These stones obviously haven't rolled for some time. The very bright green and very slippery moss was attached securely to the rocks along this shore-line. The water is sparkling clean, but nonetheless plenty of algae has formed, and it seems to have been there for a while. It looks like the algae only exists to the water line, as the parts of rock that are above that have no algae at all, while it is fairly abundant below. I know absolutely nothing about marine fungus, so everything that I have just written is opinion only!
I took the photo because I liked the bright colour of the algae and the contrast with the bland rocks and the blue water. In fact, the exposure was quite tricky, because the bright sun was playing havoc with the pale rocks. I have had to adjust the exposure of some of the rocks in post processing so that there were no hotspots in the final image.
EXIF: Canon A620; ISO 200; 1/500 sec; f4.
TFF
The one thing about reconfiguring a computer is the time factor - it just takes so much time to back up, reinstall and then reload. You can only go as fast as your computer allows, and sometimes even slower than that to make sure that the machine and software both cope with the changes. Past experience has taught me that the OS does better if you give it time to think between all that loading of programs and files.
My clean install project has gone relatively well, and now I'm reinstalling backed-up documents. Tomorrow I'll start on the programs. I have decided that I will make a snapshot image of the hard drive when all the programs and files have loaded. That way, when I next need to go through this torture, I can simply load the image onto the formatted hard drive, saving a whole bunch of time.
Something I haven't done before is reinstall Adobe Lightroom. Lightroom acts like a data base. It doesn't store photos, it captures information on all of your images, including any post processing that you have done in Lightroom. The data base is backed up, but I am nervously waiting to see whether the program is just as it was before I reformatted. I am at least expecting to find that the program has lost its link to each image, but I am also hoping that I am wrong on that count, as that outcome means a whole new bunch of required time.
My computer, being slow and downright unco-operating, needed to have a makeover. Yesterday, I started on the task of reinstalling Windows Vista. I wanted to format my hard drive and start again from a blank canvas in order to get rid of all the accumulated detritus. That's a pretty easy task with Windows XP, and one I have successfully completed a few times before. But it is much harder with Vista.
Vista is happy enough to do a repair install, but a clean install (where the hard drive is reformatted) - no way. On my computer, the OS had been upgraded from Windows XP, and then I had done a repair install over the top of that about twelve months back. You can imagine the crapola (technical computer jargon) that had piled up as a result.
I finally found an article on the web that gave me some encouragement that it could be done. Brian Livingston's method mirrored my circumstances exactly - how to do a clean install with an upgrade version of Vista. However, as usual, there was a glitch when I misunderstood one section of the piece and went down a dry gully (more jargon!) that cost me two hours. Since I recognised the error and revisited the installation though, things have gone rather smoothly... so far.
Now I have internet access again; today I hope to restore my email settings, and with any luck, I'll have my images and music back on my hard drive pretty soon. There is no doubt that my computer is running more quickly, but I have yet to reinstall my programs, so I'll reserve judgement until then.
Computers - don't you love 'em? For example, without today's electronic wizardry this blog would be a daydream. My photos, spanning over 40 years, are stored on my computer; so is my music. But there is an inherent danger involved in this increasing reliance on the digital tools (and toys!) we so take for granted. What if something goes wrong?
I suppose that we all have had the backup mantra stuffed down our throats until we are heartily sick of it. But when you come to the day that it is needed, and you know that you have a current, accessible backup, you can pat yourself on the back for all the hours you have spent maintaining it.
I am at that point. I haven't had a hard drive failure or a complete system meltdown (thank goodness!) but my Windows Vista OS has been slowly deteriorating in performance until my patience has been tested to its absolute limit. I could take a short holiday while my computer boots up, and waiting for Outlook to access and deliver my email is slower than the days of mail being delivered on foot by the local mail man who knew everybody's name and business.
Solution: I am going to reinstall the OS. That means a complete dump of my files, reformatting the hard drive and then a clean install of Vista including SP1. Am I nervous - absolutely petrified! I've done this before with previous versions of Windows, and it doesn't seem to matter how careful you are, there is always some hidden gotcha or "Factor X" that prevents your computer from being exactly the way it was before you started, only much, much quicker.
Anyway, I've reached the stage where the fear of losing something is less than the annoyance factor of using this clunking monstrosity, so wish me luck. I'll report back in due course.
