I shot this early this morning while playing a game of disc golf. I took the day off and screwed off. Disc golf, cigars, lunch with the wife, and an endless round of TF2. Good times.
Technorati Tags: Photography
Showing newest posts with label Photography. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label Photography. Show older posts
Friday, October 08, 2010
Monday, October 04, 2010
Photo a day – faces and people
I had to back off shooting photos for a few days while I waited for a new pair of glasses. I was happy for an opportunity to pick up my camera again this weekend during a fast trip to Little Tokyo. I shot this on 1st street. My wife and son were walking ahead of me and in no mood to stop, so I did what I normally do and shot anyway.
Later, as I composed a photo in front of a building and waited for a pedestrian to walk through a patch of sunshine, I had a little nutball trouble. I shot a few people and had started looking around for something else to shoot when a lady yelled at me. She wanted me to stop taking her photo. She was loud and insistent. I denied shooting her photo (if I had it was incidental) and asked if if she would like to see my take. She responded by calling for security.
Let me set the stage. I’m sitting on the steps of the Geffen Contemporary at Moca while my wife and son were visiting a craft show inside. I’m alone under a shade tree shooting architectural shots with a professional looking camera while using pedestrians as filler. In a sense I am killing time. It’s almost noon, the light is horrible, and I’m in a wasteland of concrete dullness. I honestly think that I am a magnet for nutballs. The lady persisted for a few minutes with nobody heading her call. She eventually left after calling me a fat visual terrorist (a great name for a blog). I moved on too. There was this Lomo Arigato catering truck that was calling my name.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
How sad is this?
I took this picture at the farmer’s market in Cerritos yesterday at around 9:00 am. As I took the picture I realized that I was supposed to be 100 miles away at the funeral of a coworker. I was bummed the whole day.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tilt-shift applied to art
I’m learning to use tilt-shift techniques in photography. So far my results are poor. So instead of showing you my own work this week, I thought that this application of tilt-shift on the works of Van Gogh would suffice. The results are surprisingly beautiful.
After seeing how tilt-shift photography could make real world scenes appear like miniature models, Serena Malyon, a third-year art student, decided to simulate the effect on Van Gogh's famous paintings. Using Photoshop, she manipulated the light and adjusted the focus to make us see these paintings in ways we could have never imagined.
Technorati Tags: Photography,Art
Saturday, September 25, 2010
101 tips about street photography
Part of developing a street photography style is simply getting out and taking photos. My style is playing the “big dumb tourist.” People don’t see me because I look like every other tourist out for a day of sightseeing. Except I don’t really care about the sites. I hunt people and the urban ugly that surrounds us.
I have lots of tips for this and truthfully never thought anyone would be interested until I found Eric Kim’s article, 101 Things I have learned about Street Photography. He’s good and is writing a book on the subject.
In lieu of the popularity of my last post about the “100 Things I Have Learned about Photography,” I decided to make a new list that pertains to street photography specifically. Also if you don’t know, I am currently writing a book titled: “Street Photography 101,” and the excerpts are being posted here. This new list is a homage to the Street Photography 101 book that I am writing.
He covers most of the advice I would give, and much more. I don’t always agree with him, but I don’t think it matters much. For example.
6. Smile often. – A smile is good and it disarms people, but a scowl gets a reaction too. I don’t want to be noticed as a photographer in most cases, so no smile, no scowl works best for me.
12. Crouch when taking your shots, it often makes for more interesting photos. – If only I could crouch and not draw a crowd. If I crouch to shoot, people are likely to ask if “OK”.
25. If a policeman asks you to delete a photo, just delete it. It isn’t worth the hassle (even if your shot is legal). – True, but where is the fun (and story) in that?
29. Limit the number of street photographs you see from the internet. The more you see, the less you will value your own. – Bullshit. The more you see, the more you are inspired.
33. Street photography is best experienced alone. – Only if you are an emoboy, or young and unattached. My opportunities for street photography stem from family activities as often as not.
38. Don’t be afraid of offending people. Most likely you won’t. – What? I’m not afraid to offend people, it happens almost every time I go out. I think this should read, expect to offend people.
61. Your subjects are people, not prey. Huh?
81. Learn how to shoot without using the viewfinder and make it a second-instinct. Thus also… Amen! practice this, it’s great advice.
Technorati Tags: Photography,Advice
Friday, September 24, 2010
Photo a day - Mike
I’m still working with my iPhone4 and portraits. I tried using the Camera Plus app and some of it “features”. I was happy with the results in this photo, but I tanked a dozen other shots.
The iPhone4 is a good replacement for a point and shoot camera, and less obtrusive. The controls are hard to adapt to, especially if you are migrating from a Blackberry like me.
