This is over a year old now. Somehow, I forgot to post it. This was another test using my multiplane camera stand, which now lives in a closet next to my bedroom. After making it, I figured out how to adjust the white balance. This is based on an older diorama, A MELANCHOLY, PART ONE.
I used red thread for the blood. Here are some work in progress shots.
Jody left an interesting comment on the camera post a couple of weeks ago about using a Kodak Duaflex camera with a DSLR (or a point-and-shoot) to achieve interesting effects. It’s called “through the viewfinder” or TTV and it’s pretty easy to set up! This guy explains how.
I picked up a manky old camera on e-bay for $8. It came today. Thanks for the tip, Jody!
I didn’t finish building the camera light blocking cravistan (not shown) until it was quite dark out. It still needs some work, and I can’t wait to see how things look in the sun.
I like the weird, scratchy images. It’s like looking at the world through Tom Waits voice.
Reporting from the barn in the backyard,
this is the Director of Alternative Processes of the barn
with his odd companions wishing you a good evening.
Recently, I met this fellow as I stepped out of my kitchen.
He was handsome. The morning light was perfect. I was excited.
I grabbed my camera and began taking close up pictures of the little monster. The praying mantis misunderstood my encouraging words of “Work it!” with “Please, attack my hand!” Caught by surprise, I dropped my trusty Canon SD850IS Digital Elph. In my haste to take pictures, I didn’t wear the wrist strap. My camera broke. This was right before ArtScape, too. For the record, I gently moved the praying mantis to a camera free bush, unharmed and safe.
I LOVE(D) this camera. It came highly recommended from DPReview.com and I chose it after careful consideration over many other cameras. I checked around to see if anyone could fix this, and was told it’s cheaper to buy a new one. I looked on Amazon and E-Bay and learned I could still get one for about $100 more than what I originally paid for it. That’s not the end of the world. We have a Nikon D70 and there are a couple of Fujifilm Finepix point-and-shoots floating around the house. Plus, I have my crappy iPhone.
I used to take pictures when I was a kid – I had something like this Kodak box deal where you looked through the top to see your subject (MAN I WISH I STILL HAD IT). Pictures were precious, as were the flash bulbs needed to take them. Digital photography is wonderful! It’s cheap, there’s no penalty for excessively documenting daily existence and sometimes really great photos show up.
Camera-less, I felt that something important was missing. I acutely noticed every single missed photo opportunity. Wrist straps only work if you use ’em, folks. I take lots and lots of pictures. I feel EMPOWERED by having a camera with me. It turns the mundane into adventure.
So, I’ve gotten a new Canon, the SD4000IS. So far, it’s great – the indoor pics are much better and the video is downright amazing. To celebrate the new camera, I’m going to try a photoblogging experiment and share more photos here, instead of my favorite, nifty photo-sharing service shown above this paragraph. :)
Finally, while researching Canon cameras, I discovered THEY ARE HACKABLE. There is a Canon Hackers Developer Kit available, and even a book on hacking some Canon cameras [The Canon Camera Hackers Manual: Teach Your Camera New Tricks
]. Using Basic, one can upload scripts into the camera’s memory when powering on. It is non-permanent and non-destructive. With the CHDK, one can enable RAW support, increase exposure and recording times, enable faster shutter speeds and enhance functionality already available in the camera. Not all the Canon models have the kit, so be sure to check the wiki.
I haven’t had a chance to experiment with this, but it’s VERY cool.
