IN THE FIELD: Staying Warm Inside
Early this past week, the weather in this area was bitterly cold and windy. Outdoor photography can be a bit of a challenge in these conditions and normally it doesn’t bother me. After all, I am primarily an outdoor photographer and the weather, pleasant or unpleasant, is part of the experience. But with the wind chill near the single digits I decided to cut myself a break.
An alternative to freezing outdoors is getting creative indoors. Benefits include warm fingers, toes and face, plus the camera equipment works better.
We often overlook photographing subjects within the confines of our own homes, probably because we are so used to seeing them on a daily basis. Looking through a camera and lens at ordinary and familiar items in our surroundings can present them in a whole new perspective.
Who would have thought the inside of the clothes washer would make for an interesting subject? To me, this looks like some kind of futuristic propulsion unit for interstellar space travel.
“Hello…NASA?”
David Heilman 
Very interesting and imagintive, David. 🙂
Thanks Bob, it’s amazing what you can find from just snooping around.
And at first I thought it was a very weird heating element from something else. Interesting!
I had just taken the laundry from the washer and put it in the dryer when I looked inside to see if I had gotten all the socks that seem to vanish, and said to myself “hey this is way cool looking” Got the camera and started playing!!!
You made me smile… This is amazing. Actually as dear Rosemary said to me a few days ago, to be at home makes us creative 🙂 I have never thought to take a picture of my washing machine… Oh my dear, you inspired me. I was thinking the things in the home finished!!!! With camera and with light everything can be amazing… you showed me once again… I loved the colours, light, it really standing something about NASA or cosmic science… Thank you, take care of yourself, in these days are not very good to be out… You are doing great with your camera at home too… Have a nice day, with my love, nia
Thanks Nia, glad you liked it. It was fun playing with this one…different flash settings and White Balance just to see what would happen.
It reminds me a bit of the Large Hadron Collider at Cern. Have you found any neutrinos in there? 🙂
Sure have! but I haven’t been able to get past the speed of light yet. Must call Brian Cox for advice on this one!
Very cool! My first reaction to the image was, “What is THAT?”
Funny…I even said that after looking on the back LCD and I was the one taking the photo!!!
Too cool, David! I would have never guessed the subject. Love this shot!
Thanks Steve, I like the plasma bolt of light which usually occurs at initial start-up. Have to look into that next time I dock the ship.
Depending on the flash settings the bolt was in a different position in each shot.
I thought this looked familiar 😀 your washing machine is very clean I have to say 😀 Such a cool shot, love it! 🙂
Thanks Kristina, glad you like it!!! Familiar??? You’ve been around inter stellar space ships too? Wow!!!
What a fantastic idea! It looks a bit like Faraday’s electrical cage!
Thanks Meanderer! Admittedly I had to google Faraday’s electrical cage to refresh the old memory banks…you are right…I does resemble one!!!
Yeah right! Futuristic and especially with the color tone in this photo. Great imagination. I do that a lot. 😀
Thanks Nandini, glad you like it…it was fun playing with different settings to change the color in the photos. I liked the bluer one better!
amazing shot David…sci-fi and lovely colors !
Thanks Abu! It’s not really a washing machine…it really is a shot of the engine afterburner of a Viper MK IV. I use it to travel back and forth to Alfa Centuri on weekends!
http://photographyofnia.com/2012/01/10/voyage/
Thank you once again. With my love, nia
You are very welcome Nia!!
Great photo David, great inspiration too. Thanks for the post.
Gerry
Thanks Gerry! That’s what happens when I start snooping around the house!
Very creative, David! I wouldn’t have guessed that this is the inside of a washer!
I too, have moved on to photographing objects around the house, it forces me to be creative. Hopefully, something that I can apply to the outdoors as soon as the temperature warms up again.
Thanks Gracie! I keep finding all kinds of neat stuff to shoot…can’t get anything else done around the house ha ha!
http://photographyofnia.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/8872/
Thank you dear David, you are one of my “Candle Lighter”. With my love, nia
Awww thank you Nia..this is an honor indeed!!!
A good monochromatic and geometric abstraction. (And you kept your fingers warm.)
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
Thanks Steve…you betcha!!! It was pretty darn nippy and a nice change of pace to play indoors!!!!
Great post and shot! There is definitely inspiration to be had indoors! My mind is so focused on outdoor inspiration that, oddly enough, I often overlook the aesthetic wonders right under my nose (and in the warmth of my own home!)
Thanks Tara!!! I couldn’t agree more. I too am so focused on the outdoors that I often forget what is indoors. This time of year it pays to remember though!!!
Wonderful, David. It look so industrial, which of course it is. 🙂
Thanks Katie, I really like how it turned out!
Yes, very futuristic and un-home-appliance like!
Thanks John, I had to bring my Viper MK IV in for service and while the guys were trying to figure out why I couldn’t reach light speed I managed to get a couple of shots of the engine.
It looks like something from a sci-fi movie. Love the toning too!
Thanks Mike, I was thinking the engine unit of a Battlestar Galactica Viper MK IV. I built a model of one years and years ago and they look pretty similar. I guess I’m still a kid at heart!
Brilliant! What a great idea, and it does look like something out of a sci-fi movie 🙂
Thanks Mufidah, I thought it was pretty cool looking…and then I started playing around with different White Balance and flash settings…colors changed the whole look!
Wow! This is really cool! how did I miss this before? Creative solution to staying warm.
Thanks Jennifer, staying warm is good thing!! Somehow I miss posts also…it’s not intentional by any means…they just get missed.
Great and imaginative use of a home appliance! I just had a new water heater installed last Friday and was thinking of taking the camera down since it’s kind of pretty compared to the old one. I’m inspired now! Thanks!
Thanks Tricia, glad I was able to inspire you…especially when it is frigid outside! I wonder what some of our other appliances would look like in an abstract viewpoint. Hmmmmm
I love this! Looks like something from the new Star Trek movie… great work.
Thanks Journey, my starship was in for service and while they were working on it I snuck into the shop and grabbed this shot! There was still a bit of a charge left in the ION thrusters, hence the lightning like blue light.