red to the one I was able to buy, much more akin to the red used by Alfa, my next set of wheels. I don't like the current red Alfas I see around here - they look different, but it could be a trick of the memory

I've now had three black cars - two Fiestas and an XR3i. They do look good clean, but don't look clean for very long, as you point out.

Well, the gloss doesn't seem to last very long now either; for the first few months after I bought my current Fiesta it kept its gloss very well; now not so, even when just washed, as this evening. I think I've said this before, but I suspect it has something to do with the use of water-based paints which, by the way, also seem to have far less 'hardness' to them: I am very careful, yet there are lots of scratches around the door handles even though I never have to use a key! I really don't know what they thought they were gaining; perhaps it's cheaper.

Going past a hoarding today I noticed it saying that all Ford's models were offering 25%... I couldn't catch 25% of what, but it doesn't appear to say anything very positive about the state of the market here.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 24, 2012, 10:51:08 am
Well, I wandered off after lunch again, as is my sentence, and braving the radiation I noted that the season is definitely coming to an end. In a couple of weeks or so most of the boats at the visitors' quay will have vanished into the dawn and so will many of the pretty cars that brightend up the dull tarmac.

In fact, I couldn't find a single one worth the effort it takes to put it through the hoops in PS. So, ever more bored, and thinking this the end of the world, I trudged up to the ring-road where I park, and there in their usual dry field, under a semi-dead pine, stood these three poor old nags. Every day they stand there; I'm sure there's madness in their eyes. I would not cross the wire to make certain; I woudn't cross it even if I thought them sane.

However, it did cheer me up: I realised that some life forms get even more bored than do I.

Well, gotta love you and leave you and go up to the old town to get some fruit and veggies for the weekend - told you it gets boring - and en route I'll drop in to Pop & Son again and check out my roller blind background. I'm as faithful as an elephant. Perhaps I mean as patient as one? Who knows? Who cares? Anyway, here the horses. Be kind to the poor mothers: buy them a stream. Or at least a bucket.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Randy Carone on August 24, 2012, 11:37:04 am
"I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent." Horton the Elephant (Dr. Seuss)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 24, 2012, 12:11:22 pm
Rob,

Your vintage car pix are really going back a ways now.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 24, 2012, 01:12:57 pm
Rob,

Your vintage car pix are really going back a ways now.




Eric, what do you want for three horse-power already?

Sheees!

;-)

Rob C

P.S. Pop & Son was closed...!!!!!!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on August 25, 2012, 03:51:57 pm
My daughter checking a street jewelry stand:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7860758236_ea6940e69d.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slobodan_blagojevic/7860758236/)
Bling (http://www.flickr.com/photos/slobodan_blagojevic/7860758236/) by Slobodan Blagojevic (http://www.flickr.com/people/slobodan_blagojevic/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 25, 2012, 06:00:49 pm
Nice, SB!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 25, 2012, 06:14:24 pm
Nice shot; nice girl; nice accessorising with bead and nail polish colour...

Vogue, here we come! (Speaking of which, the damned boat has left the port, so no piccy.)

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on August 26, 2012, 08:15:30 pm
I would have called it blue moon but of course that has a different connotation. Was shooting abstracts and architecture when I spotted the moon.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/i-chLG65n/0/M/Aug-26-12-Evans-QEW-bldg-101-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Pictorials/6157147_wZQ4vV#!i=2049173441&k=chLG65n&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 26, 2012, 09:11:24 pm
Hoot-Hoot-Hoot - While I was shooting a rather mundane shot of a large fresnel lens used in a particular lighthouse I was shooting, I noticed that at the right angle, the lens looked much like a common barn owl.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7865934862_6865214f89_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on August 27, 2012, 01:42:54 am
More Barred Owl than Barn Owl - Barn Owls have more dished faces, and Barred Owls have horizontal banding in the throat area...  ;D  Still, nicely represented!!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 27, 2012, 04:30:46 am
Like with owls, photography's in the seeing.

Tweet, tweet, to-who?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 27, 2012, 07:46:41 am
More Barred Owl than Barn Owl - Barn Owls have more dished faces, and Barred Owls have horizontal banding in the throat area...  ;D  Still, nicely represented!!

Mike.

My boo-boo. I have seen but a very few owls in the wild in my time and wouldn't know one from the other. City boy, I am afraid. Thanks for the identification should I get out of the city and find a real one instead of one in my over active imagination.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on August 27, 2012, 06:34:45 pm
Jes' pokin' a little fun!  It's a great image!

Mike (who also sees 'faces' in things everywhere)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on August 27, 2012, 08:56:10 pm
Jes' pokin' a little fun!  It's a great image!

Mike (who also sees 'faces' in things everywhere)
Likewise, great shot well seen.

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 28, 2012, 05:57:51 am
I first met this lady thirty-one years ago when she was the hottest thing in the little marina. Today that marina's long gone and a huge, concrete and vastly more chic replacement holds court over, and greatly beyond, the original site. Twenty-two grand (euros) to join, there's a waiting list. Also seems there's now question of a fifty-year lease only on berths, where some imagined they'd made an outright buy... watery castles in Spain, perhaps?

I dedicate this picture to you-know-who!

;-)

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on August 28, 2012, 06:37:25 am
Pretty happy with this one.!


(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7879190200_246df73153_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/7879190200/)
Flower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/7879190200/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr



/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 28, 2012, 07:54:51 am
Is a good shot, however, even though the far left petal is "aimed" toward the left side of the frame, the bulk of the image is moving to the right and needs the "out" room more than the left side where you have it. I also find the lightness to the right a bit distracting.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on August 28, 2012, 09:57:28 am
Sometimes cars are just the right color.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 28, 2012, 10:48:40 am
Got to love tourists..I mean really, who wears black dress shoes with black socks while wearing shorts and being the obvious tourist type?

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7815189840_b99763e4ca_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on August 28, 2012, 12:52:40 pm
Chris, he's not British: Brits wear knee socks, and jesus sandals made from rubber tyres and old belts. Or, trainers with no socks at all, thus giving the trainers a life expectancy of one season. Epitome of cool.

But yes, they (tourists) do pay for their presence, in a way, by providing laughs for the locals. God help the locals when they go and become tourists elewhere. Next week IVA/VAT (value added tax) goes up to 21%. Brilliant idea: suffocate what little business there is that's just hangin' on, and drive the rest into the black economy. I really wonder if any tourists will be coming back next year, with or without fancy footwear. For the locals, I hope they do; for myself, I hope they don't. Split loyalties, then.

Whhhhhh...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on August 28, 2012, 01:05:14 pm
Got to love tourists..I mean really, who wears black dress shoes with black socks while wearing shorts and being the obvious tourist type?

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8422/7815189840_b99763e4ca_o.jpg)

Hi Chris. Nothing in the pic ( from where I reside) would suggest tourist to me. Here the chap and his subject would have to be wearing matching khaki long sleeved ( and don't forget the vented back) shirts and long trousers with mountain hiking boots with matching backpacks. Or as Rob mentioned, sandals with socks. 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on August 28, 2012, 01:52:50 pm
Got to love tourists..I mean really, who wears black dress shoes...

Only Americans would consider those "dress shoes." ;)

I would rather have my eyeballs poked out with a plastic spoon than pair those with a suit. Those appear to be a cross breed, walking sneakers (as opposed to running), in black, to fool the ignorati into believing they can serve the dual purpose (i.e., as, god forbid, dress shoes).
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Randy Carone on August 28, 2012, 02:14:06 pm
Slobodan,

I had the same thought as you. As an American, I DO NOT consider them to be dress shoes unless they are worn to complement a tuxedo T-shirt. :)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on August 28, 2012, 02:57:52 pm
Slobodan,

I had the same thought as you. As an American, I DO NOT consider them to be dress shoes unless they are worn to complement a tuxedo T-shirt. :)

But please, not black tie with a wing collar!

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 28, 2012, 03:46:42 pm
Okay then, black shoes and black socks...it's such a yankee thing as to make good southern boys cop a good giggle, and giggle I did.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on August 28, 2012, 03:58:20 pm
This follows the same vein only its good southern boys with the cameras; you can tell this because they aren't wearing black socks.

This is what Isaac looks like from my perspective and I live about 300 miles from ground zero. A lot of hype about nothing as far as we were concerned...oh well.

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8295/7882337578_5a8262ce5c_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Mjollnir on August 29, 2012, 02:47:36 pm
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6106/6292222997_5a9805b6ab_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6292222997/)
Lone fisherman approaches in rain, Pismo Beach (http://www.flickr.com/photos/87368247@N00/6292222997/) by tanngrisnir3 (http://www.flickr.com/people/87368247@N00/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 03, 2012, 06:50:56 am
Went for a road trip out West on 25th August.

A few of the fruits of the peregrination:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 03, 2012, 09:11:38 am
Nice images, Walter; just one personal observation (mine): I think they might have been much stronger as pictures without the tinting. Having said that, I come from a position of disliking any toning by nature - I just don't believe anything beats a great bromide print with good, strong blacks and creamy highlights.

Speaking of b/w prints  - have I just been looking in the wrong places, of is our Mr Smith of the 500 Series with digi -back b/w shots of English heritage stuff, such as trains and their drivers, awol?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 03, 2012, 09:31:47 am
Rob,

Diff'rent strokes, and all that.  The straight black and white print is anathema to me.  I can only ever see a press-elease picture with black & white.  In the wet darkroom days I always used Chloro-Bromide papers when they were available - Portriga-Rapid and Record-Rapid from Agfa were the preferred choice.  With the scanned negs I have made a little colour thingy that is sort of a nod in the direction of the current 'warmtone' papers.  I did use Selenium toning for longevity and sort of liked the very subtle colour shift it gave to normal papers but preferred the warmer tones.

But, here goes with an untoned version:



I have just purchased another Durst L1200 and will soon be making wet-process prints again.  Who knows how that will translate, scanning a print.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 03, 2012, 10:02:06 am
Walter

I don't know it it's a side-effect of my eye problems (going for the final tests - I hope - on Friday) but I still pick up a pinkinsh glow in the sky of the b/w version!

;-)

Rob C


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 03, 2012, 05:27:05 pm
Rob,

It may be your monitor, or perhaps the jiggery-pokery of varying colour space through the forum.  Perfectly neutral here and my monitor is calibrated.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 04, 2012, 04:54:13 am
Rob,

It may be your monitor, or perhaps the jiggery-pokery of varying colour space through the forum.  Perfectly neutral here and my monitor is calibrated.

Cheers,

W


This raises a question I raised before somewhere, and to which I have either forgotten the reply or just not understood it.

My monitor (calibrated) is shared by two computers, this one for Internet and general office work, and another one reserved for PS and photography (it's currently away being meddled with).

The question was: when calibrating the monitor, done via the PS-dedicated one, am I adjusting the monitor or simply that computer's reactions with it? So, does the Internet computer also take advantage of the calibrations done via the PS computer, or do I have to recalibrate using the Internet computer too? Basically, is it the monitor that really gets adjusted via calibration or the individual computers?

Regarding your shot: the white rebate below the shot is perfectly white in my setup, it's just the cloud areas, the sky, that still look slightly pink to me.

But, looking at the grey (?) space around this box as I type, and also when I press Preview, I still get that slight sensation of pink. I never noticed this before - is there an intended tint on the LuLa space here? The space on which I type, though, is perfectly white to me, with no hint of a colour tone.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 04, 2012, 10:41:22 am
Rob

When you calibrate your monitor you create a profile which is stored on the computer you used to create it. You then set this as the default profile for your monitor. When you switch computers the profile is no longer available.

BTW, Walter's image is neutral.


Thanks, Keith,

So, if I calibrate via both computers, they will both give me the correct calibrated setting every time I switch from one to the other machine?

I hadn't noticed a difference with the Internet computer before, but now that I think about it, I do remember thinking that some of my own pix looked different when I e-mailed them or looked at them in LuLa.

Thanks again -

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 04, 2012, 04:36:31 pm
My head is spinning.  Thank goodness I only have the one machine.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 04, 2012, 06:28:06 pm
My head is spinning.  Thank goodness I only have the one machine.



Walter, my head will be spinning when I get the bill for the repair!

Was back at the weekly jazz session tonight and there was a guest guitarist (English) who lived here for fifteen years and then went off to the Côte d'Azur where he's living now; listening to his story, it makes the life of a snapper seem pretty secure after all! It's amazing how these people can just pick up the pieces and play together again so convincingly.

No pix anymore because it's still outdoors and the light sucks at night... maybe in the depths of winter, should the band still have the gig, I'll get some fresh material if they play indoors again. Hope so - makes a change from cars, if nothing else. Nothing aganst cars, but anything exotic goes home too, along with the holiday folks. April to September is the yachting season, and after that the marina's empty except for the bigger boats that live in the water, and some distressed paintwork up on the hard...

