366 Photos

New website x2

2010-08-25T08:59:00.004-04:00

Hi hi hi hi. It's been a while since I posted here, but just in case, I can now be found at http://www.amberwilkie.com. Come say hey! Oh, and if you need someone to photograph your wedding or do engagement or family portraits, I'm your gal. Take care!

Revised, Prettier, Larger

2009-06-03T09:39:00.003-04:00

I finally got around to building a new website (with the help of some very talented people associated with WordPress). It is here. The new site, which I called Amberture in what is either a fit of cleverness or extreme narcissism, features much, much larger pictures which will hopefully load quickly. You'll also find more detailed commentary about how I took and processed the images (or none at all - much less blather about non-photographic stuff) and a more attractive interface.

Thank you for visiting!

You can still find me on Flickr where I'll be posting lots of stuff but if you want to see only what I think is the best, head on over to Amberture.

Couldn't Do It

2008-12-14T16:00:00.002-05:00

The Sagrada Familia: 401 (341/366), originally uploaded by Amberture.

You may have noticed that I quit blogging. By "you", I mean David (and sometimes George). That's because I put way more pictures on Flickr and it's double the work to come over here and blog about them. So I'm closing up shop here but am still very actively posting there. Check out my photostream!

I'll also be setting up another blog in the future. I'm not sure what the format is going to be but probably more like a portfolio than an ongoing conversation with the world. I'll put the link here when I get around to that.

So thanks for reading and take care!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

2008-11-20T16:10:00.000-05:00

325/366 Trash Cans, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

2008-11-19T16:09:00.000-05:00

324/366 Rays the Steaks, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

2008-11-18T16:07:00.000-05:00

323/366 Art Envelops You, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Monday, November 17, 2008

2008-11-17T16:06:00.000-05:00

322/366 Great Master Box Project, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

2008-11-17T08:17:00.002-05:00

320/366 Three Doors, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Today I took a tour of closed and locked up St. Elizabeth's Hospital. We weren't allowed inside any of the buildings (unlike previous tours...) but there was a lot to see and photograph. Anyone that knows anything about me or my photography knows that decay, industrial devolution, and rotting old barns are some of my favorite subjects.

From the flier we were handed during the tour:
"St. Elizabeth's Hospital was a landmark in the mid-nineteenth century social reform movement that sought to provide care fo the mentally ill. Dorothea Lynde Dix, a noted American social reformer, philanthropist, author, and educator, helped establish St. Elizabeth's as the Government Hospital for the Insane in 1852. Its purpose, according to the March 3, 1855, legislation that organized the hospital, was to provide 'the most humane and enlightened curative treatment of the insane of the army and navy of the United States, and of the District of Columbia.'"

This photograph came out looking similar to how you see it now - the vignetting was ambient due to an overhanging porch roof. The RAW file looked quite a bit muddier than you see it here but Photoshop cleared that up on auto. I pushed the contrast and sharpened it up a bit; moved the dark levels down just a tad. I experimented with some high-pass sharpening but wasn't pleased with the result - it seemed to put tiny specs of white into the shot and just didn't have the right feel. I have to say I'm very pleased with this one, particularly with the gradient of light moving down.

More St. Elizabeth's photos in my Flickr.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

2008-11-16T16:05:00.000-05:00

321/366 Jingle Bells, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Friday, November 14, 2008

2008-11-15T19:42:00.001-05:00

319/366 FotoWeekDC, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Tonight I was a volunteer for the kick-off party for FotoWeekDC. I must have opened 200 bottles of wine. It was incredibly fun - I was in my element. I should have been a bartender or the like. I love having that power over people and telling them to all go f*ck themselves. You can wait for your free booze!

I will take the swank out of your fancy-pants party anytime.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

2008-11-15T19:40:00.001-05:00

318/366 Advil, originally uploaded by Amberture.

For a week now, I've had excruciating pain in my upper left wisdom tooth. I've been to the dentist and consulted with my oral surgeon and there's nothing to be done except treat the pain until I can get them out. Because of the wonders of our health system, if I wait until January 2nd, I save $500 on the operation. $500 is a great deal of money for me and I intend to wait and suffer.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

2008-11-15T19:38:00.003-05:00

317/366 Noise, originally uploaded by Amberture.

I thought my outfit was really hip today but you can't see the best part of it as I'm squatting down. I had on textured tights and black snow boots. I looked hip.

But the godforsaken picture is far too noisy. I'm used to a point and shoot that gives me an agreeable noise level, regardless. My D80 thinks I know what I'm talking about, and it's becoming a problem.

Veterans' Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2008

2008-11-12T13:32:00.001-05:00

316/366 In Bed, originally uploaded by Amberture.

