And so the year turns...

I wrote in my last post of having paid a couple of visits to Manukau Photographic Soc. meetings. The first image was grabbed as I was leaving that meeting. I was one of the first out, but a woman went past as I was getting things right in the camera and asked what I was doing. I gestured to the trees and she said "You know, I have never seen that!".

Yep, goes to show.








The second is one I need some help with. I took this at the Diwali Festival in November. I would love to show it, but the face of the kneeling girl needs to be removed as does an ear that sticks out on the left of the left-side girl's skirt. There is also a merge between the skirts of the girl on the left and the girl behind her. That is less noticeable (unless you realise that the gold is not right round the skirt).

I do not have Photoshop. I have got hold of a freebie processor that has a spray-over function which I can not get right. There is a combination of motion blur and fabric that I am having great difficulty with matching. I think it might be a combination of factors; like what kind of merge to use, fade factor on the spray, spray width... I am somewhat lost.

BTW the image was at 1/4, hand held. Not bad for an old bugger I reckon.



One thing I have realised, mainly as a result of using the Labels function on blogs that I run, is the need and ease of creating an index to my photo library. NO, I am not putting the whole lot onto the Net. I know there are several quite good library drivers there. I want this one "in house", for MY use.

Any suggestions out there?

The month of November - that was...

I don't know where it went, but then that is a different story.

After tarting myself down to Manukau Photographic Soc. I went back to the old haunt at Howick Camera Club. Not a lot has changed there. The club seems to be quite a bit bigger, with a goodly number there on the night. They also have "C", "Intermediate" and "Elite" categories for membership. NEAT!! They even have a "m-a-g" person who passed on the fact that I was an ex- returning to the fold as it were. No on rushed over to shake my hand or even acknowledge me so to that extent, nothing much has changed.

I think I might concentrate on set subject again, if only because I enjoy the challenge. I have the list for next year and most are pretty standard. "Hot", "Sport" come to mind in that category of "standard".

There are two which I think will be a real challenge.

"White on white". Got an idea for this; involves a plate, a white infinity sheet, and multiple exposure. Thoughts processing furiously on how to achieve the kind of light/shadow I want...

"Eyes". Given I am not good at people photos, this is a real challenge. It strikes me as "real, in your face" photography.

One to have fun with - "Privacy". Potential for political comment here is endless. I might visit Q St one afternoon and line up unsuspecting peds and ask them to hide their faces from me. Hopefully I will also have some police in the same frame... Hmmm and evil grin on that one.

On getting the opportunity...

There are times when I wish I had a camera that I could attach to the back of my eye, or perhaps to the side, which I could trigger automatically...

To give a f'rinstance, we were in Opononi this past weekend. A morning trip to Rawene and a good lunch and we were heading back to Opo.

On the 8km road between Rawene and SH12 there is a left bend followed by a right sweeper. On the left is a farmhouse with all of the usual things going on.

This time around there was a rather large goose in the long grass at the side of the road, its neck outstretched, guarding its nest in the grass. Hovering overhead was a harrier hawk with its wings thrashing to keep itself out of reach of the goose and its talons outstretched...

At 85-90 kph that little tableau lasted for perhap no more than half a second and it was past. There was no chance to stop and grab what would have been an amazing shot. A second earlier, a second later, and it would probably not have existed.

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I find it difficulty to get regular with the photohunt thing. I must keep trying.