Man, portraiture. The world at large may have infinite variety and beauty (see, e.g., all of the work of Adams, Weston, the other Adams, Paul Caponigro, etc, etc) but man, to me, people are so much more interesting and dynamic. There’s so much depth to a portrait, so many things that people automatically read and project onto the work that doesn’t happen with landscape pictures. It’s more difficult, because in addition to managing the light, the exposure, the framing, composition, and timing, people move all the time. I have a feeling that some photographers gravitate toward static subjects because they can’t deal with the difficulties. Having said that, I just spent two hours glued to the plane window, shooting pictures of the passing mountains and clouds. I do both, because I can’t refrain from taking a picture when I see one. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/two_more_portaits/527/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/two_more_portaits/527/0002.jpg’ /> </div>
Posted by matt on 2013-11-19T21:50:41Z GMT
As the winter makes the days shorter, my rides ended closer and closer to sunset, and then I’d arrive at the beach at sunset, and then finally, the last couple times, it’s been dark when I got there. This was somewhere in the middle of all that, near dark with the fog rolled in. Just fantastic. Can you tell I’m looking forward to getting back? <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/last_ride_in_the_daylight/528/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/last_ride_in_the_daylight/528/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/last_ride_in_the_daylight/528/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/last_ride_in_the_daylight/528/0004.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/last_ride_in_the_daylight/528/0005.jpg’ /> </div>
Posted by matt on 2013-11-19T01:31:49Z GMT
Whoever came up with this idea, it’s amazing. For Gina’s birthday, we all had to dress up as villans. I went as Dr. Evil, and Sophia did a mean poison ivy. I’m obligated by our marrige vows to post the picture of her in the mask, I think. Also, for anyone who was wondering how to look at a camera, Jamie is showing you how in that 2nd to last photo. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/evil_party/529/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/evil_party/529/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/evil_party/529/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/evil_party/529/0004.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/evil_party/529/0005.jpg’ /> </div>
Posted by matt on 2013-11-17T06:24:24Z GMT
There was a lot of stuff written about how kinda bullshit the whole thing was for the City of SF, but since other people have already articulated the problems with hosting a sport for billionaires, I won’t rehash that here. It was nice to get out on the water, even though I got a bit sea sick. It’s funny, the ferry never does it to me, and the trips out on Seemant’s boat didn’t bother me either. Sometimes, though, I’ll get on a boat and just be in a bad way untill the motion sickness medicine kicks in. Barring that, this was a good excursion. The yacht we were on was incredibly nice, the kind of place a schlub like myself could retire to. 50ft, 3 bedrooms, well outfitted, too. Plenty of food and drink, and a fine captain to steer us. I can see why people that have the money for a big boat have one; sure, they’re showy, but they’re also genuinely enjoyable. Not that I’d ever buy one myself; far too many places to go and things to do. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/americas_cup_from_the_water/530/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/americas_cup_from_the_water/530/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/americas_cup_from_the_water/530/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/americas_cup_from_the_water/530/0004.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/americas_cup_from_the_water/530/0005.jpg’ /> </div>
Posted by matt on 2013-11-16T22:49:07Z GMT
I’ve decided I need to simplify a bit. I used to shoot in black in white all the time. There are myraid reasons: it’s more graphic and striking, there’s more process control, and it used to be cheaper. When that went away with digital, and I was able to shoot color at iso 3200, I went a little crazy with it. Now, there are plenty of reasons to shoot color. It’s closer to reality (for a given value of reality). It can be more eye-catching. And there I’m out of reasons. I’ve been lusting after “this camera”:http://www.amazon.com/Leica-10760-Monochrom-Compact-2-5-Inch/dp/B0082ES6HA for a while, but I realized, I have a perfectly good camera now, and the only thing that would get me is full frame. If I want to shoot black and white, I should just do it. So I am, starting now. This also solves the problem of a lot of the clichés I’m guilty of. Sunsets, especially. They’re just not the same in black and white. <div class=”center”> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/back_in_black_and_white/531/0001.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/back_in_black_and_white/531/0002.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/back_in_black_and_white/531/0003.jpg’ /> <img src=’https://images.matt.pictures/back_in_black_and_white/531/0004.jpg’ /> </div>
Posted by matt on 2013-11-16T22:07:10Z GMT
