On Mon, 9 May 2011 18:07:50 -0700, Savageduck
wrote:
On 2011-05-09 16:27:12 -0700, Bowser said:
Here you go, let the comments fly!
http://www.pbase.com/shootin/at_the_museum
For more info about the Shoot-In, please visit the Rulz page he
http://www.pbase.com/shootin/rulzpage
Next up is Weapons, due June 12th. Your interpretation of what
constitutes a weapon is all that counts, so have at it and fire away.
Some of you might consider that 800mm 5.6 tele a weapon. Others may
consider that the pen, being mightier than the sword is the perfect
weapon while others, black belt in hand, might want to crush me like a
grape. What is your weapon of choice?
I think we managed to get some interesting content out of this mandate,
including interpretations of what constitutes a museum. All in all a
good collection, thanks for playing folks.
Now for a few comments which you can take with the proverbial pinch of salt:
Paul Furman:
1267:
I like the use of a working studio, and certainly almost anything at
Hunter's Point could be considered a museum. I like the work on the big
canvas reflecting the real activity on the table.
Eric S (I assume Eric Stevens):
The Gangs All He
Nice. Without doubt a museum, these are a great set of carvings, almost
a hybrid vertical/horizontal totem. You managed to cope with the
interior lighting quite well. Which culture produced this work?
I took this photograph some years ago with a Sony F707 but I included
it as the subject was made for this SI. I can't remember the details
but I think it came from somewhere about the New Hebrides/Vanuatu. Its
not a totem in the usual sense but represents a gang of gods/chiefs
arriving in a snake which had turned into a canoe. Lighting was not
too bad but I still had to use the built-in flash. The lighting levels
of the more distant parts needed help from Photopaint.
Tilling Stevens:
Great ladder truck, again, you managed the lighting issues well.
You wouldn't be related to the "Stevens" by any chance?
Everything on the truck is electric, including the drive for the
ladder mechanism. Here is some more info about it
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/tilling-stevens.htm
The lighting was worse than dim and I was forced to use my SB 600
flash unit. The back end was still lost in the dark but I managed to
rescue it with a few clicks of NX2.
As for being related - anything is possible but I don't know of any
connection.
War Canoe:
Another great subject. This is an amazing piece of cultural history,
and you captured it even with the lighting handicap. I wonder how this
would have worked as an HDR exercise.
Impossible as HDR I suspect. I wasn't allowed to use a tripod and even
had difficulty getting permission to use a monopod at its shortest
(about 30"). The length of the subject meant that on-camera flash was
out and a battery of flashes was beyond consideration. Part of the
problem was that it was a school holiday and the museum was full of
knee-high kids. Any sort of external gear would have been a hazard.
I started off by setting the shutter timer to 10 seconds and then
hoisting the camera and monopod over my head after I pushed the
release. This technique produced a fine collection of blurred images.
In the end, I used my left hand to hold the foot of the monopod into
the top of my stomach (well provided for) with the camera overhead
with my right arm at full stretch on the release button. I had no real
idea of where I was aiming or what the camera was seeing. The camera
was in Aperture priority mode and ISO was 1250. Exposures were
typically 1/5-1/6 of a second. To my surprise camera shake was not too
much of a problem but I doubt if I could take a series of closely
matching shots for HDR.
With the original lighting, the canoe was lost in the murk. I used NX2
to make the canoe stand out more and then I used it to suppress the
surrounding detail.
Bob Flint:
So are these part of a personal collection, or housed in a photography museum?
Having asked that, all three, while interesting, and technically good
shots, seem very documentary, telling us very little with regard to
location.
Tony Cooper:
Mennelo Porch 1 & 2:
I like the idea of the strong color fields, and the porch setting,
however with #2 I find the PS filter pushes the surreal a bit much for
me. I think this is a case where cleaner works better. It would have
been nice to see more of the contents of the museum.
Seminole County Museum:
Nice "Old Folks Home" I think this is a case where the interior might
have been more interesting, rather than the building.
Graham:
Here I am not sure if you are Graham Fountain, or "Fountain" has
something to do with your shots.
#1, #2, & #3:
These are all pleasing enough to the eye, the rainbow capture in #3 is
nice. I like the abstract quality of #2, and #1 as a B&W evokes the
dustbowl. However I am at a loss as to any reference to a museum. Were
these shot at a windmill museum? A farm equipment museum? What is the
story?
Tim Conway:
Brookgreen Gardens #1:
Nice garden sculpture with the cats framed by the foliage.
Hanover Junction:
Interesting factoid regarding Lincoln. There is just something
troubling me about the perspective of the shot. I think I might have
positioned myself further to the right, and waited for the cyclists to
move out of frame, they don't add to the image.
Brookgreen Gardens #2:
Nice. A capture of one of the garden sculptures captured in print.
Great concept.
Savageduck (Yours truly):
#1:
A flying part of the Estrella Warbird Museum, Paso Robles.
#2:
A. J. Foyt's, 1961, Offenhauser powered, Indy racer. One of the last
front engined Indy winners.
#3:
Pollock #2 at Munson Williams Procter Fine Arts Institute (or the
Munstertute) Utica NY.
Bowser:
#1:
WOW! Great, interesting, and very different capture. Thanks for this one.
#2:
More absolutely fascinating imagery. Great capture!
#3:
...and once again, a very different execution of an abstract concept. Nice.
Peter Newman:
#1:
An interesting character study of a trio of critics. ;-)
#2:
Looks like an F4U Corsair to me. I would have preferred the full Navy
blue rather than stylized B&W for this one.
#3:
What can I say? Mrs Bates works so well on many levels.
All I would ask is, where is this on display, photograph or painting,
and who was the original artist?
Ron Spoto:
#1:
Nice display of RR dining car serving ware. I am glad you went to the
polarizer for this one.
Where are the trains & rolling stock?
Regards,
Eric Stevens