Another Sale
Sales have been good to me lately.
I just received this email this morning:
Hi Ḃḭṙḡḭṫṫä,
You’ve just made a sale on Redbubble! Your work was so brilliant that someone showed their appreciation with their wallet. Unfortunately we have to mark this event with a very boring email but it is full of Useful Facts (TM) about the sale.
‘But when will I get this money?’ we hear you cry, and rightfully so. Well you can find out here: http://support.redbubble.com/faqs/top20/when-do-i-get-paid
Thanks for being who you are and doing what you do, we love having you around Redbubble.
Mr Baxter – Chief Officer of Sending You Good News
———————————————————————
1x Photographic Print of “”The Longest Dream””
Print Size: Large (610mm x 117mm)
Finish: Lustre
Your Margin: AU$14.22 (US$14.95)
———————————————————————
The sale details:
Retail Price: AU$39.17
Manufacturing fee: AU$24.95
Total Margin: AU$14.22 (US$14.95)
You’ll receive: US$14.95
———————————————————————
While $14.95 won’t buy me a new car, or even a full meal at a buffet, (ok, I think it would cover the buffet), I’m not complaining because when you’re as busted as I am, every penny counts.
Fine Art America is now telling me that they’re having “technical difficulties” with my print order. Here’s our problem: they want a crystal clear image (seeing how it’s a B&W landscape of trees in the rain) and fail to comprehend that the ADDED blur and grain they’re seeing on the image is very much intentional, as it is with many of my photos. I create mood with added film grain and gaussian blur- it’s present throughout many of my images. I create depth and mood with my textures. (This is why I’m fond of film cameras.) When shooting with a DSLR, I will purposefully jack up my ISO so that there is present grain in my photo- I also shoot only in monochrome, and RAW. (All manual.) Trying to explain this to somebody who is a “straight photographer/staff member” is beyond frustrating, because now I feel like she’s (“Dawn”) challenging my artistic merit.
The site is called “Fine ART America”, not Fine PHOTOGRAPHY America, and it pisses me off to no end that now, the staff can officially “interpret” what is and what is not- your art!
Would they tell a painter that he or she needs to resubmit a painting using “this or that” acrylic brand paint? Then why do so with a photographer? I intentionally muck up many of my images with blur and grain- that is my trademark style, and I’m known for that.
I wrote Dawn/Fine Art America back and told them all of this, to no avail, and she proceeded to tell me that I needed to reshoot the image (?!! “Are you for real, Dawn?!”) so that they can produce a higher quality photo without blurring or grain. GEH!!!
They. Just. Don’t. Get. It.
How unfair is it to the buyer, who’s paying $731 for that print- to assume that they’ll be getting what they ordered, all the while, behind the scenes, the staff is telling the artist to RESHOOT THE FRIKKING PHOTO and then- they’ll ship the buyer a completely different image than what the buyer ordered- without letting the buyer know!
I immediately lost respect for Fine Art America. Completely.
I told Dawn that I would not be reshooting or resubmitting a “new photo”, and challenging my artistic interpretation would not be tolerated, and that she had only two options:
1.) Print and ship the original, as the buyer intended, yes, I’m aware that it is 9 feet long. It IS supposed to be somewhat blurry if you’re looking at a 9 feet photo on your farging monitor, Dawn. You have to back up about 3 or 4 feet, Dawn!
2.) Release the buyer’s name and address so that I can deal with him or her directly.
I then gave Dawn my Redbubble link, that links her up with their # 1 competitor’s site, and showed her the 160 comments on that image, and how I’ve already been selling the same image there- with no complaints.
(And, again, have made another sale this morning in fact.)
Dawn considers this a “high risk print” because it’s 9 feet long.
I reminded Dawn that while they consider it “high risk” to print, if they didn’t go through with the order, it would be an even greater risk to them, because I will post a journal entry at Redbubble- and within one day- at least 5 countries would know about it by the end of the day.
All of my friends, buddies, pals, and acquaintances are all artists, all over the world. I don’t know many who’re not.
Dawn decided that she would contact the buyer and “inform him” of their troubles. I am livid.
