Bubbles in Bangkok

Last year when I was working with the EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools) folks in Bangkok, Thailand, I led the group on a photo walk through the town behind the school. We came across this adorable little girl blowing bubbles, and her parents were more than happy to let us photograph her (thanks mom & dad!). I shot this with the GF1; this was the first trip I took with that camera. I really am appreciating more and more how a camera that small and unobtrusive lets you get in close to people without them freaking out about a big camera in their face. At some point I suppose I’ll have to go Lecia…

Blowing Bubbles in Bangkok @ November 2010 | Panasonic Lumix GF-1 & Lumix G 20mm ƒ/1.7 @ ISO 100, ƒ/1.7, 1/1300

Infrared Tattoos

Some time ago, my friend Frederick Van had an old Canon EOS 10D converted to an infrared sensor. I have an old 20D I keep meaning to do this to myself; it’s not the most useful thing in the world, but it can certainly be fun to have one for special occasions.

A few years ago when he was setting up a home studio, we got to playing with the infrared camera under studio lights. A friend of ours was in the process of getting a new tattoo, and had just finished the “outline” stage, and volunteered to pose for us. The way the infrared sensor handles skin is just amazing, and under the bright studio lights, the skin took on a translucence that’s (probably, hopefully!) impossible to replicate with just an IR filter (glass or software!).

The original vs the treated images shot on an infrared-converted Canon EOS 10D

The RAW images that came off the camera were red. I started with a white balance off the white shirt, and then adjusted individual RGB levels a bit to play with the overall tonality, and finally since blacks had turned to blue (hair, tattoo lines, etc.), I expanded on that and enhanced the blues a bit more. Entirely processed in Aperture, of course.

Infrared Portrait @ May 2008 | Canon EOS 10D (Infrared Sensor) & 85mm ƒ/1.2L II @ ISO 100, ƒ/11, 1/60

Infrared Tattoo @ May 2008 | Canon EOS 10D (Infrared Sensor) & 85mm ƒ/1.2L II @ ISO 100, ƒ/11, 1/60

U.S. Army Reserves, Ft. Hunter Liggett, California

Last year I was asked to shoot some promotional images for the U.S. Army Reserves; I tweeted about it at the time but never posted any of the images. Alenka posted a great series on her blog some time ago, which you should definitely check out.

This is my favorite shot from the trip, which is ironic in that the Army can’t use it—there’s no smoking allowed in the Humvees! Oops. So, it makes a good shot for my personal use.

Fort Hunter Liggett, U.S. Army Reserves @ June 2010 | Canon EOS 5D Mk II & 24-70mm ƒ/2.8L @ ISO 400, ƒ/2.8, 1/400

Tattooed Man in Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is a city of smiles, and people are generally very open to being photographed there. I have a tendency to shoot street photography while obscuring people’s faces, for both privacy and future-use rights, although in this case it could be argued that even with his face obscured, he’s still recognizable due to the tattoos.

He was very friendly and approached me when he saw me shooting, and his friend helped to “pose” him (arranging his shirt and hat) for the photo.

Amazing place, Thailand.

Tattooed Man in Bangkok, Thailand @ November 2010 | Panasonic Lumix GF-1 & Lumix G 20mm ƒ/1.7 @ ISO 100, ƒ/1.7, 1/1600

That tattoo didn’t end there…

Tattooed Man in Bangkok, Thailand @ November 2010 | Panasonic Lumix GF-1 & Lumix G 20mm ƒ/1.7 @ ISO 100, ƒ/1.7, 1/1000

Faces of Belfast, Northern Ireland

I was in Belfast a couple of years ago for a job and was able to enjoy a weekend off, riding rented bicycles through the countryside along the tow path with my client, stopping along the way at various ruins, graveyards, churches and yes, of course, pubs.

I love this face, enjoying a pint (or two) in the late morning (so were we, so who’s to judge!). The lighting was dim but great (maybe not perfect, the shadow on his left eye is stronger than I’d like and this was shot at ISO 1600), but he was more than happy to throw a toothy half-grin my way.

Clientele at a pub in Drumbeg, outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland @ April 2009 | Canon EOS 1Ds Mk III & 50mm ƒ/1.2L @ ISO 1600, ƒ/2, 1/125