Quantum-X is Still Not Dead Yet [photos]

[quantum-x]

Well, it's been an age since I last did a photo thread.

I'm off to Ukraine, Russia and Mongolia next month, and probably will get shot, so this might go down in history as my last photo thread.

I'll be updating the thread this evening as I remember what I've photographed.

Kicking it off, in reverse chronological order:



Metro keys?

[seeric]

oh man, awesome. do you have a bigger one of the subway train i can use as desktop?

[wtfent]

You always have the most amazing photos man. Good stuff

[seeric]

this one.

http://ninjito.com/dump/2008-07-09/qx-metro-3.jpg

[CaptainHowdy]

Fucking incredible pics...

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by A1R3K

oh man, awesome. do you have a bigger one of the subway train i can use as desktop?

The forum scaled it down, right click it for the source.
If you want larger still I'll do a resize when I'm back home

[Emil]

great photos!

[JamesK]

You are the god of photography. I don't know anyone else who makes better pics than you.

[woj]

nice work as usual dude

[Deej]

it always looks like youre shooting HDR, but youve said in the past youre not...

Awesome Shots!!!

the rooftop ones, do you just find whos in charge and ask to climb their building for awesome pics or do you just ninja up?

looking to open up my third eye ( the lens ) and i like finding shots like this... some good tips would be appreciated in these threads of yours.... if you care to divulge...

[pornguy]

Your photos are truly amazing.

Have fun on your trip.

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by A1R3K

this one.

http://ninjito.com/dump/2008-07-09/qx-metro-3.jpg

http://www.ninjito.com/dump/2008-07-...-c-1-large.jpg

Let me know if that's big enough - i have a 25MP scan

[BuggyG]

damn!!
I'd luv to get to the places u seem to get too
luv all the shots soo far

[uno]

Lets see some of that cool cold-war bunker shit!

[JamesK]

Btw, do you sell any of your photo's on stock sites?

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by Deej

it always looks like youre shooting HDR, but youve said in the past youre not...

Awesome Shots!!!

the rooftop ones, do you just find whos in charge and ask to climb their building for awesome pics or do you just ninja up?

looking to open up my third eye ( the lens ) and i like finding shots like this... some good tips would be appreciated in these threads of yours.... if you care to divulge...

Hey mate.. None of these are HDR'd. It's just a case of finding the right spot at the right time. For the rooftops, I normally just ninja up. In Paris, it really doesn't seem to bother anyone

I normally wander around before I shoot, and frame what I want in my head. If you're familiar with your gear you'll know what you can and can't do before you shoot it - saves a lot of a time. Note, the vast majority of these photos are made simply by the location themselves, as opposed to the technique behind. If you plonked a camera down on the roof of that church at that time, you'd have scored the same photo ;)

[crockett]

Nice pictures as always man..

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by uno

Lets see some of that cool cold-war bunker shit!

Been a while since I've been in any bunkers

Here's the opposite though.


Back in a few hours to post the realllly interesting stuff ;)

[Sosa]

wow, very impressive. I always like seeing your work

[Deej]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

Hey mate.. None of these are HDR'd. It's just a case of finding the right spot at the right time. For the rooftops, I normally just ninja up. In Paris, it really doesn't seem to bother anyone

I normally wander around before I shoot, and frame what I want in my head. If you're familiar with your gear you'll know what you can and can't do before you shoot it - saves a lot of a time. Note, the vast majority of these photos are made simply by the location themselves, as opposed to the technique behind. If you plonked a camera down on the roof of that church at that time, you'd have scored the same photo ;)

oh i plunk a lot

as for the rooftop once, is that just a straight shot, in hand, short exposure..

or are you setting tripod down and stabilizing it and prolonging the exposure? I see the street lights streaking a little ... how long does it expose ? im sure that has to do with the color that resembles HDR...

[datatank]

Insane photots. I love seeing you post them thanks

[Porn Girl]

Beautiful photos quantum. Have a great trip!!!

[qxm]

professional grade photography ... that's fo sho.......

[Manowar]

awesome pictures bro!!

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by Deej

oh i plunk a lot

as for the rooftop once, is that just a straight shot, in hand, short exposure..

or are you setting tripod down and stabilizing it and prolonging the exposure? I see the street lights streaking a little ... how long does it expose ? im sure that has to do with the color that resembles HDR...

always with a tripod the panos are all shot at ISO100 [Velvia], F11.
The others are normally shot F4, ISO 200, so range from 10 - 60 seconds, or more, depending on the DOF I'm chasing

Here we go

[MaDalton]

i am sure one day you will be extremely famous for your work

[stickyfingerz]

Amazing. I've got a couple I've taken that I love, but none close to any of yours.

