Photo of the Week: Crumb's Eye View

"Crumb's Eye View" © Andy Marfia 2013 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ Sigma 10-20mm, 1/30sec at f8, ISO200.

One of my favorite things about commuting in Chicago are those rare, fleeting moments, when I find myself on an L car by myself.  When this happens during the day it's a strangely peaceful experience-- an unexpected moment of contemplation with just the rumble of the train, the sunlight through the windows, and whatever thoughts are in my head.  Or, in this case, whatever camera is in my hand.  I captured this week's photo with my Nikon D7100 resting on the ground, a shot I wouldn't have tried with other passengers around.  This was taken just as we were leaving the Jarvis Red Line station going towards Howard.

Clouds and Wires and Poles and Things

This week we had some interesting clouds as Chicago endures a moderate heat wave, and there are few things that make me happier than summer cloud formations.  I took these while walking home from work one night.  I had a bunch of other photos I wanted to work on this week, but I couldn't quite wrap my brain around them-- sometimes that happens.  Sometimes in the summer you just want to stare at the sky.


"Swoop" Copyright Andy Marfia 2013 All Rights Reserved. Sony RX 100, 1/800sec at f8, ISO125.


"On The Edge" Copyright Andy Marfia 2013 All Rights Reserved. Sony RX 100, 1/500sec at f8, ISO125.


"Disconnect" Copyright Andy Marfia 2013 All Rights Reserved. Sony RX 100, 1/800sec at f8, ISO125.


"Miles to Go" Copyright Andy Marfia 2013 All Rights Reserved. Sony RX 100, 1/400sec at f8, ISO125.

Photo of the Week: Boom Boom!

"Boom Boom!" Copyright Andy Marfia 2013 All Rights Reserved. Nikon D7100 w/ 16-85mm lens, 8sec at f8, ISO200

It seems like a no brainer for a fireworks photo to be my featured photo this week.  I hope everyone's having a lovely 4th of July weekend!  This shot was taken at Foster Ave Beach.  These fireworks were launched by the Saddle & Cycle Club, a private club in Edgewater.  If you ask me, it's a better show than the city of Chicago's fireworks.

This is an 8 second exposure with the camera mounted on a mini tripod.  Full disclosure: this is actually a composite image.  I merged the sky together from two different exposures to get a bit more bang in the photo.

Photo of the Week: the hose knows

This week's photo is a minimalist take on spring, or "almost spring" as we like to call it here in Chicago.  There's still nothing truly spring like to photograph, but hopefully that's coming soon.

This photos was featured on Gapers Block on 03/23/11.

Photo Details: Nikon D7000 w/ 105mm Micro Nikkor, 1/800sec at f8, ISO400.

Photo(s) of the Week: Urban Macro by request

Nikon D7000 w/ 105mm Micro Nikkor, 1/800sec at f8, ISO400

I had a personal request recently that I shoot more macro photos, and who am I, if not someone who honors personal requests!  So I slapped my 105mm Micro Nikkor on my camera and went for a walk on what was a pleasantly sunny almost-spring day.  These two photos were from that walk.

The shot above is the corner of a wall, sort of an ode to brick walls.  The shot below is the top of a fire hydrant.  Though I'm quite certain they weren't singing about fire hydrants, the song Ready to Start by the Arcade Fire has popped into my head:

"My mind is open wide, and now I'm ready to start"


Nikon D7000 w/ 105mm Micro Nikkor, 1/320sec at f8, ISO400