Kokoro - Wandering Through a Photographic Life

Backstage Kokoro

A "behind-the-scenes" look at selected images in my Kokoro project —
Content, photographic notes, EXIF data, creative process, miscellaneous commentary, and original digital captures. And now with additional audio comments about selected images!

From Kokoro #021 - Work and Real Work

Part of the reason I love the digital workflow is because of some of the practical implications. For example, film costs used to be in important part of my budgeting process — both in dollars and in terms of how much to take with me on every trip. Now with digital capture, I'm free to shoot with abandon. This kind of image is a perfect example of why that is so useful.

Obviously, a great deal of the success of an image like this lies in the pattern of sparks. Every exposure will reveal a different pattern; every shutter speed a different length of spark. Finding the right combination for the best photograph is a matter of experimentation, instant feedback, and a bit of luck. I photographed this guy for 57 minutes and made 284 exposures. He changed positions, tools, angles, and every photograph is subtly different. This is the one that best captures the moment I was hoping for. The other 283 were necessary steps — and steps I would likely not have taken in my view camera days.

Original digital capture (downsized for the web)

1/8 sec at f / 5.6, ISO 100, Panasonic DMC-G1, LUMIX G VARIO 45-200/F4.0-5.6, 200 mm

Brooks Jensen

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