Sam's Photo Adventures - samsphotoadventures

My arch nemesis: FILM.

I'm taking a photography class for credit towards my bachelor's. It's wild. It's stressful. It's FILM. O_O .. it has forced me to pick up the camera again, though ... and it's given me a new appreciation for my beloved digital Nikon.

I smell developer, stop bath, fixer and a photo adventure coming on ...

I've been in a rather huge lull in my shooting, and thusly, in a very large hiatus from this site. It's a wonder I could even remember my password at all, honestly. ^_^ Oh, well ... I aim to change that--like so many other things in my life. So, why the lull? Well, basically, photography hasn't been doing for me what it has done in the past, for whatever reason. I don't find it as an extension of my emotions anymore ... rather, I see it as a hindrance to enjoying things. I hate to feel this way, and I'm not sure what made it that way--but I'm hoping with some steady shooting and some increased photo adventures, I'll be right back to where I was in my relationship with photography.

So, it's been a while, but it's time to get back in gear with the photographical stuffs.

We're kicking off a new challenge: the dictionary challenge, which was originally Max's idea.

 

So, here's the deal: we pick a random word from the dictionary for one another, and then we have to illustrate that word. I "piggy-backed" on that challenge by making it so that we had to additionally "spell" the word using either found objects or letters from signs.

So, I randomly picked the word "Non-conformist" for Max. I'm pleased; I think that should yield some very, very interesting photos potentially.

 

And what word did he randomly pick for me? Douche.

 

No, seriously. Douche. LOL. That should ALSO yield some interesting photos.

 

In the meantime, I've got photos to post from my little excursion in Georgia. I also want to get in on some of the challenges from jpg.com. It's time to get this thing rolling again.

I finally am catching up with some of the challenge, but I still have a few to do, such as the 50 Angles (my own damn challenge, can you believe that shit?), the water challenge and the new Emotion w/ a human element challenge.

I've posted up several things, such as my latest photo adventure to Sullivan's Island (Stella Maris and a few of the beach) ... I've got a few more things to shoot there before I'll really consider that one complete.

I also posted a new lighting experiment: Ramune, the Japanese Soda. The bottles are so awesome looking, I thought it would be fun. I also incorporated mah fong into that one. It turned out pretty cool.

I've finally posted up my mechanical shot. I went with my original edit. After looking at it several times, I decided that I actually DID like it the way it was, despite the glare and the reflections. Oh well, so it goes. I guess that's why TSgt Bloker used to always say to never get rid of your raws. *shrug*

I was thinking about posting a water picture, but I'm not sure if that will be the one I want to use for the challenge. I'm going to try a few other things first, and if not, it will be a good backup.

I am hoping to go to Mepkin Abbey either tomorrow or sometime next week. There I hope to get an interesting shot for the Emotion challenge. If not, I want to experiment with the fong. There are some lighting techniques I've been wanting to try out and now that I have the fong, I can do them. Maybe that will count for my fong challenge as well! ^_^

Also, I want to see if I can post a prezzie on Max's site later today ^_^V

Busy, busy, busy ... but happily so. Happy shooting! ^_^

As the title suggests, I have a lot of catching up to do. School has been a persistent pain in the tukus (haha, I used jew words) and now that it's almost up, I should have a little time to catch up with the challenges that have been piling up. For one, I've still got to do the 50 angles ... and that was my own challenge. I'm a huge slacker. Two, I just finished the mechanical shot ... again, my challenge. I had hoped that I got the Taffy Pulling machine shot from Gatlinburg, as that's a beautiful piece of machinery that I could quite litterally watch all day long, but there was a huge glare in the way of the photo. It just goes to show you: even if you are a great photographer, having the right gear CAN help a lot. I need a polarizer.

I went out and shot the fixed focal length challenge yesterday at the old abandoned shipyard. What an eerie experience. I decided to make them black and white, as I felt that Black and White conveyed the mood a little more closely. I drove around the abandoned shipyard all by myself, and around dusk or so. It was very quiet. I felt almost as if I had survived some sort of nuclear attack or something. Nothing really moved; just me and my car and the camera. An occasional breeze. And the eerie sound of something creaking ever so often, and caution tape flapping in the wind.

I felt a tingle run up my spine as I explored (from my car) the abandoned hospital, gym and base chapel. I peeked into the gutted remains of what I'd imagine was Bachelor's Quarters and I tried to imagine what it was like when these places were teeming with the likes of uniformed personnel. The lonely gate, which must have once held civilians and other intruders out of the base, was now overrun with the likes of grasping vines and choking brambles.

A majestic old mansion tucked itself away in some moss-veiled trees. It must have been the admiral's quarters or something; the base commander. 

I did find a sign on one of the doors of the hospital: NO TRESSPASSING AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. That I knew. But what excited me was FOR ACCESS, CALL ...

I do plan to call. I want to see if I can shoot the inside of the buildings. That would be the ultimate adventure. We'll see what happens ...

