Macro Monday - Life inside a Kaleidoscope!

Updates 5/27/08 @ 1:45 pm:

Sorry for the quick post this morning. This is actually the inside of one of my many kaleidoscopes. I've shot several of them, and my shorter ones (shorter then 7") seem to work better as the focus point is closer (& thus more macro!).

Canon 20D

Canon 50mm Macro with extention tube

f22 2 Sec @ ISO 400

Chicago Memorial Day

ChicagoMemorialDay, originally uploaded by focusedlight77.

Happy Memorial Day! I grabbed this one on Saturday downtown. I thought the parade was on Sunday or Monday, but they had it on Saturday...Who has a Memorial Day Parade TWO DAYS before Memorial Day??? Chicago, that's who.... doing there own thing since 1837.

Washington & Garland

Washington&Garland, originally uploaded by focusedlight77.

Sorry for the repost....Blogger image upload KILLS COLORS DEAD. I brought this image from flickr (notice the difference?) A little better...but not much. I wonder why my colors change so much from what I see in photoshop to after I upoad an image?

Washington & Garland

Let it burn

Every once in a while I get in a restoration at work of something really amazing. This photo was brought to me by the Park Ridge Fire Department and was taken by Fire Prevention Officer Lieutenant Donald Pfister (I think). It might be hard to see in the small version, but the fire crew is enjoying a smoke & a quick bite to eat before getting to work on the house....A drill ofcourse!

The Vendor

If you have been to my website this one might look familiar. I took it last father's day when me & my sister took my Dad to the cubs game. It was a wonderful day & hopefully we can get some tickets to do the same thing again this year! Go Cubs!

Canon 20D

Canon 70-300 f4.5-5.6 IS

f5.6 1/60 Sec @ ISO 400

New Image tomorrow

Glassblocks

Canon 20D

Canon 70-200 f2.8IS

f2.8 1/30 Sec @ ISo 800

LSD Viaduct

Lake Shore Drive Viaduct @ Loyola University

Toyo 4x5 View Camera

Illford 100 Delta

f32 @ 2 Sec

Crystal & Groomsmen

Sorry short on time this morning, another one from the wedding.... Thanks again Crystal & Joe!

Canon 40D
17-55 f2.8 IS
f8 1/200 Sec @ ISO 100

Macro Monday ~ Well Close-Up Monday Anyways!

I shot my first wedding on Friday. It went rather well, although it was MUCH harder then I anticipated. Now I see why the wedding photographers make the big bucks.

Thank you Crystal & Joe for allowing me to be apart of your very special day. And thanks Tim for allowing me to piggy back on your shoot, I had loads of fun and learned quite a bit!

Canon 40D

Canon FD 50mm f1.2 w/ EOS adapter

f1.2 1/125 Sec @ ISO 100

John Hancock

Michael has a way of taking pictures from a different angle, allowing us to look at things from a different perspective.

Monika on behalf of Michael.. while he's out doing his first wedding photography

Chicago Avenue At Your Service

Just west of Michigan Avenue on Chicago Avenue, there is an interesting display of services for you to choose from once you exuasted your walk on Magnificent Mile. Take a break at the Beck's Book Store and head out for refreshments at Jimmy John's... Afterwards, if you're feeling "out of focus" stop by Starbucks for another round to help you get to your next destintion.

Commented by Monika on Michael's behalf (great shot babe)

Little Amsterdam

After two years, my neighbor & good friend Anna is closing her doors at Little Amsterdam Restaurant. They will be greatly missed... This just shows me once again that you need to SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS!!! Boycott WALMAT!!!!

Y-Me 2008 Mother's Day Breast Cancer Run

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom & all mom's everywhere! After I had a great lunch with my Mother & G-Ma at their house I took a ride down to the Adler Planetarium to get this skyline pano.

This is a condensed version of a much larger shot...it actually almost twice as long.

Canon 40D

Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS

(x24) 2.5Sec Exposures @ f8

Visit Y-Me here.

COBOL

Ok, you know I must be totally in grossed in GTA4 when I post one of Monika's COBOL photos...but still a great shot of one of my two favorite cats!

The Windy City

Sorry I haven't kept up with posting this week... Unfortunately GTA 4 came out this week & has eaten up ALL of my free time.

I took this one a couple weeks ago when Monika & I went down to Michigan Ave. They have a bunch of sculptures that all focus on the "wind" theme...I guess because we are the "windy" city... Does anyone know why they call Chicago the Windy City?

41 Tables

Chris's Billiards at 4637 N Milwaukee Ave is one of the locations where the Color of Money (with Tom Cruise & Paul Newman) was shot. This pool hall has been there for ever. I started going there with my Dad when I was a kid in the 80's when Chris's only had 18 tables. Chris's is one of my favorite "old" Chicago hangouts, and I'm looking forward to shooting there some more.

Canon 40D
11-18 Tamron f4-5.6
f8 Multiple Exposure HDR @ ISO 400

End of the line

Cement Factory on the North Branch of the Chicago River.

Canon 20D

Canon 17-55 2.8 IS

f22 ~ Multiple Exposures to HDR

To All Trains

Sorry I haven't posted anything new in the last couple days...I haven't been feeling to well. But between sleeping & getting lost in GTA IV, I've managed to go though some of my old large format negs. I shot this one at Chicago's Union Station in 2004. I absolutely love the lines & the tonal range in this shot.... I hope you enjoy it too. New photos to follow tomorrow...I promise :-)

Toyo 4x5 View Camera

Ilford Delta 100

f32 @ 2 Sec

Cloudgate

Ok, every Chicago photographer gets to have their ONE photo of the bean

(aka Cloudgate). This one's mine. This photo was taken the week Cloudgate was unvieled in July 2004 before the seems where buffed out.

Toyo 4x5 View Camera

Kodak TMax 100

f45 @ 2 minutes