El Dave Photography

Last weekend was unbelievably rainy here in Chicago, so we, thinking we were clever, decided to visit the Garfield Park Conservatory for a photo outing inside and away from the storms. As it turns out, greenhouse roofs, over the course of the century it has been standing, start to leak. Everywhere.

There were the usual gawkers and the occasional stink eye from people wondering what we were doing, but the rain inside made things more uncomfortable than having to explain why I had action figures out. The bright spot was this shot of a Cygnaran Ironclad. For those of you unfamiliar with it, and Warmachine in general, here is a synopsis from Warmachine: Prime:

The most recognized heavy 'jack in the Cygnaran arsenal, the Ironclad is a walking behemoth of metal nearly thrice the size of a man. Gigantic smokestacks blow sooty "breath" from its hearthfire furnace, and a bright orange glow emits from its face grill, lending a fiery and fearsome gaze.

Armed with a powerful quake hammer, the Ironclad smashes lesser combatants to shrapnel with its massive blows; sometimes just one strike from this hammer has toppled even another heavy 'jack. The Ironclad's durable armor - smelted from precious ores harvested from the roots of the tallest mountains - provides fantastic protection from all but the heaviest impacts, and because of these things, the Cygnaran Ironclad is renowned for leading most warjack charges.

Here is the original, straight out of the camera.


I love how it looks, but I thought I could do it one better. Shift the colors around and make it more dramatic. Make it's furnace glow. Darken the edges. Add contrast. Cover up the little spots where the paint had chipped. Ok, not so much that last one.

The final edit:


You know, I have so much fun shooting these miniatures. I wonder if there is a gaming manufacturer in the Chicago area that needs a photographer?

You. Will. EXIF:

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	55 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire

File Size:	3.0 MB
File Type:	JPEG
MIME Type:	image/jpeg
Image Width:	3888
Image Height:	2592
Encoding Process:	Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample:	8
Color Components:	3
Orientation:	Horizontal (normal)
X-Resolution:	72 dpi
Y-Resolution:	72 dpi
Date and Time (Modified):	2009:06:13 12:31:15
YCbCr Positioning:	Co-sited
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original):	2009:06:13 12:31:15
Date and Time (Digitized):	2009:06:13 12:31:15
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
Color Space:	sRGB
Focal Plane X-Resolution:	4433.295325 dpi
Focal Plane Y-Resolution:	4453.608247 dpi
Custom Rendered:	Normal
Exposure Mode:	Auto
White Balance:	Manual
Scene Capture Type:	Standard
Macro Mode:	Normal
Self Timer:	Off
Quality:	Fine
Canon Flash Mode:	Off
Continuous Drive:	Single
Focus Mode:	One-shot AF
Record Mode:	JPEG
Canon Image Size:	Large
Easy Mode:	Manual
Digital Zoom:	None
Contrast:	Normal
Saturation:	Normal
Sharpness:	0
Metering Mode:	Evaluative
Focus Range:	Not Known
Canon Exposure Mode:	Aperture-priority AE
Lens Type:	Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Long Focal:	55 mm
Short Focal:	18 mm
Focal Units:	1
Max Aperture:	5.6
Min Aperture:	32
Flash Activity:	0
Flash Bits:	(none)
Focus Continuous:	Single
Zoom Source Width:	0
Zoom Target Width:	0
Photo Effect:	Off
Manual Flash Output:	n/a
Color Tone:	Normal
Focal Type:	Zoom
Focal Plane XSize:	23.04 mm
Focal Plane YSize:	15.37 mm
Auto ISO:	100
Base ISO:	400
Measured EV:	1.75
Target Aperture:	5.7
Target Exposure Time:	1/13
White Balance:	Cloudy
Slow Shutter:	None
Sequence Number:	0
Optical Zoom Code:	n/a
Flash Guide Number:	0
Flash Exposure Comp:	0
Auto Exposure Bracketing:	Off
AEBBracket Value:	0
Control Mode:	Camera Local Control
Focus Distance Upper:	0.27
Focus Distance Lower:	0.35
Bulb Duration:	0
Camera Type:	EOS Mid-range
Auto Rotate:	None
NDFilter:	Unknown (-1)
Self Timer2:	0
Flash Output:	0
Canon Firmware Version:	Firmware 1.1.1
Serial Number:	1220842575
Canon Model ID:	EOS Digital Rebel XTi / 400D / Kiss Digital X (and rare K236)
Num AFPoints:	9
Valid AFPoints:	9
AFArea Width:	78
AFArea Height:	78
Original Decision Data Offset:	0
File Number:	126-4814
Bracket Mode:	Off
Bracket Value:	0
Bracket Shot Number:	0
Noise Reduction:	Off
WBBracket Mode:	Off
WBBracket Value AB:	0
WBBracket Value GM:	0
Filter Effect:	None
Toning Effect:	None
Lens Model:	EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Internal Serial Number:	H1858035
Dust Removal Data:	(Binary data 1024 bytes, use -b option to extract)
Tone Curve:	Standard
Sharpness Frequency:	n/a
Sensor Red Level:	0
Sensor Blue Level:	0
White Balance Red:	0
White Balance Blue:	0
Color Temperature:	5200
Picture Style:	Faithful
Digital Gain:	0
WBShift AB:	0
WBShift GM:	0
Color Space:	sRGB
VRDOffset:	0
Sensor Width:	3948 (52-3939 used)
Sensor Height:	2622 (23-2614 used)
Black Mask Left Border:	0
Black Mask Top Border:	0
Black Mask Right Border:	0
Black Mask Bottom Border:	0
White Balance RGGB Levels:	2461 1024 1024 1382
Color Temperature:	6000
WB_ RGGBLevels Measured:	2151 1023 1024 1785
Color Temp Measured:	4512
WB_ RGGBLevels Custom:	1910 1024 1024 1594
Color Temp Custom:	4535
Set Button Cross Keys Func:	Set: Picture Style
Long Exposure Noise Reduction:	Off
Flash Sync Speed Av:	Auto
Shutter- AELock:	AF/AE lock
AFAssist Beam:	Emits
Exposure Level Increments:	1/3 Stop
Mirror Lockup:	Disable
ETTLII:	Evaluative
Shutter Curtain Sync:	1st-curtain sync
Magnified View:	Image playback only
LCDDisplay At Power On:	Display
Compression:	JPEG (old-style)