Well, I haven't been on here for a while, and that just sucks. Mostly it's due to that damn virus that we got that came from God knows where. There's a new one on here and it's attacking me right now. *le sigh* ... I know, it's time to get a Mac ... lol. ^ _ ^

Well, in the meantime, I've shot a lot of new things. I did a nice light experiment with a tomato. I shot some stuffs in Gatlinburg (though not nearly as much as I ought to have). I took pictures of shoes on a powerline and stuff.

School's really been kicking my ass, too. The past few days have been nothing but tests, papers, projects and quizzes, and the fun's not over yet: next week is exam time. Whatever. I'm over it.

But speaking of projects, I've painted a nice portrait of my "Crykon," and it turned out pretty awesome. Since it's camera related, I'll post it up on here in good time. But first Kevin has to fix the computador. Since he got the parts from newegg.com today, I'm hoping it will be done soon.

In other news, I now have in my posession the infamous fong. Thanks, Max. You're my BFFF (Best F*&%ing Friend Forever). lol. Now we has friendship fongs. I can't wait to use it. I feel a fong photo challenge coming up, no?

Speaking of challenges, I still have to do my 50 angles. I'm such a slacker. I think I have the mechanical shot, but it'll need some editing or something. NEED: Polarizer. Damn glares...

Oh well, that's the haps. Haven't forgotten about this place; I've just been regrettably busy and inundated with viruses.

The Good:

• I've just received word that the fongs are IN! Fongtastic.
• The B&W film which I previously thought was ruined was salvaged and is being processed digitally and will be ready to be picked up tomorrow!
• WANT: >> http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/bf9c/?cpg=98T
• Color film stuffs are ready to be uploaded soon!!!

The Bad:

• Our computador got a bad malware virus. It sucks.
• I still gots to do the 50 angles challenge.

 

... I'll be uploading that all soon. For now, though, I gots to go to Bible Study.

Max just purchased our friendship fongs. lol. (Fongs, for those of you who don't know, are flash diffusers).  I can't wait to get it so we can do the flash photography challenge. We both suck at flash photography. One of these days, I have to get an SB-800, though. And an SC-17 cord would be good, too. And a remote shutter release ... ah, to have money. -_-

Anyway, I've completed the product photo challenge and have posted that. Not bad, but I think I'm going to shoot a few more things, too.

I also added a few pics to the "Pets" album, and I've added three new albums: Shiny Stuffs, Foodtography and Erika.

I've still got to do the 50 angles challenge. I think I know what object I'm going to use, so that'll be fun.

And some quasi-good news: a fellow design student of mine who just happens to be a photographer is going to help me to try and develop that stupid roll of Black and White this weekend, so pray for me or at least keep your fingers crossed that some of it is salvagable. Also, the big 6 year anniversary is coming up and Kevin and I are headed out west to North Carolina and Tennessee ... photo ops abound! I'm trying to find an awesome vintage motel to stay in ... and Gatlinburg will be having a festival while we're there. Might prove to be interesting. This might be a good time to invest in another CF card ... or at the very least a card reader so I can upload those photos and get 'em off of the card.

Hopefully this weekend I can go out and reshoot some stuff. I'm looking forward to getting out and roaming around with the ol' Nikon. After the film fiasco, it felt good to have it in my hands again ... though I'm not done with ol' Pentax. Hell, I might have to even dust off the ol' Holga! ^_^ I'm looking forward to acculab's call about the color film having been processed, too.

Did I mention I hate film? lol.

I laugh now, but I wasn't laughing earlier today. At about 5pm, I was finishing off the 36th exposure of 400 ISO Black and White film. As I advanced to what I thought was the last frame and tried to rewind the film, I noticed that there was no tension.

That's bad.

So, of course, I opened the back like a big moron ... and sure enough, there was the film, coiled around the intake spool and NOT in the film canister. 0_o

DAMN.

I cried for two hours.

Dramatic, I know. But I had gotten shots of the erection (haha) of a war memorial in Mt. Pleasant. That's something that can't be reshot. I was SOOO excited about getting that stuff developed. And that's what I hate about film. The anticipation is sweet ... that is unless you foul it up like me.

I learned a lot of things from this film shooting business. For one, I learned that I much prefer digital. ^_^ But all joking aside, it really forced me to THINK for once about the mechanical portion of the camera. It also made me MUCH more selective of what I shoot. I also learned that on the last frame, just roll the damn thing up. haha.

I'm going to see if there's any POSSIBILITY of salvaging those pictures. I don't have much hope for it, but Max convinced me that it's worth a try, and he's right. So try I shall. Meanwhile, the shitty ass roll of color film is being processed and I should have that up and ready around Saturday or so.

Should I reshoot that last roll of black and white? Probably. But it probably won't be for a few days or so ... I've got to work up the nerve. This experience was a little scathing and I'm still a little upset about it.

