Child-crafted katydid wings.

We'll come back to the challenge later. Here's just some pics for the grandparents. There were taken at today's Destination Imagination event.

Is "Shot in the car" part of "Shot from the car?" It doesn't matter. It's out of focus anyhow.

I'm pretty sure Gnome and I agreed on the next challenge. However, if we didn't, I've already taken some pics for what I thought we'd agreed upon and I am posting them. Too late now. The challenge was/is "shot from the car" or "drive-by shooting." I was quite unhappy with my pics for the first two challenges so this time, since part of my job sees me spending lots of time in the van, I'm determined to shoot a bunch. More are likely to come.

This is poor execution on a mediocre idea that had some potential, problem is getting the right vantage point and not getting hit by a car or mugged. Driving by you just see the train tops and it looked pretty cool at night, but that shot is hard to get. Besides the mugging there's too many telephone poles and pylons creating their own interference.

So anyways, sorry it took so long to post anything up and sorry for the poor execution once I put something up. I say KMB has this one handedly. I dig that shot a lot, excellent focus, awesome bokeh, good lines, nicely done. Next please....

I like took this shot simply to test to bokeh of the antique lens. I like it. Yet again, though, it was taken inside a cell site and does not meet the standards of the challenge.

I really like this picture, too. However, like the preceeding shot, it was taking inside a cell site compound.

I also like this picture but it's really a pattern of shadow ON metal and not a metal pattern. Also, I took it inside the compound at a cell site, so It does not qualify anyway.

Here's one that I liked but two dissimilar ends of the same hinge is hardly a pattern. What I like about the picture (and why I left it in color) is the more subtle but also more pervasice chromatic aberrations created by the old OM mount Zuiko 50mm f1.8 with which I was shooting.

Here's the first of a few pics from the latest challenge. The idea, as Gnome spelled it out to me, was to capture metal patters (no fences and no cell towers). I work in an around a lot of metal structures but since towers and fences were out I needed to strike out and find something else. However, I've been working and, when I wasn't, it's been raining. I thought about stuff around the house to take pictures of but setting up the lighting just to snap shots of crap I found around the house seemed like a lot of work for a cheap idea. I did get a few shots I liked but nothing I was really happy with. This is one. It's the diamond plate on the back of a truck.

Just in case you don't believe me, here's one with the lights on (and a flash since it doesn't need it to focus with the lights on).

I had take some shots two other times but I was never happy with them. At night, everyone's asleep. The only person up other than me is Lao Tsu, so he featured prominently in my quest to find something to snap at. I thought I'd give it another go tonight. I thought about using a long exposure and a low light source to make a shot that looks like it could have been in daylight. The other night, though, I was remarking on the shadows cast by the computer screen and how even a light source it is. I thought that, if I could get Lao Tsu to sleep in the right place, I could get a picture of Lao Tsu and the shadow he cast on the cushion behind him as if it were (don't laugh at me) the lao tsu shaped shadow left behind after a nuclear blast (only in negative). It was significant because the light source was the tv and so it was comparing the television to the nuclear bomb and some other hippy crap I lost interest in as soon as I tried to explain it to myself. It didn't matter, though, because Lao Tsu refuses to sleep anywhere but right up on the cushion. He moved repeatedly (which is a pain because I have to focus with the lights on, turn them all out, then snap the pictures. There's no autofocus on this antique lens because the AF back then was mechanically driven by the camera itself and neither my camera or the OM lens adapter has a mechanical system to drive the AF. Even if there was autofocus the flash would be needed to focus in the dark and the cat does not like the flash. So fuck it. I just took the picture as it was. And now that I've finished and put the camera away he's being extra cute with his paw over his eyes. Adorable little bastard.

By the way, it should be noted, that critique is encouraged - even preferred.

Think it could be done better? Have a idea of what could have improved such? Have an idea for a "set of limitations"? Don't really like one of us? Think the pics are shite? Then tell us... Speak up even if it is "nice" or "well done" or "what the hell is that".

Well after a contemptuous tirade like that how exactly do you follow it up??

So here goes, may not get much more traffic but at least this poor excuse of a site can entertain once again. At least till we get bored with this and move on once again.

KMB decided on the first set of limitations - no light/low light, night, no lamps, no flash, just ambient... at night.

The first challenge has already been accepted and, in fact, shooting has already begun. Gnome, when he is ready, will introduce the challenge and, no doubt, post the first resulting picture.

Gnome was kind enough to point out that this site is getting a little moribund and we aren't really doing anything with it. "Get stuffed, you miserable sod." I replied, but only because he dared speak to me, not because he was wrong. He went on to suggest, over my loud chant of "Shut up shut up shut up shut up...!", that we challenge one another.

As I threatened him with physical harm should he not cease speaking to me, he explained that each challenge would involve a set of rules, in the confines of which we would strive to grab a few shots with which we were pleased. "Said shots would be posted here, for public review." he ejaculated, trying to interrupt my tirade.

Doubt not the fecundity of my bilious regard for him as I tell you this, but I was moved. My rage momentarily sedate, I considered his proposition.

What can I say. The cheeky little imp had a good idea. Hell, even a blind man throws a strike once in a while.

An example of something.

Tooth Be Gone.

Hands free device.

Arrows to indicate orbits and a spot on Jupiter... awesome. Wait... is that earth? What planet was this picture made on?

Wooly socks are excellent.

Why do I always forget I have the new lens to play with until it's late at night?

Marcia's tea.

Tea time.

Just a bit of snow today.

We were expecting and angry rodent (or marsupial) to spring out. I'm not sure what he was going to do to it with the wrench but it wasn't home so I didn't get to find out.

Lao Tsu makes for a good test subject.

In close it is very noisy but at iso800 in suck low light conditions I don't mind. High iso film was grainy. High iso digital is noisy. I'm not too hurt about it. It is darn hard to focus in such low light with such a wide aperature. That's not the lens it's just a universal fact. It will be possible, with practice.

Handheld, 1/50s f1.4 iso800 noise reduction off w/ UV filter no post processing. This is literally the 2nd picture I took with the new 30mm. It was lamplight only (well the TV was on).