Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Last of the Rebels... *$%#@?!!
After several tries to upload all five images, I finally gave up. For whatever reason, this one shot would not play nice with the others. It ended up being the cog in the wheel. It wouldn't load with any of the other pics. So I've had it. Sorry guys, this will just have to do...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
compression: wide vs tight
These two pictures demonstrate the differences between wide and tight, especially compression. This is the same house, the same sign, same everything. But - at least to me - they are quite different. 
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Shoot Tight: Keeping up with the Joneses
I chose this first pic - not because it is so spectacular... it isn't - but to show me the range of my camera. This is the point where telephoto lens meets digital zoom.
Although these pics complete the essay assignment of telling a story, I found that I much prefer to use my zoom to shoot close up, almost like a macro. I do like the compression that tight shooting gives me. When I tried to shoot this series wide, I couldn't get all three signs into the picture and have them remain legible. Tight shooting was a much better choice in this particular context.
My apologies go out to anyone who recognizes the subject.
Although these pics complete the essay assignment of telling a story, I found that I much prefer to use my zoom to shoot close up, almost like a macro. I do like the compression that tight shooting gives me. When I tried to shoot this series wide, I couldn't get all three signs into the picture and have them remain legible. Tight shooting was a much better choice in this particular context.
My apologies go out to anyone who recognizes the subject.
To be honest, I cheated a little on this assignment. My focal lengths starting from the top at "Jones" are: 72 mm, 6 mm, 50 mm, 31 mm, & 25 mm.
I have additional "shoot tight" pics - just for fun - and I'll post them soon.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Assignment: Post Wide
All of my shots are taken using my Cannon PowerShot S31S.
In my initial posting, tight & wide, I establish the breadth of my camera. Its capabilities range from a wide open focal length of 6 mm to a "zoomed in" tight at 72 mm.
Next is my photo essay: Parade of Homes
There are roughly two hundred shots in all; I selected twelve to showcase. In all of them, my lens is wide open at 6 mm and the only variable is my proximity to my subject. This made for an interesting shoot. Most of these people were quite suspicious of why I was out there shooting, and you will see that I made sure not to cross into any of their yards. I did not trespass.
As a result, I did feel constricted by the "shoot wide" assignment and its limitations. Without the compression of a tight shot, many of my pics came back with too much visual noise. They appeared messy rather than artfully stacked. As a result, I had to choose my angles and distances carefully. I felt frustrated by the lack of depth.
With the lens wide open, I had virtually no depth of field to work with and felt hampered by the resulting flat aspect of these shots. While fitting it all into the frame, I found that often I was too far away for any of it to maintain the desired effect. The details had vanished in the distance.
That being said, I may have chosen poorly. In hindsight, I do believe that I would have done greater service if I had shot this at a safer distance, using my telephoto. I cannot tell you how many eyes were on me as I wandered these neighborhoods. Often I glanced up to see only the swaying of a curtain where a watcher once stood. I could almost taste the grating deadbolt as the unseen slid it home. The crosshairs that tickled my back as I crept closer for just one more shot. These are private people.
As you scroll through my most recent work, you may actually hear the sound of banjos - I did...
In my initial posting, tight & wide, I establish the breadth of my camera. Its capabilities range from a wide open focal length of 6 mm to a "zoomed in" tight at 72 mm.
Next is my photo essay: Parade of Homes
There are roughly two hundred shots in all; I selected twelve to showcase. In all of them, my lens is wide open at 6 mm and the only variable is my proximity to my subject. This made for an interesting shoot. Most of these people were quite suspicious of why I was out there shooting, and you will see that I made sure not to cross into any of their yards. I did not trespass.
As a result, I did feel constricted by the "shoot wide" assignment and its limitations. Without the compression of a tight shot, many of my pics came back with too much visual noise. They appeared messy rather than artfully stacked. As a result, I had to choose my angles and distances carefully. I felt frustrated by the lack of depth.
With the lens wide open, I had virtually no depth of field to work with and felt hampered by the resulting flat aspect of these shots. While fitting it all into the frame, I found that often I was too far away for any of it to maintain the desired effect. The details had vanished in the distance.
That being said, I may have chosen poorly. In hindsight, I do believe that I would have done greater service if I had shot this at a safer distance, using my telephoto. I cannot tell you how many eyes were on me as I wandered these neighborhoods. Often I glanced up to see only the swaying of a curtain where a watcher once stood. I could almost taste the grating deadbolt as the unseen slid it home. The crosshairs that tickled my back as I crept closer for just one more shot. These are private people.
As you scroll through my most recent work, you may actually hear the sound of banjos - I did...
Parade of Homes
While shooting Parade of Homes, I was emotionally eviscerated when I finally realized that this wasn't just some simple exercise in capturing the local poverty and depravity by showcasing a handful of run down houses. For me, the most hearbreaking aspect of this essay - this experience - is that these houses are occupied.
This isn't a far-off slum in some newly emerging industrialized nation. This is next door and around the corner from you and I. I knew these people. I watched a friend emerge from the house I was shooting, walk across the filth laden courtyard, and enter the horror of a home I had just finished with. I do not think she recognized me. She did not meet my gaze.
tight & wide
tight:
f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 72 mm
wide:
f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 21 mm
These shots are consecutive and have not been altered in any way. I took these from exactly the same spot in the bracken. I wanted a visual representation of the range my Cannon PowerShot S31S was capable of before I began the "shoot wide" assignment. Choosing only two shots from this night was the most difficult part.
f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 72 mm
wide:f/3.5
shutter 1/1600
focal length 21 mm
These shots are consecutive and have not been altered in any way. I took these from exactly the same spot in the bracken. I wanted a visual representation of the range my Cannon PowerShot S31S was capable of before I began the "shoot wide" assignment. Choosing only two shots from this night was the most difficult part.
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