cognitive dissonance

Today I’ve joined Dr. Patrick Finerty, Jr. on the veranda of his lovely cottage high in the Cascade mountains of Washington state.

A small stream runs alongside the house, the sound of which is interrupted periodically by calls from the blue birds and crows that are common in this forested retreat. We’re here to talk about his abuse of nature and why he feels his lame photos justify such awful behavior.

Gee, thanks for the introduction, I think.

Patrick, can you tell me a little about these two photos?

Please, didn’t your editor tell you the rules of our meeting? If you want this interview to last any longer than it already has you can refer to me as Dr. Finerty, or, if absolutely necessary, as ‘ that jerk I had to interview the other day’. However, you may not use my first name as if you know me. I think you and your readers know that is not the case.

Thank you for making me feel at home here, Dr. Finerty. I always enjoy it when interviews start with a little confrontation that makes my stomach go into knots. Anyway, what was your inspiration for those photos?

Well, I bought a new camera recently so I’ve been trying to use it. I’ve also been playing with an off-camera flash so I can get more dramatic lighting when I want to do that.

Off-camera flash? What’s that about?

The basic idea is to avoid the harsh, direct light normally provided by the flashes that are built into most cameras or with those flashes that attach to the camera via the hotshoe. By moving the flash off the camera you can use it to balance (fill) the naturally present light or just to avoid generating harsh shadows that look like you’re using an unnatural light source.

Ok. That makes some sense, I think. Let’s say I was a beginner at this sort of thing. Where would you suggest I go for more information?

Google is your friend, dear interviewer.

Right. Perhaps instead of being a giant asshole, which I know is difficult for you to avoid, you could actually provide some sort of useful information instead.

Fine. I’ll hold your hand a little while longer. What you really want to do is to check out the Strobist web site blog item. It is infinitely more informative and useful than myself. Also, there are pretty pictures.