photography – Page 15 – Photographic Impressionistic Illusionistic

Cameras Are Dumb

on July 15, 2022July 15, 2022 By Mark Wade 8 Comments

Looking to the sky
And seeing what I see
My heart wells up
The muses to please

I go grab my camera
And frame what I see
Release the shutter
And become so displeased

Finally! I made some time to get some moon frames and stuff.
I met a young fellow who was trying to make an image of the moon, handheld.
He was with his son and he was struggling. Eventually I offered some help, but by that time it was just too dark to make the piece without a tripod.
I did however introduce him to manual mode and graduated filters (for handheld work).
All of this reminds me of what I have believed since day one of “serious” photography making for me. Cameras are dumb, and the effort to make them right seems to be at the bottom of the list. They are nowhere near the amazingness of the human eye and we are strapped with fixing and manipulating the shortcomings of the ineptness of it all.
According to some reporting, the human eye can see some 21 stops of dynamic range. That is one of the reasons why we can look at the brightness value of a cloud, then look into shadow and see details in both. (The eye is also very fast in adjusting)
So in my mind, we can stop considering “more pixels” and start thinking about creating software/sensor systems that can SEE WHAT WE SEE.
Any camera company that could do that, would dominate for a few years…until the others catch up.

source: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/if-your-eyes-were-cameras-what-would-the-specs-be

Case in point: The cover photo was exposed for the moon. The photo below was exposed for the stars (barley). Why don’t camera companies make the sensor/software systems see what we see? (Please no excuses, I know them already). Excuses do not solve problems.

Here is the fellow I met with his son. For handheld work, grad filters are a lot of fun.

Sorry for the rant. I still love photography and all of its challenges.

Starting Line

on July 12, 2022July 12, 2022 By Mark Wade 4 Comments

It is morning
The sun,
Reluctant
Complaining

There is coffee in my future
Sparks of promise
Run through my veins

There are many things to be sad about.
There are many things to be grateful for.
We live in an amazing age full of promise.
What shall we choose to see and direct our steps?

Star Search

on June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 By Mark Wade 2 Comments

Do stars come from chimneys?
Smoke bellowing blue.
Painting the night sky
Brilliant and true.

Ah, the milky way. Hidden in city light and revealed only in the dark night. Most tragically, not a candy bar.

New Neighbors

New Neighbor

on June 23, 2022June 23, 2022 By Mark Wade 7 Comments

Ya can’t take an oriole
And put it in a pigeon-hole

Bathing in a finger bowl
Eating taco casserole

What’s left of their sausage roll
Will end up in a cubby hole

Eaten on a kaiser-roll
A total lack of self-control

Hooded oriole –

Almost Full

on June 14, 2022June 14, 2022 By Mark Wade 6 Comments

Certainly
Beyond half full
Positive vibes
Bringing on the night

We live on a hill, so gravity reminds us constantly who is in charge.
Two nights ago, while planning the garden, a covey of quail waltzed through our conversation. Half a dozen females scurried to the fence and hopped onto the entangled foliage. Several males/females followed suit. Finally, the dominate male and his mate brought up the rear and joined them.
We were within ten feet of them and they took no notice of us. I held my breath the entire time…or maybe just kept still and quiet. The experience was prodding enough to take out the Z6 and make some work last night. Perhaps they will return and I can make some portraits.