European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Friday Photography Blog No.32

by LEP
Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:07:50 AM EST

Greetings all. LEP has returned from Washington to France, via Jet Plane.
A lot happened while I was there. On the way to my office on Pennsylvania Ave. and 21st St. I encountered at different times 1) Pennsylvania Ave. closed off for the Dali Llama, and 2) Pennsylvania Ave. closed off for Pope Benedetto. I saw picketing on K St.; Yes people still picket in the U.S. And I saw the last Obama-Clinton debate which passed several minutes discussing whether Obama should wear an American flag lapel pin. I didn't see them discussing whether Hillary Clinton should wear such a pin, so I thought the discussion unfair. Me I gave up my pin more than a year ago when Sarkozy announced he was forming a Department of Patriotism or something like that. I then traded my American flag lapel pin for a French tricolor lapel pin which I proudly sport even today. Well, it is displayed on the inside of my undershirt because I do want to be discreet. This is France you know. I don't want to have a 65% disapproval rating like Sarko has, primarilly because he's been indiscreet.

Well let's get down to business. Today we have three sections: as usual, Photos as Usual, 2)Ask the Experts and as inspired by Metatone, 3)Cultures in my Neighborhood. I do hope we'll see some photos from Metatone and that big beautiful camera he carries around.

The lead photo is a photo I took on the plane arriving in Paris. I took it with my new Canon Elph. I love this camera. No, it's not a Nikon D80. But it always in my pocket ready to go to work. It's like the condom I always carried in my wallet when I was 18; always on the ready. But I'm sure I'll use my Canon Elph more than I used that condom. Hmm, I have to take a look; I wonder if it's still there?

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Friday Photography Blog No.32 | 114 comments (114 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 2)

cultures in my neighborhood

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:09:59 AM EST

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 13)

An open air market every Wednesday and Saturday in Paris, just in front of my studio. (Jan. 2007)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:35:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 13)

There's a lot of impromptu memorials in LA. You often see them at the sites of accidents or shootings, among other things.

I came across this one the other night for Bingo. I actually walked past two Bingo memorials, but only took a picture of the one at the mural (although it was by far the smaller of the two). Turns out he was also known as the Mayor of Silverlake.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:02:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

A cultural invasion of my neighborhood. (4.00 / 11)

Not that I minded- they were having fun.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:20:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm not sure... (4.00 / 11)

... do boys wearing skirts and makeup whilst screaming and gyrating on the Hollywood Walk of Fame count as 'culture?'

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:23:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm not sure... (4.00 / 2)

Great to see you posting Izzy. It's interesting to see some photos from that exotic region- Southern California. National Geographic might be interested :-)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:29:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm not sure... (none / 1)

Thanks, LEP - it's good to see you, too. I should be around more now. I've been missing ET during my, uh... hiatus.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:40:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hi Izzy (4.00 / 2)

I agree w/ LEP (hi LEP!) ... Good to see you!

by olivia on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 11:19:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hi Izzy (4.00 / 2)

Hey, you! How goes it over at the cafe? It's good to see you!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 11:27:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Don't spend a lot of time there these days (none / 0)

It's up on the top of the page now, where the old world thread used to be if you wander over there.

Happy the snow is finally gone. :)

by olivia on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 09:23:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Culture's in the 'hood (4.00 / 8)

French culture! Yes, I know that's redundant....

I'd never seen this model until then, anyone know what the model type is called?

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:14:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Culture's in the 'hood (none / 1)

Citroën DS, pretty legendary! Featured in a lots of sixties French movies. The reason it is most legendary is the hydraulic suspension. (A work colleague of my father used to have one when I was in Frankfurt, who said that it is crap quality with frequent breakdown of parts and oil leaks, but the feeling when the car 'floats' itself upon starting is worth it...)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 09:22:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Culture's in the 'hood (none / 1)

I had a Citroen BX for a while. The suspension is that it shares a circuit with the brakes. So if there's a leak - which there inevitably is - not only does the car start scraping the ground, but the brakes stop working too.

I suppose friction braking has its uses, and I was lucky enough to be driving past a garage when I found this out.

But I won't be buying another Citroen for a while - no matter how stylish the design is.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 02:08:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Culture's in the 'hood (none / 0)

Why?

Hydropneumatic suspension - Wikipedia

Failure of the hydraulic system will cause a drop in ride height and, possibly, the failure of suspension completely, and the brakes will not work. However, an acute failure will not lead to acute brake failure as the accumulator sphere holds enough reserve pressure to ensure safe braking far beyond that needed to bring a vehicle with a failed system to a standstill.
...The 2003 Citroën C5 has continued development of Hydractive suspension with Hydractive 3. Compared to earlier cars, the C5 stays at normal ride height even when the engine is turned off for an extended period, through the use of electronics.

