Self Portrait Light setup

Here is the set up I used for the Self Portrait:

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The power of shape - Silhouette

Shape is an amazing element when it comes to photography, next to light I think it's the most important part of a photograph (disagree with me, comments). When you remove texture, color and form you are left with a silhouette. So why would you try to remove texture color or form from anything, I think when we do this we allow the mind to see the item and "fill in the details our self" so we also need to provide enough information to help allow the viewer to fill in the details.

One of the "Rules" of photography is always have the sun at your back.  I say try a few shots with the sun behind your subject, try it, think about it when you are outside taking photos.  To get the best shot take your light reading on part of the background that you want correctly exposed, if you miss this part you might have a poorly exposed silhouette.

Here are two examples of silhouettes that allow you to fill in the details:

For this shot I took my reading off the sky (the beautiful blue sky).

For this shot I used the letters on the glass divider (it's not exactly the background like I mentioned above but the background is very boring). 

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Screwed

The problem with taking pictures is you start to see things to take pictures of. That is sort of problematic because everything is something you can take pictures of and maybe everything should have its picture taken, but is there any interest in this?

Another problem with taking pictures is that you have to have your camera to take them, I have been carrying my camera with me almost always for the last 2-3 years, it's in a bag I keep my Laptop and gear together and take them everywhere (my wife thinks I'm a little crazy) and stop and take pictures when I see something of interest.

I love to drink liquids right now I love Diet Dr Pepper (sponsors?) and with the amount of liquid that goes into my body the more that has to come out :P While I was taking a trip to the men's room I saw this really awesome pattern out of the corner of my eye so I finished my business and went and got my camera and this is the result. The darker picture is the result of under exposing the image and bringing the exposure up in post processing (it was intentional as was the grain) the other one is a composite shot of three different images blended using an HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing, it's not that impressive except the blue centers of the Screws.

I have some questions I would like some feedback on, if you would be so kind:

1. Is there any interest in taking pictures of everyday things?
2. Do you know of anybody that will give me a sponsorship for drinking Diet Dr Pepper?

Click on the Pictures to get a bigger view.