Archive for November 2011
Door, Biker, Bolzano
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Door, Biker, Bolzano [f/11, 1/30 sec, 26mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc51810b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Door, Biker, Bolzano [f/11, 1/30 sec, 26mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]")
Bolzano, Italy
On a short visit to Bolzano for a meeting on Open-Source GIS software, I (again) had the camera at hand when walking to the venue. Many of my images get created on such occasions, and I constantly improve the mechanisms of self-conditioning to see instead of just walk. Just sometimes the camera becomes heavy, so I have (re-)pondered the question if a M4/3 or Sony-E would justify the expenditure by equal or better image quality coming out of half the weight. But I (again) came to no decision, and one reason is that I don’t want to give up the 24-120mm zoom range of my Zeiss lens, the wide end being especially handy when creating square images, which narrows down the angle of view quite a bit. And 24mm-e lenses for M4/3 are rare – I know only of the 7-14mm Oly zoom (Update: and the Oly 2.0/12mm), which has a hefty price point. But then, only half the weight – sounds really convincing.
Ah, Linger On, Thou Art So Fair!
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Hochschwarzeck, Bavaria
No danger for Dr. Faustus here, as lingering (by car) is forbidden.
Snow Stake, Forest
Sunday, November 27th, 2011
Preising, Bavaria
Some weeks ago, we had a typical grey and misty November weather. I enjoyed it in spite of the cold fingers when dealing with the camera.
Eyes
Saturday, November 26th, 2011
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
In this deeply Catholic country, the Buddha’s eyes on a facade are still unusual.
Solar Lentigines
Friday, November 25th, 2011
Bad Reichenhall, Germany – click the image to see a larger version
Update: Corrected the spelling of the title thanks to the hint from Tyler.
Still Green
Friday, November 25th, 2011
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
First of all: Thanks to all of your for encouraging words re. my epic failure in a competition. Of course my disappointmant was big at first, but meanwhile I am over it. I guess my images and the expectations of the jury were just in some parallel worlds – no meeting possible. As it’s now almost 01:00 in the morning I’ve postponed further responses to your comments until tomorrow, instead I found one image of a friendly fall landscape, taken last week only. For November, where cold and dreary and sometimes even snowy weather is to be expected, this pastoral scene looks almost too friendly, too inviting. But I enjoyed the warm weather and golden light, knowing that it’s only a question of time until the cold time will come and stay for long and dark weeks.
Epic Failure
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Flour Supplies [f/16, 1/80 sec, 30mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dsc44076bb.jpg "Click to enlarge: Flour Supplies [f/16, 1/80 sec, 30mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]") Broom, Wall, Shoes |
![Click to enlarge: [f/7.1, 1/1600 sec, 28mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dsc43662b_1b.jpg "Click to enlarge: [f/7.1, 1/1600 sec, 28mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]") Waiting For Transport |
![Click to enlarge: Orderliness [f/13, 1/80 sec, 50mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dsc43702bb.jpg "Click to enlarge: Orderliness [f/13, 1/80 sec, 50mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]") Bakery Goods |
![Click to enlarge: Milo [f/5, 1/20 sec, 16mm-e, ISO 800, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dsc44455bb.jpg "Click to enlarge: Milo [f/5, 1/20 sec, 16mm-e, ISO 800, Sony A700]") Makkah Hotel |
Hint: Clicking on one of the images opens a window with a large version of the picture
Two months ago I had submitted 20x30cm prints of these images to a German photo competion with an open theme. The organizer of this competition is active in the DVF, the German Photography Association, so I see this as a serious event. Alas, today I received together with my prints the following sentences (in German):
“Regrettably, these images got the second to last rating of the competition. Reason: There is lacking an idea and the images are technically flawed. Additionally, with the exception of “Bakery goods” there is not the least composition visible. To name only one example “Waiting for Transport”. Here 60% of the image are wasted. The competition image would consist only of the lower, dark path with the woman and the dog. Everything else only distracts from this subject and is completely uninteresting. Of course, this lower part should be exposed correctly. These defects are visible in all images. Exception: “Bakery Goods”. My question: How can the juror see the connection to this title/theme. From the shoes? From the broom? Again, the exposure here is incorrect respectively boring.”
Now I had made one error when sending in the prints, and that was mixing up the labeling attachments for “Orderliness” and “Bakery Goods”. I am, however, not sure if images should be judged by or along their titles.
That aside, the verdict left me rather puzzled. I do thoroughly enjoy these my images, and in the case of “Waiting for Transport” (and as well the misnomed “Broom, Wall, Shoes”) I do see a composition and I believe that all parts of the picture are necessary and contribute to the image as a whole.
Is it possible that I simply chose the wrong competition for these images? And do I really have to to pimp my prints to a more saturated, contrasty style to meet the preferences of the jurors? I don’t think I want to.
Urban Maple
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Leaves On A Willow, Pipe
Monday, November 21st, 2011
Hochschwarzeck, Bavaria
Meadow Fescue
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Hochschwarzeck, Bavaria
Wild Brier
Saturday, November 19th, 2011
Hochschwarzeck, Bavaria
An artless image probably, but for me the art is in the creation. Have a good weekend everybody!
