In the second installment of this series, we’re going in another direction from last week’s ‘Around the House’ (did you get a chance to shoot something cool?). This week, my inspiration came from my favorite pair of blue jeans, as I realized that they were beyond repair. The reached the time in their life of being perfectly worn-in…
Denimscape
For those who’d like to participate in this weekly challenge, the rules are the following:
Write a post with an image for this week’s topic
Please use the tag #fpj-photo-challenge
Create a pingback link to this post, so that I can create a post showing all of the submissions over the week
Have fun creating something new!!
Let’s see where we can take this.
Technical Details
This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mk III using a EF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens. Exposure was at f/9 and 1/60 second at 1600 ISO.
Continuing in the theme set by the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge of ‘Abstract’, I’d like to share a photo with you that was part of my initial exploration into abstract photography.
l’Oiseau de Feu
This image came to me during a photography camp that I attended with a number of local photographers a number of years back. The idea behind the camp was to get away from the daily grind and work on some of our technical skills with lots of different classes and set up photoshoots. That part was enjoyable and I got some rather cool shots from the weekend, but sitting around the campfire with a receptive brain became the key benefit for me. Nothing like low light to inspire some different shots…
Technical Details
This was shot completely in-camera using a Canon EOS 1D MkIII and an EF 24-105mm f/4L lens. Using aperture priority, I got the shutter speed slowed to just over 3 seconds for this shot while doing a slow zoom with the lens.
Another Angle
Of course, it’s nigh impossible to speak of the Firebird and (sorry Pontiac aficionados) not think of Igor Stravinsky’s masterful composition…
The partaking of spicy foods is a culinary delight that has reached epic proportions in this day and age. Let’s find out a little bit more about the fierce chili peppers that are so popular!
Hot Stuff!
History
Pottery that tested positive for Capsicum sp. residues excavated at Chiapa de Corzo in southern Mexico dated from Middle to Late Preclassic periods (400 BCE to 300 CE). Chili peppers have been a part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BCE. The most recent research shows that chili peppers were domesticated more than 6000 years ago in Mexico, in the region that extends across southern Puebla and northern Oaxaca to southeastern Veracruz, and were one of the first self-pollinating crops cultivated in Mexico, Central and parts of South America.
Peru is considered the country with the highest cultivated Capsicum diversity because it is a center of diversification where varieties of all five domesticates were introduced, grown, and consumed in pre-Columbian times. Bolivia is considered to be the country where the largest diversity of wild Capsicum peppers are consumed. Bolivian consumers distinguish two basic forms: ulupicas, species with small round fruits including C. eximium, C. cardenasii, C. eshbaughii, and C. caballeroi landraces; and arivivis with small elongated fruits including C. baccatumvar. baccatum and C. chacoense varieties.
Christopher Columbus was one of the first Europeans to encounter them (in the Caribbean), and called them “peppers” because they, like black and white pepper of the Piper genus known in Europe, have a spicy hot taste unlike other foodstuffs. Upon their introduction into Europe, chilies were grown as botanical curiosities in the gardens of Spanish and Portuguese monasteries. Christian monks experimented with the culinary potential of chili and discovered that their pungency offered a substitute for black peppercorns, which at the time were so costly that they were used as legal currency in some countries.
The spread of chili peppers to Asia was most likely a natural consequence of its introduction to Portuguese traders (Lisbon was a common port of call for Spanish ships sailing to and from the Americas) who, aware of its trade value, would have likely promoted its commerce in the Asian spice trade routes then dominated by Portuguese and Arab traders. It was introduced in India by the Portuguese towards the end of 15th century. Today chilies are an integral part of South Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines.
There is a verifiable correlation between the chili pepper geographical dissemination and consumption in Asia and the presence of Portuguese traders, India and southeast Asia being obvious examples.
The chili pepper features heavily in the cuisine of the Goan region of India, which was the site of a Portuguese colony (e.g., vindaloo, an Indian interpretation of a Portuguese dish). Chili peppers journeyed from India, through Central Asia and Turkey, to Hungary, where they became the national spice in the form of paprika.
Lots of tasty dishes!!
How Hot Do You Like It?
A wide range of intensity is found in commonly used peppers:
Something a little different this week, as this image is from last year during one of my visits to Tower Hill Botanic Garden. I’m holding back the best shot from this week for the Tuesday Photo Challenge (this was last week’s).
Human Flower
I found this flower rather amusing, as it was surrounded by a wealth of real flowers, and many people didn’t even notice what made these beauties different…
It’s amazing what can be done with a bit of spray paint 🙂
Technical Details
This image was captured with a Canon EOS 5D Mk III using a EF 24-105mm f/4L lens. Exposure settings were 1/160 second, f/10 at 400 ISO.
