New Year's Resolution
Byron-
This was not an easy week for me to concentrate on the theme. There were lots of distractions. I ended up with this. It shows how I will continue down the path in my photographic endeavors into the sunset.
This was shot with my new iPhone in Timnath, CO. I tried to find a quick way to see the metadata but every website would say to right-click on the image. Right-clicking on an iPad is quite a trick. They also recommended downloading software to do the job. Interesting how each site recommended a different software. I suspect kickbacks are involved.
This was shot with my new iPhone in Timnath, CO. I tried to find a quick way to see the metadata but every website would say to right-click on the image. Right-clicking on an iPad is quite a trick. They also recommended downloading software to do the job. Interesting how each site recommended a different software. I suspect kickbacks are involved.
Darin-
Kevin-
One of my New Year’s Resolution is to get back to my former practice of reshooting interesting WPOTM concepts, either by fitting them into new themes, or simply as additions to my portfolio.
During September of 2019 I was highly intrigued by a photo I took for the Elements week when I photographed a burning Gerbera Daisy, and I have wanted to repeat that general effort. Over the past few years I have photographed a number of flowers, largely inspired by the work of Robert Maplethorpe. But Maplethorpe never to my knowledge photographed burning flowers. And while I have seen a few photographers do this in online videos, none of them (in my opinion) are producing the quality of image I accomplished in September. So I felt it was time to repeat it. Who knows, maybe over time this will become my “thing?"
Here in Palm Springs there is a fantastic floral shop, cleverly enough called Palm Springs Floral. It is of course interesting to walk in to a place like that and hear my wife Michelle mention that I intend to burn the flowers they are selling me. Fortunately they have always been a good natured bunch. And I really wanted to photograph a burning Bird of Paradise.
Once again I sprayed Isopropyl Alcohol on the flowers and then used a long grill lighter to start the flame. I am very happy with the result, especially on the shown Bird of Paradise, but I have also included another flower I purchased, that was on its last legs in a display case. Personally I thought that the droopy nature fit in well with the flames.
The secret to photographing flower this way is balancing the light of the flash units with the light of the flame. Shoot with the flame only for illumination (as most of the online demonstrations show) and the flower will mostly be very dark. Too much power from the flash units and the flame will be overwhelmed. So it requires experimenting with ISO and shutter speed in particular. Also it is essential to compose and prefocus and then turn autofocus off, as the studio needs to be very dark, with just enough light to see the flower, spray it with the alcohol, use a lighter to quickly ignite things before the alcohol evaporates, and use a remote trigger to expose frames during the process.
For the Bird of Paradise, Nikon Z7 body, on a Manfrotto tripod with an Acratech ballhead, 70-200 mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 95mm, mounted via a Nikon FTZ adaptor. Two Nikon SB-5000 flash units, the one on camera left with inside of a medium, gridded softbox, the other on camera right was direct, but at much lower power. ISO 250, f/4 at 0.4 seconds.
During September of 2019 I was highly intrigued by a photo I took for the Elements week when I photographed a burning Gerbera Daisy, and I have wanted to repeat that general effort. Over the past few years I have photographed a number of flowers, largely inspired by the work of Robert Maplethorpe. But Maplethorpe never to my knowledge photographed burning flowers. And while I have seen a few photographers do this in online videos, none of them (in my opinion) are producing the quality of image I accomplished in September. So I felt it was time to repeat it. Who knows, maybe over time this will become my “thing?"
Here in Palm Springs there is a fantastic floral shop, cleverly enough called Palm Springs Floral. It is of course interesting to walk in to a place like that and hear my wife Michelle mention that I intend to burn the flowers they are selling me. Fortunately they have always been a good natured bunch. And I really wanted to photograph a burning Bird of Paradise.
Once again I sprayed Isopropyl Alcohol on the flowers and then used a long grill lighter to start the flame. I am very happy with the result, especially on the shown Bird of Paradise, but I have also included another flower I purchased, that was on its last legs in a display case. Personally I thought that the droopy nature fit in well with the flames.
The secret to photographing flower this way is balancing the light of the flash units with the light of the flame. Shoot with the flame only for illumination (as most of the online demonstrations show) and the flower will mostly be very dark. Too much power from the flash units and the flame will be overwhelmed. So it requires experimenting with ISO and shutter speed in particular. Also it is essential to compose and prefocus and then turn autofocus off, as the studio needs to be very dark, with just enough light to see the flower, spray it with the alcohol, use a lighter to quickly ignite things before the alcohol evaporates, and use a remote trigger to expose frames during the process.
