I enjoy the sometimes random nature of photography. The unplanned elements can be a nice surprise. In an effort to incorporate a little more exercise into my day I took a walk around the dam when the rain eased up. Still overcast, the sun forced it’s way through the clouds just enough to not to make this a high contrast image but at the same time providing a counterpoint to the darker subtle tones..
Close to shore
A study of nature in it’s variety of forms can lead to endless explorations of the imagination. It seemed for a while I was endlessly ‘seeing things’ in rock formations. It’s a play in dimensionality if there is such a word. Perspectives become very fluid and elastic. Shape combines with texture which adds to the feel. This could be a photo shot from above (which it isn’t).
Less ambiguous is this beach image. It belongs to a series of underexposed photos that came about through chance. As it turns out the B&W conversions are quite striking and this simple image has far more impact than it’s correctly exposed colour counterpart.
Another textural variant. Water weeds in a creek.
Back on land for a moment… a leaf that escaped from the group. One sits on the surface, the others are stains on concrete - sun does the rest of the work.
Combination of factors
Although this image looks OK in B&W, it has more appeal for me with the combination of darker tones and transitions. The deep green of the water and ‘blonde’ grass with the embedded brown ferns and exposed roots on the bank make for a nicely detailed image. There is extra texture from the light diffraction in the water adding more dimensionality. The muted lighting suggests it was somewhat overcast providing a more rich colouration and evenness to the tones.
Smaller things
Back in 2012 BC (before crowds) on my first and only visit to Iceland, I got to drive around the island at a reasonably leisurely pace stopping whenever I felt the need or just to observe things on a smaller scale. Photographically oriented tourists shying away from crowds and fixed bus stops can take in some quiet reflective moments. Four swans in a minimalist landscape provided me that opportunity.
There wasn’t a lot of wildlife to be encountered, at least while I circumnavigated the country. What does strike you though is how such a small island can convey a sense of vastness. No doubt the open vistas are accentuated by the almost complete absence of trees, but Iceland also has huge mountain and hill slopes throughout it’s length and breadth.
First studio shot
Back in 2008 I decided to have a crack at studio photography. Figuring I’d more than likely continue with my efforts I invested in a modest setup (Paul C Buff) of a couple of strobes, softbox etc. including a roll of marine vinyl as a backdrop. This photo of a friend, taken in his dining room was one of a series for a self published book called The Hidden Self. Robin, being an actor was able to vary his look and pose with small movements and posture changes. This was ideal for someone starting out with portraiture. The final prints for the book were not in colour but warm toned B&W.
Fuji GFX 100S w/Tilt Shift adapter
If you need an adapter for your Fuji GFX to accommodate third party lenses it might be worth considering a tilt shift version. Yes, they are more expensive than a straight adapter but add significant versatility. Due to some health considerations I wasn’t able to do a proper test as I would’ve liked. So, these shots are handheld. The adapter is a Fotodiox Pro TLT ROKR - Tilt/Shift Lens Mount Adapter Compatible with Pentax 6x7 (P67, PK67) Mount since that is the lens I used. More specifically, the Pentax 6X7 55mm f4 lens.
v2 in different light
The first shot was taken from a balcony on the 5th floor of the front building shown in the image below. Maybe not the most necessary angle to take advantage of the TS adapter. The below shot shows a more obvious need for keeping lines straight. I’ll be looking for some more obvious applications in the next couple of months together with a tripod for twilight shots.