This particular batch upload to Flickr was shot over a period of several days, and is in fact a sort of spinoff from November’s theme for that oddball “group doing photo stuff that couldn’t make up its mind about a name so we won’t have one“.
To explain…
So unusually pleased was I with my contribution that it set me to thinking about other things I could do along somewhat similar lines.
The notion also fits quite nicely into the photography ethos of a certain person who shall remain nameless with regard to taking on new challenges, and indeed a suggestion made to me ages ago by someone else that its a good/useful exercise to stretch oneself by tackling different things… or words to that effect.
Thus, as I say, I was set to thinking. Thinking; and a bit more thinking; and then some more thinking after that.
“Candles alight!” thunk I. I like candles. And candlelight. And candles suggest other things to me… things that can be shot with candles, or in candlelight, from which I could make up a little set of pics.
Er… when I say “shot with candles” what I mean is, shot with a camera but including candles.
That is, so as not to cause confusion, shooting with a camera and including candles in the pic… not shooting with a camera and candles. That’d be silly.
And anyway, I’m not too sure how one would shoot with a candle actually. Maybe shooting in the gun sense rather than the camera sense? Shove a candle down a tube and then… no, that wouldn’t work. Particularly if some sort of combustion in the tube were involved. Pro’bly just end up with a sticky mess. Story of my life really.
Or light a candle then flick the hot wax at someone perhaps?.
Come to think of it I know several people I wouldn’t mind flicking hot wax at (and their name begins with “D”!). And the hotter the better. In fact, I think it’d be quite fun. Hmm.
But I digress.
Consequently, and risking a totally unjust accusation by that person who shall remain nameless of attempting to do something “artsy”, I ended up with said little batch for which I’ve created a Flickr set named “Candles and stuff“. Imaginative title eh? You can see the full collection there. And who knows… I may add more pics to it in the future. If the urge to be a bit adventurous ever grabs me again (which of course I shall industriously try to avoid… far too much like work!).
Oh… I stretched the definition of candle a bit to include things like night lights and tea lights but I’m easy-going like that. Plus it adds a bit of variety.
I really like the top photo and the last. The last one is kinda dark and remenscint of the mideval ages.
My friend also likes the last one and wants to know what kind of camera you use?
Thanks Maggie
Gotta be careful answering this or a certain person who shall remain nameless will start ribbing me about the numerous cameras I have
Anyway, these were shot with the Samsung GX10 dSLR (a clone of the Pentax K10D).
Was using a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 lens
these are great. I believe my fave of the ones posted here is the one of the cards and candle.
hmm, Sigma 17-70mm lens, do you like the lens? I’ve heard great things about sigmas.
Well Tam, its not bad but I’m not as impressed with it as when I first got it. Its an improvement on the kit lens (especially where chromatic aberration and vignetting is concerned), the extra range (17-70 as opposed to 18-55) is handy, plus the extra stop I’ve gained is great. But detail resolution’s not quite as crisp as I’d like. That said, it is only a budget lens so I can’t really complain.
Generally though I like Sigma lenses (having also tried out a couple that mates have got). They’ve got a pretty good reputation, they seem fairly well built, they’re very competitively priced, and they all seem to come with a lens hood included. Plus they feel nice!
However, I think I made a mistake in getting this particular model. What I should have gone for (benefit of hindsight) was either the f/2.8 throughout the range, or the 18-300mm.
So you can guess what’s next on my shopping list of lenses!
He who shall remain nameless here……
I for one cannot applaud you too much for having taken this journey and allowing the artist within to break free of your internal shackles.
Don’t get me wrong….I wouldn’t recommend this sort of endeavor on a regular basis, but as the other party suggested, stretching yourself on occasion is good for you. Even if you hadn’t been pleased with any of the results it is likely you would have learned something from it.
I’m particularly fond of the candle and cards image. Speaks of hands just out of site and ghosts of words previously spoken.
Dammit, I bloody knew it! “Artist within” nothing… simply an experiment in trying something different. Photography. That’s all it is. Of contrived scenes. Hmph!
As for doing it regularly, not a chance. It was all right as a bit of an experiment, and to fill a gap of the best part of a week with no photos to show for the passing time, but I think I’d soon get bored doing this type of stuff. And I suspect if I did too much of it I’d be put off photography for good! That said, yeah, I did pick up some useful little wheezes from it… trying a coupla different techniques, seeing what works and what doesn’t in certain situations etc.
As for my own personal fave of the set, well, I started off liking the “bell book & candle” one, but now I’m not so sure. Bit of a toss-up between that and the knife one (or “athame” as it might be called in certain pagan-type circles).
Of course you knew it…..you just can’t bare to admit it. You have the soul of an artist. From your graphics work in the past, through your eloquent way with the written word, to your passion for photography.
I’m guessing an artist in your past hurt you and that is why you are loath to concede to your inner voice. Yep. That sounds about right.
Nope… its just that I have a distaste for the pretentiousness so often found in wannabe “artists”, who describe whatever they do (even to assembling a load of old junk into a heap) as their “work”, and “art”.
What I say is, “get a proper job mate, where real skill’s required, that can be measured against an objective and absolute standard!”
Sort of thing.
Poor Mike…..still trying to deny the forest for the trees….
Poor forkboy… still not admitting he’s fighting a lost cause