POTW 12/4 2009

<p>Hi folks. A few general comments for those of you who commented on my pictures and for those who did not. Judging by these answers and some from PF and another on street, I know they are uncomfortable for many and I myself wrestled with posting them...How ever as I said, they are photographs...They are far different than the usual brick and mortar buildings, flowers, cats, etc that most of us shoot day in and day out...It is easy to get stereo typed as a certain type of photographer...Nothing wrong with that, but there is a whole world out there waiting to be captured...Not all of it is pretty. Infact much of it is ugly. So when I saw what was going on, my first instinct was to Pray and my next was to shoot and I would do it again...Anyway it is what it is and it happens all over....</p>

 

<p>Just some goofing/bragging with an award from work and the D-FA 100mm Macro...</p><div></div>

<p>...</p><div></div>

<p>This weeks pictures seem to have a wide variety of subjects, and over all, is a great group of pictures.<br>

Spring hit here, then two weeks later we had freezing temperatures, so everything sort of closed up. But now it's back in all it's beauty.<br>

The first picture is a white azailia. I never knew how hard it was to retain detail in white, but here is the finished product.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Ben...For anyone interested, I also captured a fellow doing some sort of Satanic ritual last year at the beach. I just uploaded the pics<a href="../photodb/folder?folder_id=905737"> here.</a><br>

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=905737</p>

<p>This next one, I didn't even look through the viewfinder. I guess I was too lazy, but it was muddy and I didn't feel like eating mud pie!<br>

The last picture was shot with the Pentax K10d, Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5 @ F/16.<br>

This picture, Pentax k10d, Pentax 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6</p><div></div>

<p>By the way Javier, I just had a thought; If you're a Christian and came upon these people, their ritual would probably not work-especially if you prayed for them right there!<br>

I'll change topic and post a landscape instead of all these flowers. I used the Pentax 50mm F/1.7 @ F/11. A series of 4 virticle shots put together in photoshop.</p><div></div>

<p>Jon, you are exactly right and it was right after that, that they started to mad dog us and that is when we left.</p>

<p>Ok, so I love the very 1st pic. Hard to top, and there's plenty of others I really really like.<br>

But, first and foremost, ROBERT C.... how, exactly did you get that chair to look like that?!??!?! Was there any PP going on? Was is just funky light in the prison? (I think I'm in love w/ that prison after seeing 2 photo sessions with it, and I haven't even made it E of TN yet)</p>

<p>I personally think Matt should have mentioned how he took the macros of the award - on the hood of the car outside in full sun - I'm surprised they look studio/flash lit to me.</p>

<p>As for myself - frankly, the belly is getting bigger & I'm getting slower & lazy-er (???). Therefore, the getting up n down & moving around got left for Matt during this week's photo shoot. Yeah, he took these & did the PP - I'm claiming partial credit because the posing was by me. </p><div></div>

<p>I wasn't only pointing to places to stop & click. Fill light provided by me & a 40ish inch gold reflector.<br>

For this one, the groom-to-be decided to "improvise." Yay him!!! I think taking their pics together at the wedding will be a lot of fun, too.</p><div></div>

<p>Peter Z. - The red stairs are awesome. Maybe its cause red is my favorite color.<br /> Justin S. - Your church/graveyard is haunting.<br /> Andrew H. - Your Kite photo has a great expansive feel to it.<br /> Haig T. - Your 1st and 2nd shots are just amazing. <br /> Hin M. - Your black and white conversion is the best (photo 4)<br /> Michael E. - That skunk cabbage glows with the yellow. Talk about 3d.<br /> Robert C. - Very moody black and white of cellblock 2. Love it.<br /> Robert B. - Love the red in the Wake Robin. Looks like a mouth.<br /> Howard T. - Too fast is very artsy. Nice. Looks like an angel shadow.<br /> John B. - Those white flowers appear very delicate<br /> Jon R. - I'm in love with that glowing flower. This little light of mine...<br /> Javier G. - Your series wins best of show this week. It's gritty and since I'm interested in religion...the topic helps still the show.<br /> <br /> Thank you all who commented. I'm struggling to get better and need the critiquing. As for the Jewish Holiday, it was an awesome experience. Anytime that we can praise the Most High for his work, we should, even if its just being in awe that the universe actually works. And Javier, man, that was an awesome awesome series of captures. Bravo!</p>

<p>Maria,<br>

Thanks for your comments on the prison shoot. (that just doesn't sound right) Anyway, as for the barber chair. It was just sitting in one of the prison cells. The light was provided by a small window in the ceiling of each cell. When Eastern State Penitentiary was opened in 1829, it was considered "state of the art." Part of a broader reform period in U.S. history. The idea was to keep the prisoners separated which was supposed to cure them. The cell is closed off so you can't even go in. In pp last week I started fooling around with some textures that I downloaded. I layered a texture over the pic and dropped the opacity greatly so it is hardly noticeable but certainly there. Otherwise I didn't do much. Here's another example of a pic I added a texture to. </p><div></div>

<p>Robert, That's a great shot and technique. You've created some fine stuff with these. Would you mind sending me an email at ptz1961(at)hotmail(dot)com?</p>

<p>I'm a bit late but this shot is from last night / week. This is a 30 second exposure of a thousand foot laker (Walter J. McCarthy) passing under the aerial lift bridge in Duluth, MN.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3436063955_70c89c175e.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="335" /></p>

<p>Sorry Javier but I have to speak out: let your photos tell the story and leave out your subjective views. I don't think that 'creepy' 'horrible' and 'ugly' are appropriate labels neither are they particularly helpful in this, a photography forum. Assume that your viewers are able to make informed decisions, and let them comment on your images for what they are... images. </p><div></div>

<p>Nice Picture George. :)</p>

<p>It is a nice photo. I haven't figured out the lines below of the girl's face but the dynamic is very good.</p>

<p>Dave, I saw that too. If you look between the two girls agaisnt the wall, it looks like there is a demon there. Very Ghostly.</p>