Falling leaves

Remember the tulips from Valentine's Day? Fairly short shelf life! They looked absolutely glorious for three ar four days as they opened up, but fairly quickly after that the stems were drooping and the petals started to fall. Then on Sunday, we had quite windy weather, and before I knew it, the tulips were completely nude. As I picked up fallen petal number 1001, I wondered whether or not there could be a use for them.

I struck on the idea of trying to photograph them falling like leaves in autumn. I wish I hadn't! The idea was far more fruitful than the outcome, but in an effort to show that not all ideas can be transposed into artistic genius, my final image is shown above.

What went wrong? Well, nearly everything, really. The camera was set on a tripod, and one off-camera flash was used at 90 degrees to the lens axis. I wanted to fire the shutter as the petals passed the lens, hoping to capture a dreamy image of leaves floating lazily towards the ground. But the petals actually fell like stones! Timing the exposure to fire while leaves were in the frame was far from easy. I have many exposures with a petal count of zero; several where there is one solitary petal of the thirty or so I dropped; some with two or three petals; and only two with the multiple petals I had envisaged.

I wonder how many blocks of marble Michelangelo destroyed before he finished his "David"?

EXIF: Nikon D200; Nikkor 17-55 mm DX; ISO 200; 1/20 sec; f22.

TFF

Tulips

I don't normally rate my local supermarket all that highly. I go there almost every day, and the shelves seem to invariably be missing an item or two that I need. Not yesterday, however. It was Valentine's Day, and the place was overflowing with an amazing assortment of cut flowers.

I couldn't resist these tulips for my wife, the patient one, or TPO as she is known in these pages. I gave them to her last night when she got home from work, and they were an instant hit.

They were still looking wonderful this morning, so, as is my wont, I decided to capture them for posterity. You know, one of those days when, in search of brownie points, I can say "Do you remember those tulips I gave you on Valentine's Day? This photo really shows them off, doesn't it?"

Making the image took a bit of setting up. I wanted them to look as natural as possible, but I needed to use flash. So it was out with the tripod and the flash guns and the wireless remote. Would you believe that I took over 50 shots testing lighting and composition? I was trying to get the sort of wrap-around lighting that you can only get with multiple flashes. It gives a proper three-dimensional look to the subject. I ended up with the main flash in front of and to the left of the flowers and bounced of the ceiling, and two rear flashes at 45 degrees either side of the flowers, aimed slightly down at them. I also had to fine-tune the output of the flashes to make the lighting nice and even with no hot spots. Hence the 50+ pictures.

I am pleased with the final result, though. The colour of the flowers is shown properly, and the light falls off nicely towards the bottom of the image where those stems start. The background is just a bare wall, actually white, but once again the light falls off, leaving the softer colour.

EXIF: Nikon D200; Nikkor 17-55 mm DX; ISO 200; 1/125 sec; f11.

TFF

Black & white

The vast majority of pictures taken these days are in colour. Of course, in the very early days of photography there was no colour film, so photographers had to convey their messages using tone and contrast in black and white images. Now we are saturated with colour photos, and it is increasingly uncommon to see black and white images. Even newspapers have colour photographs now. Black and white is still used occasionally in portraiture and weddings, and by a few fine art photographers. But the average photographer rarely uses the medium.

Some images are just made for black and white reproduction. I made this photograph from a shot I took this morning not too far from my home. I call it "Petrol Pump Prison". A company that installs and repairs pumps for use in service stations has a number of them in a storage facility surrounded by a chain wire fence. I thought that they looked like prisoners lined up for a roll-call! They might have been locked up for price gouging fuel, I suppose. A larger version of the image can be seen here.

Anyway, I only ever saw this picture in B&W. My camera captured the image in colour, and I made the conversion in Photoshop to obtain the picture that I had planned. When looking "photographically", I try to think not only in colour, but also in B&W - and sometimes black and white is better.

Wireless flash

One of the most useful things for a photographer is a flash, and one of the most useful flashes is one that can be used off-camera. Most cameras these days have an internal flash that simply pops up when needed. These flashes are usually small and because they are mounted right next to the camera lens, there is often a problem with red-eye.

Better than this system is a separate flash that can either be mounted on the camera's hot shoe (slightly better) or that can be moved around totally independently of the camera (much better). The major camera makers have this sort of system available, and the Nikon DSLR camera that I use has what they refer to as their Creative Lighting System, or CLS. This is a very flexible system that uses infra-red beams to trigger off-camera flashes. It will even calculate the proper exposure and then ensure that the duration of the flash will provide that exposure.

But there is even a step further than this. The limiting factor with infra-red signals is that they are only useful in direct line of sight situations. Any physical barrier, say a pillar, a piece of furniture or even another person, will prevent the signals from reaching their destination and doing their job. This is where a radio trigger comes in, and that is what is shown in the photo above.

It is the Elinchrom Skyport system, and the radio transmitter is shown on the bottom LHS of the image. It fits onto the camera hot shoe and interacts with the camera that way. On the top LHS is the radio receiver, which connects to the flash with a short sync cord. The flash can then be moved anywhere within the range of the radio signal and the camera can still talk to it, regardless of any of the physical barriers mentioned above. This system doesn't control the exposure though. The photographer needs to calculate the proper exposure and the flashes must be set to fire on manual.

