We have asked Crystal Lamont, our celebrity guest expert on the Diana camera and all things tasteful, to offer her critique of  one of our photographer’s Diana shots.

(To see a video trailer of  Crystal,  click here and to see her Top Ten Tips on using the Diana, click here. )

Here are Crystal’s reviews of three of Marie Wilson’s photographs made with the Diana:

1.     Photo: Little India triple exposure by Marie Wilson

Crystal sez:

I can’t say it enough: wind.  And I don’t mean the kind that blows (as this shot does).  No, I mean, wind as in turn that little dial at the top of your Diana after every click of your shutter. This photo is a good example of someone who doesn’t know how to wind or who just can’t be bothered.  She probably goes around without nail polish on her toenails as well.  And not only has she failed to wind, but she has failed to wind several times! And that’s why when you look at the shot it makes you feel as if you’ve had one too many martinis. And since I usually have had one too many martinis, this shot makes me see eightuple.

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2.     Photo: fairy flowers by Marie Wilson

Crystal sez:

How can you screw up a photo of begonias or petunias or gladiators?  By misusing your Diana, that’s how!  That’s what we see in this shot: perfectly good subject – flowers – but this “photographer” hasn’t taken the time to arrange the posies nor to arrange her camera and tripod.  She probably can’t arrange herself either and I’m picturing a walking sartorial disaster – probably someone who wears floral prints with zebra stripes and metallic sling backs, her hair all backcombed up and her lipstick askew (okay, I did once wear such an outfit, and there are those photos to prove it, but it was years ago – at least two – and I have since thrown away those pedal pushers).

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3.      Photo: the plastic ride toy by Marie Wilson

Crystal sez:

Who wants to see this!?  Look, I’m going to be blunt here.  Whoever took this should not give up her day job.  But she should sell her camera.  This photo is an eyesore and I don’t know about you but I don’t like eyesores; in fact, I don’t like sores of any kind.  So, please, give your camera to someone more deserving and take up knitting or reading or parkour. The world will be a better place.

photos of Crystal by Aaron Schwartz

Posted by aaron under Articles, Flix Fotos and Frox, Opinion, Reviews, crystal [8] Comments

"The Ability to Recognize Objects Through Touch" by Konrad Ragnarsson

The poignant image above was submitted by 15×100 Blog reader Konrad Ragnarsson.  “The Ability to Recognize Objects Through Touch” was shot in Reykjavik, Iceland – March 2009.  To explore more of Konrad’s work point your browser to www.flickr.com/photos/konni2727 . Thanks for the stellar submission Konrad!

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If you’re a reader of the 15×100 Blog and would like to see your worked featured on an up-coming Wednesday see Submission Guidelines. Each Wednesday we will feature the photographic work of one of our blog readers. So get your submission in to 15×100.

Posted by blue mitchell under Wednesday's Featured Reader [8] Comments

• Nikon D300
• Nikkor 17-35mm N
• Nikkor 16-85 DX
• SB800
• Slik Monopod for extending hand-held remote flash. (Note. I got some appreciating nods from the seasoned pros for this technique but it did mean my one handed camera grip was testing after a while)
• 2 x 4Gb & 1 x 8Gb Memory cards (I shot Fine jpg, with raw back-ups)
• 1 spare battery
• Canon G9 Backup camera. (I hoped I didn’t have to use it!)

Posted by blue mitchell under Articles [11] Comments

"glad I left it out in the rain" by Virginia Dickens

The  introspective image above was submitted by 15×100 Blog reader Virginia Dickens.  “glad I left it out in the rain” was shot in Montville, NJ – March 2007.  To explore more of Virginia’s work point your browser to http://www.flickr.com/photos/va_voom . Thanks for the great submission Virginia!

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If you’re a reader of the 15×100 Blog and would like to see your worked featured on an up-coming Wednesday see Submission Guidelines. Each Wednesday we will feature the photographic work of one of our blog readers. So get your submission in to 15×100.