The C5 is the present successor of your BX. Citroën C5 - Wikipedia

In a major break with Citroën tradition, the brakes and steering were no longer powered by the same hydraulic system as the suspension. It has been speculated that the primary driver for this was the cost of developing electronic brake force distribution for the system when the PSA Group already had an implementation for conventional brakes. Another factor may be the highly responsive nature of Citroën C5 brakes, which some have found hard to adjust to on other hydropneumatic cars, though it is felt by some to be superior. It can be scary for a C5 driver used to the instant reactions of an older hydropneumatic car to drive another vehicle and find an inch of pedal travel before any significant braking is achieved.

Also, perhaps surprisingly, according to the German motoring club ADAC's benchmark accident statistics classification (2007, pdf!), the C5 doesn't feature due to low selling numbers in Germany, but Citroëns are rather good.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 04:00:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 10)

Not my local culture but a general culture of getting your mark scribbled on things. In this case a big chunk of rock.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:23:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 8)

More contemporary stone age graffiti.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:30:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Is that Stormont or Stormonth ? (Or something else?)

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:58:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

Stormonth is a surname from Scotland. Taken from a placename Stormont. And probably having given its name to Stormont, Belfast.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:08:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Day of the Orchids (4.00 / 10)

The orchid fair was at the Palmhaus here in Frankfurt. So many, so beautiful!

I hope no one has dial-up.... if so, sorry....

If the mods want to impose a limit per diary to keep me in line, I'd understand.

I tried to pare down the number of photos, so I did.... this is pared down!

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:32:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Day of the Orchids (none / 1)

Better if you post them individually or in two and threes. And maybe over a period rather than all at once!

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:40:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Day of the Orchids (none / 0)

Roger that....

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:44:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Day of the Orchids (none / 0)

What patience you have to upload and link to so many photos

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:05:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Day of the Orchids (none / 0)

Patience? Not so much.... Time and the will, yes....

I thinking of trying to figure out how to write an automation script to assist me. Mac has a whole suite of options for that.... I haven't got the patience though....

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:11:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Day of the Orchids (none / 0)

What a lovely collection of flower pictures. Thanks.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 10:36:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Washington D.C. picket line. (4.00 / 8)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 08:39:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Washington D.C. picket line. (none / 1)

yay! Go the unions. I hope they win their cause. I notice the majority of people being shafted there appear to be black.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 08:59:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Washington D.C. picket line. (none / 0)

Washington city is heavily black, perhaps 65%.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:15:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 7)

Photo taken of neighborhood restaurant and bar, in March, 2007, of what has become my favorite cous-cous restaurant in Paris.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 11:28:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 6)

Chicago, downtown. I liked the different textures.

A bar in Indiana with a bunch of people I was in 1st grade with about 1959.

"

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

by NearlyNormal on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:18:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 4)

A late entry: this afternoon: Scouts' St George's Day Parade:

by Sassafras on Sun Apr 27th, 2008 at 01:34:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Love the top photo!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Apr 27th, 2008 at 02:33:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

Shame about the arm, amongst other things.

But it's an interesting limitation to try to get the flavour of an event without showing faces...you're not really encouraged to take photographs at all.

by Sassafras on Sun Apr 27th, 2008 at 02:51:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A little crop. (4.00 / 2)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Mon Apr 28th, 2008 at 06:25:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

and thank you :)

by Sassafras on Sun Apr 27th, 2008 at 02:55:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

Fabulous photos LEP, and you obviously have a great camera to go with your great eye for the significant image. I'm very fond of looking out of the porthole of planes and your view is stunning.

For a moving picture version (with musical soundtrack) have a look at the last part of this video taken recently on my way back to London from Rome, on a BA flight about to land in Heathrow.
Sorry, but you'll have to sit through the beginning and the middle before you get to the end.

Everyone's photos on this Friday blog are terrific. Must get into this.

Blaugustine

by Augustinatalie (endapressNOTblueyonderNOTcoNOTuk) on Sun Apr 27th, 2008 at 08:37:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Thanks. I looked at your video. How do you hold the camera reasonably still for so long?

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Mon Apr 28th, 2008 at 06:11:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

I didn't think it was still enough. But in the plane it was easy, I just rested my elbows on the edge of the window, pointed the camera and that was all.

