BoPL » Photography

Clowns

Paul — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:29:13 +0000

This is one of the most terrifying images I’ve ever seen.

This might provide some protection.

HDR

Paul — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:48:03 +0000

Here’s an excellent Flickr gallery showing the results of HDR (High Density Range) photography. HDR photos are amalgams of several (usually three) pictures of the same subject, but shot with different exposure settings. Typically one normally exposed image captures the mid tones, an underexposed one captures the highlights, while a third overexposed one gets the shadow regions. Combining them allows you to see details across the entire range of brightness of the image, something that cameras (and indeed human eyes) can’t do in a single view normally.

The process gives the images an unnatural look – obviously, it is unnatural – but it’s very appealing.

Depressing

Paul — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:12:47 +0000

There’s a picture of Paris Hilton that’s become pretty common in the last few days, showing her in tears inside her car. It’s actually a pretty good shot, capturing the mood artistically I think, but the subject is not worth it. Go here to see that image, plus another from the same photographer. A pretty depressing look at where we are.

(HT: Pharyngula)

Outhouses

Paul — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:03:28 +0000

Great picture on Shorpy of old-school toilets in Alabama. Similar arrangements existed in the UK and elsewhere, but here we have fences/walls between everyone’s property that would have made it a lot less obvious when you were going to, um, read the paper.

Image and Content

Paul — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:48:44 +0000

Take a look at 13 pictures that changed the world. While I know there are others that are equally notable (see the comments there for some ideas), it’s a great trip through the history of photography. I was particularly struck by the split between great art (#7 being a particular favourite of mine) and great photojournalism (not so easy to have a ‘favourite’, but there are few images more powerful than #4, though the pictures of the monk Thích Quảng Đức burning himself to death, and the Vietnamese girl Kim Phuc running from a napalm attack would qualify.

I think I might have started the series off with the first photograph ever taken, as that did rather get the ball rolling.

(HT: FreeMacPhoto)

Image Makeover

Paul — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:28:35 +0000

I’m sure there’s an element of potkettleblackism in this, but check out Dove’s ad showing that average can be beautiful with enough makeup and photoshopping.

(HT: Ezra)

Camels

Paul — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:51:23 +0000

OK, I’ve tried to come up with a snappy description for this picture of camels 4 times now, and I’m all out of comic genius – just go and look, it’s fantastic.

RAW

Paul — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:00:06 +0000

One of the handy little features added in OS X 10.4.7 is OS-support for Minolta’s RAW format, MRW. This means that images from my 5D DSLR can be displayed in Preview, which makes for a very fast first weeding out of dreck.

More of what the internet is for

Paul — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 15:35:36 +0000

Where would you have gone before the internets were invented if your tastes ran to squirrels with vintage cameras? Apart from a security facility, of course.

(HT: ThinkProgress)

NYCLondon

Paul — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 05:00:00 +0000

A modest aside – I am interested in, though negligibly gifted at, photography. For an example of where I would like to be, and an object lesson in why it’s about the photographer not the equipment, look here.