To be honest, I don’t think the subject itself is that great – I guess I can assure everyone I don’t have a fence fetish.  The part I do like about this is the layering of the images.  I’ve been messing around trying to figure out if it’s best to layer the pictures from one side to another, top to bottom, or what.  As far as I can tell, it all depends on the picture.  I think the symmetry of the layers works here, but then again I took it so of course I think it works.  I’ve gotta say though – this stuff is pretty easy and fun.  If you’re so inclined, it isn’t hard – try it!

One Last Collage is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

An improvement?  I’m not sure.  If you like this one I have another one of the fence in the background.  Maybe I’ll post that next.

Composite Tree is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

Last time I tried this I think it was sort of interesting but didn’t work for me.  It seems that having one element moving through all of the pictures really helps.  You’d think alignment would be easy, but the perspective quickly warps looking through these old cameras and everything gets fuzzy at the edge of each picture so even lining things up is hard.  Also, just like with panoramas, having the same aperture throughout is pretty key.  So what do you think?  This is a nice quiet path, down in the arboretum.

A Path With A Twist is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

I’m sure it’s the grainy quality and the vignetting around the edge of the picture, but this shot of a totem pole I found in the UW arboretum reminds me of something from a ViewMaster disk.  I’m thinking it would be titled something like “Indians carved these elaborate poles before we wiped them out and took their stuff”.  This one stands watch over the Montlake Cut.  When cruising by in a large yacht, I’m sure it’s fun to look at.

I like the angle in this shot a lot – one of the things about Through The Viewfinder is that you’re holding a periscope shaped device in front and below you, so for once, getting a low angle looking up at the subject is relatively easy (nothing is exactly easy with the contraption).  Until my DSLR gets a movable live-view LCD, this is about the only way I have to take shots from this angle.

Native Americana, via View Master is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

It’s an old joke, but other than a place to toss my junk, this trashcan bears a striking resemblance to something familar…  Another run-of-the-mill sighting in the Arboretum, but lots of colors, textures, and depth.  One of the fun and challenging parts of TtV is getting the focus the way you want it.   Your subject is through your camera lens, down a cardboard tube, and reflected in a ground glass prism, but then there is also the distance between the front of the prism and the subject, so focal distances are measured in several directions.   It takes a lot of twisting and bending.  You look funny.  If security was around, they’d probably run you off.  Make sure you look extra harmless.

R2-D2's Day Job, Through The Viewfinder is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures

The seasons are changing for real.  Today I wore a light jacket and got hot – hot, I say!  That means something around here.  Also around here, there are flowers.  I took this picture in the Arboretum – a great place for finding things like this.  I’d tell you what kind it is, but this is a photography blog, not a botany blog.  Also, we’re back to TtV (Through the Viewfinder) – something I have fun with but also something you requested back when I asked.  Happy yet?

Spring, As Requested is a post from: Ari Takes Pictures