Tag Archives: Sony

Photo of the Week – Dale Forrest

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Creative Response to “Working” Assignment

Dale Forrest - "Workin" Drill Press

Dale Forrest - "Workin" Drill Press

This week’s photo is a preview look at one of many submitted in response to the “Working” theme assignment for May. Dale is a member who knows how to best use his equipment to transform his creative ideas into a striking photographic image. To help offset the low ambient light, he attached a very fast f/1.5 lens, a Russian made 85mm Helios 40, to his Sony A700 DSLR. An ISO of 640 and a relatively slow shutter of 1/60 second were selected, allowing sharp focus of the stationary elements and a motion capture of the rapidly spinning drill chuck and bit. Those ghostly appearing horizontal streaks are metal shavings clinging to the drill bit as it penetrates the metal object. It’s the inclusion of the fingers and the cleaning brush that lifts the final image out of the ordinary, adding the human element to the cold blue of the machinery.

Photo of the Week – May Weller

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Sunset at Venice FL – and More

May Weller - Florida Sunset

May Weller - Florida Sunset

Every photographer at one time or another will attempt to capture a spectacular sunset. It may be the most photographed of all of nature’s glorious natural paintings. But therein lies a problem-how to stand out from the crowd.  Perhaps this capture provides a good example.  May was at the scene and noticed a couple of surfers trying to ride the apparently calm waves.  With her camera ready, she waited until one walked into the scene and snapped the shutter.  An otherwise empty space now had a focal point in the lower left to balance the sun and pier on the right.  Here also is a perfect example of proper and effective use of the Rule of Thirds.  The rose/orange reflection in the wet sand provides an additional resting area for the eye in the lower right and the pale color dancing on the waves rounds out the completed scene.  One other point to consider.  Think about how much less effective the shot would have been had the surfer been walking out of rather than into the frame.  Click here to view a quickly Photoshopped version showing exactly that.  Does this reversal lessen the impact?