Blaugustine

by Augustinatalie (endapressNOTblueyonderNOTcoNOTuk) on Tue Apr 29th, 2008 at 07:26:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

photos as usual

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:10:31 AM EST

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 11)

My wife had a lovely present awaiting my return.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:20:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Baby photos ... (4.00 / 4)

I've been very restrained so far!

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:51:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 11)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:52:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 13)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:53:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 13)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:53:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 2)

Thanks for these, Colman! It's good to see you guys all looking so great.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:06:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 2)

VERY cool!!!

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!

by whataboutbob on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:19:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Oh, I remember that look. She can't quite remember if the sniper fire was after the midnight diaper change, or during the 2:00 AM feeding. Give her a long, gentle hug just because.

The blurker formerly known as ignorant bystander.

by b--- (budr at hughes net) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 08:37:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Lovely mother and child!

won't wonders never cease? _ Snuffy Smith

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 09:50:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (3.94 / 17)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:56:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 4)

"YOU are my father?! You cannot be serious!" :-)

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:49:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 1)

Tell me about it.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:50:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Incidentially. that picture was taken by Sam, though the tight crop and post-processing are my fault.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:45:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

"Wow I'm related to Shrek" ;-) (i'll leave it to the viewer to decide who's thinking this)

Interviewer: What do you believe is behind this recent increase in terrorist bombings? Helpmann: Bad sportsmanship

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:57:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 10)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:00:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 1)

He looks like he's ready to go beer drinking with Helen!

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:05:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Which is more than I'm up to.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:46:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Read the tabloid press and that sort of activity will be expected all too soon.

Interviewer: What do you believe is behind this recent increase in terrorist bombings? Helpmann: Bad sportsmanship

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:58:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

At least he'd get a proper education that way.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:01:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Thank you for the baby pictures, I love them all. However, is there a reason why they are all in black and white?

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:24:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 2)

: )
He decided the B&W version looked better for this bunch of photos...

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:36:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 2)

Sam, hope you are doing well, at least you look it in the picure further up.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:42:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 4)

Yes...doing fine...getting over the op and trying not to over exert myself so that it all heals nicely. Could do with some extra sleep sometimes (me AND Colman) but I've been told I might get that in 30 years or so!!!

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:47:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 2)

Sorry to disillusion you Sam but in 30 years or so you two will likely become grandparents. I can assure you my wife and I haven't gotten nearly as much sleep since that joyous event happened for us in 2005. On the other hand, it's better the second time around.

won't wonders never cease? _ Snuffy Smith

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 09:58:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 1)

They work better that way.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:36:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Why did you ask, if you don't mind me asking?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:44:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (4.00 / 11)

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:07:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Baby photos ... (none / 0)

Aren't baby eyes just amazing, so much light!

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:43:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

From estHer (4.00 / 11)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:42:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

From estHer (4.00 / 9)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:49:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Per usual (4.00 / 11)

The flowers in the front yard are fab!

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:16:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 11)

Very blue sea - Giant's Causeway.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:25:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Giant's Causeway (4.00 / 10)

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:28:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 7)

Villefranche

Cool guys, Villefranche

After Eugene Boudin, Villefranche

Beaulieu-sur-mer

"You want us to swim to where?!"

Nice

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 12:59:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Ted. Don't you get sick of all that sunshine and blue skies all the time?

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:13:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

In fact we actually had some cloudy, rainy days recently (much needed). One night was so stormy a lot of the beach cafes were inundated. But no, I don't get sick of it (just yet) after spending most of my life in London :-) I just tend to feel more optimistic and inclined to walk around when there is sun, which is why I planned to move south - though Montpellier was my intended location - which also has about 300 days of sun a year.

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:40:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Optimistic? Isn't that a maladie :-)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 01:49:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

If it is, it's one I'm eager to acquire :-) - I said "more optimistic".

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 02:40:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

strange moth... (4.00 / 7)

that's been hanging out on my kitchen door frame all day.

closed wingspan around 3", anyone recognise it?

There are no blank spots on the map any more, anywhere on earth. You want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind. Jon Krakauer

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 02:20:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: strange moth... (4.00 / 2)

Eee. At first I thought it might be one of these, but on closer inspection, probably not. We had Cecropia moths in our yard when I was a kid. I was terrified of them (insects and fur always seem a freaky combination), both as the gigantic caterpillar and the gigantic moth. People always came over to look at them. No one was allowed to touch them. There is something very unsettling about them. Is your moth unsettling to you? It could be spying on you!

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:10:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: strange moth... (none / 1)

creepy-awesome.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:45:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: strange moth... (none / 0)

Great link Poemless!! thanks!