Be good,
-Dave

|

When was the last time you stayed up all night, just because you wanted to? I've never had much luck staying up late, much less all night. My brain actually turns off at the stroke of midnight. I lose the ability to speak, I can't smile, and I'm generally a miserable person overall. Last Thursday night we decided to get up early and go see the sunrise, but somehow the conversation came around to, "We should just stay awake. It'll be easier".

I don't drink coffee, so I was downing tea like a fish in water. When that stopped working I brought out the big gun: Yerba Mate. This stuff is a lifesaver! While I was drinking it, not only was I awake, but I was alert and functional.

We arrived at the beach just a few minutes before sunrise, grabbed all of the gear out of the car and started snapping away. I was out of Yerba Mate at this point, but thanks to Chicago's lake effect, it was... brisk, so I had no trouble staying awake.



After the beach, we stopped in to the Lincoln Park Zoo to see the animals. Early mornings are usually the best time to go, since the animals seem more active and alert than during the rest of the day. Except the lion. And me. It was at this point that my ability to frame a shot completely deteriorated. At one point I was trying to line up a mosaic on the front of the Big Cat House, and I think I nodded off looking through the eyepiece.

What? I already had one eye closed!




We debated going straight to the beach, since we were already out. Or at least I think we did. I may have dreamed that part. At any rate, we came home for a short 6 hour nap. Feeling refreshed, we loaded all our gear (ok, my action figures) into the car and spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach.




All in all, it was a great day. It felt like we were teenagers again, except with naps!

What do you say, Wage? Did you have a good day?



Be good,
-Dave

|

Hey everybody,

I just wanted to drop in here and let everyone know that the new store is live and ready to go!



There probably won't be many toy shots, due to me not wanting to bother with copyright issues, but my goal is to add high-quality prints of some of my best photos. There will be a widget in the sidebar soon, but in the meantime, check it out and let me know what you think!

|

Wow. What. A. Weekend.

