The Attic. . .(view from within )

[gahspidy]

This was taken in the attic of one of the fishing shacks in the village of the Seaport. My trusty assistant kept a look out while I ventured into this "forbidden" area. Similiar in composition as my "Below Deck" shot in that this is more about the "within" and the outside is evident only by the glare of light beaming in.
How does this work for you?
Thanks

[DownByFive]

Great light and great atmosphere...You know, maybe I should get an assistant...

[mtbbrian]

You know, if (and when) you were to hang this series for exhibition, you should hang this one next to, the below deck photo..
The only thing, that bothers me about this one Gary, is that you cut the very edge of the left corner from the enterance. I think you need the whole thing.
Make sense?
I'd suggest you go back and shoot it again and get all of the enterance.
Your technique is excellent!
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Brian

[Overbeyond]

Another one of those wonderfully mysterious shots. Great debris strewn about the attic floor and what even looks like a bit of light squeezing up from underneath, though I doubt it is light (top of right hand joint of floor boards). I can smell the place and almost see the colour of the old timbers.
What mysteries are below? Whats in the dark corner? I don't want to know just prefer to imagine it.
I'm wondering about the window though; it seems to have lost it's lines of squareness (it seems you have done some work here to improve the rays of light perhaps?). A tiny little bit of trapdoor also missing but it all survives this.
Nevertheless, I know these shots are not easy and I would be delighted had it come from my camera.
Tom

[gahspidy]

Thanks for the thoughts. You know , I never thought about the trap door being clipped off a bit, but that you point it out now it seems to bother me a bit too. This was scanned by the studio as I am awaiting my Nikon coolscan V arrival and from experience I think there may be a bit more to the negative than what they gave me. In the meantime I was able to slavage the corner a bit with editing. btw, Tom, thats the way the sill is shaped, just a slight blur was added to diffuse the light a bit.
Thanks again,, Brian, Tom and Downbyfive for your time.

[mtbbrian]

I am awaiting my Nikon coolscan V arrival and from experience I think there may be a bit more to the negative than what they gave me.

That could be the case Gary.
I so do not like that!
I for one like to use every square millimeter of the frame, it bothers me when my scanner cuts off just the smallest detail.
Good Luck with Coolscan V!
Brian

[Seb]

This was taken in the attic of one of the fishing shacks in the village of the Seaport. My trusty assistant kept a look out while I ventured into this "forbidden" area. Similiar in composition as my "Below Deck" shot in that this is more about the "within" and the outside is evident only by the glare of light beaming in.
How does this work for you?
Thanks

Hello Gary,

I think that Brian is right on about the enterance. There should be a little room betwen it and the left side of the frame. Also (and I am going to be picky for this one) the lighting might be a tad softer or at least, the center part of the floor would probably benefit from a slight burn. I don't know how it looks on your monitor but details are nearly lost on mine (although they are still there).

That being said, this is a very moody and well thought shot. It definately deserve it's place in an eventual exhibit (have you received any news from the Philosophy Box in this regard???).

One more thing, unrelated to the picture itself. You mentionned that you were awaiting a Nikon Coolscan 5000. Did you used to scan your slide by yourself with another scanner before or have you always dealed with a pro lab? (I am just possibly too curious
here ).

regards

Seb

[gahspidy]

Seb, the director was pushing for me to exhibit this month, which I felt I was not ready for, and she says she may be working on grants from now on and would not be able to have "new" artists but rather established works. ( I feel she was pushing me to fill her "down time" during this month) After I get my equipment I will be putting together various portfolios and see where I can go from there.

Yes previously, I had been scanning all my negatives with a minolta dimage dual scan lll, which is fine for general work, but not high end. I had sold it a few weeks ago and am awaiting the Nikon, which is much higher quailty and resolution.
But I noticed that some labs, especially with prints, do not give you the whole slide or negative, as I know from having scanned negatives and saw much more to the image than was given to me in a print.
I agree with you on the bright floor area and will be toning that down some before making a final run.
Thanks

[JK_Photo]

Nice shot.
It's got a sinister feel to it. Like something just happened or is about to happen. I like the glowing window andI don't feel it needs any cropping.
Just a note on the scanning. You probably know this but... when you take it to a lab for scanning then printing, make sure you specify full-frame and you should get everything on the neg. Otherwise they may crop to standard paper size.

[Hightree]

Good work, Gary. You're a real wizzard with difficult lighting. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with your new scanner.

Cheers,
Frank

[mtbbrian]

Seb, the director was pushing for me to exhibit this month, which I felt I was not ready for, and she says she may be working on grants from now on and would not be able to have "new" artists but rather established works. ( I feel she was pushing me to fill her "down time" during this month) After I get my equipment I will be putting together various portfolios and see where I can go from there.

Work It Gary!
Don't give in, only youknow when you are ready, only if it is a small showing.
I know your "View From Within" series will show well.
Keep us informed.
Brian

[PlantedTao]

This picture is great and goes well with the whole series . I wouldn't change a thing.
I love this series that you are doing.
Each picture is great...but as a series leaves me really in awe. By showing your work (at least this series) on this forum you have helped me think of my work as a whole, rather than individual photos.
Good luck on the exhibit, if you do it, your work will do well.
Cheers.

[mtbbrian]

Each picture is great...but as a series leaves me really in awe. By showing your work (at least this series) on this forum you have helped me think of my work as a whole, rather than individual photos.

Well Put Tao.
Kudos to you Gary for your inspiration!
It does my heart good to see such inspiration here, I am sure it would only be more so if we were able to do this in person. Isn't the internet a great community!
Brian

[gahspidy]

Jon, Frank, Tao, and Brian. As always, your time and thoughts are much appreciated. Brian,, Tao did sum it up nicely. And I'm glad I could have been part of his seeing it that way. For me, I find that when I work on images as a collective body of work, I focus more sharply on my goals and also find my self more motivated than when just randomly taking shots here and there. ( not that anything is wrong with that). I feel that each image becomes more powerful and impactful as a body of work complimenting one another in a certain theme.
Brian, I too feel a sense of delight and motivation from this forum. Good people with a common denomination and interest giving and accepting the valuable time and efforts of one another, and enjoying the "company" of the community. Many mornings I have sat at the table with a good strong cup of coffee ( black, no sugar please) and have participated in this forum and thought to myself how much I value this community and it's members. It's been a year for me now here, and I look forward to many more.

[villenadecorte]

Gary,
I like the transition you've made with this series, focusing more on the "within" aspect. The lighting through the window is great. I think the trap door really adds a lot of character and wonder to the shot, and the lighting sets it up just so.
Great job!
rebekah

[LeeIs]

I've looked at this image many times before commenting. I must say that I noticed the blur on the window the first time, it distracted me. I wish if you could've shifted a bit more to your right and captured the light rays flowing down on the floor.
Having said that, I think the bottom 60% of the photo is gorgeous. The wood, its textures, the net & everything else is just stunning.

Great job Gary, and I'm enjoying the view from within series.

[Chunk]

Great light in the attic, Gary, but I don't want to look out that window. Where I am looking out of this space is into the room before where my eye finds a few details to get me wondering about what's down there and what this attic is sitting over. Nice variety for your series. I like series that aren't too formulaic.