Have you done any work (professional) on boats and their interiors? Beautiful, some of them, but I'd imagine quite hard to light.

Ciao -

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 06, 2012, 04:45:11 am
One last pics from the road trip out West:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/7942252818_a0f1c67a01.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/7942252818/)
Bricked-Up Apse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/7942252818/)

And one from wandering the lower North Shore the following Sunday:


(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7942268830_77f9c406e8.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/7942268830/)
Afternoon Lattice (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltereg/7942268830/)


W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 06, 2012, 06:48:41 am
Walter

For some reason, the top one reminded me of Scotland. There's an interesting one up at the top of a hill in Blairgowrie, but you are just as likely to hear drums coming out of the building. At least, that was what I imagined I was hearing some years ago, but it might have been somebody stoking the greater fires below...

Having got myself that background roll, I thought I'd stick the studio flash onto charge after about ten years of its living in a suitcase, and see what happens. For fifteen minutes nothing has happened. You can imagine my feelings, having gone to all that trouble with the pesky roll... anyway, it has just lit up the flash-ready light, so I shall discharge it - or try - and see where we go from here: YES! I've flashed it off twice in a row! So now I might be able to summon up the blood etc. and find a person on whom to vent my frustrations of these past few years. Blessed relief!?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 06, 2012, 08:07:36 am
Possibly well spotted Rob,

It is a Presbyterian church from the mid-19th Century so the similarity may be more than coincidental.

As for the strobe:  why bother.  Digital capture requires so little light compared to film that the flash may well be overkill and natural light could be the duck's nuts.  In fact, I have been thinking I should advise you of my acreage of sail cloth made into scrims.  Might be just the ticket.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 06, 2012, 09:57:26 am
Walter

The world is ever smaller!

I'd been chatting with a young German guy here who has a sailmaker's business; he eats lunch at the same bar/restaurant as I and we'd got to chatting because he'd noticed my daily walks in the marina and he wondered if I had a boat. I asked him about old sails - with the intention of using a part of one to make my backdrop. Once I'd explained the need for flatness he told me sails wouldn't do because they come with a built-in curve to make a better shape for the wind.

I understand your point, though, and I am also wondering about using just the modelling light and the umbrella; flash could well mean that I'd have to work at night, anyway, because the camera only goes down to ASA 200 and synch stops at around 1/250th with the D700 (I think) and I don't want to use the D200 (100 ASA minimum) though it would render my 1.8/50 into a 75mm that could be interesting, and that 50mm is a great optic. Frankly, if I could generate just a little business, then it would encourage me to try out one of those short manual micros that Nikon made.

My HP A3+ printer is telling me it requires a fresh cartridge... I haven't made a print in zonks and I'm not sure I really want to keep the damned thing running all day (as one has to) in order just to let it do daily cleaning exercises. Might turn out cheaper to let it die and then, if work comes to visit, buy new again. I'm sick of having boxes of prints just lie there; seems pointless.

My Internet keeps telling me that I can contact Russian and Asian and hell knows what else babes with a view to marriage/romance; does anybody anywhere ever answer this crap? I thought I'd filtered all this stuff away...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on September 11, 2012, 10:21:12 pm
I'm not an animal photographer but I like these two I just found. Shot 1 year ago in Cuyahoga Falls. I can probably remove the branch that goes over the deer. The spot between the deer's eyes is a fly (I was maybe 20 feet away only).
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on September 13, 2012, 12:52:08 pm
I seem to have a focus issue on the long lens..attended a school hockey match recently and noticed the odd frame where it focussed on other things. My daughter is somewhere in the background giving her all for the team.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 14, 2012, 05:38:22 am
That's a very sensitive longer lens, Riaan. Your friend Harry might have lent it to you?

I don't think I'd bother sending it back to have the focus checked; live with the surprises.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 18, 2012, 04:44:33 am
Things that come to haunt one.

This must have been shot during the late 80s - the dog, Dina, died in '90 and the cat, Splatt, was poisoned along with the rest of a gang of around twenty-something semi-wild ones that started out as two female kittens abandoned by their mother who, walking along the perimeter of the garden one day, looked up at us on the terrace, realized that the alsabrador was actually a pussycat, and that we would inevitably relieve mama cat of responsibility for a productive but mad moment behind the rubbish bins.

(The poisoner was a woman resident in the complex who said she was an animal lover; we were away shooting somewhere at the time.)

The glass indicates it was around 11am; nobody wasted time in that decade.

The image was shot on some toy camera that my daughter toted around, and the file came from her as the result of putting a bent and creased happy snap onto a scanner. Rather sad for me, but it proves I once had some hair and that it was fairly dark; my wife hated being snapped, but put up with it because it was our daughter doing the deed.

Good old days, as I know...  ;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 18, 2012, 05:41:02 am
The true strength of the photograph there Rob.

We are all so hip at the time but when we look back there is inevitably a naïvete or gullibility.

Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your past.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 18, 2012, 08:35:09 am
What Walter said. Very touching.
The true strength of the photograph there Rob.

We are all so hip at the time but when we look back there is inevitably a naïvete or gullibility.

Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your past.


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 18, 2012, 10:29:27 am
I often wondered where the missing half of Half Dome had actually gone to; could this be the tip of it (slap bang in the middle), coming right through from the wilds of America? Earth is hollow, you know; that's why it floats.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on September 18, 2012, 03:26:03 pm
Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your past.

Your picture touched a nerve here Rob.

One forgets too often that we are people talking to each other on forums like this, and not just internet "identities" without soul.

Thank you for sharing.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RobbieV on September 18, 2012, 03:50:53 pm
Your picture touched a nerve here Rob.

One forgets too often that we are people talking to each other on forums like this, and not just internet "identities" without soul.

Thank you for sharing.



Ditto. Thanks for sharing. It's appreciated even by the newcomers like myself.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 18, 2012, 06:22:40 pm
Thanks, glad you found it of some interest - when my daughter sent me the original file from her scan it was the first time I'd ever seen the shot. Pity it was so stained and creased, mainly across Ann's forehead - but it did give me some PS practice! I don't think I'd ever have bothered to put so much work into one of my own shots - but there you are.

Thanks again.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 18, 2012, 07:06:32 pm
I don't think I'd ever have bothered to put so much work into one of my own shots - but there you are.

Thanks again.

Rob C

Rob,

I was having a discussion with a colleague just last weekend along these very lines.  I had said that without passion of intent there is not much to a photo (or our craft).  Going back through the archives it is plainly visible for all to see what the attitude of either the model, or I, or both was at the time of the shoot.  He didn't believe me, but he is not the most assiduous of viewers.  But it is true.  If the juices aren't flowing then leave the camera in its bag.  So too with processing.  So much of what is called for, especially in commercial work, is simply grist to the mill.  But when the heart is engaged it excites the brain and gets us to go the extra yards.

What a sweet daughter to give her dad such a treasure.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 19, 2012, 04:57:39 am
Rob,

I was having a discussion with a colleague just last weekend along these very lines.  I had said that without passion of intent there is not much to a photo (or our craft).  Going back through the archives it is plainly visible for all to see what the attitude of either the model, or I, or both was at the time of the shoot.  He didn't believe me, but he is not the most assiduous of viewers.  But it is true.  If the juices aren't flowing then leave the camera in its bag.  So too with processing.  So much of what is called for, especially in commercial work, is simply grist to the mill.  But when the heart is engaged it excites the brain and gets us to go the extra yards.

What a sweet daughter to give her dad such a treasure.



Oh boy! have you opened up a can of delightful worms!

That spark of which you make mention is what lies at the root of all muse relationships. It’s the why of Bailey and Shrimpton and a dozen or more ‘heroes’ who made their mark working with that someone special who turned their shots into pictures. It was the making of my own career – not anywhere in the same exalted league, unfortunately – and, in reverse, due to lack of muse, the cause of my doldrums today.

Without the anticipation, the excitement of what you might be able to pull off on the next shoot, work just becomes work, and in most ways clicking a shutter’s no more exciting than turning a screw or welding a join. And there is an amazingly beautiful chemistry in a relationships that makes photographic encounters between the right people wonderfully exciting for them.

From the practical point of view, the enthusiasm in a muse situation is a hugely valuable commodity to clients: you don’t have to waste time trying to suss out what makes a new model tick; you don’t go along dead end visual paths and you discover early what to stress and what to avoid. And that’s important: I’ve never come across anyone without a downside to her photographic possibilities, and looks can be very deceptive. But, in a small business environment, it can be counterproductive as I discovered to my cost when using the same girl for two competing fashion retail clients in the same city and within ownership of the same group: they don’t like to share! Seems sensible, I suppose… except that one of them is going to get second-best.

So yes, as you suggest, where there’s no strong motivation or, better yet, personal compulsion, then the camera should probably remain in its bag. Hence the cellpix: they simply happen for the spontaneous fun of it with no further intent or pretension beyond the instant giggle. In fact, I find that some things give me a caption before I take the shot… that would have been a valuable asset when I was shooting stock, certainly better than the dumb switch from 'blad/Nikon to 6x7!

To end: without real motivation you discover work; with motivation pleasure. Same thing/work, in many cases, but done for two different reasons.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 19, 2012, 10:37:53 am
Not a lot of motivation, but definitely a light chuckle on the part of both crew washing the decks and myself.

A rolling moment, then.

http://youtu.be/6DVCgKsqn30

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 20, 2012, 10:03:13 am
To disobey would be a challenge of biblical proportions.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 20, 2012, 04:55:05 pm
Nicely seen Rob.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 21, 2012, 09:50:59 am
Some time ago I was chatting about why my kids aren't all that impressed by professional photography, and that in their minds it came to represent the world of the guinea pig. I used to have a Bowens flash meter in those days, and it wasn't all that dependable, I felt, so I used to run practical tests using card print-outs of the different apertures. This is life at f11. Life at other stops lies safely within my daughter's free hand. Anyway, it's another shot from a print sent me from my daughter's scanner. Perhaps she shouldn't have bought one.

Funny how peculiar bell-bottoms look today, but I wore them as did most everybody else I knew. I had a matching jacket to go with the jeans (very soft crushed denim - oh so tactile!), and they were made by a charming company called The South Sea Bubble, which was certainly an invitation to disaster, as they soon discovered.

Have to admit, ETR saves a lot of faffing about and I would certainly have employed a tethered computer, had they existed...

Anyway, have a giggle. Or just ignore - me es igual.

Oh - for the technically minded: it would almost certainly have been shot using a 2.8/35mm  Nikkor (manual, of course), one of the sharpest lenses I ever owned.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on September 21, 2012, 03:18:45 pm
The space shuttle Endeavor over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge this morning, on its final flight.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 21, 2012, 07:28:20 pm
Gee, what a cracker capture of a cracker moment there Doug.  Is it the fruit of thoughtful planning or are you the beneficiary of happenstance.

My curiosity is sparked by the flag at half-mast.  Was that for the shuttle or somebody else's demise?

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on September 22, 2012, 12:52:40 am
Gee, what a cracker capture of a cracker moment there Doug.  Is it the fruit of thoughtful planning or are you the beneficiary of happenstance.

My curiosity is sparked by the flag at half-mast.  Was that for the shuttle or somebody else's demise?

Cheers,

W

Thanks! I was able to track the shuttle's flight progress online so I knew approximately where it was going to be at the time. I shot it through the window of our CFO's corner office. Fortunately the glass wasn't too dirty. Not sure why the flag was at half mast, but it'd been so for a few days.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 22, 2012, 04:05:20 am
Thanks! I was able to track the shuttle's flight progress online so I knew approximately where it was going to be at the time. I shot it through the window of our CFO's corner office. Fortunately the glass wasn't too dirty. Not sure why the flag was at half mast, but it'd been so for a few days.



Maybe for those murdered due to those home-grown nutters making anti-moslem movies?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on September 22, 2012, 10:51:00 am


Maybe for those murdered due to those home-grown nutters making anti-moslem movies?

Rob C

Possibly.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on September 22, 2012, 02:28:28 pm
Maybe for those murdered due to those home-grown nutters making anti-moslem movies?

And hence irritating the irrational? There's an excellent comment here (http://www.theonion.com/articles/no-one-murdered-because-of-this-image,29553/).