Mike’s a good subject. he liked the results.
Technorati Tags: Photography
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Photo a day – John smokes
I sat in the park with my friend and coworker John today. We smoke a cigar together and spoke of small things. We enjoyed the heat of a late Southern California summer while trying hard not to think of the pressures of our jobs. It worked too. For one magic hour were were free from work. But and hour soon ends…
Technorati Tags: Photography
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Photo a day – Human Hamsters
Since my dad died my wife and have I starting taking my mom out for dinner once a week. It’s a new experience for us. We are not real social by nature nor are we conversational. Before we started this weekly ritual, we simply enjoyed each other’s company and spoke of small things. Now we have real conversations over a bottle of wine and enjoy the pleasure of a good meal too. It also gives me the opportunity to take more photos. So it’s win/win.
It’s funny in a way, I used the terms “Brackish” and “Pelagic” in the same sentence. I discussed the origin of paella and the culinary merits of mussels. And I discussed the use of Yelp in finding good restaurants while contrasting French, Spanish, and American cuisine. It was very much like blogging but with real people.
I shot this human hamster in what is billed as a “Euroball” at the Block of Orange. For $10 dollars you can humiliate yourself in front of camera toting shoppers. I had an instinctual reaction – there is fucking way am I getting in one of those things.
Technorati Tags: Photography
Friday, September 17, 2010
Jesus or a duck?
Is this Jesus in profile or a duck? You be the judge. The joke is that the way I draw, this is what Jesus would look like. I’m so happy I can take photos instead of paint or draw pictures. I never moved past watercolors and the first grade.
I shot this on my official rest table at hole 18 at the disc golf course at El Dorado park in Long Beach. I used my iPhone 4. I took the day off today to recover from a bad week and the stress of a failed project. Disc golf + photography = rest. Oh, that and a little blogging.
Technorati Tags: Photography,Disc Golf
Photo a day – Pho-tastic
I tried my first bowl of hho a few years ago. Fortunately, I tried it at a benchmark restaurant called Benley in Long Beach, CA. My wife and I love the stuff, but we’ve also learned that all Pho is not equal. There are a dozen Pho shops near my home, only 2 are any good. We’ve recently stumbled upon a new place that is close to home and offers a wide variety of Vietnamese options. The photo above shows their special, it’s filled with wonderful cuts of meat, tendon, and tripe. The place is Pho 4 U in Cerritos. It’s located next to the Red Ribbon Filipino bakery. Give them a try, but don’t let me catch you at my table!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
iPhone4 Leica look-alike
Do you want your iPhone 4 to look like a Leica? If yes you should check this out. Now, don’t get me wrong, I would much rather have the real thing, but I don’t have $7k laying around right now, so a $13 dollar skin will have to do. I covet so few things, why do they all have to be out of reach?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Photo a day - Gabbie
I’ve started a new project. I’m taking a photo of every person I know. I want to remember people 10 years from now. I want to be able to connect memories to people to places and events. I bad at this. I forget names.I never forget a face.
I’ve known Gabbie for a few years. I shot her daughter’s Quinceañera portrait a few days ago. It was some of the first commercial photography work I’ve done since I stopped shooting weddings 15 years ago. I had a lot of fun, although as usual, I was not happy with the results. Gabbie was happy, and that is all that matters.
I’m shooting these more casual shots with my iPhone4. The most recent operating system updates have improved the capability enough that I am comfortable shooting a good quality photo. Plus I can shoot in HDR, with offers better results.
I plan to work on this photo in post-production. Here eyes are too dark.
That photographer’s a spy
That photographer's a spy (spoken in the voice of a TF2 engineer). That’s what people must be saying about Ernest C. Withers. It appears that the famous civil rights photographer was a spy for the FBI.
On Sunday, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis published the results of a two-year investigation that showed Mr. Withers, who died in 2007 at age 85, had collaborated closely
with two F.B.I. agents in the 1960s to keep tabs on the civil rights movement. It was an astonishing revelation about a former police officer nicknamed the Original Civil Rights Photographer, whose previous claim to fame had been the trust he engendered among high-ranking civil rights leaders, including Dr. King.
How do you live with yourself after gaining the trust of important people and then betray them? He was in the King’s hotel room the night he was shot. Damn, that’s just cold.
I know Withers from his picture of Martin Luther King (shown above), but I must add, besides this picture and few others, I am not a fan of his work. He takes uninspired snapshots. I don’t think I’m judging too harshly either. He had access, which gave him a chance at good newsworthy pictures, but most of non-newsworthy stuff was pedestrian. I looked at his, “Pictures Tell the Story” photo book at a shop a few years ago. I was not impressed. I’m even less impressed now that I know he was a traitor too.
