Originally I airbrushed out this guy’s ‘blemishes’ (because I can relate), but it felt… too ‘perfect’. Sorry, bamboo. But hey, it’s almost Friday… if that helps. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Derek Zoolander: “If there is anything that this horrible tragedy can teach us, it’s that a male model’s life is a precious, precious commodity. Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn’t mean that we too can’t not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.”
– Ben Stiller – Zoolander
About this image: digital photograph, lightly modified
Refrigerator Magnate 
something like a knee
I see that now too, Frizz!
🙂
Yes, I’m reminded of ‘leg bones’. And er, it strikes me as quite phallic too. All in all it’s rather lovely, Robert. I like the contrast between the smooth and craggy and the tones are beautiful.
Hmm, not ‘craggy’ but what? Weathered?
I never know what the word(s) is/are, but I know exactly what you mean, S.E…
thank you!
🙂
Thanks, S.E… I’ve never been very happy with the bamboo photos I’ve taken over the years (although I continue to try)… this one is probably the closest I’ve gotten, though… well, I do have another one of some leaves I might try get processed at some point, too, I guess…
🙂
I think this one is really good. I’m wondering why you are still not quite satisfied; if there’s something in particular you feel is missing. To me it looks ‘complete’.
Hmmm… to tell you the truth… I don’t know if I can really put my finger on it. I think I’d like to have included a bit more detail in the background (although that would have been difficult to do here), and it seems as though every time I do the shot seems to get / feel cluttered to me… maybe a forest of some really big / old bamboo would help (if I could find one).
🙂
Have a great weekend Mr. SIG 🙂
Why thank you, Ms. B!
And the same to you, of course!
🙂
How beautiful. Bamboo is popular in Japan. We use it for making variois goods.
Thank you, sir! I have always really liked the look of bamboo plants, but for some reason I always have a very difficult time photographing it in a way I like.
Interesting! I can see why… I think it grows quickly and is fairly durable, right?! And it looks so nice, too!
🙂
Yes, it grows very fast.. 🙂
I see!
I thought I had heard that before!
🙂
It grows fast and tall in Sydney too.
I wish there was a bit more around here, S.E…
I’d LOVE to take some photographs in an actual Bamboo forest… maybe on a misty day… with some early morning or late afternoon light… or some at night…
🙂
Did you do the Zoolander face when you posted this?
Ha! When DON’T I have ‘Zoolander face’?
🙂
It’s true. He uses the ‘Zoolander face’ all the time… 😛
Well…
I guess the look I’m best known for is blue steel…
🙂
Reggie uses Blue Steel all the time! I think he’s filed for copyright.
Ha! Remind me not to challenge Reggie to a walk-off!
🙂
sure sure
Cool.
Cool.
🙂
I love bamboo. Will be glad when the ones they planted around here grows.
Great job, Sig!
Didn’t mean to get behind on your posts. I was out a week and it really messed up my blogging.
Hugs x
I really like it, too, Deb! For some reason I always have a really difficult time getting a photo of it I like, though.
Been there, done that! No worries, Deb! Anytime is a good time!
🙂
There is an intrinsic power in the noble simplicity of bamboo. Which you have certainly captured here.
Thanks, Spectra! I think so, too (maybe that’s why I always have such a difficult time with it – so hard to ‘capture’ that feeling – for me, anyway)!
🙂
That bamboo feels that you bamboozled it! 😀
Ha!
Poor plant!
Sounds like bamboo ‘buse to me!
🙂
It is very bone/knee structured, so imperfectly beautiful. Excellent once again Mr.SIG
It really does look that way, doesn’t it? Which is kind of funny, because at the time that didn’t even occur to me… I guess it was a case of not seeing the bamboo forest for the trees, so to speak! Thanks much, Astra!
🙂
I like it…blemishes and all. 🙂
Aw, thanks, M.P!
🙂
The sleek look at the top looks metallic. I rather like the more natural look, but you did a good job on the upper part.
Why thank you, Patti! I can’t take too much credit for that, though – in the end I pretty much gave up on the airbrushing and went back to the original… strange how much smoother the top looks than the bottom, though… I was noticing that very same thing!
🙂
Bamboo can be very useful… especially
if one has eaten all the celery (Confused?)
Well it is more than likely something that
has a kinky twist to it and I don’t mean the
Bamboo either (Whack 😉 ) lol
Great work SIG 🙂
The added imagination
alone gives this a 10/10
Androgoth
I had no idea there were such alternate uses for Bamboo, A.G.! Of course, the way things run around here I’m just happy if I can figure out how to get a photograph figured out!
Thanks very much, Andro! I hope you are having a wonderful day!
🙂
Excellent work for this photo Bob ,your air brush technique is really good 🙂
Many thanks, Jake! I sincerely appreciate your kindness, sir!
🙂
There are no imperfections in nature, SIG. Silly boy. I like this. Our neighbor has a huge bamboo forest. I love walking through it – gorgeous.
