Recombobulating

Whew, back online again. Had a mysterious modem failure during the day yesterday, when I was away—the house has a backup generator and there weren't any storms in the area, but the modem was kaput when I returned home last night.

To its credit, Time Warner Cable sent a technican pronto and I'm back up and running again—with speeds up to 60 Mbps next to the box, and 48 Mbps down here on the front porch a.k.a. the office (or, as I like to call it, the Official Office).

I'll catch up on comments next.

A few random recent snaps:

These two are drive-bys, but I like the second shot, simple though it is.

This last picture, taken at the Corning Museum of Glass, is the sort of thing photographers get no credit for. Because the whole point is the artwork, and the artist is responsible for that. The photographer steps aside and takes a supporting, backstage role, letting the star of the shot shine, so to speak.

Still, it's not always easy to get a good shot of someone else's artwork; I took several shots each of five different views of this one, and worked on preserving the "floating" quality of the lovely luminous colors in this piece. The piece is "Blood Sugar" by British artist Tony Cragg, born 1949. It's not actually easy to photograph because your experience of it changes so much as you move around it. There are hundreds of possible ways to show it.

Mike
(Thanks to Kim Thompson)

Original contents copyright 2015 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

TOP's links!

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

No featured comments yet—please check back soon!

Comments

[Herb]

Agreed on the leaf blower thingy. I heard a priest say once that the language of God is silence!

[MarkR]

Mike, I've taken a picture of the same piece at Corning-- had the same problem you did.

Here's my take on it: http://www.markrouleauphotos.com/p162996938/e523ca7f5

[Patrick Perez]

A better long-term option is to buy your own modem. The rental fee from most cable companies means a break even in less than a year. You can frequently find good ones for ~$50.

Patrick

[I know you're a genius and I acknowledge it, but how does that help me? Because then when the modem dies, the guy I have to call is me, and I would have no clue how to fix it. If it belongs to TWC, at least they take care of it when it breaks. --Mike]

[Ed Buziak]

The Corning glass 'exhibits' look like sex toys!

[Edward Taylor]

Really love that second shot Mike.

Ed

[Hugh Smith]

Mike:
Glad you're back online.
Re: the 5 shots you mean you didn't do an Annie Liebowitz and shoot 200 shots per?
See? That's why you're not a famous photographer.
Imagine Halsmann or Avedon shooting HALF that many with an 8x10 view camera.
Mi dos pesos.

[Bruce K]

I *love* that second shot! Should be offered up as a print IMHO.

[Bernard]

Mike,

I've made a habit of snapping any posted information right after I photograph a piece of art.

[Del]

I just hope that is real bacon!

[Earl Dunbar]

I too really like the second shot. It is reminiscent of (though not exactly equivalent to) FP4 developed in FG7. That was a favourite combination for me. So I need to order some FG7 for the FP4+ 4X5 that I have.

[Anthony Shaughnessy]

I very much like the second shot. Mysterious as to why the meal is left on the table. Also, the plants outside look like they're looking on hungrily.

[Paulo Bizarro]

I like the second photo, it looks like the house is about to be invaded by menacing plants!

[MikeR]

I'm happy to hear that you have a backup generator. Automatic start as well. You'll have a good sense of security, once winter gets going, that you can stay warm and well-lit. Maybe no Internet, if the same storm also took down the phone and cable lines, but think of the respite from obsessive connectedness.

[Steve D]

I must not be very good at this because I think the second shot of the table and window is sublime. If I arrived at this point I'd consider myself "done" and be thrilled. To my eye on my monitor it's gorgeous. Now printing it of course is another thing entirely.

[Stuart Hamilton]

I'm a little late to respond Mike but that second shot is lovely; a fine mix of strange with the ordinary, and beautiful tonality.

[Earl Dunbar]

The meal was left on the table for Butters. ;)

[Richard Skoonberg]

Love the tones in second shot and its warmth!