Tar's Photos

[Gimmie]

I wish I was not heavily farsighted and have a crooked right eye that turns 12° to the left which basically ruins everything
unless I am to see exactly 5 metres distance, then I see crystal clear

Green-red here o/

But that aside, wonderful pictures. keep it up!
And farewell Boo.

go to an eyedoctor to get your astigmatism measured then get an eye test done, go to glasses place buy glasses with eye doctors receipt done

 

[Tarannus]

Nearly four months since I last posted, and another loss in our family.
Sadie the "permakitten" - a 16 year-old tabby with dwarfism - passed away about 12 hours ago.

I remember the first time I saw her. It was 2006. My sister was working on her Masters in Geology at Oregon State University. She and her fiance had intended to adopt an older all black cat. However, by the time they committed, the cat of their dreams had found another family. Sadie reached out of her cage and gently pressed her nose against my soon to be brother-in-law. And that was that.

Sadie was every bit of a sadist when I first met her, and had a habit of patrolling at 3-5 in the morning and lunging for soft parts of the face. Her claws were extremely precise - hooking in just the right fold of the ear or the nostril for maximum effect. All the while she purred and purred to no end. It would be a year and a half before I saw her again.

It wouldn't be until the spring of 2008 that we would be reacquainted. She hadn't mellowed out quite yet, but she knew better than to completely wreck you in the middle of the night. We had a new weapon in our arsenal, and she soon learned that she couldn't escape the "kissy tickle machine", where she'd get a loving hug and lots of kisses on her forehead until she was sick of the sweetness. Within a year, she and I had an understanding. Any time I came over to housesit, I'd give her ample space and plenty of food - and she'd crawl into my lap whenever she felt bored.

This was also the time I started picking up a camera. At this point, she'd become so familiar with me that sticking the lens of a DSLR in her face was just another nuisance which was annoying, but ultimately harmless. She quickly became a muse, regardless of what camera I had.

Over the years, Sadie mellowed out quite a bit. She spent more time enjoying the couch and taking in the sun. When she was introduced to my parents' cats, she quickly asserted her dominance. Yet with people she became far more tolerant - especially my nephew as he learned how to take care and respect the boundaries of other creatures. She became a very patient teacher, even near the end.

Spoiler: Tar says farewell to Sadie

 

[Señor Jaggles]

Nearly four months since I last posted, and another loss in our family.
Sadie the "permakitten" - a 16 year-old tabby with dwarfism - passed away about 12 hours ago.

I remember the first time I saw her. It was 2006. My sister was working on her Masters in Geology at Oregon State University. She and her fiance had intended to adopt an older all black cat. However, by the time they committed, the cat of their dreams had found another family. Sadie reached out of her cage and gently pressed her nose against my soon to be brother-in-law. And that was that.

Sadie was every bit of a sadist when I first met her, and had a habit of patrolling at 3-5 in the morning and lunging for soft parts of the face. Her claws were extremely precise - hooking in just the right fold of the ear or the nostril for maximum effect. All the while she purred and purred to no end. It would be a year and a half before I saw her again.

It wouldn't be until the spring of 2008 that we would be reacquainted. She hadn't mellowed out quite yet, but she knew better than to completely wreck you in the middle of the night. We had a new weapon in our arsenal, and she soon learned that she couldn't escape the "kissy tickle machine", where she'd get a loving hug and lots of kisses on her forehead until she was sick of the sweetness. Within a year, she and I had an understanding. Any time I came over to housesit, I'd give her ample space and plenty of food - and she'd crawl into my lap whenever she felt bored.

This was also the time I started picking up a camera. At this point, she'd become so familiar with me that sticking the lens of a DSLR in her face was just another nuisance which was annoying, but ultimately harmless. She quickly became a muse, regardless of what camera I had.