As I said last time, I was looking forward to getting out to see new things and hang out with other photographers, and man did I hit the jackpot on both. Saturday I went with the Chicago Science Field Trips Club to visit Yerkes Observatory up in Wisconsin. Not only had I never been there, I had never heard of such a place! With as many astronomical luminaries that have been there (along with it's association with the University of Chicago and the White City Exposition), I am ashamed of my negligence.

A quick refresher, courtesy of Wikipedia:

Yerkes Observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics,", is an astronomical observatory operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It was created in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes. The observatory represented a shift in the thinking of observatories, from mere housing for a telescope and observer, to the modern concept of observation equipment integrated with laboratory space for physics and chemistry. A 102 cm (40 inch) refracting telescope built by the master optician Alvan Clark is located inside. It is the largest refracting telescope used for scientific research (a larger demonstration refractor, the Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900, was exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900).

In addition to the Yerkes refractor, the observatory also houses 102 cm (40 inch, referred to as the "41 inch" to prevent confusion) and 61 cm (24 inch) reflecting telescopes. Several smaller telescopes are used for educational outreach purposes.

Current research includes the interstellar medium, globular cluster formation, infrared astronomy, and near-Earth objects. Additionally, the University of Chicago maintains a sizable engineering center in the observatory, dedicated to making and maintaining scientific instruments. As of May 2007, the engineers are working on the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera (HAWC), which will be an integral part of Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

Not only does it have the scientific chops, the building itself is beautiful. Don't believe me? See for yourself:



And that's just the front door. I ended up with over 400 photos of this place, but I'll spare you having to sort through them all. I will be adding a few a day to my Flickr, if you are so interested.

Ok, so maybe one more.



On Sunday, April and I went to the Chicago Botanic Garden for the Nature Photographer's Meetup. We got up bright and early and got to the garden around 7:30 (we would've gotten there a little earlier, but you know, breakfast). The botanic garden is a great place to begin with, but when you throw in the great people we met, it was all the better.

While I did take over 300 shots (seriously, when did I start doing this? I'm usually a done in one kind of guy), I did manage to sneak in a few toy shots ever so slyly.



Not only did I meet lots of great people, go to new and great places, and take a ton of pictures...

I jumped back into Plastic 52.



Be good,
-Dave

|

Cobra Commander's bio, courtesy of Joepedia:

Not much is known of the background of the man many call the Cobra Commander. What we can only tell is how he works and how he thinks. We know that he has deliberately started political and social conflict in a number of areas. He has amassed an army by recruiting displaced people, promising them money, power and a chance to get back at the world that hurt them. In return, he demands that they swear absolute loyalty to his cause. What is his cause? World domination.

Cobra Commander does not delude himself by justifying his actions as matters of principles or glory. He knows he does it for control and power. He is ruthless, hatred-personified and totally obsessed. A meticulous person, he likes to personally oversee vital projects himself, even engaging in military combat himself on occasion.

It's coming up on summer here in Chicago, and that has me feeling optimistic. I'm hoping for some Flickr meets, my Lovely Assistant and I have joined a couple photography groups on Meetup, and I'm in the process of opening up a new webstore so those interested can buy prints of my photos. On top of all that, I was asked to be one of the photographers for the Windy City Comicon in September!

So, yeah. I'm feeling good.

Cursssse you GI:EXIF!

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off

File Size:	6.3 MB
File Type:	JPEG
MIME Type:	image/jpeg
Image Width:	3888
Image Height:	2592
Encoding Process:	Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample:	8
Color Components:	3
X-Resolution:	72 dpi
Y-Resolution:	72 dpi
Orientation:	Horizontal (normal)
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date and Time (Modified):	2009:05:13 13:43:48
YCbCr Positioning:	Co-sited
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original):	2009:05:03 12:20:29-05:00
Date and Time (Digitized):	2009:05:03 12:20:29
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
Color Space:	sRGB
Focal Plane X-Resolution:	4433.29532497149 dpi
Focal Plane Y-Resolution:	4453.60824742268 dpi
Custom Rendered:	Normal
Exposure Mode:	Auto
White Balance:	Manual
Scene Capture Type:	Standard
Compression:	JPEG (old-style)
Global Angle:	30
Global Altitude:	30
Copyright Flag:	False
Photoshop Quality:	12
Photoshop Format:	Standard
Progressive Scans:	3 Scans
XMPToolkit:	Adobe XMP Core 4.1-c036 46.276720, Mon Feb 19 2007 22:40:08
Orientation:	Horizontal (normal)
Metadata Date:	2009:05:13 13:43:48-05:00
Creator Tool:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Format:	image/jpeg
Color Mode:	3
ICCProfile Name:	sRGB IEC61966-2.1
Viewing Conditions Illuminant Type:	D50
Measurement Observer:	CIE 1931
Measurement Flare:	0.999%
Measurement Illuminant:	D65
Color Transform:	YCbCr
Flash Return:	No return detection
Flash Mode:	Off
Flash Function:	False
Flash Red Eye Mode:	False

