Terra Firma Thursday. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Joel Barish: “Sand is overrated. It’s just tiny, little rocks.”
– Jim Carrey – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
About this image: digital photograph (Canon 600D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop
Did I just rock a bedazzled backdrop? Because… it seems like… that… just… happened.
Deb: “Okay, hold still right there. Now, just imagine you’re weightless, in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by tiny little seahorses. (*takes photo*) That was the one. I think that’s gonna come out really nice.”
– Tina Majorino – Napoleon Dynamite
About this image: digital photograph (Canon 600D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop
Random fun with mechanically fastened fruit. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Julius Benedict: “My name is Julius and I am your twin brother.”
Vincent Benedict: “Oh, obviously! The moment I sat down I thought I was looking into a mirror.”
– Arnold Schwarzeneger & Danny DeVito – Twins
About this image: digital photograph (Canon 600D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop
Here’s my latest painting (with apologies to the good people at Kodak, and the fabulous city of Las Vegas, Nevada).
Trent: “They’re gonna’ give daddy the Rainman suite, you dig that?”
Mike: “Do you think we’ll get there by midnight?”
Trent: “Baby, we’re going to be up five hundy by midnight!”
Mike: “Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!”
Trent: “Vegas baby! Vegas!”
Mike: “Vegas!”
– Vince Vaughn & Jon Favreau – Swingers
About this image: acrylic painting on 16″x16″ MDF panel – ‘faux photo frame’ built from 1/2″w x 1/16″d wood strips, textured by pressing window screen into coat of molding paste, painted & distressed with acrylic
It was getting late at Leland Harbor and, as we were leaving, I happened to glance over my shoulder just as this light turned on (kinda fortunate). Also (speaking of being late), my blog-rounds will likely be later than usual today. Please bear with me, and have a great weekend, everyone!
Judge Smails: “All right everybody, it’s time to christen the sloop!”
Mrs. Smails: “Come along, children… you can shake your booties down on the dock.”
– Ted Knight & Lois Kibbee – Caddyshack
About this image: digital photograph (Canon 600D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop
With epoxy combine the following: (1) Pre-drilled Peanut Butter Jar Lid and (1) Wood Dowel. Tape to lamp. Yield: (1) D.I.Y. Beauty Dish. Or you can build similar catchlights in about 4 clicks-worth of Photoshop (especially if you’re headed there to exaggerate the effect and/or your models freckles, anyway).
Simon Phoenix: “Illuminate!”
– Wesley Snipes – Demolition Man
About this image: digital photograph (Canon 600D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop
So… here is a painting… that… I… painted. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Shop assistant: “Hello, can I help you?”
Vivian Ward: “I was in here yesterday, you wouldn’t wait on me.”
Shop assistant: “Oh.”
Vivian Ward: “You people work on commission, right?”
Shop assistant: “Yeah.”
Vivian Ward: “Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.”
– Dey Young & Julia Roberts – Pretty Woman
About this image: acrylic painting on 16″x16″ MDF panel – ‘faux photo frame’ built from 1/2″w x 1/16″d wood strips, textured by pressing window screen into coat of molding paste, painted & distressed with acrylic
I thought I’d share a few photographs I took of the night sky in and around Glen Haven Michigan – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This was my first attempt at this kind of photography, so I took a few notes as well.
Tug boat – Cannery Boathouse Museum, Glen Haven, MI
1. Don’t rock the tug boat (use a tripod and shutter-release cable to prevent camera-shake). Even with a high ISO setting (3200 +/-) and a wide-open lens capturing stars requires slow shutter-speeds (30 seconds +/-). Earth’s rotation will cause motion-blur / star-trails in exposures of much longer than 30 seconds.
Mast – US Life Saving Station, Glen Haven, MI
2. The moon can be surprisingly bright (shoot during a New Moon or wait for the moon to set for maximum star-capturing power). The illumination on this mast comes entirely from the moon, and while it can be helpful at times, if the moon is too high and/or full it can significantly reduce the number of stars you (and your camera) will see.
US Life Saving Station, Glen Haven, MI
3. Got a light? Bring that, too. I know, I know… I just mentioned how bright the moon is. Still, it’s very easy for a blogger (and her/his gear) to go bump in the night. Also, in extreme low-light situations you’ll often have to rely manual focusing – shining some light on nearby objects can be a big help with that.
Sleeping Bear Inn, Glen Haven, MI
4. Charge your battery (and your camera battery, too). Pre-plan (scout locations, look-up moon phases, weather reports, etc.) and pack-up early. Then get some rest. If you are like me, you will easily get carried away and the sun will be up in no time.
Cannery Boathouse Museum, Glen Haven, MI
5. Shoot the lights out (take lots-o-photographs). I find it never hurts to hedge my bet. It’s often easier to delete a few ‘bad’ photos than it is to get back on location and shoot more ‘good ones’.
Trees, Glen Haven, MI
6. Thank your lovely wifey. It takes great patience to help scout locations, transport gear and carefully aim flashlights at 3 o’clock in the morning, etc. It will all be greatly appreciated.
About these images: digital photographs (Canon 600D) lightly modified in Adobe Photoshop
Refrigerator Magnate 