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 22, 2012, 04:07:09 pm
Well, the good thing is... the French finally support the U.S.! If everybody else (i.e., the rest of the civilized world) would follow in their steps at the same time, I would love to see who would the other guys direct their medieval rage against.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Fips on September 22, 2012, 04:21:54 pm
You know what's sorta funny about this: Where the hell do they get all the flags from? I mean whenever in some country something happens which pisses these extremists off, they immediately have the right flag at hand to burn? Do they have flag warehouses in every other hicksville? Do they hand out sets of flags, just in case?
Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to buy an American flag in my hometown in Germany. Ok, I could probably order it from Amazon, but I guess that's not really an option for these lunatics we're talking about.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 22, 2012, 06:21:20 pm
That's something that has had me thinking in the past, too. You might find there's a conspiracy theory that fits: factory in Los Angeles makes them to special order using illegal Mexican labour and ships them out to Israel from whence they get passed on to the wider middle east. But look, if the theory is correct, it means manufacturing jobs in the States and also, perhaps, in the UK and any other land whose flags require partial incineration - and that's where the manufacturing skills lie: only enough flag must burn to allow the remnants to be recognized in even the shortest tv exposure.

Oliver Stone: a story awaits!

;-)

Rob C

P.S. I didn't enjoy the cartoon in the link; I don't like insulting or treading on anyone's religious beliefs. Who knows: they may even be correct. There's certainly something bigger than any of us out there or, even, inside each one of us.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on September 23, 2012, 02:25:18 am
P.S. I didn't enjoy the cartoon in the link; I don't like insulting or treading on anyone's religious beliefs. Who knows: they may even be correct. There's certainly something bigger than any of us out there or, even, inside each one of us.

The cartoon isn't intended to insult or tread on anyone's beliefs, Rob! Its sole aim is to ridicule the reaction. I'm astonished by your comment.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 23, 2012, 04:46:30 am
The cartoon isn't intended to insult or tread on anyone's beliefs, Rob! Its sole aim is to ridicule the reaction. I'm astonished by your comment.

Jeremy


Jeremy, I realise perfectly well its why; that in no way means that I think it's acceptable to ridicule or make obscene pictures of anyone, never mind anyone's religious symbols. It shares the morality of the newspaper industry publishing images of a distressed Diana under the guise of objecting to others doing exactly the same thing.

Simply to produce further caricatures and disrespect under the heading of satire in no way alters the content; it just pastes on additional layers of cyncism and, possibly, hypocricy.

No, I wouldn't officialy ban such things; I'd hope that people wouldn't seize upon the freedoms we enjoy in order to do what this new cartoon does. And in my opinion, what it does is add fuel to a fire and offend yet more people, myself included. I dislike mocking people's beliefs; as long as they don't impinge upon my life in some negative manner, I feel they should be respected. What defence can there be for the new cartoon? Not one religion but many are mocked and insulted within it; where the improvement, the saving grace? I think the drawing would be offensive regardless of the nature of the specific characters depicted.

If that makes me appear a prig, then so be it.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on September 24, 2012, 07:53:33 am
Gee, what a cracker capture of a cracker moment there Doug.  Is it the fruit of thoughtful planning or are you the beneficiary of happenstance.

My curiosity is sparked by the flag at half-mast.  Was that for the shuttle or somebody else's demise?

Cheers,

W

It was and still is for Neil Armstrong, and fittingly so for this image, the first man to step foot on the moon.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 24, 2012, 09:01:58 am
Thanks for the info Chris,

Vexillology is such a strange and pedantic discipline.  Each country has its own regulations, but it seems strange to leave a flag at half-mast for as long as this seems to suggest.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on September 24, 2012, 10:01:04 am
30 days is the general rule for dignitaries such as presidents, ten days for VP's, members of congress, etc. However, there are always those we hold in very high esteem who get equal honor as would a president but this can only be through an executive presidential order. You have to be in high cotton to get a full month. Most half-mast events are one day only.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 26, 2012, 05:10:35 am
I took this shot at the end of the local public carpark.

I think it probaby illustrates what's basically amiss with cheap digital (never owned MFD so can't comment on that score) for subjects such as this, and also seems to show the problems that some of the Merrill images of like subjects do: sand-like texture where no sand exists. This shot doesn't look any the more smooth on the monitor pre-posting here.

It strikes me that even my venerable 40s/early 50s Kodak Brownie Reflex (127 film?) would, at such a size, have given a superior rendering of the picture. To be fair, the cellphone doesn't cope too badly with smooth subjects such as car bodies. But small, complex detail: forget it.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 26, 2012, 05:47:00 am
Resolving fine detail is never a strongpoint with small devices - especially in a formal array (grid) of light sensitive points.  Aaah, for the joys of a random array.

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on September 28, 2012, 05:33:08 pm
I am on what I call an Autumn Binge of shooting and travelling. Took these two just outside of Algonquin Park.

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-jnj6hGD/0/M/Bancroft-Monck-Rd-109-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2116012345&k=jnj6hGD&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-mX2f3qw/0/M/Oxtongue-Rapids-290-unsharp-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2115996391&k=mX2f3qw&lb=1&s=A)

And yes I do take straight images, if one wants to call them that.

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-DkpXWHV/0/M/Oxtongue-Rapids-323-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2108202335&k=DkpXWHV&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 28, 2012, 05:36:16 pm
John,

Nothing more enjoyable to see than pictures from a man marching to the beat of his own drummer and just celebrating his craft and the world that surrounds him.

Enjoy your travels, make the most of autumn and please keep posting.

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 28, 2012, 11:33:56 pm
I especially enjy your "non-straight" ones, John.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on September 29, 2012, 07:01:42 pm
Thanks Walter and Eric. I have one more, which is part luck and part skill. Bought a new wide angle zoom and of course kept in mind that such lenses are prone to flare when the light or sun creeps in. But started to notice some interesting effects when I included the flare and the rest is trial and error. I really like this one, which I slightly cropped, otherwise untouched because I notice that sharpening, or almost any adjustments cost me the wonderful ephemeral quality.

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-WTwqcHL/0/M/Sept-29-12-Rockwood-127-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2117902134&k=WTwqcHL&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on September 29, 2012, 08:13:32 pm
I like it, John!
Flare can indeed be useful at times.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 30, 2012, 01:06:18 am
Verging on the greeting card.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on September 30, 2012, 08:25:24 am
Verging on the greeting card.

I have a friend who regularly does the Art Show circuit. He sells about $1,000 per show in "Cards, Calendars, etc" a show. He says it's what allows him to continue as sales on actual photos can be either real good, or dismal depending on the show, but "pretty pics as postcards or greeting cards sell like hotcakes in either case. He said at one time it bothered him to solicit himself in photo whoredom, but now he just laughs all the way to the bank.

Greet away, I say!  ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on September 30, 2012, 08:31:48 am
Chris,

I am pretty much in concurrence with your friend.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on September 30, 2012, 01:12:05 pm
I have a friend who regularly does the Art Show circuit. He sells about $1,000 per show in "Cards, Calendars, etc" a show. He says it's what allows him to continue as sales on actual photos can be either real good, or dismal depending on the show, but "pretty pics as postcards or greeting cards sell like hotcakes in either case. He said at one time it bothered him to solicit himself in photo whoredom, but now he just laughs all the way to the bank.

Greet away, I say!  ;D

How can anyone feel degraded by selling to people exactly what they want to buy?

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 30, 2012, 01:16:41 pm
How can anyone feel degraded by selling to people exactly what they want to buy?

Jeremy

Oh, you do not want to go there, Jeremy ;D (hint: something to do with the oldest profession)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on September 30, 2012, 01:30:37 pm
Oh, you do not want to go there, Jeremy ;D (hint: something to do with the oldest profession)


And you certainly don't want to go there for your kicks! Or have I got that the wrong way around?

But, just before I leave this post, if you went there and didn't have to pay, would the thing be the same, from a moral perspective?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on September 30, 2012, 07:40:52 pm
A buck, a frank, or a yen...

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 01, 2012, 04:41:54 am
What a lovely picture!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 02, 2012, 04:47:46 am
I met this waitress a couple of weeks ago and wondered how her unconventional looks would work on film. Naturally, I’d forgotten that I wouldn’t be using film, and also that being autumn, the weather can’t be depended upon to co-operate. I also wondered how my eyes would cope since starting on the drops to contain pressure.

Well, focussing didn’t become any the more easy; the weather held up for enough time to fill a rapid Sandisk with 77 snaps, and I still don’t really buy into the conversion of digital capture into b/white. I’d rather convert Kodachromes or, better yet, have my old 500s back and recommission my darkroom at least far enough to permit the processing of b/white film! Having written which, I realise I’d forgotten the horrifying cost of a worthwhile MF scanner!

Digital capture converts quite well for non-human subject matter, but I lack the PS skills to do it properly (convincingly) with skin. I guess you just can’t fake skin easily like you can brick, stone or water.

Anyway, here are two that I decided to spend time pimping. The camera was the D700; the colour shot a 1.8/50 Nikkor manual, hand-held at f4 and 1/2500, with the b/w via a 2.8/135 Nikkor manual, tripoded, at f4 and 1/250. Quick fall away in light over about thirty minutes!

Rob C




Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on October 02, 2012, 05:57:23 am
Great to see you back at the grind Rob.  Quite an interesting looking damsel.  "Interesting" is far more appealing than beautiful for me these days.  In fact, beautiful is a bot of a bore, really.  Innit?

Cheers,

Walter
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on October 02, 2012, 09:40:47 am
Great to see you back at the grind Rob.  Quite an interesting looking damsel.  "Interesting" is far more appealing than beautiful for me these days.  In fact, beautiful is a bot of a bore, really.  Innit?

Cheers,

Walter

I agree there Walter. By the way, I really liked the first two pics in the cellphone thread Rob.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 02, 2012, 01:32:46 pm
I agree there Walter. By the way, I really liked the first two pics in the cellphone thread Rob.



Thanks, guys, it would be perfect if a continuous supply of 'damsels' were available, but it's taken me over a decade to find this one here! And she's already departed to the mainland and whatever fresh adventures may await.

I'm also back in the middle of Internet/router/etc. problems, and I am hoping to change to a different contract. I was without connection most of the weekend at the times I wanted it, and the router has cost me a fortune in non-Telefonica assistance with it; worse, the thing won't work with the little UK-sourced notebook that I have, a thing which worked perfectly all right when I had the fixed, non-router setup, to which I shall return. The current failure was, I was told, because such machines don't work in Spain with their UK-compatible software, which is clearly rubbish, as it did for ages  before the router came here to destroy my calm. The problem is, Telefonica spends all its money on Formula 1 racing and forgets mugs like me.

Oh well, that's progress, as I always console myself by repeating mantra-like, for ten minutes or so until I forget why I'm repeating it, and cease.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 03, 2012, 12:11:04 pm
Great to see you back at the grind Rob.  Quite an interesting looking damsel.  "Interesting" is far more appealing than beautiful for me these days.  In fact, beautiful is a bot of a bore, really.  Innit?

Cheers,

Walter


Well, I was awaiting a replacement battery for my portable flash unit - a Metz 60 CT 1/2 - from England, and when I enquired about its  slow progress through the mails today, I was told I'm getting a refund: they won't allow it to pass at the airport X-Ray! Thank you, assorted terrorists, you've made my friggin' day.

Beautiful a bore? Can't say I quite agree with that - a rarity, would be closer to the truth...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: degrub on October 03, 2012, 10:16:38 pm
Maybe this is an option ? i found it in an old thread here :
http://photo.net/medium-format-photography-forum/00440M


Bob Salomon , Nov 20, 2002; 02:55 p.m.

If you have the NiCd battery for the 60 series get the Gel Cell battery.

Or simply get rid of the memory effect by discharging the pack, under the proper load, and recharging it 3 or 4 times.

Frank Kimble , Nov 20, 2002; 07:50 p.m.

Get the "dryfit" battery, its a gel cell type battery. No memory, can be topped off jut before you need it. When you switch, there's a "tab" that must be switched inside the battery housing, takes couple seconds.

Jay . , Nov 21, 2002; 04:41 a.m.

Only get the dryfit if you use the flash regularly. That battery is "use it or lose it". One of the reasons I never bought a Metz 60-series, much as I liked it, was that there was no disposable-battery option for occasional use.

Scott Walton , Nov 21, 2002; 08:45 a.m.

Sorry to say but this is why I went with the 45 series and not the 60 when I started with Metz. Not to many choices with the 60.

Jack Chase , Nov 22, 2002; 01:28 p.m.

Short-term, follow Mr. Solomon's advice. Long-term, get the dry-fit. I have both a 60 and a 45. I use the 45 when I don't need the power of the 60, & when I don't want the inconvenience of the external pack, as well as taking it along as a back-up for the 60. (Though the 60 is so reliable, I've never needed to use the 45 in the back-up role.) The 60 with dry-fit is good for lots and lots of full-power flashes, and like the other poster said, you can top it off just before using it without worrying about memory effect. With the nicads in the 45, I have to remember to drain them all the way when I am done, then recharge them just before use to avoid having to deal with the memory effect.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 04, 2012, 03:59:00 am
Hi, and thanks for your response about the Metz!

