Reactions

I often say that I dislike people. Obviously, I don’t mean that. I say it because I am aggrivated or irritated over a few. Really, I love people. I mean, there wouldn’t be a world like this without people. Anyway.

What I like the most about people, homo sapiens, humans; is their reactions. The way their faces and bodies change in one hundreth of a second. I love it. I love observing it.
Especially those who react only with their eyes. When their faces and bodies remain exactly the same. With people like that, their eyes are like hallways. Behind each door is a different reaction. Only visible in their eyes.

I love it. And I don’t dislike people. Not in general at least.

Finally outside

Today I actually stepped outside the front door and spent about 15 minutes taking pictures on our property. Noen of them were useful though, I need new territory. I am fully aware that 15 minutes is not what one would call a long time, but in the past days, I have spent 99,9% of the time inside wasting my time, so compared to that 15 minutes is a while.
Last night I finished watching all the CSI:NY season 5 episodes that has aired till now. And I have to admit that I cried of happiness when something was announced. I was so happy I wanted to scream. Yes, I am definitely too emotionally involved in that TV-series.
Despite my age, I consider myself to be somewhat mature, and while that sort of behavior might not be normal for a mature person, I love that I felt that way.
Btw, when I say mature, I mean that I am not like my fellow seventeen-year-old’s who squee after every guy they see and who wear a mask in the form of makeup.

I wish I had some photographs to post, but as I said, most of them were useless.

First photographs with my D300

I have purchased a Nikon D300 and these are two of my first serious photographs taken with it. I am stunned by the clarity of the images. Both of these are edited, but just a tad. The top one has been converted to black&white using channel mixer and I just adjusted the curves a little bit on the bottom one. Not much editing needed.
Now, I just need a new lens. I am planning on getting the Nikkor 18-200 VR. Having an all-round lens, I think, will be good since I dislike dragging too much stuff with me.

New Years Eve

This has by far been my most pessimistic new years eve in a long time. Actually, I have been blank the whole holiday when I think of it. And for at least 50% of the year.
I spent the evening almost alone (meaning I was alone in the room, but not in the house) wallowing in self-pity thinking how the next year is going to suck as much as 2007 did.
Sadly my pessimistic attitude has affected those other people in the house, even sadder; I do not care. Everything feels meaningless right now.

Happy new year to all of you optimists! I really hope 2008 will work out great for you.
To all pessimists; I hope it works out for you too

Stubbornness

Is being stubborn a bad thing?

…

Apparently you have to cry, show your emotion, to make her understand. Telling her over and over again has not done the trick. I do not like that. And I definitely do not like what she said afterwards. I finally have it. I have it, and her opinion is to rip it all away. She cannot understand. She says she does. Missing it without experiencing it is one thing. But when you go from not having it, to having it, and then you suddenly have to give it up again? That is pure cruelty. I have wanted this my whole life. She knows that. She knows it so well. She knows about my problems. She knows how much I wanted it. But what does that matter when someone else, who played the main part of ruining a big part of my childhood, does not want me to have it? She is stuck between two people. I know. And I am selfish thinking she should prioritize my feelings and take my side on this. But she knows what he did. She was part of what he did. And she knows SO well how it affected me. And she knows how happy I am to have it.
For the first time in my life, I feel like she really doesn’t care.

bottle….heart….window – series

bottle….heart….window

*edits to all images: resize, convert to black&white using channel mixer

How much editing makes a photograph a manipulation?

There is one question in photography that is answered again and again.
“How much editing makes a photograph a manipulation?”

60% of all photographs I see around the internet are visibly color-edited. But is that not okay to do to bring out the emotion you want in it? The photograph is still the same, just with different. If I remember correctly; color editing can be done in a darkroom. I myself have never been in a dark room and I do not know how to use one, but I believe that this can be done (although I could be wrong).

I do not think that color editing (unless it is very extreme) makes a photograph a manipulation. Not contrast boost either, because if you feel that you need more contrast than the camera is able to give you, that should be allowed.

What does make a photo a manipulation?
Adding things to a photograph, I think, that is manipulating. Even if it is necessary to the context, I view that as a photo manipulation. Also changing the background qualifies as manipulating, in my opinion. Changing colors on part of a photograph can also be manipulating if it is not done ‘correctly’. E.g. changing the color of a spot on a cow would be considered a manipulation in my eyes. But maybe if it is clearly stated that this is done out of e.g. a concept of illustrating being different then maybe I would see it otherwise.

I think this is a question with many possible answers that go into many different categories and contexts. It also depends a little on each persons view and what it will be used for.
Art photography leaves the photographer with more editing freedom while in photojournalism almost no editing is allowed at all.
This entry lacks real arguments and points of view, I know. But boredom can only lead to so much.

Third greyscaled nature piece

Greyscaled Nature

My boredom drove me to greyscale and add contrast to a few of my nature images so I framed them the same and called every piece greyscaled nature.

These are two of them (click on them to view full size)

Stitchwork