XKCD Amuses Me

XKCD comics almost always amuse me.  The comics themselves are often hysterical but the mouse over comments are the little extra that helps make the series a mandatory addition to my Feedly feed.  This Christmas comic is a great example:

The mouse over comment for this strip is:

If you're turning 27 and were born in the Northeast, maybe you were conceived in the blizzard of 1982. Imagine: snowed in, candles, massage oil, your mom sporting nothing but her early 80's haircut and a smile ... aren't you glad you read the title-text?

 That's classic XKCD

Read more

Self Portait Behind the Scenes

Here is a self-portrait I took for the 2009 January Photo Challenge:



Other than the fact that I included five of the recent challenge themes in one photo, there is nothing terribly remarkable about the image.  What is remarkable is the ghetto lighting set up I used to put it together.  Here are some shots of the set up.


Wide angle view:



Here is a detail of the strobe to the left of the chair:



Yes, that is a combination tripod, Cactus v2 receiver, cheap-o flash, Gorillapod, plastic coat hanger, and a white pillow case.  What you can't see is the Kleenex rubber-banded to the flash to help soften the light further. 

DIY Strobists eat your heart out.

In hindsight, I should have just moved the flash closer to the chair to soften it, but that would not have been nearly as cool as this.  Here is a better view of the setup without the pillow case:



Rube-Goldberg photography?  Maybe.  Fun? Without a doubt. The other aspect that made this an interesting shoot is that I had a hyperactive 4 year old as my "assistant".  Nothing like leaving the room for a minute to return to your camera settings gone all awry and your Assistant constantly cheering you on with "Daddy, hurry up and take the picture!" and "Let me see, let me see!".

Read more

An Unfortunate Event

JPG Magazine is closing its doors on January 5, 2009.  They are a victim of the current econcomy and just can't get the cash to keep things going. This really too bad. 

In case you are unfamiliar with JPG Magazine, it is a publication composed entirely of user created photography.  It's like Flickr, but in print and I think the quality of work tends to be a little higher.  I'm personally disappointed because I had made it a goal for 2009 to have some piece of work published in the magazine, whether it be a photo or an article.  That goal will be crossed off and I'll have to find a new one now. 

You can still download all the back issues in PDF format here: Archives

You might also want to pull together your contacts from JPG and see if they are elsewhere for you to keep in touch.  I just finished going through my contacts and adding them as Flickr contacts and bookmarking web sites. 

Read more

Thinking About the People Side of Photography

Scott Bourne over at TWIP had a post this morning that made me think.  Scott was discussing the art side of photography, the human side.  While we all love obsessing over new gadgets, gear, and technology, I think we are all primarily motivated by the emotional response we get from photography.  Here is my reply to Scott's post.

I've always looked at photography as a chance to share how the world looks through my eyes.  For better or worse, I seem to have a non-standard perspective.  I see things that other people don't.  No, I don't see dead people, but I notice little details, light falling in an interesting way, and relationships between things that don't immediately seem related. When ever I point out one of these observations, people wonder how I came up with the connection.  Undiagnosed ADD could have something to do with it. However, regardless of my current mental health, my photography helps me show the world how I see.

That's why I love looking at photographs from others.  It gives me insight into what's important to them and from which perspective they observe their surroundings.  The more I get into photography the more I realize that it's about people and relationships.  Whether the relationship is between the photographer and a model, the photographer and a mountain, or the photographer and some cranes flying through the mist, I think photographs are manifestations of relationships.  

Read more

Off Camera Lighting

The siren song of off camera lighting is calling me.  I already have a cheap flash and a Catus v2, but I would like to be able to play with at least two off camera flashes.  I just read over on Strobist that RadioPopper came out with some new technology.  The product that caught my eye is the  JrX receiver and transmitter.  I think this combined with some Vivtar 285 HV Flashes are what I need to get started. 

If I read this article correctly, I can get by with 2 Vivitars, a  JrXTransmitter, JrX Receiver, and Wein Peanut Micro Slave and I should be all set.  Maybe throw in a couple of light stands.  The whole shootin' match should run me around $300, which is about the same price as a single Canon 580 EX.

Read more

Camera Selection Dilemma

I've been shooting with a Rebel XT since it first came on the market. Last year I was ready for a major upgrade to my system and decided to invest in good glass instead of a new body. I bought the Canon 24-105 f/4L and will never be able to buy anything other than L glass ever again.

Now I want to upgrade my camera body. The Canon 50D is very appealing, but the 5D Mk I is a serious contender also even though it is at the extreme edge of my budget. I'll have to spend a lot of political capital with my family CFO to make that purchase.

Reviews I've read on the 50D are all over the board. The review at DPReview says it's Highly Recommended, but barely because the image quality is not that much better than the 40D. However, the feature set on the 50D is awesome:

• 15.1 MP
• Digic4 processor
• 3 inch screen
• LiveView mode
• Integrated sensor cleaning
• Burst up to 16 RAW images @ 6.5 to 3 fps
• High ISO sensitivity
  

Yes, I must consider the fact that Canon has jammed a ton of receptors into a small sensor, which will result in a lot more noise. I still get more room to use the crop tool and I can always down-sample my image.

The 5D Mk I is a classic that still gives incredible image results largely due to its full frame sensor. Despite the fact that it is old technology, the 5D Mk I is a solid camera capable of spectacular images.

I'm still figuring out my photographic niche and my subject matter is all over the board: portraits, sports, landscapes, and a lot of kid pictures. I need a body that is versatile.

Just to complicate matters, I also have a Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 EX DG HSM that won't work on the 5D. I could still use it on the Rebel XT, but it would be stuck there. I also have the Canon 50 f/1.8 II, but that works on either EF or EF-S mounts.

Which camera would you recommend?

Read more

I'm Published

I've had a picture published on Schmap!!, a travel guide web site.  You can see my photo here: Washington Monument

I really like this photo because I think that it is a unique perspective on an commonly photographed monument.  It makes all the stares I got from squatting in an awkwardly crouched position for five minutes worth the embarrassment.

Read more