I bought it with the Dryfit as standard, and it's worked very well for many active years, both in Scotland and abroad where it frequently found itself - the trouble is really of my own making: I forgot all about it and the fact that you are supposed to keep the batteries charged up if not used over long periods of time; I think it says as much in the original instructions booklet.

I did try the recharging over and over again route - was advised to give that a whirl by the Metz agents in England - but it must be too far gone to recover. At least, I am assuming it's the battery that's died, because it takes forever for the little charging lights to indicate anything's happening other than that the power supply is getting through.

Put onto half-power, the number of flashes available was astronomical: far more than I ever needed on any single shoot! It's a grand unit and seems to have a pretty fast flash duration, too, making for crisper shots (people) than with my still working monoboc, which is also very old if unused in recent years.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on October 04, 2012, 08:49:56 am
Visited the Algonquin Park Art centre and saw some really inspiring art work. From the "Group of Seven" to our current crop crop fine artists. I have always marvelled at how much better painters can capture the wonderful nuances of what we see so much better than film or a digital sensor. Anyway, here a few more.

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-cRxvTtx/0/M/Oct-3-12-Kawartha-Haliburton-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2128228778&k=cRxvTtx&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-4kbfWmD/0/M/Oct-3-12-Kawartha-Haliburton-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2128225809&k=4kbfWmD&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-wrZJkcS/0/M/Oct-3-12-Kawartha-Haliburton-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2128227128&k=wrZJkcS&lb=1&s=A)

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on October 04, 2012, 09:38:00 am
Lovely, John.
My favorite is the first.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 04, 2012, 10:15:22 am
Enjoyed all three.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on October 04, 2012, 04:04:04 pm
John,

Your lens is a truly wonderful conduit through which the viewer and the subject make connection via your creative juices.

For me, you work is a validation for coming and nosing about.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on October 04, 2012, 06:49:53 pm
A header for an invitation.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 05, 2012, 03:28:24 am
A very pleasing shape, and proof that with the right content those wide pictures can sometimes acually make for interesting rather than forced images.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on October 05, 2012, 04:24:17 am
Lovely stuff John..

Rob, I've eventually gotten Harry to join here. I must still goad the bugger to start reading as he has the same situation with the Metzes as you have and could maybe get them to work by following the advise.

 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 05, 2012, 09:56:45 am
Lovely stuff John..

Rob, I've eventually gotten Harry to join here. I must still goad the bugger to start reading as he has the same situation with the Metzes as you have and could maybe get them to work by following the advise.

 

But Riann, I don't want to see his Metzes, I want to see his pix!

I've tracked down the Spanish importer of the batteries (Dryfit 60-38; Code: MZ6038) and tried to get my wholesaler on the line this morning, but there was no reply. I've known them since '81 and bought a lot from them, but what with the current crisis and the advent of digital, no film or chemicals sales, the story unfolds most bleakly. Hope I'm mistaken!

(I did mention that the suppliers in the UK couldn't get the battery through X-Ray security at the airport, and that the Post Office had to return it, causing a refund situation with the credit card company?)

Looking forward to Harry's posts 'n' pix.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on October 08, 2012, 02:03:31 pm
This first one has the beautiful gold light of a setting sun. Taken at Ragged Falls on the very path that most people walked over and ignored. I found it amusing, that when I started shooting with my camera pointed at the ground, others started to do the same.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-s9Bsnzv/0/M/Oct-5-7-2012-Oxtongue-Lake-850-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2136619243&k=s9Bsnzv&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-VrfGds6/0/M/Oct-5-7-2012-Oxtongue-Lake-240-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2136824903&k=VrfGds6&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-4f2sQW2/0/M/Oct-5-7-2012-Oxtongue-Lake-151-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2136769055&k=4f2sQW2&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on October 08, 2012, 06:02:19 pm
Something a little different from you John, but equally adept.  Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on October 08, 2012, 11:29:10 pm
You've got a great eye, John.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 09, 2012, 11:41:15 am
You've got a great eye, John.


+1!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 11, 2012, 06:11:15 pm
Came across this Kodachrome. Shot in Cyprus in May/June 1978; model was Beverley Pilkington; job was the 1979 Teacher's Whisky Calendar.

Nice work, when you could get it, and was a time I could.

Sweet days, indeed.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on October 13, 2012, 10:02:02 pm
Most of my motion technique shots do no come out very well, but when they do, and they are well composed, they can be really fine and striking. The colours alone on this scene were enough for me.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/i-wqBhM2C/0/M/Bancroft-Monck-Rd-056-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Pictorials/Autumn-Images-2012/25623409_RgcbpK#!i=2147707553&k=wqBhM2C&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on October 13, 2012, 11:28:39 pm
That works nicely, John.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on October 14, 2012, 01:10:32 am
John,

Strangely, in this one, it gives me the feeling that it is me that is vibrating and not the subject.

Lovely!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on October 14, 2012, 04:20:39 am
John,

Strangely, in this one, it gives me the feeling that it is me that is vibrating and not the subject.

Lovely!



I wish I could feel pretty much anything vibrating. But the picture's very attractive.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on October 14, 2012, 03:49:02 pm
Rob, way off topic, but where did Fred go?

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=70034.0
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on October 16, 2012, 06:50:07 pm
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v618/Sheetshooter/Hass005Web.jpg)

Like a winged spring flying above metropolis.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on November 04, 2012, 10:09:16 pm
I often try to help people look at things differently, even if it means going back to a familiar location. The reality is, like good painters, one really can't exhaust a place if you look hard enough.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-gt7XhzF/0/L/Nov%204-12%20caledon-bellfountain%20431%20bw-smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2195635118&k=gt7XhzF&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 04, 2012, 11:39:27 pm
I saw a few flower shots lately that reminded me of this one that I took 3-4 years ago.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 05, 2012, 12:14:53 am
no sh...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Fips on November 05, 2012, 04:13:48 am
From a recent short trip to rome: A fortune teller doing a lottery scratch card.  ???
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on November 05, 2012, 07:57:27 am
Love this!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: LoisWakeman on November 05, 2012, 08:32:21 am
motion technique shots

John: how do you get the "chattering" effect: is this a multiple burst of exposures layered together? It is an interesting take on the usual more fluid ICM result, well suited to foliage which is inherently granular.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on November 05, 2012, 09:24:43 am
John: how do you get the "chattering" effect: is this a multiple burst of exposures layered together? It is an interesting take on the usual more fluid ICM result, well suited to foliage which is inherently granular.
Not sure what ICM is. But essentially this a horizontal pan of Badlands-like terrain in a very small area north of Toronto. I simply added a little unsharp mask to give definition to the movement and converted to BW.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on November 06, 2012, 03:51:15 am
(http://www.danieldahlmann.com/img/s1/v55/p1247782080-5.jpg) (http://www.danieldahlmann.com/p107515180/e4a5fa4c0)
Take a close look..



/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kmeyers on November 06, 2012, 06:04:56 am
+1 -I've got to hand it to you.  ;D
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 06, 2012, 03:50:18 pm
I often try to help people look at things differently, even if it means going back to a familiar location. The reality is, like good painters, one really can't exhaust a place if you look hard enough.

JMR

Beautiful, John!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 08, 2012, 05:57:00 pm
missing Halloween, gone fishing
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 08, 2012, 06:05:54 pm
another funny one, I was quite amazed when I saw her taking a picture of that group with her iPad.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on November 08, 2012, 07:47:21 pm
(http://www.danieldahlmann.com/img/s1/v55/p1247782080-5.jpg) (http://www.danieldahlmann.com/p107515180/e4a5fa4c0)
Take a close look..

/Dahlmann

I did. And I like what I see.

On a side note... is it me or does the water going over the log on the right look like a ghostly hand coming up out of the water?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on November 09, 2012, 07:38:44 pm
I did. And I like what I see.

On a side note... is it me or does the water going over the log on the right look like a ghostly hand coming up out of the water?

Yes, that is a hand.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 10, 2012, 01:26:31 pm
Is any company good company?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 11, 2012, 02:33:48 am
I should start by mentioning that this scene doesn't exist.  Well, sort of.  I was at Clover Point, shooting the mountains in Washington across the Juan de Fuca Strait, and I made 18 images (6*3 exposures) for an HDR panorama.  Unfortunately, when I combined the images in Autopano Pro, it didn't merge them all into one panorama as I'd hoped - not enough overlap for a couple of images.  So, undaunted, I told the program to merge all of the images into one panorama, in one row.  What it did was to overlay all 18 images on top of each other in one frame.  Not quite what I'd anticipated, but interesting...

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on November 11, 2012, 03:30:30 am
I should start by mentioning that this scene doesn't exist. 

It should.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: francois on November 11, 2012, 04:24:43 am
I should start by mentioning that this scene doesn't exist.  Well, sort of.  I was at Clover Point, shooting the mountains in Washington across the Juan de Fuca Strait, and I made 18 images (6*3 exposures) for an HDR panorama.  Unfortunately, when I combined the images in Autopano Pro, it didn't merge them all into one panorama as I'd hoped - not enough overlap for a couple of images.  So, undaunted, I told the program to merge all of the images into one panorama, in one row.  What it did was to overlay all 18 images on top of each other in one frame.  Not quite what I'd anticipated, but interesting...

Mike.

Very nice… even if it's only a dream!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 11, 2012, 01:00:47 pm
Very, very cool, Mike!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on November 11, 2012, 10:49:43 pm
Cemetery in the fog. The fog gave motion technique a real boost, surreal. I missed the sunrise, but the fog helped out quite a bit.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Belfountain-and-Forks-of-the/i-Bm3gMbq/0/L/Nov%2011-12%20Bellfountain%20032%20smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Belfountain-and-Forks-of-the/11523862_vHNhmk#!i=2209692736&k=Bm3gMbq&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 12, 2012, 02:26:24 am
Thanks, folks!

Intriguing, John!

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on November 12, 2012, 02:55:37 am
Cemetery in the fog. The fog gave motion technique a real boost, surreal. I missed the sunrise, but the fog helped out quite a bit.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Belfountain-and-Forks-of-the/i-Bm3gMbq/0/L/Nov%2011-12%20Bellfountain%20032%20smugcopy-L.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Belfountain-and-Forks-of-the/11523862_vHNhmk#!i=2209692736&k=Bm3gMbq&lb=1&s=A)

Lovely effect.
Very enjoyable image.

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: jeremypayne on November 12, 2012, 10:02:10 pm
I have been scanning prints ... for many shots that's all I have ...

This was from the summer of 1985 somewhere in the South West - perhaps the Grand Canyon.

I always liked this print and am glad I was able to preserve it in some form.

(http://thepaynes.dlinkddns.com/web/sunset.jpg)


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on November 12, 2012, 10:23:40 pm
Monumental, Jeremy!!! Pete Turner or Jay Maisel come to mind (that's a compliment).
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 12, 2012, 10:54:36 pm
I love it! I guess you don't recall how you made it ?!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: jeremypayne on November 12, 2012, 11:35:20 pm
Thanks, guys ... A true Kodachrome moment.

It was shot on Kodachrome 64 and printed at a boston lab.  Pretty sure it was a Yashica rangefinder camera.

I think it was the next year when I got the Olympus OM2s which I used into the 1990s.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: wolfnowl on November 13, 2012, 02:03:18 am
Jay Maisel for sure...  :)

Mike.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Self Portrait in the Woods (with Camera)
Post by: kencameron on November 14, 2012, 04:59:04 am
Post processed of course, but it started in camera with an unintended use of spot rather than averaging metering.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Self Portrait in the Woods (with Camera)
Post by: armand on November 14, 2012, 09:20:36 am
Post processed of course, but it started in camera with an unintended use of spot rather than averaging metering.
I like the idea, maybe try not to completely blow away the area around the shadow. Or you could try the other way also, make the shadow well exposed and the rest significantly darker, it might fit the idea even better.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 14, 2012, 03:52:03 pm
bigger toys, same fun?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on November 18, 2012, 04:25:41 pm
I am about to switch back to 8x10 and contact printing, so I dug out a handy print (actually an 8x10 enlargement off a 4x5 neg) and scanned it to test the waters.

