Mirror

ISO: 80
Shutter: 1/30
Aperture: 8.0
On camera flash: 1/3 power

Our assignment for Monday was self portraits. I was going to do something with flash, but once I started getting my equipment ready I realized I had left my flash at the Kernel. So, I thought for a moment and decided to go for a nice soft light and use a tungsten light bulb.

I’m not sure I got exactly what I wanted, but I’m also not sure that this means I’m not happy with these. I actually think they turned out much better than they would have had my plan gone accordingly.  I knew I would need to shoot it tight and use light well, because “environmental” was not an option. My room isn’t too cool, and if someone else were to be shooting my portrait I would not let them use my room. I thought about using my garage as an option, but just bailed on moving all my gear out there (especially since I never know when there could be homeless people sleeping in it).

ISO: 80
Shutter: 1/50
Aperture: 8.0
On camera flash: 1/3 

ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/40
Aperture: 4.5
On camera flash: off

And for those of you who know I don’t have my 20D and that a Mark II doesn’t have an on camera flash, you probably realized that these portraits were shot on my Canon G9. I love that camera.

Pinhole-e-o

Pinhole - simple camera. Results - God awful photos.

An idea I picked up from Jim in Evarts, I tried it out recently. My first attempts at pinhole photography were some of the worst photos I have ever taken. I did learn a few things about light, and that I need to clean my sensor.

But, I have researched a bit and think I have a much better understanding of how to do it now. It seems I was a bit impatient for pinhole photography. So as I learn you’ll learn.

My setup was basically a body cap that I drilled a hole in the center and laid a piece of paper over and tried different sized holes. It’s a bit cheaper than those fancy lenses we haul, but obviously the quality sucked. I am convinced I can make good pictures this way though. Look for it.

Old Self

I was embarrassed about some of the stuff I had posted on my old blog. I deleted one post about an exgirlfriend, but I’ve decided that’s not really fair to anyone, mostly myself. I said those things, and I did those things (name that movie). So I’m not going to hide that blog like I have been.

If you’re interested in seeing how I’ve improved in design and photography you can click here. You’ll also notice a bit of difference in my writing. This blog has some great writing that I don’t think I could ever recreate. I’m ok with that though.

Click here for Reacting on Impulse.

Compare and contrast

I was able to spend tonight with a very good friend of mine who I haven’t seen nearly enough this summer. Allie and I went to a concert together (TV on the Radio) in Cincinnati and got to spend the entire evening together. We chatted about our trips this summer and I got to hear more about her internship and many jobs.

She was talking about how glad she was to be home when she finally got back and I told her I basically spend all of my time wishing I was back in California with Martha and the Pacific. We both agreed that it had more to do with how I stayed rather than who had a better time. Our trips to California were very different. Allie’s was really more of a vacation where as I really felt like I was living there for the summer. I wasn’t a typical tourist, unless of course you’re talking about when we were in Sequoia or Death Valley. Then yeah, we were tourists. But most of the time I felt like I was a member of the community.

In about five hours I’m heading to Louisville to start what will actually be a vacation for me. I’m going with Mary Margaret’s family to Michigan for a week. I’m looking forward to that and already thanking her family for inviting me. Don’t expect much of a travel blog next week. I’m taking a break from this blogging business for a while. It’s too stressful to think this hard about everything this much.

Yeah yeah, I know. I still need to give my final insight on the trip.

I’ll keep the blog updating with interesting sights and what not.

Snatch

I’m in Lexington for today and half of tomorrow. I’m still moving in and cleaning up. The process is very tiresome.

I’ve found a weak wireless signal from a local business in the area. Snatching wireless reminded me of being in Eureka, California and Ed baiting crows and sea gulls with kettle chips only to surprise them with the car door.Don’t count on many updates next week. It looks like I lied about coming back strong.
Probably once I finally move to Lexington this will become my blog, get the changes it needs and blah blah you can read about my life. It doesn’t promise any great stories like nearly losing my leg, lying to park rangers, stepping 3,000 feet above death or being swallowed by the sea, but I’ll try to keep it as interesting and anti-typical-blog as possible.

For now, check out one of my favourite blogs to read. Who knows, maybe you’ll become a weekly reader too.

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