Dec 29, 2006
Mills!
After about 8 years of wanting to go photograph some old mills in Rhode Island, I finally got the chance today - perfect light, too.
Dec 28, 2006
Photogram Progress
Just figured I'd post this image, to show you how my digital photogram experiments are progressing!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Dec 27, 2006
New Photography Fun & Games
So obviously I couldn't stay away for my whole "vacation" :-P
But, I'm just starting to play with a new technique and it is too fun not to share! Just tonight I started experimenting with ways to make a photogram (see description here) using digital means. Tonight's experiments involved a extremely bright metal halide lamp, an old scanner, and some flower petals. I am intrigued by the results and will post more details on the technique once I get it honed down. I'm going to try a few other methods, so we'll see what comes of it all.
Hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!
But, I'm just starting to play with a new technique and it is too fun not to share! Just tonight I started experimenting with ways to make a photogram (see description here) using digital means. Tonight's experiments involved a extremely bright metal halide lamp, an old scanner, and some flower petals. I am intrigued by the results and will post more details on the technique once I get it honed down. I'm going to try a few other methods, so we'll see what comes of it all.
Hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!
Dec 18, 2006
"Vacation"
Just wanted to let everyone know that, in the interest of my sanity, I'll be taking a "vacation" from the website/blog for the holidays, but will start up with new posts and assignments after New Years. I will still be processing print orders, but my response time might be a little slower than usual.
Also, regarding assignments - all good projects must come to and end and this one is no exception. For any of you who've been procrastinating on giving me challenges, now's your chance to get them in! After December 31st I will no longer be accepting new challenges. All those that have come in already will be completed, so hang on there if I haven't gotten to yours yet!
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Holiday season!
- Diana
Also, regarding assignments - all good projects must come to and end and this one is no exception. For any of you who've been procrastinating on giving me challenges, now's your chance to get them in! After December 31st I will no longer be accepting new challenges. All those that have come in already will be completed, so hang on there if I haven't gotten to yours yet!
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Holiday season!
- Diana
Dec 15, 2006
Assignment #14
First of all, some non-assignment news of sorts. Today I went to Hartford's Wadsworth Athaneum to see the Edward Weston exhibit with my friend Darcy. It was very cool, though we were a little suprised that so little of his well known works were shown. We did enjoy watching his technique evolve from the softer look of pictorialism to the sharper lines of modernism. And we enjoyed getting to see some of his very few color transparencies - very cool. My favorite was a shot of dunes in Oceana. Click here to see a somewhat digitally screwed up scan of the one I'm talking about (unfortunately the official website did not have this particular shot).
And, to get back on track, today I got to work on some really challenging assignments from Julia Boyce of Locust Leaf Farm. Both had lots of possibliities as to how they could be interpreted, each with their own unique challenges. Without further ado:
"1. Choices"
I thought about doing a comparison shot of sorts, like health food vs. junk food or something, but instead I went with the actual thought process behind choices. And I do believe this qualifies as "photomanipulation" :-P
Next up, "2. Pure enjoyment"
I thought smiles at first, but instead decided on something that, to me, expresses the joy of the Holiday Season. Colorful lights dancing around got the message across, I thought.
For those who are interested, the technique I used to capture the moving lights is a fairly simple and quite fun one. You need a dark room, a camera you can set for a long exposure, and a light source. Press the shutter button and move the light source around in front of the lens - slowly or quickly depending on the effect you want. In this case, I used a flashing light source to get more of a sense of joyful movement, rather than smooth lines.
Two more suggestions from Julia remain on my list and I hope to get to them soon.
And, to get back on track, today I got to work on some really challenging assignments from Julia Boyce of Locust Leaf Farm. Both had lots of possibliities as to how they could be interpreted, each with their own unique challenges. Without further ado:
"1. Choices"
I thought about doing a comparison shot of sorts, like health food vs. junk food or something, but instead I went with the actual thought process behind choices. And I do believe this qualifies as "photomanipulation" :-P
Next up, "2. Pure enjoyment"
I thought smiles at first, but instead decided on something that, to me, expresses the joy of the Holiday Season. Colorful lights dancing around got the message across, I thought.
For those who are interested, the technique I used to capture the moving lights is a fairly simple and quite fun one. You need a dark room, a camera you can set for a long exposure, and a light source. Press the shutter button and move the light source around in front of the lens - slowly or quickly depending on the effect you want. In this case, I used a flashing light source to get more of a sense of joyful movement, rather than smooth lines.
Two more suggestions from Julia remain on my list and I hope to get to them soon.
Dec 12, 2006
My Own Assignment...
Edit: I noticed this morning that the photo links were broken - they're fixed now :-)
I've taken a break from assignments for tonight in the interest of working on a few photos I've had sitting on my hard drive just begging to be used. So, I'll consider it working on my own assignment - I'll call it "playing catch-up"
Here they are, let me know what you think!
