Learning from Failure

A local photography group had a themed shoot where the main focus point of the image should be the colour red. Being an inventive sort, prone to thinking outside the box, I thought I'd shoot in infra-red.

Well, too clever for my own good it seems. I'd scored a mint condition Nikon D1x (with buffer upgrade even) on eBay for pennies (literally, it was condition unknown) which I thought would make a perfect IR camera. Grabbed a 720mm IR filter and went to town on the shoot.

Sadly, the day was partially overcast and the IR-look I was after didn't quite pan out. There were several challenges in getting this shot, one, the bike was sandwiched in a parking lot between several large cars, so I had to decide how best to isolate it from the background clutter. This meant getting down low, so I broke out the tripod, set the camera for a 2 second exposure on my 17-35mm lens, and fired. 

I did this about 10 times from different angles and positions until I was happy with the result. A little post processing and here you have it. More Black and White than IR, but it was a learning experience. In addition, when I get the spare cash laying around, I'm converting the D1x to a pure IR camera so be on the lookout for some (hopefully) otherworldly shots.

Back to basics

Many years ago I experimented with Infrared Photography, with reasonably pleasing results but I was new in the world of cameras, so I tried a bit of everything and it fell by the wayside as I concentrated on other subjects and techniques.

This weekend, along with the colour run (see below) I dug out my ancient Nikon D1x, my 720nm filter and had a go at IR work again.

Still the same old problems with using the filter, focusing is off (because the camera focuses on visible spectrum, not the IR one) so the image is soft, setting the shutter speed is highly dependent on the sun (or lack thereof) and a million other issues (the D1x hasn't been used in years and it's developing hotspots on the sensor) but if you don't look too closely at the image, it's acceptable.

One day I will get a dSLR converted to full time IR, but not this year, unless anyone wants to donate a dSLR to me, then I'll take pics in your honour.

Wider View

Here is a wider view of the marina with that beautiful wood hull in the foreground, and the perfect sky above.

Unsurprising, given the weather, but there was no one about, lending an air of mystery to the scene. 

Strawberry Ice Cream

There were some unusual colour combinations last night, this one being one of them and reminding me of strawberry ice cream. I was pleased at how well these turn out, mainly because I shoot with an ancient (on dSLR terms) Nikon D1x, and while it's daytime abailities are great, low-light and nighttime acumen is sorely lacking.

Nonetheless, the noise is kept to a minimum and overwhelmed by the main subject.

Ready for Battle

Found, in the newsaper of all strange places, a weekly meeting for the SCA, or Society for Creative Anachronism, where members dress up like knights and do battle.

They have a huge event next weekend I'm going to, but for now here is one ready to joust.

Yes, they wear real metal armour and use real (if blunted) weapons

Snow? What Snow?

So we did get some snow, but not as much as I had hoped for really a good white city scene. No biggie I have plenty of snow shots elsewhere in the journal.

I did get up in time for sunrise, so here it is for your viewing pleasure. Shot with my Nikon D1x.

Sunset

Caught at sunset on July 4th. Trusty D1x, braced on the railing of the ship I was on. Got it just right I think.

Proof!

Give in to what you cannot fight, walk among us!

Sorry, just in a Misfits mood. Captured (heh heh) this little guy in the wilds of Colorado. Sorry I've not updated this site sooner, but I've been working on my new site and been a tad behind in stuff (so what else is new?)

Oooooooh, pretty!

Great fun (read: A pain in the neck) trying to shoot through hotel glass without getting reflections, dirt, etc in the picture. Now add fireworks (they shot them on weekends over the falls) and water spray and most of the shots didn't turn out.

I have to admit they didn't shoot the fireworks off where I'd expected, so the angle wasn't the greatest, but it still gives the overall idea of what was occuring.

Drag Girl

And if the concept of sitting on 500hp superbikes wasn't impressive enough, the riders were all women. I was *very* impressed, as drag racing is only now starting to open up to the fairer sex.

I like this shot for the contrast in motion, the far wheel frozen in time while the near one zips along.

Limitations

The drag race I went to a few weeks back held the promise of getting some great action shots and really pushing the limits of the Nikon D1x (which was designed for action photography)

The trouble was, 'non-pros' weren't allowed anywhere near the action, and there simply were no locations I could get to that were close to what was going on.

Not to sound like I'm whining, but I dd the best I could from where I stood. In any case, a few motionshots from the supercharged, Nitros-injected, superbikes.

Custom tailored

Yup, that's my custom made leather jacket with the Charged! GBH logo on the back. Was made by a friend of mine for a Halloween outfit years back. I still wear it when the weather gets cold, makes for a great conversation piece.

Have gun, will travel

Same effect, same settings, same happy accident. I like how there's just enough glint in her eye to keep her in detail, while the gun (a CZ-52) is the main subject in focus.

And yes, for those curious, that's a real gun and it was empty (checked by me and her) while in use as a prop.

Day Late and a Dollar Short

I am currently four photoshoots behind of publishing pictures, much less sorting and processing. My trip to Colorado, a drag racing event I went to, a model photoshoot and I just returned from Niagara Falls and the surrounding areas.

All in all, about 4,000 images I need to dig through and post the better ones. Lots of work for me!

If you couldn't tell, this picture is from Niagara Falls, taken from a boat tour that gets you soaking wet. Fortunately my Nikon D1x is weather resistant.