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Street photography (York, PA)

While Sue and I are in the States this summer for deputation meetings, opportunities arise for me to fit in some street photography and photowalks.
This past saturday was a perfect day for a photo stroll in downtown York, PA.
My goal was to shoot all b/w photos but couldn't resist the splashes of colour!  I stopped to chat with people along the way.  I tend to be adventurous but not (too) foolish – always aware of my surroundings while walking alone with a camera in high violent crime areas.
All-in-all a pleasant afternoon.  Ready to go again!

[Fuji X-T1, 18-55mm, software: LR5]

Promotional presentations

(click on image to enlarge) 

Over the coming days I'll be taking photos and putting together several promotional presentations (.ppt) for workers at the CEF European Regional Office.

Sometimes getting the right angle for a photo requires a bit of (physical) flexibility ...I nearly got my head and camera wedged between the railings in the narrow space leading to the cellar.

Besides being drawn to the interesting colors and patterns in this scene, I took the photo to show all the work and preparations needed for serving the many students passing through Kilchzimmer.  Sonja has quite the collection of home made jams and preserves in the cellar.

Judges lesson series (6-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.

(click on image to enlarge)

Samson bringing down the Philistine temple.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.

(click on image to enlarge)

The Philistines are gathered in their temple and have Samson brought in.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson placed in shackles and forced to grind grain.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-3)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Delilah tricks Samson.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-2)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Delilah ties Samson up with fresh bowstrings.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (6-1)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

(6-1) Delilah trying to find out the secret to Samson's strength.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson was tied up and taken to the Philistines.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)
Samson gives a riddle at the wedding feast.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-2)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson goes down to Timnah and meets a Philistine girl.  He returns home and tells his parents to make arrangements for them to be married.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-1)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

The angel appears to Manoah's wife to tell her she would give birth to a son – Samson.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Samson tied a torch from the tails of 300 foxes and released them in pairs, burning down the Philistine grain fields.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-6)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

The last illustration (4-6) from a lesson on Gideon where Gideon and 300 men surrounded the Midianite camp, stood in place while smashing pots, blowing horns (right hand), waving torches (left hand) and shouting.

I was a bit baffled on this one – trying to figure out the logistics of smashing a pot to expose an already lit torch that's held in the left hand and all done in a way to get enough oxygen for the flame while in the pot ... and then there's the question of how they smashed the pots.  I could have avoided all those minor issues and just have the pots already shattered in the picture ...but I really wanted to include one pot shattering!

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-5)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Illustration (4-5) from the lesson on Gideon.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-4)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

Gideon and his servant sneak into the Midianite camp and overhear two soldiers discussing a dream involving a round barley loaf tumbling into camp.

 I finished by inserting a fire ... then removing it, then decided to just show a few sparks and glow at the feet. With 2-3 days for each illustration, it doesn't leave much time to tweak or refine the illustration.  (I just noticed the spear shaft needs to be much thicker).
When working with certain colors in RGB mode (especially saturated oranges, purples, reds, etc.) it becomes very important to do a "soft proof" in Photoshop to see if colors become muted or muddy when printed in CMYK.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-3)

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.

(click on image to enlarge)

The remaining 300 men were those who drank from their hands and didn't kneel down.

My favorite part was painting the Mts. where I could use loose brushstrokes and not have to stay within any lines! It felt so therapeutic slapping down those colorful (digital) pigments. ;-)

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (4-2) – Gideon

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

9,700 of Gideon's men are sent home based on how they drink. 300 remain ...against 135,000.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX

Judges lesson series (5-3) – Samson

©2013, CEF – Do not use without permission.
(click on image to enlarge)

I took a break from the Gideon lessons and illustrated the scene with Samson killing the young lion.

For the Samson photo references I used a tall brawny pro ice-hockey player from our church.  Our photo session was immediately before a game and I was concerned I'd injure him with all the contorted poses – killing a lion, grinding grain, and knocking temple pillars down.

Print size: 24x34cm.  Tools: Adobe Photoshop CS6, Wacom Cintiq 18SX