October 1, 2007
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When I’d popped out on a late lunch last Friday, I’d stumbled upon these four Gothic ladies in moody pose.
Pic taken with camera phone
It transpired that they were promoting a show as two or three so-called looking ”professional” photographers were busy snapping them.
Portraiture
Yesterday (Sunday) provided me with an opportunity to shoot some portraiture, an area I desperately want to delve further into in order to cultivate my photography skills. Z’s brother, Dave, kindly volunteered to offer himself as my guinea pig. Like myself, Z is a regular traveller and likes to explore off the beaten track. And like myself, she is also interested in photography and will soon purchase a Nikon D80 after some persuasion from yours truly. I had wanted to accompany Z to Vietnam next month but the airline imposed stringent restrictions on using my air miles.
My main interest in portraiture lies in using shadows to create mood and effect. None of that conventional studio shots with the pastel backdrop for me. I was ably assisted by Z using one reflector and I’d shot Dave ultilising natural light and whatever shadow that could be employed. A portable softbox light kit is on my shopping list for Christmas.
Normally, sorting out my pics would consume an enormous amount of time but a bout of insomnia last night/this morning enabled me to process a few.
A
B
C
D
E
F
The portrait competition deadline was extended to today so I’d entered this shot.
Then Z had a go at shooting me.
I’ve taken CareyGLY’s suggestion and made this one sepia in tone
As for my photographic skills, I’m still learning as I go along…
US Trip: San Francisco
14th-19th September 2007
After my perfect plan of embarking on a trip to California last year to follow in my previous visits to the Sunshine State in 1986 and 1996 fell through, this year was to be the year. Except that it almost didn’t happen. And Los Angeles was omitted from the itinerary thanks to one of the crew, which is just as well. The holiday to SF presented a great opportunity to catch up with four friends, and their introduction to some amazing gastronomic delights. I’d tasted some wonderful Vietnamese cuisine (thanks Daisy & Vinh) and sampled fantastically tender and moist roast chicken (thanks Doris).
Pic taken with camera phone
Sumptuous combination rolls consisting of a variety of raw fish and other goodies are not available in the UK. This was my first meal in SF.
Due to hanging out with friends and with those I’d travelled with, there weren’t much time to shoot other non-tourist stuff.
Sun rising at Union Square
Hobart Building
Anyone know what this building is?
No photography was permitted inside the SF Museum of Modern Art but I’d tried to use my camera phone.
Lombard Street
Fisherman’s Wharf
Westfield Shopping Mall
Japantown
Japantown – rather disappointing
Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Interior of Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge from the other side
Obligatory shot of the trolley
Dusty Underwear
One evening a husband, thinking it would be being funny, said to his wife, “Perhaps we should start washing your clothes in Slim Fast. Maybe it would take a few inches off of your butt!” His wife was not amused, and decided that she simply couldn’t let such a comment go unrewarded.
The next morning the husband took a pair of underwear out of his drawer. “What the Hell is this?” he said to himself as a small dust cloud appeared when he shook them out. ‘April,’ he hollered into the bathroom, “Why did you put talcum powder in my underwear?”
She replied with a snicker, “It’s not talcum powder honey… it’s Miracle Grow!”
Kitty’s Drug Addiction
Comments (19)
You’re a great photographer and extremely photogenic. Thanks for sharing as always.
Those four goth ladies look like mannequins.
Yeah when I was in SF the Golden Bay Bridge
wasn’t as grand as I had seen in Full House.
Thanks for your comments. Yep, SF is a big dog city…so is LA.
That’s one of the best parts of LA. There are 6 sushi restaurants within walking distance of my house. 
The portraiture is beautiful. That last shot should be the winner. Of course it helps when you have such good looking subjects!
Wasn’t too fond of the desaturation, it made you look pastey. Was that just photoshopped? Mabye Sepia would look better? I don’t know Photoshop, but I’ve found that Google’s Picasa works remarkably well for most of the basic stuff.
It’s not even lunch time here, and now I’m hungry for sushi!
Great pictures…enjoy!
Happy Monday bud!! heheh love the pics
ah San Francisco…i’ve lived so close for so long and yet i still haven’t explored it all.
well yeah, the sfmoma.
i think i am going to cave in soon to buy me one of them nikons. lots of weight but i guess i have to carry it…
That is one ugly cathedral.. O_o Or maybe I’m just old fashioned.. I like the old buildings much better, like the Notre Dame.
Ryc: =)
hii i liked A, and G and he took a pretty good shot of you in the first one you posted of yourself!!
The brick color building in the foreground with the skylight lined in black and white is the SF Museum of Modern Art.
Nice pictures of my hometown.
Dave’s a pretty handsome model. You should shoot (and post) more pics of him!
Yeah, I’ve been low key on the web about it until now. Those sushi rolls look yummy: no raw fish in the UK?
the portraits are for a contest? Good luck!
pff, you shouldve come over to s. cal, then i’d take you to have lee’s sandwich~ yummmmmmm
great pics!! come visit again! If we were to be in LA I know where to take you!
how was your sf trip? japantown was disapointing for me too..please tell me you had the benkiyodo mochi there…
wow, you met up with doris? she didn’t tell me you were there
You look very James Dean-ish.
Gorgeous photos! Sorry I missed ya while you were in town. It would’ve been fun to meet you in person!
of all the portraits you took, the one you chose to send in had the most interesting composition but i personally think the contrast of light/darkness was too great on the subject’s face. all the best anyways!