For quite some time now I've wanted to try some low key photograpy; on Friday afternoon I finally got the chance. My nephew was willing so we headed out in search of something to use as a dark background. He actually spotted the wall that we eventually used (nice and dark - on the side of a nighclub). One bonus of the location was that it was partially sheltered from the rain under a bridge on-ramp, and that came in very handy.
To do this type of photography properly I really need a few additional items of equipment. The effect is much better when the light source (i.e. flash) is from the side rather than straight-on. With an umbrella reflector it is softened as well.
Still, given the limitations of the equipment and that this was a first attempt, I'm quite happy with the results.
[Hmmm. Little problem with this post earlier. When I uploaded the pictures and edited prior to posting I'd noticed a few differences in the way the code for the pictures looked but when I looked at the final result everything was fine... for a very short time. Next time I looked at the post the pictures were missing. Turns out there a new known problem posting from Picasa (which I always use for posting) which hasn't been fixed yet. The upshot of this is that if you looked at this post during most of the day of April 4th you won't have seen the pictures, just the text, which wouldn't have made all that much sense. Think I've got it working now, though all the hidden text for all my previous posts isn't working correctly either. Sigh. If it's not one thing it's another.]
No surprise then, that this post is one of them. It's from along the Fraser, on the north side of the Iona Beach park. I'd like to think that this image has a bit of a timeless feel to it, that you can't quite tell if it was taken two days ago or two decades. Let me know what you think.
This barge dock is down to the south of the new Translink Bus facility near the north end of the Arthur Laing Bridge. At least I think that's what it's used for.
I took a couple of different shots of this the other day, and really expected that I'd process a colour version, as there were some really interesting colours in the ramp, the rust, paint, etc. Oddly, it just didn't satisfy me in colour - probably the grey sky - so I decided to try processing as black and white and am much happier with this result.
[Oh, Corwin... Since you're counting, there are two more Great Blue Heron's in this picture!]
Well, fog and calm water, actually.
Probably the last of the shots from Steveston. Actually, I wasn't sure that I'd post this one, considering that the last two - which I thought were quite good - haven't received a single comment good or bad...
Is anybody out there???
It was hard to believe it yesterday: the sun was out, and the temperature was well above freezing. It's been a while since we've had such a day. I spent some time down at Fraser River Park, trying to soak in some of the sun. Of course I had the camera with me, but mostly I was just enjoying the day.
Today we were back to rain...
One last black and white image from Saturday. I'll definitely need to go back and try some more of this (because these last three pictures weren't exactly stunning - pleasant perhaps, but lots of room for improvement). The landscape is so different there now from what it's like in the spring and summer, and black and white is definitely the way to go to capture it.
The more I look at this one, the more I think there's something Hitchcockian about this gull...
As a black and white image I think that this one has a bit of an edge over yesterday's post, but I'm really interested in hearing what you all think (all two of you who visit!)
First, let me wish everyone a Happy New Year, late though it may be. I'd shot almost nothing new since Christmas Day but finally made it out with the camera yesterday, so this is really my first new picture of the year.
(We'll just ignore that the last picture was posted on January 2nd, since it was supposed to have been posted on December 29th.)
With all the cloudy weather we've been having, and are likely to continue to enjoy, I've come to the realization that now is the time to embrace black and white imagery. However, it's one thing to take a picture and then in post-processing decide that it looks best as black and white. It's a completely different thing to go out and try to see things in shades of grey.
This was taken down at the old dock at Jericho, just a little before it started to rain again. It's possible I may post one or two other similar images, just for comparison, as each has been processed a little differently.
As always, comments are welcome and encouraged!
I don't seem to be managing to shoot much new lately - the days are just too short. On top of that, this past weekend was a working one for me, so it's been nearly impossible to get out when there's any light.
To make up for working the weekend I did have Friday off, but with a lot of errands to squeeze into the one day. I found myself in Richmond late in the afternoon when I'd finally managed to get all the essential stuff done and tried to make it to Steveston for the sunset. Alas, I missed the sunset, but there was still some lingering light that I tried to take advantage of before the chill off the water drove me away.
This shot is of a statue commemorating the contributions of Japanese Canadians to the local fishing industry, with one of the old BC Packers cannery buildings in the background.
I went out for a long walk on Sunday in search of new material but unfortunately it was a bust as early in the walk I met up with a real jerk (yeah, I mean you "David G") who pretty much spoiled my mood. Nothing I took on Sunday was any good.
As for you David, I hope we never meet again; the world you live in has left you full of fear, which you feed and encourage, and then use as justification for actions that even you were ashamed of. And if I'm wrong and you weren't ashamed, then you're in an even bigger pit than I thought, because you should be ashamed. If I were ever to act the way you did I wouldn't want to identify myself either.
I prefer to believe the world has more good in it than bad, a world where the first words out of one's mouth to a stranger aren't a demand, a world where, well, enough. My world may not be perfect, but it's a damn sight better than yours David. But if you disagree, David, you have my email address.
Now that I've finally got that rant out of my system let me tell you about this picture. It was taken out at Stave Lake back in late June (check the archive). I didn't post it at the time as I didn't want to bore everyone with too many pictures from the same location. I also didn't finish processing it until sometime later anyway, but once I did I think it's the best of the set from that day.
