a Photo a Day (at least?)

Skate-Time Continuum. This is probably my favorite of the lot of...

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:00:05 +0300

Skate-Time Continuum.

This is probably my favorite of the lot of pictures that I took last Friday at the skate park. This is Bobby, he is Kali’s brother, and by fat the best skater in the park (actually at any park at any given time as far as Israel is concerned). Bobby was busting up some moves at the park. You’ll be seeing more of him next time I hit the park and he just “happens to be there”.

This is a combination of 4 continuous shots all rolled into one sequence.

Skate Attack! 3. Fly little eagle, fly! Yet another picture from...

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:10:05 +0300

Skate Attack! 3.

Fly little eagle, fly!

Yet another picture from the skate park, skaters come in all shapes and sizes. Tenacious little things!

Skate Attack! 2. Did he stick the landing? I can’t...

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Skate Attack! 2.

Did he stick the landing? I can’t remember. But look at how he is spreading his wingspan. Awesome.

Skate Attack! There’s a new skate park in my area, I had a...

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:00:05 +0300

Skate Attack!

There’s a new skate park in my area, I had a photography lesson there. And naturally I decided to post some of my picks.

Obviously the focus is on movement, freezing it, smearing it, panning - you name it. I tried a whole lot of everything. Some experiments were better for my liking, but generally the whole thing just stressed out the importance of me getting another lens (what else is new?).

I will definitely go there again, it was a great afternoon.

Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Alright, I owe someone...

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:47:24 +0300

Something Borrowed, Something Blue.

Alright, I owe someone somewhere an apology for not posting for this long! What can I say? it’s been crazy. I’ve been crazy busy, crazy depressed, crazy happy and now I’m back to just being crazy as per usual I guess. I’ve had a bit of a hard time making time for my photography, or anything else for that matter, low energies and all. BUT! the good news is now I’m super-happy again. So I’m taking pictures again, and I have some posts lined up.

As for this picture - the rims on this car were indeed blue, I did not photoshop that in. That’s about all I have to say.

Green Lace. The last photo from my trip to the Shwartzman...

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:00:05 +0300

Green Lace.

The last photo from my trip to the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat Shlomo (unless I go through the 8GB of photos I took while there and decide I have even more picks!). It was taken in the back yard, an area that’s closed to visitors (but I’m family, so there!).

I’m pretty sure this is mint, and as you can see, the local bugs were hungry. I absolutely adore how this poor plant now looks like lace. Perfection. I also love this shot was naturally illuminated by the afternoon sun.

I will definitively visit my uncle again soon, there is so much more to photograph. Next time I’ll have him open his locked antique storage space, the treasures await!

Kettle Blues. This is the stuff dream textures are made of, look...

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:00:05 +0300

Kettle Blues.

This is the stuff dream textures are made of, look at that majestic rust! I love how the paint peels. And the whole setting was quite surreal.

This image was also taken at the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat Shlomo, it was a very fruitful visit.

Play On. Did you know? antiques are made of 100% magic!...

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:00:05 +0300

Play On.

Did you know? antiques are made of 100% magic! I’m still overwhelmed by every small detail & trinket I saw on my short visit to the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat Shlomo.

A Word from our Sponsors. Ok as technically these are not...

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

A Word from our Sponsors.

Ok as technically these are not commercial ads, but they sure as hell are neat. These are old packages of well known brands here in Israel. Some still exist, like the chocolate bar, still famous for the cow logo decorating it. There’s also 2 brands of coffee, some bars of soap, all of which are classic.

You can see these live as part of the display at the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm museum. If you’re a sucker for old advertising and packaging like me, and an avid lover of cheese (also like me), it’s a gem.

The Big Cheese. The cheese at Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat...

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

The Big Cheese.

The cheese at Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat Shlomo is good enough to ward it a second post. I’m hungry now.

Seriously - if you are ever in the area, visit this establishment. It makes for a very delicious and romantic stop on the way when traveling on Saturday mornings.

Behind the Counter. This is the shop/museum view as seen from...

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Behind the Counter.

This is the shop/museum view as seen from behind the counter of the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm at Bat-Shlomo. I gave this photo a bit of an aged makeover that’s appropriate for both the cheese and the antiques that are everywhere to be found. The walls are just packed with genuine farming tools from many years ago.

Word to the wise - if you’re ever in the area try to Thom Cheese, it’s legendary, or rather - legend-dairy (excuse the pun). Delicious!

Over the Counter. All this talk about the Shwartzman...

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Over the Counter.

All this talk about the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat-Shlomo and I barely said anything about the food. First order of business, it is a cheese farm, but I will get to the cheese in one of the upcoming posts.

As you can see, there is plenty of other delicious things on their plates. Olives, special blend tea mixes, spices, oils, locally made labaneh (if you’re scratching your head and going “huh?” labaneh is strained yoghurt, if you’ve never had any you must seek them out!). It’s all staked on shelves, jars upon jars, bottles upon bottles. Makes me wanna grab something and have a nosh.

