"Street photography is a renewable resource. If you dont like what you see wait 5 minutes or walk a hundred feet." - 365 Project, Day 105

It's a bit on the late side for a Monday night right now, and I'm on this side of starting a slight headache so I'll make this brief, but I will leave you with this thought.

I was talking to someone today at work, and they said something to the effect of (or said something that made me think of) you do what you're good at.  So, if that is the case, then, if you photograph something that's you're hobby, would the photos be better than if you photograph something else?  For example, if your passion is cars and driving, would your photographs of, say an Enzo or a Zomba be better than your landscape photographs?  Interesting...

Frank

His note: Went for a walk close to the burnt out hardware store on Beechwood today. At one point I looked up and couldn't believe the amount of wires connected to the one post!

Shannon

Her note: Now that's a strawberry!

Myself

Walking home in the rain, given I'd forgotten my umbrella at home (because it wasn't raining when I left home), and this couple was walking the other way.

I feel the same about tomorrow as I did about today.

"A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words." - 365 Project, Day 104

Macro photography, though very pretty, is extremely difficult to do well.  The strict definition is that there needs to be a 1 to 1 ratio between what you see in your screen, and its size on the sensor (or film frame).  As such, only very tiny things can, in the strictest sense, be considered part of macro photography.  Now, most people will be a bit more lenient and consider any extreme close-up some sort of macro photography.

Interestingly enough, my two favorite types of photography are of the very big (landscapes) and of the very small (macro).  I would love to have a macro lens, as I know I'd use it a lot.  I enjoy seeing the amount of detail of the very small, how close one can get before microscopes are needed (which, I suppose, is the ultimate example of macro photography).

Oddly enough today, neither Shannon nor I has a picture of the sky or sunset.

Frank

His note: A single ray of light shining though the clouds after supper tonight.  I could not miss the opportunity of grasping it.

Shannon

Her note: Tried taking a pic while the train was moving today.

Myself

I was almost late for work this morning, but I had to stop and take this picture of the dew on the blades of grass.  I was hoping for something more interesting, like a better patch of grass or a bug, but I'll be content with this, given the condition of the surrounding lawn.

I have no strong feelings about tomorrow.  We'll see how that turns out.

PS.  Trying to find a quote specifically on macro photography by an actual recognised photographer is impossible.

"The world is going to pieces and people like Adams and Weston are photographing rocks!" - 365 Project, Day 103

Rocks, to be fair, can be absolutely fascinating photographic subjects, what with their... bumps and cracks?  They offer a variety of grays to look at, and their texture is flat, so how can they not be interesting?  This quote is talking about landscape photographers Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, as told by street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Landscapes do have their merit.  They go for the grand, for the vast, for the epic.  Setting up for them takes both time and patience.  Getting the perfect exposure and composition is more tedious than it sounds, but setting up is part of the fun.  Trying to micro-inch your camera one way and the other to see what the perfect framing would be is oddly satisfying.  Testing different exposures to grab every little detail ensures the best picture quality possible.  There are different solutions to the best possible landscape shot, and finding out what you prefer is what makes the time and care into each shot worth it.

Here are today's pictures.

Frank

His note: "My Precious! O my Precious! And with that, even as his eyes were lifted up to gloat on his prize!" - Gollum
Can't wait to go riding again... - Frank

Shannon

Her note: One of the 1000 Islands.

Pat

Walking home, I noticed the contrast between (and within) the sky and the street.

I'm hoping to get a better picture tomorrow, but we'll see.

"In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little human detail can become a leitmotif." - 365 Project, Day 102

It doesn't take much to make a powerful photo, just like it doesn't take much to be inspired.  One small thing can be your muse: the shape of a leaf, the lines in your field of view or something that brings back old memories.  It doesn't matter what gets your finger flowing, as long as it gets you taking photos.

Whether big or small, something simple can be great inspiration, and something simple can create a grand impression on someone.  Every photograph has meaning to someone, whether the shooter or the viewer, so there's no reason to restrict yourself, or to hold yourself back.  To someone, your photograph is special.

