PBPhoto

Symmetry, originally uploaded by paggre.

So the interesting thing here about using this hour-glass for the subject of symmetry is that . . .well. . .it is not symmetric. It tilts and moves and so I had to correct that in the Gimp.

The other interesting thing here was my first use of a cookie to add some interest to the background. I found some leaf stencils that I used for camouflaging my rifle. Nice effect I think.

Texture, originally uploaded by paggre.

This was another shot for the photo-a-day challenge at http://photochallenge.org.

I like the dark space here. I tried some that were only the pattern of the basket. I think the negative space adds some interest to the photo. Also tried different amounts of fill light from the right using the autoshade. Varied the distance and found that I liked less fill light. The shadows reveal the texture.

So I used my shoot-thru umbrella with the 285HV. I find that I am using the shoot-thru exclusively since I got it. It is nice to get that added aperture by getting the umbrella in very close. The autoshade is very handy and cheap. So if you need a reflector, don't pay $40 for a "photographic" one. Hit your local Wal-Mart and pick up one for $5. I wish they made a gold autoshade. Has anyone seen one?

Be blessed.

Silhoutte, originally uploaded by paggre.

Wow. I was surprised that this got such a positive reaction on flickr. I have done this type of thing with my son before. Makes a cool portrait.

It really couldn't be easier to do. One light with a foam snoot. I set it on 1/4 power. I set the camera to max. sync. For me that is 1/250s. Apeture set to f5.6. That is always my starting point. I adjust from there.

This is taken in a lit room. But the room is f4 @ 1/25s or so. So I am way above ambient.

So the snooted 285HV is behind the subject slightly side-lit. Then you just turn the subject or move the light until you get the effect you are looking for.

Be blessed.

Electronics, originally uploaded by paggre.

I'm taking part in the 2009 challenge at photochallenge.org. The format is a photo-a-day. That is definitely a challenge. Some days there is just no time.

Anyway this was fun. The subject was electronics. Since I work around electronics I could have used all sorts of bleeding edge ball grid arrays but no. I was borrowing my buddy's MESA guitar amp (thanks Mark and Tommy) for practicing. So I remembered the tubes. Old school. And they really do sound better than any solid-state amp. Sorry guys. That is just a fact. I used to be in the solid-state camp. But have since seen the light.

So I lit this with two bare speed lights. Experimented with color a lot. But found that the sepia treatment gave it a vintage look.

Be blessed.