They’re used to seeing landscapes that are crystal clear (etc. etc.) but I inject my own mood and presence into my work with my lighting, exposure, film grain and blur. It adds a retro-vintage feeling to the image that isn’t done in one little mouseclick. It’s not a simple filter that’s applied. It’s various layers (sometimes 20-25) and very much like a patchwork quilt, I will errase bits and pieces from each layer, blending and merging and blending and merging- much like painting- until the final piece has a certain depth and mood.
I’m waiting to hear back from Dawn/Fine Art America.
Will update soon.
Land and Sea
…
Multiple Exposure
Brianna seems to think I need “followers”. She says she feels sad for me when she sees that there are no comments in my blog. I was quick to remind her that while my blog is public, it’s still very private. Nobody knows I’m here! It’s not a bad thing. If I wanted comments, I would post something at Redbubble and within the hour, have lots of feedback. (And while we’re on the subject, I sold another print the other day of “The Longest Dream”.)
I post things here as a thumbprint. I want to leave something behind that’s more than just my artwork and photos. Little snippets of who I am.
J and I will be getting a house soon. He’s starting school again and I’ll be starting my fall semester with him. He’ll be taking general studies still but is interested in Physics. I’m doing all that I can to encourage him. He’s got such a brilliant mind and is always inventing things. He’s pretty amazing in that area.
I’ll be taking Nutrition, College Algebra, Public Speaking, and Substance Abuse Treatment Centers I. That should keep me busy for a while! I’ll get a little chunk of change back after my tuition, so I want to buy my Mom some dentures. They’ll be around $1,000. She seemed to have misplaced hers altogether and is feeling embarrassed to go out in public. And that’s about all for now.
Cold. Hard. Refreshing.
That’s what my mike’s hard cranberry lemonade says on the label and I believe ’em.
So, let’s move right along to more interesting things like death.
Death. Death. Death.
I tell you, I’m not fixated on it or anything, but I found out that my cerebral arachnoid cyst that is rebelliously attached to my brain stem has grown to the vulgar size of three centimeters. That’s the size of a golf ball. I’m not altogether jovial about that. I went to the doctor several days ago to find out, abruptly, that I have no medical insurance. Suddenly, after over a decade of having Medicaid, kersmack- it’s gone! Well, it was just bad timing. I was filling out the new patient form at the neurologist and the receptionist had made some calls.
What had happened was, my X decided that he wanted to try Humana’s insurance. He discovered, after a very short time, that he couldn’t afford it and aborted the prospect. It was, however, enough to raise a red flag within the child support system. It is of their belief, that if he can afford Humana insurance no matter how short of time (and he cannot), then he can do the same for his two children. (Again, he cannot.)
My x and I have joint custody. Even so, he’s ordered to pay $50 per week for my two teens, seeing how they reside with me the majority of the time. Fair enough. But when he tried out Humana’s insurance, they cut off my Medicaid, along with the children’s.
Now, there’s no point in playing the victim and explaining my golf ball cyst to total strangers on the telephone that are bound by government agencies, stipulations, protocol, and other trivial unfortunates. I simply went down to the child support division with nothing more than my disapproving look and convincing argument, and believe me, I have the gift of salesmanship and know how to sell somebody their own shoes. While they’re on their feet.
No picture ID or anything!
I explained the situation to the child support division: they had begun to dock my poor ex.’s wages for $80 per week! The court order said he was only to pay $50 per week. I ask you, how in the (blankety blank) are they allowed to jack up the amount outside of an attorney and the law and everything?! It’s just not right, and I tell you, I feel sorry for the Dads out there in the world who are getting socked in the back with this kind of crap. It’s utter BS, and I know a good many moms who would think the dads’ plights their sudden fortunes, but if somebody slaps you upside the head with a bag of $80 in coins, and leaves you lying in a bloody mess on the ground, are you going to rejoice because you’re $80 richer, or seek justice because you’ve been assaulted by something you didn’t ask for?
I suppose that answer would lie in the hearts and motives of the recipients.
