The 52 Project, Weeks 8&9: Playing with Pets

To be perfectly up-front and honest, this week's 52 Project doesn't offer any originality, unique-ness in shooting style, or variety of subject. If you're looking for a photographer that will bring nothing but groundbreaking, original work to his/her blog posts week after week, chances are that you've hit the wrong link. What this week's post does provide, however, is a series of photos surrounding a subject that I inadvertently tend to shoot  a lot of, pets. I could name five photographer buddies right now that would "poo poo" the idea of shooting everyday animals. I mean, sure it looks amateur, but for a good reason. Amateurs are still out there doing what they love, for free! Shooting pets is my way of coping with people that won't smile, agree, or pay their photography bill on time; and it also works wonders for finding a new perspective.

Anyway, lets have some fun, look at some medium format frames of pets, and be sure to comment on ones you love/think are silly/would like to see more of.

Scan 1: Portrait of a ChickenA regal rooster, some fine fowl...

My immediate impression of this rooster was "smug". He's proud, cocky (pun intended), and king of the coop, too bad he's only about half the size of all the other chickens. That comb of his is sharp, and I don't mean in the aesthetically pleasing way either; just click it to get a full size, this sucker is sharp!

Rugged and worn, this cat has had a hard life.

Scan 2: Sleepy Barn Cat

This sickly little guy and his scruffy face just wouldn't leave me alone. I saw the barn door/window light coming in, and this image instantly clicked in my head. If this cat were human, I'm most certain I'd find him in Central Park snuggled up with some newspaper in a cardboard cabin.

 "Hey Gary, I'm thinking about getting a dish..."Scan 3: Ducks' Conversation

There are two reasons human beings keep other animals around. The first is for consumption, we're hungry and most of us believe that literally every other organism is below us on the food chain. The second reason, however, is that we look for the small, glaring bits of human nature within other animals. Some people can really project this feeling, crazy cat ladies, and others merely find entertaining pieces of humanity, Lolcats. I believe I'm treading the fine line in pointing out that these two ducks appear to be having a discussion, probably cable vs. satellite.

Bob really needs to get a Brita filter.Scan 4: Bob Drinking from the Sink

This old indoor/outdoor barn-cat doesn't have much of a playful disposition or face, for that matter, but he does have an unusually high curiosity for dripping water in the sink. Being the devil's advocate I am, I went ahead and turned the faucet on just enough to make any environmentalist burst into tears. But the adorable lapping of said wastewater makes it ok, right?

She's this happy to see everyone, no joke.Scan 5: Maizey, the Happy German Shepherd

You will be hard-pressed to find any German Shepherd as inbred and as happy as my dad's dog, Maizey.  She was originally intended to be a guard dog, but she proved too friendly and now spends her days running about a three acre yard.

Wow, she actually looks kinda cute. Scan 6: Mitzi at the Window

Ah window light, you seem to compliment the Hasselblad so well. This gorgeous light even has the power to make this neurotic, sheds as a defense mechanism siamese cat look cute and contemplative.

Something Good: These two weeks were a joy to shoot. I was just having fun, composing on the fly, and spending literally no time post-processing these images. Heck, most of the images came out incredibly sharp.

Something Bad: Despite my warning at the beginning of this post, I'm bound to get flamed by my photography buddies. It happens, and I'll simply take my lumps.

Something Learned: Almost all of this post's work was done from a crouched or prone perspective. I've felt that my viewing angle has lately been confined to the position of +/- one foot from my chest. I think this has changed and will continue throughout the duration of The 52 Project.

Next Week: Some VERY interesting, different, and fun work courtesy of a NYC based photographer, Abish. Definitely stay tuned for this one.

The 52 Project, Week 7: The Abandoned House

Closing in on the 2 month mark with The 52 Project, I still don't feel like I'm hunting around for things to shoot. If anything else, I'm growing more and more confident in finding a single subject to "spend" a roll of film on. This week's installment, the abandoned house, is something I've wanted to explore at a close distance for nearly 10 years.

Ever since moving to rural Deshler, OH in 2000, I've driven by this ominous looking house along State Route 235 nearly every day of my life. I'd always wondered what laid within, but not until I was driving by a few weeks ago did I consider just pulling over, going in, and making a shoot of it. And here it is. 

I like how the house has an "angry" face.

Scan 1: Angry House

I've never been much of a landscape guy, and in my photos, it has to show. The lines aren't quite there, nor are all the elements of the house. From a landscape point of view, it's not that hot a photo. But from a portrait photographer's point of view, the expression in this "portrait" is spot on.

And through the front door you can see...

Scan 2: Rooms Falling Apart

Like the caption states, as you walk through the front door, you're greeted with destruction. Three floors worth of neglected property are tumbling down around you. Certainly in its day, this was quite a house; right now though, I'm still pretty awestruck.

This doll is too creepy for words.

Scan 3: The Creepy Doll

While originally composing this shot, I was trying to focus on the unique forms displayed by the stripped stairs and falling ceiling. By the second frame, I was knocked back by the eerie little doll left at the foot of the stairs. Including the original idea with this terrifying toy was only natural.

