Charlie's Worldnew toys
Posted on March 20, 2010
I just bought some new stuff for my camera as I’m very interested in long exposure shots.
I got a B&W ND110 filter reduces light by 10 stops so enables long exposures during the day (interesting, but not *that* useful) or more importantly, longer exposures at or around sunset.
The longer the shutter is open on the water/rock/beach sunsets that I like, the smoother the water and the sky become. So focus onto something nice and sharp, like a jetty or a bold rock and set the camera to take a shot for 5 minutes, you’ll get (hopefully) amazingly smooth looking landscapes which tend to convert well to black and white.
I had a little go today, but I didn’t get anything totally fab, just the slight oddness of a daytime shot with smooth waves over rocks.
I need loads more practice, but at least I have something to aim for.
take a look at these guys if you have time
http://www.davidburdeny.com/
http://www.silverlandscapes.com
http://www.michaellevin.ca
Some target, eh? 🙂
having said I was crap..
Posted on March 17, 2010
…I take it all back. Well, not all of it, but some. back onto the subject of cool black and whites and living the 60’s Parisian cafe shooters dream
I went through some shots of Melbourne again and decided to convert a few to black and white to see if I could get that street photography look, and well I’ll be buggered – some of them look fab, with a hint of abstract (which is becoming something of a “thing” for me)
Now, I’m not claiming some kind of greatness here, but I kinda like this lot.
club night
Posted on March 15, 2010
I go to a photography club every month in order to learn from other people, but also to have my photos judged by some top class judges from locally in Western Australia and also nationally.
I’ve only been going for about 6 months, and so far, I’ve managed to get at least one photo each time I’ve been in the top 3 of the submissions – at least I’m doing something right then!
Last month was no exception – managing to get 1st, 3rd and 4th in the open (non modified) class – I was pretty pleased as I think I’m improving month my month.
The club has a monthly theme, which I aim to have a go at if I can – however I’m normally rushing about at the 11th hour trying to think of something to take a shot of! So, in order to avoid that this month, I thought I’d start early. The theme is “abstract macro” which is tougher than it sounds. It really requires a macro lens, which I do have, although it’s only a 50mm which is really the wrong focal length.
Umming and ahhhing over what I’d take, I had a go with some flowers and a chilli in the garden, but as nice as the shots were, they weren’t abstract.
see what I mean?
Nice, might even do well blown right up onto a canvas, but not abstract enough for me.
So, onwards and upwards, we try again, this time, a different subject
can you tell what it is? I think the first and last shots kinda give it away, but I’m not submitting those 😉
style
Posted on March 15, 2010
I was determined to be a cool street photographer.
I had designs on my camera collection down to a simple Leica M6 or M7 35mm rangefinder and a few tasty lenses, shooting exclusively in black and white and generally taking cool shots a-la Cartier Bresson and his ilk.
Well, the nearest I’ve got is my Trip 35 (which, despite being very cool and unflappable is still woefully underused)
and a couple of second hand autos from the 80’s
You might think I’m a bit gutted, and in some ways I am, but it transpires that I’m actually starting to like landscapes and also, rather incongruously, sports photography. Neither of which lend themselves to the Leica in any way shape or form.
I’m on the save up for an ultra wide angle lens for the D300 plus some very tasty filters that would enable me to take the shots that just can’t quite get with my current setup. Handily, I’d like to use said ultra-wide angle for sports photography too.
Here’s some recent landscapes that I’m rather fond of..
Okay, true, they are all sunsets, but I haven’t invested any time into daylight shots yet (plus I need better filters, mine are fine for sunsets, but tint clouds purple during the day). I have a few location ideas in mind which I think I’ll start to work upto in the next few months, especially as the cooler weather is coming.
So we’ll see how it goes, I might be getting up at the crack of dawn to catch that sunrise yet.
more Melbourne pics
Posted on March 9, 2010
Last photos from Melbourne I promise
These are general shots of Melbourne people plus the cool street art of Fitzroy, just outside the CBD. Ideally, I’d like to go back there on a sunnier day with more time and just the Holga.
more Melbourne
Posted on March 8, 2010
Well, we had a good time, you should expect photos :p
this episode – details
Melbourne has plenty of nice things to take photos of – I wasn’t really there for that reason as it was supposed to be our honeymoon – but I did manage to get some snapshots of some the little details which give it some of its charm.
more of Melbourne
Posted on March 7, 2010
It’s just as well we went there last weekend – this weekend they’ve had torrential rain, golf-ball sized hailstones, wild wind and floods in the city! *eep* The news has been full of pictures of flooded streets and hail-drifts. Bloody hellfire!!
Anyways, just to rub it in for people who are visiting at the moment (and Ellie who lives there), here are some tasty photos – firstly, cityscapes
The first couple of days were a bit dull, so some of the photos are a bit on the grey side. Ah well.
girl on film
Posted on March 6, 2010
An homage to the missus. Taken with the Holga and (mostly awful) Diana Mini.
looking good, wifey 🙂
more film pics
Posted on February 24, 2010
Some more scans of the latest films that came back
Perth from Kings Park – Holga + Kodak Portra 400
Perth – Murray St Mall – Holga + Kodak Portra 400
Sunset, Warnbro, WA – Holga wide angle pinhole + Portra 160 – this is really way underexposed, but I love the potential this camera has for sunsets.
Busselton, Western Australia – Holga wide angle pinhole + Portra 160
films are back
Posted on February 18, 2010
Been sat on the latest lot of films for ages and I finally posted them off last week to get developed
I’ve been dreading it a bit – as I had a couple of Holga back opening incidents and the Diana Mini has frustrated me endlessly. Jay had a couple of films in there too, including from the equally brilliant and irritating Supersampler.
I popped up on the train to the lab after work and picked the shots up and had a natter with the lady who works there. Churchill Colour Labs – to give them a plug – do a great job and have an excellent gallery in their shop.
So, the results – as usual, the Holga irritates and amazes at the same time – I think this latest set of mine were less good than the last batch, but there were some interesting shots none the less.
And I’d forgotten I had the first shots from the new Holga wide-angle pinhole – they were underexposed, but then its a hit and miss thing with manually timing an exposure for 10 seconds. Is that under ideal light, or the light I have in front of me. Add a bit for luck and still not enough. Ah well, all good fun.
So, a taster of Holga goodness for you eager beavers
Footbridge over the Kwinana Freeway looking towards the centre of Perth
lights at the B52’s gig
(also captured here with the phone camera)
Taken with the Holga pinhole wide-angle camera – a little under exposed, but I love it none the less. Wide angle is AWESOME!
More pics to come in later posts, including from the Diana Mini (which overall disgraced itself, but there were a few corkers in the bunch)
Charlie's World 