Day 255 - Relearning the Alphabet: The Letter "Z"

"Z" for Zoom Blur

This was my second time trying this - the first time was during Fall, when I tried it on a coloured leaf, but the shot was handheld, and therefore not worthy of your attention.  This way of creating an image is also known as Intentional Camera Movement (ICM).

It's absolutely imperative that a tripod be used for this. Click here for detailed instructions on how I did this.

And I need to mention that all these shots are SOOC, except for this one, which I cropped only.

Day 197 - Macro Week - Marbles

These shots were lit by a lamp placed directly underneath the glass table on which I placed the marbles.  I used a sheet of parchment paper underneath the glass tabletop to cut down the reflections a little.  And if you're wondering how I got the marbles to stay put, guess what!  I used some glue of course!  

90 mm, f/5.0, 1/6s, ISO 200, Manual Mode, Custom WB

90 mm, f/5.0, 1/4s, ISO 200, Manual Mode, Custom WB

Day 187 - Happy Diwali

It's the Indian Festival of Lights and although I don't really celebrate it anymore, I still feel nostalgic about the times I did.  It's been over a decade since I've been in India to celebrate this festival, but each year I do remember to set out some lamps.

In our community, it's a custom to light thirteen lamps and scatter them around different areas of the house.  Light conquers darkness, and is a symbolic triumph of good over evil.  It's got a long history, and is part of Indian mythology.  If you are interested in finding out more, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali.

So, commemorating the occasion, this was the most obvious subject for this evening.

Looks like I have run out of storage!  I can't believe I have to go back and compress some photos so I can make more room! :(

Day 88 - She sells sea shells.. no.. she just sees shells!

The shots didn't quite turn out the way I wanted them, but I kinda like the second and last shots the best.  I used a lamp with a "soft box" to illuminate the shell from below in the last one.  The other two shots are taken in ambient light.   The background turned out the best in the last one, I think - I love the soft diffused background and the 2 levels of reflections.  

Av, spot metering, f/6.3, exposure compensation of -1, ISO 200

Av, spot metering, f/6.3, exposure compensation of -1, ISO 200

Av, spot metering, f/10, exposure compensation - 2 stops, ISO 200