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- Christine Falls
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- Flights Into Seatac
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- Snoqualmie Falls
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- SR-71
Light Rain #2
Fireworks on Seattle’s Lake Union, 4 July 2013
This is the fourth year I’ve attempted to capture Seattle’s 4th of July fireworks display. I have a perfect spot for shooting them, provided by a good friend. Every previous attempt has had its problems. In 2010 the triggers I used worked in my basement but not in the field. So I came down off the roof disappointed and my friend Jim, an inventor, asked me to describe the problem. Some months later he presented me with a box containing some solenoid triggers.
2011 worked better but I was trying to do too many things at once. The triggers worked pretty well but in the end I only had a couple of usable shots. When I say usable I mean awesome. The Hasselblads were spaced about 20 feet apart, based on a formula I got from Don Lopp.
When Don saw the photos he said, “You know, since you don’t have infinity in the shot you could double the distance between the cameras.” I was shooting the fireworks against a dark sky (which presents a problem in aiming the cameras) but I resolved to shoot with greater separation.
In 2012 I had 40 foot separation but my aim was not good and I didn’t get anything I could use.
Fast forward to 2013. I asked my friend to make the triggers more powerful as there were times when it seemed the signal wasn’t strong enough to go over long distances. James did beef up the triggers such that he thinks I could trigger from several miles without that problem! This year the triggers were good, the aim was near perfect, and a I got some really nice shots. 40 foot separation between cameras. I’m currently too protective of the best ones to send them out on tour but even the “also-rans” are quite good! And I hope I can get to share some of these with you in person!
And I can’t wait ’til next year!
Rose Petals with Leaf and Droplets
Rose from Mandy’s garden shot in a DIY macro box
I had been wanting to try out some close-up subjects with my hasselblads and I remembered seeing some great close-up flower images that Hai Tran had shown me. And Dale Walsh shared some close-up MF-3D at one of the NSA conventions. So I started shooting some experiments.
Of course after I started shooting I got all my film mixed up so I can’t exactly tell you what I did! But I’m going to start over again when I have the time and do some better documenting!
This was shot with a hasselblad on a slide bar. I think the separation between the lens centers is about 1/2 inch. The foremost part of the rose isn’t as sharp as I want it. But I think the leaf looks awesome! And the lighting on this setup worked out better (on the leaf) than in subsequent setups, and I am going to try to match this look.
I clearly needed some dust control. The rose blossom was heavy and I propped it up with a little tripod bent out of wire but I wasn’t clever enough in hiding it so you can see a sliver of it on the bottom.
I built a DIY macro box based on this post on strobist:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
I’m not done exploring this.
Large Golden Slinky
The ride “Enterprise” in action at the Puyallup Fair in Western Washington
This is a shot of the ride “Enterprise” at the Puyallup (pyoo AL ip) Fair in Western Washington. The Puyallup is one of the granddaddies of all the fairs. Its url is thefair.com.
See what I’m sayin’?
The enterprise starts out as a flat disk and then tilts up, making a fun pattern. The ride doesn’t last very long!
Trick or Treat!
White sandstone formations in the area of the Pillars of Silence
This one reminds me of old-school halloween costumes. All you need is a sheet.
This was taken in the same area as my image, “Approaching the Pillars” from the last round. I hired a photo guide out of Page, Arizona and he would take me around to great spots each morning and evening.
Taken with the TL-120.
Alpine Plants
I hope to go back to Whistler and try this again, I didn’t have a lot of time and would love to remove the distracting background. But I really like the small plants.
Mountain cha cha
This is an experiment, I was kilometers away from these mountains. I walked a long way (can’t recall now, maybe 60 paces?). I have rubber eyes so this works for me. If it is badly mounted, let me know, I can take it!
Chris Again
Here is another picture of my nephew Chris skating. TL120, not sure of the F stop, but probably not F22.
BC Cascade – Shannon Park?
I added this picture because I think this is from the same place Dale Walsh took his ‘Chillin’ picture. I shot this with my TL120, most likely F22
Steam Tractor
Image by James Mutch
Waterfall
Picture by James Mutch.
Pop Corn Stand
(Some more Renfest runners-up this time around – all shot with a hand-held, string steadied TL-120)
Another lovely young stand girl at this past PA Renfest. Lighting was a bit of a challenge.
The Dandy Fops
A notorious, ridiculous and campy troupe that appears at fairs around the country each year. They seem to do little else but line up and slowly parade by gawking spectators, but maybe that’s all it really takes.
Fresh Fruit 3
Another view of one of my favorite stand models, from the same MD Renfest a few years ago.
Anachronistic Couple
This handsome couple is doubly out of sync with both modern times, and the medieval/Renaissance revelers all around them. They were sitting at the bar, near a grounded Pirate Ship boutique, at the PA Renfest last year. If you thought you were viewing some Victorian Costumer movie outake starring Jane Seymour and Gene Wilder, you’re not alone!
