Ok so here is my first attempt at
photographing houses. I threw in some tree captures for a good
measure. This is part of my latest -long overdue homework so this
week is “catchup week.”
I have to say that I dreaded photographing a house. Not because I had no idea what to do (though that became evident when I got to the shooting area), but because I dreaded someone looking through a window “at that guy with the dinky camera” and think I am a paparazzi psycho or something. Incidentally between yesterday night and today, I have been asked or called paparazzi by a passerby no less than 5 times. Hmmm... at least I look “professional?” Nah, I hate paparazzi myself... though I think taking photos of someone in public is somewhat fair game, I would delete or not take pictures of those who don't want it.
The tree that follows the arc of the street won't be given to my teach... you can see cars behind it and that's distracting to something I otherwise think it's ok. The green tree shows I am finally getting some depth of field “l33tz skillz” but the background is still too busy. Even though it's a bit underexposed, I like the tree with the background of the clouds.
As for houses, my main mission this time, I went to Beverly Hills looking for a tourist attraction called “The Witch House” which you can learn more about here. I have to say though, it was all surrounded and being worked on, but this very real house looks like something you may see at Disney Land. I couldn't find a good angle I was satisfied to take pictures of, without tress passing, removing a darn plastic chair in the patio and the fear of the "Security Services, Armed Response" type sign that many affluent people properties proudly wear on their front lawn so you know you are in trouble if you tress pass- giving them that very necessary sense of security so they can put off the fact they are going to die some day at some point just like everyone else.
So I was around checking the other houses with some fear.. and then after a some good 10-20 minutes of not “seeing anything” I started to see some things... when I sat down in the street's curb and then my fear collapsed- I just went ahead and took some pictures. If it bothered someone so much some security guard would or someone else would let me know- with the 2ndary benefit of someone probably super-rich. I think I was able to get – for a first time- two house shots I like: P2257660 and P2257686.
As usual, comments & critique welcome. The gallery is here.
I don't know if the Witch's House is a tourist attraction anymore, because now the house is private. href="Michael Libow, a real estate bought the house to save it from demolition.
http://michaellibow.businesscard2.com
Posted by: avril | March 01, 2011 at 06:27 AM