Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2015/01/loitering-in-lobby.html
Showing posts with label architecture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label architecture. Show all posts
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Loitering in the Lobby
Today I had more time than needed for lunch between two performances of an NC Symphony Young Person's Concert at Meymandi Concert Hall, so I wandered the building for a while. I thought I would use my iPhone for a few snaps if I found architectural details that weren't obscured by people. A golden opportunity presented itself when I noticed that the iron gates separating Meymandi lobby from Memorial Auditorium lobby were closed. There wasn't anything going on in Memorial this afternoon, so no one was in there. The light coming through the glass walls from two sides was doing nice things, so in just a few seconds I could compose this photo with my hands through the gate, and be on my way, looking more like a texting teen than a "serious photographer". So now that I've done my inconspicuous thing, let's go majorly public, right?
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Hand-held street shooting - with a tilt/shift lens?
Sometimes a "specialty" lens is not ideal for a casual walkabout in search of photos of local color. On the other hand, it can suggest interesting approaches. As a challenge to myself, I wandered with my 17mm TS-E (designed to allow tilt and shift for perspective and focus plane adjustments), and without a tripod.
Using the maximum amount of upward shift, I could keep the camera perfectly level, shoot from the street, and still show plenty of sky above the Second Empire tower of the Dodd-Hinsdale House, built in 1879 and now the home of the restaurant taking the name of its architectural style.
Not far away is a hotel that's a familiar sight to anyone living in the area. A slight upward tilt of the camera, with the same lens shift set up as the previous photo, gave me the framing I wanted and let me show a little vignette of summer relaxation on this very warm day.
I short trip in the car brought me to a favorite pastoral setting where I could walk amid rather different surroundings. When I spotted this insect perched atop the thistle, I wished I'd brought a macro lens, but I really was trying to do a minimalist photo trek. I got as close as I could with the 17mm, and cropped the image later.
I had tossed a very compact and light 40mm "pancake" lens in my bag, and used that for a different view of the scene. I like the dreamy quality that resulted.
Using the maximum amount of upward shift, I could keep the camera perfectly level, shoot from the street, and still show plenty of sky above the Second Empire tower of the Dodd-Hinsdale House, built in 1879 and now the home of the restaurant taking the name of its architectural style.
Not far away is a hotel that's a familiar sight to anyone living in the area. A slight upward tilt of the camera, with the same lens shift set up as the previous photo, gave me the framing I wanted and let me show a little vignette of summer relaxation on this very warm day.
I short trip in the car brought me to a favorite pastoral setting where I could walk amid rather different surroundings. When I spotted this insect perched atop the thistle, I wished I'd brought a macro lens, but I really was trying to do a minimalist photo trek. I got as close as I could with the 17mm, and cropped the image later.
I had tossed a very compact and light 40mm "pancake" lens in my bag, and used that for a different view of the scene. I like the dreamy quality that resulted.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2014/06/hand-held-street-shooting-with.html
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
A log cabin, an old barn, a tin roof, and a stone wall
E. Carroll Joyner Park, near Wake Forest, NC, contains some serene paths for walking or bicycling. There are lovely groves of pecan trees. For me as a photographer making a first visit (August 22), the most interesting aspect was the confluence of old man-made structures and the surrounding plants.
As soon as I entered the area, I was drawn to a reflective roof beneath a dramatic sky.
It turned out to be the old mule barn, one of several original farm buildings in the park.
There is a very long stone wall that makes numerous ess curves.
I liked this arboreal lineup.
Another group of trees lined up perfectly outside the window of the restored log cabin.
The wall stretches up this hill and seems to disappear into the horizon.
Here's the outside of the cabin.
After interpreting the cabin in contrasty black and white, I shot the neighboring building with an eye toward abstract shapes, colors, and textures.
As soon as I entered the area, I was drawn to a reflective roof beneath a dramatic sky.
It turned out to be the old mule barn, one of several original farm buildings in the park.
There is a very long stone wall that makes numerous ess curves.
I liked this arboreal lineup.
Another group of trees lined up perfectly outside the window of the restored log cabin.
The wall stretches up this hill and seems to disappear into the horizon.
Here's the outside of the cabin.
After interpreting the cabin in contrasty black and white, I shot the neighboring building with an eye toward abstract shapes, colors, and textures.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-log-cabin-old-barn-tin-roof-and-stone.html
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Washington Irving estate, "Sunnyside", Tarrytown, NY
The American author Washington Irving is best remembered for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, but he was the creator of a great many works of biography and history, as well as numerous short stories. He lived roughly during the period between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, 1783-1859, and made his fame during a period of about seventeen years that he lived in England, France, and Spain. His success continued after his return to the USA. Irving was the first American to live entirely by the fruits of his writing, and our first professional author was a true celebrity of his time.
The Irving estate was kept by the family until the mid twentieth century. It is now maintained by Historic Hudson Valley, and made available to the public through tours. The gardener's house and the newer buildings that now function as a museum are deeply nestled amid foliage and hillocks.