Note to self, frame within a frame works.

Scan 4: Through Shattered Glass

You can see a bit of this image through Scan 2, but the framing conveys a completely different mood. Seeing as this whole roll was an experiment in "things I barely ever do", I thought "oh what the hell" and tried framing something within its own frame. The Hasselblad's ability to naturally vignette and soften the corners definitley helped.

 Something Good: I went outside the box this week, and in a few ways. I never usually trespass for the sake of photos, I never usually shoot landscapes, and I've never shot expired film. For the most part, it looks like going outside my comfort zone paid off.

Something Bad: The film was expired, and doesn't quite react like perfectly good film. Once a film has been sitting in your fridge for more than few years, there's no guarantee that the film will display its typical properties. The starting film was 160NC, and it largely acted as such, but there were a few exceptions. I typically overexpose by 1/3 stop just for good measure, but apparently a little overexposure in this expired stock from 2005/2006 just blows way, way out.

Something Learned: Intense care for your expired film is key. Looking a little more into my exposure problems, there are numerous precautions to take when shooting more "unstable" films. Live and learn; hopefully the latter, though, because I've got 29 more rolls of this stuff. x___x

Next Week: I just got back a batch of 5 rolls of film and have some major catching up to do. Not sure what it'll be from, but there's a good chance it'll be grainy film or expired film. No matter, they all look good.

Black Rapid Double Strap RS DR-1 Review

Click image above to goto Black Rapid's info page. Where do I begin with this sleek, sexy, trendy, almost necessary piece of equipment? Well, how about the beginning.

In the beginning, photographers had one camera. Until the late 1920's, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone toting around two or more view cameras; it just wasn't economical. Besides, back then, clients gave time a little more consideration, what with glass plates, tintypes, and large film to develop. Fast forward to the 1950's and 60's where rangefinder cameras and medium format ruled the day. It made sense to have more than one camera, each for different focal lengths, client needs, film speeds, etc. Not everybody had two bodies, but those that did found their job easier with the inclusion of another body. Unfortunately for photogs of that day, they had to deal with choking on leather and/or more uncomfortable straps.

Let's take another time skip to the digital age/today where showing up with two cameras at a wedding means you're probably related to the family, but not the hired photographer. Ok, enough cheap shots at "Uncle Bob", but seriously, two cameras is a must for most situations (except vacation, where you should be relaxing).  So besides juggling the manufacturer provided straps between two arms, a neck, or all of the above, what can a busy photographer do? The answer is sling it up with the R-Strap.

If you haven't heard of the R-Strap yet, don't worry, you're only about two years behind, and should probably watch this:

And now for a closer look at today's review, the RS DR-1:

Ok, so its cool looking, and Black Rapid has you convinced you can gun somebody down with your new strap, but what can it really offer you? For one thing, it completely eliminates strap burn. By placing the double strap over your shoulders and across your back and chest, weight is distributed more evenly and allows you to move more freely. With smaller gear, this isn't much of a big deal. But when you're photographing a baseball tournament with a 1D + 70-200 f/2.8 and a 50D + 300 f/2.8* on board, weight becomes an issue, FAST.

*The 300mm f/2.8 is strongly discouraged with R-Strap usage due to its excessive weight. I've tried it on multiple times with no troubles.

So we've covered running around and thinking that you look cool during a sports tournament, but what about an event that's a little more dressy, say a wedding? Well, the RS DR-1 comes in handy once again. By adjusting the length of the strap to just below a suit jacket opening, the R-Strap allows you to wear an open jacket over-top itself, and still shoot comfortably. I personally haven't tried it with a vest, but have heard through the grapevine that it’s a bit more of a hassle. Adjusting the position where the strap "catches" your camera is also a cinch, easily adapting to whatever equipment combinations you throw at it. The last wedding I posted on the 52 project, weeks 4&5, I was using the RS DR-1 interchangeably between 3 cameras: a 1D mark ii, a 5D mark ii, and a Hasselblad 500C, all very differently weighted cameras, with no hassle whatsoever. 

For those that don't like reading as much, here's some key bullet points:

Pros:

• Solid build materials on strap and mount rings
• Holds 2 DSLRs + long lens + flash easily
• There's little to know when it comes to using it. Got a tripod screw mount? You're set.
• Breaks down into 2 separate, functioning R-Straps
• Adapts easily to a variety of equipment combinations
• One size fits most*

*if your chest size exceeds 50" maybe event photography shouldn't be your gig.

Cons:

• Tripod mount rings known to slip (Google "R-strap" "fail")
• Carbinger screw locks too tightly sometimes, need pliers to get open again
• It's not cheap, $130 for a well made strap, but come on
• Makes you a little more conspicuous when shooting an outdoor event

Bottom line, this strap is worth the money if you're always fumbling around with multiple camera bodies. It does what it advertises, and takes a beating as it's only a strap. It won't make you a cooler guy or a better photographer, but it may keep you more relaxed during a hectic event which could lead to a more successful day. More often than not, it'll keep gear where you need it, when you want it, and out of harms way. In this profession, that's the best we could hope for.