monochrome monday

I knew nothing but shadows and I thought them to be real. 

~ Oscar Wilde

I was going through my iPhone photos the other day trying to clean up a bit, 

and came across this image.

It caught my attention because I didn't recall taking it and rather liked it,

and I had just had a chat with someone who commented that

my images were generally not moody.

Intentional camera movement. ICM. 

It's a great way to generate an abstract quality to an image. 

Color, spatial arrangement, light become the primary subjects of the image, 

rather than a well focussed and tack sharp object, person, or landscape.

To do ICM, you just need low a ISO, a small aperture, and a long shutter speed.

If using a DSLR or mirrorless camera you can use polarizing or ND filters to reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor so you can employ a longer shutter speed during the day.

If it's an overcast day or nearing dawn/dusk, filters aren't typically needed.

If using a mobile device, there are apps available that allow for a long shutter speed.

Once you've got your ISO, aperture and shutter speed set, shoot and move the camera. 

Swipe the camera horizontally, vertically, add some swirly curly motions, or loops, 

and check out the image in the LCD.

Don't swipe too fast, nor too slow.

You'll see the output and know whether to speed up/down.

If it's too bright, adjust one of your parameters. 

Keep playing until you get what you're after.

Sometimes, I don't know what I'm after until I see it.

So don't stop if your first attempt doesn't catch your fancy.

I can spend hours photographing trees in the sunlight when I'm on my trail walks.

I have to force myself to stop and keep walking!

If using a mobile device, be prepared...as it sucks the life out of your batteries.

As always. Just go out and have fun.

monochrome monday

City’s just a jungle; more games to play

Trapped in the heart of it, tryin' to get away

I was raised in the country, 

I been workin’ in the town

I been in trouble ever since I set my suitcase down

~ Bob Dylan

I don't typically take pictures of cars. Mostly, because I don't know how

to get a good shot of one.

But, this car.

It was a beauty.

Confirmed by the fact that everyone that walked by it - stopped. 

Walked around it.

And, pulled out their mobile devices to take a shot.

Including us.

I was initially captured by the interesting reflections.

There is even a little selfie in there.

I have no tips to provide on capturing this kind of subject.

I would gladly welcome any thoughts about shooting cars,

and more specifically, reflections on cars.

Keep shooting!

Stay out of trouble...unless it gets you the shot!

Fuji XT1 ISO 640 1/100 f/5.6 XF18-155mm (67mm EFL)

monochrome monday

Let the rain kiss you. 

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. 

Let the rain sing you a lullaby. 

~ Langston Hughes

Fuji XT1 ISO 250 1/100 f/4.5 XF18-155mm (67mm EFL)

monochrome monday

We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden. 

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Introducing monochrome monday!

I've been processing many of my color images into black and white.

I think some images are stronger in monochrome,

as you can focus on the subject and not be distracted

by all the color...not that color is in any way bad.

Sometimes, you just want to create a no frills image.

Do you know what the above image is?

You might recognize this more easily.

I captured the above image in camera, rotated it, and processed it into black and white.

I like to rotate images like this.

It makes one think a bit about what they are really seeing.

Go out and tweak reality.

It's easy enough to revert to normal if you really want to!

Fuji XT1 ISO 400 f/6.4 1/100 sec XF18-55mm (48mm EFL)