Photo Project 365

This is a photo blog focused on but not limited to study of composition and tonal relations in photographs.

It is a continuation my Project 365 from 2010 a moderately successful attempt to make and publish one photography each day for one year.

The Project lost it's steam somewhere half along the way and this place became a depository of my more satisfying photos.

Click photos to enlarge.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

A year has passed

Last Thursday was 365 days away since my first photograph published on Darkness to Light and Back. I did not manage to keep my discipline and inspiration long enough to call it a success. I wouldn't dare to call it a failure nevertheless.

I was changing a job, I found other time-consuming hobbies, so there were reasons to take the pressure of this one. There always are.

What were my goals? Let's see:

This is for me both a way of motivating myself to take the camera and think about opportunities as well as a chance to start another blog and keep it going after previous have been sadly neglected.

(...) as the name suggests my photos mainly deal with light and shadow: the contrasts, the grays in between and black and white photos. I also prefer working with the natural light than with the strobes as it is easier for me to become charmed by the great quality of natural arrangement of things than to imagine a scene and recreate it with artificial means.
Conclusions:
+   I learned to carry a camera with me all the time. 
+   I learned to think about the shot before I take it
+   I grew to appreciate my compact camera and the one in my mobile phone
+   I started a blog which I like and which I will not abandon for some more time
+   I will start another project from the 1st of January

-   I did not learn to keep up the 'photographic eye' state of mind at all times
-   I didn't manage to actively explore the rules of composition through practice
-   I failed to remain motivated by the Project after about 4 months

Saturday, December 4, 2010

D 255 - He's coming, all right.

D 254 - Keep your eyes on your car


Bouncing around the external flash (pointing flash in all possible directions but straight ahead, that is).

Continuing a polarization between my compact camera and my DSLR, I carry the compact around at all times but if I grab the E-510 it is not for the extra functionality or better noise reduction - it is to have fun with manual, vintage lens.

D 253 - Get back down!


Just a few ripples on the shirt are enough to make a dramatic effect.

D 252 - Lantern

D 251 - Muddy Waters


I've found some due photos on my phone memory card.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

D 250 - Twisted by the pool



This swimming pool was a ruin even when it still worked.

D 249 - The Tower #5



One day I'll capture it the way it deserves.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

D - 248 - Window geometry

D 247 - Colors and motion



Ad hoc trip to the city airport surroundings.

Friday, October 22, 2010

D 246 - Repeated theme

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

D 245 - Highway to Failure



Why, oh why do they sometimes prove so poor on the monitor if the scene was so attractive to the naked eye?

D 244 - Garage

Monday, October 18, 2010

D 243 - The Tower #4

D 242 - The Park #2

D 241 - The Park #1



The AA rechargeables died on me (both pairs) so I was forced to take my DSLR for a walk. Not that Olympus E-510 makes worse pictures than Canon Powershot A570IS or that it is a cumbersome camera. It still is one of the smallest DSLR bodies around. It just cannot be compared to the compactness of a compact camera, not without the Zuiko Pancake lenses (which aren't any near the top of my wish-list anyway).

I have recently grown to appreciate DSLRs to be a serious photographic equipment. With RAW capability and +10MPix count, larger sensors and better optical gear attached they are able to produce far better colors, contrasts and sharpness than virtually anything compact.

But if I want to make the most out of my precious photos, I have to give time to each one in Lightroom (or GIMP, or Photoshop, or Bibble, or any serious editor). It is fun to do it. But with photography not being the only thing that occupies me after work, I don't have the time to do it to every shot I take.

So I'll just stick to the out of camera JPG.

I got fed up of carrying a bag with 3 lenses, body, small tripod and external flash everywhere I go.

So I bought a small DSLR holster a wile ago. But if I should carry E-510 to shoot JPG with one all-round zoom lens, than why bother with DSLR anyway?

