Ventura, California

[Crossfire]

Just a few shots from Christmas vacation in Ventura. (I know, Christmas and Ventura don't really go together. :D) They were all taken with a Nikon D40. I know some are a little whited out. Otherwise, let me know what you think.

The Current Tide (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0001.jpg)
Footprints (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0002.jpg)
Lone Soldier (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0003.jpg)
A Line In The Sand (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0004.jpg)
Ocean Bliss (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0005.jpg)
Footsteps Past (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0006.jpg)
Solitude (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0007.jpg)
Ocean's Vegetation (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0008.jpg)


A couple portraits:

Dorothy & Sam (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0009.jpg)
^ A bit too sharp around the heads. I might re-edit this one.

Celia & Owen (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0010.jpg)

[kialua]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. The babies, how can you go wrong, so sweet.

[The Repro Kid]

They are nice. I find the color interesting. Are you using some sort of filter on the lens? Especially on the ones looking into the sun? And the lone soldier appears to have more than one light source. How is that done? With reflector cards?

[Crossfire]

You, I find that kinda funny. I consider myself an amateur in photography. I didn't use anything. I just set the white balance and shot. :D It was a beautiful day though.

[The Repro Kid]

don't stare too long into the sun... :o

I find photos like the Line In the Sand trite. Like it's trying to be creative. Just my 2¢. nice shots though. But not my cup of tea.

[Crossfire]

Yea, I know, thanks. XD I just really like the depth of field.

[Jodz]

I really enjoyed 'footsteps to the past'. The light was beautiful and the composition is original. Good job!:)

[The Repro Kid]

Glad you're enjoying it Jodz. Awesome.

I'll say it again, it's so trite.

But it's still shows nice control of the medium.

IMNSHO, C+ / B- work as far as fine art is concerned.

Not trying to knock anyone, but I do like a good fine art discussion. :)

[The Repro Kid]

They are nice. I find the color interesting. Are you using some sort of filter on the lens? Especially on the ones looking into the sun? And the lone soldier appears to have more than one light source. How is that done? With reflector cards?

You, I find that kinda funny. I consider myself an amateur in photography. I didn't use anything. I just set the white balance and shot. :D It was a beautiful day though.Hmm, looks like more than one light source to me, Reflector cards? Magic?

[The Repro Kid]

The one I dislike the most is "Line in the Sand (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0004.jpg)." Well, that and the Sears Roebuck/Target shot of the kid (http://www.aptribute.com/images/gallery/2007_ventura/2007_ventura_0005.jpg) jumping in the sand, which I can't even bring into mention. Trite :o

Even as an art director, (which I do not work as) I'd *sigh*

Okay, maybe I'm not seeing the forest trees as far as commercial art is concerned, but crossfire is a a self procalimed "amature" so in that account I guess that invites the fine art vs. primitive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naïve_art) debate. And so I'd still, say C for a primitive. C- / C for a commercial artist. C- for a fine artist.

[nervousjuice]

Great shoot. I like the terrain of the sand. Could be manipulated to something extraterrestrial. Great portrait of some beautiful people. Also like the titles.

[Yaderp]

wow. brutal:)

[Yaderp]

Hmm, looks like more than one light source to me, Reflector cards? Magic?

To me it appears that the shadows on the right are actually being formed in a slight depression in the sand and the one on the left is a cast shadow. There does not appear to be two light sources to me, though this is only my opinion based on similar types of lighting situations (low level, probably just before sunset or after sunrise) on terrain that has depressions that show in relief but actually may appear as a cast shadow. My guess would be that the subject had been upended from the depression on the right (perhaps by a single iteration of wave action since the edges of the depression show very slight erosion), giving the shadowed depression an almost identical shape as the shadow cast to the left.

My opinion only, though.

Cheers

[The Repro Kid]

I grew up with my face in sand. We used to dig up old Mcdonalds Straws out of the sand, sweep a smooth spot, and bend the straw and face it towards the north to tell time. That particular lighting looks un-natural to this bleary-eyed beach comber. And I've done some photo. ;)

But what I mean by my first post, about multiple light sources, I mean reflector cards. I don't know, because I don't use stuff like that, I'm more of hobbyists with a digital cam, plus, of course my old school ortho neg/halftone dot experience. but I've asked that question before on forums and people hush up, like they don't want to give way their secrets. I think this particular dude's work is crap. sorry -- harsh but who cares, I went to art school, I can say that.

oh well.

thanks for the opt to Rant :-)

[Yaderp]

Point taken with regard to preference for work. One final thought then I'll hush about it :). It is an impossibility, with regard to physics, for a reflector to cast a shadow with the same dmax as the primary. So there is no reflector. Further, a second light source would have to be positioned as to give the same size and shadow density as the main, which I assume is the sun. There is no apparent light of sufficient power on the left (shadow) side of the stone to accomplish this. Unless this individual is a phenominal talent with either lighting (which I doubt) or Photoshop (which I don't have any way of knowing), this shot can only be accomplished as I stated earlier. I beg your indulgence, my old school friend, in taking a closer look at that right side shadow.

Cheers
:D

[The Repro Kid]

Oh I see what you're saying. Those shadows are depressions in the sand and they are in shadow, due to the suns low angle. Cool, good eye.

[heinspeter]

I find photos like the Line In the Sand trite. Like it's trying to be creative. Just my 2¢. nice shots though. But not my cup of tea.
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heinspeter
asciisol (http://asciitech.com)