« April 2008 | Main | June 2008 »

May 2008 Archives

May 1, 2008

Sea Glass & Stuff

Picked this off the beach while walking Unit M...
glass.jpg

G.G.—Actor, Author, Vulgarian, Friend

G.G.—Local theater phenom; brilliant actor; gifted playwrite; hostile photographic subject—I am G.G.'s goto guy for drunken assements of life's imperfections.

gg.jpg

Unbearable Lightness of Being a Puppy

pup.jpg

Compassion, Wisdom, and Courage

big_3.jpg

Photos from Musée du Louvre—Nikon F100 w/ Kodak Portra 400NC

Been Around the World and Found...

That only stupid people are breeding.
sponge.gif(The cretins cloning and feeding, and I don't even have a TV).

How to Use the Color Wheel

Admit it, you want one.
color.jpg

If it Weren't for Bad Luck...

I wouldn't have any luck at all.
shoot.jpg

May 2, 2008

Meaningless to You, Maybe

I've been playing with my scanner, which is why the last two posts exist. It's been my intention to modify the scanner to explore 3D scanning and it occurred to me that I might like to scan things around my house and office to add to the blog. Expect more of this....

May 3, 2008

Turkey Hunting

Went turkey hunting with DP— this morning. We called a Tom into D—'s firing lane, but he stayed just out of range. I scored this beautiful turkey feather on the way out of the woods. It's thirteen inches long and had to be composited from two scans. Cool stuff!
turkey.jpg

May 4, 2008

Color Negative Proofs in B&W: Musée du Louvre

negative.gifFrom Musée du Louvre photos: Kodak Portra 400NC color negatives — photographed on light table, inverted in PS CS3, background converted to white, image converted to black and white w/ greyscale adjustments.

Color Negatives: Musée du Louvre

negative_org.jpgFrom Musée du Louvre photos: Kodak Portra 400NC color negatives -- photographed on light table.

Color Negatives as B&W Negatives: Musée du Louvre

color_bw_crop.gifFilm: Kodak Portra 400NC color negative
Converted to black and white proof here.
To see original photo of negative see this previous post.

Because the Epson was too Expensive

ink_small.jpg3D scan (Each box scanned individually and arranged in PS CS3).

May 5, 2008

Mask Triptych

mask.jpgFrom Musée du Louvre photos: Nikon F100 w/ Kodak Portra 400NC
Scanned in Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED.
Negatives photographed on light table, inverted in PS CS3, background converted to white, image converted to black and white w/ greyscale adjustments.

May 10, 2008

Homage to Raymundo Sesma by Jephnol

sesma_homage.jpgIn imitation of work by Raymundo Sesma... I photographed my hand and the bark of a tree as the foundation of this graphic. All work performed in Photoshop CS3 by Jephnol.

Raymundo Sesma Colección 2004

sesma_left.jpgcuervo.jpgScan of a José Cuervo boxtop and inside view of top — José Cuervo Reserva de la Familia - 2004. Click on bottom image to enlarge.

I Had a Little Drink About an Hour Ago...

tenders.jpgI set up a tabletop photography studio today to play with lighting and exposures. I shot the barman (headless unfortunately), and the skull among other things, and I thought the two were a brilliant pair. So, here we are....

May 12, 2008

Feral Cat Bags Deer

A feral cat was trying to get the most out of the sun by making a bed out of Gaylord the 3D deer at the edge of the swamp in my backyard.

gaylord.jpgNikon D2Hs
200 ISO equivalent
Respectively 210mm and 600mm

Jardin du Musée Rodin

rodin.jpg

Nikon F100
Kodak 400 Gold Max (Not sure why this was in my bag)
Scanned in Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED.
Negatives photographed on light table, inverted in PS CS3, background converted to white, image converted to black and white w/ greyscale adjustments.
Click image to enlarge

D— in Paris, 2004

d_paris.jpgD— making a call via France Telecom and outside the Louvre.

May 13, 2008

Six Scans of Unit M's Blanky

whole_blanky.jpg

May 17, 2008

Grumpy Time

clock.jpgPhoto of C— who always makes faces at the camera. I made a clock out of the photo by gluing foam board onto it's back and attaching a clock mechanism. (I kid you not...). C— was not impressed.

Implements of Pet Maintenance

glove.jpgIt's tick season... Time to coat the pets with poison.

May 18, 2008

The One that Got Away

hook.jpgFound on the beach when looking for seaglass... I suppose someone lost it while they were fishing for Stripers.

On Photographic Assignment

ants.jpg

Photographed Andover Newton Theological School's Commencement for a friend of D—'s. The light was lovely (if I could have added a stop of shutter speed I would declare a proof of God's existence); there were a lot of wood tones and stained glass windows creating a warm glow. Wonderful!
The wide view:
Nikon D2Hs
28-70mm, f2.8 @ 28mm (Converted to 42mm on the chip).
1000 ISO Equivalent
The D2Hs is fantastic at higher ISO's, even in tighter compositions with deep shadows the noise is virtually non-existent.

May 19, 2008

Words are Found Things...

...like seaglass, fishing hooks, or little toy soldiers. With the words we find we can build temples, worlds, or mysteries. We define ourselves with these found things. We can build a beautiful place to live. But words can also build monsters and dark corners in dark, unhappy places. Some will find the words to build these awful things. Find the words instead to bring the light into your life.

Found: Toy Soldier

toy_soldier.jpg

3D Scan of Toy Soldier. Found on Dog Beach at Surfer's Cove with Monster B—. (We always found the good stuff, B—. I miss you an awful lot, Buddy.)

