I’m a sucker for light breezes blowing through any sort of swaying plants. They make for very interesting compositions. They’re a bit challenging to capture because the subject keeps moving, but if you get it right, the result is really nice. Taken at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC.
The wonderful thing about using a fast lens is that you can get photos like this in low light. Sure, the depth of field may be thin because the aperture is maxed out, but it’s very liberating to be able to walk around and take handheld photos without having to do long exposures on a tripod.
I really like this photo of mine. It’s so grainy you might think I took it with a cheap digicam, but I didn’t. I used my Exakta EXA Ia SLR, and I think I had 100 ISO film inside. Yet it is this excessive grain that I like here. It lends a wonderful atmosphere to the photo, and when you superimpose that silhouetted tree against the moody, slightly glowing sky, you get something wonderful. I identify with this photo more than I’d like to admit. In truth, I find a lot of myself in it.
This other photo doesn’t look good in a smaller size like this, so I encourage you to click through and view it in full size. There’s something wonderful about shedding light on darkness. It’s that moment of truth when you expose what’s been hidden… Here light barely touches the tops of the trees, but I know it’s going to come pouring down soon, filling the entire view. It’s hope, distilled.
I really like to find patterns and shapes in everyday objects. Whenever I get a few free moments, I look around me to see what I can spot. It’s fun, and it’s oddly relaxing. There I am, frowning, concentrating, making sure I get the right lighting, angle, exposure and focus (or lack of, depending on my preference), yet I’m relaxed. I tune everything else out and focus on the little patch of something in front of me. I even adjust my breathing, sometimes not breathing for 20-30 seconds while I get the shot.
This is a polished aluminum drawer handle:
This is the mesh vent above our stove top:
This is a detail from a painted, handmade earthen vase:
These are the spindles of a lamp shade. The center black knob is visible in the top right corner.
This is a macro of a bamboo leaf:
We all know what this is. The cool thing is that I shot this at 1600 ISO, and yet there’s no noise. The Canon EOS 30D does a really good job, doesn’t it?
This is a ceiling lamp, and I love the patterns of light and shadow it projects onto the ceiling:
Finally, this is a detail from a neon light cover:
Raoul Pop 