networkzero photography

Something for the ladies (and gay men)

2010-01-27T17:28:00.000-08:00

This guy was freaking hilarious, and made me feel really out of shape. The guy he was working with before me was the one i was talking to the most, older gent and seemed really talented, had a great laid back attitude about it all. Made me feel better about my skills and pointed out that some of the people with better set ups didn't mean better skill or vision. So there's that. This pose amused the hell out of me too. He burst out laughing right after this.

Funny triva, in just uploading photos to flickr, i got more views on them than any other photos i've posted ever. *sigh*, guess people just want to see hotties, which, i can't blame them, but it makes me feel bad about the other photos. :P

The Studio

2010-01-25T22:18:00.000-08:00

Just thought i would share a random shot i took of the studio while waiting for models. I'm standing where i was taking most pictures, looking down the line. There is room behind me where the models are getting painted and ready, and to the left there are about half the "stalls" and then down to the left is a "studio setup" that is their lights and backdrop. This did make me want to have room for a studio even more than normal. I still am kicking myself for not buying that house in laCrosse that had the finished barn with regulation basketball court on the ground level. Although i wouldn't be there now anyway. Still, i dream of that, and then connect the damn thing to my house with tunnels or hamster tubes so i don't have to go out in the snow in winter. ;)

First image, unedited.

2010-01-24T23:42:00.000-08:00

Just a first example of the shoot, not edited, but one of my faves. This is one of the head dresses i was talking about. She was awesome and expressive. Not much editing needed really, although some things show up full size (keeping it small here to keep that from showing up really and since it's not done). I do love the dramatic lighting, as you will probably be able to tell, even if it's not usual for fashion or glamor, i like it (so there, /blows raspberries at you, heh)

Damaged negative

2010-01-17T02:53:00.000-08:00

So not long ago i found a ton of old negatives i forgot i had, most were in great shape and i got them scanned at Target in bulk just to get them on discs. (side note: i might actually get some rescanned by Scan Cafe, who will do a better job and such) This is one of many that was damaged though, just by bad storage, not on purpose. It's of one of my ex-girlfiends, Val, and since it's not so clear, i don't think she would mind this posted. ;) (and we stayed friends for a long time, basically until we lost contact, just so you know) What's neat that you probably can't tell, is that she had the most awesome dreads in this picture. She had just gotten extensions added to her natural dreads (hair that was pretty thick and long, then turned into dreads, then this which was colored artificial dreads with cloth strips tied in, it looked awesome, although we did end up cutting it all short not long after) and was having me take her photo while tossing her head around. So yeah, long story made about same length, i had all these negatives that got damaged, and Target said they would have a hard time scanning, so i made an effort with my crappy old scanner that has a negative ability, and this is what came out. There is really no photoshop done, other than cropping and straightening. Yet, i love it. It's got a lovely quality i think. So that's why i'm posting it here.

Dollfie Dream "Alice"

2009-10-02T02:03:00.000-07:00

Here is Alice (that's what i named her at least), my first Dollfie Dream, in my basement hanging out, wearing her new boots that came today. She rocks, i love how she can stand up on her own, and has such personality. Yeah, i'm an odd duck, so sue me. ~_^

Art and Fire Project

2009-09-27T00:27:00.000-07:00

This is one of the photos i took from the Art and Fire Project in Stockholm, Wisconsin. It was my first attempt at taking photos of fire, and also where it was so dark. This was a total challenge for me and my knowledge of photography. I didn't bring a tripod, which i probably should have, i was worried about someone tripping on it, so all the shots are hand held. I had to crank the iso to the highest so shots would be decent. I probably would have gotten better shots too if i had a lower F-stop lens, but f-4 was the lowest i could go, even though it's a pretty awesome lens. This isn't probably the best image, but i just wanted to start with posing the images from it.

