One strange day, but it ended very well.

[eL eSs Vee]

I had a rather unique day, today . . . well, yesterday, actually. My plans were . . . Pick up Juliette, buy a new flash, go to the Queen Mary with a photo group and, between shooting around the ship I'd sneak in a few vintage fashion shots of Juliette.

Epic Failure!

Instead: Picked her up, we had lunch, went antique shopping and then met with a non-photography friend (who was originally going to meet us at the QM); Juliette started getting sicker by the minute while getting ready, so we took her home; hung out at an antique radio shop with the friend, went for a hot dog at a stand that wasn't there this week and then I left for home at 10:30!

But even going home wasn't a complete success, because I took an impromtu side trip (1/4 block) to Pasadena's city hall and was allowed to use my tripod. I got fifteen shots, until the security guard had to enforce the "Everyone out at 11:00 PM" rule. And by "impromtu", I mean that even the compositions weren't planned; I found a spot and an angle, set the camera and (sometimes) set the focus (small apertures give a lot of leeway) and then counted the exposures the old-fashioned way - one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three. . . . You get the idea.

So, it turned out to be a good day, after all: Had fun with a few friends for as long as possible, saw tons of antique radios, clocks and morse code tappers, and still managed to shoot in a manner that was new to me (small aperture, long exposure - 13 to 22 seconds), utilizing a mood I'd never used before, at a time I'd never shot before, and still got several shots that I like.

Here are my six favorites from tonight. I hope you'll enjoy them.

Spiral.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/SpiralDSC_3653.jpg

Ghost on the Landing.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/GhostontheLandingDSC_3659.jpg

Strange Light.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/StrangeLightDSC_3656.jpg

Where am I?
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/WhereAmIDSC_3654.jpg

To Reach the End.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/ToReachtheEndDSC_3655.jpg

Down, but How?
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/DownbutHowDSC_3663.jpg

Comments, of course, are always accepted with a smile.

[Richard]

Nice work, Lee. :thumb My favorites are the first and the last. One (sort of) nit is that the posted versions are so large that I have to scroll to see the whole frame, which makes it difficult to appreciate the geometric qualities of the composition. Guess I need a bigger screen :rolleyes...

[wfeller]

very cool stairwell!

[Jack'll do]

Hi Lee
These are all extremely nice and unusual but that first one is absolutely stunning! :thumb:thumb

[pathfinder]

Interesting series of images, all good.

I prefer 2 and 5. I like the capture of the faint shadows in 2.

[Eia]

They are wonderful; I especially like 'Strange Light'. Knowing you did it 'the old fashion' way matches the scenes all the more! :)

[eL eSs Vee]

Thank you, everyone, for your very kind comments. Richard, I'm sorry about the size; sometimes I just can't help myself. :rolleyes

Here are the last two. This is about all there is out of the fifteen images I got.

Double Cross.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/DoubleCrossDSC_3647.jpg

My Escape.
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/Pasadena%20City%20Hall/MyEscapeDSC_3660.jpg

[black mamba]

Hi Lee,

You've got some really good stuff here. # 1 is especially good.

Tom

[koush]

the day did turn out well:D

all terrific shots, number 2 being my fave

[nosmo]

all very nice. #2 came out very good.