[Mullett]

I used to be a camera assistant for one of the top photographers in the advertising industry and I have to say your eye is as good as any top dollar shooter I have ever worked with. Kudos to you. Remember to stuff a few hundreds in your passport when you go through the border gate. All the best to you and your adventure.

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by Mullett

I used to be a camera assistant for one of the top photographers in the advertising industry and I have to say your eye is as good as any top dollar shooter I have ever worked with. Kudos to you. Remember to stuff a few hundreds in your passport when you go through the border gate. All the best to you and your adventure.

I appreciate your compliments, and your advice. Have you travelled the wild east before?
I must admit I'm naive when it comes to the world of bribery :D

[czarina]

as beautiful as ever.. you're the best!

[psili]

Yer fucking savage.
And thanks for sharing, as always.

[quantum-x]

Here are the interesting ones

[Dirty F]

I have no clue how youre getting these colours man. You say its simple and its just the location but i never seen colours like that outside..

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by Dirty F

I have no clue how youre getting these colours man. You say its simple and its just the location but i never seen colours like that outside..

4AM and a sunrise over Paris rooftops, slow burn of the streetlights and a clear crisp sky will do it every time

The first photo in this thread was from the night before last - and I swear, sitting on the roof, you could see the same spectrum of colours, from cyan to purple. Crazy stuff.

[Deej]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

4AM and a sunrise over Paris rooftops, slow burn of the streetlights and a clear crisp sky will do it every time

The first photo in this thread was from the night before last - and I swear, sitting on the roof, you could see the same spectrum of colours, from cyan to purple. Crazy stuff.

True dedication...

You sir, are an artist

[Dirty F]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

4AM and a sunrise over Paris rooftops, slow burn of the streetlights and a clear crisp sky will do it every time

The first photo in this thread was from the night before last - and I swear, sitting on the roof, you could see the same spectrum of colours, from cyan to purple. Crazy stuff.

I guess im at the wrong time and the wrong places then

[Basher]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

Here are the interesting ones

God they are almost like an optical illusion awesome photography mate surely you must use a
filter / special lens or tweek in photoshop? but still very impressive none the less

[Deej]

Originally Posted by Dirty F

I guess im at the wrong time and the wrong places then

you dont get the same hues off of the redlight district

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by Basher

God they are almost like an optical illusion awesome photography mate surely you must use a
filter / special lens or tweek in photoshop? but still very impressive none the less

Not even This is the Pantheon in paris - as anyone who has seen it will attest, it's massive. These columns dwarf a person. It's shot with a 17mm lens.

The yellows are coming from the ever-present streetlights on the limestone, and the blues of the sky are that of a 3AM skyline.

That said, I white-balanced it to blue, my film shots have the sky a lush velvet

[Basher]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

Not even This is the Pantheon in paris - as anyone who has seen it will attest, it's massive. These columns dwarf a person. It's shot with a 17mm lens.

The yellows are coming from the ever-present streetlights on the limestone, and the blues of the sky are that of a 3AM skyline.

That said, I white-balanced it to blue, my film shots have the sky a lush velvet

well all I can say you've got some serious skills man and a very keen eye for detail. My hat goes off too you

[seeric]

thanks man, awesome

bump for you.

[abyss_al]

amazing!

[qxm]

how do u get those colors/definition from a camera? It's like an orgy for the eyes! Ohh Yes!!!

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by qxm

how do u get those colors/definition from a camera? It's like an orgy for the eyes! Ohh Yes!!!

It just kind of happens ;)
for the panoramic photos, it's all down to the film, velvia. It's great for colours, but contrasts very strongly, so it's often difficult to get balanced shots.

For the normal ones, a long exposure in reasonably low - light conditions will bring out amazing colours, colours you'd not normally even see

[Mullett]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

I appreciate your compliments, and your advice. Have you travelled the wild east before?
I must admit I'm naive when it comes to the world of bribery :D

It's been a few years but be prepared the grease the border guards. I have had experiences with border crossings in Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and even Slovakia where the border guards take your passport and shake it open as if they are expecting paper to fall out. In the most humble way, without drawing attention to other guards, tell the nazi bastard that you must have forgot to put your permits in there and ask if you can see your passport. Slip a few 20's (Euro's or Dollars) into the passport and then hand it back to him.