Because i need a smile

2009-09-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

I still love this picture, even if these bunnies aren't with me anymore (from left to right: Alex, Dru, Miso), i get a smile looking at this picture. Alex was alone and depressed for a long time after his previous bunny friend passed, and then we got Dru, who was for sale at the pet store when we got food for Alex for only ten dollars. He was grooming the ear of a chinchilla, who was annoyed. Had to get him as i worried about him, and never regretted it. Dru and Alex got a long great and were best friends (more than that from the looks of it huh? heh). Miso was given to us (me and my ex) from friends who were giving her up, she lept in my lap when we went to get her. She was smart and a trouble maker. She could open her cage that i had trouble opening, and always seemed to know what we were saying. She got fixed after moving up here, and once Dru and Alex could play with her, you should have seen the smile on Dru's face. (yep, bunny smile, hard to explain, lower lip down, not in an angry way)

Things have been tossing me around lately, health, loved ones passing, severe depression, all that mess. So i saw this and wanted to share a bit of the happy. (btw, my ex's dad referred to this picture as "receding hare line". ;)

Been busy

2009-07-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

I've been taking a digital photography class here in town at the university. It was interesting if not a tad intense, started at 8am, every monday through thursday, on the third floor, ended at noon. Kind of ironic (a digital class, using such an image of such an old camera) i picked this photo from my final project, but i love it. Took a bit of photoshopping to remove a flash glare, but i love the texture on it. The class mostly covered using photoshop, with about the first week going over the digital photography aspect. Still, learned a good deal. Now i just want to learn more about the other aspects of photography, but his other classes fill up pretty quickly. I'm okay learning by myself, but it's nice to have that other perspective i can't get alone.

Jerry and me

2009-06-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

Just a picture of Jerry drinking while i take his picture with my holga lens on the digital camera. How cute is he? (very!) hee.

Yard bunny

2009-05-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Spotted one of the yard bunnies on my way out today, was sitting under a bush by the front door, but when my garage door opened it spooked him. Thankfully didn't scare him too badly, and he sat there watching me photo him and drive away. I love seeing the yard bunnies. ;)

Infrared Photography self portrait

2009-05-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

This was interesting, it's quite hard to figure out exposure for IR photography as it is, much less from the front of the camera, and then to stand still for those minutes. This lens does have quite a hot spot, but it's really my only wider lens that the filter fits. I'm still not sure if i'm doing it right, but i guess that is what learning is all about. I've been going into the longer exposures, around 3min each, and it seems to be closer to what others have online. I just wish i had a remote trigger for the 5D, i do for my rebel, but they don't share the connector, grr... Oh well, it works just as well. ;)

Charing Cross Road J-Doll

2009-05-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

I was just playing around with lenses i don't usually use, and using my Charing Cross Road J-Doll as a model. (yes, i know, i'm weird) I wish it was more posable, so i could practice with taking pictures of people, which is hard to do when people are hard to come by that want pictures taken by someone without a lot of people experience. I'm hoping to get a Dollfie in the near future (not a naked one, who put that picture on wikipedia, lol) thanks to what Danny Choo has shown of them. Kind of pricey, the one i want (heh, she shares my initials) to start with is $418, and that's without a cool outfit (and not really the eyes or other parts i'd customize). I guess that's not too bad, as the one Danny has that is awesome is over $1,000. (after seeing the guy at the bank get that in fives for his trip to a strip club, in addition to $500 in ones, i don't feel so bad) Anyway, i've been told it's good practice taking pictures of the dolls to get posing and lighting down more. I've mostly had experience with nature and other more random things. On a related note, sort of, i've been thinking when i do get around to more people photography, tossing in my other experience with 3D modeling/animation and special effects make up. Could get some surreal or unique images that way.

Potted bunn

2009-04-30T01:14:00.000-07:00

I wonder, will i get little bunnies from this odd plant? ;)

Jerry being a goof as usual, digging in the dirt in an old pan. He's listening to me take the picture, probably thinking "If i don't move, he can't see me, and i can't get in trouble." (not that he gets in trouble really anyway)

Bunns getting cozy

2009-04-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

Oh my, the cuteness, it burns. ;) This morning, i'm waking up and hear them doing something. I look over, and they are going into the carrier together. Just hanging out in there too, for some odd reason. The brown one with the fluffy tail is Amanda, and the white cutie is Jerry. They are awesome together, if not a bit goofy. ;)

Cuteness on Easter

2009-04-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Here is Zack with Kitty behind him, just relaxing in the sun under the footstool. Zack pretty much flopped out stretched out for a good long while. I love seeing this kind of thing, just puts me in a better mood and glad they are that happy. :)

Kitty bunny after the vet

2009-04-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

It's a little blurry, but i love this picture. Kitty is exploring the carrier after coming back from the vet for a nail trimming and yearly check up (had long ho nails, and gained a little weight, but otherwise great.) She is so feisty, but loves to see what this thing is all about, she'll go in there and hang out, even after the trip in it.

