Motion Study at Dusk

Recently, while sitting in the car, at Golden Gardens, I became engrossed in the shapes of people walking past, and decided to do an impromptu motion study. My shutter speed varied a little as the light changed, but it hovered around 1/2 second. This allowed the sense of motion to come through, while still keeping the silhouettes clear enough to identify. These people could be any of us....

When Talking is Enough

Walking the Dog

Adult with Child on Bicycle

Walking Alone

Couple Strolling

Group and Bicycle

Lady with Large Hat

When Everyone is Gone

My Photography in SCC Art Gallery: May 17 to July 20 2012

After submitting six of my photographs for the marketing materials for the 2012 Shoreline Community College Combined Clubs Exhibition, I was thrilled to discover that four of my images were chosen for the poster!

Three of these images, seen below the poster, will be on display, for viewing or for purchase, during the show, which runs from May 17 to July 20 2012, in the Shoreline Community College Art Gallery, which is located in the Administration (1000) Building, adjacent to the Visitors Parking Lot. Click to view a map of the college campus.

Poster for the 2012 SCC Combined Club Exhibition,
featuring four of my photographs

Angel with Wings
One of my photographs featured in the SCC Art Gallery,
May 17  through July 20, 2012.

Silver Light
One of my photographs featured in the SCC Art Gallery,
May 17  through July 20, 2012.

Food?
One of my photographs featured in the SCC Art Gallery,
May 17  through July 20, 2012.

Hope you can drop by the Shoreline Community College Art Gallery to view my work, as well as the work of several other talented painters, potters, glass artists, and photographers!

Blessings,
Linda

3D Photos via Photoshop: 3-D Glasses Needed

Recently, I learned how to transform digital images into 3D, via a process in Photoshop. This is so much fun, I urge anyone with Photoshop and some image files to go out and buy 3D glasses, and give the process a whirl. I picked up a 2-pack of 3-D specs at Archie McPhee in Seattle, for a few dollars. There is also a great tutorial on creating 3D images, via PhotoshopEssentials.com

It helps if your images are not too busy and have a distinct foreground and background, rather than a narrow or short depth-of-field. You can apply the 3D effect to your entire image or a selection. I experimented, as well, with applying differing degrees of the effect within a single image: a subtle overall effect to the entire image, then a more amped up effect on a selection of the foreground or part of the foreground, using a mask. This works very well, and I was happy with the results.

The only drawback to creating 3D images is that you really need to wear the glasses, part of the time, while you are working on your images, in order to see how your effects are progressing. This can cause a fair amount of eye strain, light headedness, and / or headache. I did a session, working on a variety of images, that lasted about six hours. I wound up feeling like my eyeballs were moving around independently of each other, but it was worth it, because the results were so cool!

Here are some of the images I converted, along with the originals, for comparison. Unfortunately, those of you without 3D glasses will not be able to enjoy the full-on 3D effect presented here, but you will be able to see the position of a red channel, a blue-green channel, and the main image.

Original
Dad's Hands

3D Version
Dad's Hands

Original
Tulips

3D Version
Tulips

Original
Cherub I

3D Version
Cherub I

Original
Dad at the Conservatory

3D Version
Dad at the Conservatory

Original
Purple Sunset II

3D Version
Purple Sunset II

Original
Leafy Layers

3D Version
Purple Sunset II

I can't wait to try some more of these. I hope you have enjoyed viewing them!

Blessings,
Linda

Polaroid Project

Recently, I had the opportunity to use  a Polaroid 350 Land Camera, with 100 ISO Fuji film, courtesy of Rare Medium, on Capitol Hill, in Seattle. The photography club I belong to, F-Stop, were provided with 6 different Polaroid cameras, by Cory at Rare Medium, along with a variety of films, for a two week period, during which we experimented with shooting in this classic format. A portion of our results are being published in an upcoming issue of 1000 Words Magazine. 

Polaroid 350 Land Camera

Shooting in the Polaroid format was a refreshing change, as well as a challenge. I was provided with one partial roll of film, and purchased an additional roll, which gave me about 18 shots total.  When you consider that there is no LCD screen in this purely analog camera, no attached light meter, no menu, no digital feedback whatsoever, and that control is limited to a sliding focus bar, a Lighten / Darken dial, your own knowledge and understanding of light, and the fact that Polaroids are extremely sensitive to contrasty lighting, it is easy to see what a challenge shooting Polaroids can be.

Shooting on a tripod is key. Plus, it looks so cool!

Since the 350 Land Camera does not automatically eject each shot, and you literally pull each image from the camera manually, you are free to shoot double or even, in my case, in one instance, triple exposures. I had a blast with this, and wish I could have played some more! Alas, the film is $16 per 10 exposure pack, or I would have loaded up with several rolls.

Film is pulled manually from the camera,  per frame,
allowing for double or even triple exposures. 

The kicker, with shooting Polaroids? You do not, of course, see the results of each shot for about 10 minutes, assuming you allow for optimum processing, while keeping each light sensitive photo frame in a pocket or case to protect it. So, the question I kept asking myself was, do I keep shooting, trusting that I got the shot I wanted and that the light I saw and interpreted is the light that will appear in the shot, or do I wait and look at my result from the first shot? I did both. I got great results and disappointing results, typical of any experimentation.

The most fun aspect of shooting with this camera, besides its cool appearance, with folding bellows, and people stopping me everywhere to ask what kind of camera I had, was being able to shoot double exposures, in camera; something I experimented with for several frames.  When it came time to return this camera, I did not want to let it go. In fact, I nearly cried. It was so much fun to be challenged to really think about and perceive light in a new way, or rather, in the "old fashioned" way. We are so used to digital cameras that give us instant feedback via sensors, meta data and LCD screens, as well as endless menu choices, not to mention the freedom afterwards to "Photoshop" whatever we do not like, that it was a major reality check to operate without any of that.

Check out my some of my results below. These Polaroid photographs are un-retouched, the only digital process was scanning them into digital files:

My attempt to shoot via candlelight, with floor lamps used for additional illumination.
Besides winding up with soft focus, I struggled to get enough light into the frame to register...
Candles III

My first attempt outdoors...
Flowering I

I love the statuary and crypt architecture in cemeteries, particularly old cemeteries, so I began again, with a trip to Evergreen Washelli, a few miles from where I live....

I have always admired this statue, atop a headstone...
Daydreaming

First attempt at double exposure. I really like this one...
Gazing I

Another double exposure with the veterans section of the cemetery
combined with a stand of trees. This one has my heart...
Dream No Small Dreams

Another eerie double exposure, this one of an angel from two sides.
O'Neill's Prayer

The next day, I went to Lakeview Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Seattle to shoot more images, as well as Volunteer Park,  which are very close to each other, on Capitol Hill...

I began with this statue, which I have a soft spot for...
Reflection

She seems to be coming to meet you here. Another double exposure...
Walking

Again. And she turns, stepping into herself...
Turning

Party trick! A triple exposure. Two different angles of this statue, plus an extreme
 close up of her face, being out of the range of focus for the camera. I wanted to see
what sort of canvas the out of focus face would provide...
Nine Year Old Girl - Triple Exposure

A beautiful crypt, with flowering vines...
Austin A. Bell, RIP

Last double exposure, the crypt combined with a shot of the grass...
Sleeping and Growing

My very last Polaroid exposure, about 50 feet within the entrance to Volunteer Park...
Volunteer Park Entrance

Hope you have enjoyed looking at these as much as I enjoyed creating them! It is so refreshing to step outside of the ordinary, to challenge your perception, and to just play. Here is hoping that you, too, will get to experience these in a happy way!

Blessings,
Linda