theonlyD800inthehameau
Photography by theonlydeadheadinthehameau
Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadow
Posted on February 9, 2017
Shine a light through a glass of red wine onto a white tablecloth and this is what you get:
Abstract Geometry
Posted on November 25, 2016
I took this photograph while on a weekend photography course in Abu Dhabi a few years ago. The colour original isn’t up to much: an over-exposed (very bright sunlight) pale yellow section of what, apart from a line of these tilted squares, was a pretty nondescript wall.
However, this monochrome version is, in my view, a lot more interesting: the shape itself is emphasised – helped by the vignetting I added – and the whole thing is somehow much ‘grittier’ thanks to the greater contrast available in black & white.
A Nod To Escher
Posted on October 14, 2016
This photograph is of part of a ruined monastery (I think) in Sarlat, a medieval town in the Dordogne.
This week, Cee is looking for images of rocks. You could perhaps argue that these are stones rather than rocks, but what exactly is the difference between a stone and a rock?
Well, according to Wikipedia (so it must be true), stone is rock that’s had a bit of work done on it. Still made of rock though, I’d argue.
Judiciously cropped, as here, it reminded me of something that M C Escher might have produced.
Under pressure
Posted on October 7, 2016
As part of the wine-making process, in Bordeaux as elsewhere, the young wine has to be drawn out of the big stainless steel tanks into smaller containers under the force of gravity. Given how large the tanks are, it’s not surprising that it comes out at high pressure. That’s what you call letting it breathe.
And if you zoom in closely enough, it becomes almost abstract:
Tuesdays of Texture: Paper
Posted on August 24, 2016
The Moulin du Gôt is an historic working paper-mill near St Leonard de Noblat, in the Limousin region. Paper is still made there using traditional methods and from some unusual primary materials – not just wood and linen, but various vegetal matter (leeks, for example). Some of the papers they produce are used to make lampshades with fascinating textures:
Macro Moments: Week 7
Posted on August 3, 2016
Another open topic this week for the macro challenge hosted by Musin’ with Susan. This is my third contribution and so far I’ve posted a flower and a dragonfly, so perhaps it’s time for something inanimate.
This is the very end of an extremely long soap bubble that my grandson blew last year.
It reminds me of a very early Pink Floyd lightshow (note to younger viewers: trust me on this one – you had to be there).
Weekly Photo Challenge: Abstract
Posted on April 24, 2016
According to the Tate Gallery, “abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead uses shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect”.
I think this qualifies. It was taken in front of the huge aquarium inside Dubai Mall, and illustrates what happens when you have to use a long exposure in a dimly-lit space and somebody barges into you just as you press the shutter.
The smaller image below shows what it would have looked like without the introduction of the third-party camera shake. Frankly, I prefer the abstract version (it’ll probably come as no surprise to learn that I like tie-dye too).
Weekly Photo Challenge: Abstract
One Photo Focus: March 2016
Posted on March 4, 2016
This month’s One Photo Focus Challenge, provided by Nancy Merrill, had me thinking. Here is the original:
I felt that there were two possible approaches:
A matter of record
This first edit sees the image as a ‘record shot’ (absolutely no disparagement intended). Essentially, all this requires is a modicum of straightening and a sympathetic crop to highlight the sign and put it into some context – so here we can see the structure of the theatre and the fact that it is located in a green (or at least non-urban) area.
Abstract form
It looks like this theatre has been built along the lines of Shakespeare’s Globe in London (which I’ve been fortunate enough to attend for quite a few performances over the years). The key architectural characteristic is undoubtedly the black and white ‘mock-Tudor’ effect, which is a worthy subject in itself. Consequently, I cropped down to the bottom left quadrant of the original image, flipped it a quarter-turn clockwise, tweaked for sharpness and added a little grain and a vignette to produce this almost abstract interplay of light and shade, straight and diagonal lines.
Patterns in mosaic
Posted on November 14, 2015
This is a detail from an intricately patterned mosaic in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Islam discourages, or in some cases completely forbids, the creation of images of humans and all sentient beings. Accordingly, the development of art has focused to a great extent on geometrical patterns.
(You’ll have to believe me when I say that I’d already selected this image before I saw the one featured in Cee’s post)
Walkway
Posted on October 29, 2015
For this week’s challenge, here’s another image from the Burjuman Centre in Dubai, showing a section of the walkway on the top floor. The starburst effect on the lights is a real bonus here.
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