The African Mammal Hall at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
Sheryl Crow filmed the music video for her song *If It Makes You Happy* in this room, using this and many of the other life-size dioramas.
A lot to like in this shot. This may sound strange, but if I wasn't told it was museum I might have thought I was looking outside through a large window. Then I would exclaim how wonderful it would be to be looking outdoors at such a beautiful scene!
Hi Eric, I will check it from home monitor....as Dell laptop is not meant for viewing quality photographs....but my first reaction is that it would have made me happier if Sheryl Crow was in it!
However, I would settle for perhaps lower POV, and more centered/symmetrical....if re-shot.....OR.... if top 10-15% can be cropped off...quarter to half inch above the center light on top......
Just some thoughts....Cheers!
A lot to like in this shot. This may sound strange, but if I wasn't told it was museum I might have thought I was looking outside through a large window. Then I would exclaim how wonderful it would be to be looking outdoors at such a beautiful scene!
Thanks Phil... and not strange at all - that is pretty much the perspective you get when viewing these dioramas in-person - they are very realistic and (of course) much more 3D when viewed in situ.
....but my first reaction is that it would have made me happier if Sheryl Crow was in it!
However, I would settle for perhaps lower POV, and more centered/symmetrical....if re-shot.....OR.... if top 10-15% can be cropped off...quarter to half inch above the center light on top......
Amen Brother... you and me both!
I've had a serious crush on Sheryl for near 20 years... It's only recently that I've been able to confess this to my wife - I haven't told Sheryl yet...
When we got to this room, I immediately recognized the displays from the hundred or so times I've watched the video... I'm hopeless.
Thanks for the suggestions - I did crop the top some more (and replaced the image) and I think it did tidy-up the ceiling...
I split the difference with you as I did not want any greater of a pano aspect - although, this scene does lends itself to such.
I deliberately cropped for asymmetry - trying to avoid the predictable and common... but, my brain first seeks symmetry also.
We were tourist-ing that day and don't know when I'll be back... though I want to because it's a fantastic museum.
black mambaRegistered UsersPosts: 8,325Major grins
edited May 7, 2014
Nice work, Eric....especially considering the wild array of lighting you had to deal with. The exposure systems in cameras on the market now amaze me with their capabilities. Also, PP software can often save the day in situations like this. But, ultimately, it's the shooter who makes or breaks these opportunities. Kudos to you. Well done.
See you,
Tom
I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
Nice work, Eric....especially considering the wild array of lighting you had to deal with. The exposure systems in cameras on the market now amaze me with their capabilities. Also, PP software can often save the day in situations like this. But, ultimately, it's the shooter who makes or breaks these opportunities. Kudos to you. Well done.
See you,
Tom
Thanks Tom... glad you like it!
These displays are very old and created by curators and artists the old-fashioned way - taxidermy and fine-painting.
As such, they are fairly rare and, I thought - if not just for the woodwork - worth sharing.
We got there early, and all the little field trip monkeys were over in the Dinosaur exhibits - much more popular with the kids than this bunch of dusty old mammals.
Thanks for looking in sir!
Technical: 5DMkIII ~ EF 28mm f1.8 USM ~ 28mm @ f1.8 ~ 1/80 sec ~ ISO 3200 ~ HH
Smacked-around pretty hard in LR5
Nice image. When I look at this all I can think of is 'you looking at me?"
Sam
Thanks Sam...
I know what you mean - I'ts like they saw me standing there and are about to charge, *Night at the Museum* style... fun movie series with Ben Stiller if anyone hasn't seen them.
Eric, first - nice shot and subject! It got me to watch the music video - and that certainly isn't a bad thing. In that video, it appears that photography is not allowed in that exhibit (there was a one second view of the sign). The video was obviously done with permission, and you have this shot here. Were there any issues with bringing a camera in there?
My Smugmug
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Eric, first - nice shot and subject! It got me to watch the music video - and that certainly isn't a bad thing. In that video, it appears that photography is not allowed in that exhibit (there was a one second view of the sign). The video was obviously done with permission, and you have this shot here. Were there any issues with bringing a camera in there?
Thanks much David... To my knowledge, there is no current prohibition on photography in the museum - we asked about it at the main desk when we entered and they said no problem.
Just a guess, but I'm thinking that it could be one of a couple of things... the video was released almost 20 years ago and there may have been different rules back then,
or more likely the signs were props for the video, which had a recurring flash effect simulating photography and a plot theme of Sheryl being on exhibit/display like the other creatures.
Comments
"You don't take a photograph, you make it." ~Ansel Adams
Phil
However, I would settle for perhaps lower POV, and more centered/symmetrical....if re-shot.....OR.... if top 10-15% can be cropped off...quarter to half inch above the center light on top......
Just some thoughts....Cheers!
Thanks Phil... and not strange at all - that is pretty much the perspective you get when viewing these dioramas in-person - they are very realistic and (of course) much more 3D when viewed in situ.
Amen Brother... you and me both!
I've had a serious crush on Sheryl for near 20 years... It's only recently that I've been able to confess this to my wife - I haven't told Sheryl yet...
When we got to this room, I immediately recognized the displays from the hundred or so times I've watched the video... I'm hopeless.
Thanks for the suggestions - I did crop the top some more (and replaced the image) and I think it did tidy-up the ceiling...
I split the difference with you as I did not want any greater of a pano aspect - although, this scene does lends itself to such.
I deliberately cropped for asymmetry - trying to avoid the predictable and common... but, my brain first seeks symmetry also.
We were tourist-ing that day and don't know when I'll be back... though I want to because it's a fantastic museum.
See you,
Tom
These displays are very old and created by curators and artists the old-fashioned way - taxidermy and fine-painting.
As such, they are fairly rare and, I thought - if not just for the woodwork - worth sharing.
We got there early, and all the little field trip monkeys were over in the Dinosaur exhibits - much more popular with the kids than this bunch of dusty old mammals.
Thanks for looking in sir!
Technical: 5DMkIII ~ EF 28mm f1.8 USM ~ 28mm @ f1.8 ~ 1/80 sec ~ ISO 3200 ~ HH
Smacked-around pretty hard in LR5
Sam
Thanks Sam...
I know what you mean - I'ts like they saw me standing there and are about to charge, *Night at the Museum* style... fun movie series with Ben Stiller if anyone hasn't seen them.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Thanks much David... To my knowledge, there is no current prohibition on photography in the museum - we asked about it at the main desk when we entered and they said no problem.
Just a guess, but I'm thinking that it could be one of a couple of things... the video was released almost 20 years ago and there may have been different rules back then,
or more likely the signs were props for the video, which had a recurring flash effect simulating photography and a plot theme of Sheryl being on exhibit/display like the other creatures.
Lensmole
http://www.lensmolephotography.com/
YouTube has the video...