Histograms and the Rain

So there I was trying to brace myself against the gale that was blowing trying to see the LED reading in the view finder.   The rain was driving and my back pack was flapping in the wind.   As usual I had not really thought through what I was going to do.  I had been inspired by some photographs taken by my friend Sarah Brooks to get out into the Charnwood forest.  She had taken some rather interesting photographs with a Lensbaby.  Now I have a tilt and shift lens I thought it would be fun to use this to try something similar.  

So off I went, camera bag packed to one of the highest points in Leicestershire to make some interesting photographs.  The wind was howling a gale and the rain was coming down but I was unperturbed.  It was only when I was standing out in the wind and rain that I remembered - the T/S lens is a manual exposure lens.   Not a problem if I had brought along my light meter.  Guess what - I hadn't.   Instead I had to try and read the meter on the camera - not easy in the conditions.  In the end I reverted to reading the histogram as my light meter.  I know this is putting the  cart before the horse but it worked.  I would take a photograph, look at the histogram to see what the exposure was like and change the setting accordingly.  Memo to myself - make sure you take the correct kit with you in future! Doh!

Daffodils a la Histogram - Beacon Hill

On a more positive note I did get some interesting photographs.    I really like the bizarre focus effect you get from using a T/S lens for other than correcting converging angles on buildings.  It gives you extra options when out in the field.  I know that much of what can be achieved with the T/S can be recreated in photoshop but that is not the point.   It is always a good idea to have as many options open at the capture stage as you can.  The T/S lens gives you that extra dimension.

As I got to Beacon Hill  the rain was beating against the windscreen.  However through the rain I could see this lone tree standing in the wind.   I decided to take photograph.  It worked out really well and was just what I was looking fought against the elements.   It just goes to show that you should always have a camera at hand.

Tree - Beacon Hill

As I explored the exposed hill I was surprised to some daffodils huddling against the wind.  This was another opportunity to indulge my daffodil fascination.  I am not sure what the passing walking group thought as I was lying prostrate on the ground trying to balance my G9 with a flash on a tether.  But if you can't take a joke you really shouldn't be a photographer.   Again if I had thought this through I probably wouldn't have lay on my 5D and dug the lens hood into the ground.    It was worth cleaning the lens afterwards though.  Using the G9 with a tethered flash was an interesting experiment.  Something I will have to work some more.

Daffodil - Beacon Hill

Ever tried to focus in the dark? and some sad news

Focusing in the dark.

It's my own stupid fault.  I should know better and as my late father would have said, "...you're old enough and ugly enough to know better..." but I didn't.  I tried to focus in the dark.   For those of you who have never done this before it involves using a manual focus lens,  yes such lens made are still made, and then trying to focus on a particular object.   It is next to impossible!

So why was I doing this contorted and near impossible thing?   Well I was playing around with my Tilt and Shift lens of course.   I was not trying to correct perspective but rather to use the distortion of focus that is produced by the lens.  Now usually I have no problem making this happen but in the dark it was a different case.  Perhaps I should try and use the lens always in the dark and I wouldn't have any problems.  In the end I managed to make this photograph.  So I suppose all's well that ends well.

Some Sad news.

I received some sad news of the passing of a treasured member of Ian's, a colleague on the course, innermost circle.   His Mac G4 is to be replaced.  I spoke to him Wednesday about this impending departure and tried to console him and I think I did I managed to cheer him up a bit with my anecdotes of the anarchy that is running Windows Vista, still can't get the internal CF drives to work! and in the end I think this worked as he was able to pass some comments about Windows that you would expect a dyed in the wool Mac fan to say. Ian has sent all colleagues on the course an email lamenting this passing and I passed on my condolences in the only way that I know how, by pointing out how out of date Apple technology is compared to the latest Windows PC and it is just a shame that Apple are always having to play catch up and you pay through the nose for the privilege.  I think this will lift his spirits.

Now for any passing Mac fanatic that might think that the last item was some serious views please don't.  I love Mac's design and if I was starting out from scratch I would no doubt go down the Mac route.  It is just that to do so now would be too expensive in time, effort and money.  The only thing I would say is that I have used both and I don't really find there is much difference between the two when using Photoshop - so for me this is an added point.   There I have said it.  I too love Macs but not enough to replace all the PC's in the my house.

Now comes the hard work

Tilt and Shift

Having come up with an idea or concept now comes the hard work of trying to make sense of it and converting it into 7 - 10 photographs.  I have to say that the ideas that are running through my head at the moment are more graphic design than photography but this is not a bad thing.  I am trying to develop a new look for my work.   To get this new look you have to try and remove the barriers that the old put into its place - No Rules.   Also you need to ensure that old labels are not preventing this exploration - No Tiles.  I have ideas and funnily enough a lens is coming again and again into my brain.  Tilt and Shift.   I have never really got to grips with this lens as I could never get it to produce the parallels that it should.  However, this inability could now become an assist.  I have some ideas which is good.

I am not sure if this last paragraph made any sense - I have reread it and I am not sure it makes any sense to me but by simply writing it down has helped.