String Shredders

Deer Park Art Fair - Deer Park, IL

Great live music at this local art fair.  These guys were having a good time.  Check them out.  www.stringshredders.com

"Ron"

Sony A7C @ f1.4 1/3000  85mm  ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4

"Edgar"

Sony A7C @ f2.8  1/250  85mm  ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4

All Photographed 6/26/22

Reevaluating Goals: Visual Storytelling

2022_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!" 

Since my two measurable goals are almost completed, this week's photo(s) address the one subjective goal of becoming a better visual storyteller. I spotted this young woman dodging the bright sunshine with a large umbrella, while strolling through an art fair. I was not quick enough to catch a profile or head-on photo so I moved around the scene where I was able to capture a shot from another direction."

"Shade Me"

Sony A7C @ f2.8  1/750  85mm  ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4 

"Hair Flip"

Sony A7C @ f2.8  1/1000  85mm  ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4 

All Photographed 6/26/22

Veggies

2022_CLondon52w25: Check-In

From the C.London website: "We’re coming up on the middle of the year. How has it been so far? Have you been able to keep up? If so, color me impressed! I know just how difficult this challenge can be and how easy it is to let the weeks slip by.

For you, the ones who are all caught up, your prompt this week is to go back and find your one favorite and your one least favorite images from the challenge so far. Break down what it is that you like about the favorite, and what challenges you faced with the least favorite. Try and be extra critical, and if you’re open to it, share them on our subreddit, discord, flickr discussion board, or facebook group and ask for feedback from your peers. You now have the option of recreating the least favorite with your critical eye in mind. While you may not be able to recreate it exactly, use it as an inspirational jumping off point and focus on what you’d like to improve about it."

Favorite: Does He Not See Me?

I loved the humor & spontaneity of this scene as I watched it unfold. Was perfect for Martin Parr week and represents the "slices of life" scenes I enjoy capturing.

Least Favorite: Tomahawk

While this photo responded to the prompt "Commitment", the composition & lighting do not enhance the pork chop. Actually, it's kinda gross. The two biggest challenges were available lighting while dining outside at night and a 40mm focal length.

This week's photo utilizes the same focal length, better lighting, flatlay composition and the same 40mm focal length to convey a more appetizing scene of my wife's fantastic salad creation.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f16 1/30 40mm equiv ISO 640 [Macro & on-camera flash]

Photographed 6/20/22

Enmeshed

52Frames - Week 25 - What Is It?

EC: Macro

At the suggestion of the 52Frames gurus, I'm not providing any clues although it does seem relatively discernable.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f16 1/400 40mm equiv ISO 200 [Macro Mode]

Photographed 6/21/22

Trail Ride

52Frames - Week 24 - Shoot From Above

EC: Use A Drone

Des Plaines River Trail

Vernon Hills, IL

All this week, I intended to make a photo using my drone.  An early week Covid scare (turned out as false positive) and high winds pushed me to the last day of submission to being able to fly.  Not wanting to take a chance of losing the drone (and the SD card with my submission), I did a very conservative flight at a trail bridge I ride over often.

I guess one could consider this a streak-saver 😜.

DJI Mavic Mini @ f2.8 1/160 4.49mm (24mm equiv) ISO 100

Photographed 6/19/22

Missing Big Al

2022_CLondon52w24: Empathy

From the C.London website: Open For Interpretation

Remembering the old times.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.2 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 5000

Photographed 6/16/22

Eric

Resorts World

Las Vegas, NV

Walking through the promenade, his beard caught my attention. I approached and asked to make a photo to which he heartily agreed.

Eric has had his beard for 7 years and said it originally took a year to grow to its current length. When I asked how difficult it is to maintain the shape and length, he replied, "I've got a guy!" 

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4.5 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 12800

Photographed 6/9/22

Hiding

2022_CLondon52w23: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Frida Kahlo

From the C.London website: "Known for her self-portraits, Frida managed to create a renowned body of work using common themes, but with such a distinctness from one image to the other. Her voice was so defined that her work is some of the most recognizable. The past few segments we’ve focused on color, composition, and portraiture, and who better to bring all those elements together than Frida?"

A self-portrait this week in Frida Kahlo style was not going to be possible. Instead, I captured an image that reminded me of her backgrounds and composited a portrait made in the same location.

Resorts World Promenade

Las Vegas, NV

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.2 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 1000

Photographed 6/9/22

Trio

52Frames - Week 23 - Triangular Composition

Resorts World

Las Vegas, NV

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8 1/80 40mm equiv ISO 320

Photographed 6/8/22

Utensils

As seen at Lazy Dog, Vernon Hills, IL

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f2 1/100 6mm (78mm equiv) ISO 25

Photographed 6/5/22

Broken

What we're becoming...

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/4000 72mm ISO 1250

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

Photographed 6/3/22

Station Stop

52Frames - Week 22 - Everything In Focus

Metra Station

Northbrook, IL

My grandson loves trains. Today we took him on a short train excursion traveling 5 stations each way with lunch in between. Eyes wide open the whole time, sharing his observations with excitement and asking tons of questions made for an awesome day.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f16 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 800

Photographed 6/1/22