clickykbd's picks - issue 22

Been a little behind on blog postings and a huge volume of camera tossed photographs have been uploaded to the photo pool since the last installment. Here are some (okay... a lot of) highlights...












Photo Credits (left to right, top to bottom):
David Reeves, metavariable, QuakkauQ, C a f r i n e, Renavatio,
mappamundi, thepurplefreak, newbaccata, γuniversum, dondal,
dondal, Whales tails, Rustic Relics Designs, γuniversum, milkfish,
marce_garal, Katie face, phogel, _ferro_, David Malan,
funkymonkey_11, kellybelly, QuakkauQ, davespilbrow,
tknb, earthtoneremix, Whales tails, NUCO, bojanung,
QuakkauQ, this_is_not_a_name,
Crochunter, davespilbrow, bojanung, davespilbrow, this_is_not_a_name,
marce_garal, _ferro_, Born2b, _ferro_,

To share photos for this blog, consider reading the Camera Toss Mini-HOWTO and then share your results.

JPG Magazine Issue 6: Oops

Coming Soon!
Originally uploaded by heather.

A pretty extensive feature on the camera tossing technique and phenomenon was included in this issue of JPG Magazine which is finally shipping. Included was an interview from myself, comments from the community, photos by myself and community members, and they even re-published a version of the Camera Toss HOWTO.

From JPG's website about issue 6:

There's magic in mistakes. There's something special in the spontaneous. Because it's in those moments when photography becomes more than just a document. It becomes something real.

This issue of JPG is about your best "Oops!" photos. Whether it was faulty settings, old film, the random photo on the last frame of film, or the last photo a camera ever took, this issue features some of the finest slip-ups, freak-outs, and happy accidents ever captured on film or pixels.

We're also joined by featured photographer Rion Nakaya, who shares some of her favorite serendipitous moments, and Ryan Gallagher, to talk about camera toss photography.

We photographers can't help being detail-oriented. We notice things. Our eyes can't help but frame reality. It's what we do. But it's always good to be reminded that control is an illusion, and sometimes the best photos are the ones that sneak up on you.

Psychadelic Flowers

Psychadelic Flowers
Originally uploaded by See_What_Dave_Sees.

One frame of FILM, 4 exposures, 4 lenses, some pretty flowers, and 1 camera toss. The aciton sampler is finding a new niche I think. Thank See What Dave Sees for this contribution.

clickykbd's picks - issue 21, and more

There seems to have been a small surge in membership within the community... not sure what recent press or publicity caused this. While the new members find their footing and come to understand what it is all about... and what IS and ISN'T technically a "Camera Toss"... here are some wonderful examples from the photo pool that obviously exhibit the characteristics of un-hindered (out of hand) free flying motion during the exposure, mostly from the more experienced ontributers since the last installment...






Photo Credits (left to right, top to bottom):
Remiss63, Staffan Ehde, QuakkauQ, dredlockbasta
dredlockbasta, davespilbrow, nik_clayer, Crochunter
_ferro_, _ferro_, QuakkauQ,
Crochunter, El Ray, El Ray

In a related effort to demonstrate for new members, I created a series I had been meaning to execute for a while...





Singular Essentials (36 images total)
Originally Uploaded by clickykbd
View as a series or slideshow.

A simplified camera tossed series working with a single light source (best viewed as the slideshow). In this case it was a lonesome blueish-white LED. Exposures ranged from 7/10th to 2 seconds Many of these results clearly show camera tossing as a close relative of the physiogram, which also typically uses one light source, but attached to a pendulumn. Both forms explore the aesthetics of physics, throwing your camera just happens to have a few more variables and alot more creative flexibility (and room for complexity). There are many other related predecessors to this sort of imagery too, I link to many on my website if you are curious to investigate more.

I had also hoped to demonstrate that there is a raw elegance to this type of motion. The more complex subject is not even required to achieve the aesthetically satisfying result. This excercise also proved particularly insightful because I was using a new camera for the technique, and such simplistic subjects clearly illustrate the variations and aerial properties a particular camera can exhibit, a base upon which you can selectively build more complex compositions.

All images in this series are directly from my Kodak Easyshare 3.1mp camera, no photoshop, no cropping or manipulation other than image rotation.