Untitled by Randy P. Martin

Randy is an Austin native, and has a thematically compelling photostream of the human experience. Lots of it is like the above, with a lone figure enveloped by a grandoise backdrop of raw landscape. Other shots are more intimate, like feet at rest on a train car windowsill. All of it is beautiful, and I’m not surprised that he’s a rather popular Flickrite to boot.

Brought out the red nylon to play…

Thinking of expanding this idea…

Stopped off the road on the way back…the new highway really struck me in contrast with the desolate landscape. Going to see about exploring this place more too. So many pictures, so little time…

The rest of the roadtrip follows…

We left from that super nice house a bit before or after noon, straight for Chattanooga. Made it after…well, who knows, I think it was 5 hours give or take. (Above: This is the view from the hotel parking lot the next morning).

Did the typical tourist stuff – visited Ruby Falls, which is on Lookout Mountain.

Said to be the largest subterranean waterfall, that’s publicly accessible at least. They decked out the place with colored lights. Rather nifty.

Proceeded to Rock City afterwards.

They had a couple of these “squeezes” – not for the claustrophobic.

Some unfiltered infrared. Not sure if I’ll go color or b/w…

Took a walk across a rather bouncy suspended bridge. Mom wouldn’t have liked it…

Skipping ahead to Stone Mountain. Largest granite rock formation in the world. We seem to have come upon lots of that type of stuff. Anyway, it’s a really big rock with a rather flattened out top as far as mountains go. I guess elevation is a thousand feet or so. Maybe more?

Could just make out the ATL skyline.

These images just keep jumping all over the place…

They do a laser light show that’s projected on the giant carving.

Pyrotechnics and everything!

And that’s it. The trip was a bit longer than I would’ve liked in the end, but was alright either way. I’d like to hit the stretch of road that goes from Memphis to Chattanooga though. Just pure countryside…would mean a rather extended shooting trip to really document the area. Maybe one day…

I’ll be posting stuff from my large format class when I get the chance. Possibly Tuesday? We’ll see.

Another newbie, Kathy this time around. We have a mutual friend in David.

A candid to start things off. Long post this time, just a warning.

Mid-speech light test.

Went to switch lenses. Kathy and David reviewing incriminating photos of myself most likely.

The moon was out at the perfect time.

And then some birds flew in at the perfect time.

Love this pose. For whatever reason.

More birds flew, but I was too slow to tell Kathy POSE NOW.

I did however achieve this pinnacle of awkward awesomeness.

It really is a pretty area – this is the same location as the Agnieszka shots, just different portions of the land.

Another favorite . . .

She’s actually been modeling since she was 10 (with an admitted hiatus for several years). Nonetheless, she sure can pose =p

My umbrella was creepin’ again, as usual.

I wish I moved to the right some . . .

We were in the midst of golden hour (more like half hour) at this point.

Gotta love the low angle.

She got a thorn in her wrist. Ouch.

As with all candid shots, black and white is a prerequisite.

See, black and white.

Pretty pretty light.

Some self indulgence.

Tried for the paper thing at sunset, this was the best result. About 3 minutes later the light was all but meh.

There ya have it. D700, lots of 28 1.8, 85 1.4 is mixed in the middle. Thanks to Kathy for being a great model ;]

Got another portrait shoot in yesterday. We’ve got a newbie here, Agnieszka.

Bright bright blue eyes. Perfect.

I’m a terrible stylist, but hopefully the outfit we went with is, like, cool, or, whatever . . .

Some lovely backlight to boot . . .

The sun dipped behind the clouds, color temp went blue on me.

Tried some props, using the clock I picked up in China.

Did a book thing as well, could have done better with it though . . .

The paper thing was looking good, but then I got distracted by the sunset and ignored it – next time.

This one strikes me for whatever reason.

I was crackin’ wise about my dumb ol’ flash and my dumb ol’ umbrella. Was gettin’ finicky at one point.

Here you see the flash didn’t fire (see, umbrella creepin’ top left). I think I’ll manage though, the eyes are always the tough ones however.

On the D700 as always, featuring the Three Kings (or at least my three kings): the 50 1.4, 85 1.4, and 28 1.8. Thanks to Agnieszka for being a patient model ;]

Last of the travel stuff . . . for now.

Visited the grandparents. My grandpa is in the hospital, recovering from heart surgery, so that was the main reason for the visit.

I’ve been to Chicago several times before to visit the grandparents and family, but had never actually been to Chicago. Only the burbs.

Visited Millenium Park. I’d like to think this one is a keeper . . .

The obligatory ‘Cloud’ pictures.

RAWR. There was a sculpture section, all the artists being from, oh yes, China.

Went to the Botanical Gardens the next day. Around sunset.

We have a memorial for my Uncle Steven here. He passed away from cancer when I was 2.

The D700 as always, with the 20-35 2.8 and 50 1.4.

Most of the shots were taken at a rather random site of concrete pillars. I get the impression it was an assembly area for the big bridge that crosses the river . . .

There also happened to be one of those “cheap fireworks” walls.

Did more shots towards my photo class portfolio. Small figures in big spaces.

Hey, that’s my car . . .

Behind the wall.

Rockie is lookin’ space-y.

Obstructed.

Unobstructed.

Went up to a wildlife refuge next. Nifty field area at the entrance.

The entire area wasn’t too interesting. Lots of open marshland and everglades. Spotted one gator as we were leaving.

All photos taken with the D700 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D.

Hardeeville is in South Carolina, just across the border from Georgia along I-95. We went wandering (quite literally) along the roads, just looking for open spaces. First stop was just a dirt and gravel clearing across from a concrete processing area.

Not too further up was an Ashley’s Furniture distribution center. Quaint.

Further down the road was the opposite end of that concrete place. I liked the mounds quite a bit . . . possibly my favorite from the shoot.

We drove back towards the town area and went up another road we were wanting to check out. We happened upon an abandoned school (probably elementary).

I wonder if that used to be concrete. The open patches were more like dirt though. Also poses the question how long the place has been abandoned . . .

I love this shot. No idea why . . .

. . . and this one. I seem to have a found objects theme going along with these small figure landscapes.

I wouldn’t mind returning to the area and exploring it more. I’ll more likely go south on I-95 this weekend (aside from a return to the abandoned neighborhood), see if there are any other small towns to discover.

Pretty green trees

Rockie in the forest

There were lot numbers stuck along the road. A bit surreal.

Rockie creepin’ – the greens were delicious.

Several of Rockie with dirt mounds.

Emerging from the forest . . .

A giant field smack in the middle of the development. Not sure if it is entirely natural; may have been a tall grass field before.

She’s not sad, just fighting off the bugs.

There was an absolutely beautiful field of knee / waist high grass. Will be coming back here with bug spray in hand.

An abandoned house. The weird thing was, it was the only house built. I guess there was only one buyer, and when no one else was buying . . . well, who would want to live in an empty neighborhood (actually, I wouldn’t mind).

American beauty.

And indeed, the house was open.

Creepy attic stairs.

Final shots – it was right at the start of golden hour.

She seemed surprised I was taking a picture of her.

Classic.

I loved these. Would’ve done more, if it weren’t for the fact I had hundreds of bites on my legs at this point.

All shot with the D700 and Sigma 28mm f/1.8.