I decided to fight the system and shine the better light on my x. He is no Santa Claus, and he’s no “hero dad”, but he is a good dad who loves his children. I told the child support system to give me the papers to sign to close out the case, and I signed them.
The state worker said,” Now, I do need to inform you that once you sign this paper, we won’t be able to help you for the next year, even if you DO want our help.”
I signed the papers without hesitation. She then reported that she would stop garnishing his wages and that they wouldn’t intercept his tax check.
The children are with their dads right now, spending a great weekend with him at their grandmothers. He was so very happy and relieved by the papers that I gave him yesterday.
It’s a small victory against the system of “abusing children for custodial parents’ gain” and it’s a huge victory for keeping such an evil system out of our personal lives.
We made the children by ourselves.
We can raise them, though apart, amicably, for the safety and mental health of our children.
There are too many bitter mothers out there with a death wish against their x, that poison their children against the “absentee parent” for revenge. It’s child abuse- straight up. Plain and simple. Don’t dress it up- call it what it is!
Then they tell their kids how bad the “absent parent” is. It’s sick.
And a good many moms (and foster moms, for that matter) out there need to be ashamed of themselves. Pouring hatred into their children, year after year, while gloating about it to their ex., and plenty of men end up bitter against women for it. Am I supporting the men? Absolutely. Am I accusing the moms who do that? Absolutely. Yeah, I’m on a tangent. I don’t go on one often. But so many children end up destroyed because of the parents’ custody-wars.
My x and I have been divorced for over five years. We do not always like each other, but for the kids’ sake, we remain peaceful, amicable, and demonstratively communicable.
It really is cut and dried. Parents, if you love your children, and you are separated or divorced from your x- stop killing your childrens’ hearts with your hatred against the other parent. And if you are guilty of doing so, then I hope you can see your errors and have genuine conviction and make the choice to not do so any more.
Give you kids a fighting chance in this world.
End rant!
[J- in the abandoned warehouse. New Albany, Indiana]
Wretched Mess
Today has been one of the most wretched days of my life. I’ve had the worst migraine that I’ve ever had, and it has been a doosy. I started my day with a strong dose of cayenne and ginger (as usual) , followed by a small cup of medicinal tea. I was grossly nauseous, and so went back to bed. I tried to read some of my Bette Davis/Joan Crawford dual biography, but was too sick. The pain was mostly in the back of my head, exactly where my cyst is, and it was swelling- massive pressure was building up and as usual, it felt as if I’d been shot in the back of the head- but this is actually worse. When a person is shot in the head, more times than not, they die. If they don’t die, they’re rushed to the hospital and given large doses of morphine, stadol, demerol, or something of that nature so they’re not suffering. In my case, I have to sit it out. Minutes feel like hours. Words are too simple to describe this kind of ongoing pain.
I haven’t taken a phenergan in over a month, but I tried to take one half and be very still. Eventually though, my stomach revolted. My son asked, “Do you want me to bring you the trash can, mom?”
“No, I don’t want to throw up in front of everybody,” I said.
Two minutes later I ran to the bathroom and “worshipped the porcelain god” as the saying goes. Now if you’ve never thrown up a fairly large amount of cayenne pepper, you haven’t really lived yet. My whole head was on fire! My nasal passages felt as if somebody’d sprayed acid into them and I was crying tears that actually burned. (Not boo-hoo crying, but phsyiologically.) Also, the pain was exacerbated by the fact that I had a new surge of fiery adrenaline coursing through my body, particularly in my head.
I made it back to my bed and by God’s good mercy, was able to sleep. I woke up feeling like raw heck, drank a bit more of my medicinal tea (poppy seed tea, which actually works to kill the pain, if you can keep it down), and after five more hours of intense agony- ordered Chinese. (Might I recommend the moo shu beef? General Tso’s chicken is also a tasty dish, and crab rangoons make a great appeteizer. This is what I ordered, along with a coke and a few Pepsi’s.)
