Making a Mess at High Speed

I attend a three-hour High-Speed Photography workshop this afternoon. We captured images of things that happen very fast by using flash to stop the motion. Loren Fisher has a high-speed photography rig in his basement. We experimented with capturing popping balloons, water splashing in wine glasses, and dropping strawberries into milk. I know it's a bit cliched but I had fun. I learned a lot about the timing of flashes and I developed an appreciation for patience and effort that is necessary for this type of photography. It's not easy!

High Speed Photography — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, f/8.0, ISO400), Copyright 2019-01-21 Khürt L. Williams
High Speed Photography — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, f/8.0, ISO400), Copyright 2019-01-21 Khürt L. Williams

We had good results with the coloured water sloshing from glasses that Loren had glued to a skateboard and strawberries splashing into a glass of cream. However, the balloon pop photography yielded poor results. I think that when the weather warms up I will try making my own rig and shooting some images in my garage.

High Speed Photography — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, f/11, ISO400), Copyright 2019-01-21 Khürt L. Williams
High Speed Photography — FujiFilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ (55 mm, f/11, ISO400), Copyright 2019-01-21 Khürt L. Williams

Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge

From the George Washington Bridge, we drove over to the other side of Manhattan to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. The bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge, is located between 59th and 60th Streets in Manhattan. Construction of the bridge was completed in 1909. Designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Queensboro Bridge is a double-decker bridge that carries 9 lanes of traffic and is the first entry point into the Manhattan course of New York City Marathon.

Loren took us to a relatively unknown spot, Sutton Place Park North, which has a connection to the Woody Allen film Manhattan.

The film’s most memorable image is the one from the poster with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton sitting on a bench at sunrise on the banks of the East River, silhouetted against the sky.Tammy.

This is the smallest park I have ever visited. I tipped my hat to the Woody Allen film (which I have not seen) and processed this in black and white, but I have included colour versions using the Classic Chrome Film Simulation.

Saturday 12 January, 2019 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 180 sec at f/22 | ISO 200

By the time we arrived, the sun had faded behind the clouds. There is a red railing that runs the length of the bridge. Despite being one of the more colourful bridges we toured, I could not find a way to pull out the colour.

Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge at Sutton Place Park
Saturday 12 January, 2019 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm | 145 sec at f/22 | ISO 200
ferry under the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge at Sutton Place Park
Saturday 12 January, 2019 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm | 1500 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 200
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge at Sutton Place Park
Saturday 12 January, 2019 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm | 1680 sec at f/10 | ISO 200

I was lucky enough to catch a few photographs of the Roosevelt Island gondola passing overhead. This is an aerial tramway that runs parallel to the bridge and spans the East River. It connects Roosevelt Island to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Opened in 1976, The tramway is the first commuter aerial tramway in North America.

Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge at Sutton Place Park
Alice Aycock Pavillion | Saturday 12 January, 2019 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1950 sec at f/13 | ISO 200
Alice Aycock Pavillion | Saturday 12 January, 2019 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm | 1140 sec at f/10 | ISO 200

High Speed Photography Workshop

Attending High Speed Photography Workshop - Jan. 21 - LorenPhotos.com

High speed photography is all about stopping time and seeing details that otherwise can’t be observed. With special equipment, timing, luck and good lighting you can images with lots of Wow! Join professional photographer Loren Fisher for a special workshop where we will stop objects as they  We will photograph a balloon popping just as it is being hit by a dart. It is so cool to see part of a balloon while the rest of it has already collapsed. …