One of my favourite photo sites is Strobist, a collection of helpful hints, strategies and demonstrations of the imaginative use of small flash guns as opposed to large studio lighting setups. Most amateur photographers have a flash, whether it is the small internal flash that comes with the camera, or a slightly larger flash on a hot shoe. The Strobist site is well worth a visit (click on the Strobist link beside this blog) - you'll find useful tutorials that will improve your use of artificial light.
A recent article there previewed the range of flash accessories currently being marketed by Dave Honl, a professional photographer. Like many before him, Dave is supplementing his photographic gigs by selling some useful tools that have grown out of his own DIY accessories. Click here to visit his web site.
As one who has made snoots out of paper and gobos out of anything handy, like most photographers, I was impressed by this range of easily transported and relatively low-cost flash add-ons. Whilst I can see the usefulness of studio lighting, I have neither the room nor the budget to set up multiple lights, seamless backdrops and power packs. If I can modify my OEM flashes with useful accessories, then I am a happy photographer.
I have bought Dave's snoot, pictured above, to give me a way of narrowing the light that falls on the subject, allowing for some cool effects when coupled with the ambient lighting. You can see that it can also double as a bounce card, thanks to its unique construction and velcro tabs. It arrived from the US in about a week, and I can already see that it will become a fixture in my camera bag.
TFF
War memorials are terribly important, as they provide a moving testament to the human tragedy of past war, as well as a reminder that we should do all in our power to prevent war in the future. Situated Behind Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cité is a monument to the many thousands of Jews who were deported from Paris by the Nazis in World War II. It marks the area on the Seine where the deportees were loaded onto boats to be sent from Paris to the concentration camps. From the outside of the memorial (above), you descend down to the level of the river, where there are several sculptures and inscriptions as reminders of these horrible years. There is a far more eloquent description than I can muster in the Melbourne Age, one of Australia's foremost newspapers.
Finally, you peer through a dark corridor (below) that recreates the terror that enfolded these deportees as they were bundled onto the boats. The corridor is lit by thousands of tiny quartz stones that reflect light, each one representing a soul who was forced on this journey. The effect is eerie, and not a little scary, and it certainly makes you think of how absolutely terrifying it must have been for them. The Tomb of the Unknown Deportee is in the foreground.
TFF
Also on the Ile de la Cité, near La Sainte Chapelle, is this marvellous old building, La Conciergerie. It was originally part of the Palais de la Cité, then it became a prison during the late 14th century, and subsequently became the place where political prisoners were sent during the Revolution. The Tribunal for the Revolution was based here and sentenced over 2,500 prisoners to death at the guillotine.
The interior is now largely a museum and houses memorials to the famous or infamous prisoners, including the reconstituted cell of Marie Antoinette, although the Hall of Guards (pictured above) still dates from the Middle Ages. The present Palais de Justice now takes up most of the site surrounding La Conciergerie and La Sainte Chapelle.
The top image was taken from a boat on the Seine just before dark one afternoon, and it is a thoroughly recommended way to see Paris.
EXIF: (top) Sony Cybershot; ISO 100; 1/500 sec; f5.6.
(bottom) ISO 250; 1/30 sec; f2.4.
TFF
This is one of the most beautiful church interiors I've ever seen (larger image here)- La Sainte Chapelle on the Ile de la Cité, quite near Notre Dame. It was built by Louis IX in the 13th century to house some religious relics he purchased from the Middle East. Although some of these relics were destroyed during the Revolution, some did survive, and are now kept in the Louvre's reliquary.
There are two chapels here - one on the upper level for the exclusive use of the King; and another below it, on the ground floor, for other worshippers. At the time of construction, the King was able to walk directly into his chapel from the palace. The impressive stained glass windows, restored in the 19th century, tell stories from the Bible, and the walls below are painted just as they used to be in the Middle Ages.
Tourist venues in Paris, much as they are everywhere, are usually quite busy. When I visited Sainte Chapelle, I was struck by the number of people who sat in quiet solitude in the upper chapel, looking at the remarkable windows and walls, or just lost in their own contemplation.
EXIF: Sony Cybershot; ISO 200; 1/30 sec; f2.0.
TFF
In the film "Paris, je t'aime", there are many glimpses of Paris, including the beautiful Place des Vosges in the Marais district. This is the oldest square in Paris, and therefore has a long history. Many famous people have lived there - Victor Hugo was a resident for many years during the 19th century, as was Cardinal Richelieu during the 17th century.
The Place des Vosges was officially opened in 1612, and one of the most striking things about it is that all the surrounding buildings have the same design, with red brick facades and blue slate roofs. The square is surrounded by an arcade to allow pedestrians shelter from the weather as they stroll around the square. Although the buildings are mostly commercial properties, there are some private residences remaining. I'm pretty sure that they would not be cheap!
