Bill Jennings's Photoblog
Spheres and Dots
Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 12 May 2009 in Abstract & Conceptual and Portfolio.
Lugging the kids to a favorite Japanese restaurant in Campbell, California - walked by these lights at dusk - and ran back to the van to grab the camera before the blue sky faded to black.
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I liked Miss Ruthie's Bar Stools yesterday for it's great tones and repetition.
And, how can we not love a Classic Jesse by the fog guy Stephen Phillips. I hear Jesse is back in town, and we will soon see more of this fantastic red head in days to come. I patiently await, as an artist must have the time he needs, for perfection to be mastered.
Just made it home after a month of travel - posted a few photos from my journey to within 48 miles of the antartica circle: at nearly the longest day of the year: hence, there was 21 hours a day of sunlight...
Thank you for your patience while I was out of touch.
I do hope you followed Bob Kelly's blog (my roommate) while he is still traveling - he is now on Easter Island - and will be updating his blog for some time to come - please check it out!
Mariana from waterloo, Canada
wow.. It feels like we are ready to celebrate something :)) GORGEOUS !!! Love what you did here :))
12 May 2009 5:13am
@Mariana: It is always time to celebrate LIFE! This is a happy photo I enjoy sharing with others, glad the mood makes it over the web to you. Bill
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
an EXCELLENT shot here Bill! but -- you must have grabbed not only the camera but also the tripod too, right? or are you a super steady shot? (i am not!!) beautifully done -- a magical visual!!
12 May 2009 6:01am
@dj.tigersprout: This was handheld - but I did use the image stabilizer (IS) function on the lens. Glad you appreciate why I had to go back for the camera (my wife, albeit fantastic, sometimes rolls her eyes when I say I need to grab the camera).
Dulcie from Danville, United States
Or two moons rising. Nice abstract! It was worth going back for the camera.
12 May 2009 6:12am
@Dulcie: Dulcie - you are an understanding one. I knew I liked you! Thanks for the kind words on the photo, and great suggestion for a title.
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
Definitely worth the trip back to the car Bill. I love the blue sky in the background it really brings the lights out - especially the blue one!! A lovely bright image! :)
12 May 2009 6:29am
@Mandy Provan: Thats why I ran, I knew I had about five minutes before it became too black for the photo. Glad you like it Mandy. Thanks for the kind words on the abstract.
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Cool, nicely seen Bill!!! Love the light you've captured!!!
12 May 2009 6:31am
@Linerberry: Thanks Linerberry for your illuminating words... Sometimes the light IS the subject, as it is here. Bill
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Great shot Bill. looks like the outer space where all the stars are scattered around :).
12 May 2009 7:41am
@Sarito: Hey, I think you are right - it does look like outer space. Great observation. Thanks for pointing that out.
P J W Miller from Chase Terrace, United Kingdom
You reacted well and managed to get a great and surreal capture
12 May 2009 8:18am
@P J W Miller: Thank you P J W - glad you see the surreal feel in this image - and thanks for the kind words on the photo.
Helen from Melbourne, Australia
What an amazing shot. Very unexpected. I thought it was an abstract at first. Although I really like the lights on the tree; perhaps a crop leaving just the top half may improve the composition?
12 May 2009 8:31am
@Helen: I'll play with the cropping - good suggestion. I am glad the photo caught you off guard to the unexpected, sometimes that's what is fun about blogging.
Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco
Absolutely fabulous : it is like in a dream !These two balls full of light and color in this background is extraordinary !!
12 May 2009 9:31am
@Marie-Hélène Ammor: Thanks Marie-Helene. Glad you liked the play on colors and light.
@Jen: Thank you Jen - glad you felt the light was magical.
@Linda: Thanks Linda for your specific comments, and such kind words
Betty from New Jersey, United States
Fantastic capture of these lights, Bill! Bravo!
12 May 2009 11:36am
@Betty: Thank you Betty, I thought this was a fun image and glad you liked it also.
@Onlymehdi: thanks for your consistent and very kind comments
Picture Box from Fishers, United States
Very nice shot Bill. Glad that, with that shutter speed, the shot looks very sharp.
12 May 2009 12:38pm
@Picture Box: I used IS, took multiple shots, and braced myself on a nearby lamppost. Thanks for the kind words on the photo.
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
There is a surreal quality...like the collision of two planets amongst the starry sky.
This so pretty :)
12 May 2009 1:04pm
@bluechameleon: Thanks a bunch - the planet collision is a nice analogy of the image. Nice comment.
Gimena Escobar Lastra from Buenos Aires, Argentina
very beautiful lights game! I love this colours :DD
12 May 2009 2:28pm
@Gimena Escobar Lastra: Gracias Gimena - glad you love the colors. Thanks for the kind words - and I hope someday to visit Jujuy, thanks for your link and info on your page.
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
Fireflies with chopsticks. best...jerry
12 May 2009 2:30pm
@ordinaryimages: Well said. I hadn't thought that way, but that would be a fabulous title as well. Thanks for the comment.
Ajay from Pune, India
Quite a bright tree, Bill. Doesn't look like you used a tripod but still the lights are quite balanced. I love that blue ball at the back.
12 May 2009 2:45pm
@Ajay: Thanks Ajay for recognizing the challenge of the shot. I probably should have pushed the ISO to 400 or 800, and not took such a chance on such a slow shutter. Glad you liked the fun in this play on lights.
Barbara from Florida, United States
I like the feel of a fantasy wonderland with the lights and colorful globes. Great timing to capture the blue sky glowing through the branches. Considering the rush back to get your camera this is an extremely steady capture.
I'm glad you didn't pass up the opportunity.
12 May 2009 4:06pm
@Barbara: I did have to pause to catch my breadth - so I didn't shake too much... But I made it in time to catch the blue in the sky, and really not have to overexpose the image to get the detail in the trees. Glad you like it!
@john4jack: thank you.
@vu@granby: Thank you Gilles.
@chrissy: Thanks Chrissy.
@Calusarus: Another good title! Who knows, this could be from another galaxy.
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Great catch, and wonderfully composed.....Light and colors work perfectly, and not easy to catch if you were hand holding that camera!!!
Like this shot alot!!!
12 May 2009 8:59pm
@Susan: Thanks Susan - it wasn't easy handheld - should carry a tripod in the car as well, or at lease pushed the IOS up 1 or 2 stops.
@Acosta Redon: Thank you Acosta.
observing from North West, United Kingdom
That's a beautiful shot.... lets hope that beings from another world look like this.....!
12 May 2009 10:44pm
@observing: That would be refreshing and delightful for us photographers, wouldn't it? Thanks for the kind words on the photo.
@Stephen Phillips: Thank you Stephen. Glad you liked it!
dkc from Xanthi, Greece
I just love the dark blue background...It should be really tough to capture it hand held but you did greatly!
13 May 2009 10:10am
@dkc: thank you dkc. it wasn't the easiest to capture hand held, but the IS lens helped a great deal.
@jamesy: getting a smile is always a nice compliment for a photographer: glad you liked the whimsical nature of this photo.
Canon EOS-1D Mark III
1/4 second
F/8.0
ISO 200
105 mm