This picture is something of an experiment. I am still learning how to use my Lens Baby Composer and working to capture something more dynamic. I figured I’d try to get both the growing ash stack and some of the smoke. Unfortunately the stack collapsed right after this.   
About the setup
I used a simple navy blanket with a book tented to create the backdrop. I left the mug in there because I thought it might be interesting. In hindsight I’d have removed the mug and darkened the background a touch to make it black. I think I really need to pick up some black velvet to make nicer backgrounds.
I used my tripod for this shot, I set the camera on it’s side and took some shots. Following the directions for the Lens Baby, I went into Aperture Priority mode and ended up using the #4 Aperture ring. It gave the best overall look I thought.
The tricky part is understanding how the selective focus ends up distoring the shot around the “sweet spot.” I am slowly getting used to it but I need more work on understanding positioning. Luckily I can light up all the focus points on the camera to understand my placement a little better.
I do like how I was able to capture some of the smoke and the red of the hot part of the ash. I need to do more work to make it more dynamic regarding the smoke though. A black background would suit it better I imagine. Well I may revisit this idea in the future to see if I can do better. I am so out of practice.

Technorati Tags: 365-esque

I picked up this Otter carving in Seattle on my recent trip. Anyplace I visit if I can get a little statue or carving from there I will. It’s my way of taking a piece with me to remember. I was kind of hesitant to pick this piece up because of how it was made though. I still think about it.
The piece is carved by a native american artist from the ash from the Mount St. Helens eruption back in the 80’s. I like how the piece looks but, if it really is from that volcanic ash, it feels a little ghoulish. This ash was made from an event which killed 57 people, and did $2.74 billion in damage. Anytime I look at the piece I think of my vacation in Seattle, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also think about what happened when the eruption occurred.

Technorati Tags: 365-esque

This is my desk at work. You can see I am working really hard, laptop aside. Friday’s are always late nights for me. I bring my laptop to work so I don’t actually ue work resources to screw around. I don’t want them snooping me anyway.

Day 5 – Small Flower

It rained today. After the rain I decided to venture out and take some pictures. The light tends to be the softest and the best for photographs after a good rain. Today is a picture of the flowers in the planter my neighbor has next to their garage. I like the little flowers. This one was all by itself.

Technorati Tags: 365-esque

Ceiling fans have always fascinated me. Watching them spin or just sitting there idle. I have one in my spare room. The room was kind of dark and I just had the light on. I spanned a bunch of pictures and this one caught my eye. The halo effect is kind of neat I think.

Technorati Tags: 365-esque

Technorati Tags: 365-esque, lens baby

1. Taken on the same day as posting.
2. Can use either my iSight, iPhone, or Canon.
3. Must be something encountered in my life – no setup shots.
   

Day 1

It’s just me. I thought it would be a good way to start things off. This project is really about me, about what I see, what I can capture, what I am feeling at the moment I snap the picture. It’s been a long month for me.

A lot has happened, things I did not expect and some I saw coming. Things which make one tired and make me think of what came before. You see me here, I’ve not slept more than 5 hours a night in the last three weeks. I’ve been spending my weekends at the hospital with my mother, who may be dying. Am I sad? Sure. Am I tired? Of course. But is the world a place of darkness, despair, and no hope? Of course not.

I sit in the light, and while tired I will survive. I can’t do anything but.

Technorati Tags: 365-esque, iSight, me

My day started out well, had breakfast and headed out. My main goals were to check out the Seattle Aquarium and take the Argosy Harbor Cruise. I did both of those with little problem. The aquarium was nice, it’s a research station as well so there was less Shamu and more science. Got me a lot of pictures of fish and otters and seals. I think my favorite part was when the seal jumped up and started hanging out with the people feeding and was looking around.

After that I ate a nice lunch and went to take me a harbor cruise. Again I got a bunch of pictures. It was pretty neat seeing the shipping area and i liked being able to get some nice pictuers of the skyline and the Space Needle.

The real adventure came from me leaving my laptop power cord at home. I needed another one I realized so I found the Apple Store in the area. So, being both intrepid and savvy, I found how to get there on my iPhone. Knowledge, and iPhone in hand I wandered over to the bus stop and took a bus. Things were going so well too.

I missed my bus stop by misreading something on the map. So, I figured, ok next stop and walk a little. The problem was I was on an express and the bus proceeded to jump on the highway and so a couple of miles or so later I got off someplace.

Someplace was near a Jack N the Box and an AM/PM. With a combination of tweets and the iPhone (now down to 20% life) GPS/Google Maps I found another bus to take me to the store. So after waiting a little bit the other bus showed up. I ended up near enough the store to walk to it and picked up my stuff.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be less adventurous in that regard.

Me? I kind of like the guy and what he has been doing so far. Luckily some intrepid souls were able to capture both Republican and Democrat reactions to this news. I have some of the footage linked below.

Republican Reaction

Meanwhile, most Democrats were feeling a bit more jovial about this.

Democrat Reactions

On a more serious note this is something that while expected has happened a lot sooner than anyone anticipated. Obama being in the position to appoint someone to the Court is I think a good thing. The fact we are losing Souter is a shame as he tended to vote with the more liberal side of the Court. Souter was always a disappointment to the Right though. Appointed by Bush I he was seen as something of a turncoat to the Republicans with how his views changed over time.

The speculation has begun as to who the president will nominate. I am certainly waiting. The SCOTUS is a powerful and far reaching body when it comes to not only the law but also the very fabric of our Society.

Technorati Tags: democrats, obama, Politics, republicans, scotus, video

Onwards from AKQA on Vimeo.

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