The transmitter can fire multiple flashes and has different frequencies that allow the flashes to be set up in groups if needed.

This system is much cheaper than the market leader in this segment, the Pocket Wizard. In fact it is half the price. The Pocket Wizard is known to be the gold standard, and though I've never used one, I am sure that it is extremely capable. But for considerably less money, the Skyport is very portable, efficient and therefore worthwhile.

EXIF: Nikon D200; Nikkor 18-55 mm DX; ISO 200; 1/60 sec; f8.

Two seconds

Well, time isn't flying today. It's another wet day - we have monsoon winds and rain forecast for the next few days. I shouldn't complain because we've just had a very long drought, but it sure slows the photography efforts down.

I made the image above for an on-line photographic competition. I don't remember the theme of the competition now, but I do remember that I had to remove my entry before the judging because I inadvertently left my name in the EXIF, which is the file included in a digital image that gives the detail of the image - date, camera, exposure, etc. In this photo competition, the images had anonymous for judging, so I had sabotaged my own entry!

To set up this shot, I mounted my camera on a tripod because the image I imagined would require a time exposure. Also, because I wanted to blur the second hand, I had to use available light, as the very short duration of a flash tends to freeze motion.

Watches are traditionally photographed with the hands in the 10 to 2 position to avoid the watch hands obscuring the brand name and any complicated dials on the watch face. Then I set the camera for a two second exposure and waited for the second hand to approach the top of the watch face. And, bingo! Photographic evidence that a two second exposure lasts for two seconds! Thanks to the slow shutter speed, we have captured the movement of the red arrowhead at the end of the second hand, which blurs across two seconds on the watch face.

EXIF: Nikon D70; Micro Nikkor 105 mm; ISO 200; 2 sec; f11.

TFF

Aerial gymnastics

Just after dawn this morning I heard a familiar sound. A fairly loud, fairly frequent "whoosh", echoing off the walls of the nearby buildings. We hear it a bit down my way, more often between March and September. Hot air balloons. They usually fly in the early mornings when the air is cooler so that the hot air that provides the lift is more effective.


It seems that the prevailing breezes push them down the river, and the pilots are quite skilled at keeping them just high enough to avoid trouble, and yet low enough to give their passengers a great view of the city. The "whooshing" noise comes from the gas burner which heats the air in the balloon. The air wants to cool and contract, which doesn't make for long and happy flights, so the pilot has to heat the air in the balloon to keep it afloat. They are masters of elevation, but direction isn't totally in their control!

Still, it looks like great fun. The one time I tried it, I was amazed at how quiet it is, and how close to the ground you really are.

In terms of matters photographic, I used the spot metering function of my camera to ensure that the balloon itself was properly exposed. I waited for the flame from the burner to be visible before pressing the shutter, because it gives the images more impact. The VR function of my lens was invaluable, because even though I was using 400 ISO, the shutter speeds were still rather low. In truth, I made a slight error in the rush to get my equipment ready quickly - I selected an aperture of f8; slightly too much for this shot where DOF isn't important. If I had selected f4 then I would have had more manageable shutter speeds for hand-holding the telephoto lens.

EXIF: Nikon D200; Nikkor 80-400 mm VR; ISO 400; 1/80 sec (1), 1/50 sec (2).

The snooker lesson

Finishing our "People" theme for the week is this photo that I took at the wedding of some friends. The little boy is part of the official wedding party, and the wedding photographer is setting up pictures with the groom and groomsmen prior to the ceremony.

Although I had my flash with me (in fact I had it mounted on the camera, but not switched on), I thought this photo would have some potential using only the available light from the large window at the left. The afternoon light has rendered nice skin tones, and the snooker table, dark suits and furnishings have given the picture a terrific "boys' club" feel.

Although a flash is an important part of a photographer's kit, it is a mistake to use it indiscriminately. Sometimes available light, even when it is dim, can give a better mood to a photograph than artificial light. I try to assess every shot on its merits, even at night, and decide whether the situation would be better lit by flash or otherwise. You could even so both - flash and ambient lighting - and decide later which gives better results. You can bet that they will be different.

EXIF: Nikon D70; Nikkor 17-55 mm DX; ISO 200; 1/60 sec; f2.8.

TFF

The high school formal

One of the tried-and-true methods of enhancing a photograph is to change the position of the photographer. Not the subject, the photographer.

Why? Well, the majority of images that we see repeat the usual perspective of a standing photographer. For example, most portraits are taken with the camera at the eye level of the subject, because that's generally eye level for the photographer too. Most pictures of pets are taken from above, because pets are generally smaller than people.

To achieve something different as a photographer can therefore be as easy as standing on a ladder to create a higher viewpoint, or crouching down to find a lower one. It creates a whole new perspective. Many press photographers keep a small step-ladder in the boot of the car for just this reason. It helps with crowd shots too.

