Labor Dat part II

I had a little more success at this car show. For those who may not have read my prior post, I went for a walk with the Audubon Society. Wanted to see if I could take a couple pics of some of the fauna flying through the area and compare a couple of lenses, one I own, the other I am considering. Have a look at that post.

I found out about a car show at a local church, so the camera dragged me over to it. I really like the Avery Creek UMC car show. They have been sponsoring a show for the last few years and it has been getting better and better every year.

The truth is, I have gone to many car shows over the past while, but this one is really good and growing. They pull in a bunch of cars—like around 20—(They are beginning to get more cars than they can reasonable accommodate). Yet the quality and diversity of automobile is better than most. I have to say that not only do they have a fantastic show of cars, but at the same time, on the same day, they offer  a community kitchen which helps so many people in the area. the logistics much be daunting.

Thank you, Avery Creek United Methodist Church.

So now we go to the cars which were there.

Like I said a minute ago, I saw some really fine cars and I wish I had been able to spend as much time on each one as I wanted too. But here are a few that really stood out.

Now here is a seies of a black Ford.

 The whole enginge in really Great...

 Yet this detail of the block really shows the Care which was given when rebuilding it!!

I should have taken more time with this one. After thinking about it, I bet he could have given a lot more character to  the story behind it's history.

Mr Pruit has spent a lot of stuff trying to make this Ford perfect. I think he has.

I spent a "minute" trying to figure out if I should post thse one..

Our Flag on this land mark Vehicle finally made me realize that of course I should--even though the images could be better.

The story behind this series almost brought a tear to my eye...

 Check out the date on the sticker and sale receipt 

 A wife who lost her husband...left to time...in the garage....

so true.

So timeless

An old Ford...

Does anyone out there know what it is?

Please share

Finally, I took a couple pics of this guys car, but the truth is I did not really capture it's very essence. But this guy came by and asked me to take one of his 'Vette and him. Good lookin' guy.. awsome car!

Labor Day week end Part 1

Aw, Labor Day weekend is upon us, and by the time I get this proofed and posted, past us. So much going on this weekend, most of it family related business and more relaxing things too. Actually this afternoon, I plan on smoking some beef bones and later cooking them on the grill for supper. Yummy! I am not sure what else we will be having, but who cares really, right???

I had heard about the Audubon Society having walks at various parks and found one which was going to happen at Beaver Lake and decided to check it out. So, my weekend stated out on Friday by going to Ball Photo and renting a lens which I am interested in. 

It is the Canon 70-300mm. I want to compare it to my current long lens the 75-300mm I thought the Audubon walk would be a good time to do it. The truth is, the walk seemed to me to be a bit of a bust. About all we saw were a bunch little guys and only fleeting glimpses at that.

Well, not exactly. We did see two Great Blue Herons, a Kingfisher on the hunt and 2 Green Herons. But, they were too far for me to get a good picture. I did, however see a huge spider and her web and managed to get a picture of it. I think it came out pretty good. What do you think?

About that lens comparison, you ask? The Green Heron we saw did land kinda close to us, so I took a couple of it with both lenses. Also, I took some test shots, with the rental lens only, of a Great Blue Heron at Lake Julian which I’ll post here.  

So have a look and let me know what you think.

this one is with the rental lens

And this one is with my 75-300 lens

Can you see a difference? If you do, please explain.

Thanks, olc

O and here is one my Friend Victor and his really cool VW

 Man, this VW could take a whole day just to get the one perfect Picture. Here is one that comes pretty close!

Antique Car on July 1

I went to this car show the other day. It was the 50th anniversary and I had hoped it would be special. Not so much, it was your regular show of cars, Muscle cars made in the USA. I think I saw one Mercedes-Benz and maybe an Audi. Honestly, I have seen a better variety of vehicles in some of the “Drive by” cars shows at Ingles parking lots. 

Having said that, if one tries hard enough, sometimes a little treasure can be found. The truth is though, I stopped looking at cars early on and spent a few minutes in the swap meet area.  

Finally, I did see a couple of cars which were interesting.  And I bought two while I was there!

One thing I did learn was to take a picture of the ID sheet so when I get to PP, I can identify the vehicle and owner for future reference.

