The Goblin Tower – Photo 2 of 52
So week two’s theme for the 52 project was The Goblin Tower…
The Goblin Tower
(The photo is quite dark, but there is detail in the shadows – trust me I was using a calibrated monitor and it is there. If you can’t see the photo you may need to adjust your monitor).
I had a few ideas for this photograph, but after shooting a test shots it became quite clear that this assignment was going to be tougher that I originally thought.
So with the photography dead line rapidly approaching (and quite a few chores to complete before I could dedicate my time to the photo project) I rapidly hatched an alternate concept.
Looking back at Sprague de Camp’s original novel cover I thought I’d create a similar feel with a barely dressed barbarian as the focus. Not having a muscular barbarian looking photographic model to work with I had to use myself. Looking like a plump hero I decided to apply a bit of photoshop wizardry and transform our hero into a green goblin.
The backdrop is a combination of the oval across from my house to provide the grass, trees and clouds (although I think all but the clouds remain in the final photo); a tunnel from a electric train set, and a hand made model house.
The technical stuff
The models were shot with a single strobe set to 1/32 power. This was place high above the models and directly behind them. This was to create a moonlit feel to the landscape. The goblin was lit by two strobes. 10:00 and 2:00, both aimed directly at the backdrop. A white reflector was then place in front of the model about 3m away. (I’ll add some lighting diagrams as soon as I find where I put my diagram folder).
Next weeks theme: Gordo (space monkey).
Emergency landing 1/52
My friend Ed and I (EDIT: it seems we have a few people interested in taking part as well) have decided to undertake a new project to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones, and to take more photographs (and video in Ed’s case). We have devised a list of 52 themes (one for each week) and it is our goal to create a piece of work each week that is either referencing this theme or related to it.
So this is week one. So far I am quite happy with my progress, having had several ideas on how to complete this weeks assignment ‘Emergency landing’.
This week idea is inspired by the 1941 film ‘Emergency landing’ which is a spy-fi film (no I had not realised that there was such a thing as spy-fi either), where by the hero of the film has invented a device to remote control an aeroplane. As an avid lover of all things RC how could I resist using something RC. If you look closely in the background you can see the front of my RC helicopter in the window about to make an emergency landing into my living room.
This image was a combination of two images. The first a shot of your lovely author running from some ominous landing lights.
The second is a simple over head lighting of the copter for use in the background:
For those who would like to play at home these are the rules:
- One week allocated to each theme (Monday to midnight Sunday) – no jumping ahead and working on other weeks topics before the allocated times!
- Must host final photograph/video/animation in a blog space (eg tumblr, wordpress)
- Freedom to interpret the topic/theme – try and provide a brief synopsis/statement explaining the connection.
- Any size/dimension for photographs. Maximum of 3 photographs per topic.
- All photos must be accompanied by a lighting diagram or at least a description of the lighting/techniques used in the image.
- Up to 5mins duration for video/animation (no minimum).
- Must be all original work including original audio.
- Videos can exceed 5mins and have non original music if they are a music video.
- If due to exceptional circumstances a video/photo may be submitted by midnight the following day at the latest.
- Small amount of stock photos/video footage may be used if personally sourced footage is not practically feasible.
Next weeks theme is: The goblin tower.
See the other entrants:
Yay, Transformers
I thought I’d share with you a photo that a friend sent me today. This piece of outstanding artwork was spotted this morning in the heart of Canberra. Although I have to background about who, what, or why, I can marvel at the awesomeness that it is. Finally, some Canberra artwork that isn’t lame or have some sort of perversive sexual undertone (I’m looking at you Belconnen owl).
If you have any further information feel free to add it to the comments below.
Quick self portrait
Today was a good day. Started out really early when the annoying alarm sounded. After chugging down some coffee, I headed out to the War Memorial to meet the wonderful staff of Tiffen & Co to take some corporate portraits after they had won the Boutique Mortgage Broker of the Year 2011. W00t, you rock!
Having wrapped up the shoot at 9:30, I headed across the road and collected some slide film that I had dropped in to develop and had completely forgotten about. Not having any idea what this roll of film contained I was stoked to find lots of lovely Holga snow photos (I promise I’ll post some up as soon as I scan them). Today was awesome and it wasn’t even 10am yet.
So retiring back home in front of the computer, I manged to get the morning’s photos done and even have time for a bit of fun with my new flash triggers. And here’s the result.
So, if anyone can come up with a clever quote for this photo I’ll add it as the official by-line for the photo.
Treasure hunt
This morning I was out and about early, scouting out some new locations for an upcoming corporate photo shoot that I’m doing on Monday. After several uninspiring locations I can across this:
To put the building in some perspective, my head didn’t reach the bottom of the window so I wasn’t able to look in (the tall grey ‘box’ at the left of the building is roughly human height).
To me it has the feeling of what a child’s drawing of a house would look like if it were to be constructed in real life.
Inside view:
Now comes the hard part, what to use the space for…
Monday means ‘back to work’
Well back to work for another week.
I hope you all had wonderful, adventurous weekends. With a thoroughly un-eventful weekend behind me I thought I’d share the background to the photoshoot below.
This is Mitch:
Mitch
This was a photograph that was taken as part of an assignment to photograph someone prominent in the community. Mitch is a car guy, so naturally I needed to take a photo of Mitch in his car. I thought I’d try a technique that I’ve been wanting to use for a while.
This technique involved ‘mounting’ the camera and tripod on the bonnet of the vehicle and slowly rolling the car forward so that the background was blurred (giving the sense of speed and movement). Having sourced a location (a hospital carpark), I started setting up lights and cameras. The car and surrounds is the ambient lighting, while Mitch has a small flash resting on the steering column which is remotely triggered.