Over the years, Sadie mellowed out quite a bit. She spent more time enjoying the couch and taking in the sun. When she was introduced to my parents' cats, she quickly asserted her dominance. Yet with people she became far more tolerant - especially my nephew as he learned how to take care and respect the boundaries of other creatures. She became a very patient teacher, even near the end.

Spoiler: Tar says farewell to Sadie

Poor thing, but well it lived a happy life and that's what matters :)

 

[Tarannus]

It was warm. I had the windows open. Spring is finally coming to the foothills of the Jemez Mountains. And I had some motivation to break out the big cameras. I really have to get out and photograph more often than once every five months - but even the smallest amount of production is a good teaching tool.

Spoiler: Brief adventures with a $20.00 lens (03/17)

Spoiler: Equally brief red and blue filter experiments (03/17)

 

[Tarannus]

Early last week, I received a series of texts from my sister asking me if I'd be willing to tend to her house over the Memorial Day weekend. I said yes, but thought it was kind of curious that she'd ask me at all. Since Sadie's passing, there hasn't been a reason for me to actually housesit. Their other cat, the 95% feral Mister, has essentially adopted my parents as his house in all but name. That was, until I met their new house guest.

He's a rescue from Tennessee. Little guy must have had a rough childhood, because you can feel very distinct lumps of birdshot in his face. He doesn't have a name yet, but I'm sure he'll grow into one. He's slightly bigger than Sadie, about 80% the size of an average cat, but at one and a half years old he's full grown. He likes digging in the dirt of potted plants and sleeping on people's stomachs. Also has a thing for nibbling fingers.

Spoiler: Tar meets, and annoys, a new member of the family (05/25)

Spoiler: And some, very brief, random texture studies (05/25)

 

[Khiel]

I love this thread and your pets

 

[Blackquill]

He sleep.

 

[Tarannus]

Hello everyone! It's been nearly three months, and... well... work's been in the way of me getting a chance to get out and take photos. However, I have dabbled a little bit over the past couple weeks - enjoy!

Spoiler: Tar revisits Jem, makes blurry tree shots that look like Boards of Canada Covers, and studies clouds (08/16)

Spoiler: Fireworks (08/16)

 

[Blackquill]

This cat is in the middle of a serious business deal. You can see it in their eyes

 

[Deleted member 2925]

This cat is in the middle of a serious business deal. You can see it in their eyes

Ur in the middle of deez nuts

 

[Tarannus]

Blows a healthy amount of dust and pine pollen off the thread. Good god it's been eleven months since I touched this.

An extended drought, COVID-19, and security restrictions have made it a bit difficult to get out and photograph. Unfortunately, there won't be any fireworks pictures this year. However, since @Blackquill tagged me on @bubblegum 's awesome work with film I consider it a chance to see what I can do. I've rummaged around in my files to pull out a couple items in reserve - however I'm really out of practice with pretty much everything - from framing to shot selection and processing.

All in due time I guess.

Spoiler: Stuff - Last shots of Mister, a few of George, and other random bits and bobs

Spoiler: Sechsunddreißig Stunden in Wien

 

[Nov]

Blows a healthy amount of dust and pine pollen off the thread. Good god it's been eleven months since I touched this.

An extended drought, COVID-19, and security restrictions have made it a bit difficult to get out and photograph. Unfortunately, there won't be any fireworks pictures this year. However, since @Blackquill tagged me on @bubblegum 's awesome work with film I consider it a chance to see what I can do. I've rummaged around in my files to pull out a couple items in reserve - however I'm really out of practice with pretty much everything - from framing to shot selection and processing.

All in due time I guess.

Spoiler: Stuff - Last shots of Mister, a few of George, and other random bits and bobs

Spoiler: Sechsunddreißig Stunden in Wien

Did you enjoy your stay in Vienna?

 

[Tarannus]

Did you enjoy your stay in Vienna?

My only complaint was that it was all too short. Between recuperating from jet lag and a quick work-related meeting at the International Center, I only had enough time to do a little walking and visit the MAK because it was a few blocks from my hotel. However, for anyone interested in modernist design, I highly recommend going because it's awesome.