Here is a tree that was present during the American Revolutionary War!
Our tour docent related much of the history of the estate: how Washington Irving chose the grounds, modified the landscape in true romantic style, expanded the small cottage in stages, and watched with misgivings as the railroad passage was built along the Hudson River a stone's throw from his home. When the line was put into use, the train would stop to let Irving board or debark, and when passing would blow the whistle in acknowledgment of the famous author's house.
Although photos of the interior were not permitted in the tiny rooms, I was allowed a shot of the copper water heater and cast iron stove in the basement level kitchen. The system of hot running water was cutting edge technology for its day.
A few excellent photos of the rooms are available at the Historic Hudson Valley website.
As our docent bid farewell at the end of our tour, she described some of the things we would yet see as we climbed the path to return to the estate entrance.
The interior of the granary, now storing firewood:
The ice house:
Another docent educating an attentive young girl:
Wildflowers by one of the ponds that Washington Irving had sculpted, in the romantic tradition of improving the landscape.
The end of a fascinating visit!
The Irving estate was kept by the family until the mid twentieth century. It is now maintained by Historic Hudson Valley, and made available to the public through tours. The gardener's house and the newer buildings that now function as a museum are deeply nestled amid foliage and hillocks.
Here is a tree that was present during the American Revolutionary War!
Our tour docent related much of the history of the estate: how Washington Irving chose the grounds, modified the landscape in true romantic style, expanded the small cottage in stages, and watched with misgivings as the railroad passage was built along the Hudson River a stone's throw from his home. When the line was put into use, the train would stop to let Irving board or debark, and when passing would blow the whistle in acknowledgment of the famous author's house.
Although photos of the interior were not permitted in the tiny rooms, I was allowed a shot of the copper water heater and cast iron stove in the basement level kitchen. The system of hot running water was cutting edge technology for its day.
A few excellent photos of the rooms are available at the Historic Hudson Valley website.
As our docent bid farewell at the end of our tour, she described some of the things we would yet see as we climbed the path to return to the estate entrance.
The interior of the granary, now storing firewood:
The ice house:
Another docent educating an attentive young girl:
Wildflowers by one of the ponds that Washington Irving had sculpted, in the romantic tradition of improving the landscape.
The end of a fascinating visit!
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/08/washington-irving-estate-sunnyside.html
Thursday, August 22, 2013
A Day in Vermont
There's nothing quite like arriving in the middle of the Vermont mountains and having a goat be part of your welcoming committee. We were driving through a region containing a series of finger lakes when we spotted a summer camp that is a working farm. We were permitted to look around a bit, and this fellow was one of the first creatures we met.
The barn was colorful.
Our own destination was an amazing country house near the small, venerable town of Belmont.
Here is the Mount Holly Library and Community Center.
During a visit to the town center, we looked through a museum of old artifacts, including this portion of the original post office.
Imagine riding in this surrey, pulled by stately horses.
A demonstration, ostensibly for children, of how to sheer a sheep was interesting to me, and apparently also to this calf.
After lunch, we did some fairly serious mountain hiking. While I struggled with a backpack full of camera gear, Wilder, the pet dog of our host and hostess, ran circles around us with boundless energy. Here he is, fearlessly looking out over a cliff at the summit.
Another spot to relax for awhile was on some rocks surrounded by the shade of the forest.
Back at the house, Wilder was also ready to rest, though still full of animation.
As evening approached, the Green Mountains took on a purple cast in the distance.
Altogether, it was an amazing day, and I hope that we can return for a much longer stay, especially as Brigid and David are such wonderful hosts!
The barn was colorful.
Our own destination was an amazing country house near the small, venerable town of Belmont.
Here is the Mount Holly Library and Community Center.
During a visit to the town center, we looked through a museum of old artifacts, including this portion of the original post office.
Imagine riding in this surrey, pulled by stately horses.
A demonstration, ostensibly for children, of how to sheer a sheep was interesting to me, and apparently also to this calf.
After lunch, we did some fairly serious mountain hiking. While I struggled with a backpack full of camera gear, Wilder, the pet dog of our host and hostess, ran circles around us with boundless energy. Here he is, fearlessly looking out over a cliff at the summit.
While we took a breather at the top, I managed to "capture" a dragonfly of brilliant red color.
Another spot to relax for awhile was on some rocks surrounded by the shade of the forest.
Back at the house, Wilder was also ready to rest, though still full of animation.
As evening approached, the Green Mountains took on a purple cast in the distance.
Altogether, it was an amazing day, and I hope that we can return for a much longer stay, especially as Brigid and David are such wonderful hosts!
