95

This is the 95-foot tall Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park. This is probably the most popular waterfall in the state. I have at least two I like better, but I do think it's popularity is deserved. Even when the water is low this is a real beauty.

the wheels on the bus go round and round

I do a lot of random experiments with my cameras. I've grown to love film more than digital, because it's easy to stretch the boundaries. I know almost anything I do with film can be faked with photoshop. The thing is, I like the mystery and challenge. I like having to figure out how to fed film in a certain way or whatever else idea I've thought up. Will it work? Will it turn out how I planned?

Above is the latest experiment. This is redscaled film. I didn't buy redscale film. I did the homemade version. Basically you put the film in flipped over. (Instead of having flat side down. You have to have it facing up.) The part of the film that reacts to red light is usually the last layer. It's the most sensitive and needs less light. Flipping the film puts these layer first and it gets a lot more light. The effect is everything that has red in it has a stronger red color.

Most people make redscale film by feeding film into an empty canister upside down. I had no interest in doing this, mostly because I didn't want to sit in the dark and wind film in. Plus you have to tape it in the canister and stuff. It just seemed like a mess. I decided to just take an unmodify role of film and put it in a Holga 120N upside down. Since this camera is designed for 120 film there's a lot more room to allow the film to be in upside down. I used foam as spacers to keep the canister in place and help keep the film wound tight.

a fresh start

I like sunsets, but I shoot a lot of them just because I happen to be out a lot as the sun is setting. I never seem to be in a place where I know the area well, so it's always a scramble to find a good place to get some shots. I was near Lake Conway about a week ago, and I was in that situation. The sunset was epic, and I wasn't going to let not knowing where I was stop me. I was in an area where most of the land is privately owned. I couldn't think of anywhere close enough that had public access. Luckily, I found an RV Park and grabbed a few shots.

spaceship landing!!!

Taken: May 1, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D plus Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Exposure: 1 sec
Aperture: f/36.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Here's another extended exposure shot from Toad Suck Daze. I was so excited to get to try this out. There was a group of kids next to me throwing stink bombs, and a man in front of the camera that was overly concerned I was taking his picture. All of this made me a little antsy, but this was the first time I'd done any sort of photography in a crowd setting. Thankfully Tillie was with me and had my back (literally) . She stood behind the me sort of diverting the crowd away from my tripod, because a few people had almost ran straight into it.

lean on me

Taken: June 29, 2009
Camera: Holga 120N and Kodak Portra 400NC film
Exposure: ~1/120 sec
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: ~38mm

One thing I love about photography is it casts a new light on familiar things. I pass by this every single time I go to my parents' house, yet I had never noticed it. With a brand new camera to test out, I began looking for things to shoot on the way to my hometown. I ended up spotting this barn and a few other cool finds.

can you handle it?

Taken: June 6, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D plus Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 72 mm
ISO Speed: 400

I just happened to be in the right place at the right time for this. I was already out shooting, and the sunset turned out to be an amazing one. I made the mad scramble to a location fitting of a sunset. I drove back this shovel and jumped out and grabbed a few shots. It's still my favorite silhouette that I've used. This was near Toad Suck Lock and Dam in Conway, Arkansas.

motionless chaos

Taken: May 1, 2009
Camera: Canon EOS 40D plus Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Exposure: 3.2 sec
Aperture: f/29.0
Focal Length: 33 mm
ISO Speed: 400

I had been wanting to try extended exposure shots on fair rides for a while. Toad Suck Daze in Conway, Arkansas was the first chance I got. They only had three rides that I could use, so I didn't get nearly as much practice as I had hoped. I liked how this one turned out anyway though. I especially liked the the ride is moving so much yet the couple in frame is so still.