The Golden Hour, in the morning, changes the colors of objects. Depending on where the sun is shining, you can get blue shadows or golden shadows on objects. Here are two images that show this characteristic.
Cool colors in front, but warm, golden color behind, where the morning sun is beginning to shine.
Lining every branch is a golden hue form the sun rising and shining on this tree.
The temperatures seemed to drop overnight. The leaves are mostly on the ground. Then comes that first snowfall. I was at Houghton Lake when this all happened. And of course, I captured a few images of the lake in November, and a few of trees without leaves and leaves with snow.
This Studio 2 Class (PH2300 at College of Dupage, taught by Peter Bosy) assignment was “Specular/Diffused” and the goal was to take a series of images where the camera and object did not move, but the lighting changed to bring out different details in the object. I chose to use a No. 1 Pocket Kodak Junior c. 1921 for my object. The first try had camera movement and focus issues. But the second session worked!
The images below are a composite of seven different lighting images, plus seven different colored gels images.Using masks on Photoshop, the best characteristics of each image were selected to make the composite image.
I found the manual on Orphan Cameras, courtesy of M. Butkus, and I was pleased to make a donation so I could have all the information needed to actually use this camera. A friend gave me two rolls of 120 50 ISO black and white film and she will help me develop them. Figuring out the exposures will be fun, as this camera does not use our current terms or options. ;-).
I can choose 1/25, 1/50. T or B for shutter speeds. I can choose 1, 2, 3, or 4 for my lens opening. And focusing is movement of the lens on the camera bed, with a very stiff bellow. But I’m excited to try and will share any success I have on a future blog post.
A few other technical notes: The manual talks about “Kodakery” and reads like a photography textbook. This camera was designed to put cameras into the hands of the people, a marketing plan of Kodak that we are all thankful for today. But Kodak had to teach the people how to use this camera! The manual mentions “Meniscus Achromatic” which is a lens configuration that reduces aberration and increase aperture, and according to an internet search, will likely produce blurry images. There were a number of “Pocket Junior” models, and this one seems to be an early one. By 1927, the Pocket Junior were using the f-stops we are familiar with today.
Can you tell I had fun with this assignment?
No. 1 Pocket Kodak Junior c. 1921
No. 1 Pocket Kodak Junior c. 1921
No. 1 Pocket Kodak Junior c. 1921
No. 1 Pocket Kodak Junior c. 1921
No. 1 Pocket Kodak Junior c. 1921
No. 1 Pocket Kodak Junior c. 1921
Bright yellow maple leaves greeted us today at Morton Arboretum. These images were captured mostly in East Woods where maple trees abound. It was late afternoon, with sunshine being overtaken by clouds. Everywhere we looked there was yellow, bright yellow. I love the East Woods! (A few Impressionist images are included!)
Marvelous artwork in the morning sky over Houghton Lake this fall! Which is your favorite?
The fog was heavy this morning in northern Michigan. The first view looked like the horizon was at infinity. Then the sun briefly peaked out and reflected off the water. Then the clouds covered the sun. An hour later, the fog had burned off the lake, but the other side was still vague. The clouds started taking shape on the horizon when the fog lifted.
Sunrise with fog to infinity
The sun peaks out from the clouds and reflects on the water
The clouds begin covering the sun
The fog lifts over the lake
The backyard is full of flowers and green. Where last week there was brown and a few blossoms here and there, today there are blossoms where there hadn’t been buds two days ago. It is like Spring is making up for lost time! So this afternoon, a few of those blossoms were captured.
The wind and clod and snow did not destroy all the Spring Flowers! As I walked around my backyard today to see what survived. The Scilla, Daffodils, Glory in the Snow, Windflowers and Blood Root are beautiful. I am promised a very large crop of Bluebells looking at the buds. The Trout Lily and Celosia Poppy are filling the ground with green. Not many leaves on the trees yet. But maybe we’ve turned the corner from Winter.
Glory in the Snow
Glory in the Snow
Lenten Rose
Daffodil
White Windflowers
Purple Windflowers
Bloodroot
Spring is messed up in the Midwest this year. The plants thought Spring arrived a few weeks ago, but then Winter came back. So daffodils are bowing down from the cold, scilla are closing their petals in the cold, and muddy wet soil is frozen in places. This is not a good sign for spring flowers blooming in abundance!
My Mom and Grandma always said there had to be a snow on the yellow flowers before winter was over. I think we qualify today.
Bluebels To-Be under Snow
Blue Scilla Drooping in the Snow
Snow on the Yellow Flowers
Mini Daffodil with Snow
Tiny Swamp Oak Leaves
Snow Pattern on Grass