99. Float - May 3-9, 2015
Deron-
I rode my bike out to Lake Perris on a windy day with supplies and camera in-tow. The water was filled with waves and white caps, so I found a little cove that was protected from the wind. I dropped the bottle in the water and this is the result. I had hoped the sky was going to be darker by the time I got there, because I had a few tiny glow sticks that might have made this photo really come to life. I also wanted to shoot this in the Pacific Ocean, but didn't make it out there... the 12 foot waves they had going on would have made it a tough shoot, as well. All in all, I'm happy with it.
I rode my bike out to Lake Perris on a windy day with supplies and camera in-tow. The water was filled with waves and white caps, so I found a little cove that was protected from the wind. I dropped the bottle in the water and this is the result. I had hoped the sky was going to be darker by the time I got there, because I had a few tiny glow sticks that might have made this photo really come to life. I also wanted to shoot this in the Pacific Ocean, but didn't make it out there... the 12 foot waves they had going on would have made it a tough shoot, as well. All in all, I'm happy with it.
Kevin-
I have already complimented Deron for what I believe has been the most interesting WPOTM theme. FLOAT has so many definitions or ways to be interpreted, from a floating bobber on the water to a floating feather in the air to a root beer float(!) and many many more, any of which could result in a terrific photograph.
The approach I took was to capture floating helium-filled balloons. But to really capture the “float” I combined two constant light sources with a long exposure with a pop of two studio flash units - capturing sharpness plus movement from the upward float.
Nikon D4s. Tripod mounted. 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 50mm. ISO 50 (Low 1). 1/2 second at f/14.
I have already complimented Deron for what I believe has been the most interesting WPOTM theme. FLOAT has so many definitions or ways to be interpreted, from a floating bobber on the water to a floating feather in the air to a root beer float(!) and many many more, any of which could result in a terrific photograph.
The approach I took was to capture floating helium-filled balloons. But to really capture the “float” I combined two constant light sources with a long exposure with a pop of two studio flash units - capturing sharpness plus movement from the upward float.
Nikon D4s. Tripod mounted. 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 50mm. ISO 50 (Low 1). 1/2 second at f/14.
Paul-
“Float an Idea”
This image was not my first idea for Deron’s theme. In fact I had already arranged for a different submission. I was going to photograph one of the practitioners in my Tai Chi club posing (in traditional martial arts clothing) in a stance called “Ward Off.” It is analogous to, and a technique by which, you uproot your opponent through a sudden release for force—directed upwards. This expansion of energy, in some martial art forms, is called “Fou.” Which means “to float.” It’s basically deflecting the opponent’s attack upwards.
I kind of liked the idea because: 1) It involved photographing a person (something I don’t do very often for the WPOTM): 2) provided a challenge as far as what angle I would use to best convey the power inherent in the move; and 3) it involved very little ice cream and root beer. I’m scarfing too many goodies as it is.) Still, it seemed a little esoteric. Besides, when the idea of “to float an idea” popped into my head later I got a sudden creative rush of who-gives-a-crap-about-Tai-Chi-I’m-going-with-something-silly.
So…I cut a balloon shape out of a thick piece of Crescent Hot Press board, sketched out the word “IDEA” on it with magic marker, and covered the whole thing with red chalk pastel. I erased a little bit of the color on the edges to give the board a slight illusion of roundness and reflection. Until gravity is repealing on our planet’s surface—and I heard Apple is doing this next year—the string I’m holding isn’t actually tethering the “balloon.” It’s suspended by two pieces of monofilament line.
Our story so far…The photo was taken about 15 hours after one of the worst city-wide rains in recent history. (And throw in a short-lived tornado around 12 miles from my house.) Parts of the city received a voluntary evacuation notice—and this after a heavy rain two days earlier. Everything backed up, creeks rose, cars started floating in some places. It’s also supposed to rain tonight as well as tomorrow. So I am sitting there with a reasonably calm look on my face because I am not yet surfing in my basement. I love Nebraska.
Where was I? Oh yeah: 18-55mm lens focused in at 23mm; 1/200 sec at f/7.1; 2-frame (in-camera) HDR sequence with 1/3 EV range between shots; aperture priority; tripod used.
“Float an Idea”
This image was not my first idea for Deron’s theme. In fact I had already arranged for a different submission. I was going to photograph one of the practitioners in my Tai Chi club posing (in traditional martial arts clothing) in a stance called “Ward Off.” It is analogous to, and a technique by which, you uproot your opponent through a sudden release for force—directed upwards. This expansion of energy, in some martial art forms, is called “Fou.” Which means “to float.” It’s basically deflecting the opponent’s attack upwards.