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-day-in-vermont.html
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Another reason to sometimes use a cell phone camera
Here is another iPhone photo that illustrates how pocket cameras can be useful for more than record shots and funny portraits. Not only was I without any other camera when I spotted this possibility, it shows one advantage of a tiny digital sensor: depth of field from very near to very far with no jumping through hoops required. I could not have managed it with a larger camera unless I used a solid tripod, took a series of shots focused at various distances, and stacked (blended) them in Photoshop. With the little cell phone camera, all I had to do was get myself very close to some quite dirty pavement. Eww! But it was worth it. I like to play with abstract shapes made from overlooked corners of the architecture that's all around us.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/04/another-reason-to-sometimes-use-cell.html
Friday, March 1, 2013
Approaches to photography
There are always multiple approaches possible when photographing a subject. That should go without saying, but I've already said it, so let's move on. Thinking through goals and ideas before beginning is often a good way to work, but even when you do that, remember that what seems best before you actually complete it may be superseded by something better that you couldn't anticipate. Or maybe you could have, but just didn't. Don't be embarrassed, just...move on.
Another fruitful approach is to just shoot and see what happens. Become one with your camera. Enter a zone of total immersion and allow the flow to carry you along. Don't take pictures, don't even make pictures, just be the image. Shoot from the hip. Okay, this has gone far enough. In all seriousness, I do think that fooling around without being quite sure what you are hoping to capture is - once in a while - a perfectly reasonable way to revitalize your creative impulses. Also remember, though, that thinking through the process, both artistic and technical, is an important skill that needs practice.
So, I tried to take some of my own advice today. I drove off in the late afternoon light. I had decided that a certain barn might look good at that time of day. Here is a basic, almost head-on shot with a "normal" perspective. It was actually done after the photo below it, when I was surprised to see that the cloud cover had almost completely disappeared in a short time. I've reversed the order for presentation because this one is so much less interesting. A portfolio should begin with one of your best creations, but this is just a blog, of ideas as much as of images. Also, I should mention that I never do well at judging my new photos the day that I make them. I always have to live with them for awhile before I can decide anything beyond the obvious characteristics. Well, here they are, out in the open, so you can help me with my judgment!
The atmospheric front was moving in from the northwest, and the heavy cloud cover rapidly began to clear. I was scrambling to set up this shot (level the camera, focus, shift the lens upward to cover more sky and less ground, set exposure) when I heard a small plane. I saw it come out of the clouds just as the shutter opened. Serendipity! I like it (so far).
Back to the barn. Focus on details and abstract the shapes into two dimensions instead of an implied three.
Take it further by heightening the color saturation:
Back to the old building with a similar approach.
Oh, and I can't forget about the horses! Here are two quite similar shots, but note the differences in composition as I changed my position.
Realizing that the western sky itself would not be providing much of a light show, I spent the minutes approaching sunset toying with the light playing on the remains of the windows of the shack.
A second version, giving equal billing to the magnificent tree.
Content with what I'd gotten for the day, and with fingers too frozen to operate the controls any longer (lack of proper clothing on my part), I drove off into the sunset.
Another fruitful approach is to just shoot and see what happens. Become one with your camera. Enter a zone of total immersion and allow the flow to carry you along. Don't take pictures, don't even make pictures, just be the image. Shoot from the hip. Okay, this has gone far enough. In all seriousness, I do think that fooling around without being quite sure what you are hoping to capture is - once in a while - a perfectly reasonable way to revitalize your creative impulses. Also remember, though, that thinking through the process, both artistic and technical, is an important skill that needs practice.
So, I tried to take some of my own advice today. I drove off in the late afternoon light. I had decided that a certain barn might look good at that time of day. Here is a basic, almost head-on shot with a "normal" perspective. It was actually done after the photo below it, when I was surprised to see that the cloud cover had almost completely disappeared in a short time. I've reversed the order for presentation because this one is so much less interesting. A portfolio should begin with one of your best creations, but this is just a blog, of ideas as much as of images. Also, I should mention that I never do well at judging my new photos the day that I make them. I always have to live with them for awhile before I can decide anything beyond the obvious characteristics. Well, here they are, out in the open, so you can help me with my judgment!
The atmospheric front was moving in from the northwest, and the heavy cloud cover rapidly began to clear. I was scrambling to set up this shot (level the camera, focus, shift the lens upward to cover more sky and less ground, set exposure) when I heard a small plane. I saw it come out of the clouds just as the shutter opened. Serendipity! I like it (so far).
I saw possibilities in the way the setting sun was throwing golden light on the building and the side of the tree, in spite of the sky to the south still being blue.
A different approach: get closer to the tree to really show off the side-lit texture of the bark.
Back to the barn. Focus on details and abstract the shapes into two dimensions instead of an implied three.
Take it further by heightening the color saturation:
Back to the old building with a similar approach.
Oh, and I can't forget about the horses! Here are two quite similar shots, but note the differences in composition as I changed my position.
And two approaches to a more comprehensive view.
Realizing that the western sky itself would not be providing much of a light show, I spent the minutes approaching sunset toying with the light playing on the remains of the windows of the shack.
Content with what I'd gotten for the day, and with fingers too frozen to operate the controls any longer (lack of proper clothing on my part), I drove off into the sunset.
Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/02/approaches-to-photography.html
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