Johnny101 | STEEL VEiLS

Conspiracy 3-21-09

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:15:01 GMT

Conspiracy 3-21-09
Originally uploaded by Johnny | STEEL VEiLS

DanChallenger2

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:54:38 GMT

DanChallenger2
Originally uploaded by Johnny | STEEL VEiLS

Katrina

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:16:34 GMT

Katrina
Originally uploaded by Johnny | STEEL VEiLS

Katrina

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:16:21 GMT

Katrina
Originally uploaded by Johnny | STEEL VEiLS

Been a while since I posted anything here. Been almost as long since I took any pictures. Anyway, here's a couple from last month. Loaded with mistakes I'm kicking myself for now; but always a reminder that I have to keep all the details in mind.

A Tale of Two Cities

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:31:47 GMT

no... not the classic novel, a Flickr group. It's a very cool concept, the more I think about it. It's a purely film-based group and it works like this:

Person A in City X shoots a roll of touristy photos. They then rewind the roll and send it to their partner, Person B in City Y. Person B then shoots the same roll of film, also with touristy shots. The film is then developed. The entire roll has now been exposed twice, making for some really interesting layers (sometimes). As Person B has no idea what's on Person A's film already, it's entirely a gamble. Sometimes, the shots work, a lot of the times, they don't. Regardless... I think this is a really interesting idea. So much so, that I might even give it a try someday.

Idea

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:03:48 GMT

i just had the most interesting idea...

no content for this; but the idea is to use my hasselblad to capture something moving relatively fast while at the same time grabbing a digital exposure. I can even do this using artificial lighting. so... here's the deal:

hasse with pw on lens, channel 2.
5d with pw trigger cable on channel 2.
strobes with pw's on channel 3. (pw's in relay mode move the secondary triggering signal to the next sequential channel in order to keep the timing in sync)

i can mount both the cameras on separate tripods, one right above/next/below/whatever to each other. trigger the action (model jumping, sports, whatever), click the shutter on the hasse which will fire the 5d; the pw on the 5D will send the trigger to the lights; all at the same time. i can then check the results on the digital which will give me an idea of what's on the film i just shot. :)

Meagan Filth

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:50:32 GMT

Been a while, but here's two from a recent impromptu shoot:

(yes, i know the logo is on her foot and that's a bad, bad thing - but it's better than having it floating up in some weird corner. besides, this is only for public display. the print looks awesome.)

Model: Meagan Filth (MM# 99917)
Canon 5D
ISO 50
1st
Canon 70-200 F4L
F8 @ 1/125
2nd
Canon 24-70 2.8L
F7.1 @ 1/125
X-Proc'd in post.

Bud Light Presents:

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:54:44 GMT

Real men of Geniuuuuuuuuuus!

Today we salute you, Mr Guy with a Camera.

Mr.GuywithaCameraaaaaa!

With your stunning high end gear and a sleazy moustache, you're the spitting image of a professional high end photographic artist.

It's pronounced artiste!

Canon. Nikon. Olympus. Chevrolet. You don't know how to use them, but you're out to get your model's number anyways.

We should get some coffee

Your antics might get you scorn from professionals, husbands, or policemen, but you don't care. All you're here to do is score with a hot chick, one photo at a time.

The camera loves you, baaaaabeeeee

So crack open an ice cold Bud Light, Avedon. 'Cause everyone knows, when you're on the prowl, nothing's better than a camera, and a restraining order

Mr. Guy with a cameraaaaaaa

May Strobist Meetup

Tue, 27 May 2008 18:52:02 GMT

Memorial Day Weekend Strobist Meetup.

Meet Jessie, first time model and social worker. She was a blast.

First off, here's a tip - when light is low and you know there are colors in the surrounding environment, use a flash to light them:

Just one light on the model:

Adding a 2nd light to the tree behind her:

Now for two shots that I like:

Orphaned Art Work - Misconceptions

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:03:57 GMT

So the art community is all a-buzz today with this "new" legislation (that actually stems from a dead bill posed back in 2006).

In short... artists' work will not be 'up for grabs' by the entire world if we don't act immediately. Online display is not a)considered to be 'published' or b) automatically an "orphaned work".

In super extra short, the original author, Mark Simon, clearly did not read all the material or is just trying to stir shit up.

Here's an excellent and well thought out response with TONS of more official sources:

http://maradydd.livejournal.com/374886.html

Strangely, her entry came up as #4 in a google search for "orphaned work copyright art".

Photoshop Disasters

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:04:11 GMT

I'm not Photoshop genius - in fact, I can barely manage to hack my through the menu system.... but as bad I might be, I'm not this bad:

X-Tine

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:16:32 GMT

A teaser from my shoot yesterday:

More to come later this week.

Photographers and Models; an objective survey

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:43:08 GMT

A very dear friend, supporter and source of inspiration has poised a questionnaire involving the affects of or on model-photography in relation to the mainstream media. This is a sociology experiment and is completely anonymous. For more information, see this post. Any and all input would be appreciated.

Flood #2

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:30:08 GMT

Here are some actual flood water pictures:

This, by itself, doesn't look like much of a flood picture, but I was on the bridge and the water just a few feet below the bottom of it. This was taken on Rte61/67 near 141 & 55.

This is old Gravois on the border between Sunset Hills and Fenton. The river is actually beyond the horizon of this image, about 1/4-1/3 mile up the road.

Flood Pictures

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:25:55 GMT

This town is flooded. I'm sure there are a ton of pictures documenting the flood which are far better than my rushed images. However, are there any which capture the amazing and space-like designs produced when a gas station is flooded?

There's a gas station just on the other side of the street from this little puddle of flood water. These designs were in the water.

