Dave Wilson Photography » Monochrome

ABIA: Terminal Seating

Dave Wilson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:39:23 +0000

The more I analyse my tastes, the more I realise that patterns and geometry are very high on my list of favourite characteristics. This is probably tied up with my background in science and mathematics and also relates to my career in programming where patterns, repeatability and regularity are common.

These properties also show up in my favourite musical genres which include renaissance choral works, baroque chamber music and contemporary electronica, so it's probably no surprise at all that I love minimalist photographs containing bold, regular patterns.

This abstract image shows the backs of a row of seats near one of the ABIA departure gates and falls squarely into this category - regular, neatly arranged, repeating, geometric, almost mathematical.

ABIA: Delta 757

Dave Wilson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:36:51 +0000

A Delta Airlines Boeing 757 sits on the ramp at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

On an unrelated note, I've just launched my latest photography venture in collaboration with the fine people at Canvas Press Pro. A couple of dozen of my favourite images are available in the form of limited edition canvas prints through a new site, Altered Perspectives. I would love to hear what you think and would appreciate feedback on the site and also on the images. Are there any of my shots that you think should be added to the collection?

Snow Texture 2, Steamboat

Dave Wilson — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:57:41 +0000

Here's an altogether more natural snow texture image. Landscapes covered in new snow are so wonderfully soft - it's like the world has been sent through a rather aggressive low-pass filter, smoothing out all the high frequency jagged edges.

Snow Texture, Steamboat

Dave Wilson — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:19:06 +0000

Here's another minimalist shot from Steamboat. The grooming machines (or "piste-bashers" as we used to call them when I was skiing back in Europe) do a wonderful job of breaking up an icy crust and smoothing out the snow. In doing so, they leave the whole terrain covered in a pattern of thin lines like these.

City of Austin

Dave Wilson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:49:36 +0000

A sign reading "City of Austin" seen through a window of the decommissioned Seaholm Power Plant in downtown Austin, Texas. Obviously, I reversed this image to allow the sign to be read (since the sign is intended to be visible from outside rather than inside).

Ailie's Vennel

Dave Wilson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:33:31 +0000

This picture is about 5 years old now and was shot in the village of Culross in Fife during a family trip back to Scotland. The original showed my wife on the right edge but I preferred the image with only the single figure of my son visible.

In case there's any confusion about the title, "vennel" is a Scots word for a narrow lane or alley.

1929 Cord L-29 Convertible Sedan

Dave Wilson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:14:58 +0000

I’m ending the series from Dick’s Classic Garage with one of my favourites shots and one of my favourite cars in the collection.

The Cord L-29 typifies art deco design as far as I am concerned – all curves and chrome. Couple this with the basic black colour of this car and some very dramatic exhaust pipes and you’re left with an enormously interesting looking vehicle.

Because of the positioning of the car (it had a large window right behind and above it that meant the car was back-lit with daylight and front-lit with tungsten light), I only shot details. Thankfully chrome and black are excellent combinations for monochrome images so that gave me an easy way round the problem of mixed white balance too.

1938 Hudson-Terraplane Pickup Grille

Dave Wilson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:07:00 +0000

Towards the end of my visit to Dick's Classic Garage, I stuck the fisheye lens on the camera and walked back through the exhibit taking wide shots (everything else I shot that morning were small details). Although this image falls firmly into the "detail" category too, I rather like the way the fisheye has distorted the rounded grille on the Hudson-Terraplane pickup.

1931 Cadillac

Dave Wilson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:09:26 +0000

The front wing of a 1931 Cadillac 452A V16 Sport Phaeton as seen at Dick's Classic Garage in San Marcos, Texas.

After my visit to the museum, I admit that I had to look up the definition of "phaeton" since I had not heard the word before. Apparently it's a "light, open horse drawn carriage or vintage motor car" so think of it as an old convertible, I suppose.

Mash Tun, Thirsty Planet Brewery

Dave Wilson — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:24:09 +0000

Thirsty Planet is a rather excellent small brewery only a few miles from our home. They brew 3 regular beers year-round and typically have 4 or 5 specials available too. Thanks to Texas' arcane beer laws, you can't actually walk into their bar and buy a pint but, most Saturdays, you can buy a glass and they will fill it for free :-)

This shot shows the mash tun, the large vessel in which the water and malt is boiled at the start of the brewing process. Stay tuned since I hope to have more and better shots from the brewery in the near future.