I kind of liked the idea because: 1) It involved photographing a person (something I don’t do very often for the WPOTM): 2) provided a challenge as far as what angle I would use to best convey the power inherent in the move; and 3) it involved very little ice cream and root beer. I’m scarfing too many goodies as it is.) Still, it seemed a little esoteric. Besides, when the idea of “to float an idea” popped into my head later I got a sudden creative rush of who-gives-a-crap-about-Tai-Chi-I’m-going-with-something-silly.
So…I cut a balloon shape out of a thick piece of Crescent Hot Press board, sketched out the word “IDEA” on it with magic marker, and covered the whole thing with red chalk pastel. I erased a little bit of the color on the edges to give the board a slight illusion of roundness and reflection. Until gravity is repealing on our planet’s surface—and I heard Apple is doing this next year—the string I’m holding isn’t actually tethering the “balloon.” It’s suspended by two pieces of monofilament line.
Our story so far…The photo was taken about 15 hours after one of the worst city-wide rains in recent history. (And throw in a short-lived tornado around 12 miles from my house.) Parts of the city received a voluntary evacuation notice—and this after a heavy rain two days earlier. Everything backed up, creeks rose, cars started floating in some places. It’s also supposed to rain tonight as well as tomorrow. So I am sitting there with a reasonably calm look on my face because I am not yet surfing in my basement. I love Nebraska.
Where was I? Oh yeah: 18-55mm lens focused in at 23mm; 1/200 sec at f/7.1; 2-frame (in-camera) HDR sequence with 1/3 EV range between shots; aperture priority; tripod used.
Jerry-
With float, I thought of ducks and geese, swimming along in a local lake. So I bicycled over to Meadow Lake (~1 mile) with my camera and took pictures of two geese who I think were very tame. In fact in one photo, the male gives me a look like where's my treat? But my favorite shot is of a little turtle who was watching me with the camera. It wasn't afraid and just kind of "floated" in the murky, algae bloomed water.
D750 with 80-400 at 250mm, f11 @ 1/80, iso 800. The 80-400 only gets as close as about 8 feet, so I put a close up lens to get the turtle photo. It's still not a very tight photo but I like all the water surrounding the little fellow (or gal).
With float, I thought of ducks and geese, swimming along in a local lake. So I bicycled over to Meadow Lake (~1 mile) with my camera and took pictures of two geese who I think were very tame. In fact in one photo, the male gives me a look like where's my treat? But my favorite shot is of a little turtle who was watching me with the camera. It wasn't afraid and just kind of "floated" in the murky, algae bloomed water.
D750 with 80-400 at 250mm, f11 @ 1/80, iso 800. The 80-400 only gets as close as about 8 feet, so I put a close up lens to get the turtle photo. It's still not a very tight photo but I like all the water surrounding the little fellow (or gal).
Byron-
It took me awhile to decide what to shoot. I finally decided on what seems to be obvious. We remodeled our basement to look like a soda fountain from the 50s. A root beer float was a natural fit. At first I planned to shoot it on a standard studio setting with a neutral background. Instead I placed it in front of my MultiMixer. I then decided to shoot it with my 50mm f1.4 and shoot it at a wide aperture to blur the background. As long as I was at it, I would use the incandescent light that is above the sink in that area. I also used a flash off to the right bouncing off an umbrella. That meant I had to snap on the orange filter to balance the color with the overhead lights.
I did this photo myself which means I had the ice cream scoop in one hand and the remote in the other. The trick was making the ice cream stay in the scoop but look like it was about to drop. After the shoot I consumed to subject. I forgot how good a Root beer Float tastes!
It took me awhile to decide what to shoot. I finally decided on what seems to be obvious. We remodeled our basement to look like a soda fountain from the 50s. A root beer float was a natural fit. At first I planned to shoot it on a standard studio setting with a neutral background. Instead I placed it in front of my MultiMixer. I then decided to shoot it with my 50mm f1.4 and shoot it at a wide aperture to blur the background. As long as I was at it, I would use the incandescent light that is above the sink in that area. I also used a flash off to the right bouncing off an umbrella. That meant I had to snap on the orange filter to balance the color with the overhead lights.
I did this photo myself which means I had the ice cream scoop in one hand and the remote in the other. The trick was making the ice cream stay in the scoop but look like it was about to drop. After the shoot I consumed to subject. I forgot how good a Root beer Float tastes!