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Hinged

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Hinged - Urban Phoenix

(click to see on black // canon rebel xsi, canon 50mm 1.4, f/2.5, iso 100 // buy print)

Stormchasing can be an unstoppable beast during the summer, where I feel like I’m non-stop on the road or processing weather photos. It’s actually been a nice break the past 4-5 days to have nothing going on almost anywhere in the state. I’ve gotten some other projects started, made headway in other areas that need addressing and have just relaxed a bit around home with the family.

Although yesterday when I picked my daughter up from daycare she said “Now we go stormchasing daddy!”

Ugh, hated to disappoint her. And me. Can’t stormchase with no storms little one!

I actually processed this image back a few months ago when I needed to do something different than lightning and dark clouds. This was from a photowalk back on December 29th of last year around downtown Phoenix. I made it a goal that day to stick with my 50mm 1.4 and just shoot what I saw with it. I love the little details on the old buildings and warehouses in the southern area of downtown.

I always liked this old hinged panel and was glad I finally went back and brought it to life.

(oh yeah, countdown to Discovery’s Storm Chasers premiere is now…5 days)

Stay off my sh*t

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(click to see a larger dumpster with a beautiful black border)

I shot this during my HDR Workshop back in February. I just love what the 50mm 1.4 does on a full frame with that wide aperture. No Focal Point or any other Photoshop effect for the depth of field…just good ol’ f/2.0.

Graffiti can either be awesome or, most of the time, just plain and basically ugly. It’s rare to find something that is just pure art out here. This is really nothing awesome, but the inspiration for the title of this post made me laugh. Kind of curious why the person wrote it. Did someone overwrite his previous crappy graffiti? Or does he perhaps sleep in the dumpster?

(exif: canon 5d eos mark ii, canon 50mm 1.4, f/2.0, iso 100)

 

The lamp post on Monroe

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Another shot from the rainy evening we had back in late December. I was just hanging around this area using my 50mm to create some depth down long streets, sidewalks and walkways.

I loved how this little bricked path kind of “tunneled” itself though the trees and emerged at a lamp post/street light down the way. Some gorgeous “fall” leaves lay on the ground and the reflections from the storm added another element I dug.

I find myself fascinated with low shots like this, especially when using a 50mm or 85mm. You can get such distance when you are close to the ground, cool perspective, awesome lines and beautiful bokeh, especially when shooting wide open.

(exif: canon rebel xsi, canon 50mm 1.4, f/1.6, iso 100, 1/6 sec)

Almost Famous

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The Duce Bus Downtown Phoenix

(Hat tip to the wife for picking the name for this one…she always comes through)

Another edition of Movie Title Wednesday finds us back in the 1970’s, riding along with Stillwater, the band that is the focus of the fantastic film, Almost Famous.

I remember loving this movie, and perhaps even getting choked up at the end. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen it, but it’s one of those films that comes along once in awhile that just hangs with you for years after seeing it. A young man tries to get an article written for Rolling Stones Magazine by joining the band Stillwater on their tour bus as they go around the country. Great cast…Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Jason Lee.

One of the best moments of the film that still kind of resonates with me was when they all join in to sing Tiny Dancer while heading down the highway. Amazing scene.

If you haven’t seen it…check it out, definitely can’t go wrong if you love music, bands, a little comedy, a little drama and awesome writing.

The bus in the photo belongs to The Duce, an eclectic, unique place in downtown Phoenix. I shot this back in late December whilst on our first photowalk of the city. My buddy Ken and I both got shots of it, still haven’t seen what he did with it.

I processed this photo awhile ago…probably within a week of taking it, but was waiting to dump it on a Wednesday. This was one of the first times I used Focal Point from onOne Software and I absolutely loved how it isolated the front of the bus. I knew right away I’d make it black and white, because I find it really helps get rid of any distraction when it comes to background colors.

Good luck

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I’ve been posting a lot of black and white lately, so I didn’t want you guys to think I was totally devoid of seeing in color.

This is another image from our Phoenix photowalk we did back in late December. We have another one coming up this Saturday and the group size is around 15 people…although I expect the chilly temps and 6am start time will end up trimming our numbers down when it’s all said and done!

Another photo from my 50mm 1.4 renaissance that week…I loved using this lens to find the subtle, cool little details instead of the wide angle approach to everything. It’s seems hard to train your eye to see both at the same time. While it’s obviously not horrible to shoot wide angle…if you are so focused on one that you can’t see the other…then you miss out. I myself still have a hard time with it. That’s why that morning I intended to go out using nothing but the 50. If I left the 17-35 on, I’d probably get in the wrong mindset.

This weekend I hope to go out and see it all at the same time. Of course, now you have to throw in the new full frame to really add a challenge, but I can’t wait.

Oh…so you  may be wondering what the heck the title of this blog post means. It’s simple:

You want to get some water from that spicket?

Good luck!

(exif: rebel xsi, 50mm 1.4, f/2.0, iso100)