167. Determined - June 12-18, 2016
Deron-
Every corn kernel is bound and determined to grow up to be popped.
Kevin-
Gosh, I had a splendid idea (or at least an idea that seemed splendid to me) for the image I would created for this week’s theme. And the concept was so, so simple. Just a combination of a nighttime self portrait, with the moon rising in the background, and a stroboscopically illuminated model rocket flying toward that moon, determined to reach it. I mean what would be complicated about that, right?
Alas, Thursday was the only night with clear skies this week in the Twin Cities. And it was also Michelle’s birthday, and Byron and Erleen’s 1,000th wedding anniversary, and I had a steak dinner to grill in celebration. So after dinner and dessert I decided to simplify things a bit and with Byron’s help captured a shot of me, a telescope, and the moon. But by the time all of this could happen the skies were a lot darker than I wanted. Plus all my light stands were at the studio. But fortunately I had a living, breathing original Byro-Stand to hold one light. (The shot really needed about three lights). Plus with the darkness it was all but impossible to position things correctly. And the moon was partially obscured by leaves on branches. So I wasn’t really satisfied with the shot.
So yesterday I worked to pursue an alternative Determined image, deciding to show all the equipment and gadgets that one can accrue when one is determined to solve the simplest of problems.
And for some reason I also decided to play around with a lighting style that is more in keeping with images often created by a much younger generation. Using a single, direct flash unit, positioned above and behind the subject, and with the flash zoomed to 200mm, even though I was shooting at a 58mm focal length, so the harsh light was very focused.
Nikon D4s, tripod mounted, 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 58mm, ISO 100, one Nikon SB-900 flash unit on a light stand, ISO 100, f/11 @ .6 seconds so I could also capture the glow of the screens on the laptop, tablet and phone. Plenty of calculators.of course, plus pencil and paper, PostIt’s etc. If I would have had a abacus I would have added that as well. Why? Because gadgets can be fun when one has the determination to correctly figure out the answer to even a simple problem.
Alas, Thursday was the only night with clear skies this week in the Twin Cities. And it was also Michelle’s birthday, and Byron and Erleen’s 1,000th wedding anniversary, and I had a steak dinner to grill in celebration. So after dinner and dessert I decided to simplify things a bit and with Byron’s help captured a shot of me, a telescope, and the moon. But by the time all of this could happen the skies were a lot darker than I wanted. Plus all my light stands were at the studio. But fortunately I had a living, breathing original Byro-Stand to hold one light. (The shot really needed about three lights). Plus with the darkness it was all but impossible to position things correctly. And the moon was partially obscured by leaves on branches. So I wasn’t really satisfied with the shot.
So yesterday I worked to pursue an alternative Determined image, deciding to show all the equipment and gadgets that one can accrue when one is determined to solve the simplest of problems.
And for some reason I also decided to play around with a lighting style that is more in keeping with images often created by a much younger generation. Using a single, direct flash unit, positioned above and behind the subject, and with the flash zoomed to 200mm, even though I was shooting at a 58mm focal length, so the harsh light was very focused.
Nikon D4s, tripod mounted, 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 58mm, ISO 100, one Nikon SB-900 flash unit on a light stand, ISO 100, f/11 @ .6 seconds so I could also capture the glow of the screens on the laptop, tablet and phone. Plenty of calculators.of course, plus pencil and paper, PostIt’s etc. If I would have had a abacus I would have added that as well. Why? Because gadgets can be fun when one has the determination to correctly figure out the answer to even a simple problem.
Paul-
I learned chess my first year in Junior High. And like Hearts and Byron’s Forza interactive race game, I quickly found that I always play aggressively. Fearlessly. For blood. (Though, to be fair, in Forza the blood is always mine.)
As far as I know, I still have the Westbrook Junior High School record for the Chess Team’s fasted executed Fool’s Mate to end a competition game. Regrettably, I was the one on the losing side of the board. It was embarrassing.
But this hasn’t kept me from pouring through chess books now and then over the years to try and improve my skill level. As a result, I still play aggressively, fearlessly, and for blood. But as a result of significant study my beginning, middle and end game strategies are slightly worse than they were before. I’ll sacrifice pieces for questionable gain, try to command board real estate I have insufficient strength to hold, get “knight forked” with alarming regularity, use my pawns for cannon fodder, and move my Queen out too early as if to say “Now I’ve got you, you pathetic little worm of an opponent.” (That worm captures my Queen two moves later.)
