The Shawshank Redemption

Mike — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:15:05 +0000

I was scouring some of my images last night looking for the right one to post for Movie Title Wednesday. Usually I save my best work for these days (in my eyes of course), but the ones that I really, really loved just couldn’t be connected to a movie for some reason. But then I saw this one, thought “Shawshank” and immediately knew I had today’s photograph. And I actually really like this image.

What can I say about The Shawshank Redemption that most of you wouldn’t know already? I mean, it’s in a lot of people’s top 10 favorite movies list (including mine), it was nominated for 12 Oscars (I’m amazed that it didn’t win any now that I look back) and it had one of the best little plot twists in recent memory. You got emotionally tied to the characters…and end up feeling their struggle when it comes to suddenly being in the outside world after 30 years in prison. But the message of hope was key to me…it’s something that no one can ever take away from you. What a great scene that was between Andy and Red:

Andy Dufresne: That’s the beauty of music. They can’t get that from you… Haven’t you ever felt that way about music?

Red: I played a mean harmonica as a younger man. Lost interest in it though. Didn’t make much sense in here.

Andy Dufresne: Here’s where it makes the most sense. You need it so you don’t forget.

Red: Forget?

Andy Dufresne: Forget that… there are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside… that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours.

Red: What’re you talking about?

Andy Dufresne: Hope.

Gives me chills just reading it again. What a fantastic film.

This image had the feel to me of an old prison…mangled bars, fading metal mesh…stained, dirty glass…worn and weathered bricks. Shot this back in late December during our downtown Phoenix photowalk. Once again, it’s an image using my 50mm 1.4 and I played around with it in live view to find the place I wanted to focus on the most. It wasn’t too hard to quickly spot the kind of “cross” in the middle that appears to be bound together with a piece of rusted wire.

Excited to go explore the urban areas of Phoenix once again…the February 5th photowalk is packed with people, we’re up to 13 and if you are interested in joining us, check out this blog post.

(exif: canon rebel xsi, 50mm 1.4, f/2.5, iso100)

Some photos with the new lens

Mike — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:12:13 +0000

Thanks to some wonderful graduation gift cards and money, I was able to purchase a new lens for my camera. It was a 50mm 1.4f (I know, what???) and is a great lens for portraits, low-light situations and many other types of pictures. It’s super-clear and has an amazing bokeh or “blurry” factor with objects behind your main area of focus.

Anyways, here are a few shots with this lens…nothing spectacular, although I do love the broken green bottle shot.

*All that’s left of the Emerald City*

This just made me visualize the remains of the Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz after being abandoned for thousands of years.

Phoenix Wedding Photographer | Mike Olbinski Photography » wire

The Shawshank Redemption

Some photos with the new lens