D 41 - Happy Birthday, Gosia!

For she's a jolly good fellow (or 'gal' I should say)!

As requested by today's birthday celebrator I present: Toucan contrasted with something soft.

Equipment

E-510 with Helios lens, flash with a softbox.

What I learned

The pleasures of contracted work. Perhaps this contract was quite peculiar but still I was asked to do specific photo in limited time. I was surprised with how tough it is to create something satisfying in such conditions.
I wasn't at all surprised however that I started doing it after 10 p.m. That's just me.

D 40 - Fragile

A tulip just before falling apart.

Equipment

Samsung S630 camera, macro setting. Delayed shutter release and on a tripod. Aluminum foil sheet as a reflector.

What I learned

No reflector - no indoor shots with natural light.

I was sloppy with clearing the background. Once again I was too focused on the camera and 'getting it right' that I forgot to actually "look".

D 39 - 90 Degrees

I wasn't particularly inspired for some few days, but I'm trying to be regular with the Project 365 and I made myself take the camera, tripod and make a photo which I thought about yesterday. So this is a square composition.
I can't say it knocks me off my feet. But I can't remember any square based composition which really impressed me.

Equipment

E-510 with Pentacon 30 lens, on tripod.

What I learned

I was wandering if I had to take longer focal length lens to make this square look right-angled and flat but it was o.k. with Pentacon's 30mm.

Unfortunately I noticed again how vulnerable to front light this lens is. I had a strong light source at about 45 degrees right from the optical axis of the lens but the contrast on that side was dramatically reduced. I admit, that I don't have a lens hood for Pentacon yet.

I'm still not happy with this composition. Again it isn't really a square.

D 38 - Not a square

Today I was looking for a square compositions to continue the geometric theme.

Equipment

E-510 with Helios 44-4 lens.

What I learned

Squares never quite worked out for me. The box was rectangular, yes. Yet the first shots I made proved to consist of triangles as far as composition was concerned. The later photos which I made straight from the front of the box were not anything that I would like to share, so I posted the triangular one.
It could be worse, I could be stuck with only square compositions unable to come up anything more dynamic.

Anyway tomorrow I'm back to square (one).

I've been looking for usable range of applications the highest ISO setting in my Olympus but without any firm success.

D 37 - Teatime

Oval composition. I was already thinking about it yesterday but only today I found something that could work out fine.
I treated the photo with split toning for tea-like colors.

Equipment

E-510 with Pentacon lens.

What I learned

Why on earth didn't I change ISO to 100-200?
I thought I've learned to check the settings before I start making photos. Apparently I can't take any knowledge for granted.

There is something about standard focal length. If I could have only one non-zoom lens it would be something between 40 and 50mm.

D 36 - Viewfinder off

Just another sweet baby photo but the point is that I was practicing framing without the viewfinder. The book told me to do so. It suggested that it helps in getting a sense of composition.

Equipment

E-510 with Pentacon.

What I learned

It is weird to shoot like that. The book which I took this suggestion from is quite old and I sure wasn't written in the world of live-view and barely acknowledges the appearance of digital cameras but the exercise is strangely appealing.
It makes you look at the scene not at the camera. You must set all parameters beforehand and then think only about the scene which you want make into a photograph.
In addition it feels vintage. You hold your camera at the chest or waist level and try to aim it at the right direction. It's a useful skill on its own to learn.

D 35 - Down the wells

Typical yards from the city Łódź.
Deep, tight and neglected. Yet still full of life despite their inhospitality.

Equipment

E-510, Pentacon lens.

What I learned

Pentacon seems to have some notable barrel distortion. It is only 30mm wide and a prime lens so I didn't expect any.

I wonder how much can I explore my apartment and the view from the window before I can't find interesting frames anymore?
It seems a little inert but keeps me going. What does it say about myself?