Category Archives: Art

Alice in Wonderland Jr.

The Somerville Musical Theater production of Alice in Wonderland was this summer. This production is organized by the Somerville Arts Council.

Here are some of the better pictures I took. The full album with higher resolution images is also available.

I tried using my Sigma 105mm macro lens at f/4.0. The ISO was higher than I would like and there were far too many blurry photographs. Hopefully the clarity correction in Lightroom helped them.

Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019

I was in the back of the theater when some of the performers appeared prior to coming back on to stage via the aisles. This gave me an opportunity to get some silhouettes of the performers.

Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019
Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019

Not the last supper:

Alice in Wonderland Somerville Musical Theater Program 2019

Updated: New Nikon Mirrorless Camera Designs Appear

Nikon Rumors posted pictures from chizai-watch (translated) of a new Nikon mirrorless camera design, probably an APS-C camera. What is more interesting is that there are two other cameras registered on the same day: another APS-C camera without an EVF (translated) and a camera that looks much like the Z6/Z7 full frame camera (translated), but doesn’t indicate whether the sensor is full frame or APS-C.

The other APS-C camera (which I’ll call Za) is missing two dotted squares with curved front corners on either side of the shoe that are on the APS-C camera that Nikon Rumors mentioned (which I will call Zb). Update: Just noticed that camera Za is also missing the microphone next to the top dial in camera Zb.

Za Top View

Zb Top View (note the two dotted squares with curved front corners on either side of the shoe)

Za Front View

Zb Front View

Za Back View

Zb Back View

Not sure what the dotted squares are intended to be, though guesses are:

  • a small digital display as with the Z6/Z7
  • popup flash
  • popup EVF

Looking at the back view for both cameras, there is a port between the hot shoe and the top dial for both cameras that could be a port for an EVF that also hooks into the hot shoe. Just to the left of the hot shoe in the Zb is an rectangle with rounded corners. Could be a port of some kind.

Za Back View

Zb Back View

Both cameras have:

  • the same button layout
  • top dial
  • front grip dial
  • back grip dial
  • two function keys as in the Z6/7
  • tilt out screen which, without the EVF, could rotate upwards ala Sony-series cameras
  • one compartment for the memory card(s)

Both cameras seem to lack compartments for:

  • USB port
  • HDMI port
  • Audio in port
  • Headphone port

It is possible that the USB port is hidden in the memory card compartment.

Above the memory card compartment is a rectangular shape that could contain access to a USB port and/or audio in port:

It seems unlikely that one of the two dotted squares with curved front corners on either side of the shoe in camera Zb slides out to reveal such ports, but it is possible.

The third camera looks very much like the Z6/7 and might be just the Z6/Z7:

The design does not indicate what size sensor it uses. It could be anything from the Z6/7, the rumored high megapixel Z8, a lower end full frame Z5 or a high end APS-C Z4.

If it is a new camera and considering that the Z6/7 have the same body, it would make sense for Nikon to use the same body for the full frame/high end APS-C camera bodies. The Z8 might be a stretch if only because of the greater heat such a sensor generates. Keeping the number of distinct bodies to a minimum would help Nikon keep costs down especially with declining camera sales.

Thinking Ahead

I am going to be at the Kristen Hersh Electric Trio concert at ONCE later in the month and I need to decide what lens to bring.

I have two square posters of the cover art from the Throwing Muses Hips & Makers album that I have framed and which I want to hang with the above picture of Tanya Donelly (I realize she isn’t on the album, we do with what we have) and a new picture of Kristen Hersh.

Kristin Hersh - Hips and Makers.jpg
By Source, Fair use, Link

I photographed the Tanya Donelly concert there back in 2016 and I looked at the focal length, f-stop, shutter speed and ISO setting of the photographs I shared:

Tanya Donelly 9/30/2016 ONCE Somerville Concert

I used my Nikon 55-300mm and tended to take pictures from the back or the front sides. Most of the pictures I shared had a focal length of between 55mm and 120 mm. Must suffered from slow shutter speeds and high ISO settings.

I need to use a faster lens to get the shutter speed up and ISO down for sharper pictures. I have two possibilities. One is a wide angle zoom lens outside of the range of focal lengths I used. The other is a telephoto prime within the range of focal lengths I used. Neither is ideal and having to swap between them would be a pain. Another possibility would be to rent a fast zoom lens.

I may go to another show at ONCE before and test our how my lenses work, as well as try some composition ideas, before deciding which option to choose.

Frida Kahlo and Arte Popular Exhibit

Last weekend we visited the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, specifically to see the Gender Bending Fashion exhibit. We also visited the Frida Kahlo and Arte Popular exhibit which is at the MFA until June 19, 2019. The Gender Bending Fashion exhibit, which I will post pictures from later in the week, ends on August 25, 2019.

