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WELL, THERE IT IS.


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 * About
 * Mark V. Shaney




365 PROJECT: A PHOTO A DAY

June 15, 2012 by spike


In order to motivate myself to spend more time with cameras, I’ve decided,
somewhat on a whim, to begin the “365 Project.” Each day for a year, I will take
at least one photograph digitally, develop them through post-processing using
Lightroom and Photoshop, and publish them in a set on Flickr.

This will give me an excuse to try new lighting techniques and, in some cases
but not frequently, use post-processing effects to add a touch of creativity.
I’m a big fan of realistic looking photographs rather than adding fake
aged-print or cross-processed looks, so if I do add some effects, I’ll try to
stay faithful to the content of the image.

Here are some of my favorites so far.

Read more

Categories Featured, Photography Tags Canon Leave a comment


MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES RECEIVED: BERMAN/NECKAMEYER, LUSTIG/STURMWALD, AND
KLEIN/HERMAN

June 13, 2012 by spike


This article is now on The Landes Family Tree Research website. Continue reading
here.

Categories Family Tags Ancestry, Family Tree Leave a comment


NEW TO ME: MAMIYA C330

June 6, 2012 by spike


I love the photographs I can get with my Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, but the camera
isn’t exactly portable. There’s something special about medium format film, and
I’ve wanted to be able to get that quality without lugging around a suitcase.
Before Memorial Day, I shopped around and purchases a used Mamiya C330
Professional.

It’s a twin lens reflect camera, so it is taking me some time to adjust. With
the twin lens, you compose with the upper lens while the camera uses the lower
lens to capture the exposure. That creates a problem with composition, where the
resulting photograph is framed slightly differently from what I see through the
waist-level finder. Also, when focusing close, the camera extends its bellows,
which requires an adjustment to the settings to ensure enough light is reaching
the film.

With practice, I’m sure I can overcome these quirks. When I picked up the
negatives from the lab, I was surprised about how accurate the exposures were. I
had, for the most part, guessed the exposure settings using the “Sunny 16” rule.

The camera taxes a 6cm x 6cm square format image, a little smaller than the 6cm
x 7cm provided by the RZ67, but it comes in a package that is much more
convenient. I had considered getting a Mamiya 7 II for a portable camera capable
of 6×7 negatives, but I liked the idea of the twin lens reflex more than the
idea of a rangefinder.

As I tend to do, I took the camera to Princeton to get a feel for its
capabilities. I chose the black and white Ilford HP5 Plus for the first roll.
The second roll was used mostly for Memorial Day activities, and for this I used
Fujifilm 400H. I’ve included some of the black and white photos — which were for
the most part more successful than the color images — after the jump. You can
also view the Flickr sets for my walk around Princeton and for my Memorial Day
Activities.

Read more

Categories Photography Tags Mamiya, Memorial Day, Princeton Leave a comment


THE R FACTOR AT RIDER UNIVERSITY

March 20, 2012 by spike


As part of my Photographic Essay course at the Arts Council of Princeton, I was
tasked with creating a set of photographs with an underlying theme or narrative.
I was looking for a topic somewhat esoteric, but my creative mind just wasn’t
functioning well during this particular time frame. I narrowed my choices down
to something related to the Delaware and Raritan Canal or a singing competition
show supported by Reid Sound at Rider University. Even after starting with the
latter, I kept an open mind and prepared to take the photographic essay in a
different direction to protect against the possibility that I could not spam the
entire event from start to finish with enough images to tell some sort of story.

The event moved forward, and I committed myself to the project. “The R Factor”
mimicked the popular television show “The X Factor.” More than twenty student
performers from the university auditioned for a chance to make the final
performance. I started with these auditions, taking photographs to document the
progress of some of the performers as well of the event itself.

The photography presented the usual challenges. Stages and auditoriums are dark
locations, and a spotlight can easily throw off metering. I pumped up the ISO to
compensate for the lighting. In the hallways where performers were waiting and
warming up before the final performance, the fluorescent lighting played with
the color balance.

There is a good amount of talent on the Rider University campus. The R Factor
did a great job of showcasing some of the school’s best performers. Here are a
few images from the events; more photographs are available on Flickr, many of
which were not included in the essay. A slideshow of the essay follows these
photos.











After the jump, I present a slideshow representing the photographic essay in its
current form. The essay as a whole is relatively successful, telling the story
of the event, although I did not use any text for narrative.



Categories Featured, Music, Photography Tags Canon, Music, Rider University
Leave a comment


ANCESTRY RESEARCH

November 29, 2011 by spike


Time flies. I resurrected this website a year ago, and I’m somewhat dismayed at
how little I’ve shared here. Much of this problem is the fact my business has
required a significant dedication of time and effort, particularly during the
last several months. I’d like to think I’ll have a chance to catch my breath,
but that may not be the case for some time.