It is now 12:45 a.m. and the pain is still pretty intense (it’s moved around to my front right eye socket). Ibuprofin is a joke, but I took two anyway. It’s been three weeks since I’ve stopped taking my Lortab and Ambien. My liver was beginning to tell me that I couldn’t keep taking pills and remain “healthy”. Granted, I never exceeded 10 mg. at one time, which is the equivalent of 1 blue Lortab, (but seldom took even that much). This is part of the reason why I decided to become certified in Substance Abuse- I know far too many people who have been reduced to a mere statistic, having lost everything (including themselves) to drugs.
I’ve become passionate in my search for a homeopathic solution: pain management without having to take pharmaceutical chemicals. Poppy seed tea can be taken at small doses to combat severe pain, such as the pain from my arachnoid cyst, while still allowing me to function. Naturally, if you take a larger amount, you can get higher than a kite, but if I wanted to get high, I’d just smoke a joint. I like to be in control of my faculties though. This is part of the reason why I quit drinking liquor over five years ago. If I chose to not take anything at all, I’d be limited to “getting out of bed to pee” and that’s about it. I can’t live that way. So after much consideration and trial and error, I’m sticking with my cayenne, ginger, and med. tea, when necessary.
I do get more migraines this way (not taking pharmaceutical drugs) and some days it’s sheer agony, like today, but my liver feels 80% better.
Through it all, I’m able to say, “Thank you God for this pain. I still choose to praise you, and lift up Your Name.”
When I compare my pain, to the pain that Jesus had to endure, I shudder to think that I could even complain. I still have two eyes that see, and a heart that loves- two working hands, a family that I love and that loves me. I have much to be thankful for.
Much to be thankful for. 🙂
Pain in Rainbows pt. # 2
I decided to convert my collage (Pain in Rainbows) over into a digitally rendered fauvist styled painting on stone. I rather liked the way it came out. While I wasn’t planning on sharing my arachnoid cyst situation with all of Australia, I wanted to include my Aussie friends (all of whom are artists: sculptors, writers, and painters) as we’ve all been close for about six years now.
I feel pretty fortunate to have such a great group of friends. Many have solo exhibitions and are quite successful in the art world. And, a finer bunch of people I’ve never known.
The site I’m referring to is Redbubble. I’ve been there six years. Hmm…maybe seven.
The Marriage of Black and White
I’m realizing only today why I’m so creative. Because I’ve had to improvize my whole life. Having next to nothing to work with, forces you to try harder. You have no choice but to experiment because you really don’t know what else to do. Over time, your style becomes defined, refined, and unmistakable.
Having to sell my rig, more than once, I was left with only my Canon G3. It’s a 4 MP dinosaur. Because I had nothing else, I decided to not only learn how to shoot in B&W + manual, but revel in it.
That was about two years ago. I’ve been shooting for about 7, but B&W rules me. I’m completely infatuated with the marriage between light and shadows. To me, black and white is already a story. The images within an image become the actors on the stage, or props, I suppose, but even if you have only one blank wall, and a cheap camera set up to photograph that wall, with a bit of natural window lighting hitting it (through parted curtains, say), then the clouds passing over the sun become the filters. The passing clouds increase and decrease the gamma and contrast naturally.
The story of B&W is one of masculinity and femininity. Life and death. Hot and cold. Love and hate. When stripped down to their very elements, they are in their most powerful state. I have little interest at the moment in HDR, filters of this or that kind- and while they’re great (and I have experience in those as well) I can’t escape the beauty of being stripped down to almost nothing, and simply working with what ya got.
That’s not to say I photograph things in the nude.
I’m experimenting with a new webcam I got. It’s a cheapie $18.00 Logitech. But it’s capable of shooting in B&W (Heaven……….!) and so I’ve been sitting here in my computer chair, painting shadow swans on my wall with my hands. When I move my hands back and forth to and away from my chest, the shadows become elongated horizontally. Such a simple action. But it changes the dynamics of everything.
And here are some snappies:
This is generally how I feel several times a week.
“Ahhh…..close the curtains!”
(Migraines make the light absolutely unbearable.) Oh, and I wasn’t faking it. I did indeed wake up with a migraine.
I intentionally bleached the lighting, and jacked up the gamma so the blacks would be double heavy.