Frank

His note: Went to the licence bureau with my younger son today for his G1 (which he did get).  While he was writing his test I went for a walk and found this intriguing form in a tree.  With a little imagination I see a goat's head and it is saying OOOOOOOOOOO... Maybe pretending to be a cow?

Shannon

Her note: Took the train today.

Pat

Waking up in the morning and running outside as soon as you finish breakfast, playing all day in the sun at the nearest monkey bars, field or even backyard, only coming in when your mother calls your name at the end of the afternoon for dinner;  that's nostalgia.

Tomorrow will bring new experiences.  Here's hoping, whether good or bad, they're at least memorable.

"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." - 365 Project, Day 101

It seems interesting to me when someone says, I don't have anything to take a picture of (or something of similar meaning).  I've been self-convicted of this myself.  I find it funny because, well, simply roll your eyes around.  There are no doubt dozen of things you have seen in your periphery, any of which can be a picture.  They may not seem interesting, but in a cluster, they may say something about humanity, or simply look like an interesting clutter of colours.

There are, quite literally, gazillions of things to leer at every day, and I am a strong proponent of one saying that anything can look interesting, given the right angle.  Any of those dozen periphery-occupying objects could be a nice picture.  This, remember is only around you now.  Thinking of all that matter outside your home, down the street and into your neighbour's home reveals a whole new world of random objects that could be a nice photograph.  Not to mention the few other things on the other side of the street.  That's where it ends, though.

Today's pictures are very normal, but nice.  You see these things pretty much every day.

Frank

His note: Today, Pat drove for over 100 kms.  We went to Limoges and back.  A great evening for a drive.  Thanks Pat.

Shannon

Her note: Dinner tonight.  Mmm...

Myself

This is what Ted Stevens would refer to as 'Internet'.

Tomorrow should be almost as interesting.  We'll see what it has in store for us.

"Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures." - 365 Project, Day 100

Considering it's day 100, I wish I'd have something more special today, but I am simply way too tired to write anything lengthy (if, that is, it's to be coherent).

I will say that Ottawa (all of eastern Ontario, actually) was hit by a mutant storm.  One big bulge, then quickly over.  It was a big bulge, though.

Frank

His note: I had to get my car washed today didn't I?  And did we get a storm? YES of course!

(Did we ever!)

Shannon

Her note: Was at a friends place when the storm hit. Tried to get a pic of the hail but I wasn't opening the door.

Pat

I would have loved to take a picture of this massive storm outside, but truth is it was poring so hard towards my balcony I was worried about my camera.

Tomorrow will be interesting.

"No, [blowing out your highlights] is not your style. You did it wrong." - 365 Project, Day 99

I never generally look at the histogram for any of my pictures, but I definitely see the use for it.  The screen on the back of the camera is an okay tool, but it's never particularly accurate.  It's just part of the camera's personality.  That's not important, though.  The histogram, for those who don't know, tells you the strength of the colours and highlights, and how bright and dark the photograph turns out.  It's a simple little graph, and pretty useful, but not many people seem to use it.

The quote for today comes from Gavin Seim, and he is a crazy person when it comes to getting the best picture quality out of the camera.  He also doesn't like the idea that everybody with a camera calls themselves a photographer.  The use of histograms is a small thing, but it can definitely help one get better photographs.  It takes a master to look at a picture, and its settings, and know how it'll turn out.

For now, here are a bunch of pictures with no histogram use.  We're not masters, but they turned out well regardless.

Frank

His note: Vinnie [Frank's son/my brother] and I spent the afternoon making a shelving unit for his mother's garage. Here he is measuring cross pieces.

Shannon

Her note: Went to Wakefield today on an old steam train. This was part of the view.

(For those who care, parts of Grey Owl were shot in Wakefield.)

Pat

The light at the end of the tunnel, is two people talking.  Walking around today, I found a lot of people waiting for the bus.  This, though, is the most interesting picture I took today, in the insane heat and humidity.

Tomorrow will be more of the same from today.  I'm pretty sure the pictures will be different, though.