Newsletter #119: June, 2015
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.
Contents:
1. Rita buys a bike! Betsy is her name
2. Still life: examining the parts
3. Rubber tires: cool treads!
4. Wheels in motion: getting ready to take off
5. Checking the spokes: circles of confusion
6. Crankset and chain: running smoothly
7. Midnight Madness: night ride
8. Workshops: new space available – Registration
Hi everyone,
In this month’s newsletter I am going to continue along with the theme of visually delving into a single subject. Last month in Newsletter #118 it was the tiny aspen forest on our small property.
I was still wondering what subject to choose for this month’s newsletter when Rita returned home with a new bicycle. Hmmm, I said to myself, I wonder what kind of a visual journey I could go on with that bike?
I decided to take on the challenge.
Come along for the ride. Her name is Betsy!
Our goal at the Chris Harris Gallery is to share the creative process. Please share this Newsletter with friends. I appreciate your support for my work.
Chris
1. Rita buys a bike! Betsy is her name!
As soon as Rita arrived home with her new bicycle, Duggan and I had to examine it. Wow…cool bike! I was excited about the colours while Duggan was already scheming how to get a run out of the deal.
Duggan got his way by following Rita on her first test run along the road in front of our house.
While Duggan was getting his physical challenge, I started scheming as well. How about a visual challenge, I thought to myself. A shiny new bike, with great colours, and shapely parts…..perfect!
2. Still life: examining the parts
I was excited to start. My mind immediately went into overdrive, thinking of all the many ways I could approach this subject.
Notes on composition & technique: By hand holding the camera and shooting wide-open at f-2.8, I continuously moved about the bike looking for elements of visual design, changing only the focus. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; Aperture priority @ f-2.8; 100mm macro lens; handheld |
First off, I eliminated the word ‘bicycle’ from my mind. This was to be a journey into line, form, and colour. Other elements such as texture and movement would soon play a role.
I put on my 100mm macro lens and started my visual exploration. As always, it takes time. It’s a process. My approach was to make some images, take a break, and then return for another exploratory journey.
Each time I returned, I discovered new subject matter I had not seen previously. This was exciting!
Notes on composition & technique: As above. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; Aperture priority @ f-2.8; 100mm macro lens; handheld |
3. Rubber tires: cool treads!
The possibilities were endless. I could have shot thousands of images, and I could show you hundreds…boring! I’ll just share a few!
Notes on composition & technique: I put my camera on a tripod for this shot and spun the wheel. I carefully chose the background for its colour. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; shutter speed @1/8sec; 100mm macro lens; tripod |
Notes on composition & technique: I put my camera on a tripod for this shot and spun the wheel. I tried different wheel rotation speeds until I got the effect I was looking for. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; shutter speed @1/13sec; 100mm macro lens; tripod |
Each different wheel rotation speed generated a totally different feeling about the subject and the sense of motion.
4. Wheels in motion: getting ready to take off
The two large wheels were obvious photographic centres of interest. I had a lot of fun trying different approaches and at different times of the day.
wheel in context with the ground
This image was difficult to make. I wanted to show the wheel traveling along the side of the road with a sense of motion. As I can’t ride the bike and photograph it at the same time, I made a double exposure. The first exposure showing the road and the grassy shoulder was easy. It was a simple panning motion at a slow shutter speed.
The biggest challenge was the placement of the wheel so that it looked like it was riding along the green shoulder. Because the bicycle was in the garden, nowhere near the road where I made the first exposure, I had to make a calculated guess as to the placement of the more abstract second exposure of the wheel.
Looking at the image now, I have a new idea on how I could improve this image. I’d like to redo the second exposure by spinning the wheel to generate an even greater sense of motion.
Oh well, next time!!
Notes on composition & technique: This image was made in the evening and the light shining off the spoke is from a small flashlight. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; aperture @ 2.8; shutter speed @1/8sec; 100mm macro lens; tripod |
Notes on composition & technique: Using the same small flashlight, I bounced some light off the rim of the wheel. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 400; aperture @ 2.8; shutter speed @15 sec; 100mm macro lens; tripod |
5. Checking the spokes: ‘circles of confusion’
Shooting the spokes was pure visual fun. I just set the aperture of my macro lens to 2.8 and then went exploring amidst the spokes. With the aperture set wide open, any reflection of light became a bright ‘circle of confusion’. For some shots I would rotate the wheel, and for others, I wouldn’t. The visuals I experienced were fascinating, and once I had discovered the ‘circles of confusion’ with spokes showing through them, I searched for them.
circles of confusion I
circles of confusion II
circles of confusion III
6. Crankset and chain: running smoothly
Continuing on my visual journey, I moved in to explore the crankset. At first I concentrated on the pedal and the movement, but then I discovered the chain. The more time I spent moving around the bike and exploring every possible angle, the more revelations would appear. I was always mindful of colour; both the coral colour of the bike and the background which was usually green grass.
The following images were made with an aperture of f-9 at 1/6 sec.
crankset and pedal I
crankset and pedal II
crankset and chain I
crankset and chain II
7. Midnight Madness: night ride
Finally it was time to shoot Betsy at dusk as she prepared for an evening excursion.
The following images were all made with an aperture of f-2.8 at approximately 20 seconds. At times I gave a short burst of light with a small flashlight during the exposure.
wheel and spokes I
wheel and spokes II
wheel and chain
night ride
The midnight race – Betsy in the lead!
Notes on composition & technique: This image was made in the dark with horizontal camera movement and a little illumination from my small flashlight. EOS 5D Mark III; iso 100; aperture @ f-4; shutter speed @25 sec.; 100mm macro lens; handheld |
8. Workshops: new space available – Registration
Lady in grass
A couple of cancellations have opened new space . Check out the workshop details and plan to join us if you can. Enjoy taking your photography to a new place. It’s creative! It’s fun!
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