Painting With Light

When I first started taking photos with my old Canon point and shoot, I always let the camera do the work for me, by that I mean auto focus, auto exposure, auto everything. Then I saw some night photography and light painting, and that was one of the driving forces behind learning to use manual settings and understand how the camera really works. The truth is it's actually pretty easy. It's also a bit gimmicky but it's still fun to do.

For those of you who don't know how it's done let me break it down; tripod, long exposure, light source. Your light source can be anything from a cell phone or flashlight, to steel wool or a programable LED light bar.

For the first two photos we used the light bar that Jake built. It's a six foot tall strip of LEDs with a mini computer attached to it. After you upload an image to it from your phone you simply push a button and walk through the frame. The LEDs light up in sequence while you walk which results in an image.

The next technique we often use, which has become tremendously popular, is spinning steel wool.

The light bar is a great way to make ghosts.

Photos taken with a Canon Mark III, and Canon 60D with a Canon 20mm f/2.8 and Rokinon 8mm Fisheye.

The American Way

Last week Kaylah and I went on a little roadtrip to Charlotte, North Carolina. On the way there we stopped in Cave City, Kentucky for a night and then headed through Tennessee first thing in the morning. We didn't find nearly as much to photograph as we did on our trip out west but this place made up for it. The property once held a fireworks store, which unfortunately burned down this past July, however the ferris wheels, animals, rocket, fire truck, and other great attention grabbers are still standing. 

I managed to snag a few Polaroids as well.

Photos taken with a Canon Mark III with a 20mm f/2.8 lens, and a Polaroid Super Shooter using Fuji 100c film.

This is Where I Live

Every day I wake up in Cleveland. I usually start my mornings with a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. Then I sit down at my desk and read the news online before I start editing client photos. The problem, if you can call it a problem, is that living/working in a place of inspiration creates a lot of restlessness; and sometimes I just have to get out and wander around with my camera.

A walk along the elevated train tracks on the east side made for great views and little hidden gems of architecture and graffiti.

Self portrait.

Euclid Avenue at sunset.

Because intentionally out of focus photos can still look cool.

This man was walking around Public Square taking notes.

Waiting for the bus.

Brandon walks through an alley.

I've really enjoyed shooting more street photography recently. It's so easy to get into a rut when ninety percent of what you shoot is weddings and abandoned buildings. 

Photos taken with a Canon Mark III, with a Canon 20mm f/2.8 and Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

Abandoned PA Turnpike

For the second year in a row I biked the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike. Which is roughly nine miles of overgrown and decaying road, with two tunnels, one of which is over a mile long. This place is so perfectly post-apocalyptic that they filmed the movie The Road here. 

The bike ride portion of our trip was a little rough. I don't think any of us were quite prepared for the cold temperatures and wind. The real fun was spinning steel wool and doing other types of light painting in the near pitch black tunnels. 

Entrance to the first tunnel.

No shortage of graffiti.

Mid tunnel group shot.

This property isn't technically abandoned. It's a bike trail that isn't open yet, and even though they don't mind people biking it, they don't want you inside the ventilation shafts and maintenance rooms, but...

Turbines to pull bad air out and good air in.

On top of one of the tunnel entrances.

The second tunnel.

Despite being a little too cold, I still think this was a great day to bike this trail.

Looking at the rest of the group from on top of the tunnel.

Jake with a roman candle.

The sun was setting just as we reached the car.

If you have a chance to bike this trail, do it! It's fun.

Photos taken with a Canon Mark III, and Canon 60D; using a Canon 20mm f/2.8, and a Rokinon 8mm Fisheye lens.