Some Videos

January 23, 2009 by mtenpas

These first two are from a while ago, but just now making their internet debut…

 

Don’t Make War.  Make Phat Beats.

 

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This one is an homage to one of the coolest things ever…

 

Death Star

 

If numbers 1 and 2 were any kind of a clue, then you’d know that number 3 was destined to have a techno remix…

 

Untitled Explosions (Techno Remix)

…it’s still in progress.

No Heads

January 23, 2009 by mtenpas

The things that we make in order to amuse are ourselves are, well, amusing.  

All we have to do is put our heads on these bodies…

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Superman and Superwoman - Metropolis, IL

I am not a “Lomographer”

January 19, 2009 by mtenpas

…but I did just recently obtain a Lomo camera.  The Smena 8m.

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Isn’t it lovely?  It was made in the USSR during the 70’s or 80’s so, yes, that is a picture of Vladimir Ilyich Ulianov (aka Vladamir Lenin) on it.  The Russian text beneath his regal looking melon supposedly reads, “Champion of Communistic Work.”  Well, the joke is on him because the capitalists over at the Lomographic Society make $90 a pop off of these cheap plastic guys.  You can get one on eBay for $15.

Anyway, I think this camera will be fun to play around with even though it can be kind of difficult to use.

First off, you select a shutter speed based on your meteorology skills.

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Then, you focus.  Which would  be cool if the viewfinder was coupled with the lens.  It’s not.  You don’t really know if you’ve focused properly until you get your film developed.  However, do not fear.  There are symbols to help you select the right focus. They are based on whatever your subject is that you might be photographing.

Like if you are photographing a girl with a hipster haircut…

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…or the same girl with a hipster haircut standing next to a spikey-headed giant…

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…or a dude with his two ladies…

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…or a quadruple-decker cheeseburger.

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And now some of my attempts at taking some pictures/checking to see if the camera actually works…

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(I don’t have a scanner so I just made do and took pictures of my pictures with a digital camera.)

Having said all that and only shooting one test roll of film, I do like this little guy.  It’s great for snapshots.  The lens is actually acceptably sharp enough for 4×6 (probably bigger?) prints if you guess right on your focusing.  There are no silly vignettes like with a Holga.  It uses cheap 35mm film unlike a Holga.  Good toy camera.  If you want one, don’t get it from Lomography.  Get it on eBay.

Discarded Christmas Trees

January 17, 2009 by mtenpas

I’ve been taking pictures of Christmas trees that have been thrown away whenever I see one.  At first they looked sad as they were lying on the ground so I rotated the picture so they would be standing again.  Much better…

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