Cheers,

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on November 21, 2012, 05:33:35 pm
These are more mundane than tiger tails, however they are also from film and hanging.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on November 21, 2012, 10:09:38 pm
Almost waiting for the winter. Although we still have nice days photographically speaking is not a very productive period, most things are grayish.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: jeremypayne on November 25, 2012, 09:48:07 am
More from the film archives .... I went looking for the original slide from that Grand Canyon sunset.

I didn't find it, but I found one from just a few moments before:

(http://thepaynes.dlinkddns.com/web/sunset%202.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: jeremypayne on November 25, 2012, 09:50:38 am
A couple street shots from the film archives:

(http://thepaynes.dlinkddns.com/web/sidewalk.jpg)

(http://thepaynes.dlinkddns.com/web/waiting.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: jeremypayne on November 25, 2012, 09:52:37 am
A few from Israel in the 1980s ...

(http://thepaynes.dlinkddns.com/web/jerusalem.jpg)

(http://thepaynes.dlinkddns.com/web/man.jpg)

(http://thepaynes.dlinkddns.com/web/wall.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on November 26, 2012, 05:42:23 am
A Found Poem
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on November 27, 2012, 11:11:49 pm
In Praise of Paintwork
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: PDobson on December 10, 2012, 11:05:22 am
A couple from the ice festival in Hyalite Canyon (Bozeman, MT) last weekend.

The first is a photo of Mike looking smooth while starting the lead on Curtains,  (30m WI4).

The next day we slogged up to Twin Falls, (60m WI3). Unfortunately, Mike decided to fall on the final bulge and he somehow put a crampon into his hand. I feel this photo nicely captures the feeling of the moment, as Dan (who happens to be a wilderness first responder) assesses the situation. It's important to note that while it looks pretty nasty, the puncture didn't hit anything important and Mike was climbing the next day. We're all laughing about it now.

Phillip
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on December 10, 2012, 10:39:40 pm
...a different wound.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on December 11, 2012, 10:00:22 pm
My 13-year old daughter, striking an impromptu pose ( after watching too many "America's Next Top Model" episodes, I guess) in front of street Christmas lights:

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 12, 2012, 02:40:41 am
My 13-year old daughter, striking an impromptu pose ( after watching too many "America's Next Top Model" episodes, I guess) in front of street Christmas lights:

Being school holidays mine (9) is driving me dilly with wanting to do "model shoots" not that I know anything about them but nevermind. I obliged this past Saturday but I hear there is one booked for this weekend again.   
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on December 12, 2012, 12:49:24 pm

EDIT: content removed by request.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on December 12, 2012, 02:39:09 pm
Your nasty tone duly noted.

I have no problem with any of your opinions about me, my postings, photography etc., but making a sarcastic comment about a kid is just plain ugly.

Back to photography... I thought it was a notch above "family snaps." I've seen worse, on occasion, in the Professional Works thread. But than again, I am obviously biased.

As for the theme of this thread, this is how it was defined by its author, Rob C: "...a spot where we can hang pix that aren't looking for 'critique', that exist just for the hell of it..." which does not seem to exclude "family snaps."



Well, let me put it differently: If you want to be protective towards your children, then be very, very careful about posting clear images of them on internet. I think one of your previous shots of her behind the beatscurtain, is a) of better artistic quality, and b) better suited to the medium. But obviously, your entitled to a different opinion. As regards to "sarcasm" and "kids": If kids these days are capable of doing this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19467308), then I am pretty much done with either the idea of innocence in children or the parents who raise this type of breed...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on December 12, 2012, 03:57:19 pm

of better artistic quality
In your opinion.

Quote
better suited to the medium.
Whatever the heck that means.

Quote
But obviously, your entitled to a different opinion.
Yes, in fact he was entitled to it before you decided he was.

Quote
If kids these days are capable of doing this (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19467308), then I am pretty much done with either the idea of innocence in children or the parents who raise this type of breed...
I'm done with people who would condemn all children for the actions of a few disturbed individuals.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 12, 2012, 11:13:57 pm
Oscar,

When Rob C started this thread he made it very clear that it should be a critique-free zone. In that spirit I would ask that you withdraw your critique of Slobodan's photo. It doesn't matter whether it was a good critique or a bad one. It doesn't belong in this thread.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on December 13, 2012, 04:08:00 am
Oscar,

When Rob C started this thread he made it very clear that it should be a critique-free zone. In that spirit I would ask that you withdraw your critique of Slobodan's photo. It doesn't matter whether it was a good critique or a bad one. It doesn't belong in this thread.

Consider it withdrawn...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 13, 2012, 09:09:25 am
Consider it withdrawn...
Thank you.

And a belated thank you for the wonderful plugin Convert-to-BW-Pro that I used to great effect until Lightroom came along.

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on December 13, 2012, 10:05:11 am
Thank you.

And a belated thank you for the wonderful plugin Convert-to-BW-Pro that I used to great effect until Lightroom came along.

Eric

I'm running a version on iPad at the moment, with realtime video conversion...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RobbieV on December 13, 2012, 02:12:52 pm
I know we're not supposed to critique, but I like how the bokeh shares the same shapes of the curls of her hair. The colours of each don't fight each other, but work together quite nicely.

I like it, Slobodan
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on December 13, 2012, 03:01:25 pm
I know we're not supposed to critique...

Thanks Robbie. I think the idea of the thread is not to be totally devoid of any comments, and Rob himself provided plenty of. By "critique-free," I believe Rob meant the absence of what's-wrong and how-to-improve comments, given that we already have a dedicated forum section for it.

EDIT: Found a quote from Rob (highlights mine):

Quote
... You'll also note that it's very hard to find any second-guessing from me on any of them, if at all. I do sometimes offer praise, seldom (if ever) condemn; but telling another what he should do or have done is something quite else and I don't like it. That's why I started Without Prejudice in order to provide a space where folks could post a pic without the annoyance of hearing how another would have handled it...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RobbieV on December 13, 2012, 09:45:45 pm
Here here!

Thanks for your patience.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on December 16, 2012, 12:02:46 pm
Every once in a while I come across places I have been to many times and then see them differently in different light, or in this case, with artificial light. We were on a Xmas lights outing when I spotted these shapes as I looked up. Of course it was the juxtaposition of the striking artificial light-colours that made the shapes stand out. I didn't mind freezing for a few good shots.

JMR

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Toronto-Downtown-outing-Nov-18/i-fZznS8s/0/M/Dec%2013-12%20City%20Hall-TO%20103%20smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Toronto-Downtown-outing-Nov-18/26590733_WHBhJz#!i=2275542835&k=fZznS8s&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 16, 2012, 01:02:11 pm
Nice graphic, John.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Not the Missionary Position
Post by: kencameron on December 20, 2012, 04:32:41 am
Is there an entomologist in the house?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Not the Missionary Position
Post by: Rob C on December 21, 2012, 07:20:09 am
Is there an entomologist in the house?




Entomologist? Nope, but there is a guy here at home who hates dentists.

Early in November I innocently wandered into the boudoir - surgery? - in search of nothing more threatening than a check-up. We ended up making an appointment for the next week during which I was to have three small fillings done.

Strangely, it all turned into a regular, weekly thing with a total of six appointments during which new ‘problems’ were discovered and new drillings made. Oil? Anyway, it’s all over now, as those Stones used to sing. Well, sort of: I went in this morning at 10.30 and it’s now 13.00; my mouth, top lip and whiskers are still numb and I obviously have to nurse my hunger for a few more hours because, otherwise, I’d burn my mouth to bits. But I have learned wisdom (no pun or toothy reference intended), and now realise why dentists can wear M9s where I shall ever be destined for the bandana without hope of crossing over into M9 fashion.

Before leaving the sunny plaça and entering the chamber of horrors I snapped this other poor stone creature; a subconscious portent of things to come, no doubt.

On the bright side, I suppose that within a day or two I shall only remember the moments when I was choking with my own saliva threatening my lungs, but nonetheless felt myself distracted somewhat by the warm tit pressing into my right ear.

We have a date appointment for early next December. I can hardly wait. Right.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Tony Jay on December 21, 2012, 08:18:09 am
Ouch!

After reading that, Rob, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
(I did laugh, forgive me, but from the perspective of knowing, a little I think, of how you felt.)

Tony Jay
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Not the Missionary Position
Post by: kencameron on December 21, 2012, 06:55:40 pm
... but nonetheless felt myself distracted somewhat by the warm tit pressing into my right ear...

Yes indeed. My last male dentist was around 40 years ago. I guess it wasn't only his lack of a w*** t** that put me off, it was also the fact that I appeared to be his only client and that he seemed old enough to have outlived all the others, if he hadn't killed them off. So I transferred my custom to a charming young Australian dentiste, quite a find in 1970s Southampton. Initially I was anxious that she might not have the strength for extractions but she quickly proved me wrong - a flick of her visually pleasing wrist and out popped my tooth. Since then I have gone in for gender discrimination on the dentist's chair and never regretted it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 22, 2012, 12:52:08 pm
The wrist would have been wasted on me: I generally keep my eyes tightly closed and my mouth stretched wide in a spirit of true collaboration. My hands, when I think of them, seem to be tightly clenched together in my lap. If I have a constant fear in the chair, other than of drowning, it's that my jaws might clamp permanently open; not sure which fate would be the worst. Possibly a combination of both symptoms?

Next year, if I respond to the telephoned reminder I'm scheduled to get, perhaps my mind will be more focussed on whether the lass needs a new lenscap for that bloody M9 I think I just bought her.

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 22, 2012, 02:53:04 pm
Mountain village of Fornalutx, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, on 7th of February, 1992.

You see the benefits of a ledger? You just never know when a date might come in useful.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 22, 2012, 11:14:38 pm
But where's the model, Rob?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 23, 2012, 04:07:30 am
But where's the model, Rob?



Right there: in front of the support for the Bus Stop sign! Okay, she's one of those super-thin ones, but surely you can still make her out? What do you want for ten thousand bucks? Substance? Settle for Magic!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on December 23, 2012, 01:16:00 pm
.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice: Not the Missionary Position
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 23, 2012, 01:34:55 pm
Is there an entomologist in the house?

 
 Ken, your insects are from the Phyrrhocoridae family, species Canaeus carnifex, commonly called "cotton stainer" bugs, due to them being a pest of cotton plantations. They naturally feed on wild hibuscus shrubs. I'm no entomologist though.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 23, 2012, 05:39:16 pm
But where's the model, Rob?




Just because it's nearly Christmas, Eric, and I'm afloat on the spirit of goodwill, I decided to quench your disappointment at the ultra thin model in the Bus Stop picture and provide you with one with slightly more substance. I did say slightly, so lets not get carried away on a battle of semantics over this.

Kodachrome 64 Pro, scanned on a CanoScan and sweated over for hours and hours. I scanned this mother before and gave up, but this time, I just had to go through with it. That there was nothing else better to do might have had something to do with it.

The girl? Suzi G, who also starred in Patrick Lichfield's 1982 epic calendar for Unipart, in Sicily. Not being a belted earl myself, I found it more convenient to allow him the pleasure of testing my girls first. He was seldom wrong, fortunately for us both.

She might look a little wappit, but to be fair, she hadn't long fainted right off a rock due to the extremely high humidity, and had I not had the reflexes of a snake (my commission was at stake) and managed to catch her, at grave risk of a hernia to myself, we'd have had no product and you no almost-Christmas-Eve picture to observe. The things I do for others.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on December 23, 2012, 09:25:06 pm
Thank you for that, Rob. You have rightfully regained your place as photographer/philosopher hero.
A very merry holiday to you!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 25, 2012, 02:02:07 pm
Could Christo have been at work at Christmas in this necropolis?

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 25, 2012, 02:59:29 pm
Walter, are you playing with a Fuji?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 25, 2012, 06:24:49 pm
Walter, are you playing with a Fuji?

Yes indeedy!

Cheers,

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 31, 2012, 10:21:38 am

The girl? Suzi G, who also starred in Patrick Lichfield's 1982 epic calendar for Unipart, in Sicily. Not being a belted earl myself, I found it more convenient to allow him the pleasure of testing my girls first. He was seldom wrong, fortunately for us both.

Rob C
 


Rob, wasn't she the high heeled and stockinged girl leaning against a wall adjusting her shoe in the calendar?

Love your pic of her Sir!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on December 31, 2012, 10:31:33 am
Work in progress.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 31, 2012, 12:16:21 pm

Rob, wasn't she the high heeled and stockinged girl leaning against a wall adjusting her shoe in the calendar?

Love your pic of her Sir!


Thanks, Riaan; yes, she's on the cover of Lichfield's calendar book, too. On the inside of the cover and over two pages lies Georgie, on her tummy, with whom I did my first Tennet's Lager shoot in Mallorca and also used in the Bahamas for Hewden/Stuart Group. Several other girls in his calendars were also on my 'must' list and helped other jobs along... Sweet times.