Be good,
-Dave

|

"Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires."
— Lao Tsu

Gen's biography, courtesy of Strategy Wiki:

Gen is one of the Chinese opponents in the original Street Fighter. He is first introduced as a selectable character in Street Fighter Alpha 2. Gen is the only Street Fighter character that can change fighting styles in mid fight. He is known for his quote in English, spoken to a defeated opponent: "You are a big fool!" Incidentally, Gen says this before his final battle against M. Bison in Alpha 3.

Gen was produced by SOTA Toys and may still be available in stores or online.

One of the things I'm constantly working on is how to balance a photo. What I mean is, how to get the poses just right, are the characters in proportion to their background, am I following the rule of thirds, etc. etc. etc.

Despite being a photographer for going on 4 years now (I can hear more experienced photographers chuckling), framing still doesn't feel natural to me. I have the hardest time looking through the viewfinder and deciding what looks best. My mind is too clouded by all the things I've been taught, and I'm full of questions. "Is the light right?" "Is the angle good?" More accurately, I should say that I'm full of doubt. "I don't think the light is right." "I don't think the angle is good."

When I relax and shoot from the hip, the doubts vanish. Vanish isn't the right word... It's more like they were never there in the first place. I hold the camera up, don't bother looking at what I'm shooting, and click. Instead of trying to take a good picture, it's more like a game. It's fun!

I told you all of that to explain today's shot. April and I were at the Chicago Botanic Garden (as we often are) and we stopped at the fountains near the bonsai trees. Not wanting to miss an opportunity, I took Gen out of my bag, dipped him in the water, then struggled with his weak ankles to get him to pose in the water. People looked on in amazement as a grown man played with his toys in the fountain while I tried framing my shot. After snapping several I wasn't happy with, I gave up and fired a few "from the hip", including the one that started this post, which was what I WANTED to get when I was looking through the viewfinder.

Maybe Lao Tsu was on to something.

Here's a funny joke about EXIF!:

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	55 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off

File Size:	4.2 MB
File Type:	JPEG
MIME Type:	image/jpeg
Image Width:	2592
Image Height:	3888
Encoding Process:	Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample:	8
Color Components:	3
X-Resolution:	72 dpi
Y-Resolution:	72 dpi
Orientation:	Horizontal (normal)
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date and Time (Modified):	2009:05:13 13:41:34
YCbCr Positioning:	Co-sited
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original):	2009:05:03 10:42:47-05:00
Date and Time (Digitized):	2009:05:03 10:42:47
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
Color Space:	sRGB
Focal Plane X-Resolution:	4433.29532497149 dpi
Focal Plane Y-Resolution:	4453.60824742268 dpi
Custom Rendered:	Normal
Exposure Mode:	Auto
White Balance:	Manual
Scene Capture Type:	Standard
Compression:	JPEG (old-style)
Global Angle:	30
Global Altitude:	30
Copyright Flag:	False
Photoshop Quality:	12
Photoshop Format:	Standard
Progressive Scans:	3 Scans
XMPToolkit:	Adobe XMP Core 4.1-c036 46.276720, Mon Feb 19 2007 22:40:08
Orientation:	Horizontal (normal)
Metadata Date:	2009:05:13 13:41:34-05:00
Creator Tool:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Format:	image/jpeg
Color Mode:	3
ICCProfile Name:	sRGB IEC61966-2.1
Viewing Conditions Illuminant Type:	D50
Measurement Observer:	CIE 1931
Measurement Flare:	0.999%
Measurement Illuminant:	D65
Color Transform:	YCbCr
Flash Return:	No return detection
Flash Mode:	Off
Flash Function:	False
Flash Red Eye Mode:	False

Be good,
-Dave

|

I've never watched Gundam.

