Uploads from basselal, tagged bw

Steps

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:45:42 -0700

basselal posted a photo:

116/365

High Rise Jungle

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:29:27 -0700

basselal posted a photo:

79/365
Week 12 Theme: High Key (17.03 - 23.03)

Extremely busy week. Another lazy shot.

Eyes Behind The Window

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 17:45:05 -0700

basselal posted a photo:

76/365
Week 12 Theme: High Key (17.03 - 23.03)

Unplugged

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:25:20 -0700

basselal posted a photo:

66/365

“Horror is The Removal of Masks”

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:57:48 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

65/365
Week 10 Theme: DOUBLE EXPOSURE (03 March - 09 March)
ODC: The masks we wear

(The title is a quote by "Robert Bloch")

The Kneeling Worker

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:40:29 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

60/365
Week 9 theme: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 24 Feb-2 March

The Cachier

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:41:05 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

61/365
Week 9 theme: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 24 Feb-2 March

Suits

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:16:13 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

59/365
Week 9 theme: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 24 Feb-2 March

Pay The Machine

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:15:33 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

58/365
Week 9 theme: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 24 Feb-2 March

Distractions

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:10:59 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

56/365
Week 9 theme: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 24 Feb-2 March

Brief Encounter

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:11:35 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

57/365
Week 9 theme: STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 24 Feb-2 March
*******
"A fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn't think he'd remember. You take me. One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. She didn't see me at all, but I'll bet a month hasn't gone by since that I haven't thought of that girl.

"Bernstein" from the movie "Citizen Kane"
****************

I'm not usually a big fan of "selective coloring". Actually, it's not that simple. I don't really "hate" selective coloring but I feel that in the vast majority of cases it's "gimmicky" and overused. Still, I did use it on very few occasions where I felt it would work.

For this photo, I really tried to resist. I must have made 7 or 8 different versions with different edits. I kept going back to this one. I just felt it is the most striking. and after consulting with Gretchen, I decided to go with it.

I'm allowed 1 selective coloring photo a year. Arn't I?

Road Signs

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:30:22 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

48/365
Week 8 theme: DIPTYCH (17.02 - 23.02)

Calm Like A Bomb

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:12:35 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

64/365
Week 10 Theme: DOUBLE EXPOSURE (03 March - 09 March)

Before & After

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:57:04 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

53/365
Week 8 theme: DIPTYCH (17.02 - 23.02)

Stranger #1 ??

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:22:11 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

52/365
Get Pushed: Round 31
100 Strangers: 1/100

For Get Pushed Round 31, I was paired with the very talented heather_on3. Her photo stream is full of really high quality photos full of life and color. If you haven't visited her photostream, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Heather challenged me to do something that I always wanted to do, but have been apprehensive about.

her challenge for me was:

"a stranger portrait with a twist! I'd like you to take a portrait of a stranger (doesn't have to be a COMPLETE stranger, but not a family member, friend or co-worker) in their daily environment. It should be clear where they are, and props that support this are a bonus. Whether it's a local shopkeeper or service person or a complete stranger if you are comfortable - it should be clear it is a portrait and the subject is aware. It should also tell a story about what they do in their daily lives - what that is I will leave up to you!"

The 100 stranger project was always something that I really wanted to do, but could never get myself to do it. Although I'm much less shy than I used to be, the idea of just walking up to a stranger and asking them for their photo is still scary to me. Especially living in a place where everybody drives everywhere and the city does not have that "walking intimacy" to it (I could be wrong, but I think doing such a project in New York would be much easier than doing it in Houston).

Well, being that this is the first time I will try such a thing, I though I'll try to do it as soon as possible. I would also try to find a situation where it won't be so awkward. That opportunity came the same evening when my wife and I (both have more than full time stressful and busy jobs) decided to order out from our favorite Thai restaurant. Usually, Gretchen picks the food up on the way home because she arrives after me but that night we were both home so I offered to go. I took the camera with the plan to try to take the photo of whomever I'm picking the food from (if they are not extremely busy). Sai (the lovely young woman in the photo) made it even easier for me because she's the one who started the conversation by asking me about my camera. When I said that I want to take her photo she acted all shy and covered her face but that lasted only for a few seconds before she posed with a beautiful smile. Me being not used to this and the fact that there were a lot of people on the tables made me slightly rush. The light was very dim and I did not take my time to adjust my setting. I also forgot to ask her more about herself for the write up.

[addendum: When I sent the photos to Sai, I actually received an email back with more info to include in the write. Her friends call her "Sai Smile" (I guess we don't need an explanation). She originally from Thailand. She likes to travel and take photos. When at home she like to bake an cook Thai food.]

I'm still not sure if I want to consider this 1/100 for the strangers project (I think I changed my mind here after taking my second stranger's photo). But at least I think I met the push (although partially) and maybe I will try in the future to look for more opportunities like this. Maybe the practice will lead me eventually to actually do the project.

Thanks Heather for pushing me beyond my comfort zone.

****This shot is part of my 100 Stranger challenge. To find out more about the challenge and see more from others, please click on the following link: www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers/ .

Stillness in Motion

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:07:21 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

51/365

Exit

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:23:38 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

46/365

Main Street

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:18:59 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

43/365
WEEK 7 theme: Focus Pocus (10 feb- 16 feb)
(does soft, slightly OOF count?)
ODC: STREET SIGNS

Canyon

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:02:30 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

40/365
Week 6 theme: ABSTRACT (3 Feb - 9 Feb)

Abstract week was fun. I don't usually do abstract so that was very educational. After back-to-back weeks of all-theme-photos, I think I need to go back to my natural rhythm.

At the wrap up of "Abstracts week". And by popular demand. The subjects of all this week's photos can be found with the photos mosaic (also in the comments)

Primordial

nobody@flickr.com (basselal) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:58:21 -0800

basselal posted a photo:

39/365
Week 6 theme: ABSTRACT (3 Feb - 9 Feb)

A lot of people are trying to guess this week's abstract. I started thinking that maybe I should spell the beans (although it might make the photos less interesting). Hopefully I'll make up my mind by the time to post tomorrow's photo (the last one).