What do you think if my images, all fair critiques are welcome.

olc

Rambling thoughts

I guess I have rounded out my photo kit. It is a pretty nice one too, consisting of Canon 7D and 5D bodies, a couple  Tamron lenses, 28-75, F2.8 and a 90mm F2.8 Macro. I also use a Canon 24-105  F4 and a Sigma 17-35 F2.8-4. In addition to that hardware I use a bunch of Yongnuo flash units, a few stands and some umbrellas. Just the other day, the mailman brought me a backdrop system (which I have looked at, but not used yet). I admit the whole system is dated by modern standards, but I like to think I have gotten quality equipment at a good price.

Now, of course I have a wish-list of gadgets I want to have in my bag, but believe it or not I am quite happy with camera bodies. They are bare bones cameras, no wifi connections, no GPS, though that might be kinda nice to have, though I know where I am when I take a picture. And I really don't want to get into video yet, though I guess the 7D has that capability. Perhaps a higher ISO for the 5D would be nice.

As for lenses, I want to upgrade the Sigma wide zoom to a Canon, or Tamron. I don't like the variable Aperture so much. When I shoot at the zoomed-out side, a smaller F/number is not so important, but still.... Of course, I want to upgrade the Tamron 28-75 to a 24-70, but that is for the future.

My lighting kit is a little short, it will be nice to get a boom arm which will accommodate a flash and some kind of hair light solution. Getting a couple soft boxes will be a good addition and of course flash guns, or maybe an LED constant light system. In reality though, I'll need to earn some money before making any major investment on any upgrades (BIG sigh!)

My main camera body is the 7D, though I want to get to using full frame sensor of the 5D too. I saw the 5D on Craigslist ad and offered less than the asking price. And he took the money. At first, I thought maybe I had gotten taken and the camera was not working, but all I had to do was learn to use it!

I shot a similar scene with both cameras. Out of the camera, with no editing at all, the richness of the 5D was astounding! With some editing, I am able to do the same with the 7D. I guess, I will use the 5D for portraiture and more artsy stuff, while the 7D will be for street and natural outside shoots. The extra reach of  the cropped frame makes taking telephoto pictures easier. However, the Depth of field with the 5D is so much better, and I hope that someday soon I'll be able to use it to my models benefit!

7D

5D

Now, what is the purpose of this rant? Oh, I am not sure, really. I felt the need to write something and this is what came out.

olc.

P.S. any Patrons out there?

What sex is it any how?

We had the privilege to go to my friends' gender reveal party last night. I have been shooting Ashley for some time now. Actually, she is the first model I have ever worked with. We have developed a good relationship, she knows that I will never ask to her to do anything she is not ready for and she does anything thing I ask.

Trust, such a beautiful thing.

Well, she has found a man, Jason, who has given her a child(we cannot say, "GIRL or Boy" yet. They really seem to be wonderful together. The other day they found out what gender the child will be child will be, a BOY or Girl and they wanted to celebrate. I was lucky to have a camera and an invite.

Unlike most shoots, I brought my wonderful Runtyun as an assistant. She was a great help and did not need to be prompted when I put the camera down, she took it up and got some really good shots.

Now what did I learn during this fun time?

When we first arrived at the house, I learned where the main event was gong to happen and metered for it and made the appropriate notes. When people started arriving I just started shooting like a street scene and got some nice shots. There is one of Jason and Ashley sitting and loving each other that may bring tears to those overly emotional types. It is below.

It finally came time to shoot some darts into balloons to reveal-Girl or boY. Honestly, this was the most exciting time of the party. I must have taken over a hundred shots! When the grand climax for the party came along, the lighting had changed!, so I had to re-meter the light and take a deep breat. 

It finally came down to two balloons and Jason and his brother shooting. Jason threw the deciding dart. And it was.............

To be continued...............

olc

Thoughts from the car show at WNC Ag

I had my camera bag in the van, just in case i wanted to use anything more then the 24-105, but I wanted to be light while in the Ag center. Making a cake and eating it can be pie too much sometimes. (Now you know why I still use the Moniker, Chefneil.) It is a good thing that I had those back ups, because I was outside and getting the Sigma 17-35 within 10 minutes of entering the space!

Fluorescent lights that were to far from anything to be any help! Even thought 24-105 has IS, it was still not enough to do any good. On the brighter side, those guy who have spent so much time, energy and cash to make their  rides special sure do like it when a guy with a big camera and lens asks them a question!

Yeah, I know it is funny or strange, but it would have been nice if I could have had some way to carry a flash and extra lens with out lugging around a back pack. I saw a couple of guys using some kind of fanny pack...but really??? A fanny pack? I finally broke down and just put the backpack on  and forgot about it.

