Strength

2022_Clondon52w9: Outside

From the C.London website: “Get yourself outdoors and try out some of that beautiful natural light. Try different times of the day and weather conditions. You can reverse deep in to the nearest forest, head to a desolate beach, or simply lean out your window - whatever is available to you, just get that camera out from the inside.” 

 I spent Sunday in Milwaukee shooting photos with my good friend @photofinish_sid. Upon arriving downtown, we encountered a peaceful demonstration in support of Ukraine. Standing amongst these people, young and old, hearing their national anthem and the horns honking as cars drove by, we couldn’t help but get choked up.

F*** Putin and anyone else who thinks what he’s doing is right.  

 
"Ukraine 1"
Sony A7C @ f4.5  1/350  110mm  ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

"Ukraine 2"

Sony A7C @ f5.6 1/250 180mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

"Ukraine 3"

Sony A7C @ f4.5 1/350 65mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

All Photographed 2/27/22

Yan Yan

Buffalo Grove, IL

Very glad they have weathered the storm over the past two years. It's nice to have a "go to" place for Chinese carryout. Pretty quiet though for a Saturday night.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 12800

Photographed 2/26/22

...TO THE...

Visual Notes 16

[a page out of the @aarondigruccio playbook]

Los Angeles, CA

As seen during a walk around Balboa Lake on Super Bowl Sunday.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f2 1/6800 6mm (149mm equiv) ISO 32

Photographed 2/13/22

Focus Stack Experiments

Testing out the focus stack function of a new AI-based Arsenal 2 camera device on macros of some kitchen utensils.  These are 11 shot stacks automatically composited by the Arsenal 2 device.  I don't quite have it figured out yet so will keep at it.  

 
"Focus Stack 1"
Sony A7C @ f11  1/90  50mm  ISO 1600

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

"Focus Stack 2"

Sony A7C @ f11  1/90  50mm  ISO 1600

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

"Focus Stack 3"

Sony A7C @ f11  1/15  50mm  ISO 200

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

"Focus Stack 4"

Sony A7C @ f11  1/15  50mm  ISO 320

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

All Photographed 2/23/22

Climb Up?

52Frames - Week 8 - Rule of Thirds

2022_CLondon52w8: Domestic

From the C.London website: Open for Interpretation

As I've reflected in this blog previously, watching our grandson is one of my greatest pleasures.  It is also one of my domestic responsibilities.  So with Presidents Day closing his child care, we were called into action on this holiday.  Unfortunately, the little guy was a bit under the weather so a trip to the pediatrician became part of the plan for the day.  After the visit, while Mimi was reporting back to our son, Pops was firing off a few photos in the waiting room.

This image is the first 2Fer of the year, fulfilling both challenges with a single photo.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 200

Photographed 2/21/22

Untitled

Watercolors at Camp Mimi & Pops.  A lot of cool imagery in this abstract by Eli;  none of it intentional I'm certain.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/60 40mm equiv ISO 4000

Photographed 2/16/22

Rube Goldberg

52Frames - Week 7 - Unexplored

Photo this week represents two explorations; one being the Fire Sprinkler Control Room in our condo building and the other being a new camera device I backed on Kickstarter, Arsenal 2.  The room is an array of pipes, pumps, valves and gauges and the brand new camera device provides a wrath of AI-based functions including exposure, focus stacking, time lapse and others.

The first image in the diptych is a single “foreground-focused” shot and the second is a composite of 6 shots automatically triggered and composited by the Arsenal 2 device.  While not my first choice on how to approach this week’s challenge, I still chalk it up as a successful streak-saver.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/45 35mm ISO 3200

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Arsenal 2 w/ focus stack mode

Sony A7C @ f4 1/2 18mm ISO 100

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Arsenal 2

Photographed 2/19/22

Push-Ups & Pull-Ups

Los Angeles, CA 

As if 850' of climb on a 2.65 mile hike at Runyon Canyon Trail wasn't enough exercise, these guys were supplementing their program along the way.

 
"Push-Ups"
Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 1/1000 40mm equiv ISO 100

"Pull-Ups"
Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/400 40mm equiv ISO 100

All Photographed 2/12/22

Olivia

Los Angeles, CA

Finishing a 3 mile hike at Runyon Canyon Trail, I encountered Olivia working a free clothing stand in support of abused women.  Her smile caught my attention and I asked if I could make a portrait.  She was super-friendly and more than happy to oblige.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4.5 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 400

Photographed 2/12/22

Downtown

52Frames - Week 6 - Depth of Field (Alternate)

Hiking the Runyon Canyon Trail with views towards downtown Los Angeles without smog.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/200 40mm equiv ISO 100

Photographed 2/12/22

Balboa Lake

2022_CLondon52w7: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Edward Hopper

Alternate photos in keeping with the challenge.