I have taken some time recently to delve into my family’s history from an
ancestry perspective. Using Ancestry.com and all the domestic records they’ve
digitized, I’ve been able to match family memory with public records, like the
Census, filling in some holes in my knowledge and getting to know some of the
relatives I never had a chance to meet. Also, I’ve found a few existing family
trees within the service with which I have a relative in common.

While visiting family in California for Thanksgiving this year, I was able to
skim through many old documents my grandmother was able to save before she
passed away, including birth certificates, a ketubah written in Aramaic, army
records, and high school diplomas.



The biggest clue to family history on my father’s side, tracing family back to
the time before they arrived in the United States, might have been a scanned
family tree diagram sent through email about ten years ago. Unfortunately, no
one I’ve talked to seems to have this email or attachment saved.

My next step would probably be to talk to many of the relatives included on the
family tree to hear stories of relatives and further complete this project. I
haven’t been a particularly good family member in the past, and I’m not in touch
with much of my family. I’d be a bit nervous approaching anyone.

If you’re family and you’re interested in seeing what I’ve gathered so far, let
me know.

Categories Family Tags Ancestry, Family Tree, Genealogy Leave a comment


BATTLE OF PRINCETON REENACTMENT ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

July 9, 2011 by spike


On Independence Day, I spent the morning and afternoon at Battlefield State Park
in Princeton, New Jersey. The Princeton Battlefield Preservation Society
presented a partial reenactment of the Battle of Princeton, a turning point for
General Washington’s troops and Patriots during the Revolutionary War. The day
was filled with a variety of demonstrations rather than an outright reenactment.

I decided to bring my Mamiya RZ67 Professional II camera to the event. While
most spectators had digital cameras, my older medium format film camera seemed
more appropriate. This camera — or any camera — is just as anachronistic as a
digital camera, but it was fun to focus on a more manual process in this
environment.

This manual process made the day fraught with frustrations for me. I would
require a tripod to get the best shots, but carrying my tripod in addition to
the camera from one spot to another was a pain. With so many spectators, I
wouldn’t be able to get a good shot of the demonstrations without setting up in
front of people who were there with their families to enjoy the day’s
festivities. As a result, I ended up facing the backs of the subjects.

After giving up on the tripod, I tried holding the camera steady, which proved
to be difficult with the cannon demonstration. The best timing would be right as
the cannon fired, but each time, the noise startled me. I jumped, and had a
difficult time holding the camera steady for the right moment. A small digital
camera would have come in handy.

The film was developed by Taylor Photo in Princeton, New Jersey, and scanned at
home with an Epson Perfection V700. Continue reading to see a few of the
photographs, or see more by visiting this set on Flickr.

Read more

Categories History, Photography Tags Mamiya, Princeton Leave a comment


HIGH TECHNOLOGY FOR LOW FIDELITY

June 5, 2011 by spike


I avoided cameraphones for a while. I’d rather have a device that worked
exceptionally well as a phone without a lens than a mediocre phone that takes
mediocre, low-resolution digital photographs. Eventually, I relented and
purchased the original Motorola DROID. The phone comes with a mediocre camera,
bust most of that mediocrity can be hidden using applications that process the
photograph. There is a subset of applications that attempt to mimic the classic
toy-camera look.

Plastic “toy” cameras, like the Holga and Diana, incorporate unpredictability
into the art of photography. In general, photographers seek to control
everything about their images, particularly lighting and composition. Much of
this is left to chance when using toy cameras. Their imprecise construction
allowed light to leak onto the film, adding streaks of color or light at
locations. Focusing is imprecise, and vignetting is a virtue to be appreciated,
not avoided.

Modern apps like those available for the Android operating system and the iPhone
allow precise customization over these random imperfections, but that takes the
fun out this particular type of art. Even when choosing a “random” setting in
these applications, you are left with the knowledge that the image is a lie. The
phone, despite not being the best digital camera available, is capable of better
photographs. Real plastic Holgas and Dianas produce these images as a result of
the only type of image processing they are capable of — the photograph you take
is their best work. They are low-fidelity, not just “slumming it.”

The problem today is that despite the fact that these toy cameras can be found
for just about $20, it’s still less expensive in the long run to fake the look
with your phone, a decide you might have anyway. The costs of buying and
developing film add up quickly. The cameras once designed as an affordable
option for kids is now out of reach for many photographers. One can’t forget
that with digital photography, photographers have the luxury of instant review
and retake.

With the added complication of processing film, I’ve only been slowly working
with my Holga so far. Amy shot the first roll (black and white) with the Diana
today; it will be a few days before I see the resulting negatives. Here is a
selection from the Holga. More are available in the Toy Camera set on Flickr. I
should point out that the pattern of white dots seems to be a result of the
developing process. I’ll speak to the lab about this when I go to pick up the
next rolls of film they’re currently developing. Keep reading for some of my
recent photographs using the Holga.