Hahaha… thanks, Ms. D!
That sounds really, really cool! I’ve been through / by some small stands of bamboo before (obviously), but I’d love to see a huge forest of it some day… sounds so cool!
🙂
Mr. Bamboo looks quite sad and just about ready to cry.
It’s lovely! It’s also sort of making me crave stir fry. Hmm. Interesting.
Thank you, Annabelle!
Stir fry cravings will sneak up on you like that… with the stealth of bamboo, er a ninja!
🙂
Ooooh it’s bamboo!!!!! I thought Derek’s had rolled up his skin tights and was flashing his knee!!!!
Ha! Just what kind of operation do you think I’m running over here, Loon?!
🙂
Reminds me of an organ pipe or a camel’s leg. Beautiful!
OH! Hey! An organ pipe! I like the sound of that, Y.A.W.! Sounds kinda’ elegant!
🙂
I love that movie. Your brooding photo could be titled “Ugoogoly Upon The Death Of A Bamboo Forest.” Or not.
One of my favorite ‘light-lifting’ movies, Peg! I’m sure I’ll be borrowing quite a few more quotes in the future!
Hahaha… “Are you going to say I’m a bad Bamboo Forest Ugoogolizer?”
🙂
such a cool plant, bamboo is.
i really like this portrait. thanks for sharing.
Isn’t it, though! I’ve always thought the very same thing, P&K!
Thank you so much!
🙂
great shot. More Ben Stiller please.
Thanks, N.M.!
I have a hunch I’m not done with Stiller quotes by a long shot
(his father is hilarious, too – so he’ll probably be making quite a few appearances also)!
🙂
LOVE it! Bamboo is so awesomely simple with many uses not immediately apparent! (flaws or not) Ex: When we’re trekking if we have a machete we can always make a cup. Grab a stalk of bamboo, chop off a piece above the growth plate (that’s where it’s solid) and you suddenly have a simple cup. They’re also cool to send back home for souvenirs. Our village uses these for everyday use. Sorry S-i-G, I’ve not been around much, busy with the tribe and all that entails. You have no idea how complicated simple people can make things. *sigh*
I would imagine that’s very true!
From what I’ve heard it grows fairly quickly and is rather strong, too (which I would imagine would be another big plus for construction, etc.).
Please don’t apologize! I understand how crazy life can get even around here! I’m just happy you are always so kind to stop by when you get the chance, Lynn!
🙂
Gotta love The Stiller!
You said it, Nigel! His fathers is hilarious, too…
🙂
Only you Robert can take bamboo and put it with Mr. Black Lung. Cough, cough.lol
HA!
It’s not very well ventilated down there…
🙂
Love the chiseled ab look of the top part and stunning features of the lower. As for poor, sad heartbroken Derek. . . they did want to hit that high!
Why thank you, Ms. K!
Hahaha… true enough! And for the most part everything worked out in the end! I mean, we have the Derek Zoolander Center for Kids Who Can’t Read Good and Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too, now!
🙂
I love bamboo. To have airbrushed it would have been to take away its character. Not a big fan of growing it, but love to look at it. Ribbon cane is my preferred take over the entire neighborhood plant.
Love the muted busyness of the background as well. Great counterpoint to the detail.
Red.
Me too, Red! Although I’m not a big fan of growing anything, really. Well, the growing it doesn’t bother me, it’s the killing it and my wondering just where I went wrong (again) that really gets to me.
Thanks, Red! This was actually a fairly small stand of Bamboo, and I wanted to give the impression that might not the case (and highlight the foreground as much as possible) so I decided to throw a really shallow depth of field at this one.
🙂
Glad you didn’t bamboozled us with airbrushing. Don’t want to undermine young bamboo shoots’ self-image. They would all end-up thin and or overly curvacious trying to live-up to an unrealistic image. 🙂
As to having more bamboo.; I remember my father working very hard to get rid of the stuff after planting some for ornamental purposes in the yard. It is really hyper-grass and once it spreads very tenacious. At least no one has crossed it with dandelions. Now that image has potential. 😀
Ha!
Absolutely! I should probably go and give the bamboo a bit of a reassuring pep-talk, too… just in case it got overheard what I said and took it the wrong way!
I had heard bamboo was fairly hearty, strong and ‘fast growing’, but I don’t think I knew it liked to spread so easily! Hahaha… that would make the ‘Dandeboo’ a very formidable plant indeed!
Panda’s favorite food! 😀
Ha!
Panda approved!
🙂
I need more bamboo in my life. But who doesn’t?
It seems nearly everyone likes bamboo.
Except for Pandas.
Er… wait… that doesn’t sound quite right…
🙂
Wow… this has got to be a favorite for me; I don’t care if it does look like bones!
I’m very happy to hear you liked this one, Ms. F!
Thank you so much!
🙂