Honestly, how can you not fall in love with that face?

Infrared digital photography

2008-12-14T00:18:00.000-08:00

So here is my first shot with infrared digital photography. The lens has a hot spot, and my results aren't nearly as cool as those others have taken by far. Wrong sized filter probably didn't help, but it stayed on, with tape. I used one of my cheaper lenses just in case. This was with my un-modified 5D, and about 10sec exposure. I used Aperture to do all the conversion from the red picture i took, not sure if i did that all right or what, something about the white balance should be set on something green, but in winter here, not much green. It would have probably helped if it had been a sunny day, not overcast near dusk, but oh well. Not exactly the most thrilling photo, but hopefully i'll get better at it.

Yard bunny

2008-12-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

This is one of the wild rabbits at my parents house a while ago eating at the base of one of the bird feeders. Their yard bunnies are a bit thinner and more "wild" looking than mine, not sure why, could be because they live pretty much at the edge of a smaller town near a river, and foxes and such live there too. Mine are probably more protected as they are in a city (of only about 12,000) but fewer predators so they can relax. I am not sure how true that all is, i'm guessing. Still love them all though.

More lighting practice

2008-12-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

This is another attempt at lighting practice, although i noticed it's really hard to get sharp focus without a remote trigger. Just touching the camera to take the picture shakes it enough where it's out of focus. :P I have a remote trigger for the Digital Rebel XTi i have, but it uses a different connector than the 5D, boo... Oh well. I think i'm getting better at lighting though, made a diy softbox for the main light, put some foamboard to reflect the light on the other side and lit the background. I know, basic stuff, but i'm learning here.

Haruhi

2008-12-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

So this is what came out of trying to learn more about lighting and photography. Many of the photos were bad exposure, or seemingly lit bad. I should have done something to do that cool light circle behind her, (Haruhi Suzumiya by the way) or some other lighting behind to help her stand out better. Funny thing is this was on two sawhorses, where i placed extra bamboo flooring i had, and the background is my basement wall. I hope to get better lights at some point and possibly actual backdrops like paper rolls or fabric, but for now, this works.

Oh the memories

2008-12-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

Oh my. This is from 1992, good times. I had to gank this from a friends post, as i lost my copy many years ago i think. Maybe in the move, or before that even. These were so fun to do, every year for a while a group would get santa and get these done. Sometimes the people would vary, but some were always there. Santa actually loved doing these, got really into it. I wish i could find my portrait of myself from around then that had me looking like a ren fest monk, pretty nifty. Rose probably has it somewhere, i lost mine. If you were wondering, i'm right above santa. I would give a lot to be in that shape now, that's for sure.

Invasion scout

2008-12-09T13:17:00.000-08:00

Noticed this scout for the invasion in my kitchen, worried about more that are going to take over, but they are not very big and i can defeat it. Yeah, i'm in a weird mood. I also seem to love macro photos the most, as i also take a lot of them.

(yeah, this is just one of my many figures i keep around)

Mina Otsuki TtV

2008-12-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

This is Otsuki Mina from the anime Getsumento Heiki Mina (Moon Rabbit Mina) taken Through the Viewfinder on my kitchen table. Kind of blurry, but it's really hard to focus doing photos like that. The anime is kind of odd, but you know me and rabbit related things. ;)

Smorkin labbits

2008-12-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

These are just some of my vinyl figures, three Labbits and other ones behind them, just playing with the macro lens. Nothing thrilling, but i liked how it turned out. I think i was being stared down by the Labbit with ice cream. ;)

Torso test

2008-12-06T01:09:00.000-08:00

This wasn't what i had in mind when i took this, i was going to try to do some self portraits, but i found out the remote trigger i had didn't work with the 5D, so i'll have to wait for that. I had set up this (which i have had for over sixteen years now, full of memories) as a focus test, but i do like how it turned out. As soon as i can afford it, i'm planning on getting some lighting equipment from Alienbees and some backdrops. I don't really have someone to model for me yet, but i can always start out with things like this to practice on until then.

