ericmaxwell365: January 2010

2010.01.31 Beaumont Fountain

The Beaumont Fountain at Chateau Avalon is located near The Legends in Kansas City, Kansas. I will need to make another stop here in the summer. A fountain without water just seems to be missing something...

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8

2010.01.30 In Studio

If my first self portrait represents the process of taking pictures, this one represents the time that I spend editing the images in the digital studio.

Canon 40D . 2 Strobes . Cactus V4 Remote Triggers

2010.01.29 KC Marriott

Ok, I am the last one that wants to see 'you just never know' become 'wait, let me guess - bokeh'. But sometimes I have these ideas that just wont leave me alone until I play with them a bit. Such is the case with the Kansas City Downtown Marriott. It winks at me every morning on the way into work, and today I stopped by and snapped a few.

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8 . Manual Focus

2010.01.28 Blind Shadow

Sometimes you can think so hard about making an opportunities, that you almost miss the ones that smack you upside the head when you least expect it. I believe the lesson here is keep your eyes open, and do not allow the current task to blind you from what is hidden in plain sight.

Panasonic LX2

2010.01.27 My View

I recently relocated to the north end of our office that overlooks downtown KC. Pretty cool view. When I came in this morning, just as the sun was coming up, I caught this shot that fit right into the 'reflections' category.

Panasonic LX2

2010.01.26 Downtown KC

With the blue sky finally peeking through, I had to take the opportunity to get a shot of downtown from Liberty Memorial. I sprinted out of work just before the sun went down and snapped this right at dusk. Feels like a good balance of daylight and the sparkle of the lights of downtown.

Canon 40D . Tamron 28-200 . Exposure Blend @ -2 , 0 , +2

2010.01.25 Rings in White

Almost thirteen years doll. Just does not seem possible.

Panasonic LX2

2010.01.24 White Flowers

Kelly and I received these flowers from our neighbor. They are beautiful. Not a clue as to what they are. Anyone out there with any ideas?

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8 . Vivitar 383 w/DIY Snoot from previous post

2010.01.23 Sparks Fly

I took the family out for a little experiment this evening. I have seen other explorations of this technique on the net and thought it would be fun to try. Usually, its my neighbor who is responsible for the pyrotechnics, but maybe it is rubbing off?

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8 . Steel wool

2010.01.22 I Saw Red

Recipe for a headache. Ingredients: One red wall, one flash with red gel, tripod, light stand and a camera. Place all ingredients into a dark room at 7 am. Stand in front of flash. Fire flash repeatedly until eyes are watering and head is throbbing.

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8 . Vivitar 383 w/Red Gel . Cactus v4 Triggers

2010.01.21 Golden Delicious

Having fun exploring some of these typical 'strobist' ideas. Always looking for ways to put my own twist on it, even if is subtle. In this case, I gave the apple just a touch of 'float' by setting it on a sheet of glass and allowing the flash to pass under the base of the fruit.

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8 . Vivitar 383 Backlight . Cactus V4 Triggers

2010.01.20 Tensile Structure

Not as 'on fire' about how this one turned out. There is much more color in the canopy than I was able to grab with the camera. Maybe an opportunity for a future HDR? Or an exposure blend? I will be back here. Maybe when the fog lifts.

Canon 40D . Tamron 28-200

2010.01.19 Gigi's Cross

I have been looking at this piece for weeks. And while Kel and I are still deciding where it should go in our home, I had to make an attempt to photograph it. My idea here is to bring out the lines and detail with different colors of light. Backlit with the TV (real high tech right) to provide the blue and lit from camera left with a candle to provide the warm, soft, i-wanna-take-a-nap-now glow. I think there is real potential here - especially for photographing reflective objects.

Panasonic LX2

2010.01.18 Western Auto

The fog has still not lifted here in KC. And like the fog, I cant seem to get out from under these HDR images. They are seriously addicting. I am loving the surreal look that they produce - more like a painting than a photograph. Very captivating.

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8 . HDR Processing at -4,-2,-1,0,+3,+6

2010.01.17 Mom

Mom is ALWAYS baking something. And the something usually involves chocolate - which is just fine with me. Thought it might be fun to get a picture of her in her element.

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8 . Vivitar 383 (inside the oven) . Cactus V4 Triggers

2010.01.16 Evening Fog

After a day of hanging drywall with my brother-in-law in Lincoln, I snapped this pic of the neighbors property. If you guys have views like this on a regular basis, I may have to move out to the sticks too.

Canon 40D . Tamron 28-200

2010.01.15 Power and Light

This is my first HDR image. I have more questions than answers at this point, but the potential here is significant. If my previous post captured a sense of minimalism, then this image begins to speak to the other side. Maximalism?

Canon 40D . Tamron 28-200 . HDR Processing @ -2,0,+2

2010.01.14 Shawnee Mission

Believe it or not, this image is shot in full color. The density of this fog was amazing.

Canon 40D . Tamron 28-200

2010.01.13 Bokeh, Sweet Bokeh

The crown center lights will soon be coming down, and all will be back to normal. I had to take the opportunity to walk through one last time.

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8

2010.01.12 Red

Kelly is always trying something new for dinner. This one is kielbasa and red beans over rice. Perfect comfort food on a cold night. And now we nap.

Canon 40D . Canon 50mm 1.8

2010.01.11 In God We

Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861: Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.