Read more

Categories Featured, Photography, Technology Leave a comment


SOURLAND MOUNTAIN, SOMERSET COUNTY

May 9, 2011 by spike


On Sunday, I spent the afternoon walking around Sourland Mountain Preserve in
Somerset County, New Jersey. This was my first time at the location, and the
entrance is not far from where I live. I’m not sure how many miles I walked
while at the preserve, but I spent some time walking up and down part of the
mountain, mostly in a clearing. I also spent some time walking trails amongst
the trees. A pond nearby was populated with three families of geese, and two of
these families included a number of goslings.

Most people think New Jersey is flat. Much of New Jersey is, but the state does
have its share of hills and mountains, and Sourland Mountain is a great example.
As I climbed higher, I could see the houses of Hillsborough in the distance.

I brought my Canon 1D Mark III with me. On hand was a Canon 70-200mm f/4L and
the original 2x extender I borrowed from a friend. In addition to this
combination, I shot with the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 and briefly with the Canon 50mm
f/1.4. The preserve is a great location, and I’d like to come back for
portraiture.



The full gallery is on Flickr, and I’ve included a few more photographs after
the jump.

Read more

Categories Featured, Nature, Photography Leave a comment


WAITING IN A DOCTOR WHO FAN LINE, OR: REAL MEN DON’T SQUEEEEE

April 12, 2011 by spike


I received late word that the cast, executive producers, director, and head
writer/showrunner of Doctor Who would be in New York City to promote the new
series premiering soon with an event sponsored by television station BBC America
— like the BBC, but with commercials interrupting shows designed not to be
interrupted. This special event Monday night featured the world premiere of the
first story (two episodes) of the new series, before the official airing on
April 23, 2011 in the United States and the United Kingdom. The screening was
followed by a question and answer session with a panel composed of the
individual listed above.



Thinking the event would be only slightly more popular than last year’s, I
planned to line up in front of the theater hosting the event in the early
afternoon. After checking updates on Facebook in the morning, I realized that I
needed to get into Manhattan early or else miss my chance to get in. I also
planned to hold a spot for M-D as well, which was unfortunately a fruitless
effort. I arrived in line around 9:30 am, and I was already number 450 in line
for an event that supposedly had a capacity for 500. Many people in line in
front of me camped out the night before; others were waiting since midnight.
Despite being a fan of Doctor Who in some form since at least 1981, I was
clearly not the biggest fan there. I wasn’t even dressed in costume like about
50% of the other enthusiasts.

I’m quite fine with that. The relationship between “fan” and “object of fan’s
affection” is weird. I don’t like relating to people at significantly disparate
levels. It’s awkward and strange. People seem to be fanatic about science
fiction actors — more so than athletes. Fanaticism is so strong that these
individuals say ridiculous things and ask pointless questions at Q&A sessions.
To British and Scottish individuals in the television industry, these vocal
representatives of my country can be embarrassing.

In a perfect world, I would be able to relate to individuals I admire on a
professional level. I’m not in the television industry, however, so that is
unlikely. Unless you’re a teenage girl, it’s just not OK to gush over popular
individuals.

The first two episodes of the new Doctor Who series are not without their flaws,
but they will be a fantastic way to start off what will be an exciting series
with interesting stories, wrenching drama, and new monsters. In the theater
during the screening, there was almost as many, “Huh?!” reactions as
enthusiastic cheers. Afterwards, writer Steven Moffat begged us not to reveal
too much about the show (spoilers!), so I’ll just say that I’m not quite sure
how viewers will be able to stand waiting one week between episodes one and two.

After the break is one of the many trailers for the new series.

Read more

Categories Philosophy, Television Tags Doctor Who Leave a comment


LIGHTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS

April 8, 2011 by spike


A week before this past Tuesday, I attended the penultimate session of my latest
photography class. The class concentrated on lighting, and it was perfect timing
for me. Lighting was the missing piece in my skill set — well, besides the need
to improve my artistic eye. We invited a model to the class in order to practice
our lighting technique for portraits. While my classmates spent a lot of time
snapping photos with 35mm cameras, my process was much slower because I was
using the Mamiya RZ67 for the most part.

I started the session with the Polaroid back to test the exposure before
switching to the 120 medium format film. I also got a few shots in using the
Canon 1D Mark III. (It’s wonderful that I was able to find all of this equipment
used. The only piece of equipment I purchased new was the Sigma 24-70mm lens I
mentioned earlier.) Out of everything, the Polaroid “test shots” turned out the
best, despite losing one exposure when I removed the back before replacing the
dark slide. With the Polaroid back on, I also tried shooting with the f-stop
halfway between f/22 and f/32, and that didn’t work so well. It resulted in the
shutter not opening much at all, which you can see in the most underexposed shot
in the group.

It’s interesting how, despite using the same settings, the Kodak Ektar film
responded completely differently to the light on the seamless backdrop.

The next class starts in May, but I think I’ll be taking a break from classes
until at least the fall. I need to spend more time shooting.

Here is the full set on Flickr, and if you continue reading this article, you’ll
see a gallery of just the Polaroids and one 6×7.

Read more

Categories Featured, Photography Leave a comment
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