Lightning
by elsapo

Comment:
I think someone up there loves ya!

I only ever took one lightning shot, and it took about 100 tries, at about 1/30 sec in a very heavy thunderstorm from out my lounge window.

And here you are telling me that at age 19, you just fired off a shot at 1/640 sec, and GOT THIS!

You definately have help - what is the secret?

(My mirror would show a Hulk stand-in at this point!)

Congratulations - what with storm chasing, major pet portraitist, and chasing young ladies floating about with balloons, you must have a great success ahead in Photography!!! - you should teach others, and here is a great place to do it.

Well done - very, very well done

Message edited by author 2008-06-26 02:46:45.

Portal
by elsapo

Comment:
I hope you don't mind a second comment - I try and keep up with developments in digital cameras, but you do much more with your 'old' 300D than I do with my newer 400D. Despite developments and so-called progress, I see some wonderful images taken with what is often thought of as a creaky old camera.

Just goes to show a good workman can use what some think of as an inferior tool, what a good sculptor can do with an 'ordinary' chisel - Move over, Michelangelo!

Many of us are driving our Racing cars to just post a letter - (I live 120 feet from a post office), and tend to make sow's ears out of silk purses, and make something leaden out of Gold

I may have to try buying one on ebay ........ Hmm!

Message edited by author 2008-06-26 02:30:15.

Portal
by elsapo

Comment:
Very nice shot!
Sorry about the date thing - I like the idea of the black velvet - wouldn't this be so interesting too if you could superimpose a shot of you coming out of the frame, with the frame being hung halfway up a tree, and the supporting cord showing the frame hanging from a tree - or even in a vineyard, with you picking the grapes and eating them?

Or even, pouring liquid out of a frame suspended over a pond, a bath, or some such shot! (maybe turning the tap off or something complicated like shaving yourself from out of the mirror)- these are things I wish I'd done, but no digital possibility when I was young enough

Anyway, great picture!

It is good that you are young enough to be model in many shots - I wish I had done more of that when I could - I watch future pix with interest - best of success for future pix!

Shooting Under Moon Light In The Bahamas
by nutzito

Comment:
love the exposure - the town's lights, the subdued moonlight - (moonlight is near exact same colour as daylight, so a 'proper' exposure looks exactly like a daylight scene, doesn't it), so I like the way you just underexposed it enough to have us be sure it is not a daytime shot. Much better than those films where the blue filtering , with the shot taken at midday, and everyone pretending to peer into the 'darkness'! Your friend was patient, wasn't he?

Another example of your people skills - I should really like to watch you working with people - how they react to you, how you motivate them to pose and be in your fascinating pictures. A sort of Cartier Bresson, but with no hiding or sly shots when no-one is aware of being taken, but yet a sort of invisibility of yourself, though it is clear that most of your shots are a collaboration, they seem to have to be, but never a sign of intrusiveness or blowing your own trumpet - very interesting person I think you must be

No Remorse
by nutzito

Comment:
Have you ever tried directing films?
If not, why not?
A lighting cameraman would be proud of this, too!
At these sizes, no sign of any camera shake, but have you got a tripod, or anti-shake lenses? - that would solve the 1/10 second, and the zone of clear focus and dramatic lighting on the villain's face is just perfect to tell the story of a man so obsessed by revenge, so hardened by evil, that no remorse is the perfect title!

No reflection on your friend in front, but guessing what job he might do in real life, I can't see it being a florist or similar, but security guard or even bodyguard, or something involving night work in the jewelery trade? (he's probably a primary school teacher, really!)

very good choice of 'actors', considering they are friends!

Your pix of people shows a very enviable ability to get people to pose just as you need, and they seem to enjoy doing it - a great and useful talent. Many more ribbons for you, I am sure!

Message edited by author 2008-06-26 01:52:11.

Espresso Explosion
by todbedy

Comment:
Very nice shot!

I suspect the thickness of the oil is why the mass of 'coffee' round the middle of the picture looks very glutinous, almost like lava flow. I would love to see the coffee shots to compare.

Brilliant idea to use oil. As an aside, have you ever mixed cornflour with cold water, and poured it. The mixture is amazing - drops slowly, acts very strangely, and if thick enough just pulls off any flat surface without leaving any mess - try it and see. Amaze friends at parties and all that sort of rubbish - but pouring a spoon of it, makes very odd photos.

To Skin a Balloon
by andrewt

Comment:
Well done - I can see the spike in your hand - I guess you pricked the balloon, it burst, and you fired the camera, all in one fell swoop. The balloon would have shrunk away from the spike, round the outside of the ball of water, and away out of the bottom of the pix.

congratulations on you timing!

Architectural Thorns
by andrewt

Comment:
I wondered what on earth it was - why put these on glass windows - then it crossed my mind that in Singapore, with such hot light, that maybe they are shading the inside of the building during hot weather or extreme light, otherwise why bother?
Any comments about that?
I like this picture a lot - well done

Day of the Blue Dragon
by andrewt

Comment:
Just a beautiful, sharp focus plane headshot of a lovely looking creature - well, if you like insects, that is. My favourite insect of all, we have some hills with pools near us where we can go photograph these - though I hardly ever go - more fool me!

You have inspired me to go out and try myself - Thanks
( I thought you used a Nikon D3 - surprised to see you using this one instead - any reason why, or have I mistaken what you shot on?)

Message edited by author 2008-06-11 03:54:06.

Together Forever
by nutzito

Comment:
Lovely shot - I always feel humble seeing people from this area - life is so tough for them, and it reflects in their faces. I am glad I live in Britain - I am 60, and retired early, and I have a pension - I don't know how old this couple is, but he seems to have to work, and I can't imagine how I would manage in his situation. I wish it were better for them. Thanks for showing this image, it makes me want to do something to improve things there - any ideas, anyone? I think the toning is just perfectly right, and personally, I think the roof on the right sets the place more exactly - with it gone, it harder to place them, with it, I can almost see the street they live on