I tried using one of my flashes with the Gary Fong tupperware thing. It helped a little. But, I finally just took it off and bounced all over the place. I still need to learn how lights works. Getting into the hoods of some of the older cars is hard without having harsh over and under exposure and shadows Fuck-ups!

I know I could have taken really nice images of I had time to set up a lighting arrangement. One light here, another over there at .5 power, still another to compensate from for shadows  created by the other two.

I have seen that it can be done, I just need to discover how!

Patience is the most important lesson I relearned. I had to wait for people to get out of the shot. Some knew they were in the way amd did not care,while others had no clue of anything else but what they saw. On the other hand, lots of the folk would wait for me to take my shot, then go by.

Then I went outside and tried taking pics of a white painted motorcycle. I almost burnt out the sensor of the 7D!

In all, it was a cool time, with a few really good shots. Now if only I could bend the light the way I see it before hitting the shutter!!!

olc

P.S. Now if you have read this far go ahead and look further own and see the pics I took there.!!

olc

P.S. Maybe the most important lesson learned it to take better notes on each of the pics taken!

Last Batch of car Pics from the Car show last Saturday

If you see anything here that is interesting, please leave a comment.

An old  Mercedes Benz. What is it about a car like this that just reeks style?

This young man was driving proud with his hand crafted rig. I did a little playing around with the lighting in my editing app. What do ya' think?

It looks like a swan to me, but my limited research says Packard called it a hood bird. Any one out there have a wisdom on this?

And then there is the Yellow Camaro

Beautiful machine. Interested?

 Grom!

Some people bring there kids anywhere! I am so glad they DO!

Choices, choices. Which one os right for you?

You may have seen the front end of this work in progress in Black and white. I live the texture of the metal on it!

I wonder if it's teeth are sharp when he shifts gears?

Oh, and one from my back yard!

I would to spend some quality time with this beauty! Oh the images we could make!

Grom! 

What do you think he is brewing in that jar? Could Drinking it make this, "Unsafe at any speed?"

Beautiful!

Mountain area car show at the WNC Ag Center

I went to this car show the other day and got a bunch of good photos. Unfortunately I have not been able to go through all of them yet. But her are a few. and I'll get more up as I get them worked up.

Chevy, what else can I say.

 I have more of this beautiful machine. so please come on back and have a look.

 I don't do a lot of Black and white, but this one seems to screen for it. There will be more.

Playing with perspective.

A moment for the evening

Sometimes a totally random encounter can change everything that goes through your mind. Or, at least one’s perception of it.

This takes a minute, so please read on a bit and maybe you will see the cathartic nature of this post.

Today was kinda interesting. I had a really rough night’s sleep last night. Lately, I have been sleeping OK. Lately, I have been sleeping through the night, as opposed to waking at least once to go pee, or just lie there wondering why I can’t sleep. But last night was different. I kept waking up and not easily going back to the bliss of sleep. 

I think my inability to sleep may have had something to do with the upcoming portrait shoot I had scheduled. I was worried that I could not perform in a satisfactory way and let down the talent and me.

The shoot went well, but I felt there was no direction, or meaning to what we were doing. The talent did not really know what he wanted, or where he was going. So, I did the best I could. Maybe I’ll put some of his pics here, I don't know.

I stopped at a local place I go to when I have finished a shoot. It is kind of a way of closure, like a dog shaking off its’ latest bath. But, that did not clear my head today. So, I went home and had dinner. It was good, but I still had a dark thunder cloud over my head.

About that time, I looked outside and saw that there may be a nice sunset lining up. I have been trying to get a decent shot of the Cathedral at All Souls for a New York Minute. Father's Day is coming up and I want a really great shot for Dad, and this might have been the very moment for it.

I finally got to the site and fiddled with settings on the camera so I could get the Sky into a good exposure, but still have some really good detail on the building. I think I did a pretty good at it and will post the best ones a little later. I walked around the building to see if there was any other angles that could make the cut. Maybe I found some, we will see.

As I was walking around the building I came back to the entrance and saw the columns of the front porch and thought maybe I could do something with perceptive and light. 

I dunno, but these are the thinks that go through my underexposed brain. 

I started to line up the shot and saw a shadow walking in the distance. “Hmm, maybe I can get an interesting shot with a silhouette to give some depth.”

Well, here it is. I don’t really care if you like it or not, I’ll put a print on my wall, even though it is not sharp or balanced. It works for me.

So, there is my attitude—Deal with it-All of you!