 
"Balboa Lake 1"

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/400 40mm equiv ISO 100

"Balboa Lake 2"
Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/400 40mm equiv ISO 100

All photographed 2/13/22

The Stand

2022_CLondon52w7: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Edward Hopper

From the C.London website: “Edward Hopper is known for his slice of life paintings.  You may already be familiar with one of his most recognizable work, Nighthawks, depicting into the window of a corner diner from the outside.  An expert in realism, Hopper creates scenes of everyday life in a captivating and thought-provoking way.

This week look over Hopper’s images and draw inspiration from subdued drama, creating an image which shows the normal in a captivating way.”

While visiting a close friend, and chasing the Edward Hopper diner theme, we went to a local Encino, CA hot dog joint.  I was able to concoct a Chicago Hot Dog and capture an Edward Hopper inspired image.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 400

Photographed 2/13/22

Apple Store

2022_CLondon52w6: A Day in the Life

From the C.London website: “This is one of my all-time favorite exercises, and the second time I’ve included it in the prompts. It’s a bit involved, so stay with me. Choose one day this week where you will document the entire day - from the moment you wake up, to the moment you go to sleep. Aim to take at least one photo every hour. At the end, cull it down to no more than 10 photos which tell the story of your day. Then, choose just one hero photo which sums it up in its entirety.”

Last year for this challenge, I did a Wednesday;  the day we watch our grandson and my favorite day of the week.  Decided to switch it up this year.  My day consisted of an early wake up, trip to the airport, and a flight to LA to spend a long weekend with a close friend.  Golfing, hiking, and eating good food are on the agenda.  And, the one thing we ALWAYS do when seeing each other is the obligatory trip to the Apple Store.  While not an outstanding photo, this "Hero shot" depicts a staple of our friendship.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 320

Photographed 2/10/22

Photo of Photos

52Frames - Week 6 - Depth of Field

We took our grandson to visit his 94 year old great-grandmother.  He loved looking at all the pics she had displayed on her window sill, and naming all the people he knows.  When I gave him his camera to play with, one of the things he shot was all the pics he looked at.

For this challenge, I made the pics the in-focus subject and my grandson as an out-of-focus foreground element.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 3200

Photographed 2/9/22

What Lies Beyond?

Visual Notes 15

[a page out of the @aarondigruccio playbook]

Palm Desert, CA

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f16 1/13 40mm (equiv) ISO 12800

Photographed 2/3/22

Crop Guide

The lines, shapes and especially diagonals reminded me of a Lightroom crop overlay.

Sony A7C @ f3.5 1/90 51mm ISO 12800

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 2/3/22

Back To The Pond

Palm Desert, CA

Loading up on balls that will likely end up back in the water.  Can't beat 13 for $6 at the flea market.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8 1/250 40mm equiv ISO 6400

Photographed 2/2/22

Sky House

Palm Desert, CA

While framing the sky in the shape of a house, a bird flew into the scene.  Sometimes you just get lucky!

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f16 1/250 40mm equiv ISO 1000

Photographed 2/3/22

Flow

Jack Rabbit Trail

Rancho Mirage, CA

Visual Notes 14A

Sony A7C @ f8 1/200 176mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Visual Notes 14B

Sony A7C @ f8 1/160 176mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

All Photographed 1/29/22

Eight4Nine

52Frames - Week 5 - Black and White

While waiting for our dinner reservation at an outdoor table, I did a quick walk-through of this very cool restaurant with unique dining rooms off the main dining area.  This one had a classic vibe that I thought would suit this week's challenge well.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5 1/250 40mm equiv ISO 10000

Photographed 1/31/22

Poolside

2022_CLondon52w5: Something Familiar 

 From the C.London website: “Something a lot of photographers struggle with is inspiration.  This often manifests from the mundane droll of everyday life.  To that I say: that's your everyday life, and what may be uninspiring to you may be fascinating to another.  All our life experiences are different.  So to recalibrate a little, find something that you interact with every day (thing, place, person, animal, etc.) and photograph that.  Try photographing it from at least ten different angles, play with lighting (reflecting light, table lamps, or if you’re fancy whatever photographic lighting set-up you have.)  Choose the one best from what you’ve created and share that.”

Since I’m on vacation and don’t have all my “at home” familiar things around me, I’ve had to resort to looking at familiar things during this two week stint.  This image represents how the afternoons typically end; sitting poolside watching the sun descend behind the mountains.  It’s a rare day with clouds and I took advantage of the formations, color and fortuitous silhouette.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f1.6 1/20000 4.2mm (26mm equiv) ISO 32

Photographed 1/29/22