The 50/50 Project – Day 6-12
Here it is, episode 3 of my 50/50 project. As an experiment I embedded it a lot bigger, if this doesn’t work for you, let me know.
So how is the project going? Let me tell you that on some days it’s hard to keep it up. It’s pretty easy on days that I’m doing interesting stuff and/or have time to go for a mini photowalk. But at the moment I’m spending most of my time behind the computer and I’m so busy that during the day I usually don’t have time to go out and shoot. Those days may not get me the best pictures in this project but are probably the most interesting ones because I have to get really creative to get some decent shots. That’s when I really have to step out of my comfort zone and do stuff I usually don’t do.
I’m really happy (and surprised) that many of you seem to like the project and some get inspired to do their own project but I’m actually not very concerned about the quality of my images like I would in my usual blogging. Being able to mess up creates the freedom that I need to become a better photographer. I don’t put the images online to show off, it is just a way to force myself to keep shooting every day and I secretly hoped it would inspire a couple of people to do a personal project themselves.
I made the picture above during a tour of our new town (well it was new to us almost a year ago). We got the exceptional chance to visit the traffic control tower of Brussels Airport. This picture alone, makes the 50/50 project worth all the time and effort I’m putting into it. This is not just a picture of a kid in a spot with a nice view. This is a PORTRAIT of my son. I admit it almost physically hurts to decide not to take a wide angle and a fisheye knowing that you’ll have a probably once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get that amazing view combined with fantastic architectural lines. But if I had done that (even with the 50mm in my camera bag) I would never have made this image.
To me it’s the best capture of my son’s personality I made in a very long time. So even if I don’t make a decent image during the rest of the project, it exceeded my expectations.
Hey Bert,
Nice set, but I’m really amazed by the portrait of your son. It so good, I would like to use it in the photography classes I’m teaching as an example of how keeping things simple can result in astonishing pictures.
Keep up the good stuff!
JayJay
I can imagine the urge to go wide-angle
but this shot is truly awesome. I love the light on his face. When I first saw this picture i didn’t realize there were windows. I thought it was some kind old tower. This is a very cool building to shoot from
this project is excellent. and inspiring as you had hoped. i’ve read some of the comments in the previous posts and i’m glad to see i’m not the only one who has seemed to forget there fifty. it seems i’m not the only one who’s gonna bringing it out a lot more either.
one thing… i kinda paused at the horse pic… was that horse?… oh ya… ya he was… i chuckled a bit.
keep up the great work,
joe
the Kobe-shot is epic and intimate at the same time…
the most fantastic compositional thing is the middle third of the picture that is light as the rest is dark and the rim that light creates on Kobes face is priceless
I would (almost) kill to have a shot like that of my kids
viva le 50!
Love your shots, Bert! Thaqnk you for sharing!
Thx for your comments
@jt: that horse really made a statement about being photographed. I took exactly 3 shots of it’s head and then it turned and …
@kramon: Just buy a house here and take your kids, camera, 50mm with you when you get the tour next year
Bert do you think there is much of a commercial market for horse shit photography?
Excellent set, and I really love the project. I’m a massive fan of the 50mm 1.4, and it’s great to
limit oneself and subsequently see things afresh.
Good work!
Yeah, that’s a great shot of your son.
You’re using the 50mm on your 5D right? So for crop sensor users, that would be a really tight crop.
Oh well, the intention of this project is to be creative given limitations.
Thanks again for sharing. Thanks also for answering my question about your video editor.
Yes, thats an amazing capture. And wonderful tones in b/w.
Bert… C’est superbe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bert great project. I have been watching Jeff’s blog as well and trying to get to grips with available light. Keep it up the images are great!
Best wishes
Hi,
You truly inspire me! I think I’m gonna get one of those Canon 50mm 1.4 soon.
Do you post-process your images or do you get these nice colors straight out of the camera? How?
/Marcus
@Martin They say that the money is in the niche markets
@Pepin: I used the 50mm more on crop bodies than on full frame. Makes a great portrait lens but (as I’m beginning to learn now) it’s more versatile on full frame. But you are right, it’s about restricting yourself, not about the lens.
@Marcus: I spend a couple of seconds with each picture in Lightroom.
Bert, what can I say that these other good folks haven’t already said. Keep up the good work.
Does Kobe like that shot as much as you do?
toujours d’aussi belles photos.
est ce que tu “postproduct” avec un preset LR ou se sont des photos brut de capteur ?
Hi Bert,
Well done
“it is just a way to force myself to keep shooting every day” That is exactly what I have to take to heart…
Bert, great stuff, the shot of your son is a beautiful portrait, thanks again for all the inspiration, keep it up.
Very cool project and some very fine photos. The limitation definitely helps to force oneself to be creative instead of just sticking to your comfort zone. I’m doing a similar thing as a year project also with just a 50mm. One shot for every week in an area of 500 metres around my home. Get’s more and more challenging not to repeat oneself, but it helps a lot to grow creatively.
Dear Bert,
Ever since I came across your “confessions of a photographer” video’s on the net I’ve been following your work. From that moment on I think about photography 24/7. It’s so bad now that, as I was walking in Leuven this morning with my family, I caught myself studying the light bouncing back from the white gravel on to the face of a beautiful woman rather than looking at her breasts as I would have done before. Strangely enough my wife saw me looking and didn’t by it. Never mind!
I love your work and find it very inspirational. The picture of your son looking out the control tower is brilliant!
Cheers,
Marc
Leuk om eens wat ‘vuilere’ beelden van je te zien. Meer achter de schermen en minder technische beelden. Ik vind ze qua sfeer en inhoude zeer sterk. Mooi.
[...] lang fotografeert hij zijn leven met een 50mm lens. Bert plaatste al berichten over dag 2 tot 5 en dag 6-12. Hij verwerkte zijn foto’s in de twee videos die je onderin kan bekijken. De moeite [...]
Thx all
@Ian: Kobe isn’t yet in his black and white phase. He just can’t understand why you would take the color away
But he’ll thank me in 20 yrs time.
@Glen: Just a bit of lightroom
@Rasmus: that seems like a very interesting challenge too
@Marc: I’m happy to give people some inspiration but I don’t want to be the one who causes a divorce
@Pieter: Thx, ik moet toegeven dat ik echt plezier heb om het wat minder technisch te doen
Was that a picture of a horse taking a shit?
) Fantastic pictures all of them (except from that one 
! You really can turn a picture into an inspiration. Keep it coming!