On the bright side, I spoke with this person for a moment whose silhouette you see here. We shared a couple close memories, she had a nice smile, even though it only came out briefly. I was done at the Cathedral and headed home. But when I looked in the car rear view mirror for a turn, I saw a slight smile. There was a song on the radio, a happy song and my smile got even bigger. I felt my shoulders relax and my whole outlook changed.

I am not sure what happened, but here is the picture that started the metamorphosis.  

Please don't worry mystery woman, we cannot see your face very clearly, though I think I could capture your beauty with only a little thought.

olc

Wanna get this out there fast---there will be more

Sometimes something so unexpected comes along and changes the whole days(Day's) perception. This shot is one of those times.

A thought

I just realised  something. It does not matter what is on the outside of the frame. If it is not in the picture---who cares? Photography is not like golf, the before and after of the shot is not important. It is what is in the frame that counts.

Any thoughts?


olc

The first of meny from Mardi Gras 2017

I was very lucky to sit on a curl and get stepped on by some one, so I got a picture of her.

I will get some more up tomorrow, but now it is time for this old guy to go to bed!

L8tr! olc

Sunset in Haw Creek Valley

A friend is leaving the area and wanted to have a pic of the AVL area. So, I used that as an excuse to go to the Blueridge Parkway and tried this. What do you think?

A couple days later, I was in town about sunset and tried this.

Leave a comment or critique 

Later, olc

The Organ At The Cathedral of All Souls

A little while ago, I got the impulse to take a few pictures of the organ at my  Runtyun's church, the Cathedral of All Souls. So, I did a little research and found out a little about the instrument. I'll get into the details in another post when I have a more comprehensive background put together.

I reached out to the choir master and all around Awesome Canon of Music, (truly his title is; Canon Organist and Choirmaster) and asked if I could come by with my gear for a minute. To my surprise, he said, "Yes"!

I showed up a little after a service on Sunday afternoon and Kyle said I could stay as long as I wanted, until four anyhow. This worked fine for me, because I have learned that if a shoot lasted too long, the images get tired, or maybe it is the photographer.

I scoped out the environment, and lighting. At the outset, I saw that lighting was going to be an issue. The space is vast with lots of nooks and crannies. Luckily, I was just focussing on the organ console and pipes. I spent some time taking a few pictures, maybe some good ones, when my camera started telling me it was getting hungry for a new battery. 

No problem, I thought. I'll just use the back up. Silly me, I left the spare at home! I also saw that I left most of my flashes and controllers too. I had to deal with what I had.

The chandeliers would have caused challenges no matter what lighting I had brought along. They are placed directly in the middle of the main aisle, right where I might want my camera. No problem, it just meant that I needed to work with more creative angles. I tried shooting through the supporting lines holding the chandeliers and then to the side.

The day before I had spent some time at a friends rental Condo trying to get a few shots for Craigslist, that meant I had already packed most of my gear. Also, being the diligent photographer that I am, I recharged all of my batteries, but forgot to put the stuff into my carrying cases. Luckily, I did bring some studio lights to help with the shoot.

I dodged in and out of light and shadows and took a few real silly shots. But I think hidden amongst the “experiments," there are some gems. 

Oh the way, the battery seemed to find enough power to last the entire shoot. Hmm, I am not sure how that worked out. I should have only had enough battery power for 10 or 15 shots. I took almost 50.

Let me know what you think!

olc

Notes self, 

next time take the cover off the piano.

Organise organ top.

don't need such a wide angle lens, 17-35 should suffice

Definitely  use strobes, GF plastic is good at a distance not so much with organ consoles.

Maybe a step ladder to get better angles on the elevated pipes

This is a nice picture. If I can ever go back and redo this image, I'll block out the light from the center stained glass window and create my own for a more even and less over-exposed window. I know how to do it, but my inexperience did not pick up the problem til I looked at the image on the computer. 

 This is the left bank of the pipes. Note the slats, (Baffles?) they open and close to help control the volume.

This is the view from the choir section. If I can get back in I will take this shot a little differently. To the bottom left, out of the image, is a wonderful Grand Piano. It had a black velvet cover on it so I decided to take this image instead.

These are the main pipes. In there is an original 4 foot Flute from from the very first organ installed.

Again, I like this image. I think I framed it well and was able to smooth out the shadows cast by the pipes. The problem with this shot is the lighting. If you look closely, you will see the the light is brightest in the center of the image and fades closer to the edges. This is not good! The light should be even throughout. Yes, I know how to fix this, but this newbie to photography did not catch it until too late.

A Cat and a Dog

Princess Nova

 Where is my dinner?

olc