Emily TtV

2008-12-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

This is Emily's nose, Through the Viewfinder. She has the cutest lips and is so curious when i do anything. I've had close calls where she runs under my feet, but so far so good. One of my old bunnies, Dru, used to run and land on top of my foot when i would walk around, and try to be launched in the air, no joke. I wondered what was up until one day i stopped when he was on my foot, and he got off and ran back on once i started walking again. Silly bunnies.

TtV out the window

2008-12-04T03:30:00.000-08:00

I took this Through the Viewfinder photo yesterday morning after the snow let up. It's of the bush that seems to want to get into my kitchen window. I was trying more to get the snow behind this branch but kept focusing on this one, but i love how it turned out.

Kitty bunn being Kitty bunn

2008-12-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

Here is Kitty bunny doing what she seems to love to do, sitting under the stool and digging at the rug. She's a sweetheart, but totally feisty and silly. I never saw a bunny wag their tail as much and as vigorously as her before. She does it when she's happy, silly, or playing. Seeing a bunny wag their tail is an odd pleasure, always makes me smile. Kitty (for those who don't know, she was named this at the humane society, and it stuck. although i also call her Key-chan or Miss Kitty at times) is also now the smallest of the bunnies, the little girls have gotten bigger than her, she's a petite little bunn, but very healthy.

Amanda a while ago

2008-12-01T19:33:00.001-08:00

This is Amanda bunn about a year and a half ago, like April 2007. I just thought she was too cute and small looking on the rug. She's gotten a good bit bigger than this, not Clover sized, but she has gained about three pounds since then all in just getting older. She's quite the character, nice but loves to feel she is the one in charge. She gets along with Jerry great, and seems very happy with him, so i'm happy too about that. :)

Snow

2008-11-30T21:25:00.000-08:00

This is actually from march of this year, but it sums up my feeling of winter. It's pretty but kind of nasty at the same time. I love how it looks, and i don't really mind the cold if i don't have to go out in it too much, but people drive like idiots during it and i always seem to forget to stock up before the storms as i don't really like risking my life and car on slick roads. Don't even get me started how i got a garbage bag stuck to the front of my car today and didn't realize people were flagging me down for that, not the burned out headlight. D'oh.

Kitchen table

2008-11-29T23:57:00.000-08:00

This is an older picture too, taken with an antique 120 film camera. Seems there is some light leak going on, but i like it, gives it an atmosphere. I rarely play with film, just gets too expensive and leaning new things add to that cost. Still, fun to use once and an while.

Vodka Bottles

2008-11-28T01:59:00.000-08:00

I was going through my old photos and came across this from last Easter time. Lots of memories associated with these as they are tied to a friend of mine who passed. Yes, that is a lot of vodka, but it kind of looks like a product ad sort of.

Brown spider

2008-11-27T04:16:00.000-08:00

This is a relative of the spider eating the fly i do believe. The macro lens i used is a favorite of mine, but i have to use the ring flash and get really close to them. I love how much detail i can end up seeing with it and i've gotten a new appreciation of spiders from doing them. There was a group on Flickr of close up insects, but i lost the link. I'll try and find it again and post it, although most of them do put me to shame.

Edit:

I found the flickr group, Insect Close-ups.

Cymbalta is expensive

2008-11-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

Kind of funny that i forgot i last updated with a picture of prozac, and now update with cymbalta. Meds are expensive, but needed, and i like seeing what things look like with a macro lens.

Old Prozac

2007-05-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

I found this old prozac pill while cleaning, and when i say old, i mean old as in over ten years old. I moved hours away from where i was when i had this prescription and only found it days after getting the new macro 1x-5x lens for my Canon. I really liked how this turned out too, kind of shows in an abstract way how i feel about Prozac, but that's hard for me to explain in words.

Brain eating spider

2007-05-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

Since this is the first post of this blog, i think i will post one of my favorite pictures. I took this on my kitchen window screen with a nice macro lens. I had to use a ring flash as a tripod wouldn't reach the area or get close enough to keep the camera steady enough. I still like how it turned out with a flash though.