To be frank, one of the best casting sources was the Sun newspaper which provided much of the exposure those models needed via its Page 3 topless shots. The paper was rubbish, but Beverly Goodway was a grand snapper with good taste, in a difficult medium, with easy-to-trip-over lines! I don't think he ever even stubbed his toe.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 31, 2012, 02:48:58 pm
The paper was rubbish, but Beverly Goodway was a grand snapper with good taste, in a difficult medium, with easy-to-trip-over lines! I don't think he ever even stubbed his toe.
Rob C

I have never heard one of the pommy models I have worked with ever have anything but high praise for Beverly Goodway.  I think he might still be at it.  Is he?

All the best for 2013,

WG
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on December 31, 2012, 04:50:01 pm
Hi Walter,

I wouldn't imagine so - at least not with the newspaper. I think I saw something somewhere about him regretting the work he did, type-casting and all, but not sure. Another guy who did well with it was Brian Aris: I think he went off to the States...

I never see those papers anymore - they certainly do come here during the tourist season, but that's probably the only time. I no longer have a reason to look, so I don't bother.

To be honest, beaches and broads have swapped places in my imagination with dancers (ballet) and rehearsal studios etc. and other city locations that I'll probably never see. Unless someone makes me a good offer for the apartment, but for that to happen I'd have to advertise it, then I'd probably change my mind at the first serious buyer. Nothin' new... maybe next year something positive will happen right out of the blue; I like blue, and the blues - musically speaking - even more so. Bloody recesssion. Nobody's buying anything here.

Saw some shots of Sydney on tv today, thought it looked beautiful but can't remember the context. Nothing to do with fireworks, though. Fortunate chap: you live in a wonderfully visual place, but I expect that being familar, it loses its power to charm you, perhaps? I think I remember about Sydney: it couild have been on a programme about migtrating birds called Earthflight, I think. Amazing photography.

Greetings for 2013!

Rob C

P.S. Sadly, turns out that Beverly Goodway died of cancer in November. R.I.P
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on December 31, 2012, 05:41:32 pm
Sadly, turns out that Beverly Goodway died of cancer in November. R.I.P

May light eternal shine upon him.

Sydney is a funny place:  it is huge on veneer, but one almost needs to be a local to find the substance.  I seldom shoot the picture postcard stuff but I do enjoy to scratch beneath the surface.  In fact, it is my intention to do just that later today.  Meanwhile some examples in various scales of Sydney's love of lattice are attached.

Rob, it is curious to hear you speak of ballet studios and cityscape locations when you have a virgin-white background blind right there on the verandah.

Happy New Year.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 01, 2013, 05:10:28 am
May light eternal shine upon him.

Sydney is a funny place:  it is huge on veneer, but one almost needs to be a local to find the substance.  I seldom shoot the picture postcard stuff but I do enjoy to scratch beneath the surface.  In fact, it is my intention to do just that later today.  Meanwhile some examples in various scales of Sydney's love of lattice are attached.

Rob, it is curious to hear you speak of ballet studios and cityscape locations when you have a virgin-white background blind right there on the verandah.

Happy New Year.




Yes, virgin-white and virgin-like! Not a virgin, whore nor even undecided has stepped before it. I'm coming to think of it in the same manner as I am about all my cameras, lenses, and the two flash units that I had repaired a month or so back (did I mention the scanner, computer and printer?): should have just bought a hotter car instead and locked photography away in the filing cabinet of life. Hotter car be damned: glaucoma will probably eff that into oblivion soon enough too. Depressed? Me? Of course not, I love the blues, don't you know.

I have finally discovered the ultimate proof of recession and example of irony: was a time I had more spare calendars of my own around the house than I knew what to do with; family, friends, nobody had to buy one. When that stopped, I used to be given them by local independent shops. I now realise that, this year, none of those shops has any. Somebody is suffering big-time. And computer dates aren't as convenient or as useful: there are so many odd, unexpected local holidays here (read shut shops and banks) that, unwarned, one could go seriously short of food and/or cash! Now I shall have to pay big bucks to have another boring picture of Mallorca hanging on the wall, and probably not find one with all the holidays marked in red and of a size sufficient to read!

Happy new year, Victor Meldrew; you got it about right!

;-)

Rob C

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 01, 2013, 12:35:24 pm
In the spirit of what a difference a year makes, two shots from the same spot, give or take a metre. And, of course, a year.

Rob C

P.S. The fact that this year there are more boats moored out in the sea tells us something: the crisis is real; berths inside the marina are now priced beyond many. I feel quite smug: they were almost always beyond me!

;-)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on January 01, 2013, 01:54:10 pm
I dug out the Lichfield calendar book Rob, I have two of them ( on loan as per usual) and will peruse tonight at leasure.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 02, 2013, 10:54:02 am
First course wasn't that great; left wandering what's next. Know what it's supposed to be, but...

Oh well, it's the crisis. What do you expect for ten euros? Food?

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 02, 2013, 03:40:42 pm
Fairly young wine there Rob.  I'd be cautious if 'wandering' to far amidst the traffic.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 02, 2013, 03:48:43 pm
...What do you expect for ten euros? Food?...

Ten!? Terrible crisis then. I used to have a two-course menu del dia, which included a glass of vino tinto, for... six euros, in Barcelona, in the beginning of this century (sounds older then it is, doesn't it?). I guess islands are always a bit more expensive as well.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 02, 2013, 04:52:25 pm

Young wine? More like just squeezed from the grapes bought in the shops that morning! But hell, a single (glass!) a day ain’t gonna shake anyone much, Walter.

During the early 80s when we arrived here all bushy tailed and filled with excitement and hope, not to mention oodles of financial confidence, a fine lunch down at a restaurant beside the beach would rush you, for two, round about Pts.3000 or so, including tip. That was fifteen quid for two. For that, we’d have menu food (not del dia), at least a bottle of wine and probably a Campari soda and G&T before we eat, and all the coffee we wanted. I’ll tell you something: in one restaurant, we’d had a helluva great meal, a couple of drinks with some Spanish tourists sitting at the next table, and decided (well, I did) that we needed another bottle of wine. Would you believe, the owner, whom we knew quite well by then, suggested we think again as it was a bit of a long drive home… we did, and didn‘t. Today? Folks would probably sell you what you want till you fall off the chair. And charge you when you break it.

Islands are great for photography, especially those that run north to south, like the southern end of Fuerteventura, or even Malta because it’s small: you can get two cracks at sunrise or sunset just by swapping coasts. And there it stops.

When we started doing our road trips from Mallorca to Scotland, we’d book a two-way ferry with a fictitious return date, and we could then swap the return leg by a simple telephone call to the ferry company later on, depending on how long we really wanted to stay away. Last time I enquired, you either get a single, a fixed return or pay through the friggin’ nose for an open return. And they wonder why there’s a dearth of cars outwith the peak summer period. It’s as if they just want to keep you prisoner here. The mainland of Spain means the whole of Europe’s open to you – no islands for homes ever again!

Car insurance? You’d think it would be cheaper here, being an island; no way: when I asked why, the chap pulled out papers and showed that the accident rates were higher because of the proportion of tourists…

Slobodan, you just knew my trigger!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 05, 2013, 04:30:25 am
We went to Brussels the day before yesterday (also a town with expensive meals by the way) and I was very excited since there seemed to be an exhibition of photographs by Cas Oorthuys (http://thelowcountriesblog.onserfdeel.be/post/2012/04/23/Cas-Oorthuys-a-Dutch-photographer-looks-at-Brussels.aspx), one of my favourite Dutch photographers from the mid 1900's. So I paid 4 euro to get in the museum only to find out the exhibition was closed 2 days before. It was still fully intact but the doors to the room barricaded with chairs and totally dark and they didn't let me in  :(

So the only picture I saw was on the poster outside and I couldn't help myself so bought the exhibition book there as well.

I also got a snapshot out of it:
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 05, 2013, 04:37:32 am
Nice shot, peg; does the poster show a set of dates for the exhibition?

At least you got the book - it'll last longer than the memory of the show, even if you had been able to catch it.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 05, 2013, 07:33:12 am
WIN some and LOSE some Peg,

I agree with Rob that the book may well serve not only to see Oorthuys' work but to recall your experiences in Brussels.  On the other hand, if they were actually vintage prints on show, you may well have been denied quite an experience.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on January 05, 2013, 10:36:05 am
Thanks guys, don't know if there were true darkroom prints in the exhibition (too dark to see when I peeked in) but the book is nice and can be looked at every day. I can still go to the photomuseum in Rotterdam if I want to see some real darkroom prints from his negatives, that when printed large will probably quite an experience. One day I will make the time to do that.  ::)

And Rob, yes, the dates were on the poster. Just shows how unobservant I get when I'm exited. Not a good attribute for a photographer, but can't hide it  ???

There was however one additional advantage of spending the 4 € admission, it's seeing a staircase which could very well have been part of the Escher residence  ;)


Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 05, 2013, 01:35:29 pm
Gotta love those stairs!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 05, 2013, 06:56:38 pm
Gotta love those stairs!
+10.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 08, 2013, 01:56:31 pm
My (humble) homage to Vermeer. The first one, square, is the one I prefer. The second is more like the Vermeer's girl. The association came after the shoot.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 08, 2013, 02:42:15 pm
No pearls?

You did this back-to-front: should have had the 'homage' figured out first!

But cute!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on January 08, 2013, 03:02:32 pm
My (humble) homage to Vermeer. The first one, square, is the one I prefer. The second is more like the Vermeer's girl. The association came after the shoot.

Well done. I can fully appreciate why you are a proud dad. And I am secure enough to admit that she might well have her good looks from her dad. However, your photography is much too good to be ruined by those awful darktones. What happened? Underexposed & recovery? Or simply a camera that can't handle the DR?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 08, 2013, 03:43:53 pm
... those awful darktones. What happened? Underexposed & recovery? Or simply a camera that can't handle the DR?

Hmmm... the dark tones are deliberate. It is true that it was shot under rather difficult conditions, table lamp as the sole light source, very close to the face (thus the contrast), ISO 6400, Canon 60D (an awful combination for DR). Nevertheless, the original file has enough shadow detail, which I actually deliberately suppressed (though rather gently: in LR, contrast +20, Blacks -5, Clarity -20, Post-Crop Vignetting -30)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on January 08, 2013, 04:19:55 pm
Hmmm... the dark tones are deliberate. It is true that it was shot under rather difficult conditions, table lamp as the sole light source, very close to the face (thus the contrast), ISO 6400, Canon 60D (an awful combination for DR). Nevertheless, the original file has enough shadow detail, which I actually deliberately suppressed (though rather gently: in LR, contrast +20, Blacks -5, Clarity -20, Post-Crop Vignetting -30)

Yes, they need to be dark, but there is no drawing. It is a flat noisy red, and the background shows just two tones, in the sweater it shows banding. The eyes are almost pencil drawn. It looks godawful, and if you're going to take more beautiful portraits like that, or win more prices and publications, you might as well consider upgrading the camera. I was inclined to ask for the RAW files, but seeing ISO 6400 and Canon 60D probably explains it.

Additionally, if the table-lamp has one of those modern energy efficient bulbs, then it might also be an infra-red issue. Note that I am not Canon-bashing here, I own and enjoy a Canon 40D myself, but if I remotely had the money, I would also consider upgrading to something more modern…

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on January 08, 2013, 04:41:19 pm
...Additionally, if the table-lamp has one of those modern energy efficient bulbs, then it might also be an infra-red issue...

It was one of those... but what is the infra-red issue with it?

Quote
... if I remotely had the money, I would also consider upgrading to something more modern…

Welcome to the club ;)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 08, 2013, 04:53:18 pm
You're right: The second one looks more like Vermeer, because his models always face left toward the window light.
I don't think Vermeer used Compact Fluorescent lightbulbs.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on January 08, 2013, 05:24:25 pm
It was one of those... but what is the infra-red issue with it?

Apparently they are very spiky on the far red of the spectrum. So much so, that it even throws off the autofocus. The color spectrum doesn't play well with Canon sensors. I remember having significant problems trying to calibrate my camera during development of a calibrator, and I also continuously got unsharp color-checker images. I was like wtf? It's only a flat colorchecker? Until I read somewhere about the spectrum and realised that a lens exhibits chromatic aberrations which will focus red light slightly differently. (I used both a 24-70 mk 1, and a 200 mk2).