Early Morning
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
Munich, Bavaria
City Friseur
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Space, Tidier
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Althea
Monday, November 14th, 2011
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Autumn’s Offerings
Sunday, November 13th, 2011
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Columns
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Columns [f/9, 1/40 sec, 40mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50823b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Columns [f/9, 1/40 sec, 40mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]")
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Found in the Spa Center. Some more ‘Brr’ for Martina. And congratulations to Carl Weese for his post No. 2500, which he celebrated with a wonderful quiet, beautiful instead of pretty image. That’s what I call real perseverance.
Storm Clouds Over A Neat City
Friday, November 11th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Storm Clouds Over A Neat City [f/2.2, 1/15 sec, 5mm-e, ISO 200, DMC-LX3]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/p1020256b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Storm Clouds Over A Neat City [f/2.2, 1/15 sec, 5mm-e, ISO 200, DMC-LX3]")
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Square Landscape
Friday, November 11th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: [f/4.5, 1/160 sec, 24mm-e, ISO 160, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc49489b_1.jpg "Click to enlarge: [f/4.5, 1/160 sec, 24mm-e, ISO 160, Sony A700]")
Steinhögl, Bavaria
Spa Tokamak
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Spa Tokamak [f/8, 1/100 sec, 50mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50831b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Spa Tokamak [f/8, 1/100 sec, 50mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]")
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Squareness
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Squareness [f/5.6, 1/40 sec, 55mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50838b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Squareness [f/5.6, 1/40 sec, 55mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]")
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Taking up Juha’s recommendation on yesterday’s post, here is squareness presented in square format. You find assembled a good deal of the necessary ingredients for solid square enjoyment: freshly brushed tar, neatly trimmed bushes in cast-concrete pots, a high and opaque fence and last but not least the silver Benz…
Using the square format without a square viewfinder is possible, at least with non-moving subjects, and so I continue to use my familiar DSLR. Skimming the web for information about alternative cameras, I had to learn that 6:6 is superior to 1:1, at least it has to be, otherwise Olympus wouldn’t denote the square format as 6:6 in their data sheets – but well, maybe this is just another twist in their (former) management’s attempt to hide facts. Who knows?
The new Sony A77 however does offer neither 6:6 nor 1:1 aspect ratios, a fact that I can’t understand, as it would have been extremely simple to implement with an exclusive electronic viewfinder. Without that, the camera looses quite some attractivity for me, additionally to the 24 MP image size that I do not need yet and that only would slow down my workflow and flood my harddisks.
Tidied Spaces
Monday, November 7th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Tidied Spaces 1 [f/6.3, 1/60 sec, 18mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50836b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Tidied Spaces 1 [f/6.3, 1/60 sec, 18mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]")
![Click to enlarge: Tidied Spaces 2 [f/6.3, 1/60 sec, 18mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50837b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Tidied Spaces 2 [f/6.3, 1/60 sec, 18mm-e, ISO 200, Sony A700]")
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria
Re-thinking what is typical for my hometown, I came to the conclusion that cleanliness, probably even squareness, and the 99% complete absence of disorder is one of the characteristic of this place. Certainly worth deeper inspection.
Street Dragon
Sunday, November 6th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Street Dragon [f/5, 1/60 sec, 30mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50748b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Street Dragon [f/5, 1/60 sec, 30mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]")
Budapest, Hungary
Round Archs
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Round Archs [f/14, 1/15 sec, 28mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50761b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Round Archs [f/14, 1/15 sec, 28mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]")
Budapest, Hungary
Tesztoszteron
Friday, November 4th, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Tesztoszteron [f/9, 1/80 sec, 20mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50765b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Tesztoszteron [f/9, 1/80 sec, 20mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]")
Budapest, Hungary
A new variety (at least for me) of energy drink that is. I mean, I knew that the infamous “R.d Bull” is supposed to contain taurin, regardless of its pharmazeutical value, but tesztoszteron certainly goes one step further. But if it makes people shell out their money for this bullsh.t, good for the producers.
Keleti Station Doors
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Station Doors [f/5, 1/160 sec, 60mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50743b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Station Doors [f/5, 1/160 sec, 60mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]")
Budapest, Hungary
More From Keleti Train Station
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
![Click to enlarge: More From Keleti 1 [f/5, 1/40 sec, 26mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50737b.jpg "Click to enlarge: More From Keleti 1 [f/5, 1/40 sec, 26mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]")
![Click to enlarge: More From Keleti 2 [f/5, 1/250 sec, 40mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50738b.jpg "Click to enlarge: More From Keleti 2 [f/5, 1/250 sec, 40mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]")
Budapest, Hungary
Keleti Train Station
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
![Click to enlarge: Keleti Train Station [f/5, 1/125 sec, 26mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]](http://markus-spring.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dsc50735b.jpg "Click to enlarge: Keleti Train Station [f/5, 1/125 sec, 26mm-e, ISO 400, Sony A700]")
Budapest, Hungary
Hard to believe that this is “just a train station”. But when it was built (1881-1884), such architecture was used to showcase and aggrandize the Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal splendor. No talking of a lean state at that time.