Early Morning

Another of the shots from my day experimenting with the 'toy camera' filter:

Experiments for a new technique - Double Exposure

I think double exposure is not for anybody. Even doing it in camera, it required a lot of post processing to get to a point where I kind of liked the result, and even so it is very easy to fall into a 'cliche', like I did here by juxtaposing some flowers and my friend's portrait.

This is the final image:

And this is the original:

I think this was OK for a first experiment, but for next time I will think of some ways to give my double exposure more meaning. What do you think?

Week 17 - Macro

This challenge was a bit of a chore for me so I have been postponing this post for a while, and lagging behind on the subsequent weeks as a result. I don't know why, but macro is just not for me. I really like what other people can achieve with macro photography, but moving a tripod around a subject to try and capture its most interesting minute details is not my cup of tea. I'll take waiting for hours in a spot on the street over it in not time!

The fact that I am trying to exclusively use my mirrorless camera added to my frustration, because I cannot get a decent macro shot with this camera and my kit lens. I tried a few close-ups, but in the end none had the intimacy of a 'real' macro, so I caved and got out the big guns: Nikon D300 and an old macro lens that no longer works in auto focus. I armed myself with all the patience I could muster, set up the tripod and started circling one of my blooming orchids. I did get a few shots that I consider decent, and in the end I ended up using a big colour and sharpness boost to create a 'symphony in pink' (I know, pretentious title):

What do you think?

Week 14 - Abstract

I'm running out of excuses for my uninspired streak, but I guess it was inevitable in a project where consistency is needed. This was abstract week, which means there were a gazillion ideas to choose from, and experiments to try. I tried my hand at some 'impressionist photography' (to be presented in a later post), some macros and creative use of blurring, none of which made me feel like I had a 'wow' shot. Finally, I chose my husband's favourite from the bunch and called it a week. I like the play with shadows and shapes, and the fact that there aren't many colours in the photo. What do you think?

Phew, I'm finally posting this week's theme without any delays! Hopefully I will be able to keep up from now on. Until next week, Happy Easter my Orthodox friends!

Week 10 - Reflection

Just a reflection in a puddle turned upside down, but it makes me think of Alice's Wonderland.

Under Construction

The beach can be a melancholic but interesting scene this time of year

Week 2 - Silhouette

I put considerably more work into this week's theme - the weather was nicer and I had more time - but it's really thanks to my husband that I got the shot I finally submitted. I had some photos with my first idea, I kind of liked some of them and was almost content to choose one and just be done with it. He sent me out shooting a second time and so I got this photo that I really love:

First of all, I like the background - it's really what made me stop and take photos there; I like the half coloured wall and the fact that the white part still retains some texture, and I like the cobbled stone and the snow.

I like that I was able to capture two characters, one on each side, and I like the relationship between them. When I look at the photo, for a moment I feel like I'm seeing a man and his shadow walking away from each other and it confuses me for a little while and I like that.

I also like how the silhouette on the left seems a bit two dimensional (like painted on the white wall), while the background gives a real feel of perspective so the two impressions contradict themselves.

I like the half profile of the silhouette man: the outline of his nose and hair, and the small eyelash detail. I would have loved a better silhouette of the rest of his body, but everybody was wearing thick winter clothes so it wasn't really doable. The guy on the right helps a bit with this lack of detail because we can picture what the silhouette man is wearing by looking at him.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with my photo. What do you think of it?

Fun fact: I took 103 photos in this passageway, most of them with the same or similar angle as this shot, and in the end I had a shortlist of about 5 photos to choose from. I will make another post with my three ideas for the silhouette shot and all the photos I found acceptable.

Așteptând mușterii

Pe stradă sau în bazar, vânzătorii turci sunt în permanentă așteptare de mușterii. În aparenta lor plictiseală, sunt gata în două secunde să îți ofere cel mai bun "deal".

A venit anul nou?

A cam venit, şi eu n-am mai pus nimic pe-aici... De început de an, vă ofer o poză tot din colecţia "ziua de spălat", ediţia cu mâncare şi o expresie cel puţin surprinsă.

Să vă meargă bine tot anul!

Pantofii lui Dorothy

Ah, de-aș avea și eu pantofi ca ai lui Dorothy, să le lovesc de trei ori călcâiele și să mă ducă unde vreau... cred că acum aș alege o piscină cu apă albastră albastră din Dubai! :)

Arta fundalului

Colorat și complex și plastic și minunat de gol.

Disappearing Acts

Ca să rămânem tot în tema cu chestiile dubios de neclare...