Prusik Peak is the dominant peak in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Prusik Peak
Tag Archives: Bob Venezia
Starship and Rockets
They're shooting off fireworks every Friday night during the Washington State Fair
Dripping the Lights Fantastique
Light painting with camera movement at the Washington State Fair
Golden Spikes
looking up toward the ceiling at the Chihuly Center
This is what it would look like if you were at the earthworm party, approaching from below, and heading toward the area where all the food and drinks were offered.
White Spiders on Golden Blossoms
Fireworks on Lake Union in Seattle
This was captured on US Independence Day 2013 from the roof of a condo overlooking Seattle’s Lake Union. I had the roof to myself and was able to space my cameras 40 feet apart. On a previous attempt I had spaced the cameras 20 feet apart based on calculations from a Don Lopp formula. But when Don saw the images he told me that since there was nothing behind the fireworks I could go double on the distance. As usual, things go well when I listen to Don.
The cameras were 2 Hasselblad 500Cs with 150mm lenses. Film is Provia 100F. Aperture at f16 and I would count off about 8 seconds from when the fireworks started popping.
Welcome Jet Weston Co! Mazeltov!
Light Rain #2
Fireworks on Seattle's Lake Union, 4 July 2013
This is the fourth year I’ve attempted to capture Seattle’s 4th of July fireworks display. I have a perfect spot for shooting them, provided by a good friend. Every previous attempt has had its problems. In 2010 the triggers I used worked in my basement but not in the field. So I came down off the roof disappointed and my friend Jim, an inventor, asked me to describe the problem. Some months later he presented me with a box containing some solenoid triggers.
2011 worked better but I was trying to do too many things at once. The triggers worked pretty well but in the end I only had a couple of usable shots. When I say usable I mean awesome. The Hasselblads were spaced about 20 feet apart, based on a formula I got from Don Lopp.
When Don saw the photos he said, “You know, since you don’t have infinity in the shot you could double the distance between the cameras.” I was shooting the fireworks against a dark sky (which presents a problem in aiming the cameras) but I resolved to shoot with greater separation.
In 2012 I had 40 foot separation but my aim was not good and I didn’t get anything I could use.
Fast forward to 2013. I asked my friend to make the triggers more powerful as there were times when it seemed the signal wasn’t strong enough to go over long distances. James did beef up the triggers such that he thinks I could trigger from several miles without that problem! This year the triggers were good, the aim was near perfect, and a I got some really nice shots. 40 foot separation between cameras. I’m currently too protective of the best ones to send them out on tour but even the “also-rans” are quite good! And I hope I can get to share some of these with you in person!
And I can’t wait ’til next year!
Rose Petals with Leaf and Droplets
Rose from Mandy's garden shot in a DIY macro box
I had been wanting to try out some close-up subjects with my hasselblads and I remembered seeing some great close-up flower images that Hai Tran had shown me. And Dale Walsh shared some close-up MF-3D at one of the NSA conventions. So I started shooting some experiments.
Of course after I started shooting I got all my film mixed up so I can’t exactly tell you what I did! But I’m going to start over again when I have the time and do some better documenting!
This was shot with a hasselblad on a slide bar. I think the separation between the lens centers is about 1/2 inch. The foremost part of the rose isn’t as sharp as I want it. But I think the leaf looks awesome! And the lighting on this setup worked out better (on the leaf) than in subsequent setups, and I am going to try to match this look.
I clearly needed some dust control. The rose blossom was heavy and I propped it up with a little tripod bent out of wire but I wasn’t clever enough in hiding it so you can see a sliver of it on the bottom.
I built a DIY macro box based on this post on strobist:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
I’m not done exploring this.
Large Golden Slinky
The ride "Enterprise" in action at the Puyallup Fair in Western Washington
This is a shot of the ride “Enterprise” at the Puyallup (pyoo AL ip) Fair in Western Washington. The Puyallup is one of the granddaddies of all the fairs. Its url is thefair.com.
See what I’m sayin’?
The enterprise starts out as a flat disk and then tilts up, making a fun pattern. The ride doesn’t last very long!
Trick or Treat!
White sandstone formations in the area of the Pillars of Silence
This one reminds me of old-school halloween costumes. All you need is a sheet.
This was taken in the same area as my image, “Approaching the Pillars” from the last round. I hired a photo guide out of Page, Arizona and he would take me around to great spots each morning and evening.
Taken with the TL-120.
Luminous Wheel Fun n Games
The Giant Wheel at the Evergreen State Fair is illuminated behind the Fun n Games concession.
This is the one shot of the Giant Wheel and Fun n Games that worked for me this year. †his image does have some retinal rivalry but I think it serves to give the image a bit of action and adds to the image.
Coquille River Lighthouse
Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast near Bandon
I didn’t get as many photo stops as I would have liked on my drive home from the NSA Convention in Costa Mesa. But I did find this cute lighthouse on the Oregon coast.
Fortitude in the Snow
The lion Fortitude at the NYC Public Library after a snowfall.
The 2 lions at the NY Public Library have been called the most beloved pieces of public art in the city. Their names are Patience and Fortitude. This is a portrait of Fortitude the morning after a snowfall that paralyzed the area. It doesn’t look like a lot of snow but it hit the airports hard and our flight out was pushed back by more than a week.
Brush Strokes
Motion in the froth at Poipu Beach, Kaua'i
This is my favorite photo I’ve ever taken of moving water. The motion of the froth makes it look (to me) like a painting. Taken on the island of Kaua’i at (or near) Poipu beach. Twin Hasselblad 500Cs with 50mm lenses.
Zipper Sunset
A detail of the ride "Zipper" with sunset colors behind
Taken last year at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, Washington. Sunset colors painted the sky briefly while I scrambled to find a vantage point.
TL-120, Provia 100F, settings unrecorded.
MOG Walkway
Looking up from a walkway outside the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington.
Yeah, not a whole lotta depth. But I took it and you’re gonna look at it!
It was a bit of a challenge to shoot as I wanted the lenses parallel to the ceiling and it was an awkward position from which to check my framing.
TL-120, 1/2 second at f19, Provia 100F. Taken on New Year’s Eve 2009.