05-07-10 - Noah and Sha're B&W [127/365]
Image by Lynda Giddens
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Create Your Own Bokeh Experiment
Posted at: Daily Window: A photographic record of my ordinary life.
I'm quite happy with myself that this evening I found some cardstock and created a cover for my lens to create my own bokeh. If I haven't mentioned it before, I'm not very good at crafts and the article doesn't really go into much detail about the process of making the cover, it just shows the finished product and summarizes how it's created. So I had a heck of a time actually putting it together and cutting a shape out of the center. I did try recreating the window sticker photo to see if there was any difference, but the points of light in the background are not bright enough. I was about to throw my hands up in the air and proclaim it didn't do anything except a slight vignetting around the edges of the photo when I tried an out of focus photo of the baby monitor and low and behold, I saw the cut-out shape. Looking at the article again, I think I made the cut-out too big and cardstock is too thick to use as the material for this project. I thought construction paper would be too flimsy and I have no idea what "paperboard" is. I might try again with construction paper though. And maybe find a shaped hole-punch. Not to mention that I need to find a subject that will create bokeh.
Elias was very interested in watching what I was doing. For his third birthday, we're going to get him a Kid Tough Digital Camera and I'm excited to see him with it. He is really into having his picture taken and frequently asks for a "try". I've let him take some photos with my dSLR before and he seemed to understand the concept of taking a photo, so it will be nice for him to have a camera that is easily operated and tough to break!
All photos taken today.
Posted at: Daily Window: A photographic record of my ordinary life.
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The Nadi Temple - A Feast for the Eyes
Image by Boogies with Fish
www.messersmith.name/wordpress/2010/06/29/the-nadi-temple...
I have little text today, because I have a tonne of images to show to you. This morning I took a short bus ride to the Nadi Temple, as it is commonly called. My friend, Heather, suggested it to me, though her directions left something to be desired. Jump on a bus and you will probably be there in ten minutes:
Don't dally at the Baby Face Nite Club, or they won't let you in at the temple.
In fact, there are some things you should know before visiting. Prepare to leave your shoes at the gate. Do not eat any meat for breakfast. The man at the gate will ask you. Wear modest clothing, long trousers for men and a shirt that has at least short sleeves. I was dressed in my usual short-shorts and a tank top. This evoked a frown and a warning not to enter the temple itself, but, having paid the F.50 to enter the grounds and take pictures, I was otherwise treated politely. I'll save my breath by showing you a little summary casually ripped from a travel web site:
In 1994 this Hindu temple moved from beside the flood-prone Nadi River to the southern end of town where an evocative three-tower complex was finely created over a ten-year period by eight specialist craftsmen brought from India.
The Dravidian temple is dedicated to the deity Murugan whose statue, specially carved in India, is housed within the twelve-metre-high main pyramidal vimanam with a rectangular roof. The two towers at the rear of the temple with colourful domed shaped roofs are dedicated to Ganesh and Shiva.
Since I was not allowed to enter the temple, I decided to do my best from outside. Fortunately, the opportunities are superb:
My goal, from the first moment, was to try to grab shots that others might miss. If I have a "secret formula" this is it. These images have all been sent up to my server at 2,000 pixels, so if you click on any of them, you will get some good detail.
As I walk around I am constantly looking for amusing compositions:
The one above is crazy, but it works for me.
Another thing which I decided to do is to Photoshop without mercy. I wanted to get that "postcard" look which is just short of fake:
Fortunately, the light and sky were playing my game.
Even shadowed areas came through brilliantly:
The Canon G11 was strutting its stuff today. I have no complaints about any frame it gave me.
Walking around the temple, you can find plenty of treasure in the odd angles of the structure:
I could have stayed there all morning, but there were worshippers moving about and I was disgustingly under-dressed.
The details of the temple can keep you snapping until your battery runs down. Here's an example:
And another:
And one more:
I have a dozen more in the folder, but you get the idea.
What I can't show you properly, since I could not go in, are the astonishing paintings on the ceiling of the entire temple. Here is one that I could, with a little standing yoga, get a shot of:
It's a bit distorted, but so was I while I was taking it. It took some fancy Photoshop tweaking to get it reasonably rectangular.
That's about it for me. My shoulders are getting sore from using the laptop on the bar here. It's the only place where I can get both a wireless connection and power. No beer for me until I figure out what's come unwired in my head.
HOLY FRIGGIN' CRAP he's BEAUTIFUL!
Image by thepeachpeddler
Now THIS one surprised me! I admit I was getting a little nervous waiting... wondering if I would love him... but when I opened that box, and saw that little chocolate Enyo sitting there looking so bashful and precious, I FELL for him instantly!
I had no idea he would be this shade, and I LOVE it. I love this chocolate shade even more than the original tan I thought he'd be. This resin is a gorgeous color.
I want to name mine Burton Guster...
I promise better pictures tonight... I was in a hurry... the poor Oriental Enyo wasn't getting much attention because I couldn't put my chocolate baby down... he had to get the best eyes, and the cutest outfit.
I love them both, but hands down, the pale tan is my favorite.
Moose, AK
Image by Paul Resh
I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but I didn't think it would be a good idea to get too close. The zoom on my minolta just doesn't cut it. Either way it was an awsome experience to be within 50 yards of such a beautiful mom and baby.
cooper's hawk
Image by lotusgreen
(thanks to buckeye for the ID!)
all the same bird, of course. these babies are amazingly predictable: july 25th and they're zooming and squealing around the neighborhood. playing. sometimes being attacked by a swarm of other birds, including hummers.
i'm assuming sharp-shinned because in sibley's the picture of them flying looks more like these guys. and i also know that at this age it's hard to tell. i don't think this one was big enough to be a coopers either.
don't know if it makes much difference, but this is on my neighbor's tree here in berkeley, california.
got any ideas? thanks.
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