I like this one because of the swirling action - it reminds me of a galaxy-type formation.

This one reminds me of the clouds on Jupiter; well at full size zoomed in on the patterns themselves anyway.

Strobist Meetup

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:45:26 GMT

These were shot this weekend at a local photographer's meetup. St. Louis Strobists; for those in the know.

White on White

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:21:56 GMT

A little test for myself. How do you define a white object against a white background, without using shadows? That's the trick: shadows define shape/structure/texture. Hrmm... After some playing, I ended up with this. Not great, but pretty close. Perhaps, once I get some more materials, I will reshoot this:

you probably aren't now either.

More Sacramento

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:36:14 GMT

Here's the dam at the south-east corner of Lake Berryessa (Monticello Dam)

Now, I'm sure I've never told any of you this, but I tend to really, really hate pictures taken from an airplane out those little windows and whatnot. I never wanted to be 'one of those guys' in the plane, trying to contort myself just enough to get the shot... well, as it turned out. I became one of those guys when we flew over really beautiful mountain range:

Still more to come from this trip...

Sacramento Update

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:09:30 GMT

So, I didn't get a chance to shoot as much stuff as I wanted to in Sacramento last week. However, here's a few - with a few more coming throughout this week:

D-Terminal "centerpiece" in the DFW airport:

The fog the first two days was unbelievable!! One morning, I got up early (yes, me) and drove around a bit. I found this just a few blocks from the office, over a golf course:

That giant large lightsource is the SUN! Visibility, driving, was about 1/8th of a mile - crazy, I know!

Another one from the golf course

Driving back to my hotel that night, I saw this and had to snap one off:

Pics of mountains to come later.

Knives

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:07:21 GMT

I mentioned earlier about shooting some knives a while back. Well, I revisited them tonight and found two that aren't too bad. I'll spare you all the technical jargon and just see what comes out of the ether...

Canon 5D
Canon 24-70 2.8L
ISO 400
f11 @ 1/160

Canon 5D
Canon 24-70 2.8L
ISO 400
f16 @ 1/160

ToDo:

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:28:05 GMT

Must.Take.Pictures.

It's been a while since I've shot anything that made me really happy. My last shoot's glory was short-lived after some re-examination; plus it really wasn't received too well in the various photo communities. Not that their opinions really mean that much - afterall, it's the internet. But, it is really nice to get cheers instead of jeers once in a while.

I shot some still-life, in my own little quirky multi-colored way, over the holiday but I never quite got anything that I really liked. I take that back... the first day I did it - I really liked what I had; but there were prop-problems. When I went back to fix those problems, I couldn't get the light to do what it was doing before. Very frustrating. It happens though, and it's a sign/reminder that I don't always know exactly what I'm doing when I go back to recreate a setup. Not that I'm clueless with the science of the shot, but rather, that I need to pay more attention to the fine details of a lighting setup. I see now why photoshoots are so often video-taped. I have a camcorder... hrmm... might be a good idea to start doing that.

Which brings me to my next topic... I haven't worked with a model in a long time. Hell, I haven't even spoken to one since shortly after the last shoot. I really need to get my shit together, I'm building a large list of 'to-do's with no one to-do them. heh.

Color IR Tower Grove

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:15:57 GMT

So last Sunday, after all the snow, I went out and did some shooting. I wanted to try some more digital color infra-red work. So far, I'm mostly content with the outcome, which consists of this image and one more I'm still toying with.

I'm still nowhere close to representing the effects of true color ir film though.

TechInfo:
Canon 5D
Canon 70-200 f4 L
ISO 200
f11 @ 6 seconds
Hoya R72 IR Filter
Layer blending, Levels, Channels and Hues adjusted in post.

BIG NEWS OMG!

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:22:39 GMT

So... this has been in the works for some time... but it was a secret. Now it's out there!

Binary Studios merges with Steel Veils!!

All hail the new flesh!

Be sure to check us out on MySpace as well.

BWAHAHAHAHAA

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:14:05 GMT

Old lens repair...

http://www.hermes.net.au/bayling/repair.html

I made this. No really... I m.a.d.e. this!

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:09:21 GMT

This is a scan of my very first 100% self-made image. It was shot using my Hasselblad 500c w/80mm, Ilford HP5. Exposure was (I think, it was a while ago) F16 @ 1/2s. Developed in D-76 and printed using a 23C enlarger on Ilford Multigrade IV RC Glossy paper. I don't know the paper developer (not my darkroom). Paper exposure was F16 for 10.5 seconds, then 3 more seconds with a #5 contrast/color filter.

The image itself has some issues, like the cut off arch and symmetry problem, but I'm just too ecstatic with the overall process and result to not post this.

Because of this experience, I am seriously - actively - determined to obtain my own home darkroom. I've done the window shopping, the research and had the conversations. I'm sold and ready to buy! The only "cost" to me now will be for chemicals (very reasonable) and paper (not so reasonable) - but still quite - QUITE more reasonable than developing/printing costs at any lab for 6x6 film.

Johnny101 | STEEL VEiLS

Conspiracy 3-21-09

DanChallenger2

Katrina

Katrina

A Tale of Two Cities

Idea

Meagan Filth

Bud Light Presents:

May Strobist Meetup

Orphaned Art Work - Misconceptions

Photoshop Disasters

X-Tine

Photographers and Models; an objective survey

Flood #2

Flood Pictures

Strobist Meetup

White on White

More Sacramento

Sacramento Update

Knives

ToDo:

Color IR Tower Grove

BIG NEWS OMG!

BWAHAHAHAHAA

I made this. No really... I *m.a.d.e.* this!

I made this. No really... I m.a.d.e. this!