Holiness To The Lord, LDS Temple, Redlands, CA

Holiness To The Lord, Redlands, CA, originally uploaded by SoLostAndFound / Bill Lindsay.

I have been on a bit of a kick with regards to LDS Temples and the images that are made of the Temples. I feel like members of the church who carry a camera can do more with our images of the temples then the standard view. There are some great details that are a part of the temples that the church builds. A lot goes into these buildings and they are really beautiful buildings.   I am not saying that I take the best images, I am saying that I want to do more with these great buildings to show their unique beauty and amazing grace.

Above is an image I made of the Redlands California Temple. I will include some past images that I made at the Newport Beach, Oakland and Washington D.C. Temples.  I love the pics of the doors on the D.C. temple and the dedication year on the Oakland.  But my favorite, is the shots with the Angel Moroni and Holiness from the Newport Beach Temple. 

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data:

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	154 mm
ISO Speed:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 191, Reflections, Pyramid Skylights, National Gallery of Art West

Day 191, Reflections, Pyramid Skylights, National Gallery of Art West Terrace, by I.M. Pei, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Last of the Washington DC stuff, I promise, well not double dog dare level promise or anything, but that is it for now. Outside of the National Gallery there are these pyramids that have a reflective coating. It is probably to cut the sun and heat, but the result is that they are highly reflective, almost mirror like, and it seemed something different to try to shoot. I wanted to get the reflection of the reflections but make it look like it belonged. I lined up the trees to be in continuation and shot. I like the results. I really like the shot in the out takes of the of my me as a reflection.

Anyway, Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
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Day 190, Hanging Guitar Sculpture, Wasginton DC Convention Center,

Day 190, Hanging Guitar Sculpture, Wasginton DC Convention Center, Donald Lipski, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

This Hanging Sculpture by Donald Lipski is in the Washington DC Convention Center. This is part of his Five Easy Pieces, 2003. Five Easy Pieces is a collection of giant, geometric shapes made from everyday objects like tennis rackets, kayaks, guitars, bar stools and bicycles — a nod to Lipski’s fond childhood memories with his father who was in the bicycle business. As you approach the suspended sculpture from a distance, the individual objects reveal themselves. You can also find Lipski’s world-renowned sculptures in national and international museums. His work has been written about extensively and celebrates the common object.

Here are some of the other shots that I played with.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
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Day 189, Lingua Two, Sculpture Installed in Washington DC Convention

Day 189, Lingua Two, Sculpture Installed in Washington DC Convention Center, Jim Sanborn, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Lingua One

Original

These two 16' tall cylinders, with waterjet cut text in Russian, Chinese, Ethiopian, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, and Iroquois are installed in the Washington DC Convention Center. They were made by artist Jim Sanborn. They have lights inside of them that then cast the characters in light on the surrounding surfaces. I think that they make some great art for a big venue like the Convention Center. The artist, Jim Sanborn has a lot of cool versions of this idea, google him and check out his work, it is great.

I took the original shot and then played with it in Aperture to produce one and two. When I shot this, I thought that it would be conceptual in nature and a shot worth playing with. In Aperture I adjust the Highlights and Shadows and then fully turned up or down the High Tonal Width, Mid Contrast, and or Low Tonal Width. Note that the difference in the tow tweaked versions is simply that one has the high tonal width pushed all the way while the mid contrast is pushed all the way and two has the high tonal and low tonal width both pushed to zero.

Here are a few more shots that I took of these.

Thanks for Looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.017 sec (1/60)
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Day 188, Benjamin Franklin, Statue at the Old Post Office, Washington

Day 188, Benjamin Franklin, Statue at the Old Post Office, Washington DC, by Jacques Jouvenal, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I faced down that dilema again, color or black and white? Of course I went pansey and did both. This is the sculpture of Benjamin Franklin in front of the Old Post Office in Washington DC. There is an argument here for both. I caught it at a great time of day since the Post Office was lit up nicely and gave the statue a nice contrast. But the Black and White does the same and forces you to focus a little more.

What do you think? Color? or Black and White?