Choppy, grainy, bleeding contrast, toasted exposure- what’s not to love?
(Yes, yes, I’m kidding.) But the shadows on my neck from my fingers are intentional.
It’s a fair statement to say that I am obsessed with shadows.
Perhaps I’ll post a video today.
Perhaps not.
On Death and Smiling
My BFF, Josh, playing the guitar. Lensbaby Composer Pro/Double Glass /2.8
My daughter, Heidi, in another one of her gravity-defying moves- taken recently on the tracks.
Between my photography and her modeling, I’d say we make a swell team.
My daughter, Heidi, down at the tracks.
She’s 1/2 Italian, and so I was going for the look of Italian Vogue.
We had been up all night, and I shot 246 shots of her there.
Sleep deprivation is like a poor man’s high.
Kicks in the creativity!
Another one from the shoot.
Heidi is a natural, and a brilliant model.
Lensbaby Composer Pro/Double Glass /4
Canon Rebel XTI
Natural lighting/manual exp.
“When I die, I don’t want everybody standing around like birds gawking; wondering if I’m still breathing or not. Who wants that?” I asked my son.
“I would want everyone to carry on normally.”
I realize this would be a tall request. And really, it isn’t altogether fair to ask someone to give you something that they may not be capable of giving.
“I don’t think people are afraid of dying, really,” said he. “I think people are afraid that others will forget about them. We’re all alike. We just want to be remembered.”
I smiled. “You have wisdom above your years, son,” still smiling.
Yes. I suppose we do.
Offboard Flash = Flashlight
Yep, I keep one in my camera bag now. Ya know, it’s pretty bad when I’m so darn busy that I forget entirely that I have a blog. Well I went out and played in the rain the other day with the new copy of my 50 MM Prime.
Here are a few shots from that day:
The trees were playing hide and seek in the mist. Who knew a 50 MM would make such a good landscape lens? (Not me.) I cropped only the top and bottom, adjusted the levels, and did a slight colour balance adj. on it. It’s pretty much SOOTC. I uploaded this first shot here to my other site that I hang out at, and within twelve hours, it received over 500 views, 100 faves, and 100 comments. (Gasp.) That’s a lot.
The reflection of a willow tree in the water. Raindrops were falling.
Winter in the park.
I stood there like a stone, in the rain, snapping away! This woman was staring straight at me. I must have looked a bit curious- camera in one hand,
sheltering myself from the rain using my black trenchcoat with the other. She wasn’t entirely comfortable with the situation, but I was racing
against the clock. I needed the element of a person in the photo from a good distance for it to come together properly. I was satisfied with the
results.
After the rain.
I posed my daughter- from the tip of her pointing toe to the stretched out toboggan. She wasn’t altogether thrilled but I bribed her with
broccoli and cheddar soup with a big, iced sugar cookie from the local coffee shop. (Yeah, bribing your kids with sweets is just part of
the job!)
I knew the red jacket would stand out well against a monochromatic (in this case, duotoned) BG. Another striking photo is a woman wearing a red dress, with an ice blue (monochromatic) cityscape behind her. I’m betting a deep yellow cityscape would look just as good.
Early this morning, I ordered the Lensbaby Composer Pro with Double Glass optics + the Sweet Optic 35. (!!!) I have no earthly idea how to use them. Never even held one. But you have to start somewhere, eh? I really don’t know what direction I want to go in yet with my art/photography. I have no desire to ever be a portrait photographer (as in, paid professional) oh goodness, no. The professional would rob the artist. I have to be able to be spontaneous. I have no desire to be a “landscape photographer”. Will never be a sunset flower-puppy dog-birthday cake-on-kid’s-face photographer…is there a genre I can fit into? Shadows and duotones and fine artsy stuff I wonder? (Sigh) I think every photographer/artist goes through this.
…
y(1)-y(2)=m(x(1)-x(2)
Oh my brain feels like Jello[insert trademark thingy here]. If I have to look at one more intercept slope form I’m absolutely going to shrivel up and cry.
