Photography by Naomi Drew
I went out around noonish when I decided to shoot the roll of Tri-X 400 and have it pushed in processing. Is this the result of pushing, or did hte lab fail to do it.? I have no idea! Nonetheless, I really enjoy the silhouette of the tree and branches against the midday sun.
Another one of the bronze statues in the complex which houses our public library, teen center, and senior center. Behind it all is a neighborhood park, complete with pond, some hiking trails, barbecue and picnic areas, as well as a creek and playground. It’s a place where you can do a lot of things and find a number of resources for all ages. It’s a true asset to our community.
I decided to load up a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 and have it pushed at the photo lab to +2. I had done this with Ilford HP5 with good results. Here – did they push it or not? I am completely unsure!
We have a wonderful library where I live. There is a huge children’s section, separated from the main library. Child-size chairs and tables, activities, fun books and research books. I go there often just to enjoy what kids (and big and old kids) get to read. This statue is outside the entrance to the children’s library, one of a small number of statues found scattered around the grounds.
Black and white does not do justice to the beauty of Mexican sage. The flowers are soft and somewhat plush, with white and dark lavender to purple blooms. The leaves are long and slender, slightly hairy, and release that fragrance typical of sage when crushed. It’s a lovely garden plant, excellent in dry climes, is perennial, and requires little maintenance. Besides all that, it is an excellent plant for a beautiful green natural dye.
I live in a typical American suburb built in the late 20th century. It’s pleasant, and not on a gridded platte. Here, in Monterey, is an older neighborhood, most likely dating from 1910-1930 when neighborhoods were built and the streets ran parallel and perpendicular to each other. If care is taken, or upscaling occurs, these neighborhoods are charming and pleasant for walks. The houses here are smallish and closer together than where I live, but a part of me is always drawn to these areas. They are usually near downtown (older downtown) and very pleasant for walking. Here, the road slopes steeply down to the left, while the one on the right and out of sight is straight. Good place for exercise and sight-seeing.
Nothing like spying on your neighbors . . .
Another sea-going model mammal suspended from the ceiling at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Above it all, again, from a different vantage point over the madding crowd.
This once was a black and white photo! Really! Look what post production playing produced . . .
Below is the original black and white image, shot on Ilford FP4+ with an orange filter – an Orange 21 specifically – using an Olympus OM-1n and 50mm f3.5 macro lens.
This was the first pass with a preset I made in On1 Photo Raw 2019.
I added the same preset to the above a second time and got the very first one you see at the top.
I am not sure if I can replicate it, but plan on trying.
Meanwhile, I need to read a lot more about orange filters – some of the images came out ok, some great, and a lot were just worthless.
That’s the Other Half, the Brew Master, Mister Mister, on the walkway.
I really like looking down from a high perch to make a photo, as long as there are high barriers between me and the floor or street below. I don’t know about you, but I so dislike open space up high that I have been known to get stuck on the roof or turn around on a hike that takes me into wide open space and little between me and the drop a mile below. Glass viewing points won’t even get me to step on them. If something adequately encloses me, I can do handle heights, otherwise, panic! That famous photo of workers on a beam, “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper”, eating lunch as they work on the Empire State Building, makes me quite nervous – despite that, it’s an all-time favorite of mine.