I took these photos at the beginning of spring, and Paris was starting to turn green after the winter months. Although cool (you can see most people are wearing jumpers or coats), there was lovely blue sky on this particular day. Parisians and tourists have gathered on the seats and on the grass to enjoy the sunshine and admire the statues and fountains.
EXIF: (both) Sony Cybershot; ISO 100; 1/500 sec; f5.6.
TFF
With some friends, I've just watched a film called "Paris, je t'aime", which is a series of vignettes of life from the various districts of Paris. An ensemble cast and 18 different stories makes it an interesting and enjoyable kaleidoscope of Paris, the city of romance. One of the more obvious pursuits is recognising places in Paris that you have actually visited.
I've been to Paris a couple of times, and we were just saying as we were watching this film that it's high time that we went again, because it is one of those places that you do not want to become unfamiliar with. This picture was taken during my first visit there many years ago. The weather was absolutely ghastly while we were there, except for this one beautiful day when we visited the Eiffel Tower. This picture shows the Pont d'Iéna (more bridges!) and the Trocadero, with the shadow of the Tower stretching across the Seine.
Unfortunately, it reminds me of the mugging that we experienced a few days later when our friends had their movie film of this day taken from them, never to be seen again. The mugging was the result of a misunderstanding, where some "ladies of the night" thought that we were filming them as they stood in doorways in Rue St Denis. We weren't actually - but we couldn't convince them of that, and sacrificing the movie film seemed worth escaping from what may have been an ugly scene. And, this occurred in broad daylight, not late at night. As novice tourists, we didn't even know that we had ventured into that sort of area until it was too late.
Still, no-one was hurt; and now it is a story that has been told many times over the years. As often happens on holidays, it is the things that go wrong that provide the longest lasting memories.
TFF
Recently I have enjoyed reading some historical novels - the latest being some of Philippa Gregory's series on the Tudors, including one that has recently been made into a film, "The Other Boleyn Girl". The one I have open currently is "The Virgin's Lover", which is about Henry VIII's daughter, Princess Elizabeth, and her ascent to the throne of England. All of these novels have plenty of intrigue, with greedy courtiers keen to curry favour with the monarch. In this novel, it is Robert Dudley who is ingratiating himself with the soon-to-be-Queen - is it for fair means or foul?
When you get caught up in a book, the characters leap out of the pages at you. I often wish that I could draw so that I could have a visual reminder of what my mind's eye imagines. Well, I can't draw for toffee, but I can take a picture. I grabbed a couple of sculptures that I had lying around the house (as you do!) and set about my work.
I imagined a beautiful young princess unwittingly being manipulated by her handsome courtier, so I posed the statues with her facing away from camera, but in the foreground; and him looking at her from afar, an effect achieved by having him slightly out of focus. I used a diffused flash at camera right for lighting both, and a flash (with a home-made snoot) left of camera, focused on the rear figure. Then it was a matter of dialling in the correct exposure level to achieve this dark and mysterious result. This was all being done in daylight, so I had to use low levels of flash with a high shutter speed, and yet I couldn't use a small aperture because that would give me a deeper DOF than I wanted. Fortunately, my camera allows high-speed synching (here I used 1/250 sec approx) with the flashes.
It's amazing how a little imagination and some household props can achieve a result.
EXIF: Nikon D300; Nikkor 24-70mm; ISO 400; 1/320 sec; f8.
TFF
The new month brings us a break from our series on bridges, and today we are reflecting on one of the world's most recognisable photographic names, Ansel Adams.
The New York Times of 27 April has an article about Ansel Adams and his dedication to Yosemite National Park - you can see it here. There is also a link on that page which takes you to a media presentation of some of his work. One of his acknowledged masterpieces, "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico, 1941" can be seen here.
As well as being one of the world's foremost landscape photographers, Adams was also an avowed conservationist and an excellent educator. He wrote several books on the photographic process from capturing the image to printing it, and his work on the "Zone" system (a method of determining exposure values) is still quoted today. The combination of his own photographic masterpieces, his work in the education of photography and his commitment to the wilderness and conservation led to Adams being presented with the highest civilian award in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1980.
To me, Adams is an inspiration for two reasons - the quality of his composition, and the excellence of his black and white printing. He literally made dodging and burning an art form.
EXIF: Ansel Adams, "Church, Taos Pueblo, 1942", courtesy Wikimedia, public domain.
TFF