Starting off this Sunday morning with a bit of music and photography, as I’m surrounded by sleeping Corgis and the sunshine comes in through the windows. A bit of relaxed Sunday morning time both looking back and forward while practicing a bit of guitar!
Bottle Baby
This first image is from Spring 6 years ago, and it still makes me smile to see the eagerness of the little lamb, as it’s being fed. Lambs are a sure sign of Spring!
Summer Beauty
This second image is more looking forward toward Summer, as it is from last year during one of my visits to Tower Hill Botanic Garden. A beautiful day filled with sunshine, flowers and the great outdoors!
Here’s Bob Dylan with the Band playing Forever Young, as it’s one of the songs in my playlist:
One of the nice things about photography is that it affords us a different way of looking at the world around us. Sometimes the very simple and overlooked can create a rather nice composition.
Pebbles
Walking on a beach with lots of pebbles, I purposely looked for a pattern in the pebble formation that allowed me to compose something that might catch the eye. Critical factors in my mind were the angle of the light and any natural lines that might occur in the pattern; additionally, as lighter pebbles will draw the eye, I paid attention to their position.
This was the result, some 6 years ago. I hope you enjoy it.
Technical Data
This image was captured with a Canon EOS 1D Mk III using an EF 24-105mm f/4L series lens. Exposure settings were 1/160 second at f/11 and 200 ISO. This image is uncropped.
The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge asks us to turn the concrete and familiar into something new and mysterious. For some odd reason, this is right up my alley…
Ephemeresis
This image is one of my early attempts at revealing something that was hidden through morphing the scene in front of me in-camera. With the abundance of light dancing on this shrub, I could sense that the varieties of green could be unlocked. A zoom blur at a 1/3 second exposure brought it to the surface…
When people think of visiting the Netherlands, they always think about Amsterdam and, possibly, The Hague, but relatively few think about visiting Rotterdam. Each of these cities has their set of attractions with Amsterdam’s museums and canals, and the beach and parks of The Hague, but for my money you can’t beat the variety of what Rotterdam offers! And, as the mystery slide for this week is set in Rotterdam…
Centraal Station
The best way to visit Rotterdam is by public transportation; if you’re coming from outside the city, you’ll likely arrive at the central train station, or ‘Centraal Station’. This completely modern transportation hub combines train, street car, bus and metro (subway) in one convenient package. When using public transportation in the Netherlands you’ll want to get get an OV-Chipkaart, which is used for all modes of transportation; as a tourist you can buy an anonymous OV-Chipkaart, which comes preloaded and can be loaded at many check-points using your credit/debit card. Just don’t forget to swipe your card when you get off you disembark!
Skyscrapers!
A unique feature about Rotterdam’s architecture is the presence of skyscrapers in the center of the city. Every other city center in the Netherlands consists of older architecture. This is due to the fact that during the early days of World War II, the center of the city was flattened by German bombs during the so-called Rotterdam Blitz. The notable surviving building from this onslaught is the St. Lawrence Church (St. Laurenskerk), which was damaged, but was restored and still stands proud surrounded by modern architecture.
De Koopgoot
The center of Rotterdam is well-known for its shopping district that extends along the Coolsingel and the streets surrounding it. As the Dutch love walking in their cities, the center has been set up to minimize the need for crossing the street. An example of this is the Beurstraverse, which is better known as ‘de Koopgoot’ or, literally, the shopping gutter; as you can see, one just walks down the incline and continues shopping at the stores below ground level, as you cross the busy Coolsingel to get to more shops.
Delftsevaart
As Rotterdam is a major port-city (‘Gateway to Europe’), water is never very far away. As the port has expanded over the years and ships have become larger, some of the old harbors are no longer used for shipping, such as the Delftsevaart above. They have either been filled in to make room for building or preserved as picturesque living areas right in the center of the city.
Hope you enjoyed this little overview of the city of my birth!
For me there’s nothing better than being allowed to walk around on a farm with a camera. Farms are great sources of inspiration with lots of unique, often rusty, items and little tableaux.
The Old and New
Rust, to me, is a hallmark of venerable age and long utility, a badge to be worn with pride, as it indicates untold hours of toiling in all sorts of weather conditions. When, after many years of service, retirement allows you to sit by the side of the road, you still look impressive and draw the attention of the young who pop up to see you.
Technical Details
Photograph was taken with an iPhone 5S using the standard Camera app with minor enhancements in Instagram.
