09 November 2008

West Gate at Twilight


West Gate at Twilight
Originally uploaded by .Nigel.
Is it a natural triptych ? I don't know, it does remind me of one though. This is a study of light and shadow. It is, as is usual for me, very dark, but still something which works well with in the space(s). Interestingly the reflection becomes somewhat surreal as it does not seem to match the positive image. All in all I am happy with this shot.

The Stream


The Stream
Originally uploaded by .Nigel.
8 second daylight exposure of a stream in the Dandynong Ranges State Forest. Let me just say that the Dandynong ranges is perhaps the most annoying place I have ever been to take photographs. Signage is crap, I spent 2 hours driving around it circles (and getting car sick at the same time) before I finally managed to get where I wanted to go. "Sherbrook Falls". I don't know who decided on the name, but dude, a 2 foot drop and a trickle of water over a single rock does not represent a "Water Fall". It got to the stage that I wanted to punch some poor bastard in the face I was that annoyed. Not really the best state of mind in which to take photographs... at least not my style of photographs. This is one of the few exceptions of the trip.

20 May 2008

Death of an Icon


Death of an Icon
Originally uploaded by fourthography
A petrol tanker crossing the bridge. Given where fuel is going, I liked the symbolism of the end of fossil fuels as a constant in modern society. More than this, I like the simplicity of this image.

19 July 2007

Sky Wheel (Light Experiment #1)

The first of a series of light experiments over time. The idea here was to capture a ferris wheel over a two hour period highlighting how light might change the image from the obvious to the abstract. There a 1 and a half second exposure was enough to capture the spinning of the wheel while leaving the clouds realitively still. A ND Grad 8 filter was used to help with light.

The Magic of Light (Light Experiment #2)

Perhaps the easiest to recognise as a ferris wheel of the four images, this the most complex in terms of lighting. Shot as the ferris wheel was slowing down, there was enough light to create movement from the structure while leaving the carriages almost still, creating a rather interesting image.

Light Show (Light Experiment #3)

This is the third of a series looking at light on a single object over time. Titled "Light Show" it highlights both abstractness and surrealism. The line like colour hides its true image giving it a sense of blacklighting and sets this image apart from the others giving it its own distinctive spin on form and colour.

Tron (Light Experiment #4)


Tron (Light Experiment #4)
Originally uploaded by fourthography
This is the fourth of a series looking at light on a single object over time. Titled "Tron" for its likeness to the film it highlights both abstractness and intertextuality. The solid blue sets this image apart from the others giving it its own distinctive spin on form and colour.

21 April 2007

Industrial Sunset


Industrial Sunset
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
This is a image I really like. I used a filter to enhance the colour and it ended up giving a rather spectacular sunset view. The other thing I like about this image is the fact that I managed to have a good depth of light within the the silhouette of the building and the figures walking.



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Woody



Woody

Originally uploaded by fourthography.
An interesting image. It is phallic in its nature, but the really interesting thing for me is the way the wooden sculpture plays off the colour of the background. I also like the idea of the smaller polls in the background which both break up the solid background colour and give some level of depth to the photograph.







16 April 2007

Abandoned


Abandoned
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
This is one of those images that you manage to capture that is of the moment. In this case an old woman in a wheel chair had been left in an alley and the image manages to capture a sense of abandonment. The light also highlights the idea of desolation and I think really works with in the forum of the B&W image. Yet as is so often the case with photographs, they allow a sense of story which is actually different to the the life around them. There the woman was left while here grandsons went off to get a coffee, the alley itself while looking atmospheric is just off a busy lane. So this image represents the idea of the presentation of meaning as well as its separation from the reality around it.

13 April 2007

Red Room


Red Room
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
An interesting shot and one that I like a lot. Continueing my theme of darkness this shot presents the idea of not only literal darkness but metaphorical as well. It invites the viewer into the image and into the something which is perhaps a little seedy.