Here are a number of Frida Kahlo‘s paintings the exhibit displayed such as Two Women (Salvadora and Herminia) – 1928:

Two Women (Salvadora and Herminia) - Frida Kahlo 1928

Self-Portrait with Hummingbird and Thorn Necklace – 1940

Self-Portrait with Hummingbird and Thorn Necklace - Frida Kahlo 1940

Still Life with Parrot and Fruit – 1951

Still Life with Parrot and Fruit - Frida Kahlo 1951

Girl with Death Mask (She Plays Alone) – 1938

Girl with a Death Mask (She Plays Alone) - Frida Kahlo 1938

The Suicide of Dorothy Hale – 1939

The Suicide of Dorothy Hale - Frida Kahlo 1939

The exhibit displayed works of her contemporaries as well such as this painting by María Izquierdo: Cupboard – 1947

Cupboard - María Izquierdo 1947

Gabriel Fernández Ledesma: Girl – 1925

Girl - Gabriel Fernández Ledesma 1925

There were personal items of Frida Kahlo’s as well as articles of clothing that matched those she wore:

Blouse (huipit) - Front
Shawl (rebozo) - Front

Photo of a photo of her pain medicine:

Frida Kahlo's pain medicine

Finally, on the way out I came across this Picasso:

Standing Figure - Pablo Picasso 1908

Or if you want it without the frame:

Standing Figure - Pablo Picasso 1908

My whole photo album of the exhibit including a few pictures that are not displayed here:

Frida Kahlo and Arte Popular

I alternated f-stops between f/1.8 and f/5.6. In general, f/3.5 to f/4 is probably ideal considering the circumstances of limited time in front of each work of art and lighting conditions.

LBJ (DDG-1002) Christening

I attended the christening of the USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) at Bath Iron Works in Maine. The LBJ is the third and final Zumwalt-class destroyer. It was christened by Johnson’s daughters, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson and a variety of public officials, both civilian and military, spoke.

USS Lyndon B. Johnson Christening

Manufacturing each ship costs over $4 billion. $12 billion dollars was spent on R&D for the class. Originally 30 were planned.

USS Lyndon B. Johnson Christening

It has two specially designed 155mm cannons that were designed to attack land targets in support of amphibious landings. However, since the cost of each shell is $1 million, the Navy has decided not to procure this ammunition leaving the ships without any way to use their cannons. The Navy is looking for a new future for the three ships.

USS Lyndon B. Johnson Christening

The bow uses a tumblehome design that adds to the stealthy quality of the ship…

USS Lyndon B. Johnson Christening

…as does the shape of the superstructure.

USS Lyndon B. Johnson Christening

They are still working on the LBJ and it is expected to be at Bath Iron Works for at least another year. At least four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers were in various stages of construction with the Daniel Inouye the furthest along. The production process is quite modular.

The ceremony was live streamed and is available on-line. You can also view larger versions of my photos.

MoS Butterflies

In early April, we went to the Museum of Science. There we visited the Butterfly Garden.

Here are the pictures I am most pleased with. Some were very patient, others weren’t. Focus on the patient ones and play with your f-stop and composition. A decent macro lens can really help, but oh how the depth of field can be thin if your f-stop is to small. A place like the Butterfly Garden, which has a decent amount of light, helps.

Butterfly @ Museum of Science
Butterfly @ Museum of Science
Butterfly @ Museum of Science
Butterfly @ Museum of Science
Butterfly @ Museum of Science

Several Random Photos

Usually when I am going to/from work, I don’t take my camera, but rely on my mobile phone to capture things I run into in my travels. I cannot say any of them are good, but the more times I get to play with composing photos, the better I’ll get hopefully. Enjoy!

Inspiring hope and fear

My aim was to capture the graffiti on the ground with the wall art. The people in the top left were a bonus. It would be a more compelling composition if I had captured the backs of the people closer to the graffiti on the ground.

Inspiring hope and fear

Abandoned gloves

With Spring upon us, someone discarded their gloves in an office stairwell. I decided to play with the perspective.

Abandoned gloves

Shadow within a shadow

The harsh morning light, seen in the top right, reflected off of the glass building behind me to cast me in shadow within the shadow of the building in front of me.

Shadow within a shadow

Reflections in Glass and Wood

Another photograph playing with reflected light. I liked the way the light reflected off the glass window as well as off the wooden counter and then off the glass window.

Reflections in Glass and Wood

All rolled up with nowhere to go

A job left undone.

All rolled up with nowhere to go

4/25 Protest Photographs

On 4/25/2019 I briefly attended the Boston Free Chelsea Manning protest of the incarceration of Chelsea Manning co-organized by BU Students Against Imperialism and MIT Students Against War.

Speakers advocated for pardons for Reality Winner and American Indian Movement Leader Leonard Peltier, as well as stopping the extradition proceedings against Julian Assange and US support for the war in Yemen.

You can find some of the photographs I took of it:

4/25/2019 Boston Free Chelsea Manning Protest

Earlier that day I came across the Protected Bike Lanes Save Lives stand out in Porter Square, Cambridge and took this photograph that I hope communicates the need for separating bike lanes from lanes for automobiles:

Cambridge Bike Safety #RedCupProject Protest