I did manage to find some pretty neato things, though. Soon I'll reshoot that stuff. I've also got two new challenges to work on--an advertisement style product shoot and 50 Angles of a Simple object. That should keep me busy for a while.

Photography can be likened to love, I guess. Sometimes it's joyous and beautiful, and sometimes it's troublesome and painful. HAHA, that sounds soooo emo. lol. Maybe I'll go sit with my Crykon in a closet somewhere and we'll listen to My Chemical Romance and slit our wrists and Aperture Rings. lol.

Hmm. Well, not much else to say about that. I want to check into visiting Amber in Georgia and maybe doing a photoshoot with her. That'd be both very cool and very weird. Also, I'm adding a link to Badjon Photography. It's BADass.

I need to do more looking into abandoned buildings and whether or not there's a way to shoot them legally. I want to do some more exploring.

Okay, so I've picked up the Pentax and I've loaded some film. The film challenge is on! I'll have those shot over the next week or so and I'll get 'em developed at acculab and hopefully upload them on here soon.

And, as I type this, Max should be picking up his rental car and heading to Dallas, where he will be embarking on adventures of his own. I've challenged him to produce exposures with new angles: up high, down low, up close, far away ... etc. I'm excited to see what that trip produces. I'm happy that he'll be enjoying the 4th of July through the lens. What better way is there to see the world but through the eye of a lens. ^_^

My own 4th of July celebration will consist of a Cooking challenge. The contenders are myself, Will, Chuck and Shelly. We've been challenged to cook a dish using the following ingredients: cube steak, scallions, feta cheese, arugulla, bean sprouts, eggiwegs and any sort of pasta. It should be interesting to say the least .... hahaha. I'll use it as another opportunity to shoot, though. I like food photography. ^_^  But due to this impromptu cooking challenge, that means I won't be shooting the Charleston Tea Party. -_-

Oh well, it's not as though I haven't got my hands full of various photographic projects. ^_^V

Happy Shooting!!!

The first of my fruit session, cherries, is posted up in the gallery section. More to come soon with fruit, and eventually with veggies, too. (veggies are better to take pictures of than to eat!) ^_^V

Also, my panoramic photo challenge is UP! I think I might reshoot it at dusk, though.

Oh, yeah. As per Max's instructions, I have to beef up my sucky technical skills by shooting with the Pentax. -_- Hehehehe. That ought to be interesting ... can't wait to see NEW ANGLES from Dallas!!!

Yay! Max is a MEMBER!!!! 8===D hahaha. And I am a MEMBER of his site as well. Huzzah (yes, I said "huzzah") for webstuffs and the helping to keep in touchyness.

 

Well, I went on sort of an impromptu photo shoot today with Erika. We had planned it, but I in my infinite absentmidedness completely forgot about it. But being unemployed makes it easy to be flexible. I have a voracious appetite for photography right now, so it was a welcome spur of the moment thing.

 

Well, I didn't get to shoot much (pictures will be up soon; I'm in the editing process) ... Unfortunately Erika slipped and fell and cut open her toe on a barnacle! o_O We had to cut the shoot a little short, which is too bad 'cause I hadn't quite gotten into the swing of the shoot yet ... oh well. What have we learned today, poppetts? To use proper ORM when climbing on slippery rocks by the ocean. Or receive a proper safety breifing. Or hell, maybe not to climb on them at all. ^_^

 

In other news, I'm currently working on an interesting little project which involves a whole lot of shooting, coordinating and driving. In the end, though, I should have a neat-o (yes, I said neat-o) outcome and I should learn to be minimally proficient at Adobe Image Ready--something I'm not very familiar with at all. ^_^ Adventures in Multimedia! hehehe.

 

Happy shooting, everyone.

Yay! Max set up a site, too ... so now we are officially on for some virtual photo adventures. Definitely worth checking out [mywhitelens.shutterfly.com] (whether he thinks so or not) ... he only has a CANON to work with, so he's at a disadvantage. hehehehe ^ - ^ just kidding.

So, the new photo challenge is out: Panorama. It was Max's pick, and it should be interesting ... I've never actually done one before. I've just got to figure out where I could shoot a good one. I have a couple of good ideas ... ^ - ^V One is Shem Creek near Mt. Pleasant. I can't wait to see what he gets!!!

My latest solo photo adventure is sequential photos. I plan to use these in a sort of experiment with stop motion animation and that sort of thing. I'm setting up something pretty funny ... hehehe.

Other than that, I've got plans to brush up on my portraiture skills ... luckily, it's pretty easy to find volunteers for that sort of thing. Also, soon it'll be the 4th of July ... photo ops abound!!!

It'll be a little while before I update my albums. I've got editing to do. In the meantime, I've updated my upcoming photo shoot list. ^ - ^

 

Like the title says, I've got a lot to add to catch up. I've got several different computers to download from, not to mention several sites. It would be nice to have all my photography in one central place. So, stay tuned ... I'm going to be adding massive amounts of photography over the next few days or so. *sigh*...