91. Chinese Zodiac - March 8-14, 2015
Paul-
My selection from the bestiary of the Chinese Zodiac is the hare. It was by no means my first selection. That was the “Dragon.” But those were either slaughtered or driven off in Nebraska more than 150 years ago…sharing the same, sorry fate as the Jackalope and the Golden-plumed Progressive Democrat. So I went with this serious-looking individual.
Our story so far: The photographer was dismayed that the furry fellow didn’t leap up into his waiting arms for a gentle hug. But only a little; by this time he had gotten used having no hare on his chest. Photographed with an 18-55mm lens (dialed in at 18mm); ISO 560; 1/4000 sec. at f/3.5.
And if that joke wasn’t excruciating enough, I could have said (and I guess I am doing so) that the hare was tied with the canine for my first choice. It then being a clear case of “hare or the dog.”
My selection from the bestiary of the Chinese Zodiac is the hare. It was by no means my first selection. That was the “Dragon.” But those were either slaughtered or driven off in Nebraska more than 150 years ago…sharing the same, sorry fate as the Jackalope and the Golden-plumed Progressive Democrat. So I went with this serious-looking individual.
Our story so far: The photographer was dismayed that the furry fellow didn’t leap up into his waiting arms for a gentle hug. But only a little; by this time he had gotten used having no hare on his chest. Photographed with an 18-55mm lens (dialed in at 18mm); ISO 560; 1/4000 sec. at f/3.5.
And if that joke wasn’t excruciating enough, I could have said (and I guess I am doing so) that the hare was tied with the canine for my first choice. It then being a clear case of “hare or the dog.”
Jerry-
T-Rex stopped by the other night in a natural, wood like appearance looking pretty harmless - so I found a rattle can of bright red in the garage and gave him a makeover! Very cooperative model, perhaps you will see him and some of his buddies appropriately painted in the next few weeks.
D750 with 85mm f1.8 set to f11 @ 1/200. Bounce light from my SB700 held off to the left, background left over from my wedding photography days.
T-Rex stopped by the other night in a natural, wood like appearance looking pretty harmless - so I found a rattle can of bright red in the garage and gave him a makeover! Very cooperative model, perhaps you will see him and some of his buddies appropriately painted in the next few weeks.
D750 with 85mm f1.8 set to f11 @ 1/200. Bounce light from my SB700 held off to the left, background left over from my wedding photography days.
Kevin-
Of the Chinese Zodiac characters I decided I wanted to photograph a Dragon. Of course this was more challenging than a Rat or a Dog or a Pig, as those animals actually exist, whereas Dragons do not. But fact or fiction, beyond the mythology of books like The Dragonriders of Pern, movies like Dragonheart and such there are wide representations of Dragons from Dragon robot models to plush Dragon dog toys. But I decided I wanted to go with a “real” Dragon like this. And I’m sorry but Komodo Dragons don’t count! I wanted something more like Smaug in The Hobbit.
Finding an appropriate looking Dragon I spent a lot of time working on the lighting. Three Nikon SB-900 series flash units were used. One in front and to camera left set to 1/128th power and zoomed to the 200mm setting providing the key light. One in the back and camera left, with a dome diffuser on it and set to 1/16th power providing the fill light, and one to camera right and slightly above, set to 200mm and 1/32nd power providing some backlight for the wings.
Nikon D3s, tripod mounted, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens set to 170mm. ISO 200, f/22, 8 seconds. Why 8 seconds? I wanted Dragon flame! Pulling that off also took help from Michelle as in WPOTM tradition I needed to do it in one shot. Once I had the Weber grill lighter held in place and expelling flame she turned off the lights and tripped the shutter. I let the flame burn for about three seconds, removed the lighter and the flash units then tripped at the end of the exposure (second curtain sync). Don’t mess with this Dragon. If the flaming breath doesn’t get you those teeth will!
Of the Chinese Zodiac characters I decided I wanted to photograph a Dragon. Of course this was more challenging than a Rat or a Dog or a Pig, as those animals actually exist, whereas Dragons do not. But fact or fiction, beyond the mythology of books like The Dragonriders of Pern, movies like Dragonheart and such there are wide representations of Dragons from Dragon robot models to plush Dragon dog toys. But I decided I wanted to go with a “real” Dragon like this. And I’m sorry but Komodo Dragons don’t count! I wanted something more like Smaug in The Hobbit.
Finding an appropriate looking Dragon I spent a lot of time working on the lighting. Three Nikon SB-900 series flash units were used. One in front and to camera left set to 1/128th power and zoomed to the 200mm setting providing the key light. One in the back and camera left, with a dome diffuser on it and set to 1/16th power providing the fill light, and one to camera right and slightly above, set to 200mm and 1/32nd power providing some backlight for the wings.
Nikon D3s, tripod mounted, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens set to 170mm. ISO 200, f/22, 8 seconds. Why 8 seconds? I wanted Dragon flame! Pulling that off also took help from Michelle as in WPOTM tradition I needed to do it in one shot. Once I had the Weber grill lighter held in place and expelling flame she turned off the lights and tripped the shutter. I let the flame burn for about three seconds, removed the lighter and the flash units then tripped at the end of the exposure (second curtain sync). Don’t mess with this Dragon. If the flaming breath doesn’t get you those teeth will!
Byron-
Be really careful if you are near a snake that is coiled. That’s excellent advice. What do you do if the entire snake is a coil? I took it’s picture and ran. Believe it or not, this is not a living snake. It is at a place in Ft. Collins, CO called the Swetland Zoo. The resident artist creates all sorts of animals and machines by using scrap materiel and a welder. How much does it cost to visit this zoo? There is a box that asks for a donation.
ISO 400, 55mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, white balance set to Auto.
Be really careful if you are near a snake that is coiled. That’s excellent advice. What do you do if the entire snake is a coil? I took it’s picture and ran. Believe it or not, this is not a living snake. It is at a place in Ft. Collins, CO called the Swetland Zoo. The resident artist creates all sorts of animals and machines by using scrap materiel and a welder. How much does it cost to visit this zoo? There is a box that asks for a donation.
ISO 400, 55mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, white balance set to Auto.
Deron-
I couldn't choose a certain animal, so I pretty much chose them all! I may have had an unfair advantage, as I was able to swing into Chinatown, after working in Los Angeles. Going to Chinatown is a pretty cool experience... almost like being in another country, like say, China. Elderly Chinese men huddled around a card table playing some sort of board game, arguing about what the next move should be. I asked a few gentlemen what they were playing but no one spoke english. There was a statue of their beloved hero, Bruce Lee (nunchucks, and all), the Chinese lanterns strung across the streets, from restaurants like the Hop Louie to the Lien-Hoa and then there is the many shops selling expandable fans, Chinese rice hats and a bunch of goods bearing the different animals of the Chinese Zodiac... I guess I 'focused on' the Tiger.
I couldn't choose a certain animal, so I pretty much chose them all! I may have had an unfair advantage, as I was able to swing into Chinatown, after working in Los Angeles. Going to Chinatown is a pretty cool experience... almost like being in another country, like say, China. Elderly Chinese men huddled around a card table playing some sort of board game, arguing about what the next move should be. I asked a few gentlemen what they were playing but no one spoke english. There was a statue of their beloved hero, Bruce Lee (nunchucks, and all), the Chinese lanterns strung across the streets, from restaurants like the Hop Louie to the Lien-Hoa and then there is the many shops selling expandable fans, Chinese rice hats and a bunch of goods bearing the different animals of the Chinese Zodiac... I guess I 'focused on' the Tiger.