P.S. Don't look back when you drive away and keep your money stashed in a safe place. (Anal is not good enough). We used to stash our cash in plastic wrap and place them in radiator hoses and such.

Same thing goes for Syria, Jordan & Lebanon. If you make it to Syria & Jordan it will be a life changing experience. By far my favorite places to shoot in the middle east if not the world. The architecture in those countries is still to this day as untouched as it was before you know who came along....

Enjoy yourself and if any border guards tell you not to take a certain road, then take that to boot. 8 years ago we were shooting for national geo and the talent decided to wander off the path. They never returned. This was in Syria.

I'm personally very jealous and wish I was able to do what your about to embark on. Enjoy and thanks again for the pics, beautiful work and can't wait to see the images you bring back.

All the best.

[WiredGuy]

Those are some awesome photos.
WG

[quantum-x]

Originally Posted by Mullett

It's been a few years but be prepared the grease the border guards. I have had experiences with border crossings in Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and even Slovakia where the border guards take your passport and shake it open as if they are expecting paper to fall out. In the most humble way, without drawing attention to other guards, tell the nazi bastard that you must have forgot to put your permits in there and ask if you can see your passport. Slip a few 20's (Euro's or Dollars) into the passport and then hand it back to him.

P.S. Don't look back when you drive away and keep your money stashed in a safe place. (Anal is not good enough). We used to stash our cash in plastic wrap and place them in radiator hoses and such.

Same thing goes for Syria, Jordan & Lebanon. If you make it to Syria & Jordan it will be a life changing experience. By far my favorite places to shoot in the middle east if not the world. The architecture in those countries is still to this day as untouched as it was before you know who came along....

Enjoy yourself and if any border guards tell you not to take a certain road, then take that to boot. 8 years ago we were shooting for national geo and the talent decided to wander off the path. They never returned. This was in Syria.

I'm personally very jealous and wish I was able to do what your about to embark on. Enjoy and thanks again for the pics, beautiful work and can't wait to see the images you bring back.

All the best.

Incredible history.
I'm hoping that we won't be going to extremes of such nature. It's going to be a tester trip for me, in any case - the countries are so huge, it's impossible to see it all.
Plan is Kiev for a trip to Chernobyl - official tour - I'm not that desperate to die (slowly, in any case) - then onto Moscow for hopefully what will be metro and underground happenings. Russian metro is like nothing else.

Trans siberian to Irkutsk, then to Ulan Bataa, where we're gonig to do our best to wing it down toward Choyr, to see some of the more amazing relics of the ex-soviet empire, that, as you say, still stand untouched to this day.

We'll be packing light, duplicating and stashing memory cards and film, and trying to upload photos at any chance in case we lose our gear.

I've never had the chance to head to the 'real' middle east, only ever the UAE - which, amazing as it is - is like the vegas of persia ;)

I've seen some photos of the nature, landscapes and buildings of iraq and iran, especially, and I'm blown away by it.

What's your history? NG shooter?

[Mullett]

I used to AC (Stills) for a handful of amazing shooters. Later migrated into the film business as a 1st AC (ASC) and then later became a Assistant Director (DGA).

Here is some of my work with a few of my old clients. I've assisted all the photographers that Robert Mead reps.
http://www.rmeadimage.com/

[uno]

Originally Posted by Basher

well all I can say you've got some serious skills man and a very keen eye for detail. My hat goes off too you

I've asked him specifics but zoned out fairly quickly when he got all crazy technical on me. He definitely knows his shit and does it well.

[uno]

Originally Posted by quantum-x

Incredible history.
I'm hoping that we won't be going to extremes of such nature. It's going to be a tester trip for me, in any case - the countries are so huge, it's impossible to see it all.
Plan is Kiev for a trip to Chernobyl - official tour - I'm not that desperate to die (slowly, in any case) - then onto Moscow for hopefully what will be metro and underground happenings. Russian metro is like nothing else.

Trans siberian to Irkutsk, then to Ulan Bataa, where we're gonig to do our best to wing it down toward Choyr, to see some of the more amazing relics of the ex-soviet empire, that, as you say, still stand untouched to this day.

We'll be packing light, duplicating and stashing memory cards and film, and trying to upload photos at any chance in case we lose our gear.

I've never had the chance to head to the 'real' middle east, only ever the UAE - which, amazing as it is - is like the vegas of persia ;)

I've seen some photos of the nature, landscapes and buildings of iraq and iran, especially, and I'm blown away by it.

What's your history? NG shooter?

Are you going with DS?