Letter A, day 14/14, 14/365
I’d like to start this post by patting myself on the back. This is day 14, marking the completion of the letter A. That’s 1/26th of the project. The reason this is a milestone for me is because I’ve tried this before. I lasted until day three. This is interesting because I take at least one photograph per day. I have half a dozen cameras, and one is always on me. This time, I’ve not only stuck with it, but taken some of the best pictures I’ve taken in a while, and been more creative with my photography to boot. These are not spectacular photographs by a long shot, but the sheer imagination I’ve tried to put into this makes me a little proud.
This image was born of not knowing what to do and being very tired. When in doubt, throw light around like buckets of paint, and crank the aperture open a bit.
First, I searched Google Images for “party atmosphere.” I got lots of bokeh shots, hands waving, colors – typical party stuff. But I live by myself. It’s not exactly a party in my tiny one-room box of an apartment, so I did what any reasonable person would do.
I threw up some more of those Christmas lights I had lying around, and threw my Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D out of focus at around f/2.5. The reason I didn’t crank it wide open was to give the bokeh a polygonal shape. Straight up round is overused and less fun.
For color, I finally tested out my 3D glasses idea. I came across some of those red and blue 3D glasses at work, and removed the cellophane. The red was taped over my SB-26 and shot at very low power high and to the left, while the blue was taped over the SB-600 which was on the floor angled up.
For the final touch, some glasses and out-of-focus hands , I filled two cups and clinked ’em while I was flat on my back to stay out of the frame.
So there you have it – not particularly awe-inspiring, but fun nonetheless.
Strobist:
SB-26 gelled red with 3D glasses high camera right, snooted; SB-600 low camera left gelled aqua with 3D glasses.
AZ365 