On the brighter side of things! I have just ordered an 8 gig memory card, and extra battery, and extrension tubes. (And my new 50 MM 1.8 II came in today, along with my UV filter! I’m pretty dang excited. I already have the skylight/ND, and polarizer.) I have never used extension tubes and am completely clueless (I hear you need offboard/external flash for optimal exposure) and I’m wondering if I can bounce the flash upward and then direct it downward with an actual umbrella. You know, you have to get clever sometimes and ghetto-rig things when you’re as broke as I am. But hey- again, that pushes me creatively so it serves its purpose.
I do know that a coupling ring/lens reversal ring works beautifully for super-macros when combined with a reversed 50 MM 1.8, threaded onto a 52 MM reversal ring, which is attached to the 55 MM end of a standard kit (18-55 MM). I used to have this setup and of course, it’s only manual focus; which is adjusted by physically moving your camera closer and further away from the subject so precision is an absolute must. Then again, there’s always plan B- slap the word “art” on it and let people “interpret” it. This is not only a good way to pass time but an interesting psychological experiment. Beer makes it better.
I think it’s time for Netflix.
…
Is that Fed Ex?!
So I’m looking at my standard kit lens here. No, it’s not the 17-55 (or the 28 MM 1.8 or the 35 MM 1.4 -the list goes on) that I was wanting, but I am enrolled in five classes this semester and we peasants must take what we can get. The Ebay seller listed this as a new lens, but the Fed Ex package says that it’s refurbished. The plot thickens.
As for my classes, they are:
ALG II
ENG COMP II
WORLD CIV II
PSYCH
SPANISH I
My major is Behavioral Sciences + I’m working on my Substance Abuse certificate simultaneously. Last semster I took 21 credit hours; this month I’ve scaled it down to 16. Between that and my teens, I’m having to take photography where I can get it these days, but I’m contemplating pushing a bit harder throughout the week so I can save Saturdays for a photoshoot. (Or photowalk/city walk, etc.) I hope the doorbell rings 2 more times today…
…
Ringing in the New Year
I wandered around the streets of my hometown on New Year’s Eve in search of “subjects”. I wanted to shoot people but the place was like a ghost town! I’m so drawn to shadows and still life, I’m wondering how I will ever break out of this pattern if I want to venture into street photography. I don’t want to be a simple point-snd-shooter. Composition means everything to me, as do strong lines. I drove to Times Square once, in New York City, and shot street photography at night. My bags had been packed and waiting by the door to go to Texas (from Indiana). my Aunt had been sick and my daughter and I were on our way to see them. They cancelled at the last minute, and so we found ourselves with packed bags, $1,000 and no where to go. I told my daughter to pick a place, anywhere in the U.S. and that’s where we would go. She said, “What about New York?” And so, the next day, we found ourselves driving straight into the belly of the beast: Times Square. Here are some of my photos from that trip: (All photos are shot in manual + natural lighting/no flash.)
Times Square at night, New York, New york
Canon Rebel XSI Sigma 17-70
Modern Day Vintage w/ film grain- Canon Rebel XSI + Sigma 17-70
A mass of people simming in the city sea. W. 45th St.
Near Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York
Canon Rebel XSI Sigma 17-70
I had crawled up to this pigeon in the rain.
The guy was eating. I was watching him. The pigeon was watching me.
Then I was watching the pigeon.
Then the guy was watching me. Then he jumped out of the frame.
I smiled politely. Then I snapped away.
Hurley’s. Manhattan, New York and a little bit of GIMP.
Canon Rebel XSI/Sigma 17-70
Muesum of modern Art
New York, New York
A small crowd gathers to study Monet’s Water Lilies.
Canon Rebel XSI- Sigma 17-70
GIMP
Overlooking Broadway from the Crowne Plaza Times Square hotel. Nice place! Even if the eggs are $9.00.
Coffee for breakfast.
Hanging out on Broadway at Times Square. Everything sizzled with energy. The smell of hotdogs permeated everything and there really was steam coming out of the sewers. Just like in the movies. Horns honked. taxis were a streak of canary yellow and the rain drizzled lightly. It was another world. Swarms of people hustled about- headphones attached, eyes making no contact- disappearing into the night.
