The Photography of John Caruso
Pineapple Abstract by John Caruso
Gear: Canon 5D Mark II, EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Exposure: f/2.8 at 1/15, Exposure Compensation -1, ISO 400, Natural Light
As you already know, I'm a fool for great, natural light. So when I saw the late afternoon sun flowing all over this pineapple, I just had to grab my camera and make an exposure.
I tried a few different compositions and lenses. However, I decided upon using a macro lens and getting in nice and tight to try and capture the essence of the pineapple. To further push the boundary, I used a wide aperture to create the shallow depth of field.
Vintage Bulbs by John Caruso
Gear: Canon 7D, Lensbaby Composer Pro fitted with the single glass optic
Exposure: f/2.8 at 1/100, ISO 800, Post-Processing done in Nik Color Efex Pro 4
Call me a purist, but for my money, the best Xmas lights are these big, chunky, vintage-y bulbs. I just love the way they look, the way they give off a soft & warming glow, the way they feel in the hand when you're unstringing them, and even the way they sound when they jostle against each other.
For this photo, I wanted to convey the comforting, old-school feel of these bulbs. So I popped on my Lensbaby fitted with the single glass optic and snapped away. To put it over the top, I processed the image using Nik's Color Efex Pro. Even though I am not a big proponent of excessive post-processing, I figured that for this image it was appropriate...and worked nicely for my eye.
A Bad Alley in Good Light by John Caruso
Gear: Canon 5D Mark II, EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Exposure: 1/3200 at f/1.2, ISO 500, Natural Light
One of the many things I love about photography is the fact that with good, interesting light, nearly any scene can be beautiful. Case in point, this trash-stren alley. On this particular day, the light was diffused by languid rain clouds. There was a sharpness, a definition to everything I look at. Yes I know I've said it, but I have to say it again, I just love, love, love rainy overcast days for shooting.
I was wrapping up a photo walk and began heading to my car. On the way there, I happened to notice this scene on the other side of a little water way. I knew I couldn't pass it up so I made the photo. As it turned out, it was one of the ones I particularly liked from that afternoon.
Forest Fence
[flickr id="6116327193" thumbnail="medium" overlay="false" size="small" group="" align="center"] During a lovely weekend in Columbus, OH, my wife and I stayed at a hotel. When we returned to the room late in the evening, I liked the look of this lone lamp so I made a few exposures. I adjusted the exposure so that the light would be subdued and the rest of the room would be in shadow...a look I felt was quite atmospheric and compelling.
[flickr id="6103127801" thumbnail="medium" overlay="true" size="small" group="" align="center"] I will admit that this photograph is unabashedly about the light, the textures, the angles, and the colors. I just loved them. Sometimes, these elements are just so appealing I can't pass them up.
When one sees a scene like this, how can one NOT make the photograph?
For me, the diffused light is what tipped the scales. I just love that post/pre-storm light.
[flickr id="6077477219" thumbnail="medium" overlay="true" size="small" group="" align="center"] After a nice rain, I was walking around with my camera and loved the way the light looked on this iron lantern. I opened the lens up as wide as possible to throw the background into a nice blur then made the shot.
[flickr id="6049980140" thumbnail="medium" overlay="true" size="small" group="" align="center"] Fun with folk art, a macro lens, and some natural light streaming in through the window.
[flickr id="5909108229" thumbnail="medium" overlay="true" size="small" group="" align="center"] I just loved the way the light streamed through the glass vase and illuminated the stems...and the tiny bubbles of this summer bouquet. For me, this was a far more interesting view than the flowers themselves.
[flickr id="5716861145" thumbnail="medium" overlay="true" size="small" group="" align="center"] Sometimes, bungee cords sitting on a wooded table under a stormy, late afternoon sky just call out to be photographed.
While on a photo walk in Geneva, IL with two photographer friends of mine, we saw this wall covered with what looked like dormant grape vines. A little more exploration turned up this ladder. As I looked at the scene, I couldn't help but get excited at the way the lines, shapes, and patterns of the bricks, vines, ladder, and the hint of the chimney all worked together. Then there was the element of the shadows that seemed just a bit out of phase with the rigidity of the rest of the scene. How could I not make a photo?
This was one of those moments I just knew I had a chance to make a photograph I would like very much. We ordered take-out Chinese food the night before from our favorite restaurant. Because they know I love my food VERY hot and spicy, they always include a container of extra chili oil for me.
The container was sitting on the kitchen counter the next afternoon, when the sun streamed in through the window in the door so perfectly that it illuminated the container with the low, late afternoon rays. I knew I wouldn't have much time before the sun continued it's natural course and move away from the window, so I quickly grabbed my camera and made several shots. I shot from the side and from above, but it wasn't until I shot directly toward the sun ray and through the oil that I had that shot that made me smile broadly.
The afternoon light was streaming in and falling on these candles. As soon as I saw this scene, I just knew I had to grab my camera and make a photograph.
On a recent trip to Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory, my wife and I were delighted to experience the misting in the Palm House. I happened to look up and saw this couple silhouetted against the sunlight as it streamed in through the glass ceiling.
As the waning afternoon light flowed in through the window, I couldn't help but notice the way it illuminated this Lilly.
Wanting to accentuate the drama that I was experiencing, I grabbed my camera and exposed for the brightness of the flower which allowed the already darker background to be underexposed.
This vase sits on a little table in the foyer near our front door. When I went to check to see if the mail had arrived, I was stopped in my tracks by the way the sun poured in through the nearby small window. I rand to grab my camera and managed to make this photo before I lost the light.
I spent some time on Longboat Key in Florida, on an assignment for my uncle. After a long day's shooting, we headed out to the dock behind his house where he loves to do some night fishing. He installed a glow light under the water which gives off an eerie green glow to attract fish. The sun had just about set, painting the sky in various shades of blue, indigo, purple, and magenta. The chartreuse illumination from the glow light spilled on the boat he has suspended above the water creating an odd combination of colors. I chose to use my fisheye lens to really add to the surreal feel of the scene.
Sometimes, just looking up yields some great photo opportunities. In this case, I underexposed the ceiling light and was delighted that the resulting effect was almost otherworldly.
Under Awning (088/365 03-29-2010)
Originally uploaded by CarusoPhoto
The day had gotten past me and I had yet to make a photo. So I stepped out on our back porch late into the night, and was delighted to see the way the porch light illuminated the back door awning from below. I grabbed the shot and happily made my photo for the day.