Before exaggerating the camera issue, I suppose it is primarily an issue of iso 6400 + light-source that is the problem here. I look forward to seeing some natural daylight images of similar subject matter. We are apparently sentenced to enjoying our cameras for a little while longer...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chairman Bill on January 11, 2013, 01:00:40 pm
My wife & youngest son. A part-family portrait? Just a snapshot at the time, but I quite like it & feel I should return for a more formal, planned shot.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 11, 2013, 02:47:40 pm
My wife & youngest son. A part-family portrait? Just a snapshot at the time, but I quite like it & feel I should return for a more formal, planned shot.


Never do that: the failure rate's too high. It's the downside of all recces: you learn the geography but lose the excitement of discovery.

I thought I should buy a cheap guitar this morning; then, I cast my mind back many, many decades and that old déjà vu saved the moment. Not everything had its Golden Age for me.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chairman Bill on January 11, 2013, 03:33:01 pm
I got my battered old Yamaha SG700s nice & cheap (second-hand, of course). Sounds wonderful. Sometimes cheap is good.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 11, 2013, 05:56:19 pm
I got my battered old Yamaha SG700s nice & cheap (second-hand, of course). Sounds wonderful. Sometimes cheap is good.



Maybe so, but I'd still have a tin ear! I was bought a guitar when I was eleven or twelve, went to lessons and was told by the teacher that I should consider some fixed pitch instrument. Like an accordion. But I still remember E A D G B E! Almost there, then. Except that I've got small hands, too. Sigh.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Steve Weldon on January 11, 2013, 06:13:20 pm
I realized I've never posted an image, or at least one I can remember so I thought I'd share this one.  A Mother and Marine Son.   I made the capture outdoors in 14f weather with a bit of snow falling.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Patricia Sheley on January 11, 2013, 08:02:35 pm
You might return for another go, but I find it beyond my imagination that exquisite moment of a son's love, enfolded within his beautiful long fingers and the deep calm and safety reflected in his eyes and the soft gaze of mother/wife, the link/completion between father and son is one you could "direct" for a more formal go at it. I most definitely agree with Rob's assessment. This is quite satisfyingly beautiful...this to me represents well recognized, well seen, magically captured...a fine portrait.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chairman Bill on January 12, 2013, 04:34:25 am
Patricia - that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about one of my photographs. Thank you.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 13, 2013, 02:30:21 pm
Just to prove it wasn't girls all the time, even when they were there: shot during a Tennent's Lager calendar production.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 13, 2013, 02:39:50 pm
Such wonderfully organic form in that structure Rob.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 13, 2013, 02:45:54 pm
When I found and shot the rusted old Chevvy Ute (pick-up?) I was actually in the vicinity to shoot a motif on the other side of the road:

W
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 13, 2013, 04:36:58 pm
Sometimes I really do wish that I still owned a lens with PC; I sometimes wish all lenses could do that!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 20, 2013, 06:40:09 am
Another recent masterpiece from the Samsung Sub-Minox.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on January 20, 2013, 09:58:59 am
I don't know if your Nikon can do as well, but, if this hull is still avalable, you might reshoot it, so as to be able to print this Sub-Minox find larger some day.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 20, 2013, 11:35:18 am
I don't know if your Nikon can do as well, but, if this hull is still avalable, you might reshoot it, so as to be able to print this Sub-Minox find larger some day.

Bruce


Bruce, as with pretty much everything shot with the cellphone, it's followed by regret.

The boat's been painted below the waterline and taken back out to sea because the kid who was trying to restore it ran out of marina money; I think he now hopes it'll sink before summer. Such the dreams of youth: optimism without a touch of research.

Sadness comes in so many disguises...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 20, 2013, 11:46:27 am
My usual stroll down by the boats was impossible today - well, without leaving my mind at home - but I thought I'd better shoot something anyway, just to make sure I don't forget what I'm supposed to do with that little thing in my windcheater pocket. I was thinking about a mug of coffee, one of those delightful almond-chip biscuits the local pasteleria provides, all accompanied by two squares of chocolate (dark, unsweetened). I'm finishing it off the noo, but the crumbs like to get into the keyboard, which doesn't help much.

Oh well, the wood fire's on this afternoon; psychologically cheering. Nothing's on tv tonight, though...

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: popnfresh on January 20, 2013, 01:26:25 pm
Moody and effective. I like it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on January 20, 2013, 01:38:49 pm
Delightfully pensive shot there Rob,

We've all had drizzly afternoons stuck in the car like that.

Surely coffee and chocky are over invigorating for a calm peaceful stroll.

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 20, 2013, 02:26:57 pm
Thanks, pop; the windscreen might have shown the rain a bit better than it has, but these 'phones self-focus (or should that be autofocus?) and I suppose it locked onto something far away.

Walter - pensive is really a bad habit from which I seem to find difficulty moving on from (?) but the squally weather's just too much for actual walking. I have a brolly with me, but mostly it's in imitation of city gent: furled. The wind would ruin it more than time has already!

Got home to find that the water pump for the block has given up the ghost. Now would be a good time to have an auxiliary outdoor loo with a bucket. So, tomorrow morning it's a call to the Administrator to send his plumber... there's a saying that it never rains but it pours. These 'incidents' drive me to distraction and I wonder why there are no nice, gravity-fed header tanks in these buildings like in Britain, but best not pursue that line of thought right now.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on January 20, 2013, 03:36:30 pm

Bushfire smoke in Victoria/Australia

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8398151144_f1925254db_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/8398151144/)
Howqua/Eildon VIC (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lexrasta/8398151144/) by Daniel Dahlmann (http://www.flickr.com/people/lexrasta/), on Flickr


www.danieldahlmann.com


/Dahlmann
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on January 21, 2013, 07:25:54 pm
Rocky Novak (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2013/01/22/rocky-novak/) of Ballarat, California.

Rocky Novak (http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2013/01/22/rocky-novak/)

(http://www.parrikar.org/images/LL/Rocky-Novak.jpg)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 21, 2013, 08:23:58 pm
Great portrait, Rajan! He really looks the way the sole inhabitant of a ghost town should look. However, the follow-up portrait in color (on your blog) lets him look too much like a businessman, IMHO. Nice series.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on January 22, 2013, 04:24:50 am
Great portrait, Rajan! He really looks the way the sole inhabitant of a ghost town should look. However, the follow-up portrait in color (on your blog) lets him look too much like a businessman, IMHO. Nice series.




Well, it's a twist on rich white tourists going to India and shooting local colour...

Fair seems fair.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on January 22, 2013, 02:30:55 pm
Bushfire smoke in Victoria/Australia

I like that, Daniel. Is it recent?

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on January 22, 2013, 03:18:03 pm
I like that, Daniel. Is it recent?

Jeremy

Yes it is.
The fire is 61000 hectare and going to burn for at least 2-3 more weeks.


/Daniel 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on February 02, 2013, 04:33:18 pm
Striped Model etc.

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 02, 2013, 05:19:43 pm
geometry
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Eckels on February 03, 2013, 09:54:24 am
Armand: Loved your "geometry" photo and wanted to post something similar shot in Puerto Rico...stalled out project.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 03, 2013, 11:49:12 am
Armand: Loved your "geometry" photo and wanted to post something similar shot in Puerto Rico...stalled out project.



Welcome to Spain.

;-(

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: -Tom- on February 03, 2013, 02:06:51 pm
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8442347838_332c742c5b_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on February 03, 2013, 02:08:35 pm
geometry

Reminds me of this, which I took abut four years ago with my then brand-new G10. It's finished now, although I think largely unlet.

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on February 03, 2013, 02:09:37 pm
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8442347838_332c742c5b_b.jpg)

Wrong thread! Doesn't that depict what the CIA used to call "termination with extreme prejudice"?

Jeremy
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 03, 2013, 02:51:46 pm
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8442347838_332c742c5b_b.jpg)


Double-cross?

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 03, 2013, 04:07:23 pm
Quote
Armand: Loved your "geometry" photo and wanted to post something similar shot in Puerto Rico...stalled out project.

Quote
Reminds me of this, which I took abut four years ago with my then brand-new G10. It's finished now, although I think largely unlet.

Looks like everybody got at least a shot like this, you could probably make an entire new topic for it  ;D
I know I have several but I'm not so sure I can find them beyond this one which I took in Boston and I previously posted it some time ago
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on February 03, 2013, 04:48:44 pm
Romanescu.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 05, 2013, 09:45:16 pm
Washing machine
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 07, 2013, 02:25:15 pm
Random thoughts.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RedwoodGuy on February 07, 2013, 07:09:14 pm
@random thoughts

The exposure is excellent and the tone range is wide and visually appealing. Cutting up body parts is a surefire way to engage the viewer at least initially. The framing is provocatively different enough to invite some curiosity about the "rest of the picture." And the stump mirrors the leg in an interesting way, and the lace whatever adds interesting content. A story emerges if one cares to think about it, and I think it can also invoke social commentary for the idea that we are normally looking at young legs, not old ones.

The photograph reveals the photographer and it is quite effective. It has more stopping power than most, and I enjoy the idea of it a lot. I see an artist's eye.  
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RedwoodGuy on February 07, 2013, 08:00:40 pm
@washing machine

There's some visual interest in the parallel lines of rocks. And the exposure is ok considering the overcast flat lighting. Where I think the photograph fails is the framing and composition. Everyone in the world has stood on this cliff and looked at the ocean with this angled down facing view. The minute you look at the picture you work backwards to the photographer standing there with camera pointed down. Sometimes, you need to use your feet and hunt down a more interesting angle.

I can see where this content could be made interesting in a photograph, but it would take a bit more work. More trial and error even to find a more intriguing POV.  I might be able to imagine an abstract featuring these parallel lines of dirt, rock, ocean, rock, ocean, sky and so forth. Maybe, maybe not, but you wouldn't get that with this static old view.

I think you found a subject- I just don't think you nailed what the subject had to offer.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RedwoodGuy on February 07, 2013, 08:07:19 pm
@romanescue

This is a delicate and intriguing photograph with oodles of rewards to the viewer. I was intrigued by the chewed on leaves that are in the more diffuse b/g. I think many would be tempted to frame out those "defective" leaves, but I think they are making this picture more than just the patterns. The lighting is really nice here and provides tone, depth and contrast to the form. I may be seeing it wrong on the screen, but it looks to my eye like the plane of focus is about 1/3 up from the bottom, and I can't say that seems ideal to me. All things considered, I would probably prefer the focus to be sharper in the f/g where the large point is. That's a quibble. This works for me very well.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 10, 2013, 09:53:56 pm
more on the fun side
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2013, 04:01:44 am
So what became of the philosophy behind the concept of Without Prejudice, then?

If anyone wants critique they know where to post and find it; this section is meant simply for display, not the questionable, sterile delights of second-guessing.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on February 11, 2013, 09:10:59 am
Yes, we have no bananas!

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8094948005_20814312f6_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2013, 09:44:14 am
Chis-

The closest I've ever seen to Gerald Scarfe! Congrats, that's no mean feat.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on February 11, 2013, 09:49:58 am
I love his Pink Floyd stuff.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 11, 2013, 09:54:17 am
So what became of the philosophy behind the concept of Without Prejudice, then?

If anyone wants critique they know where to post and find it; this section is meant simply for display, not the questionable, sterile delights of second-guessing.

Rob C
+100.

Thanks for the reminder, Rob. Others please take note and respect the goals of this thread.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on February 11, 2013, 12:32:51 pm
+100.

Thanks for the reminder, Rob. Others please take note and respect the goals of this thread.


There are some relatively new members who might not be aware of the tradition. It's a very long thread and not everyone's going make a point of reading Rob's "mission statement" at the beginning.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: RedwoodGuy on February 11, 2013, 12:46:28 pm
There are some relatively new members who might not be aware of the tradition. It's a very long thread and not everyone's going make a point of reading Rob's "mission statement" at the beginning.
Thanks Doug. That perfectly describes me, whom in fact did not read the opening post. My sincerest apologies to all who were offended.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on February 11, 2013, 01:45:15 pm
Galileo Galilei was right, the earth is round  :P

(http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201302/i-J9LMSjh/0/O/PEG_A850_08831_20130209-L.jpg) (http://pegelli.smugmug.com/Other/201302/27844090_STpdGc#!i=2358595949&k=J9LMSjh&lb=1&s=A)

But it's still an uphill struggle  ;)

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2013, 01:49:44 pm
Hey, Peg! Where did you find his optic?

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2013, 01:50:58 pm
Thanks Doug. That perfectly describes me, whom in fact did not read the opening post. My sincerest apologies to all who were offended.


No sweat - just best to let folks know the reason why the thread exists.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 11, 2013, 02:20:54 pm
Galileo Galilei was right, the earth is round  :P
...

One of better examples of fisheye use I've seen lately.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on February 11, 2013, 02:21:47 pm
Hey, Peg! Where did you find his optic?

