Miscellanea

Been doing a bit too much infrared lately – messing around with a new toy (an RX100). So it’s time for a few completely unrelated and non-infrared images of bits and pieces, which were the subject for a few stock photography shoots.

First – a high contrast image of three monkeys picked up in an antique shop – diffuse glow added to the effect.

This one is from a pack or razor blades – the gap between the blade and the paper is done with a piece of blu-tack (very useful stuff).

These were a pair of antique glasses (another antique shop)  – shot on an Oly 620 using a Helios 85mm f2 lens. This really is a star of a lens!

Finally a miniature bicycle made from drinks tin scraps shot with a lensbaby in strong sunlight on a card background.

All shots for the book cover market – thanks for looking and hope you like them!

Sony RX100 Does Infrared (First Attempt)….

Just traded in a Canon G9, a Oly EPL3 and a spare OM2n body to raise funds for a new Sony RX100 – and it’s very good so far. So if anyone’s wondering if you can shoot infrared with one the answer is yes!

A much more subtle range of tones than the Fuji F810 I usually use – not surprising as the Sony’s sensor is huge by comparison with the tiny one in the Fuji.

The R72 filter is just held over the front over the lens, and after a bit of experimentation a +1 exposure compensation and ISO of 400 to 800 ASA allows hand-held exposures at 28mm at f1.8 on a sunny day. Focus is a bit hit and miss. Shooting RAW allows for the inevitable post processing.

There’s a slight hot spot’ of brightness in the centre but it’s easily edited out. Processing consisting of de-saturating the red and magenta channels (there’s no other colour information).

In addition to the IR R72 filter, carrying a three stop neutral density filter in a shirt pocket allows the use of the widest apertures in bright conditions for ‘normal’ photography – the minimum shutter speed is 1/2000 th of a second.

Up close the IR results are grainier than a ‘normal’ shot, but at 20MP it’s nowhere near as noticeable as using a 12MP sensor.

With a bit of practice this should be a tiny, versatile camera in conjunction with the two filters.

Hope you find this useful – thanks for looking!

Sunlight at Last – Infrareds!

Something like summer has finally arrived in the UK, and so its infrared season again – here are a few from the archive.

This first one was taken on a Sony R1 with an R72 filter and a tripod – toned slightly to give it a more dramatic tone. That curving railing really leads the eye on to the main subject.

infrared church

Next the converted Fuji 810 which soldiers on year after year allowing hand-held IR on a sunny day at base ISOs – pity it’s not more than 12 Mp! Although I prefer IR film, the ability to just pack this small camera with a filter into a trip and shoot without a tripod allows for a lot more IR shots.

Sony R1 again – and a rare IR shot which turned out as I’d imagined!

Finally the Fuji again and a dark stormy sky on a walk out near the coast. This took a lot of post processing!

All shots for the book cover market – thanks for looking and hope you like them!

Texture Layers Part Four

Time for a few more layered shots, this time a little less subtle than some of the previous ones.

First up, a fountain in a park – the dark layer added a sense of drama to an otherwise cold winter scene.

Similarly here – this was shot on a truly dreadful day – cold, wet and frozen.

Next one from the same day and the layer adds to the wet misty atmosphere.

Finally one from the heath nearby – the layer adds an ‘aged’ look to an otherwise so-so image. Might be better in black and white…

All shots for the book cover market – thanks for looking and hope you like them!

Shooting Doors Part Eight

Time for few for the Legion.

First one on the modified Fuji F810 – an overgrown garden gate in a Dorset village.

Next a church door – can’t remember where – just open wide enough to allow a bit of light in.

Finally one on Ektar 100. The faded look seemed to suit the subject.

All shots for the book cover market – thanks for looking and hope you like them!

Silhouettes

Here’s a few with a general theme of ‘silhouette’ – often the only graphically strong option on a day with flat lighting. There’s usually enough contrast between trees, railings etc and an overcast sky to provide a good image – even if it sometimes takes a boost in contrast to really bring the best from the shot.

First one – a grab shot on a 60D with a telephoto zoom. The crow was flying into the shot and turned up right on cue in the viewfinder.

Next a simple abstract of a church lantern and some bare trees.

This flock of starlings good enough to stop the car for (I was on the way to shoot so had all the kit ready). The contrast was increased using a DXO Filmpack ‘ortho’ film setting.

OK – this is more of a shadow than a silhouette, but it’s sort of in the right post. Lightly textured in photoshop.

All shots taken for the book market, hope you like them and thanks for looking.

Some more Adox CHS20 Developed in Adotech

After sorting out some problems with a very unwell PC, this one comes from the new one – which is working well – at least so far.

These were all taken on the latest roll of Adox CHS20, developed in the recommended Adotech developer at 12 ASA in an OM2N with various Zuiko lenses. The extremely slow speed of this film allows the use of fast primes wide open even in quite bright conditions – and it would be a shame to waste such an opportunity!

The range of tones captured in the flaking paint is wonderful – they’re green ‘in colour’.

A gate and the opportunity using the 85mm f2 to blur the background away.

Same gate – different angle .

Finally some rather odd bokeh from the Zuiko 50mm f1.4. It keeps surprising even after 20+ years.

The next roll will be developed in Rodinal – if anything results I’ll let you know!

Thanks for looking – hope you like them.