Technorati Tags: Photography,Civil Rights Movement
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Photo a day – control your shutter speed Joe
Oh damn – nothing pisses me off more than a missed shot. I had my Nikon with a fast 17 to 35 set Nikkor lens in my hand as I walked by this homeless man. I snapped a picture from my hip, which I am getting quite good at, and walked on down the street. When I stopped to review a few pictures, I found this blurry mess. I actually said the words, use your shutter speed Joe.
I was shooting in aperture priority mode. I shot a maximum depth of field shot a few minutes before this shot and forgot to flip back over to my trusty .250 shutter priority mode. The results are a predictable mess.
I could lie to myself and say I like the results. What I wanted was the wrinkled skin of his hands counting his meager cache of coins and bills. What I got was a blurry mess. There is always next time, but for me the lesson is clear. Make sure I set myself up for a good shot by setting my camera to capture these fleeting movements.
Technorati Tags: Photography
iPhone4 HDR
I’ve started to play with the iPhone4’s HDR capability. I’ve found that in controlled conditions it takes a much better picture. In this shot I wanted a pure white and a pure black contracts so that I could see how it reproduced the yellow pencil. I’m happy with the results. A non-HDR version of this was a lighter shade of yellow and the white was not pure white. I shot a few portraits today, these were nice too but I blurred the subjects.
I found an aritle explaining the iPhone4’s HDR capability on ars technica: HDR Photogprhay with iPhone 4 and iOS 4.1: How good is it? It’s worth a few minutes of your time and will explain things better than I can.
About the picture – I use index cards as a tool. What you see depicted in the picture is my editorial card for my blog. I add story ideas throughout the day in one hour buckets. When I get home, I write the next days stories if I have the time. Don’t judge me. I’ve told you many times that I am an uber-geek.
iPhone4 tilt shift photography
I posted on tilt shift photography yesterday. I got a message from @michaelkent via twitter linking me to this outstanding example of tilt shift photography from the iPhone4. It’s the best example I’ve seen yet. I must give this a try, and I think I”ll bet Michael to explain his technique.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Photo a day – Street art
Taking my camera with me wherever I go has its advantages. For starters, I am almost never bored. I manage to find something interesting to shoot, even if I’m just shopping. I shot street art in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles yesterday. Every light pole, utility box, and newspaper box in this part of the city is covered in stencils, sticker, and paste ups. Most are in various states of disarray.
I found this on 3rd near the Buddhist temple. It was new to me so I shot several angles. My family had walked on without me. At times I think that my constant photography embarrasses them. I know it does for my 15-year-old son.
I encountered a skateboarding photographer earlier in the day. I watched as he set up his equipment and shot a picture of a ally leading to another Buddhist temple. We watched each other obliquely. I know he was wondering what I was doing, while at the same time I was watching his technique with interest. After he moved on I shot the same location. I found it unappealing.
Tilt shift photography
Tilt shift photography is something I’ve been meaning to play with. I can do it with my iPhone4, but the results are poor. I need a lens for my Nikon. It’s time to go shopping.
Technorati Tags: Photography
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Photo a day - Practice
I tell my youngest son that practice is the key to many things in life. I mean it too. If you practice something, you will eventually get better at it. I started this blog to practice writing, and my writing skills improve with each year. I practice putting (disc golf) every day, and now putting is the strongest part of my game. I also practice taking photos. I shoot each and every day. It is the only way I will ever get better at my favorite hobby.
I’m practicing depth of field control this week. I’m not happy with the results, but that is not the point. I know that I will be happy with the results after I complete more practice.
I learned this concept from my freshman basketball coach, a Mr. Johnson. He took me aside and demonstrated how to practice a jump shot. I must have shot a thousand baskets a day after he took an interest in me. Plus, I was motivated to make the team as I was the worst player on the squad and likely to be cut once the season started. My shooting ability went from a wild-ass push towards the basket to a precise and accurate shot over the course of one summer of hard practice. I went went from bench warmer to starter on a championship team. Needless to say, the lesson took. Now I practice everything I want to improve; even something I’ve been doing for 35 years.
Technorati Tags: Photography,Basketball
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Photography - Remembering 9/11
Music, photos… a good way to remember.
"NEW YORK" is the debut work of THE PHOTOGRAPH(ERS), the brand-new duo from Moscow, Russia. The song written by Vasiliy Butuzov in a memory of victims of 9/11 was inspired by the story of photojournalist Bill Biggart, who took his final shot of his life at 10:28:24 a.m. on September 11th, 2001, when the North Tower of the World Trade Centre collapsed upon him.
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