Dust to Dust

For me, in my photography at least, with hard won greater technical proficiency comes greater artistic ambitions.  I begin to think that maybe I can actually capture the images I have in my mind's eye.  I have long been fascinated by bones and always enjoyed biology and zoology as a student.  Over they years I have picked up many odd bits and pieces of skeletons.  I love skulls.  Bones tell stories.  Death is coming for all of us.  Dust to dust...


Last night I spent three hours fiddling with multiple subjects and at least a half different camera set-ups.  I took a hundred and sixty exposures.  None match this damned picture I have in my head...


This crumbling, decaying set of vertebrae was the closest I got...   ...sigh*


Shot with my Nikon D700 and a Lensbaby Composer.  On a tripod, long exposure, and light painting.  I probably screwed myself with so many variables.  Less is more. I have a love affair with the Lensbaby, but I struggle to focus it in low light and it goes OUT of focus very easily.  Live and learn.


- Vince Hemingson