lunar new year

I spaced out on when this was due, I took a few random images at the Lunar New Year celebration at the public library the other day. it's the year of the horse now. Anyway, this was taken with my phone, something I've never really done before. I liked the natural framing of dad's arm on the kid in front of me. It's not a great shot of what's happening but at lest sells the hectic crowded nature of the event.

Beginning

This was quick and dirty, couldn't come up with a good idea.  This is a shot of a book called Star Wars Frames: http://starwars.com/watch/star_wars_frames_trailer.html  Beginning of the book, movie, and trilogy.  I originally wanted to get more of the over all book focused on one specific point and try to capture that tactile feeling that a book has in your hands but nothing worked.  This is the most interesting shot that I got during that session.

There are two books, one for episodes I - III and one for IV - VI.  As an experiment I tried taking a sheet of plexiglass between the two books and tried to capture a "ghost" image of Vader on top of young Anakin but it didn't come out as strong as I'd have liked.  It was an interesting experiment though.

Beginning

Here's my image - a quite literal one at that.

This morning I had the rare opportunity to wake before Lily. I laid pretty still, gazing toward the window's light. In that moment, I realized I was living my composition.

Hopefully it feels raw, unfocused, and even vulnerable. 

I mean, I was half naked.

The outcome isn't really what I wanted, but it was nice to have the camera out again (sorta). Maybe this is the beginning of me investing in some better equipment. Thanks for the challenge and your eyes.

Love,
-Jonathan

Beginning

So here's my picture for the first challenge.

I've been playing video games for most of my life. I've also been playing with cars, and for even longer. When I was a kid, I played Pole Position with a plastic racing helmet on my head.

Simon is only three, but so far he's following his dad: obsessed with cars and now racing them, at least in video games so far.

Anyway, I have my thoughts on this picture. I'd like to hear yours. Please. It wasn't really fair of me to take a picture of my son for the first one. Critique the picture, not the kid!

Beginning

So this isn't the most profound statement or anything, at least maybe not on the surface.  I decided the way I'd like to participate in these challenges is to go about my usual shooting routine, and choose an image that suits the theme in some way.  I like to be spontaneous, rather than set up shots.

Here's why I chose this shot for this week's challenge.

On Wednesday, while sitting at Seven Saints partaking in the weekly whiskey lunch, I noticed the lighting on the folks at a table behind us.  I happened to have my camera handy so I snuck in a few shots of them while they were chatting and looking at the menus.  This is not something I've been comfortable doing, taking pictures of strangers.  I didn't ask permission, I didn't apologize afterward, I just took a picture of something I felt was interesting and in the moment quite striking.

So in away, this shot represents 2 beginnings: the beginning of a stranger's lunch break, and the beginning of a personal effort to do more street photography.  I love capturing candid moments, and just taking life as it's happening.  We'll see how it goes :)

Canon EOS T3i
1/125 @ f/5.6, ISO 1600
55mm

First Challenge: Beginning

Good afternoon! So we have a few people interested. I love it, and I love you.

I'd like to start off with our first challenge. It's what you're here for, right? It's not a terribly imaginative concept:

beginning

Let's try a week for the first one. So let's see what you come up with by next Monday, the 3rd. Cool?

If you're still not really sure what you signed up for, take a picture with the above theme in mind. I don't really care whether you post one picture or ten. Spend the whole week setting up a complicated studio shot in your basement, go shoot that thing you always wanted to or just carry your camera with you throughout your day. If you can't do this one, don't sweat it. No pressure.

I don't care whether your picture is shot with your phone or a space telescope. I will really only impose one rule: anything you post here for a challenge needs to be shot after I post that challenge. The whole point here is to shoot something new, not drag out something you've already done...which was exactly what I started this blog off with. Give me a break. It was an example.

So go forth and take pictures. I mean, please. I'd really like to see what you do. Everybody in the list on the right has permission to post and reply on this blog, so when you shoot something just put it up here.

Thanks!