I'll parse through the photos of the next phase of my trip soon. I was invited to meet with the staff of Bletchley Park and my counterparts at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. All in all it was a very entertaining, but very densely packed, trip.

I had planned to return this Autumn when my sister would be in the city for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization. Unfortunately, due to a substantial portion of the United States conflating selfishness with liberty concerning a deadly serious virus, it doesn't look all that feasible now.

 

[bubblegum]

I find the southwest absolutely beautiful. Be it nature or architecture, I love it.

@bubblegum 's awesome work with film

:$

What'd you shoot these photos with?

 

[Tarannus]

Blows a healthy amount of dust and pine pollen off the thread. Good god it's been eleven months since I touched this.

Well! Didn't expect that I'd hang up my camera for three years - but that's what happens when work, pandemic, and a hell of a sea-change in life circumstances all roll into one.

However, things have swung back over the past few weeks. Due to difficulties in hiring photographers, my team just recently bought an absurdly expensive camera platform (they had suggested getting a medium-format monster, like a Leica or a Hasselblad, but I managed to talk them off that ledge). After we got the thing, there was a bit of an issue... Most people in the office can take cell phone pictures, but apparently I'm the only one with any sort of background in photography. So, last Thursday, I was able to test drive an absolute monster of a camera, and a plethora of lenses the team has had in storage for decades, but seldom had the time or the energy to experiment with.

It's the first time since 2017 that I'd been able to take pictures at work. And have I ever missed it.

It inspired me to pull my stuff out of storage and experiment over the weekend.

I'm way out of practice, but damn it was fun to be behind the lens.

Spoiler: Getting back in the groove - experimental shots (05/07)

Spoiler: Messing around with a $20.00 plastic toy lens and my 15 year old camera.

 

['77 East]

What would you say your favourite camera (if you can pick one) has been over the years?

 

[Deleted member 38]

i vividly recall coming to you like over 2 years ago n asking photography questions cus i randomly had a 'damn maybe i should be photographer' brain fart

2 years down the line im pursuing it as an actual career and am half way through a diploma course

thank you for your help back then tarannus

 

[Tarannus]

Well, 607 days isn't nearly as bad as 3 years, but definitely not active so to speak.

In that interim, however, there have been some interesting developments when it comes to photography.

Prior to 2020, the Laboratory had 6 part-time and 6 full-time still photographers. Today, there are only 2. This has led to a bit of a panic as various technical groups and divisions are scrambling to find people with any modicum of skill. Fortunately I had a small portfolio at the ready and, long story short, about 15% of my time is spent taking architectural photography. It might not be the most glamorous work, and the compositions likely won't win any awards, but it has given me the last bit of what I've missed from the Park Service - an outlet where I can use a camera once more.

Working with new equipment over the past couple months has inspired me to look over what I've got in my kit. So today, for the first time in a dozen years, I bought myself a new camera body and lens.

Only 8 shots with the new body, 2 of which are passible. But damn if it isn't fun to get back into photography for the hell of it!

Spoiler: Clyde, the First Muse of a New Age (01/02)

 

[Tarannus]

It's been roughly five years since I've paid a visit to Tsankawi Pueblo. And did it ever let me know how it felt about my absence.

As the sun dropped, the wind and the grit yelled at me. Not out of anger or malice, but annoyance. Annoyance that, while no longer wearing the green and gray, I don't visit.

But I was grateful that it was still willing to invite me.

Spoiler: Experimentation with Clyde and Lucy (01/03)

Spoiler: Tar Visits a Very Old Work Friend (01/04)

 

[Lewis!]

Impressive stuff

I don't really have an eye for landscapes so it's nice seeing people who can do it right.

I especially like the dirt trail, I might be schizo but for some reason, it reminded me of Mesoamerican art.