Day 219 - Project365

Minority report, Inception, The Matrix… each of these movies suggests some crazy computer controlled society or simply a super high tech new world. Some are scared of it, while I say, "Bring it on". I day dream about being able to jack into a computer at the neural level and touch, taste, feel and hear. I want total immersion and I feel its on its way.

Now today's picture is on the humorous side as most of my composites are. I just watch people play video games and get so into it that everything else takes a back seat. They eat and drink while playing and even hold off on using the bathroom until they beat just "one more level"

Computer graphics for movies and video games are getting so real that its hard to tell the difference. The other day I was watching Despicable Me on Blu-Ray and the scene where the girls on are on the roller coaster was so real and clear that you got butterflies in your stomach just by watching it. Shit, if I had a 100 inch TV I'd really be able to feel like I was going up and down the tracks!

Today's shot as always evolved from a simple shot of Shawn in the chair playing games to a total background replacement to bring shawn into a virtual environment. I could do a series of shots like this all demonstrating are increased dependence on hyper real digital entertainment.

My Nephew Rylan will undoubtedly be a "i've got to see it, touch, taste and feel it" to be real kid. Imagination is taking back seat to the new wave of entertainment. Leave nothing to the imagination.

The background is comprised of two shots. A Miami skyline shot and a desert railroad shot from my trip out west. Of course, Shawn was shot in his room in front of my TV with a softbox in front of it.

A back light was added in the form of a snooted speedlight.

A quick note about the shirt Shawn's wearing… The other day my father walks up to us and says, "Is this any of yours shirts?" we both say no and then quickly and simultaneously say "but I'll take it" my father decides that a contest will determine the winner of the unclaimed shirt.

He sets up a donut float in the pool and hands me a tennis ball. Best out of 3 gets the shirt. Now my whole family is very competitive so this was like a challenge to the death. I grab the ball, limper up and get ready to win the shirt. My first throw hits the front of the float and bounces off. Close but just a slight bit off, the second shot would shurly be the one! Shawn grabs and misses his first shot. My second shot goes in and I momentarily celebrate. However, a slight bit prematurely as Shawn sinks his second shot. So it now comes down to a tie breaking shot. My father moves further back and decides a moving shot would be the tie breaker and determine the new owner. I grab the now wet ball before 1 of the 3 eager dogs grabs ahold and claims it as a new chew toy. I prepare my shot with both proper breathing and stance. The float starts to move from right to left and my hand follows. I pull back as if my arm is attached to a rubber band. I release and watch the ball soar almost in slow motion towards its target. Splash, it missed by inches. It's ok, I thought, Shawn was surely going to miss and I'd get another shot. Shawn lines up and with a half cocked smile and smirk releases the ball. It flies into the air and plummets down towards the water, was he going to make it? The tension momentarily increases as the last remaining fractions of a second tick by. Well you can see who is wearing the damn shirt. It's ok, I didn't want it anyway, its just a plain white Hanes undershirt. I hope he spills Spaghetti sauce on it!

So, thats it… I'm off to watch a movie and fall asleep. This week is pretty action packed. It includs graphic work, photography, meetings and a release of "Michael Herb Photography" in a national photography magazine! Stay tuned to find out which one!

Lighting:

AB800 Med Softbox 3:00. 1/2 power
Nikon SB-25 snooted 9:00. 1/4 power
triggered via cyber syncs