For the Bird of Paradise, Nikon Z7 body, on a Manfrotto tripod with an Acratech ballhead, 70-200 mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 95mm, mounted via a Nikon FTZ adaptor. Two Nikon SB-5000 flash units, the one on camera left with inside of a medium, gridded softbox, the other on camera right was direct, but at much lower power. ISO 250, f/4 at 0.4 seconds.
Paul-
I’m not a big proponent of New Year’s resolutions.
I mean, it’s fine if it works for you and yours. The beginning of a new year serves as both a good symbolic and measureable launching point for those who need a strong sense of demarcation between they want more (or less) moving forward. It also provides a nice sense of starting with small steps--or forgiving yourself early and often when you’re not quite a resolute as your resolution is challenging you to be.
For myself, I like the Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Any day—especially any day twenty years ago—is a pretty good place to jettison the needless burdens you’re carrying or habits that have worn the road under you into a circular rut.
If you can/could, of course. (If I had had the discipline, self-knowledge, and kindness to do this, I would have opted to start planting my trees twenty years ago, too.)
Anyway, my read on resolutions, goals, getting cosmically front and centered—whatever you want to call this tradition—is why not now?
Whatever the day. (Especially since that’s all you really get in life. And no one is even guaranteeing you that. I know; I made some calls.) Every day as a potential day for making or remaking a resolution works pretty well for me: I feel less disappointed in starting up and starting over. And it helps me accept my saplings have still been planted and I am tending them as best I can.
However…
…trying to take on too many resolutions is an exercise in near-martyrdom (without the saintly benefits), So I’m focusing my actions, thoughts, and behavior everyday on a favorite aphorism: “A candle does not diminish itself by lighting another candle.”
These days we could use a little more of the warm, illumination, and perspective light brings.
I mean, it’s fine if it works for you and yours. The beginning of a new year serves as both a good symbolic and measureable launching point for those who need a strong sense of demarcation between they want more (or less) moving forward. It also provides a nice sense of starting with small steps--or forgiving yourself early and often when you’re not quite a resolute as your resolution is challenging you to be.
For myself, I like the Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Any day—especially any day twenty years ago—is a pretty good place to jettison the needless burdens you’re carrying or habits that have worn the road under you into a circular rut.
If you can/could, of course. (If I had had the discipline, self-knowledge, and kindness to do this, I would have opted to start planting my trees twenty years ago, too.)
Anyway, my read on resolutions, goals, getting cosmically front and centered—whatever you want to call this tradition—is why not now?
Whatever the day. (Especially since that’s all you really get in life. And no one is even guaranteeing you that. I know; I made some calls.) Every day as a potential day for making or remaking a resolution works pretty well for me: I feel less disappointed in starting up and starting over. And it helps me accept my saplings have still been planted and I am tending them as best I can.
However…
…trying to take on too many resolutions is an exercise in near-martyrdom (without the saintly benefits), So I’m focusing my actions, thoughts, and behavior everyday on a favorite aphorism: “A candle does not diminish itself by lighting another candle.”
These days we could use a little more of the warm, illumination, and perspective light brings.
Jerry-
Hopefully my photo is kind of self-explaining. It's my attempt to make some reasonable resolutions and put them on paper - and not in the garbage. The orange peels were a bit too orange so I toned down the saturation a bit. We will see how far I get with my Spanish this year.
Camera was the Nikon D750 with 24-85 at 85mm, f8 @ 1/60 with bounce flash.
Camera was the Nikon D750 with 24-85 at 85mm, f8 @ 1/60 with bounce flash.
Don-
I don't feel that this is a particularly good photo. It's
the road that inspires me for the next year. Makes me
want to remember to get out more the coming year, go farther,
take more photographs.
focal part.....24 to 70 mm lens set to 70
exposure part.....1/800 second shutter; f/7.1 and ISO 100
the road that inspires me for the next year. Makes me
want to remember to get out more the coming year, go farther,
take more photographs.
focal part.....24 to 70 mm lens set to 70
exposure part.....1/800 second shutter; f/7.1 and ISO 100
Elroy-
I resolve to visit health club frequently and improve my photography skills in 2020.
Rebel T3i with EF-s 10-18mm lens
ISO 400 18mm 1/10 sec F/5.6 w/tripod and ceiling light.
Rebel T3i with EF-s 10-18mm lens
ISO 400 18mm 1/10 sec F/5.6 w/tripod and ceiling light.