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde

by Sam on Mon Apr 28th, 2008 at 05:07:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: strange moth... (4.00 / 9)

Saturnia pyri

The struggle of man against tyranny is the struggle of memory against forgetting.(Kundera)

by Elco B (elcob at scarlet dot be) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 04:13:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 7)

There are no blank spots on the map any more, anywhere on earth. You want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind. Jon Krakauer

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:11:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

brickwork detail, citta di castello (4.00 / 7)

There are no blank spots on the map any more, anywhere on earth. You want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind. Jon Krakauer

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:20:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 6)

Hi again.. I had camera trouble during my Paris trip (it seems that my basic street lens, the 28mm f/2.8 now backfocuses terribly) and well.. have the feeling I didn't get any good pictures, but haven't looked at them yet properly or even developed all the film.

You can see the annoying backfocus here:

It was supposed to focus on the police officers.

I took some weird motion pictures just for fun.

and decided to try making good photographs some other time. :-p

You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes. --More--

by tzt (tztmail at gmail dot com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:25:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

My 50mm lens is awful for backfocusing at times. I think especially at low f number. Is it a case of learning how it does that and compensating for it? Can it be addressed?

Love the motion picture though, hope you enjoyed Paris.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 03:08:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

What is backfocusing? I see it thrown around a fair bit ...

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 05:18:02 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

I've never heard the term before now but I hope tzt can enlighten us! My understanding of it is that I focus on a person for example and it looks focused through the viewfinder but I then look atthe file to find that the wall behind them is wonderfully sharp and they are not. My 50mm does it all the time, it bugs the hell out of me.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 06:37:38 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

I don't know if it is the correct term in English, so sorry for the confusion..

What I meant was, the autofocus does not focus right. It focuses behind the object I am trying to focus on. So what I see on the viewfinder as properly focused, is not properly focused on film/sensor.

You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes. --More--

by tzt (tztmail at gmail dot com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 06:44:39 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

It's not a problem I've come across.

I can see how that would work with a rangefinder, because you're depending on the lens being calibrated with the focusing mechanism in the camera, but how does it happen on an SLR?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 09:12:01 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

I've no idea, actually, I just know it sometimes does. A couple of friends have ran into the problem with similar Canon EOS systems/lenses and have sent something to be recalibrated, I have to ask around...

You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes. --More--

by tzt (tztmail at gmail dot com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 02:46:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

ask the experts

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 03:11:45 AM EST

Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 8)

Any tips for getting the right depth of field and focal point when using macro lenses? It is only when I blow the photos up on screen that I realise how horribly wrong I got it in shot.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:32:57 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Is that the full frame? What aperture did you use?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:41:18 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Yes this is full frame and aperture was dictated by the light available there. I don't think it was higher than 6 or 7. Original file at home so I can't check at the moment. I was using a tripod on this.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:56:20 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 3)

f7.1 and ISO 200 with a 105mm lens. You could have afforded to go up to ISO400 or maybe even 800 and get the extra stop or two worth of DOF. f11 is much better than f7 for that.

One of the problems with long macros is the reduced DOF (or am I mad?), though they give much better working distance.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:11:21 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Where did you pull that data from?! I didn't think it was still embedded once it converted to jpeg.

I keep forgetting ISO these days, it is permanently set to be no higher than 200 becuase I forget to switch back and then get grainy shot where I need sharpness.

The DOF can be incredibly narrow with this lens but you are right about the good working distance.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:29:11 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

jpeg stores the data. Go to the photobucket page that displays this shot and, below the photo, click on Show Details.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:50:06 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

I'd suggest using either the manual focus (mine has a little window that zooms in on the object enabling one to fine tune the focus) or, if using auto-focus, then use the narrow focus setting (we're it focuses on just a small point).

I also tend to take multiple shots, just in case something like this happens. I'll use auto-focus but then pull away and frame the shot up again slightly differently in order to let the camera vary its analysis.

Then again, I'm no expert....

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:43:06 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

oops!

we are it focuses? .... egad, where....

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 05:50:52 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 0)

Good advice, thanks. I could easily have spent all day there but had friends with me, so that dictates the time spent on getting a range of shots.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:04:10 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 6)

Best advice: lose the friends. They just weigh you down and get in the way.