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	1/3200 sec
Aperture:	f/1.4
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 187, Metro, Washington DC, Metro Center

Day 187, Metro, Washington DC, Metro Center, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I rode the Metro almost the whole time I was here. I stayed in a hotel up by the zoo and everyday I came down to the convention center. I also used the Metro to check out the capitol. I have not really ever used mass transit like this, SoCal is all about the cars. This was enjoyable. I couldn't resist trying my hand at getting some pics down here. Unfortunately, a lot of it did not work, but I like these.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.6 sec (3/5)
Aperture:	f/4
Focal Length:	17 mm
ISO Speed:	200
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Day 183, Stairs, East Building, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Day 183, Stairs, East Building, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I had a chance to sneak over to the National Gallery of Art, but just time for one. I went with the East Building. As I was there, I was overcome with some ideas for taking pictures. I want to choose some of the great masterworks, and make them into photos. I don't know which ones yet, but the same paintings as photos with my family and friends in them. It is a little boring, but would be very technically challenging. In fact, the lighting could be daunting. 

A few that become instantly obvious artists to start with would be Georgia Okeefe and some of Picaso. But the one that is most daunting and my favorite, Rene Magrite. His surreal stuff could be great if I could figure out how to make it work.

Oh, todays pic is also cool in my humble opinion. The first out take works as well, the oposite directions of the people and all.  I went with the first one because I liked how he was looking heaven ward, it seemed to give the picture a nice feeling.  I almost went with the one of the man in the art, but I will save that for some of the Magrite works I want to shoot. The art is actually three different peices, Circle I, II, and III by David Smith.

I am off to buy a bowler.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:	f/5
Focal Length:	33 mm
ISO Speed:	200
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Day 182, National Archives, Past Prologue

Day 182, National Archives, Past Prologue, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I think that I have gone overboard with the black and white. Lately, I seem to want to do everything in black and white. I think it is the stone and sculpture here that pushed me this way. In fact, when you look at the color version, there are definitely somethings that I like better. The reflection of the blue sky in the window. But the color differences weren't to my liking, so the black and white conversion.

This statue is outside of the National Archive. I had dreamed of some grand vista of the great documents, but apparently I totally forgot about everything I learned in National Treasure, how everything is so behind such thick glass that Aquariums are easier to shoot. Plus, they keep the building so low on light that there is no handheld photography possible. Mix in the 1000 people in line and it was a bit of a disappointment for me. I could hardly get a glance at the grand old documents.

Nicolas Cage made it look so easy to see the documents, to be cool and dig history at the same time. I am giving you one of the for statues out side. At least I gave you something to think about today. Nicolas Cage made history cool.

Or if you want the easy one, "What Is Past Is Prologue"

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture:	f/7.1
Focal Length:	35 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 181, World War II Memorial

Day 181, World War II Memorial, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

When I finished at the Washington Monument, I wanted to try to get a shot that I liked from the World War II Memorial. Last time I was here, I got one shot that I liked, but it was really just an afterthought that the WWII Monument was there.  Really only the top of the fountain even comes into play in the shot.  The shot is really about the Capitol looking past the Washington Monument.  It really didn't do any justice the scale and beauty of the WWII monument.  Here it is.

So this time I wanted to go for something that had people interacting with the monument.  I wanted to show the scale by showing people.  I really like how these came out.  One of my favorite shots ever seems to get its strength with that element.  It was a shot in the Lincoln Memorial and I went for that people element to show this monument.  Here is that older shot that I took in the Lincoln Memorial.  I loved how that one came out.  

I wanted to try to recreate that on this trip in the better resolution of my current camera, but I ran out of time and had to go.  

I am pleased with how these came out.  For some reason, I seem to end up in Black and White with the monuments.  It seems to bring the image together in a more seamless manner.  Color sometimes is too distracting.  I just want to show the whole, the play of the light off the rest. Color seems to make you notice it more then effect of the light on the place.  That was problematic in this shot since the water is lit up and the color element seems to make it the only element in the image.  So, Black and White it is.

Here are the other shots that I took here.  

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture:	f/2.8
Focal Length:	26 mm
ISO Speed:	200
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Day 180, Washington Monument

Day 180, Washington Monument, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

So this is as experimental that I get. This is the Washington Monument, in a format that is a little different for me.   I was really going for the grainy polarized effect in the black and white. I shot these later, after the sun had gone down but before real night fall. The sky was overcast and when I got to the editing I tried to keep some contrast.  I used a wide (16 mm) setting on the lens with the aperture set to f/11 so that it would retain some detail as the view diminished.

When I did the editing I used Aperture 2.0 and the monochrome mixer to play with the effects. I also played with the white balance and the some of the colors to get the right effect.  I think the dark mood that I was going for came out. There is a gritty feel that I wanted. It is not because I have a dark feeling there, rather to convey a sense of permanence that is probably less real then anyone wants to admit.  It seems that all of our history has revolved around the imminent doom of our country.  The Revolution, the War of 1812, The Civil War, World War I, World War II, The Great Depression (both of them), The Civil Rights Movement, Communism and all the other 'isms that are out there.  All about to wash out from under us the foundations of liberty.  Yet, still, we are free and facing the next threat.

