I completely missed that Jay finally had his site refreshed. It’s looking pretty sharp, and he’s even added a blog. It’s early, but there’s a lot of promise there.
Four posts in and he’s already making more relevant content than this blog is.
Add it to your feed reader!
Reading through the comments on Ctein’s most recent entry on The Online Photographer, and I came upon this gem. From his description:
Started in an attempt to see if I wanted to stay with MF film. Turned into a challenge to see how many OK shots I could drag out of the 3 rolls of 120 Delta 400 iso in my Rolleiflex 2.8F that’s had too little use since I bought it in 1980.
As a recent entrant into the world of the 60′s-something Rolleiflex, I’m pretty amazed. I recently went through my first roll (on Tri-X), and ended up with only one keeper – and a personal one, at that (picture of my daughter). I have a long way to go, but at least I can enjoy some of this gent’s work. Particular favorites:
Contrast his work with:
Monopoly Die
Not the best, as I was testing a close-up lens attachment. So very far to go…
An extra thanks to Mike (proprietor and general know-it-all of TOP) for pointing this one out.
Check it out here, if you care. In years past I’ve looked forward too it, as our always had something neat-o our cool, or perhaps useful bout unheard of (BlackRapid camera straps jump to mind).
Fortunately for my bank account, it’s a bit of a disappointment this year. Maybe nothing that cool came out? I’ll give him a couple of solids, though: the Ikea Suspension Rail system (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/series/09945/) would be handy for the office, and the lens mugs (http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/camera-lens-mug/) are kinda neat. But I heard about each one around 6 months ago, along with pretty much everything else.
I dunno, not bad, but I’m left feeling… underwhelmed a little.
Probably just me, having gotten back into film recently…
Nope, not getting a dime for this. Just a plug, nonetheless: check out his Faces of a Vanishing World video. You don’t have to pay actual cash money for it, but it is an option. An option I went with, in fact – the price is low, and the funds go to a good cause.
Why would you want it? I can only speak from my perspective, of course: I am someone who hates TV, watches perhaps five movies a year, and am not really interested in some young pup who is living the life I could always dream of… not to mention his obvious talent, which at 16 was already eclipsing that of whatever I might even aspire to.
I, the TV-hater, deem this a good video. It’s short for the cost – fifty minutes, with a bonus behind-the-scenes slideshow that’s worth watching through. Yet, it flows well. It’s full of information. You see interesting people, and come to care about them. You see Joey in juxtaposition with his life in New York, and you get a feel for his technique when he’s in the field.
An entertaining watch, and worth the cash.
Pardon me for a little redirection back to TOP, but I really liked the image posted here. Go ‘head, take a look…
… I posted a self portrait:
Self portrait
As a follow-up to this post, I went back to the WSJ site. They’re still using that inadvisable multi-page format, so I’ve done the logical thing: dropped them from the list of blogs that I follow.
If you’ve never followed them, here’s why I liked them: they had timely photos, in large sizes that made an excellent addendum to the news.
This is similar to The Big Picture, who remains on my lists. The WSJ covers many subjects each day. The Big Picture focuses on a single subject, but in depth. They normally worked very well together, supplementing each other’s content. Dare I say: there was synergy, having them both in the same blogroll.
So now out goes the WSJ. Is there a replacement that won’t irritate me to the point of vulgarity? If so, I haven’t found it yet.
Note: I know, the LA Times has tried to follow the WSJ’s lead with their Framework site. Somehow they have managed to make it even more frustrating than the WSJ’s site.
Dragonfly after the rain
Embracing and extending an idea from another photographer, I decided to setup a tumblr blog for lower-quality photos.
In this case, I noticed on a recent post about social CRM that he had a link to his profile, and on his profile I found a separate flickr stream dedicated to just iPhone pics. This struck me as a great idea: his quality work is separated from his snapshots, so friends (who are likely to care about the snapshots & will forgive the poorer quality) view that, as doubtlessly do a few stalker fans. I enjoyed the beard hat, for what is was worth!
Now, I have a different set of circumstances. I don’t (yet) have an online gallery; I really only have this blog, a flickr stream, and a personal blog (yes, unlinked). The focus of this blog is learning – there are writings, meandering thoughts, wordy paragraphs, and occasional photos. Occasionally I’ll put in a daily snapshot, but it’s rare – those pics aren’t appropriate for the subject here.
Besides, who cares?
I do like the idea of putting out more of my pics, though. It’s a way to share, and a great way to get feedback. So in that vein, I started a tumblr feed – check it out, if you so wish. Since Tumblr is a bit easier for those quick, on-the-fly snapshots and observations, that’s what I’m using.
So, for now: the Downhill Stream of Consciousness blog is pretty much a visual record of memorable images that pierce the consciousness enough to stimulate me into posting here. Which is a nice way to say “it’s a repository for my cellphone snaps.”
Take the photo associated with this post, for example: on a completely non-photographic errand, I stumbled across this guy. Despite it being warm& mid-day, and this guy moving his legs around, he refused to fly off. The closes camera to me? My cell phone. What you see here is straight out of that camera, unedited.
So commencing a short while ago: the graphic journal of my awareness commences at Tumblr.
Critique away.
When on the Big Island of Hawaii, I have always done boat diving with Jack’s Diving Locker. Just a small lead in to some cool pics: search for the “Mermaids in our pool” pics (the direct link may not work – dunno?).
People who know me, know how much I miss the islands – the water, the sun, the laid-back approach. Now I’m jealous – to have but a short opportunity to photograph with real mermaids.
Not gonna happen anytime soon, I’m afraid.
Women's Prison Gallery, partial Screenshot
I recently came across a fascinating online exhibition: Photography Workshop at Tirgsor Women’s Prison. Be warned: a few images are not safe for work (in the U.S. and other repressed areas). But by all means, if you don’t fear the human breast, check it out and think about the photos.
To me this hearkens back to one of the original purposes of photography: to show you (me) something different. At this, it succeeds: barring a catastrophic accident or psychosis, I am unlikely to be interred at a women’s prison – much less one in Romania. The imagery is eye-opening in that aspect.
Even more interesting to me: the images are not made by professionals. All images are made by women who are learning. And their work? Better than many professionals.
There are 95 images on the site, and each one made me stop and think.
Highly recommended.