Hello to all and welcome!
I can't really say what you should expect to see here as I've never before tried blogging or anything similar. It'll have to be a work in progress. I'll probably talk about photography in general (and mine in specific) as well as point out different things that are going on that I find interesting or worth commenting on. If anyone (assuming anyone actually ends up reading this) has questions or suggestions on topics, feel free to let me know.
I'm here you're with me, here at the beginning of all things.
Roger
p.s. Comments and feedback are very welcome.
12-12-12
I suppose the fact this is the last triple day of the century deserves some mention, even though the news was pushing the concept.
I watched District 9 last night. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting from it, but it was not what I expected. I guess I thought it was more of a straight horror story rather than a faux-documentary sci-fi alien part-horror, part-satire film. And it was actually prettly enjoyable.
The big Sandy concert is currently being recorded (all 4.5 hours of it). I'll probably watch it tomorrow or over the next several days.
Only 2 days until The Hobbit!
Weather
I think the final total is around a foot of snow from yesterday's storm. It is amazing how much nicer things look in winter when they are coated with snow. No longer just dead grass and leafless trees. Now they are textured landscapes.
Here's one that I shot at the Arboretum a couple of years ago. I always have liked the way shadows can make the image.
Weather, books and movies
Well, it's snowing. Has been all day. I'm guessing it is around 5-6 inches right now. The forecast says 9-12 before it is done. It makes for a lazy Sunday and I'm glad I don't have to be anywhere. Just sit here typing and sipping some Ginger Pear White Tea from Trader Joes.
On Friday I finished reading "The Emperor's Soul" by Brandon Sanderson. It is the second novella he's had out this year (the first was Legion - see this post from 10/28 for my notes on that http://www.zenfolio.com/rogerpavelle/edit/blog.aspx#192078257) and the second one that I have really enjoyed. And, it is totally different than Legion. This one is a fantasy piece set in a world where runes and glyphs can affect reality (actually, it is the same world as his "Elantris" but an undiscussed corner of the world and you wouldn't know if he didn't tell you). The main character in the story is a Forger who has been captured in the emperor's palace and awaits execution. Instead, the council of advisors tell her that the Emperor has been injured by an assassin and only partially healed - they need her to forge a new soul for the Emperor in exchange for her life, possessions and money. The story unfolds as a discussion of self, how the choices you make affect who you are, the nature of Art and of Craft, loyalty, politics, nature and reality. It is a short (100 or so pages, maybe a bit more) and quick book and well worth reading.
This afternoon I finished reading "Crossed Blades", the third in Kelly McCullough's Fallen Blade series. The series follows Aral "Kingslayer", an assassin/mage (or "Blade" as they are titled) for the Goddess of Justice. The first book in the series (Broken Blade) takes place around 5 years after the death of the goddess (and almost all of her followers) at the hands of the other Gods (and their followers), and finds Aral as a drunk and part-time rogue/thief/bodyguard. His shade familiar Triss is not happy about any of these facts. By the time of "Crossed Blades" he is slowly finding an equilibrium in which he can live and try to move forward. Then a fellow blade (and his former fiance) walks into a bar. I've really enjoyed this series so far. The characters are believable and how they react to the situations they find themselves in are logical extension of who they are. Check them out if you want to read a good and interesting set of fantasy novels.
And finally, last night was spent trying to watch some movies I had saved on the DVR. I started out with the original "Casino Royale" (the one starring David Niven) but gave up after an hour or so. It didn't have much of a plot and was not really funny (and was supposed to be a comedy, so that is a problem). So I instead decided to watch "High Fidelity" again (one I've seen several times now). This is a movie that falls into the weird category of movies that I enjoy a lot when I catch them, but wouldn't consider buying (or keeping on the DVR once I rewatched it) since I don't feel any need to own it and watch whenever I'm in the mood.
And, since it is Chanukah, I'll leave off with the following photo I took in the Czech Republic:
Book and Links
I finished reading "Year Zero" by Rob Reid last night. Parts I enjoyed quite a bit, others I thought were a bit overdone. The premise is that aliens discovered music from Earth, fell in love with it and copied everything. Then they found out about copyright laws and penalties. It has humorous things to say about the music industry, politics, celebrity and other cultural affectations. And the humor does come through well. I just felt that there were times that it went a bit too far for not apparent reason, added one too many target for satire, and therefore had plot elements that went nowhere or weren't fully developed. So, I would give the book a 3 out of 5, or just say check it out if the story sounds like one you'd enjoy.
I really liked the extended first look video for Les Miserables (http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/videos.html). I am now much intrigued and hopeful about the movie.
Patrick Rothfuss is an author I really like (except that he doesn't write fast enough!!!!!!!!). He also has a monthly podcast called "The Storyboard" in which he talks with other writers about different topics. The most recent one was about blogging and memoirs, and was quite good. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFO50chkSDg
Photography: Black and White vs. Color
I've never been overly fond of black and white photography. With few exceptions, my initial reaction when seeing one is "I wish I could see that in color." Because of this, I try to challenge myself every once in a while and shoot something with the intention of converting it into black and white.
The first think I look for in this case is texture since I find that is one aspect that really stands out in black and white. Another feature is having a fairly wide color range so that you can get as many shades of gray as possible. Along with that, you need strong whites and blacks.
In the above pair, I thing the texture of the log really stands out and contrasts nicely with the smooth textures in the leaves and flowers. The dark shadows at the bottom also helps the bright flowers and medium-tone leaves. So, overall it works nicely as a black and white image...but I still prefer it in color ;)