So I took back my Powershot compact camera from my sister. I still carry it in the same bag. But the bag is comfortable to carry now. It used to be swollen. And if the bag is undesirable, Powershot fits inside the pocket of my jacket.

The photos are still good.

And last night I dreamed I had Leica, a shiny engraved metal digital rangefinder. Damned be the marketing specialists. I own a car that's worth less than a new M9...

Saturday, October 16, 2010

D 240 - The Tower #3



The idea is more important than physical objects.

D 239 - The Tower #2



Close-up on the clocks. Daytime and nighttime.

D 238 - The Tower #1

Friday, October 15, 2010

D 237 - Fog at 40 meters above ground



Lousy weather but a glorious morning view from the window.

D 236 - Clean for 30 months now



Another thing about Picasa as RAW processor is complete lack of noise reduction. Which in case of Powershot compact camera starts to annoy at ISO 400 and is visible since 200.

D 235 - Autumn sunset in the garden #4



Geometry and light at work. If I could do this shot again, I would reduce DOF.

I'm quite unhappy with the way Picasa handles RAW file and specifically WB control. I guess that as long as I want to work without Lightroom or Gimp, I'll stick to JPG output, despite reduced dynamic range visible in overblown highlights.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

D 234 - Autumn sunset in the garden #3



Hedgehog persp... Okay that is enough.
This wheelbarrow in the sunlight looked curious to me when I walked out on it from a shady grove.

D 233 - Autumn sunset in the garden #2



Little man perspective.

D 232 - Autumn sunset in the garden #1



Mushroom perspective.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

D 231 - It's the way you use it



Acknowledging the power which golden hour has over photography, there is no such thing as 'bad light'. This is taken at high noon on a clear day. I love it.

D 230 - Just the sky



Golden hour can even save an otherwise poor photo.

D 229 - Evening bells



Length of the day just reached this sweet spot where I walk to and from work during the golden hour.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

D 228 - Harmonious



Simple photo but I like the way the colors match.

D 227 - Sandy slam



Dramatic clouds and dramatic pose.

D 226 - Nordic Sunset



Sunset conveniently occurred over the beach.

D 225 - All things run to the sea



Experimenting with external flash fill light on a bright midday at the seaside.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

D 224 - Motherly



When the child is away on vacations...

Friday, September 3, 2010

D 223 - I kept them waiting a little more



I kept them waiting for me a little more, so I could change my lens to tele-zoom and shoot from across the street.

D 222 - Rainy days



Funny case.
It looked great through my bare eyes, then it looked poor on the mobile phone LCD, but after spicing it up in Lightroom it looks good again.

D 221 - Ping Pong #2



Please, don't mind the door.

D 201 - Ping Pong #1



More off-camera flashing.

D 220 - Off-camera



One of my initial, clumsy attempts to use external flash.

D 219 - Orchis

D 218 - Towards the light



Fooling around with 300mm (x2 crop) focal length.

D 217 - Wrinkles



Accidental head turn.

Monday, August 16, 2010

D 216 - Seeing Double



Old facade, High-Definision TV.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015.

D 215 - Inferior power



Snapshot at a crossing.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015.

D 214 - Old School



Skoda Octavia, take one.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD1442.

D 213 - "α"



A black belt.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015.

D 212 - "Y"



Parking Lot.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015.

D 211 - "2"



A factory wall.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

D 210 - Twin-Valve



Some derelict hydraulics outside industrial complex now turned into offices.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015

D 209 - Too gloomy to fly today



Pigeons at a rooftop.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015

D 208 - Ungothic



City cathedral being renovated as seen from across the street with a tramway line in-between.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015.

D 207 - Beggar



Pigeon in a gateway.

Equipment

E-510 with ZD4015.

What I learned

I've attached the kit tele-lens zoom the my Olympus and try to keep it on at all times. I've strongly neglected this focal length range before and so I feel that only forced practice can give me the feel of it.

Previous photos