Bokeh
the cup
‘the race that stops the nation’ … today, the 1st Tuesday in November, was ‘the cup’, the Melbourne Cup.
That probably means nothing to those outside Australia – the Melbourne Cup is a horse race, yes that’s right, it’s just a horse race, but for some very strange reason, it is a horse race that literally stops the nation – workspaces put down tools & stop work to watch it, many close their office or shops to celebrate the race with fancy lunches and copious amounts of alcohol.
And boy do we gamble on it … one race … 3200m … a few minutes …. but every year approx $40 MILLION dollars is punted. (just to remind you, there are only 21 million people in Australia)
For the records, I didn’t even come close to a win – i got nothing, not even a plastic ‘cup’.
doh
“If you really want something in this life you have to work for it. Now quiet, they’re about to announce the lottery numbers”
Homer Simpson
grand prix
I love F1 and grand prix motor racing – the tradition, the excitement, and the action. Living in Australia, though, it’s a bit tough to watch, given that it’s on very late on a Sunday night – but it really is something great to watch … and that means a few sleepy Monday’s at work.
One day, perhaps when my working days are behind me, I’d love to travel the world for a year, going to every race … definitely something for my bucket list.
Tonight is the 12th race of the season, at the Spa circuit in Belgium. It would be great to see Mark Webber finally get onto the top step for the first time this year.
i shot myself
I was playing with my old Canon 350D tonight …. after using a 7D almost exclusively for a year or so, I can’t believe how small the 350D is, dwarfed in my seemingly gigantic hands ! It is still a pretty good a camera.
Lighting info:
Canon 580ExII reflected in Westcott 28″ Apollo softbox @ 1/16th, camera left.
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diffused lemongrass
Since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved the smell (& taste) of lemons and all things lemony … and now lemongrass. And who would have thought that they could bottle it.
with bells on
Not interested in trying to do anything creative tonight … this is it, with bells on.
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apollo me
Kelly thinks this has become an addiction … some more new toys today … a Westcott 28″ apollo softbox. I love it and all the beautiful soft light it emits. All I need to do now is learn how to use it better (oh yeah, and find a better model too!).
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led bokeh
I buy a lot of ‘stuff’ on the internet – the latest deliveries came today, from thinkgeek.com – which include some of their LED Graffiti Lights. This are small LEDs, joined to tiny batteries, with a small rare earth magnet for a base. The idea behind them is that you can stick them in unusual places – anywhere that is metallic.
I thought I’d give them a go, and while i’m at it use them for a bit of bokeh. Mario loves bokeh.
Mario is lit with YN560 on 1/32, cmaera left, though Westcott shoot through umbrella, with 5-in-1 reflector (silver side) on camera right. Fired by a YN RF602 wireless trigger.
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model mario
My first ‘strobist’ shot …. itsa me Mario … and he’s happy.
The bokeh isn’t brilliant, but you can’t do too much with office buildings.
Lots of room for improvement, and I’m sure I’ll look back in 282 days time and cringe, but for today, I’m happy.
Lighting:
- Canon 430ex camera right, 1/16 power, shot through Westcott 43″ umbrella.
- Triggered by RF602 el-cheapo wireless triggers
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bokeh beast
Two of my favourite lenses …. the ‘beast’ lens in the photo is my Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 … it was taken with my ’50′, the Canon 50mm f1.8.
Both fantastic lenses for their respective costs.
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