The beauty of motion blur/long exposure. One of my many passions in photography.
Broadway in classic “Old Hollywood” black and white.
I was almost laying in the street for this one. I like wide angle shots, and prefer verticals over horizontals. I’ve been shooting verticals for years- and my eye is trained for this type of composition. I feel so vulnerable regarding horizontal composition, in comparison. I’m hoping to practice up in that area over the next year.
As seen from my hotel window at night, overlooking Broadway. I was sitting on the executive office desk Indian style, lens pressed to the glass- full panoramic view. I could see the people in the buildings across from me working out at their office gyms, after hours. I wonder if they could see me.
I was fascinated that behind all of the glitz and glamour of Broadway, this is what it boils down to. The viewers arrived (on Broadway) around the corner in limousines, draped in diamonds, but the stars came in through this humble stage door, accompanied by the grimiest dumpster I had ever seen.
Museum of Modern Art
New York, New York
When I walked into the room, it was as if this guy had been waiting for me.
I immediately sunk to my knees and hunkered down to the floor as low as I could go, loweing the exposure so I could get a good silhouette.
I thought it called for a vintage texture (it’s actually about 7 textures combined) and lots and lots of GIMP. I titled the print “Therapy” and sold a matted canvas to a mystery buyer at Redbubble.com for $175.00.
That put a smile on my face.
Museum of Modern Art. I was in the hallway and saw this guy walking up the stairs. It called for a diagonal composition. (Makes me think of Escher, one of my favourite artsits, second to Van Gogh only.)
New York just wouldn’t be the same without its generous splash of fire escapes throughout the city.
But I digress.
Here are a few shots from my walk-around on New Years Eve. The shadows told me it was the right time to go out and shoot.
Film noir/B&W-shadows- it’s where I live.
The streets were completely abandoned on New Year’s Eve. I loved it.
My mother and I rung in the New Year alone in her apartment. She was tucked into her comfy chair and I read to her for an hour out of my book: Anthology of American Poets. (Poe, Dickenson, Longfellow, Frost, and about twelve others.) It was so old fashioned and simple. I took this shot of her two cats in the early afternoon on New Year’s Day. Both cats are black and white. So, this is a black and white shot in black and white of two black and white cats:
My mother’s lamp.
There’s almost nothing more beautiful to me than film grain with a dash of gaussian blur.
In black and white, of course. Heavy on the black.
Canon G3/natural lighting/manual exposure
…
Call a Fork a Fork
Most of my friends are artists, painters, and photographers who have solo exhibitions. Sometimes my artographer acquaintances will title their images with a super-long, melodramatic sequence of events (that should be written in volumes), such as:
Although the Winds Beckon Me to Run High Upon the Mountaintop Nevertheless I Will Walk Along this Broken Trail
(Yes, I just made that up.)
I say, call a fork a fork.
Natural window lighting/RAW/handheld/film grain/GIMP/Canon G3/study in lighting and shadows
***
Shooting in Black and White
I took this shot of my son earlier this evening. This is the look I want to achieve with my digital phtography: low-light film.
Exposure: 1/3 of a sec./ISO 100/F. 2.07/handheld/manual/RAW/Canon G3 (I snuck up on him while at the computer.)
When I walked by him, I saw the glow of light on his face (my mind saw it in black and white) and I knew I had to get it.
This was shot in black and white. I find that after shooting in black and white for a while, my eye becomes trained on shapes and lines, and where the light falls off and where it is introduced. I’m forced to see the many shades of blacks, whites, grays, and all of the beautiful tones within. The beauty of shooting in RAW is having it automatically converted into colour once it’s loaded in my editor. (I use GIMP.) So, I shoot in black and white, and the results are colour- but with far better lighting than if I had shot it in colour.
You can find GIMP here.
Gimp is 100% free, and it enables RAW editing with UFRAW.
If you want to install an EXIF reader (and I strongly recommend it), you can do so by going here.
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m o n o c h r o m e j u n k i e † 