@ Jo's Wedding

jo_co_2.jpg

Click image to enlarge
Jo asked me shoot her wedding alongside the formal photographer. I shot in the journalistic style with a Nikon D2H and a Nikon F100.

May 22, 2008

Dresden Dolls

dresden_dolls.jpg

I looked in the archives for this photo. Photos @ Bull Moose Music by Jephnol. Film scanned, desaturated and hand painted.

May 23, 2008

Dresden Dolls Deux

dolls.jpg

Sticking with the Dresden Dolls theme; these two are just a hoot to photograph.
Click image to enlarge

Amanda Doll

amanda.jpg

Brian Doll

brian.jpg

Señor Pizza Bumpersticker Scan

senor_pizza.jpg

From T—
Señor Pizza was the best (wasn't it the only) pizza you could get in Redhook. It was a toss up with Wok & Roll for quick eats.

Today's Image Editing Music Playlist

playlist.jpg

Click image to enlarge

Lil' Mac is Choking on Her Food

I'm image editing today and I'm automating as many processes as possible (with little files from a 4mp camera). Just a couple few hundred photos are making this Mac putter like a Model T Ford running out of gas. Once more, the technology curve has left me behind.

Because the Editing Playlist is Done

trout.jpg

And I'm still working it....
Click image to enlarge

May 24, 2008

AJ on the Run

aj_series.jpg

Click image to enlarge

I dug around in my film archives for these photos.

T—'s puppy died of pneumonia so I thought I would I would remind her of the things that are awesome and good. AJ's middle name is mine, which makes him A. Jephnol on my blog. Yes, that is an actual series, (he didn't stand still too long). AJ is high-octane, baby.

T— sent the bumper sticker and the Cuervo.

I miss the island T—, hanging out with you was always the best:

if you'll be my bodyguard
i can be your long lost pal

Because it burns burns like a wicker basket...

What do you mean I have to cut the lawn with a machete?

Okay? Alright. Okay, den...

The endangered Tree Boa seems to be eating the protected baby Iguana--ya' don't see that everyday.

Don't look now, but I think that Giant Moth is following us.

Oh da' criminal!

Okay, one more time: A Lady Saw is what?

T—, I'm so sorry about your puppy!

The series was shot on Ilford Delta 400 film (when I was shooting much more film). Print Lab in Chicago did the printing.

Looking Through the Archives

byron_001.jpg

I'm going through my film archives and I found some stuff I thought I'd like to put up on Jephnol.

Byron in OP
Nikon F100
Ilford HP5 film
Prints from Print Lab
Flatbed scan of 5x7 print

I miss you, Buddy.

Before The Darkness Falls

bertha.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

Bertha in the Home
Ilford Delta 3200 rated @ 800 iso pushed 2 stops
Nikon F100
Prints from Print Lab
Flatbed scan of 5x7 print

These are Bertha's hands...

B— you were a hot ticket, girl. Almost a hundred pounds of piss and vinegar. Driving you and B— to Florida was a hoot. You were one of the good ones...

New Image Editing Music

madeleine_peyroux.jpg

Click image to enlarge

May 25, 2008

Proof Clipping

b_proof.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

Great Bay: Adam's Point

great_bay.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

Nikon F5 (I miss that body)
Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8
Velvia 50
Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED

Great Bay II: Adam's Point

great_bay_2.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

Nikon F5
Nikkor 28-70mm 1:2.8
Velvia 50
Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED

May 26, 2008

Europe from the Bosporus

europe.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

The archives have brought me back to Turkey. I had forgotten how much these photos meant to me. I was very fussy when scanning these, looking at the slides on the light table with each edit. I was trying to reproduce the "pop" of each individual slide. Some of the scans will be deleted and rescanned. I'll start with four photographs where I think I caught the light in the scan.

Nikon F100
Velvia 100
Scanned w/ Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED

A Flower in Sile, Turkey on the Black Sea

flower.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

Nikon F100
Velvia 100
Scanned w/ Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED

Lost in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul

grand_bazaar.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

I haven't quite got the "pop" of this slide in the scan. It's close.

Nikon F100
Velvia 100
Scanned w/ Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED

Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul

dervish_2.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

It's agonizing to look at a slide on a light panel and see the "wow" factor only to produce a dull scan, but I got this one. Pop!

Nikon F100
Velvia 100
Scanned w/ Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED

May 28, 2008

Just Another Cliché

sunset.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

Nikon F100
If I had to guess I'd say the film was Fuji Provia 100....
Next time I'll try to center the slide before I scan.

D— Into the Setting Sun

@_night.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

I guess I should give a little context: This is a photo of D— in her office with a gorgeous sunset filling the windows behind her. It's the same sunset in the prior post "Just Another Cliché", just at a different angle and after a few minutes had passed. (Sunsets at their best are fast movers).

Nikon F100
Uh, Fuji Provia 100?

May 30, 2008

Flagstone

flagstone.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

I would like to do more in this vein.

Nikon D2H
50mm 1:1.4 @ f4.5

Dragging the Shutter

drag.jpg

Continuation of Looking Through the Archives.

Flirtation with some experimental ideas; photo of a copse of trees in winter.

Nikon D2Hs
28-70mm @ 28mm, 1:2.8 @ f13

May 31, 2008

In the Presence of the Lord

Purushotam purushotam.jpgC— and S— my sympathy is with you; your hearts are broken, and my heart breaks for you.

In Memory of Purushotam

A page devoted to the memory of Purushotam for C— and S— and all who knew him.

I Am Not Resigned

Dirge Without Music

I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.

Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, — but the best is lost.

The answers quick & keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.

Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.

—Edna St. Vincent Millay

With special thanks to