;-)

Rob C

2nd hand from a friend who switched to Nikon: it's this one, an original Minolta 16/2.8 fisheye (http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Minolta-AF-16-F2.8-FishEye_lens3.html)


One of better examples of fisheye use I've seen lately.
Thanks, it's a fun toy. This was the first weekend I could really try it.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 11, 2013, 03:03:18 pm
Can't remember if I posted this self-portrait before - might have, but the memory doesn't ring anything. I like to think of it as a touch of the Hitchcocks...

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 11, 2013, 05:05:14 pm
Rob,

You look like a trio of signets traversing a lake en pointe.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 12, 2013, 04:04:28 am
Rob,

You look like a trio of signets traversing a lake en pointe.



Now that you mention it...

Stealth Bombers?

;-)

I watched a docu. last night in Norwegian, I think, with sub-titles as well as some spoken English: it was about a large sailing ship exploring into newly-opened waterways in Greenland (due to melt) and it was rather strange listening to the topics (mindsets?) that the various 'scientists' and artists and snappers along for the ride were discussing. I liked something one of the artists said, to the effect that artists know nothing, and that's pretty much what makes them special - tick.

Later, they were in a Zodiac-style thing and approaching the edge of a glacier and it looked very black; one of the guys said that it was creepy, as if nature was saying get the hell away from here, you don't belong. Mostly, they talked about the meaning of life. An interesting theory was that as we progress, we always outstrip the planet's ability to cope with what we do, that it's ever cyclical...

One memebr of the crew, a lady, was wearing a T-shirt that read: Fuck Everything. Become a Pirate.

Of course, it was all happening at around the time when programmes are half-seen and half-dozed through... what was reassuring, though, was when one of the scientists said that we shouldn't worry about the end of life as we know it, because, deep down below the surface there are all manner of creatures waiting their turn to come to the surface of the planet to assume their rôle. I felt so much better that I went to bed happy.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 12, 2013, 10:03:31 am
Rob,

I'm so glad you found something you could feel happy about!

Eric
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 12, 2013, 01:59:25 pm
Rob,

I'm so glad you found something you could feel happy about!

Eric


Eric, that's even more ambiguous than the bank!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 12, 2013, 05:14:03 pm
Ambiguity is in the eye of the beholder. Or is it the butt of the beholder?
 ???
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 12, 2013, 05:21:12 pm
Ambiguity is in the eye of the beholder. Or is it the butt of the beholder?
 ???


For sure the beholder can be the butt of the joke.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 12, 2013, 05:42:02 pm
Ambiguity is in the eye of the beholder. Or is it the butt of the beholder?
 ???

Or beerholder.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Dahlmann on February 12, 2013, 05:51:00 pm
After a couple of beers I started to lose focus in two ways..=)

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8465651517_34e2f38ce5_b.jpg)


cheers
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 16, 2013, 09:13:49 pm
at the end of the day
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Eckels on February 17, 2013, 11:50:48 am
at the end of the day
What a VERY interesting idea.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 17, 2013, 01:59:03 pm
What a VERY interesting idea.

+1
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 18, 2013, 12:31:39 pm
ritual
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: pegelli on February 18, 2013, 02:10:10 pm
ritual

Nice shot.

Only when a man does that in the park he gets arrested  :P
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 18, 2013, 04:28:22 pm
Nice shot.

Only when a man does that in the park he gets arrested  :P


Only if he's wearing a dirty raincoat!

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on February 19, 2013, 01:19:26 am
S------g W----s (in their declining years)

Can anyone fill in the blanks? Or can anyone not?




Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 19, 2013, 02:56:24 am
—haggin— —agon— would be my guess Ken,

Although if they were Kombis then that might change to —haggin— —agen—

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: kencameron on February 19, 2013, 03:09:30 am
I guess with the time difference I should have expected a fellow antipodean up first, Walter. I love the Kombi variation.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 19, 2013, 04:55:44 am
Whatever, whoever used those vans must certainly have felt the Earth moving.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 19, 2013, 05:43:35 am
Whatever, whoever used those vans must certainly have felt the Earth moving.

Rob C

As the bumper sticker so aptly put it:

If the van's a-rockin', don't bother knockin'!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: 32BT on February 19, 2013, 09:16:44 am
Convention of the 24

The day was dreary, verging on rain. I didn't even bother to get out of the car...
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 22, 2013, 09:43:13 am
This is where thinking about Life gets one.

Imagine having to work with these mothers too!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: amolitor on February 22, 2013, 09:50:20 am
That's one crazy piece of art there, Rob. I kind of like it, but there's no way I'd have it in my home!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 22, 2013, 10:25:41 am
That's one crazy piece of art there, Rob. I kind of like it, but there's no way I'd have it in my home!


And there, in reality, lies a problem. I've known the artist for several years, but other than grasping that his name is Juan, I can't ever remember the surname. He often lunches at my alternative restaurant where I think he does the early Colombe d'Or (St-Paul de Vence) routine. I have repeatedly been offered sculptures gratis, and the problem is two-fold: they wouldn't suit (or probably even fit!) my apartment and there's no way I'd donate anything to the Community here, so the garden area's out of contention; thiirty years ago, yes, but today - not a chance! Different types of people, mostly.

It's really a shame: he makes beautiful stuff from junk: broken tiles, bits of window ledge etc. and he is very fond of Polynesian styles and phallic symbolism; quite remarkable in stone!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Bruce Cox on February 22, 2013, 11:20:04 am

And there, in reality, lies a problem. I've known the artist for several years, but other than grasping that his name is Juan, I can't ever remember the surname. He often lunches at my alternative restaurant where I think he does the early Colombe d'Or (St-Paul de Vence) routine. I have repeatedly been offered sculptures gratis, and the probelm is two-fold: they wouldn't suit (or probably even fit!) my apartment and there's no way I'd donate anything to the Community here, so the garden area's out of contention; thiirty years ago, yes, but today - not a chance! Different types of people, mostly.

It's really a shame: he makes beautiful stuff from junk: broken tiles, bits of window ledge etc. and he is very fond of Polynesian styles and phallic symbolism; quite remarkable in stone!

Rob C

He may not be as good a photographer as you are.  I don't know what a better portfolio of photos of his work would do for him or you, but...

Bruce
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 22, 2013, 02:54:19 pm
He may not be as good a photographer as you are.  I don't know what a better portfolio of photos of his work would do for him or you, but...

Bruce



Neither do I, Bruce, but your quotation of my post revealed the effects of another of my dyslexic finger's tricks, my neologism: probelm!

Yes, there are times when things could be done to help others, but nothing's ever as simple as that. The relationship complications would stretch way out of my comfort zone, and I've no intentions of going there, trust me!

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 22, 2013, 05:36:40 pm
reflections
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: nemo295 on February 22, 2013, 07:07:28 pm
North District Operations Center, Point Reyes
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: armand on February 22, 2013, 09:03:56 pm
Photographer
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on February 22, 2013, 11:55:53 pm
Using a lee GND filter setup.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on February 24, 2013, 07:57:54 pm
I was able to go back to the Badlands, really a small area North of Toronto that looks somewhat like Badlands. My tripod did some creeping and some images were soft, so I got a little creative. The biggest problem is trying to avoid footprints!!

JMR (John R)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-QhKJcWZ/0/M/Feb%2017-13%20Badlands%20060%20smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380684624&k=QhKJcWZ&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-cwbBLWL/0/M/Feb%2010-13%20Badlands%20165%20smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380706498&k=cwbBLWL&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-B3vFx57/0/M/Feb%2024-13%20Badlands%20126%20bw-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380672342&k=B3vFx57&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-T6tq2X2/0/M/Feb%2017-13%20Badlands%20027%20smug%20bwcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380682522&k=T6tq2X2&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-9WsBwfb/0/M/Feb%2024-13%20Badlands%20195%20smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380673673&k=9WsBwfb&lb=1&s=A)
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 25, 2013, 10:17:58 am
This, I may say, was shot at great personal risk: not from unhappy people but from frostbite!

Snow on the mountains above 300 metres... sheeesh! Or swish, if that's your thing.

This is somebody else's thing.

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: WalterEG on February 25, 2013, 10:24:15 am
Rhe usual excellence from you John R.  Most rewarding!
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: francois on February 25, 2013, 11:34:57 am
reflections

Or aliens?
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 25, 2013, 11:52:17 am
Rhe usual excellence from you John R.  Most rewarding!
+1.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: John R on February 25, 2013, 06:19:49 pm
Thank you for the comments and your interest, Rob, Francois, Eric and Walter. Rob's comments certainly made me laugh. Really, the area is more like a large gully in a park. Nothing as dramatic or exotic as a swish in the mountains! Had I been facing the mountains without, at least snow shoes, I think I would be taking a swig in the mountains!

JMR
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chairman Bill on February 25, 2013, 06:37:26 pm
The East Lyn, Devon

Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: David Eckels on February 25, 2013, 10:49:58 pm
The East Lyn, Devon


Lovely. Much to emulate. Not a critique, but the best I could do.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on February 26, 2013, 08:30:09 am
I was able to go back to the Badlands, really a small area North of Toronto that looks somewhat like Badlands. My tripod did some creeping and some images were soft, so I got a little creative. The biggest problem is trying to avoid footprints!!

JMR (John R)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-QhKJcWZ/0/M/Feb%2017-13%20Badlands%20060%20smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380684624&k=QhKJcWZ&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-cwbBLWL/0/M/Feb%2010-13%20Badlands%20165%20smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380706498&k=cwbBLWL&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-B3vFx57/0/M/Feb%2024-13%20Badlands%20126%20bw-smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380672342&k=B3vFx57&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-T6tq2X2/0/M/Feb%2017-13%20Badlands%20027%20smug%20bwcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380682522&k=T6tq2X2&lb=1&s=A)

(http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/i-9WsBwfb/0/M/Feb%2024-13%20Badlands%20195%20smugcopy-M.jpg) (http://johnroias.smugmug.com/Other/Badlands-of-Caledon/9686704_rmpLq6#!i=2380673673&k=9WsBwfb&lb=1&s=A)

Lovely John..
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Chris Calohan on February 26, 2013, 09:02:05 am
The East Lyn, Devon



This is where I think the slow flow of water works best and even this flow could have a bit more shutter or a two shot shutter priority and paint back in some of the detail around the rocks. Paolo showed some shoreline shots where I find the use of extended shutter times not nearly as exciting but I honestly think because I've come to like one in a series, but not all in a series. Personal taste.

One this shot, I'd like to see the tops of the trees, upper right a bit less "hot."
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 26, 2013, 10:08:26 am
Just to show that sunny Mallorca is as bloody cold and damp as anywhere else in winter, here's yesterday's view from the penthouse; the snow-capped mountain sits just behind Pollensa town and is called Tomir; the further away one with the flattish top (just cloud cover) is Puig Major, higher than anything in Britain at 1445 metres. It used to house an early-warning system along with air traffic control...  not sure what it does now. It freezes every winter; hate to have to drive the track up there to service the radar.

There's a road starts at the base (already high up) within a military complex with machine gun guard at the gate; we stopped there thirty years ago to get our bearings and consult our map, and the guard instantly upped the piece. We waved and drove off rapidly.

Rob C

 
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on February 26, 2013, 05:39:29 pm
we stopped there thirty years ago to get our bearings and consult our map, and the guard instantly upped the piece. We waved and drove off rapidly.

Rob C

 
Good thing he didn't know where to find the trigger.
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Rob C on February 27, 2013, 04:55:53 am
Good thing he didn't know where to find the trigger.




The car of the day was a basic, yellow Fiesta Festival, with smallest petrol engine available. I had left the UK with intentions of going back to basics and getting out of the stupid rat-race of car fantasy equated with status etc. etc. and enjoying lfe on a more rational level of existence. So, trying to get the hell out of the guard's sight was never about to turn into a gun-challenging, screeching wheels sort of take-off... maybe he was just bored or fancied the look of my wife's long hair. Mabe trigger training was scheduled for next week?

Anyway, be that as it may, the tiny engine didn't last: after a few airport trips with family coming and going on holiday, the realisation that passing a bus (or even a farm cart) meant taking our lives into my hands, coupled with the arrival of a new model of Fiesta, the XR2, with bags of power for such a small car, soon saw the small, eco-friendly death trap absorbed into that long list of personal mistakes.

Loved the red stripe!  

Rob C
Title: Re: Without Prejudice
Post by: Christopher Sanderson on February 28, 2013, 07:02:53 pm
Since this thread is now growing long and we have had problems with overy long threads before (db problem?), I have split this topic off to a new thread (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=75820.msg606154)