I recommend extreme grumpiness as a good technique here.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:08:10 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 2)

Works for me!

by gioele (gioele(daught)sandler(aaaattttt)gmail(daught)kom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:17:50 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 2)

Bah.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 07:31:31 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 3)

As harsh as it sounds, this is the best advice going. I almost never get good photos when dragging friends along. It just doesn't work. Good photography is essentially a solitary endeavor.

won't wonders never cease? _ Snuffy Smith

by Gringo (stargazing camel at aoldotcom) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 10:26:44 PM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 9)

I think this was with my 50mm, a better DOF here but still not quite right.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:31:05 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (4.00 / 3)

You need a tripod and plenty of light for good macro. ISO helps, but the grain is a different kind of trade-off.

There is an alternative, but it's insane. If you have a tripod you can bracket the focus and then stitch together a composite in Photoshop. This will give you a completely fake DOF which would be impossible to create in-camera.

It's not a fast option and it's not usually worth the effort. But once in a while nothing else will do.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 07:37:22 AM EST
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Re: Friday Photography Blog No.32 (none / 1)

Flash might have helped if she didn't want to increase the ISO. But that's a whole other kettle of worms.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 07:40:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

DOF and foreground interest (4.00 / 10)

Here are two examples that combine two of my biggest landscape headaches. One is providing decent foreground interest to draw the eye into the shot - something I am generally not great at doing and still found difficult even with this highly textured landscape around the causeway.

The other is getting suitable DOF such that the foreground is sharp but so too is the landscape, especially if I wanted to get a really big print out of a shot.

So, I've ditched my friends, what do I do next to improve shots like these?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:37:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: DOF and foreground interest (4.00 / 4)

Smaller aperture. Those are 6 and 5.6 respectively at 19mm. According to my 20mm prime lens, which actually has a DOF scale on it, and assuming you're focused 1m away, that gives you a range from about 0.7m to 2m in acceptable focus. If you're focused 2m away, it gives you about 1m to just under infinity in focus. Now, don't believe DOF scales, since they're generally pretty generous to the lens, so it would really be worse than that.

At f11 you have a range from very close to near infinity in focus at 1m, about 1m to inifinity at 2m focus.

At f16 everything should be in focus, more or less.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:50:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: DOF and foreground interest (4.00 / 6)

Foreground interest means creating geometry that leads into the frame. In the top shot the geometry blocks the view - your eye is likely to stop on the big block at the right, which is so strong it eclipses the background.

The bottom shot works better, because the basalt has a natural perspective. But there's still a barrier behind it which means the eye has to push through it to start looking at the distant sea and rocks. And when you do push through the middle you don't get the pay off, because the action is off to the top left.

I'd probably use a wider lens, just for the drama, and also find an angle where the rocks at the far left spread across the frame. So you get basalt, mid-ground, sea, background.

I'd also look for a stand-out feature for the mid-ground - something surprising - to pull the shot together. (Maybe one of the friends who've been dumped, looking small?)

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 07:48:44 AM EST
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Re: DOF and foreground interest (none / 1)

Thanks for these comments Colman and TBG - really helps! Just to put it into practice...

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 09:05:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Shooting in the rain (4.00 / 9)

A couple of weeks back, I made some bold claims about taking pictures in the rain. I suggested that if you leave out the sky, the diffused light can make for some nice pictures.

If you must shoot during a rain shower, it helps to show the rain.

This is not much of a picture, but it is as much flower as we have around here during this late spring. These are daffodil buds. But notice how nice the green turned out.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 06:13:46 PM EST
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Might interest photographers (none / 1)

Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection: The New York Times on the New Art of Flickr

For the past 100 years, much of what the world considers fine art photography has been bestowed upon us by a very small handful of influential gatekeepers. Literally, at any given time, probably less than 100 people control 95% of what the world is told to consider fine art. These are a few major museum curators, select gallery owners, and other influencers. These individuals not only control the prices that fine art photography will fetch, they quite literally control what is considered the best fine art in the world today. They tell people what photography ought to be deemed great and what ought to be deemed amateurish.

With the advent of the web much of this is changing. In the past without the cooperation of the art elite most photographers saw their work fade into obscurity. Sure, they might win a bronze sticker at the local county fair for their photograph, but really nobody would ever see it.

Today the web is allowing a new breed of photographer as artist. An artist that is increasingly able to bypass the fine art elite and promote their work directly to the public. Although the fine art prices have not yet been attached to today's new "Flickr Famous" photographer, this too will come in time. Step one is simply getting the exposure.

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 09:12:58 AM EST
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happy accident (4.00 / 3)

There are no blank spots on the map any more, anywhere on earth. You want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind. Jon Krakauer

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 at 03:55:51 AM EST

Friday Photography Blog No.32 | 114 comments (114 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)