Hmm, methinks working on everyone's assignments has swayed me slightly further away from black and white images :-)
I've taken a break from assignments for tonight in the interest of working on a few photos I've had sitting on my hard drive just begging to be used. So, I'll consider it working on my own assignment - I'll call it "playing catch-up"
Here they are, let me know what you think!
Hmm, methinks working on everyone's assignments has swayed me slightly further away from black and white images :-)
Dec 11, 2006
Assignment #13
Hey all, one more assignment photo for you tonight. Sorry its just been one at a time lately, between the holiday season and some other photo projects I'm a bit slowed down.
Tonight I'm featuring the last assignment from shanana77 - "images of light coming through blinds". This one has been on my list for a while and I haven't been able to get a shot of blinds during the daytime yet! So, in the interest of actually getting her assignment posted, I cheated a little. This shot was taken at night and inverted to get a feeling of light rather than darkness coming in from behind the blinds. It has a bit of a surreal feeling to it - I stared at it for quite a while before posting and my eyes kept switching back and forth as to what they "saw" in the image. It's simple and abstract, and a little bit different than what I'd normally do!
And in case you haven't found it yet, there's a new gallery up showcasing the carousel work I've started doing - check it out!
Tonight I'm featuring the last assignment from shanana77 - "images of light coming through blinds". This one has been on my list for a while and I haven't been able to get a shot of blinds during the daytime yet! So, in the interest of actually getting her assignment posted, I cheated a little. This shot was taken at night and inverted to get a feeling of light rather than darkness coming in from behind the blinds. It has a bit of a surreal feeling to it - I stared at it for quite a while before posting and my eyes kept switching back and forth as to what they "saw" in the image. It's simple and abstract, and a little bit different than what I'd normally do!
And in case you haven't found it yet, there's a new gallery up showcasing the carousel work I've started doing - check it out!
Dec 10, 2006
Assignment #12
Well, I said I'd have new assignment photos posted this past Friday but wasn't able to deliver - sorry about that! We were at a wedding this weekend and had a marvelous time but the assignment schedule suffered as a result.
But, as "they" say, better late than never! So here is my friend Matt's photography challenge - "taking pictures of regular, everyday objects... but covered in leaves... like mailboxes, or street signs, or maybe even a small car?"
I unfortunately didn't get to his challenge until after most of the leaves had been blown away or cleaned up, so there were no leaf-covered mailboxes, street signs, or small vehicles. There were several steps of stairs at Roger Williams Park that were covered in leafy drifts, so I hope they make an acceptable substitute! I kinda like the interplay between the cold hard concrete and the fluffier, warmer piles of leaves.
But, as "they" say, better late than never! So here is my friend Matt's photography challenge - "taking pictures of regular, everyday objects... but covered in leaves... like mailboxes, or street signs, or maybe even a small car?"
I unfortunately didn't get to his challenge until after most of the leaves had been blown away or cleaned up, so there were no leaf-covered mailboxes, street signs, or small vehicles. There were several steps of stairs at Roger Williams Park that were covered in leafy drifts, so I hope they make an acceptable substitute! I kinda like the interplay between the cold hard concrete and the fluffier, warmer piles of leaves.
Dec 7, 2006
Photo Assignment #11
Things are getting a bit hectic with the holidays and a couple of photo jobs coming up, but I did manage to get at least one person's assignment done today! I actually took photos for a few assignments but don't have the time to go through all of them this evening, which means more will be up tomorrow!
For tonight, I'm featuring my friend Keith: "Take a picture of your morning and evening; like, one image which sums it up (well, one for morning; one evening)."
It took me a while to figure out something for the morning, because most of my work-day mornings are spent stumbling around, showering, and getting dressed. Aside from trying to keep things G-rated, I wouldn't say either of those things "define" my morning. Then it hit me, the perfect summation of my morning - not wanting to get out of bed...
As for my evenings, I can almost always be found behind the camera or in front of the computer screen working on photos. Since it's impossible for me to take a picture of me taking a picture (I only have the one camera, ya see), I opted for the computer route. It's sad but true, working or playing on the computer does sort of define my evenings. At least I enjoy it!
You'll notice my morning picture is in black and white, and that my evening picture is in color. This is pretty representative of my brain power at those respective times - I am at my most alert and creative in the evening, and at my foggiest in the morning :-)
Enjoy!
For tonight, I'm featuring my friend Keith: "Take a picture of your morning and evening; like, one image which sums it up (well, one for morning; one evening)."
It took me a while to figure out something for the morning, because most of my work-day mornings are spent stumbling around, showering, and getting dressed. Aside from trying to keep things G-rated, I wouldn't say either of those things "define" my morning. Then it hit me, the perfect summation of my morning - not wanting to get out of bed...
