photography

7/30/13 – Tagged

Sure, the big stuff in Detroit is great. The bridges, the Renaissance Center, the athletic fields, the Fox Theatre.

But so is the stuff in the alleyways between those great monuments. Everything is tagged. Right down to the dumpsters.

There’s not a surface that doesn’t have spray paint on it: from billboards to the stands that hold them.


‘On Taking Pictures’ Project

OTP Project

This Friday, I started the photo-a-day challenge from the guys at On Taking Pictures.

One photo. Each day. For at least a month.

This shot, from Woodward Ave in Detroit, isn’t the first. But it’s the first one I’ll share, along with some catch up from this weekend.

I’m in Detroit for some Google Adwords training, and spent my time after the seminar to do a little photo walk around downtown – something I’ve been meaning to for ages. And with the unseasonably cool temperatures here in Michigan this week, it made for a nice walk.

On the project: Taking a photo every day shouldn’t be too hard for me, usually. Usually I have my iPhone on-hand to grab an Instagram shot while I’m out and about.

What will be hard is taking some time and putting some thought into each shot. If I grab a bunch of photos, like I did tonight, which one will I share? What will I do if I’m not somewhere fun like Detroit?

The way I see it, this project will give me a perfect chance to play with my newest toy: the fire-sale’d Canon EOS M (only wish they hadn’t discontinued the white model!) with the 22mm f/2 lens. So far, so good, as you can see above.

It’ll also give me an opportunity to flex some creative photography muscles. Maybe try some different things.

When I get a chance, I’ll also share the photos on Google+ – and to the OTP Community.

Here goes nothin’.


7/28/13 – Slant of Light

Certain Slant of Light

I’ll say this about my photography hobby: it’s taught me to see the light.

Not just see it. See It.

I’m lucky in that, around my house, the light hits the main rooms in a lovely way, morning and sundown. The front and back yards, too. Just gorgeous light comes pouring in during sunrise and sunset. It doesn’t matter the season either. The Light is there.


June

Chicago: Daisies

June
Came upon us much too soon
Then was gone
Gone
Like the mountains of the moon
At dawn

Then the sun came up on a sleepy day
And never went down at night
And the crowd kept on singin’ “Waste Away”
but it just didn’t feel right
And the prince and the drummer and the fire girls
Couldn’t get our guitars in tune
And I knew it was over when the sound man said
“I wish we were still in June”

Spock’s Beard – “June”


Ah, Summer

Ah, summer

Ah, summer.

It’s only summer, especially in Michigan, that you can take a group of co-workers, head out onto the college quad, and have an impromptu grill out.

And take pictures of co-workers’ bare feet in the grass.

I use a camera in a lot of my work social situations. It’s an easy way to get some practice in, and it seems my co-workers appreciate some of the shots. Especially when kids are involved.

At work, I’m “the camera guy.” So much so that I’ll purposefully leave the camera behind just so it doesn’t become an expectation.

“Where’s your camera, Dave?”

“Not here.”

But beautiful sunny days in May? Count on me.


A series of Instagram shots posted over the last few days, called “Cloud Atlas.”

It’s amazing what can happen when (a) the weather rolls in just right and (b) luck and timing line up for photo opportunities like this.

I created each image using the fabulous new Mextures app, which I’m really excited about – especially with landscape stuff, and running them through VSCO Cam.

The world of mobile photography is exciting, especially lately.