From Gundam Wiki:
The NRX-044 (NRX-004) Asshimar is a transformable mobile armor from the anime series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.

This new suit introduced before the Gryps Conflict by the Earth Federation and the Titans was a truly revolutionary suit despite not being the strongest. It was the first suit to be able to fly in the atmosphere of a planet on its own without the help of a sub-flight system. The development of Asshimar was started by Earth Federation Force as NRX-044[R] Prototype Asshimar TR-3 "Kehaar" Due to the high stresses placed on the transformation systems under gravity, a prototype machine was initially made for testing in zero gravity where the load was reduced. The construction of Kehaar is very complex and can be consider as early movable frame. The Titans further developed the Kehaar into NRX-044 Prototype Asshimar TR-3 "Kehaar", remodeled for atmospheric use after the completion of its space testing, and new tests were conducted to evaluate the durability of its transformation mechanisms under gravity. Thermonuclear engines were installed in the leg sections which serve as the Kehaar's main propulsion devices, giving it far greater thrust than the later production model. It was also equipped with a skirt unit containing supplemental thrusters for vertical takeoff. Since this unit included fixed wings for stabilizing the machine's flight attitude, its silhouette in mobile armor form was very different from that of the production model. A beam gun similar to MS-09 Dom was installed in the left side of the Kehaar's chest, and its beam rifle can double as a beam axe. Also adapted from the Dom was its head which sported a cross design for its sensor array, however, unlike the Dom, it sported three "eyes" instead of just one.

I do not know who manufactured this figure or where to find more. If you know, please let me know in the comments section.

For Asshimar, I wanted to play around with my usual tools and see if I could come up with something new. I did a little cross processing to play with the colors, used lab coloring to make the hues pop, and my own robot eyes tutorial.
The thing I spent the most time on is the eye glow. Taking a note from miniature model painters, I tried to paint the eye like a glowing gemstone. I'm not entirely sure that I succeeded, but I am pretty happy with how it turned out. It's at least more interesting than just a glowing light.

Blame it on the misfortune of your EXIF:

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture:	f/8.0
Focal Length:	55 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire

File Size:	4.0 MB
File Type:	JPEG
MIME Type:	image/jpeg
Image Width:	3888
Image Height:	2592
Encoding Process:	Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
Bits Per Sample:	8
Color Components:	3
X-Resolution:	72 dpi
Y-Resolution:	72 dpi
Orientation:	Horizontal (normal)
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Date and Time (Modified):	2009:04:21 10:29:38
YCbCr Positioning:	Co-sited
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original):	2009:04:12 12:33:17-05:00
Date and Time (Digitized):	2009:04:12 12:33:17
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
Color Space:	sRGB
Focal Plane X-Resolution:	4433.29532497149 dpi
Focal Plane Y-Resolution:	4453.60824742268 dpi
Custom Rendered:	Normal
Exposure Mode:	Auto
White Balance:	Manual
Scene Capture Type:	Standard
Compression:	JPEG (old-style)
Global Angle:	30
Global Altitude:	30
Copyright Flag:	False
Photoshop Quality:	12
Photoshop Format:	Standard
Progressive Scans:	3 Scans
XMPToolkit:	Adobe XMP Core 4.1-c036 46.276720, Mon Feb 19 2007 22:40:08
Orientation:	Horizontal (normal)
Metadata Date:	2009:04:21 10:29:38-05:00
Creator Tool:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Format:	image/jpeg
Color Mode:	3
ICCProfile Name:	sRGB IEC61966-2.1
Viewing Conditions Illuminant Type:	D50
Measurement Observer:	CIE 1931
Measurement Flare:	0.999%
Measurement Illuminant:	D65
Color Transform:	YCbCr
Flash Return:	No return detection
Flash Mode:	Off
Flash Function:	False
Flash Red Eye Mode:	False

Be good,
-Dave

|