After several test runs it was time to press the shutter.
We had several good runs, with several bystanders giving us quizzical looks. Unfortunately one of those bystanders was a security guard who promptly told us to leave.
So having learnt that a much longer ‘drive’ is needed to create a decent amount of blur, we may have to make another guerrilla photo session to capture some more shots.
Beware the cocoa
Last night was a bit unsettled. I had a series of quite disturbing dreams. I wouldn’t call them nightmares as there was no horror, no monsters or dark corridors.
Last nights dreams was a real Freudian dream. I was dreaming of photography.
So I was hired to photograph a wedding. This is not abnormal, but on the day of the wedding I had not planned or prepared any of my equipment. The bride is standing at the front of the church with the groom about to do his entrance – I know this is slightly against tradition but it’s my dream so 
Anyway, the bride is striking a pose and the shadow of the groom is being cast over her is an very heroic manner. It is at this point that I discover that my camera won’t take a photograph. Panic sets in. The bride is starting to get impatient and tired from holding the pose as I frantically try and work out what is wrong. After several attempts I decide to look down the barrel of the lense. Noticing some sort of obstruction I remove the lense only to find that my whole camera is filled with cocoa powder.
But fear not dear reader. It would seem that in my dreams I am equally prepared, and have pack a reserve compact camera. I take the shot and the wedding can proceed. Horray!
I don’t remember taking any more photos of the ceremony so I hope they work out.
Evil Stout: Pyro
The light at the end of the tunnel
This photograph always reminds me of being a child and watching Road Runner cartoons. I’m sure this is the view the poor old coyote saw just as the red ‘ACME’ truck came rumbling through the tunnel.
This photograph was taken while on a photo safari with my lovely fiancee Pam. I had heard about this place in the outskirts of Sydney where builder had discovered an abandoned rail way station and tunnel. How anyone could have ‘lost’ a station is more than perplexing.
Having done some research I had discovered that the tunnel is home to a very large colony of glow worms. But… Tracking down the whereabouts of the elusive station wasn’t easy. Using my trust navigation aid (Google Maps), I started trawling the streets via my browser looking for the station. Having found a spot that I believed was the correct location Pam and I headed out.
Note to self; Google maps lies…
Having spent several hours in the car we arrived at the location that was supposed to be the entrance. It wasn’t.
Dismayed we drove around keeping a keen eye out, and as luck was on our side, we found it.
A spectacular area and one that I would like to come back to (maybe armed with more equipment), especially as the glow worms only come out at night. Needless to say we didn’t get a chance to see them.
Light at the end of the tunnel
When photographers go crazy
It’s been a while since there has been any activity on the site. But for very good reasons. With my own wedding looming in about four weeks, it’s been ‘all hands on deck’ with sorting out all the last minute wedding arrangements. I am starting to have a new found appreciation for what couples go through trying to organise their weddings.
With spring nearing it is time to clean out the closets and throw out all that ‘stuff’ that you have been collecting and hoarding over winter. Bring on the spring clean! It seems that as a photographer I collect vasts amounts of computer files. I’m forever collecting ‘inspiration’ files and various reams of junk on my hard drives. Now dispite the cost of portable hard drives becoming cheaper this still does not excuse my lasyness. So I have been doing my annual hard drive clean up.
This can be quite a cathartic experience. It’s amazing what little gems can be found along the way. Sometimes they make me cringe, sometimes they bring back a fond memory, and sometimes they make me laugh. I won’t tell you which one this photo made me feel. But I’m sure you can guess.
-Seb
(ps. Check out the awesome curtains. They were the original curtains from my house when I bought it.)
Would you quit mucking about?
Guest poster
Today we have a treat for you, a guest photographer. Today our guest is Matt.
Recently I had the boys over for a quiet evening of discussing politics, poetry, art and other such gentlemanly pursuits.
A few days later I received and email:
“Morning Mr Sebbles,
So have you checked you camera yet?
Ominous you may remark…
While I was away picking up a selection of fine finger food to entertain the gentleman on the afore mentioned evening, it would seem that I had left my camera out, charged and with a partially empty memory card.
So I am delighted to present the insightful and thought provoking work of ‘Mr Matt’:
Back in the saddle
It’s been a busy week, if you have a look around you may notice a few new things on the web site. The White Phoenix name has now been retired and I’ve started trading under my own name.
The web site has been given a new look in line with the new direction of the business. I still think I need to tweak a few bits but it’s looking a whole lot more slick. Of course I’m always open to suggestions and criticism.
Photo marathon
So recently I competed in a photo marathon. The idea of the marathon is: You are given twelve themes, you can only submit one photo per theme, you have 12 hours to complete all photos, and your not allowed to use a computer to alter the photos (eg. no Photoshop).
So here are my entries:
Pic of the day: Spring
As it’s the beginning of spring I simultaneously mourn the end of the snow season and the imminent arrival of summer; the beach, surfing, fishing and evening BBQ’s.
Pic of the day: The storm brews
Well today sees me suffering a slight cold #thrusts hands in air# “Curse you sneezing man in the lift!”. So in honour of how my head feels I offer the impending storm…
Pic of the day: construction
As a kid one of my favorite toys was a yellow Tonka dump truck. I would place one knee in the tray and scoot round the back yard.
(more…)
Pic of the day: Ponds
So as a photographer I’m always coming across situations that I would like to photograph. So this is the beginning of a new thread of posts called ‘Daily pics’. Here I’ll be putting all the photos that I take that are purely for self indulgence (and hopefully some amusement too).
(more…)