For the picture above, taken before a high school formal, I stood on a landing half-way up a staircase, and asked the excited young women to look up at me from below. The result is a different perspective on the standard group portrait. I eliminated some distracting background elements with some blur, and that also added a dreamy quality to the shot.

EXIF: Nikon D70; Nikkor 18-70 mm DX; ISO 200; 1/25 sec; f4.5.

TFF

The artist and the jockey

We seem to have started on a "people" theme this week, so I see no reason not to continue with it.

I took this image in a museum. The museum was quite busy, and there were more than a few people gathered near this bronze statue, so I figured it might be important. When looking for an opportunity to photograph it, I noticed this art student making a pencil drawing of the statue. She was all set up with an easel, and her work was really quite good, so I thought that I should include her in the picture.

The museum was the Athens Museum in Greece. The statue is "The Jockey of Artemision", which was probably made in the third century BC. The jockey was discovered by fishermen in an ancient shipwreck off the Greek coast in 1927. The statue was only completely restored in 1972 after the recovery of the horse. It seems that the jockey would have originally been holding the reins in his left hand, and a whip in his right. The detail in the figure of the horse and the body of the jockey was really quite extraordinary. I took the original photo in 1986 and it remains one of my favourite images.

When I went back to Athens twenty years later, I was pleased to see "The Jockey" was still there (left).

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, since it had already survived for over 2300 years, many of those underwater.

EXIF: Sorry, unknown (main image). Canon A620; ISO 200; 1/100 sec; f2.8 (small image).

TFF

Umbrella girl

In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River is a thriving entity in its own right. All day long, barges, ferries and pleasure craft chug along this river. Crossing the river by ferry is like a ride on the dodgems at a carnival - no rules, plenty of fun. Large multi-hull transports shepherded by a tug seem to have right of way because they aren't terribly manouvrable. Frail-looking long-tail boats, propelled by impossibly powerful and loud motors, dart through any available opening and dock in a shower of spray and frantic revving of their engines, usually disgorging a bunch of farang tourists.

Off the main part of the river, there is a series of klongs, or canals. Much narrower than the river, these canals are still very busy. There are floating markets and all sorts of food and drink stalls, both floating and land based. One tourist attraction consists of feeding a huge school of enormous catfish with bread bought from the side of the canal. The exchange of money and fish food takes place by using a plastic bucket that is passed to your boat via a specially rigged flying fox.

The klongs also contain a series of locks which enable boats to change elevation, and when you reach one of these there is inevitably a queue of boats waiting for the lock to be operated. It was while waiting in the queue that I saw this girl on an adjoining long-tail boat, resting in the shade of an ornately-decorated umbrella probably just bought from one of the floating souvenir vendors. Bangkok is very hot and humid, and the expression on this girl's face reflected the way we were all feeling as the boats queued in the sun waiting for the lock to open.

EXIF: Canon A620; ISO 200; 1/250 sec; f4.

TFF

Morning at the Farmers' Market

It seems that fresh food markets have become very popular over the last few years, I guess in part because our farmers feel as though they are being ripped off by the large chain stores that buy the farmers' produce for a low price and then sell it to their retail customers after a significant markup.

From the end user's perspective, the markets became a place to buy farm-fresh produce at a lower price. I'm not sure that the lower prices are still apparent, but if that means that more money is going to the producer, I'm all for it.

Most of the markets around Brisbane have become trendy places, not only for shopping, but also for breakfast and the opportunity to catch up with other locals. Many of the stalls are manned by real characters - the fishmonger with a joke for every customer, the chilli vendor who supports global warming, not to mention the jazz group dressed like priests and nuns.

At our last local market, I saw this real Aussie peach farmer with his goods, standing in the morning sun. His face looked as though he had seen a tough season or two, but the smile and friendly banter were genuine. The lovely colours of the peaches and the light from the early sun indicated that a picture would be in order, and I am quite pleased with the result.

EXIF: Nikon D200; Nikkor 17-55 mm DX; ISO 400; 1/320 sec; f8.

TFF

The beauty of nature

We are fortunate that nature provides us with so much photographic material. I like to photograph flowers particularly, because there is such a diverse range of shapes and colours.

This iris had such lovely shades that I just had to take a picture of it. It was in a bunch of flowers I bought home for my wife, but I think I got just as much enjoyment from them as she did.

With subtle tones like these, I generally avoid using flash, because the harsh lighting can overpower the subject so easily. But with this shot, I wanted a reasonable DOF so that I could show the fine detail of the flower. That would normally mean using a small aperture, which then leads to a slower shutter speed, which can then produce blur due to camera shake. So, for this shot, I used a flash with a large diffuser to soften the light, and I also set my camera and lens on a tripod to ensure a stable platform. I then had enough light from the flash to shoot at the smallest aperture possible, and no possibility of a lack of sharpness in the flower.

To give the iris the prominence it deserves, the background has been slightly blurred and slightly darkened. The delicate shape of the iris, and its attractive colouring, are now the feature of the image.

EXIF: Nikon D70; Micro Nikkor 105 mm; ISO 200; 1/30 sec; f22; Nikon SB-800 flash, Lightsphere II.

TFF