Opportunity

[James Newman]

The company where my wife works is a large printer and direct mail distributor. (read that as junk mail but don't tell her I said that) They wanted something to hang on the walls of their new front offices and reception area and I was given the opportunity to photograph the plant to see if I could capture anything that they would like. It is a manufacturing plant and printing can be a dirty business so it's not like photographing the Tetons or anything. I had to look hard to try and find some beauty amidst all of the machinery, dust, and ink. I shot about 100 images and have not processed them all yet but so far they have selected 10 that I will be getting printed, framed, and hung on their walls. I was surprised by all of this but proud nevertheless and happy that they liked the work enough to want it displayed in their space. I wanted to post just a couple to let you see some of what I was doing and get an idea of the freedom they gave me in this project.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l319/jnewmanco1/_DSC0640.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l319/jnewmanco1/_DSC0588.jpg

[Asher Kelman]

Hi James,

Very interesting challenge and you have made it an opportunity. You can be proud to have youir images chosen for display. However, this is only a beginning. You must explore further and push yourself to see what is the boundry you can go to and then stretch it.

I think you can use these images further perhaps by examining how one might exploit subtle difference is colors and tonalities to see what other possibilities are in the photographs.

Asher

[James Newman]

Thank you Asher. I agree that there are a ton of possibilities in not only these images but in every image I have ever taken. I need to just look into them and see what I can discover. While I was shooting I was also noting other things I want to try next time. I will be getting a 12-24mm wide angle lens sometime soon and that will at least put me on the right track at capturing some of these ideas. Here are just a few more that I am having printed. I think they will print nicely.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l319/jnewmanco1/_DSC0573.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l319/jnewmanco1/_DSC0709.jpg

[Asher Kelman]

James,

That's the thing! This is a large project that will give lots of great images for your library. I like especially the light beams in the last one!

One suggestion, for now!

Convert to B&W using two added layers, Hue Saturation and Channel Mixer. The latter set to monochrome. Then go to Hue Sat and in turn, re assign values to maximize the impact of tonalities of the B&W image. Copy merge paste the B&W layers, switch off the two adjustment layers and then blend the B&W layer with your original.

Now you can alter colors to taste!

Asher

[Barry Johnston]

Hello James,
Interesting photos here. I would like to see the 10 photos that they chose.

In these dirty environments, it is not always easy to find the beauty.... but it is there, hidden away.

I know these machines well. In fact I used to operate one of these 'blanket to blanket' presses, and I know exactly where you took these photos. The company I worked for was also partly a direct mailing business (and it is definitely junk mail), but I also used to print travel brochures and auto magazines and a whole bunch of other stuff.... I haven't done that for a few years now...

Thanks for sharing.

Barry