As for my evenings, I can almost always be found behind the camera or in front of the computer screen working on photos. Since it's impossible for me to take a picture of me taking a picture (I only have the one camera, ya see), I opted for the computer route. It's sad but true, working or playing on the computer does sort of define my evenings. At least I enjoy it!
You'll notice my morning picture is in black and white, and that my evening picture is in color. This is pretty representative of my brain power at those respective times - I am at my most alert and creative in the evening, and at my foggiest in the morning :-)
Enjoy!
Save Darfur
SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Weekend of Prayer for Darfur" that's worth checking out...
Please download their Faith Action Packet…In case you aren't familiar with what's going on in Darfur, here's some background information (courtesy of SaveDarfur.org):
Darfur has been embroiled in a deadly conflict for over three years. At least 400,000 people have been killed; more than 2 million innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes and now live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in neighboring Chad; and more than 3.5 million men, women, and children are completely reliant on international aid for survival. Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter.
Since early 2003, Sudanese armed forces and Sudanese government-backed militia known as “Janjaweed” have been fighting two rebel groups in Darfur, the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The stated political aim of the rebels has been to compel the government of Sudan to address underdevelopment and the political marginalization of the region. In response, the Sudanese government’s regular armed forces and the Janjaweed – largely composed of fighters of Arab nomadic background – have targeted civilian populations and ethnic group from which the rebels primarily draw their support – the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.
The Bush Administration has recognized these atrocities – carried out against civilians primarily by the government of Sudan and its allied Janjaweed militias – as genocide. António Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has described the situation in Sudan and Chad as “the largest and most complex humanitarian problem on the globe.” The Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militias are responsible for the burning and destruction of hundreds of rural villages, the killing of tens of thousands of people and rape and assault of thousands of women and girls.
With much international pressure, the Darfur Peace Agreement was brokered in May 2006 between the government of Sudan and one faction of Darfur rebels. However, deadlines have been ignored and the violence has escalated, with in-fighting among the various rebel groups and factions dramatically increasing and adding a new layer of complexity to the conflict. This violence has made it dangerous, if not impossible, for most of the millions of displaced persons to return to their homes. Humanitarian aid agencies face growing obstacles to bringing widespread relief. In August 2006, the UN's top humanitarian official Jan Egeland stated that the situation in Darfur is "going from real bad to catastrophic." Indeed, the violence in Darfur rages on with government-backed militias still attacking civilian populations with impunity.
On July 30, 2004, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1556 demanding that the government of Sudan disarm the Janjaweed. This same demand is also an important part of the Darfur Peace Agreement signed in May of 2006. On August 31, 2006, the Security Council took the further step of authorizing a strong UN peacekeeping force for Darfur by passing resolution 1706. Despite these actions, the Janjaweed are still active and free to commit the same genocidal crimes against civilians in Darfur with the aid of the Sudanese government.
International experts agree that the United Nations Security Council must deploy a peacekeeping force with a mandate to protect civilians immediately. Until it arrives, the under-funded and overwhelmed African Union monitoring mission must be bolstered. And governments and international institutions must provide and ensure access to sufficient humanitarian aid for those in need.
Dec 3, 2006
Photo Assignment #10
Alrighty, now that work on carousel photos has slowed down a little I have had time to work on more assignment photos! The two featured tonight are suggestions from sethsgal05. I'm glad that the weather was cooperative this weekend and that I had her challenges as an excuse to go frolic around outside!
First up - "leaves or rocks in a stream". I really like the light in this one.
And next, "a hiking path covered with leaves". Interesting textures in this one, I thought.
As always, I hope you enjoy these. Hope everyone is doing well during their holiday preparations!
First up - "leaves or rocks in a stream". I really like the light in this one.
And next, "a hiking path covered with leaves". Interesting textures in this one, I thought.
As always, I hope you enjoy these. Hope everyone is doing well during their holiday preparations!
Dec 1, 2006
At the Zoo-oo
Aside from having a Simon & Garfunkel song stuck in my head, I have exciting news. I had a fabulous time taking photos this morning at Roger Williams Park Carousel for up-and-coming children's author Marcia Maynard. She's writing an article on how carousels work and needed some shots of the gears and other inner workings. After finishing up that "assignment" I spent some time (ok, hours) photographing the carousel as a whole. I'll be bringing proofs up to show the carousel's owner soon, he plans on buying some prints and hanging them as part of a permanent display in the carousel building! He's going to include my contact information along with the prints, which is really nice.
So, in celebration I offer you this sneak peek! Once the photos have been installed at the carousel I'll let you all know so that you can go check them out and enjoy the carousel, park, and zoo while you're there!
So, in celebration I offer you this sneak peek! Once the photos have been installed at the carousel I'll let you all know so that you can go check them out and enjoy the carousel, park, and zoo while you're there!
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