For all of the history of Washington DC, it is not that old of a city. It feels different then all of Southern California, that is not hard to do. We are the home of strip malls and off-ramps on the freeway. My least favorite sign is the one that says _(insert city name)_ City, next _(#)_ Exits. It kills me that our entire definition of cities in SoCal is the number of exits that get off the freeway. Invariably, there will be a Walmart by one of them, and then gas stations and fast food. 

DC has more then that, it is filled with history, both current emerging and the normal kind. But it is a city that has its entire history defined by its role as the capitol city of the United States. That is unique to a capitol like Washington DC. Paris, London, Rome, Istanbul and Bombay all have histories that predate their current incarnations. One is not necessarily better then other, but I have of recent started to not enjoy the new culture of SoCal. I long for an attachment to a place that is more then the newest mall or stucco. One thing I am tired of is stucco. I want brick and stone. Not the trim that is fake, but real stone, cut to build the building.

Well, that is not going to change, but at least I can dream.  I really am tired of stucco though.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture:	f/11
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ISO Speed:	200
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Day 179, Washington Monument

Day 179, Washington Monument, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

In an attempt to shoot things a little differently this time around, I decided to take up a spot by the Washington monument and wait and shoot pictures of people and how they interacted with the monument. These are three that I took. While I put up one in particular, I actually like them all about the same. 

I did just what they do, I shot pictures looking up (see tomorrows post) and touched the stone. I looked at it in a little bit of awe at the scale of it. I have never been around at a time when I could try to go see the inside or climb the stairs. I want to, I just have always been here for work and not for myself. I try to steal sometime to be here and they are open 24 hours. Just not always to go inside. 

Maybe next time.  Even better would be to come here with the family.  Definitely someday.

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture:	f/2.8
Focal Length:	35 mm
ISO Speed:	200
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Day 178, Korean War Memorial

Day 178, Korean War Memorial, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I flew out of Atlanta, and now I am in Washington DC for a conference. I had a few hours to try to walk around the National Mall. When I got here a lot of what I would really like to see was closed. The Smithsonian is not open past 5:30. So that put a damper in my plans. I will be here a few days and try to shoot different things and ways then I have in the past when I have been here.

I did not shoot this memorial or the DC War Memorial when I came here last time. I thought that the picture of the Korean War Memorial as a portrait, as if the solders were really there was kind of cool. It also removed the tourist from the picture.

The DC War Memorial was put up in the 1930s to commemorate the Citizens of DC who fought and died in the Great War. It has twelve columns that are twenty two feet high supporting the dome. It is just tucked away in a little part of the park all to itself. I know that it was some time ago, but this was the first war memorial to be put up in the Potomac park area. It is not recent, so many don't come to think about what has passed like the Vietnam and Korean memorials. It does not have the scale as the WWII memorial, which is still somewhat new. So it does not get the attention that the others do. It is not well known like the Lincoln or Washington Monuments. It has not been a movie like the National Archives were.

So the DC War Memorial sits alone, a quite memory of a generation now passed, of an atrocious and horrible war. I know that I feel, every time I come here, a sense of awe at what other generations have passed through to preserve the union. I have never served in the military, but I have known and do now know some who do. They are a unique set those who take honor and duty to the point of personal sacrifice. How ever your feelings may lie about war, you must stand in admiration of those who, in spite of personal sacrifice, stand and do their duty.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.013 sec (1/80)
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Day 126, Lincoln Memoral Reworked in Aperture

Day 126, Lincoln Memoral Reworked in Aperture, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

This is a combo post. A reflection of past work, but reworked with Aperture 2.0. I wanted to print some stuff out for framing for a friend and as I went through my catalogue, I came across these images. I had just put on the new Aperture from Apple (I just could not pony up the big bucks for Photoshop but needed a little more then iPhoto offered) and wanted to give it a spin. I am really happy with the results. I tuned the colors on this to give it more pop then what I had done previously with Photoshop Elements on my PC. Now that I am all Apple, and a little more advanced in what I like, I think the second go around came out pretty good. Here are few more from the same trip. I am heading back to attend the American Psychiatric Association meeting in May, hopefully I will get some new stuff to post. I am looking for a folding bike now to have a little more mobility.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel
Exposure:	10 sec (10)
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Focal Length:	75 mm
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