George willingly submitted to having his photograph taken today. I must not be pestering him enough or he wouldn't offer.

Took this guy at medium zoom (check the exif) on a tripod. The overhead light is rather dull so I popped on both of our reading lights to give the background a bit of punch. I like what's going on on the sides but we definitely needed more light on us - nasty shadows on my face.

I just love George. He's so great.

Monday, November 10, 2008

2008-11-12T13:29:00.002-05:00

315/366 Mickey Pin, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

2008-11-10T09:45:00.003-05:00

314/366 Pirates!, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

2008-11-10T09:45:00.001-05:00

313/366 Elephants, originally uploaded by Amberture.

This was a good day. After doing some routine morning reading, I was filled with a desire to go to the zoo. And so we did!

I am thrilled about the wide variety of free entertainment there is in this city. As I always say, if you're bored in DC, it's your own fault.

The best animal of the day was the red panda, who was performing all manner of acrobatics for us and smiling for the camera (check Flickr). Even the normally elusive pandas were just lying about on the rocks, giving the eager photographer plenty of time to compose and snap away.

Friday, November 7, 2008

2008-11-10T09:41:00.001-05:00

312/366 Looking Back, originally uploaded by Amberture.

This picture is a lie - it was taken at the zoo, and not on Friday the 7th. On Friday I was so completely out of it that it didn't even occur to me that I had to shoot. George was really, really great taking care of me as I tried to make the pain in my tooth go away. But I actually slept through the night (mostly) which was a major improvement over Thursday.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

2008-11-10T09:39:00.002-05:00

311/366 The Third Eye, originally uploaded by Amberture.

This picture was taken right before I launched into one of the worst nights of my life.

I am blessed with extra wisdom teeth than most people - one little baby on each upper side. The left one has decided to make my life practically unbearable without Advil by jamming the big guy for no apparent reason. The most my dentist could tell me is he "just needs to come out." That, and if I wait until January 1st, the operation is $400 less!!

So in the meantime, I'm waiting to see if it will just go away so I can have all four (six) of them out at once and spare myself more anguish. Until then, it's Advil time, all the time.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

2008-11-06T09:03:00.003-05:00

310/366 Teddy & Me, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008

2008-11-06T09:03:00.001-05:00

309/366 Stop Voting, originally uploaded by Amberture.

I'm late in giving my diatribe about why Obama's win is important to me but I'm still exciting and I'm still going to say a few words.

I'm not an African-American but this major achievement for all black Americans is incredibly encouraging, to me, as a white person. I believe this is what McCain and all his folk missed entirely about this momentous event. It wasn't just a gain for black America - it was a gain for all Americans. To know that there are more people that value talent, intelligence, vision over skin color. That is what makes this a special day.

That is incredibly important. That is why people poured into the streets here in DC to hug a stranger and party all night long.

That is what was sorely missing in 2004 and why so many of us felt completely cut off from 50% of the people in this country. How could they want more of Bush? As Obama said in his incredibly eloquent speech, his win is a mandate for change - and we're finally ready to see it.

Monday, November 3, 2008

2008-11-06T08:39:00.001-05:00

308/366 Self Reflecting, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

2008-11-03T11:22:00.001-05:00

307/366 Closets, originally uploaded by Amberture.

I'm experimenting with taking pictures of different things around the house as opposed to a self-portrait in the bathroom mirror. My tripod has been instrumental in these endeavors. Beware - off-camera lighting may be next!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

2008-11-03T11:21:00.001-05:00

306/366 Bulldogs and Sticks, originally uploaded by Amberture.

Travels on Saturday took us to the Shirlington dog park which was an incredible amount of fun. The dogs were all very well behaved and most would come right up to you and say hi before running off to do other things. I only pulled my camera out at the end and none of the dog owners seemed to take offense.

Shortly after snapping this one, the little guy got the stick and kept it until the big guy got bored!

Halloween, Friday, October 31, 2008

2008-10-31T23:20:00.000-04:00

305/366 Toilet Candy, originally uploaded by Amberture.

My Halloween was less than spooky but was instead a quiet, relaxing night with the beau.

I found these at World Market for $.74 a piece. They are plastic toilets with sour powder inside. You "plunge" them with the provided lollipop plungers and then eat what comes out of the toilet. Awesome, right!?

Thursday, October 30, 2008

2008-10-31T23:19:00.000-04:00

304/366 Band of Light, originally uploaded by Amberture.

I'm experimenting with exposure here but my camera's autofocus was having trouble and didn't want to lock onto the door. And clearly I have no concept of "blurry" vs. "sharp."