Pictures of some Hot Shots...
Today's temperature topped out at 98 degrees.
I think they are still adding up the numbers for the "heat index."
It goes a LOT higher.
I believe that would be like the "chill factor" we hear about during the Winter.
Almost a dozen members of
my photography group met this morning at North Charleston's Riverfront Park for a photo shoot.
A delightful young model named Kirsten joined us so we could practice lighting and composition.
Most brought round "pop-up" reflectors to bounce light into a scene.
Some are silvery shiny, or dull white and, some are golden to cast a warmer light.
Today I saw one used that filtered sunlight to block and soften direct sunlight.
There were ten of us and the breeze off the river helped us cope with the heat.
We chose to work in the shade a lot!
When we moved to a new spot it happened to place us directly in front of the Pineda family.
They were cooling off and, seated at a picnic table, were preparing to have a quiet lunch.
We DO bring a lot of activity and they had a front row seat.
We experimented with various reflectors to move light around to suit a mood.
One avid photographer plopped down on his stomach to get a low angle.
With that many people aiming cameras at you, Kirsten, the model, would respond when one of us asked for a smile
Or to make a hand movement or perhaps maybe a flick of her head to move her hair.
As requested, she was somber, sultry, smiling , laughing or pensive.
And that's just the requests I heard fired at her.
She gave me a nice smile. With laughing eyes. I like it.
My shot up at the top of her sitting on the grass would have been better if I had aimed down more to eliminate the harsh contrasting sunny grass behind her.
When in the shade, it's best to keep the entire image in that subdued lighting.
I did like her Mona Lisa-like smile though.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
I'll close with an example of excessive post-production effort on a back-lighted photo.
It's another example of balancing bright light vs shade.
My efforts to balance the two sources created a cartoon effect with exaggerated contrasts, color and textures.
When using Plug-Ins and Photoshop, it's best to err on the side of realistic.
When the attempts are too extreme and draw the viewers attention, it has gone "too far."
Well, it was a learning experience kind of day.
I sure liked her smile!
Labels: hazy heat index, Kirsten the Model, Mona Lisa smile, Riverfront Park, the Pineda Family, working in the shade
My 4th of July Tradition continues....
So, if I'm in town for the 4th of July, I try to go see the
North Charleston fireworks show.
Went to the first one they did in 2005 at the still not quite completed
Riverfront Park.
My original plan was to stop first and have a beer - or two - at the Madra Rua Irish Pub on Montague near Park Circle.
Dang. It was closed for the holiday.
Aw, what the heck, I drove up Virginia Ave and followed the signs to the old Navy Base.
Parked and hopped on a shuttle bus.
On the bus I mentioned to someone how great a cold beer was going to taste and was told it was a family setting so NO alcohol was sold or allowed. Yikes.
The bus eventually stopped and now I was a long way from my car so I stayed and enjoyed the show.
In 2006, I tried again and was successful. The Rua was open, had my fish & chips - and a Guinness - and wandered out and walked half a block up to Virginia Avenue just as the first booms started.
Over the years, this routine became the norm. Sometimes I drink a
Murphy's Irish Stout.
Had to change viewing spots after a few years though as the trees grew taller.
My spot was at the end of Montague by the bar and the fireworks were nearly a half mile away.
The fiery picture above was taken last night and I'm pleased.
If there had been more light around me, then the crowd of adults and children - sitting on car hoods and folding chairs - would have made a nice setting for the show.
Behind the bar, on the former
SMOKING side, I saw a photo of mine prominently displayed in a small green frame.
In Montreal a few years ago, I had seen that "sign" scrawled on a wall, followed the arrow and spent several delightful hours amongst a friendly crowd.
The bartender said people ask all the time if that wall and "ad" is nearby.
I had not been on that side for a long time but they recently banned smoking completely in the place so now I can sit wherever I wanted.
Hope it's still there next year.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
Thanks for stopping by on this long holiday weekend.
Our monsoon has finally ended.
Enjoy.
Labels: fireworks show, fish & chips, Madra Rua, Murphy's Irish Stout, North Charleston, old Navy Base, photo behind the bar, Riverfront Park