Posted by blue mitchell under Wednesday's Featured Reader [7] Comments

Pulmo by Paul Lavallee

Ghosts by Nicole Gesmondi

15×100 members Nicole Gesmondi & Paul Lavallee have photographs selected for the 20th Annual Open Juried Photography Show  at the Wickford Art Association Gallery. This year’s juror is Deborah Bright, head of the Photography Department at the Rhode Island School of Design. The show runs from now until June 24th and the gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11:00 -3:00 and Sunday 12:00-3:00. The gallery is located at 32 Beach Street, North Kingstown, RI.

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densha otoko by Jim Robertson

15×100 member Jim Robertson had his photograph “densha otoko” published in the summer issue of Shots Magazine. Shots is an independent, reader supported, quarterly journal of fine art photography in its 22nd year of publication. This Holga image was captured in January of 2008 while in Japan, somewhere between Kyoto and Osaka.

Posted by jim under Monday Member News, exhibitions, published! [9] Comments

Sweeping Shadows by Rebecca Tocci

The  moody image above was submitted by 15×100 Blog reader Rebecca Tocci.  “Sweeping Shadows” was shot at Bethesda Arcade, Central Park, NY in 2009.  To see more of Rebecca’s work point your browser to http://www.redbubble.com/people/rebeccat . Thanks for the submission Rebecca and the introduction to your fabulous portfolio.

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If you’re a reader of the 15×100 Blog and would like to see your worked featured on an up-coming Wednesday see Submission Guidelines. Each Wednesday we will feature the photographic work of one of our blog readers. So get your submission in to 15×100.

Posted by blue mitchell under Wednesday's Featured Reader [12] Comments

the girl and the muppet by danielle kelly

JPG magazine honored our own Danielle Kelly by choosing her wonderful image “the girl and the muppet” as last week’s Photo of the Week. You can check out her website to see that Danielle could easily fill out many more weeks to come. Congrats D!

Posted by jim under Monday Member News, News [10] Comments

Call to the Earth by Leanna Lomanski

The  earthy tree image above was submitted by 15×100 Blog reader Leanna Lomanski.  “Call to Earth” was shot in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta Canada in Sept 2008.  To see more of Leanna’s work point your browser to http://wwyz.redbubble.com/. Thanks for the submission Leanna and your valued readership.

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If you’re a reader of the 15×100 Blog and would like to see your worked featured on an up-coming Wednesday see Submission Guidelines. Each Wednesday we will feature the photographic work of one of our blog readers. So get your submission in to 15×100.

Posted by blue mitchell under Wednesday's Featured Reader [13] Comments

by Gary Fudge

I’ve had itchy feet since I was a lad and started moving around from
the age of 16 when I first left home. In fact I haven’t lived in the
same house for more then 3 years in the past 30 years.
So that itch needs scratching again and I’m on the move to the Orkney
Isles.
Currently living in Aviemore in central Highlands it’s a land journey
of around 130 miles of twisty roads north.

Almost as far north as you can on mainland Britain to Scrabster and
the ferry across to Stromness.

The Orkneys consist (more…)

Posted by blue mitchell under Articles [13] Comments

Ingredients:
(1) Holga 120N Camera
(1) 46->52mm Step Up Ring
(1) Hoya 52mm RM-72 Infrared Filter
(1) roll of black tape
(1) tripod
(∞) Ekfe IR820 Infrared 120mm Film rolls (while it lasts!)
(optional) 52mm Snap On Lens Cap

Directions:

1. Screw it!  The step up ring screws directly into the plastic surrounding the lens as you can see in the photo above.  Not only will you be able to use the 52mm Hoya Infrared filter now, you will also be able to use any 52mm filter on your Holga after you screw on this step up ring.  I also bought a new 52mm lens cap and leave the step up ring on my Holga 120N all the time.  I would imagine that with enough screwing on and off with the step up ring, you will wear out the plastic surrounding the lens.
2. Up load!  Unlike many other infrared films, the Efke brand is very easy to handle.  I load the film in very subdued light, but there is no need to load it in complete darkness. (more…)

Posted by blue mitchell under Articles [12] Comments