…I posted this image:
Leaving Vancouver
It was one of my first images from an Alaskan (Vancouver to Seward) cruise. How quickly time flies – it already feels like it was two or more years…
One Year Ago, on Flickr…
Written by Eric W on August 8th, 2010
Civilization
Written by Eric W on August 7th, 2010
Campground Outhouse
My Father-in-law visited once, many years ago, from overseas. While travelling around, he marveled at the rest and camping areas – so civilized, not even smelly. Shoot, even clean, with toilet paper that’s not immediately stolen!
Despite the worldwide recession, I’m finding that this is still the case. We must be rich – people aren’t stealing the TP (reality: it’s usually locked up pretty well – you’d have to be fairly motivated).
Last month, we went camping. As usual, the restrooms were surprisingly non-smelly, and the exteriors were… surprisingly clean. Of all the photos that weekend, this was my favorite.
One Year Ago, on this site…
Written by Eric W on August 5th, 2010…I was on vacation, and had some pre-recorded images posted. This one was the post at that time:
A sun-kissed tree
Throwing some Hate towards the WSJ
Written by Eric W on August 4th, 2010
Multiple pages - really, why?
I have somewhat of a minor gripe, but it really burns my britches. So just like that, you’ll have to deal with it. The gripe: the WSJ photoblog has changed their format. It used to be that you would click on the page, and it would load (albeit slowly, sometimes – there are a lot of high-quality pictures there, usually). Starting a short while ago, with a short hiatus which ended today, they shifted the format: you load the day’s photos, and then there are more pages of photos. There might be two or three pages.
The main gripe: when I’m looking at pictures online, I’m in the zone. Particularly if it’s news-related. With the WSJ now, I get to the bottom and… have to wait for the next page to load. Just a few seconds? Eff you: I’m on the other side of the country. It takes a while. This multi-page policy completely interrupts the flow of my reading.
Think like this: you’re reading a great article on the front page of a newspaper. It tells you to skip to the back. Now, in the middle of the article: stop the person for two minutes. Hell, stop me for twenty seconds: concentration is completely lost, and I might as well not read the article at all. The interruption has to be small.
But it’s not small. Twenty seconds would be a dream, where I’m at – and in any case, it prevents me from going backwards, or scrolling up and down.
The thing is, I’m not really sure *why* this is. It’s not like the extra pages do anything other than piss people off. Are they so desperate for ad revenue that they want the single ad at the top to get two more impressions?
Really, it’s senseless.
Blue and Gold
Written by Eric W on August 3rd, 2010A recent favorite, originally posted on Flickr:
Blue and Gold
Not bad for an itty-bitty camera…
Photographs from a Women’s Prison
Written by Eric W on August 1st, 2010
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.
HDR From Vista
Written by Eric W on July 31st, 2010Taken in the backyard of my Aunt & Uncle’s place, barely two weeks ago:
HDR at Sunset, Vista
There are several pics in the whole series; this is only one of them. Color-wise, this is my favorite. The overall series is possibly my most successful HDR series to date, as far as sharpness and merging is concerned.
Photovision Video Magazine on Sale
Written by Eric W on July 30th, 2010Let me introduce you to Photovision, a video magazine. I’ve subscribed to this for the last two years, initially because the price was right. I continue the subscription because it’s an excellent way to see how other photographers work.
It’s kinda like this: I tend to do mostly portraits, landscape, and light architecture, with some product shots thrown in for good measure. These videos put me in an excellent position to view baby photographers, senior photographers, and other specialists as they work. There is technique to learn (the picture below is based on some of their portraiture), as well as a great deal about business.
Interested in getting into the business? This is a good way to get started.
If you’re interested, they currently have their annual subscription on sale for $39 a year (that’s six 2-hour disks, one every other month). Regular price is $149 (I’ve never paid that, but I’m told it used to be common until their sponsors started picking up a lot of the tab), so it’s quite a discount.
For forty bucks, why not go for it? Go to their site and enter “PVFAN” as the special promo code.
Portrait, Inspired by some work in PhotoVision
Relevant disclaimer: if three people follow that link, I’ll get the next year’s subscription comped. So I do get something out of you signing up, but it’s something I’d happily pay for anyway.
“Once you figure out a work of art…”
Written by Eric W on July 28th, 2010
Go ahead, figure this out
“… it ceases to have any interest.” I’m paraphrasing a quote that I read today, mostly because it touched a nerve. For me, this is somewhat true.
I think it’s an issue of mental stimulation. If you’re stimulated enough by a work to be fascinated, you relish in the various tales that it tells. I’m noticing that I tend to follow artists who aren’t easy to decipher as a result.
For example, David Epstein (NSFW), who I’ve followed for quite a while now. Sometimes it’s quirky humor, sometimes his work has surprising depth. Unless you’re looking at his candid street shots, there’s almost always something hidden for fun.
Sorry, you won’t see the best of his work unless you’re on Flickr and labeled as a “Friend.” But it’s great, trust me.
The San Diego Museum of Art Blows
Written by Eric W on July 25th, 2010
Museum of Art Entrance at Balboa Park
How’s that for an incendiary title? I suppose I should backtrack slightly and explain myself: during a recent trip to southern California, we stopped by Balboa Park. Great place, and it happened to have some wonderful things going on for children. Acrobats, stencil drawing (Persian-style) on tile, block-painting (very lithographic).
My daughter loved it all, so therefore I loved it.
Until we hit the SD MOA, that is. We were greeted at the door by a cheerful woman, welcoming us in. “Entry is free,” she informed us, “but no cameras and no drinks. You have to leave your bags at the front.” With this, she gestured to a side room where there was a check-in service. Click to continue »