Just For You on this Special Day 2-14-2009

 

Polar Plunge 2009

Attended the 2009 Polar Plunge Yesterday

What a group of Characters

 

  

  

  

 

Fun with a Pen Light

There are only a few things I enjoy more than playing in a completely dark room with my pen light flashlights. Here are a few examples of painting light on to subjects to present them in a different way.

 

 

I have had this litte tea light stand for a long time but never found a use for it until now.

  

Dead flowers that I forgot to add water too get a new life when presented with highlights from my pen light.

 

To create this underwater effect, I place a pear in a jar made of wavy glass.   The movement of the pen light allowed the light to move across the wavy glass in a way as to simulate water.

  

Just a simple bowl of fruit and a pen light 

 

Out and About

I was out and about this weekend.

It struck me how quiet things were, for a Super Bowl Weekend

 

 

Super Bowl XLIII - Get your game face on

It's Super Bowl Sunday
Go Steelers

Fun with a Pineapple

I recently tried to help a friend with a photography exercise, that required she produce a photo highlighting the shape of a pineapple,   I was inspired by the challenge she faced.   I mean, how difficult can it be to photograph a pineapple.   Turns out, it can actually be quite a challenge. A pineapple has many shapes and textures that effect how light hits it and the dark deep shadows it can create.  In the end she did a great job with it, no thanks to my help.

Now it was my turn to see what I could do with the fruit.   I didn't want to focus on the shape. I instead wanted to present it in a way that was different while enjoying the challenge of over coming the problems of the deep nooks and crannies that play havoc with the light.  Once I purchased the pineapple, I quickly realized I wasn't sure what I would with it, to make it seem interesting.  Took two days to come up with something I liked.   Here are the results.

First attempt was to simply show the wonderful patterns that could be found on the fruit and foliage.  To do this I came in close to concentrate on a portion of the fruit.

Then I though, when you think Pineapple think tropical, so this time I  decided to show it with a tropical background.

I was not at all happy with the harshness of the light.   I added two lights, one on each side, slightly behind and shinning forward onto the sides of the pineapple and a soft light from the front point down onto the fruit and a reflective white surface down low and in front to bounce light up into the undersides of the leaves.   That produced this.   From a lighting perspective this was much better.

Next I wanted to do something artsy and different.  I added some cut up pineapple, put my camera on a very very slow shutter speed,  turned out all the lights, and using a small hand held flash light began painting light on to different parts of the scene and background.

 

This was more fun than I deserved.   I had a great time.

I'm such a fruit LOL

Integration

Here in the United States, we see more and more integration of a minority throughout society. It seems to me that the idea of random integration rather than pockets of a society existing independent of another, helps to break down the barriers of race, religion, and life style. Although I agree with the theory, I also think it important for people to practice, express, and recognize their ways and beliefs. We as a society need to find a new way of balancing that pride, without inhibiting the individuality of it.

Love often struggles

Ah To Be Young Again