I may also be the only person who has owned two computer chess games—both of which displayed a dialog box saying “Forget it” when I tried to run them.
But I am still “determined.” I play chess when I have a chance, And, as you can see in the picture, I am committed to learning (and subsequently forgetting) new ways to improve my game. Occasionally, I win games. Occasionally, I also tamper with the board while my opponent gets up to grab a beverage
I should probably tell them this. Probably.
A Rank and File Description: 18-55mm lens set at 18mm; aperture priority; ISO 1600; matrix metered; -0.33 EV; 1/8 sec. at f/20
Note: The book seen at the 11:00 position on the table —“The Immortal Game: A History of Chess or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science, and the Human Brain” by David Shenk—is a non-fiction book. (Not an instructional one.) It was a blast to read.
As far as I know, I still have the Westbrook Junior High School record for the Chess Team’s fasted executed Fool’s Mate to end a competition game. Regrettably, I was the one on the losing side of the board. It was embarrassing.
But this hasn’t kept me from pouring through chess books now and then over the years to try and improve my skill level. As a result, I still play aggressively, fearlessly, and for blood. But as a result of significant study my beginning, middle and end game strategies are slightly worse than they were before. I’ll sacrifice pieces for questionable gain, try to command board real estate I have insufficient strength to hold, get “knight forked” with alarming regularity, use my pawns for cannon fodder, and move my Queen out too early as if to say “Now I’ve got you, you pathetic little worm of an opponent.” (That worm captures my Queen two moves later.)
I may also be the only person who has owned two computer chess games—both of which displayed a dialog box saying “Forget it” when I tried to run them.
But I am still “determined.” I play chess when I have a chance, And, as you can see in the picture, I am committed to learning (and subsequently forgetting) new ways to improve my game. Occasionally, I win games. Occasionally, I also tamper with the board while my opponent gets up to grab a beverage
I should probably tell them this. Probably.
A Rank and File Description: 18-55mm lens set at 18mm; aperture priority; ISO 1600; matrix metered; -0.33 EV; 1/8 sec. at f/20
Note: The book seen at the 11:00 position on the table —“The Immortal Game: A History of Chess or How 32 Carved Pieces on a Board Illuminated Our Understanding of War, Art, Science, and the Human Brain” by David Shenk—is a non-fiction book. (Not an instructional one.) It was a blast to read.
Jerry-
I found my "determined" subject while having lunch at Jimmy John's at the U of M campus. While I was outside enjoying my Pepe sandwich I noticed this fellow across the street who looked like he was DETERMINED to get to where he was going (the bus stop). The camera was sitting on the table with the folding lcd screen tipped up toward me and it was in silent mode. This was the Sony A6300 with 50-200 zoomed to about 170mm, 1/1000 @ f11, ISO 1600.
Don-
I took these last Sunday with a point and shoot camera I use while riding a motorcycle. My theme picture is the
following one where we are approaching Molas Pass also 10K feet while on the way to Silverton, it was raining and
hailing at about 45 degrees. I took this picture over my shoulder of friends behind me. I left my ear in the picture on
purpose when I cropped the picture. I believe the people in the cars were surprised when the flash
went off. Sorry, again no camera data.
following one where we are approaching Molas Pass also 10K feet while on the way to Silverton, it was raining and
hailing at about 45 degrees. I took this picture over my shoulder of friends behind me. I left my ear in the picture on
purpose when I cropped the picture. I believe the people in the cars were surprised when the flash
went off. Sorry, again no camera data.
Byron-
Ants are an example of natures little creatures that never give up. The day after a heavy rain, these miniature construction engineers were rebuilding there home. It is built in the expansion joint of a sidewalk. Because it is a path traveled by humans, rain isn't the only disaster they contend with. They don't seem to complain. They must have a good union that promises a pension when they retire. I used my 55 - 200 Nikon lens mounted on a bellows. That means I have no idea what the aperture was. It did look dark through the viewfinder. I supplemented the natural light with a flash unit set at 1/2 power and held about 12 inches from the ants. That's a lot of light. I was wondering what the ants thought of my intrusion.
Shutter speed 1/60, f?, ISO 400, zoom lens set at about 100mm. SB 700 set at 1/2 power trigger wirelessly.
Shutter speed 1/60, f?, ISO 400, zoom lens set at about 100mm. SB 700 set at 1/2 power trigger wirelessly.