Weekly Images (28-Mar-05 to 3-Apr-05)

Stage lighting was very dim and this fella was standing out of the light. The image is soft because there were only about 3 or 4 photons for the whole thing, but I like the mood.

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Very creative! I like the effect.

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Unreal detail! I can feel goose breath!

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Hey, searun, we must have been in Death Valley at the same time! Here are wildflowers at Badwater:

searun said:

From Death Valley just over a week ago,



--
Searun

Click to expand...

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Tony Finnerty said:

I love all your shots, but I'm a total sucker for photos of old
windows. Exquisite lighting!

Click to expand...

Tony,

I was so excited when I found this homestead - it was taken over by the county, but it is so far back in the woods no kids have vandalized it - the windows look to be from the turn of the century, all of the wood and stonework comes from the 1800's it just breathes antiquity. Even the light just wafts from another century (did I really say light wafts??) any way it is a total atmosphere.

Thanks much.

Tony Finnerty said:

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Click to expand...

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Thanks,
Brent

http://www.pbase.com/brent

Looks that way Tony. My 1st visit. I found it spectacular, and will be back. Have you ever seen more photographers?

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Searun

Tony,

It is hard enough to get moving thisgs to look tack sharp in the daylight - so much more so in the dark. You must be very pleased to have gotten this shot.

Thanks for sharing,
Brent

Tony Finnerty said:

Stage lighting was very dim and this fella was standing out of the
light. The image is soft because there were only about 3 or 4
photons for the whole thing, but I like the mood.

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Click to expand...

--
Thanks,
Brent

http://www.pbase.com/brent

Thanks, adrianox........I didn't use a tripod. I shot this out of my vehicle window on a back road using "The Pod". It is really a neat little beanbag which actually attaches to the 50-200 lens making it quite stable when resting on something. You can read about it here: http://www.thepod.ca/ I am in no way associated with this product, but I think it is extremely useful after using it for only a week or so.
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Olympus E1/14-54/50-200/ec-14/FL36
Minolta A1

Captures the mood very well; nice shooting.
--
Searun

searun said:

Looks that way Tony. My 1st visit. I found it spectacular, and will
be back. Have you ever seen more photographers?

Click to expand...

Heh, heh, heh! I've been there a lot and never seen more people in Death Valley! Every single one had a camera, and many were using tripods. I saw everything from point-and-shoots to view cameras. Wouldn't trade my E-1 for any of 'em.

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Thanks, Brent. I've been "investing" in a low-key effort to become known locally for photography and it's beginning to pay off. After shooting at fundraisers and community concerts, posting photos for free use by the performers, this photo was taken at my first professional concert, where I was invited to take pictures in a venue that does not normally allow photography. The backup band is so excited about my photos that they want me to take some promotional photographs for them. The band is just becoming known so there is not a lot of money in it, but it's a beginning.

I went to one of the band's performances this evening to meet them personally, and the producer of the concert where I took that dark photograph recognized me and greeted me by name. He will be a very valuable contact for access to musical venues and for scaring up some paying work.

This bar, Cooper's, is known for live performances and is the second professional venue where I was allowed to take photos. The stage lighting was too dim for anything usable, but I was there to meet the band, not to take photos. Someone in the audience, seeing the professional-looking E-1 hanging around my neck, asked me to shoot some photos for his business - my first paying job after years of living on disability. I'm feeling very high tonight.

Brent Lossing said:

It is hard enough to get moving thisgs to look tack sharp in the
daylight - so much more so in the dark. You must be very pleased
to have gotten this shot.

Thanks for sharing,
Brent

Tony Finnerty said:

Stage lighting was very dim and this fella was standing out of the
light. The image is soft because there were only about 3 or 4
photons for the whole thing, but I like the mood.

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Click to expand...

--
Thanks,
Brent

http://www.pbase.com/brent

Click to expand...

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com

Tony,

Congratulations on your success in getting an income from your photography. I like this shot and glad you explained the softness...very cool and congrats again....would be nice to pay for a little of this gear eh????

Cheers,

Bill

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Bill Wallace
dpreview & pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/papa51

I like the way the city has started using flowers and the beautifull spring light. All taken with the E-300 and the 14-45mm.

The city hall:



The city park:





In front of the city hall:





Chris

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We shape clay into a pot - only to discover the emptiness that holds everything we need. Lao Tzu

great stuff Tony - i enjoyed this one v.much. with my wife being a jazz performer i understand the low light probs.. - this one works well in b&w also - and, Congrats - your persistence is paying off.
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adrianox

my stuff: http://www.pbase.com/adrianox

Olympus E Series 4:3 FAQ's (early days - but useful)
http://www.fourthirdsfaq.com/

nice series here Chris - the light seems very crisp - low and sharp - some great shadows.

--
adrianox

my stuff: http://www.pbase.com/adrianox

Olympus E Series 4:3 FAQ's (early days - but useful)
http://www.fourthirdsfaq.com/

Mike,

this almost looks too good to be real......

excellent photo -- with an emotional punch.

doreen

tony,

I really like this photo - and I don't think it would have the same impact if it didn't have the noise and softness.....

this forum values technical realism - sharpness, color accuracy, etc. --- but tends to forget about the other elements that lead to art. how many paintings that knock the wind out you are technically perfect?? and not because the artist isn't capable of painting realism -- they choose not to for good reason.

it would interesting for you to photograph a concert in good light and see if you -- and others -- like the results as much. I suspect the challenges of poor light are what make your photos memorable and not just reportage.

keep posting,

doreen

Thanks Adrian !

Chris
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We shape clay into a pot - only to discover the emptiness that holds everything we need. Lao Tzu

Thanks, Doreen. I love the look of concert portraits shot under stage lighting, so prefer not to use flash. Usually the performers demand no flash, too.

All the photos taken at that concert required ISO 3200, wide-open lenses, and slow shutter speeds with the lens set at 200mm because I was not allowed to move in front of the audience. I used a tripod but could not use a remote shutter release because I had to track the performers as they move, so had to live with more possibility for camera shake. No choice - I was at the absolute limit of acquiring any images at all.

Everything was contributing to blur and image softness. Sure, I'd like to get photos that can be blown up to 16 x 20, but I'm really pleased to get the images I did, and so are the performers. That's what counts.

--
Tony
http://flipperty.smugmug.com