Bianchi or Schwinn?

I saw the bright colors coming down the path and moved quickly to the side to capture a photo.  The bicycle color ("Celeste") is my all time favorite and is the trademark of Bianchi.  This color must be slightly different because upon closer examination, it's a Schwinn.

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/350 30mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS 

Photographed 6/22/21

Venice Canals

Venice, CA.


From Above

A colleague suggested that the Venice Canals would be a good place to photograph.  She was right!

Aerial screenshot from Google Earth

All Photographed 6/22/21

Estate

One of the beautiful homes along the Venice Canals.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/125  35mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Concentric

Pedestrian and vehicular bridges spanning the canals.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/350  32mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Venice Beach Pier

Venice, California 

Gaze

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/200 31mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Under Repair

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/250 35mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Shelter

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/200 31mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Clondon52w26: Reevaluating Goals

From the C.London website: “We’re halfway through!  Congrats on making it this far!  How are you going on your initial goal from week one?  Often times challenges like this one will lead you off your initial track and make you reevaluate what your goal is.  On the other hand, you may have become even more dedicated to your original goal.  Both are okay!  

The image this week should be a revisit of that original goal.  If you want to do a full-on remake of the original, that’s great!  If you’d prefer to start over with a whole new vision, also great!”

My original 2021 photography goal was to become a better visual storyteller.  At the time, I was not fully sure what that meant.  Through working on the challenges, along with extra mentoring/coaching from Chelsea London, I’ve become more mindful of some elements in making photographs that are helping towards achieving that goal.  Shooting with intent and having a more consistent visual style are two elements that I’m focusing on most (pun intended).  Sometimes it works and sometimes not, but I am energized to keep at it.

This week's submission contains multiple images (in the spirit of a visual story) from a place I’ve never been before.  Admittedly, these photos were shot 3 days before the challenge week started, but they were shot with intent.  If required to select only one photo, "Shelter" would be the "hero" shot.

Reconstruction of the pier prevented walking out on it, however more activity was taking place below.

All Photographed 6/22/21

Stretching Out

52Frames - Week 26 - Just Breathe

Healthy and calming activity on Venice Beach in the morning.  I watched her for a bit, hoping she'd turn around and continue her routine, but to no avail.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/750 35mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Photographed 6/22/21

Three Five Seven

Clondon52w25: Rule of Odds

From the C.London website: "When the brain processes even numbered elements, it tends to couple them up, which in turn splits the image.  But, with an odd number it creates a connecting element and maintains the singularity of the frame.  Please note that the word “element” here doesn’t necessarily mean a single object - sometimes an element can be a grouping.  For example, a bouquet of flowers, a couple sitting together, a bottle of wine with a glass in tow, etc etc.  For added compositional zen, when framing these elements do decide which is the primary subject, and balance the others off of it by making one physically larger than the other or playing with the depth of field."

Out shooting photos at Venice Beach, CA before flying home.

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/125 35mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Photographed 6/22/21

Cruising

Chicago, IL

Architectural riverboat tour from the Monroe Street bridge.

Sony A7C @ f8 1/250 35mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Photographed 6/17/21

Spring

Chicago, IL

Lunchtime gathering by "Four Seasons", Chagall's mosaic.

Sony A7C @ f8 1/125 35mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS 

Photographed 6/17/21

Dream

Along Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL

Sony A7C @ f8 1/125 24mm ISO 160

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Photographed 6/17/21

Have A Seat

Cedarburg, WI

Sony A7C @ f8 1/125 70mm ISO 320

Tamron E 28-75mm F2.8

Photographed 6/13/21

48 Years

52Frames - Week 25 - Macro

These are not our original rings, but we are the original couple.  48 years coming up soon.

Sony A7C @ f9.5 1/125 50mm ISO 5000

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 6/19/21

Lucia

Cedarburg, WI

She thought we were there for the window service.  But we were there for a photo of her.

Top photo:          Sony A7C @ f8 1/125 35mm ISO 500 

Bottom photo:    Sony A7C @ f8 1/125 28mm ISO 400 

Tamron E 28-75mm F2.8

Photographed 6/13/21

Tchotchkes

Souvenir Shop

Port Washington, WI

Sony A7C @ f5.6 1/125 103mm ISO 160

Tamron E 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 A047

Photographed 6/13/21

Lighthouse

Clondon52w24: Negative Space

From the C.London website: "There are absolutely times when what seems like unnecessary empty space is ideal for the photograph you’re attempting.  Negative space can elicit a feeling of solitude, vastness, calm, etc.  When trying out negative space think about where you are placing the subject very carefully.  Do you want to highlight the surroundings?  Maybe placing the subject off-center within the rule of thirds is the way to go.  Are you more interested in showcasing the emptiness around a subject?  Try a more center-weighted composition.  When done properly, negative space is an incredibly useful tool for showing atmosphere."

Out shooting photos with @photofinish_sid, I was able to try out my new telephoto zoom.

Sony A7C @ f6.3 1/750 300mm ISO 100

Tamron E 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 A047

Photographed 6/13/21

By The Way

If it's approved by the Lake County Motel Association, it's gotta be good, right?

Sony A7C @ f4 1/1000 28mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-75mm F2.8

Photographed 6/12/21

Passage

52Frames - Week 24 - Door

Extra Credit: Tell a Story

Time is our most precious commodity, yet it undergoes continuous, never-ending erosion.  Passing through this door, one can spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to track it, celebrate it or record it. But we cannot buy more of it nor measure how much of it we have.  Therefore, savor it, use it wisely and don’t wish it away, for it is finite.

Sony A7C @ f2.8 1/125 41mm ISO 800

Tamron E 28-75mm F2.8

Photographed 6/8/21

Passing Through

CLondon52w23: Balancing Elements

From the C.London website: "Discussing visual weight can be hard to articulate, but when we are aware of it, it becomes extremely noticeable. Here’s another time when the unfocusing of eyes really comes in handy. Unfocus on a scene, does it just *feel* heavy on one side? You’re going to need a lesser-element to counterweight the subject element. That balancing element should be obviously of lesser-import either by making it smaller or more out of focus than the subject. An intentional balancing element can also create more context in a scene."

Lens shopping today, I was able to try out a telephoto zoom.  The fountain had some cool formations and I waited for some framing/balancing elements to test DoF since it's not a terribly fast lens.

Sony A7C @ f4.5 1/125 129mm ISO 250

Tamron E 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 A047

Photographed 6/8/21

Abraxas

52Frames - Week 23 - Music

A three image composite of a favorite record album, circa 1970.  I used the album cover, album insert and record label; processed in LRC & PS.

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/20 50mm ISO 2000

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 6/4/21

"Long Hair Don't Care"

Title of this photo is a quote from my daughter-in-law.  I hadn't planned on posting this one until she did so on IG.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/250 61mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-75mm f2.8

Photographed 6/2/21

Peace Bus

This is one of my grandson's favorite toys. Triggers memories of the good old days.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/250 18mm (27mm equiv) ISO 100

Sony E 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 OSS

Photographed 5/26/21