11 April 2007

Coloured Alley


Coloured Alley
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
This is a pretty interesting image. In truth, I was not expecting it to turn out the way it did it terms of of its colour. I had set a low temp on the WB in order to make the night sky darker on a long exposure. The end result was a rather spectacularly coloured, and surreal image. There were two light sources (street lights) shining behind me; one on each wall giving each wall its own unique light and colour tone. Give that colour of the image which first captures your attention, it is also an image about depth and darkness. The lit window on the right both adds a sense of depth as well as balancing out the colour tones from the two walls. The lights in the background extend this level of depth to the eyes visable distance. The other thing I really like about this image is the darkness and the fact that while its is pitch black, you can still see through it. This was a long exposure photograph at 10 seconds it was going to be bright (I live near the CBD so light and brightness are always a factor) this was the reason I set the low temp on the WB as it would counter the brightness of the city sky line. All in all, an unexpected result that I am more than happy with.
for those wanting EXIF data, there isn't any. Converting the RAW 16 bit image means that I have to copy the image to a new 8 bit templet which does not have the data. I prefer working in 16 bit data as you have more contol over image quality than you do with the 8 bit jpg. I can how ever give the EXIF data from the original file.
10 sec Exposure at f/3.5 ISO 100

10 April 2007

Sunset under the Bridge


Sunset under the Bridge
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
This is an interesting shot. Not the least of which is due to its abstract nature. Very little has been done to it, indeed it has only been cropped. It is the shot of the sun setting from under a bridge. I like the juxtaposition between the two sources of light, which interesting fail to really give any brightness to the scene overall. Shape is another thing that interests me here. The angular lines of the "doorway" to the sunset remind me a lot of German expressionism, while the street light has a more "noir" feel to it. Both of which are an integral part of what Noir is, but in this case it is give a more contemporary feel due to its colour.

07 April 2007

Big Dipper


Big Dipper
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
One of those days / nights where everything seemed to go right no matter what I shot. This is an image of the Big Dipper in Melbourne's Luna Park which is one of the oldest Theme Parks in the world, certainly in Australia built in 1912. The sky was an amazing gold by the end of the night. Here it was still pretty light, but there was lots of contrast happening. Metaphorically speaking I like the way the coaster drops right out of frame, its seems fitting that you seem to get rushed right out of the image and into the unknown. Yet like all good coasters, there is that slow moment of anticipation just before you go off the deep end. A time when all your hightend senses seem to see a lot of detail, and I think that's there as well in the texture of the wood. Its an image I like more and more as I look at it.

Golden Sunset


Golden Sunset
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
On an amazing night where the sun was truly golden, I wanted to capture the grandness of it. This shot is one which shows size and really uses a minimal landscape to accent the sky. Colour is foremost in this image and I think it golden hue works well.

06 April 2007

Golden Streets


Golden Streets
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
On an amazing twilight night which gave out some truly amazing golden light. I captured this image of the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. I love images which seem to emerge out of the darkness. Images which let you explore areas which at first seem dark and bland but mange to hold more depth the more you look at it. This is one those images. Indeed, it is an image which reminds me a lot of David Lynch, it is certainly one I am happy with.

Light Room


Light Room
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
This is a particularly interesting image. It is a photograph about like and shadow. It is also about colour. This was a difficult shot to take because the sun was directly behind me. Why is that difficult I hear you ask. Well, because when the sun is behind you, you tend to cast a shadow. That is not evident here. Basically I hid as much of myself as possible within an existing shadow and cropped out what was left over. The end result is great example of how light and shadow can work with a colour image rather than B&W. I am sure this will be a surprise to some, it is an image all about NOT being in B&W and using all the ideas behind B&W images , light, shadow, tonal range etc etc. In fact this image simply does not work in B&W.

03 March 2007

The Monk


The Monk
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
A portrait image of a monk on the street. I was never quite sure if he was overly happy about be taking the shot. He nodded yes, but the image itself tends to show a different story. after much toial to trouble I manged to figure out a method of B&W conversion which really drops the background into a nice black while at the same time pushes the focus of the image forward giving it a studio like appearance. I am particulaly happy with this one and really like the way the face sits with in the darkness.

14 February 2007

Tree


Tree
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
Elegant and effective. This image is one that highlights the idea of how one might break rules. Its centred form is one that challenges the rule of thirds. Its abstract nature offsets contemporary ideas of placement and in so doing allows movement away from rules. Light and shadow also allow create a sence of mode and lends itself to contemplation of possibilities.

The Swan


The Swan
Originally uploaded by fourthography.
I particulaly like this image. It is one which captures the moment of movement while at the same time highlights the idea of tonality. It is simple and effective.