Crits, pictures, and a new opportunity.

A couple of weeks ago, I was attendting a pro race at one of my favorite race tracks with our car club. Of course I had the camera and gear with me, and of course took too many pictures. I had processed a few of those pictures, and had them posted on a photography board, and something that I consider special happened.

It starts about 4 years ago, now, anyone who knows me, is well aware that cars, and fast cars in particular have always been a hobby or passion of mine. I have always liked cars. 4 years ago, I got into going to the track in my own car. At some point, that led to taking pictures of other cars while I was there, but I was not good at it at all. I got some tutorials from a good friend of mine in the car club, and that helped a lot. But I also found a pro photographers website, that had the kind of images that I saw in my head when I was trying to take pictures, but could not replicate in the field. I studied his images, every new gallery I would pour through, studying his compositions, his EXIF data, everything about the shots he came away with. While I did not want to copy his style, I wanted to know how he did, what he did. For 3 years, I kept up to date with his newest additions, from all over the country, all types of racing events. And in that time, I have progressed, and gotten much better at taking pictures of race cars on track. SO, in the thread with the set of images I had posted from the Grand Am race a couple of weeks ago, this pro stops in to give me his crits. I am floored. HE LIKED THEM! he really had nice things to say, and, he gave me some pointers. He also challenged me to do what I have always tried to do, get that shot that makes people say...wow! Ignore what is dubbed the "keeper rate", and really push the boundaries and get that special shot, you may only get two of them a weekend, but they will be worth it.

Jump to last weekend. I was out at the track again, with a group of friends at a private track day. I decided to challenge myself, shoot slow, slow shutter speed, and really work on capturing some serious motion in the cars. They may not be the WOW! shots yet, but I think that by getting used to this shutter speed, and knowing how it works, what it picks up, what it leaves out, and the effects it has, those WOW! shots can be had.

Both of the following were shot at 1/40, over 135mm range, with the cars doing upwards of 70 mph.




I think they exhibit the motion involved at the time, and mark some of the first successful shots at 1/40th in panning on fast moving cars. When I tried this in the past, I got trash images, and gave up. But not anymore, I am going to keep trying.


Now onto the new opportunity part of the program. I have been hired by two race teams, to cover their teams for the weekend at next weekends races at Road Atlanta. All the hard work, and showing of my work to folks at the track, is finally, maybe going to pay off. I at least have my foot in the door. I am excited, and can't wait to see where this leads. It combines two of my favorite things, fast cars, and photography.

Until next time.

Gone Fishin'

Well, not really. I did not go far. My boss had a party at his house this past weekend, to celebrate his 50th birthday. They live on a small community lake, and they have a dock that goes out into the lake. At some point, just about everyone that was there picked up a fishing pole, or bamboo cane pole and tried their hand at fishing. I actually caught one...I did let it go, but I caught a little small mouth bass. I had not held a fishing pole in probably 15-16 years, maybe more. I know I was still in the Boy Scouts the last time, and I know that I lived in Houston, so, it was probably 1992 or 1993. Long time ago. But it was fun, there was something very relaxing about casting a line, and just watching that little float in the water. It was peaceful.

More bad news from NCARB

Thanks to some idiots, who recently took the ARE exams, and then violated the explicit policies about public disclosure of testing questions, NCARB must now generate some new tests...at a cost of $1.1M. That money does not currently exist, and as a result, will be taken from those of us taking the tests who have not violated any rules. The cost of the test just went up 23%. Well that just sucks, and makes me want to take the test over again, even less.

My bigger problem, this sounds a lot like the scam the DOT puts on about Toll Roads. Pay a toll until the road is paid for, then we will take the toll booths out...this sounds familiar, pay more so that we can pay to revise the test, but I suspect they won't drop the prices back down after they are done paying this off. And I am sorry, $1.1M should not be a big deal to NCARB, they are a massive organization, and should have to deal with this on their own, as part of doing business, and not pass it on to those that give them business, just because someone was an idiot.

Bad Information

In life, sometimes people don't slow down to make sure they give out the most accurate, correct information. And that is a shame, especially when dealing with matters that are really important, especially to someone who is already reeling from a bad experience, such as Architectural Registration Exam scores.

When I was inquiring to NCARB about the new testing procedures and exams, he offhandedly told me that my last FAIL (yes, he put it in all caps), was on 03-12-09. That would have been the third and final test I took, and that would have made me 0-3. When he so casually informed me of that, the last little bit of air that I had left in me, escaped in a quiet, lifeless way. He should have been more attentive, and done a better job. I got the real score yesterday, well really today, since I was not at work that late yesterday.

PASS

The jerk gave me bad info, I would like to strangle him for it. So, I actually got a PASS on Site Planning. So I am really 1 for 3. Still not great, still not what I had hoped, but it give me hope that maybe I can get through this, and that I am not starting over from square one.

Canyon Storm

I have not yet started to chronicle our trip here yet, I will, eventually. But so far, one of the favorite images from the trip has to be this one.

It was taken along the South Rim at the Grand Canyon, at Powell's Point. We climbed out beyond the main observation platform, and got out to the farthest reach of the rock outcropping we could. We were trying to take pictures of the sunset, but Mother Nature threw a snowstorm at us instead. it was a very intense storm, the wind was blowing wildly, and the snow was blowing sideways. The clouds were rolling and tumultuous. Trying to capture that was my new challenge. The image that resulted is some what other worldly to me, it shows such an inhospitable place, in the middle of a big storm. It has to be my favorite image from the trip to this point.

I am not done going through them, there are over 2,300, but so far, this one is my new favorite.

0-3

I struck out. I don't have the official paperwork yet, but I have been told by other means that I went 0 for 3. I get to start over from scratch now. Fun Stuff.

All Aboard

All aboard the FAIL boat. I will be your captain, I can't guarantee your safety, but I can promise you, that I don't know what I am doing.

Today did not have the ending I wanted. I got scores back on two tests, both the same score, both FAIL. Not really sure why, and never will know. I am extremely disappointed, upset, and bothered by the results. The results tell you that you failed, and whether it was minor, moderate, or major. I had all three. The test sections I was worried about, I passed, the ones I was sure I did good on, I failed. So I get to do it all over again...in 6 months. Today has not been a good one. While I don't truly question my choice of profession, I have to question why I can't manage to get past these exams.