A Fan of Fans. I truly am a fan of fans, I remember several...

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

A Fan of Fans.

I truly am a fan of fans, I remember several years ago when we moved houses my mom threw away a gorgeous, dusty, incredibly old (and probably broken) fan. Before I allowed this to happen I took a gazillion pictures of it with my old camera. This photograph corresponds with those earlier ones.

There is something about the blades & casings of fans that fascinates me. This old fan (also present in yesterday’s post) deserves it’s moment in the sun. A fan is such a simple object, and still I am charmed. Is it just me? Also if you have an old fan of your own, I would love to see pictures! (for this post only: photo reply enabled).

Collector’s Edition. My uncle sure does love his antiques....

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Collector’s Edition.

My uncle sure does love his antiques. They are all displayed at a small museum at the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat-Shlomo. Walking about the museum and the yard I was surrounded by beautiful antiques, all of them calling me to photograph them, each telling it’s own story.

The pictures decorating the walls are of my ancestors, once upon a time they were settlers, living from the land, running the farm. Today the small colony of Bat-Shlomo is a historic land-mark that’s open for visitors. If you’re ever around you should take the time to stop and visit it. In the meantime I have many more enchanting images of the surrounding to post, so I will get to!

Old Bike. I remember this bike from when I was much younger, it...

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Old Bike.

I remember this bike from when I was much younger, it used to look a little less rusty and beaten up. But time has a way of it’s own. This too was taken at the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat-Shlomo.

Needle. Oh antiques, how I love thee! I apologize in advance for...

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Needle.

Oh antiques, how I love thee! I apologize in advance for the upcoming wave of sepia tone photographs. But it’s so true to the objects that who are we to complain? I’m gonna have to ask my uncle how old this sewing machine is, but my guess is pretty-darn-old.

It’s one of many amazing antiques on display at the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm, a charming little establishment owned by my family for generations. You’re more than welcome to visit if you’re ever in the neighborhood.

Once again I was going for a play on depth of field, by new I feel like I have a handle on it. Satisfation! Now the only thing missing is a lens with wider aperture.

Keys. This old type writer is part of the scene at...

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Keys.

This old type writer is part of the scene at the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm in Bat-Shlomo. All throughout the yard you can find magical antiques such as this one. I wonder what kind of letters these keys have seen.

My intentions for this image was to play on the depth of the field, and I’m quite pleased with the results (especially considering I’m still confound to just my kit lens *sigh*).

Speaking of gear, last week I got my new ViewSonic monitor, a brand new VP2365wb which I immediately had calibrated for colour. I am ready for print baby! this new monitor is a treat, it has great colour fidelity and it was utterly affordable. If you’re on a budget like me and you care for such things like color fidelity, I highly recommend it.

Antique Chandelier. This is the first of many antiques...

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Antique Chandelier.

This is the first of many antiques I’ve had the pleasure to photograph over the weekend. This chandelier is over a 100 years old, it used to run on oil but it was converted and now it runs on electricity.

I am a little displeased with the exposure I got when photographing with the lights on, and a little displeased with the angle I got when photographing with the lights off. But yes, the ceiling truly is green.

Like I said, this is the opening shot for the upcoming theme of antiques. These were all taken at the Shwartzman Cheese-Farm up north in Bat-Shlomo. If you’re ever traveling through Israel it’s a real gem. And I’m not just saying that because I have Shwartzman blood running through my veins ;) I’m sure I’ll find myself telling stories about it as I post so I’ll leave it at that for now.

Outside Living-room XI. Someone went through all the trouble of...

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:57:56 +0300

Outside Living-room XI.

Someone went through all the trouble of throwing away this couch on a tall pile of “trashy potpourri” (sticks, leaves, straw, junk …. ). It was particularly hard to get a good shot of it because of the pile’s height (or rather because of my general shortness). And let me tell you, sandals are not appropriate attire for stepping on a pile of trashy potpourri.

I was sure I would have to go back for this couch with proper footwear, but among all my test shots and attempts there was this image. Which I absolutely love for it’s angle and the electric pole. Everything about it is surreal, a most welcome addition to the collection.

P.S.

Sorry I’m late with my updates again! but I’ve got a surprise for the upcoming week, I went antique photographing!

Outside Living-room X. I went back for this sofa. I didn’t...

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:00:06 +0300

Outside Living-room X.

I went back for this sofa. I didn’t feel like I got the right shot of it last time (I still don’t). This time around I picked up the cushion and straightened it up a bit. But still, to no avail. I’ve circled around it, took some shots from behind, from the front, up close, from far away, sideways and what not … but I still don’t think I have the right shot.

I think I needed to drag it around a bit to get a better shot, I might actually go back a third time, so long as it’s still there. I want it to play a bit more on the road, and to make better use of the electric pole in the background.